Live Sofab Holiday 2013

Live SoFab Holiday Hit List

A Real Magazine for Real People

enJOY the holidays

UNPLUG & PLAY Get your GLOW on

HOLIDAY 2013

EDITORS’

note

‘T

is the season for JOY and that’s why we’re delighted to bring you the Holiday Issue of Live SoFab. On each and every page you’ll find simple tips and ideas to make the holiday festive and fun – we’ve included everything from “Stock ‘N Stuffer” essentials for the freezer to “Holiday Hair”!

We truly believe that the holidays are about spending time together and not spending tons of money and stressing out. So be sure to check out these features too: “Unplug and Play”, “Ring in the Holidays” - our soundtrack for the season, and our tips for getting your GLOW on this holiday.

The holidays come and go so quickly…take time to enJOY it!

Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali, lifestyle & entertaining experts, are co-founders of Party Bluprints Inc. and The Party Bluprints Blog and coauthors of Plan to Party. They are on a mission to inspire simple and special home entertaining. Dawn and Elizabeth, have been featured on NBC’s TODAY Show, Good Housekeeping, Kiplinger’s and Redbook magazines, Martha Stewart Living Radio and more.

Dawn & Elizabeth

connect A Collective Bias Media Property PUBLISHER: Party Bluprints Inc. EDITORS: Elizabeth Mascali & Dawn Sandomeno DESIGNER: Katie Schlientz 2

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Party Treat Our Twist on the Traditional Trifle Whether you are hosting or guesting this holiday season, these are the perfect party treat. ✔ Line these sweets treats up on the dessert buffet for guests to help themselves. ✔ Tie a spoon to the jar and send guests off with a favor – chances are they won’t survive the car ride home. ✔ Embellish jars with ribbon and mini jingle bells and gift away.

Brownie Trifle Treats (MAKES 12 JARS) Its richness makes the single serving just the right size!

INGREDIENTS

❑ 1 batch of brownies, cubed (use box mix or favorite homemade recipe)

❑ 2 cups chocolate pudding (prepare according to package instructions)

❑ 16 oz. container whipped topping, thawed

❑ 12 oz. raspberries, rinsed and dried ❑ 12 - 8 oz. mason jars

When preparing this dessert for younger guests, use 8 oz. disposable plastic glasses as containers.

INSTRUCTIONS ● Prepare brownies according to directions. Bake in an 8” x 8” baking dish – bake so they are fudgy not cakelike. Allow them to cool, cut into small brown bites and set aside. ● Prepare pudding and set aside briefly. ● Layer brownie bites, pudding and cool whip into individual serving size mason jars. Top with fresh raspberries. ● Screw on tops and refrigerate.

Twenty minutes before serving, remove from refrigerator. Serve at room temperature.

Live SoFab, Holiday 2013

PHOTO CREDIT: ALEXANDRA MASCALI

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HOLIDAY

fun

with gingerbread

TASTE THE SEASON Host a Holiday Party for Children Featuring a Classic Treat & Sweets

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ooking for a fun party idea to entertain the kids this holiday season? Host a Gingerbread House Decorating Party. It has an activity as the central focus and is sure to keep the hands and minds busy, while spreading holiday spirit.

Tips for Hosting a Gingerbread House Decorating Party

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Keep the party small and manageable. Good rule of thumb: child’s age = number of guests.

Schedule party when kids are fresh and have some patience – avoid nighttime for the younger set.

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Ask guests to wear festive hats and headbands.

Set up a long “decorating” table covered with a plastic tablecloth.

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Prepare a workspace for each child that includes: apron, gingerbread house, icing and a variety of holiday candies.

(Tip: fill small paper cups halfway with holiday candies.)

We love these limited edition Gingerbread M&M’s for decorating gingerbread houses. How fun!

Set up a hand washing station for quick clean-up before and after decorating.

Set the mood with fun holiday music.

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Take pictures of each child with their masterpiece.

Save small cardboard boxes for easy transport of gingerbread houses home.

Bottled water cardboard “trays” with sides work great too.

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If the kids are really young, you may opt to decorate large gingerbread boys and girls instead of a whole gingerbread house.

Exclusively

For more bright ideas visit www.BrightIdeas.com Live SoFab, Holiday 2013

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FESTIVE

flair

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Secrets to {Holiday Hair}

Make Your Hair Your Best Accessory this Holiday Season

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Curls are a holiday classic – try this cool tool for curls: Infiniti Pro by Conair® Curl Secret™.

Add “vavoom” - volume tops the trends for 2013.

A strong part adds holiday drama – try a center or deep side part.

Keep it touchable – avoid an oversprayed “helmet head”, loose curls are sexy.

C oo l Too l t h e Sea s o f on

Braids continue to be a hot trend – keep it loose and messy, think hippy not “Pippi” {Longstocking}.

When going up, keep it low with a low-slung bun or nape of the neck pony.

CURL SECRET A revolutionary new way to create one beautiful shiny curl after another.

Easy. Fast. Fabulous!

Deal Alert: Available at Walmart for only $99.98.

Gift i d

ea Live SoFab, Holiday 2013

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STOCK ‘N

stuffers

Easy Holiday Meal Solutions Get Prepped for the Holiday Season with this Shopping List for Your Freezer

Comfort Food Come in from the cold after sled riding with friends and offer the home-cooked comfort of Mac & Cheese to warm everyone’s bellies.

Hearty Meal Make it easy to keep the party going with holiday guests. Pop a party-size tray of Lasagna with Meat & Sauce in the oven along with a side dish of vegetables so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.

For more information on how these NESTLÉ® Frozen Foods can make your holiday prep faster and easier, please visit www.meals.com.

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ed pect unex (and n holiday ze sions e occa these fro er! Nestl liday ez ur ho re to keep your fre of yo . in su s: For all ts), make nd and en Food se, 76 oz ha ee oz t gues ials on liday Fr & Ch Mea nt Ho e Mac gna with esse Siz Lasa Party zza R’S® rty Size oni Pi UFFE Pa pper m ❏ S TO UFFER’S® .

T® Pe Ice Crea US oz TO G CR ❏ S e, 90 Light & Sauc RNO® RISIN URNED® CH IO m ❏ DIG ’S® SLOW Crea on ht Ice rland ❏ E DY ited Editi Eggnog de D® Lig Lim erry URNE int Won ry M A Ve SLOW CHPepperm ’S® on ❏ E DY ited Editi Lim

Meal in minutes Holiday shopping can take hours and leave you famished and exhausted. Make sure to have a “goto” option like frozen pizza on hand. Simply pair it with a salad and enjoy a meal together in minutes.

Sweet Treat Get festive with a holiday inspired ice cream sundae bar. Feature special seasonal ice cream flavors along with fun toppings like crushed candy canes, colored sprinkles, whipped topping and hot fudge.

unexpected guests), For all of your holiday occasions (and essentials on hand make sure to keep these frozen holiday en Foods: and in your freezer! Nestle Holiday Froz ese, 76 oz. ❏ S TOUFFER’S® Party Size Mac & Che Meat & Sauce, 90 oz. ❏ STOUFFER’S® Party Size Lasagna with oni Pizza ❏ DIGIORNO® RISING CRUST® Pepper Cream Limited Edition ❏ E DY’S® SLOW CHURNED® Light Ice A Very Merry Eggnog Cream Limited Edition ❏ E DY’S® SLOW CHURNED® Light Ice Peppermint Wonderland

All trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland, or are used with permission.

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BACK 2

basics

Unplug&Play Gift CREATIVE PLAY this Holiday With the hustle and bustle of the holiday, it’s easy to forget that kids can use a time-out from tech. This season make it a point to gift toys that encourage creative play along with the gift of time to explore “playing.”

Go back to basics with classic toys – cars and planes CREATIVE PLAY (noun) Children’s play … that tends to satisfy the need for self-expression as well as to develop manual skills. www.merriamwebster.com

Pay Attention, Plan For & Encourage PLAY

Introducing Planes from above the world of Cars L o ve th e se toy s powe red by kid s – n o p lu g s n e ed ed

● Play connects us to others ●P lay fosters creativity, flexibility, and learning ● Play teaches us perseverance ●P lay helps us develop and improve our social skills ●P lay teaches us how to cooperate with others ● Above all, PLAY makes us HAPPY!

Nothing reinforces the creative spirit and nourishes a child’s soul more than providing large blocks of time to engage in spontaneous, self-directed play throughout the day. Play is the serious business of young children and the opportunity to play freely is vital to their healthy development.

Source: http://www.pbs.org

Disney Planes Tilt and Fly: Kids can have high-flying fun recreating the action seen in the movie Disney Planes with this RC vehicle that offers role-play remote control so the plane moves when they do! Push the button to set its propeller spinning and move it forward, then use the two controllers - one for each wing - to tilt the wings and control its movement through mimicry.

Sounds and phrases amp up the action for a thrilling air-venture!

Great stocking stuffers and gift toppers All kids’ favorite characters from Disney•Pixar Cars and Cars 2 are rolling in. With huge character variety and authentic styling, these 1:55 scale die-cast figures are perfect for recreating all the great scenes from the Cars movies. Kids will want to collect them all! Each sold separately, subject to availability. Ages 3 and older.

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HOLIDAY

wish

Sa ve $$$

Click here between November 17 – December 2 & December 15 – December 29 to get a coupon for $3 off PowerUp handles and brush heads online

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Steps for

Staying Healthy this Season Get your Holiday Glowing ~ Naturally

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he hectic pace of the holiday season can quickly take a toll. Put a few practices in place to make sure you take care of yourself – allowing your holiday spirit to glow.

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Stay hydrated. With all the running around morning ‘til night, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times as a reminder to drink.

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Pack some protein.

Keep a supply of protein-packed snacks in your bag and car so you can eat on the run.

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Keep your immune system strong. Follow the same rules you tell your kids - “wash your hands” and “don’t touch your face.”

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Save some strokes.

Streamline your morning and nighttime routines by using more efficient ways to get you in and out of the bathroom faster.

PowerUp with an electric toothbrush that gets the job done and leaves your mouth healthy and fresh!

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Get your beauty sleep. Or at least 6-8 hours of sleep.

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Protect hair and nails. Carry a spare hat and gloves in your car. When you dash out of the house without them, use the “back-ups” to stay warm while protecting your hair and hands from the elements.

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Avoid dry skin and lips. Moisturize face, hands and lips. Keep a travel size container of lotion and lip balm in your bag so you can reapply throughout the day. Don’t forget to moisturize your face in the morning.

PowerUp by Philips Sonicare Designed to be as easy to use as your manual, while delivering superior results and a better experience. With more brush strokes in a day than your manual in a month, PowerUp removes more plaque, helps reduce cavities and improve gum health. For more information, please visit Philips Sonicare.

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F it s pe rfe ct ly a st ock i n ing

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“SCENT-SATIONAL”

soundtrack Great Gift Pick for the Girls

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Live SoFab, Holiday 2013

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RING IN THE HOLIDAYS Slow Down and Get in the Spirit with Song

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hether you’re hosting a party, decorating the tree, wrapping gifts or simply driving the car, music is a must at the holidays.

Here’s our top 15 holiday song picks to help you ring in the holidays.

1. “Last Christmas” - Taylor Swift 2. “All I Want for Christmas is You” Mariah Carey 3. “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

With each purchase of a gift set, you receive a free ringtone download.

4. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” - Zooey Deschanel with Leon Redbone (Elf Soundtrack) 5. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” - U2 6. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” - Lady Antebellum 7. “Santa Baby” - Kylie Minogue

8. “Underneath the Tree” Kelly Clarkson 9. “Peace” - Norah Jones 10. “This Christmas” - Christina Aguilera 11. “White Christmas” - Michael Bublé duet with Shania Twain 12. “Sleigh Ride” - The Ronettes 13. “Christmas Wrapping” – The Waitresses 14. “Holly Jolly Christmas” - Michael Bublé 15. “Christmas Must Be Something More” - Taylor Swift

Wonderstruck Enchanted Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted continues the magical journey, from the first spark to that moment when you know you’re enchanted. The fragrance combines an irresistible blend of luscious wild berries and sugar-glazed petals, wrapped in a touch of sensuality for a captivating signature scent.

For more info: www.scentsavings.net

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Live SoFab, Holiday 2013

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HOLIDAY PARTY

basics jazz up your 8 Easy Ideas for Building a Holiday Coffee Bar

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Clear the counter or a table and designate area as your “Coffee Bar.” Cue up the Coffee – for a large group, a coffee urn is the way to go. Prepare your urn before the party, so all you have to do is plug it in and wait for it to brew.

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Display mugs, coffee cups or disposable hot cups next to the coffee so guests can help themselves.

Dress up your bar with fun holiday flavored creamers such as Peppermint Mocha and Pumpkin Spice by Coffeemate®.

Stir in your sugar with a twist on the traditional.

Candy canes, peppermint sticks and rock candy make fun stirrers. Plus, they add a pop of color to your coffee bar.

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Pour cocoa and cinnamon into shakers so guests can “dust” their drink with a sprinkle of spice.

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Serve with a sweet on the side – chocolate, cookies and other bite-sized confections finish off your coffee bar. Guests love to enjoy a small treat with their coffee especially if dessert hasn’t been served yet.

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When it comes to cleanup, refrigerate any leftover creamer and store the sugar and spices in a container so you’re ready at a moment’s notice to whip up a special holiday coffee for unexpected guests.

Pumpkin Spice

Peppermint Mocha

Try the rich and comforting flavor of our seasonal Pumpkin Spice. It’s a perfect way to enjoy a familiar flavor and relish in the warmth of the holiday season. Available only September through December. For more info go>

Enjoy one of the season’s most popular flavors! Let the comfort of crisp peppermint and chocolaty mocha warm you up this holiday season. Available only September through December. For more info go>

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THE BIRTHDAY

files

Connections from Hallmark Cards Birthdays are an extra-special time. That’s why we’ve designed lots of birthday cards that have totally unique qualities, just like your favorite people. With so many cards featuring cool add-ons, textures and finishes—not to mention a broad array of sentiments, from quirky to expressive—it’s easy to find the perfect card at Walmart for that special birthday star.

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Remember Holiday Season Birth “Days” Set Up a Birthday Card File and Send Some Birthday Love

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little prep before the holidays makes it easy to send a special birthday wish in the mail. Face it – despite good intentions, if you’re born around the holidays, your birthday is apt to get less (or very little) attention. It’s easy to put a practice in place that ensures no one in your circle is forgotten on their special day.

Steps for setting up your own Birthday Card File – a good practice all year long ● Make a list of all birth “days.” ● On a quarterly basis, shop for a special birthday card for each. ● Write a special message in each card, seal, stamp and address it.

✔ Don’t combine a holiday and birthday gift ✔ Don’t combine a holiday celebration with a birthday party ✔ Don’t forget to send a birthday card

● File cards in your calendar or a separate “birthday file” by week. Organize file so you can easily grab cards on a weekly basis and mail one week prior to birthdays. ● Be happy in knowing that during the hectic holiday season, you made one of your people feel “remembered” and celebrated on their special day.

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