Gift guide 2017

Holiday Guide

2017

Table of Contents

2

Holiday Tidbits

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6

9

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Prepare your home for holiday entertaining

Baking shortcuts for time-pressed entertainers 2 HOLIDAY GUIDE 2017

Set and stick to your holiday budget

Beat the holiday stress

Area events

Tribute Tree

Holiday Tidbits The holiday season has arrived, and millions of people across the globe will be celebrating Christmas with their families and friends. The following are some interesting tidbits to share with your loved ones this holiday season.

Santa Claus’ modern look was inspired by writings from The Knickerbockers of New York and imagery from Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”

Christmas was not declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870.

Each year, more than three billion Christmas cards are sent in the United States alone.

Christmas trees typically grow for 15 years before they’re cut and sold. This means the trees sold today were likely planted in 2002.

Male reindeer tend to shed their antlers in the winter.

This means Santa’s reindeer are likely female.

In 350 AD, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birth of Jesus Christ.

The price index for “The 12 Days of Christmas” is more than $24,000.

-PNC Wealth Management

The song “Jingle Bells” was originally written for Thanksgiving.

People loved it so much that the lyrics were changed to fit Christmas.

Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal served in England was a pig’s head and mustard.

Santa has his own official postal code.

It’s H0 H0 H0.

Christmas carols began as an English custom called “wassailing.”

Individuals toasted neighbors to a long and healthy life.

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Prepare your home for holiday entertaining

Counting down to Christmas Day means many different things to people across the globe. Although families likely have several different traditions they anticipate each year, it can be fun to incorporate some new merrymakers into the festivities. Here are some festive ideas to include in the days leading up to Christmas - a special family calendar of fun finds.

Annual memento: Have the kids 1 or adults make one new handmade ornament each year. This way the tree is always evolving, and everyone can track milestones.

Cookie day: Devote one day to 2 making Christmas cookies. Invite friends or family members over. Distribute some cookies to elderly neighbors.

Holiday classic: Spend a night in and 3 watch a classic Christmas flick you’ve never seen before. Streaming movie services often put classics and obscure titles into rotation during the holiday season.

Christmas concert: Host a gathering 4 of children where they can sing or perform their favorite tunes for an audience.

Take it on the road to a nearby nursing home.

Dine out: Take a break 5 from cooking, shopping and hosting and stop into a restaurant you’ve been meaning to try.

Keep it local to support nearby businesses.

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Adopt a child/family: Volunteer with a charitable organization that provides for less fortunate families. Answer the Christmas desires of a needy child or family by purchasing an item on their wish lists.

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See the sights: Pack the children into the family car to tour nearby areas and look at Christmas lights displays.

Bring along cookies and hot chocolate.

Trim a tree: Get together with adult 8 friends at a tree-trimming party.

Rotate the hosting house each year.

Play dress-up: A gentleman can dress 9 up as the man in red and pop into a friend’s holiday gathering.

Wilderness walk: Enjoy the crisp 10 air and snow and see a local park from a winter perspective.

Acts of kindness: Choose any act 11 of kindness and make it happen this Christmas. It can include feeding the hungry or helping a disabled person shop for the season.

Kids’ Secret Santa: Spread the 12 joy of giving by having the kids choose a sibling or friend’s name from a hat and purchasing or making a gift for that person.

Hand out hot chocolate: Make a 13 big thermos of hot chocolate and give it out to shoppers or workers who have been out in the cold.

Read religious stories: Understand 14 the true meaning of the season by reading Biblical passages.

Camp-in: The first night the tree 15 is decorated, allow the kids to sleep beside it under the glow of Christmas lights.

Scavenger hunt: Plan holiday16 themed trivia questions and hide small trinkets for children to find.

Surprise box: Put a gender and 17 age nonspecific gift into a box.

On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the

person who finds a hidden gift tag under their chair at dinner gets to open the box.

Family portrait: Wear your holiday 18 finery and pose for a portrait that actually will be printed and framed.

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Set and stick to your holiday budget The chance to give gifts and spend time with loved ones makes the holiday season a special time of year. But for many people, the holiday season often leads to overspending.

A 2016 survey from the American Research Group found that American shoppers anticipated spending an average of $930 on gifts that holiday season. Data from T. Rowe Price confirms that parents are spending between $400 and $500 per child each year. In 2015, CPA Canada conducted a random phone survey of 1,004 adult Canadians and found the average adult planned to spend $766 on holiday gifts.

Although these numbers can reflect an overwhelming sense of generosity, many times excessive spending is based on a desire to outdo gifting from the year prior - sometimes at the risk of personal finances. Some people are taking drastic measures to make holidays over-the-top, with some delving into emergency savings while others withdraw prematurely from retirement accounts. Budgeting for the holiday season can help shoppers keep their finances in check.

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Determine spending patterns An examination of receipts and spending habits from previous holiday seasons can help individuals establish budgets for the current year. Make a list of all expenses - even the ones that extend beyond holiday giving. These may include expenses such as gym service fees, homeowner’s insurance, traveling expenses, gift exchanges at work, and more. Extra costs can add up and should be factored into holiday budgets.

Try to recall if your spending last year felt comfortable or if you were paying off credit cards long after the holiday season had ended. If it’s the latter, resolve to make adjustments.

Use the holidays as an opportunity to sell

Collectibles, gently used toys, video games, action figures - all of these items may be collecting dust at your home, but they might be coveted by other shoppers. Rely on the season for spending to make some extra income that can be cashed in for your own holiday purchases.

Establish a budget that fits There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all budget.

Figure out if there is extra money this season or if times are tight. This will help you plan accordingly and avoid overspending. Shifting priorities can help free up some cash. If children are interested in this year’s hot (and likely expensive) gift, cut back on holiday travel or entertaining. Instead of buying gifts for coworkers, buy a drink during a night out.

Set up an account and track spending

Establish a separate account strictly for holiday spending. This can include a credit card only used for gifts and entertaining or a savings account at a bank or credit union. You won’t know what is going out of your account unless you keep careful tabs on it. Tracking spending is the biggest key to sticking with a budget, according to the financial advice group The Balance.

Holiday budgeting can be challenging. But with some effort, it is possible to avoid debt and still enjoy a happy holiday season.

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Area events Faulkner County is alive with cheer every holiday season, and 2017 is no different, from garland-wrapped lampposts and a giant downtown tree to parades and performances. Below are a few highlights of holiday happenings to enjoy. ❅ November 25 from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Illuminate will be held at Rogers Plaza and Simon Park in Conway. ❅ November 30 at 6:30 p.m. City of Greenbrier Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is “Jingle Bell Rock.” In the event of rain, the parade will be moved to December 4. ❅ November 30 at 6:00 p.m. Annual Holiday Lighting of the Tribute Tree at Conway Regional.

Supporters can purchase lights and ornaments for the tree in honor or memory of friends and family, and the event is open to the public. Tribute Tree contributes to the community by helping fund scholarships for area students who dream of working in the health care field. For details contact the Conway Regional Health Foundation at 501-5135771. ❅ December 2 at 3:00 p.m. City of Vilonia Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is “Movies of Christmas.” Line up needs to be done by 4 p.m. Judging will begin at 4:15. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. ❅ December 9 at 6:00 p.m City of Conway Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is “The Magic of Christmas.” ❅ December 9 Mistletoe Madness.

Mistletoe Madness kicks off the 12 Days of Christmas Celebration that leads up to the final shopping craze before Christmas. Storewide holiday markdowns are the rule of the day! While you shop in Downtown Conway, enjoy the sights and sounds from street musicians and vendors from the Conway arts scene as well as concerts by local elementary schools, and area performers. ❅ December 9 at 7:30 p.m and December 10 at 3 p.m. The Conway Symphony Orchestra will be performing. ❅ December 14 from 2-4 p.m. Christmas Open House.

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Christmas Open House at 900 Oak Street in the Chamber lobby. Stop by and fellowship over hot apple cider with other members of the Conway business community. ❅ December 19 at 7:30 p.m. A Christmas Carol will take the stage at the Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.

A powerful story of redemption, this new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ ever-popular classic fills the stage with first-class professional actors, lush costumes, stunning sets and puppetry, song and dance, a heavy dose of humor, and a timeless message.

With the music of 26 beloved traditional carols of the season woven throughout, “A Christmas Carol” is the perfect way to begin the holiday festivities.

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Baking shortcuts for time-pressed entertainers ‘Tis the season for baking cookies, cakes and other treats. However, during the holiday rush, it’s easy to get sidetracked or tired, and perhaps even a little bit overwhelmed by all the things to do in such a short period of time.

Holiday baking doesn’t have to add to seasonal stress. With these tips and shortcuts, there will be plenty of sweet treats for the family.

Stick with tested recipes

Although holiday bakers may want to branch out a bit with their culinary creativity, recipes that have previously been prepared with great success can take some of the work out of holiday baking.

Preparing recipes you recall preparing in the past is much easier than trying something new. If you’d like, add sparkle to old standards, such as decorating oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies with colored sprinkles.

Cookies are fast-baking

Did you know that cookies were originally made to test oven temperatures? Culinary historians say that cookies were first made to test if an oven was hot enough to bake other goods. Today, cookies can be whipped up in mere minutes. Make a batch of dough and then freeze or refrigerate it, thawing it when the time comes to bake. Also, think about baking one day and decorating the next if pressed for time.

Embrace colored candy melts

Icing can be tricky to master. Simply heating colored candy melts and pouring over cakes or painting onto cookies can add festive appeal to desserts. Candy melts even come in many different colors and can be combined to achieve the tint desired.

Keep ingredients in top form

Don’t let poorly performing ingredients or a lack of supplies be your undoing. Butter can be softened quickly in the microwave when needed for recipes. Eggs can be brought to room temperature by allowing them to sit in a bowl of warm water. Ensure that brown sugar stays soft by putting a piece of sliced bread in the container. Don’t forget to stock up on other baking staples, such as vanilla and almond extracts, baking powder/soda, molasses, and confectioner’s sugar.

Don’t bake from scratch

Not all recipes need to be made from scratch. Boxed cake mixes can be embellished and turned into delicious desserts without much fuss.

Substitute melted butter for oil, buttermilk for water, and add an extra egg for a rich cake. Mix in chocolate chips or nuts or experiment with garnishes for a festive look.

Parchment paper is key

Line cookie sheets or cake pans with parchment paper for easy dessert release and quick cleanup. Parchment paper and even foil can help lift cakes or cookie bars out of pans so they look neat and do not stick.

Holiday baking can be made much easier by employing a few tricks of the trade.

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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 12 large cookies

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened • 5 tablespoons granulated sugar • 5 tablespoons light brown sugar, sifted • 1 large egg, beaten • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla essence or chocolate extract (see note) • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons selfrising flour • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2/3 cup (or more) dark and white (or milk) chocolate chips (or roughly chopped chocolate)

Makes 48 pieces

Cinnamon Caramel Cheesecake Squares Makes 24 squares

Sift the flour with the cocoa and salt in a small bowl. Fold into the egg mixture with the chocolate chips.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until pale

Place 4 heaping tablespoonsfuls of the mixture on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them well apart. Press down and spread out to about 1/4inch thick with the back of a wet spoon or with dampened fingers (you may like to scatter some more chocolate chips over the top). Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to a wire rack. When cool, store in an airtight container. Repeat with the remaining mixture.

Line an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with foil.

Spread evenly into the prepared baking pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Lift from the pan; remove the foil. Cut into 48 pieces.

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Easy Chocolate Fudge

and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla essence.

• 2 cups (12-oz. package) Nestlé® Toll House® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels • 1 can (14 oz.) Nestlé® Carnation® Sweetened Condensed Milk • 1 cup chopped walnuts • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 8-ounce packages seamless crescent dough • 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese • 1 egg • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 3/4 cup sugar, divided • Flour for dusting • 1 tablespoon cinnamon • 1/2 cup caramel topping 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Unroll one package of crescent dough into a shallow baking pan. Roll out the dough to edges.

2. Heat the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl, uncovered, on high for 30 to 40 seconds, or until softened. Whisk until almost smooth.

3. Add the egg, vanilla and 1/2 cup of the sugar to the bowl. Whisk until smooth. Spread over the crescent dough.

4. Lightly sprinkle the flat side of a cutting board with flour. Unroll the second package of crescent dough

Combine the morsels and sweetened condensed milk in a medium, heavyduty saucepan. Warm over the lowest possible heat, stirring until smooth.

Remove from heat; stir in the nuts and vanilla extract.

and roll it into a 13- by 12-inch rectangle.

5. Fold the dough in half from the short end; gently lift and place in the pan. Unfold and gently stretch the dough over the cream cheese layer; press the edges to seal. Cut off corners of dough hanging over and discard.

6. Bake 22 to 24 minutes, until golden brown.

7. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Place the caramel topping in a 1-cup measuring cup.

8. Remove the pan from the oven.

Immediately pour the caramel topping over the cheesecake and spread to the edges of the crust.

Sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture; let stand for 10 minutes.

9. Using a utility knife, cut into 4 x 6 rows to make 24 squares.

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Beat the holiday stress

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Many people find the holiday season can be stressful.

Holiday hosts may bear the brunt of seasonal stress, but the season also may be challenging for those who have lost loved ones or do not have close families to celebrate with. When holiday hustle leads to frayed nerves, there are some things people can do to reduce their stress.

• Hit the gym. The American Society for Exercise

Physiologists says exercise has been shown to increase one’s sense of well-being, mood, self-esteem, and stress responsivity. Stress can rev up adrenaline, and exercise can help relieve any pent-up energy and frustration.

• Eat the right foods. Stay hydrated and eat plenty of fiber, fruits and vegetables. This can help stabilize blood sugar levels and decrease cravings for comfort foods. Do not turn to caffeine, sugary sweets and alcohol to reduce stress, as such foods and beverages may only compound the problem.

• Get ample rest. Go to bed and rise at the same

time each day. Many adults function best when they get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night, and a good night’s rest can help in the fight against stress.

• Engage in activities you enjoy. Make time for

activities that you like to do, such as crafts, hobbies and listening to music. Take time away from holiday tasks to give yourself a break.

• Skip the need to be perfect. Christmas movies

and holiday ideals portrayed in advertisements can put undue pressure on the average person. Ignore any perceived pressure to have a perfect holiday season, instead resolving to enjoy the time with family and friends.

Stress can impact the ability to enjoy oneself during the holidays. But stress can be overcome, even during this busy time of year.

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Tribute Tree – a long tradition of holiday giving

Holiday shoppers who are looking for a more meaningful gift this year have an opportunity to give a gift that truly gives back.

Since 1999, the Tribute Tree at Conway Regional has provided the community with an opportunity to give a special light in honor or in memory of a loved one. The tree lighting will kick off the holiday season on Nov. 30 at 5:30 pm in front of the Conway Regional Women’s Center. In addition to the lighting of the tree, the event will include holiday music, an appearance

by Santa and a gingerbread house display inside the medical center. The Conway Regional Gift Shop will also be open.

Jessica Moix Kordsmeier with her husband, Marcus, after graduation.

“We have several supporters who choose a donation to the Tribute Tree as a way to honor a loved one who has passed or to celebrate the life and accomplishments of family and friends,” said Dot Welch, Associate Director of the Conway Regional Health Foundation. “In many ways, Tribute Tree embodies that holiday spirit of giving without the traffic and the stress.”

Donations to the tree also light up the community by helping fund scholarships for students pursuing a degree in a health related field.

“What is good for Conway Regional is good for Conway. Knowing how my donation will be spent is very important to me. By supporting Tribute Tree I am able to invest in the future of health care in Faulkner County. These scholarship recipients will become the doctors and nurses who care for our community,” said Jack Engelkes, a regular Tribute Tree donor.

Jesse Moix Kordsmeier would agree.

“Receiving this scholarship made me appreciate my physical therapy education even more by realizing that I had special people out there who cared just as much about my future success in the health care profession as I did for myself,” she said.

The Conway Regional Health Foundation has awarded more than $277,000 to area students since 1996, relying on funds from Tribute Tree, physicians, nurses, Dazzle Daze and other private individuals.

Names of donors and their loved ones will be displayed in the East Lobby of the medical center and on website at www.conwayregional.org through the end of the year. For details call 501.513.5778 or email Foundation@ conwayregional.org.

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