Christmas Guide
Christmas Have Yourself a
Merry Little
With Christmas drawing ever closer, Nuala Ryan gives you some top tips to get you through the festive season
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hristmas preparations are in full swing right across the capital so now is the time to lay the foundations for an organised, stress-free and, most of all, enjoyable Christmas. A good Christmas cannot be had without a good deal of preparation. This covers everything from gift shopping, to decorations to festive food and drink. Make a list of everything you think you will need this Christmas, and check each item off as you make your way to Christmas day. As you put each list together, you must consider your budget. It is very easy to let your Christmas shopping turn into a monster and for this reason you must stay in control. Be realistic with your spending and avoid getting swept up by all the Christmas hype. If finances are tight this Christmas, why not suggest Kris Kringle, or make your own unique gifts? It is always worth preparing as much as you can for Christmas in advance. Not only will it take the pressure off, it will also allow you to give yourself a pat on the back for being so well organised. Although there are better sales and bargains available closer to Christmas, the longer you wait the bigger the crowds
will be. Never leave your shopping until Christmas Eve! Manage your time wisely to avoid unnecessary stress. When it comes to Christmas dinner, it is important to remember that not all of us have the culinary skills of a Michelin-Star chef and many people take on too much in the kitchen. If you are going to make a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, plan it well in advance and prepare and freeze dishes if possible. Some butchers sell cooked
turkeys which only need to be heated up on Christmas day. Why not enlist the help of your guests and ask them to prepare a dish? Always have festive nibbles and tipples to hand to avoid embarrassment if unexpected visitors call. It is also a good idea to keep one or two small gifts under the tree to deal with unexpected presents from friends and family. Remember, Christmas is only one day in one month of the year. Enjoy it!
A Be Creative Editorial Production www.becreative.ie • Editor Collette Devlin collette@becreative.ie Deputy Editor Nuala Ryan • Advertising Keith Gildea Advertising Sales Executive - Herald am kgildea@independent.ie • T: +35317055469 • Design INM Design Studio • Photography www.istockphoto.com Photograpy pages 2,3 Nic MacInnes info@nmiphoto.com Repro Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Ltd
creative
All card-making kits and decorations available at Eason. Prices range from €1.35 to €10.55
Have a
Christmas
Nuala Ryan shows you how you can make someone’s Christmas extra special with a handmade Christmas card
W and
range
e all love receiving Christmas cards, and the choice of Christmas
All card-making kits and decorations available at Eason. Prices range from €1.35 to €10.55
card designs available in shops today is huge. This year, why not stand out on the mantelpiece with a handmade and original design of your own?
There is no right or wrong way to make a greetings card. They can be as simple or as OTT as you like. In fact, the more creative the better.
To begin, you need to choose your paper. A stiff piece of coloured card is ideal but if you can only get your hands on a piece of coloured paper, fold the paper twice to make sure it can stand. Now you are ready to start designing! Decide whether you want to personalise each card to suit its recipient, make a general batch of festivethemed favourites, or a bit of both. Most stationary shops stock Christmasthemed stencils and stickers which you can use on the cover and inside of your card. If you want to be extra creative, why not cut out shapes of contrasting coloured card? Green card is great for holly leaves or Christmas trees; use red for
berries and baubles, and yellow for stars. You can add an extra bit of sparkle to your card with a splash of glitter but be warned, glitter is messy, so if you are using loose glitter it always apply the glue to the card first and press the glitter down with a spare piece of paper before shaking any loose glitter off. For that extra special touch, why not bejewel your cards with stick-on jewels and embellishments that you can find in your local arts, crafts and hobby shops? Or better yet, paint spare buttons in gold, silver, green and red and use them to add that special touch to your card. If you have any card left over, why not cut out shapes to hang on the Christmas tree, or use the card to make super streamers?
Christmas Greetings! Once you have successful designed your Christmas card, all that is left is to compose your Christmas message. Make up your own special Christmas greeting, or why not try one of these? Nollaig Shona agus Athbliain Faoi Mhaise Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Beannachtaí na Nollag Christmas Greetings Nollaig Faoi Shéan 's Faoi Mhaise Duit Wishing You Peace and Happiness for Christmas
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He’s making a
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Nuala Ryan takes a peek into Santa’s workshop to see what great toys and games that Santa and his elves are preparing for all the boys and girls this Christmas
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orget the doom and gloom because it’s the season to be jolly! Christmas is getting closer and in only a few short weeks, Santa Clause and his reindeer will be making the long journey
from Lapland to Dublin to deliver some wonderful toys and games to all the girls and boys who have been very, very good this year. Santa and Mrs Clause have been really busy reading all of your letters, but if you still aren’t sure what you
would like this Christmas why not take a look at some of the super-cool toys and games that we saw in Santa’s workshop?
1. Little Tikes Torch Available from Aldi, €9.99 each There are five fun animal styles to choose from including Barky the Dog,
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Bubbles the Hippo, Roary the Lion, Growly the Tiger, Moo Moo the Cow or Oinky the Pig.
2. James Cameron’s Avatar This is the official video game based on the highly anticipated film, Avatar. It is available on Playstation 3, Nintendo DS and Sony PSP, Xbox and Nintendo Wii.
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3. My First Drum Kit Available from M&S, €40 This drum kit and stool is perfect for adding a bit of rhythm to your Christmas and will provide hours of fun for every little music lover.
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4. LILLABO Wooden Train Set Available from IKea, €8.99 It’ll be full steam ahead on Christmas morning with this 20 piece train set. Beautifully crafted this set is sure to be a hit with kids young and old.
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5. Fairy Cake Set Available at M&S, €16 Does your little princess love helping out in the kitchen. With the Fairy Cake Set, maybe she can show you a trick or two in the kitchen?
6. Santa’s Little Helper Dressing Up Outfit Available from M&S, €13 Get your little ones in the festive spirit with this adorable Santa’s little helper costume and have the cutest elf on Christmas morning.
7. Monopoly City Available from Smyths, current retail price €24.99 The all-time classic board game, Monopoly, has
8 recently been revamped to mirror real-life property market conditions in a new 3D game, Monopoly City.
8. Action Man Climber Extreme Available at Tesco €9.99 This super-cool action figure is on half price special offer at Tesco from now until Christmas. Your little man will have hours of fun adventures
with Action Man on Christmas day and beyond.
9. Sleepy Time Igglepiggle Available from Smyths, current retail price €44.99 Sleepy Time Igglepiggle allows children to recreate the opening sequence from In the Night Garden with their very own soft and cuddly Igglepiggle.
Christmas
SpringBoost Shoes:
The Healthy
Gift
FestiFeast ve
Nuala Ryan speaks to wholefood chef and cookery tutor Rozanne Stevens to get some hints and tips on Christmas cooking
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lanning and preparation are the key ingredients in putting together a wonderful Christmas meal, says chef Rozanne Stevens. “Compile your menu in advance. Have a shopping list and a list of the recipes you are going to use and make a time plan around this. Know what you need to make the day before, the night before and on the big day itself. “Place your order with your butcher in advance to ensure you get the meat you want. And when it comes to herbs and vegetables, why not visit your local greengrocer where you can often place an order in advance?” Rozanne also advises people to think about fridge space. “Invest in some square containers that fit well in your fridge as this will help save space.”
And Rozanne’s final piece of advice: “Don’t be afraid to accept help. People want to contribute, so let them!” If you are still looking for the perfect Christmas gift idea, why not get a gift voucher for Rozanne's cookery school in the Miele Kitchen Showrooms? You can book a private lesson or take a class at the
school. Lesson’s range from €50 for an evening class that includes a tasting dinner, to €120 for a Saturday workshop, and four and six week classes. Choose from such great classes as One Pot Wonders and Cook Yourself Slim. • For more information or to buy this special gift voucher today visit www.rosannestevens.com
Glazed Cider and Apricot Ham One of Rozanne’s favourite Christmas dishes is this mouth-watering Glazed Cider and Apricot Ham. Ingredients: 1 ham, weighing approximately 1kg (I used a Hicks ‘Pink Pig' ham) 2 cans cider 1/2 onion 1 fennel bulb, halved 2 star anise 1 tsp fennel seeds 4 cloves 6 peppercorns Glaze 4 tbsp spicy apricot chutney 24 cloves
Method: 1. Place the ham, cider and spices in a large pot. Add extra water to cover. Bring to the boil then reduce to a gentle simmer for 25 minutes per 500g, 2. Remove from the pot. Discard liquid. Carefully remove skin. 3. Pat dry and score a diamond shaped pattern over the ham, 4. Spoon over the chutney
and push the cloves into the ham. 5. Preheat an oven to 200°C and bake the ham in a roasting tray for 25 minutes until caramelised. 6. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before removing the cloves and carving.
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here is a certain predictability about Christmas and New Year. After eating too much we set ourselves a New Year’s resolution to reclaim our body. Perhaps we’ll join a gym, or go on a new diet, only to find ourselves slipping back to our old habits. Wouldn’t it be great if you could turn your everyday activities into a workout? Well now you can. Treat someone special (or better still, get someone else to treat you) to a pair of SpringBoost shoes. It’s like having a gym on your feet, so you can strengthen and tone your feet, legs, stomach, and bum, with every step you take. SpringBoost are Swiss Science shoes that come with 2 sets of ‘U-Control’ insoles. The insoles are numbered ‘0’ & ‘2’. The number on each insole is actually the angle of that insole. • You start off with ‘Insole 0’ which means you are at ‘Zero’ degrees. You will immediately feel the difference when you try on a pair as you are standing in your natural posture, compared to ordinary heeled shoes (even runners) that misalign your legs and tilt your hips • You can double the benefits in the ‘Insole 2’, which lowers your heel by 2 degrees, so every step is like walking up a two degree hill. This doesn’t sound like much, but the benefits are fantastic. • The ‘Energy Plate’ is the other unique feature in SpringBoost shoes. This is hidden in the sole of the shoe and is great for boosting the ‘push off phase’ of the step, so you get a faster and more energetic walk. 25 per cent of your body’s bones are in your feet so the Energy Plate is ideal
for protecting your feet and keeping your body balanced. SpringBoost are recognized as the most natural walking shoes in the World, and are associated with many of the top International Walking, and Nordic Walking Societies, including Nordic Walking Ireland. SpringBoost are also used by top athletes Worldwide (including many GAA county teams) to boost fitness speed and endurance. Declan Duffy from SpringBoost explains the science simply: “Any misalignment in your feet reflects through your body. We all wear some sort of heel in our shoes or runners which knocks us out of our natural posture, puts more pressure on our knees and hips, and leaves us with lots of unused muscle. SpringBoost shoes do the opposite.”
Heel Test
Check this test out! Whether you wear low hells or high heels, see what heeled shoes do to your body.
Put yourself in a heel position, by going up on your tippy toes, and you will notice two things. Firstly your knees are going further over your toes, and secondly you are tilting your hips forward. This misalignment put extra pressure on your toes, ankles, knees, hips, and back, and also leaves you with shorter untoned core muscles. When you try on a pair SpringBoost, you will be amazed with the immediate effects. Wear them daily and enjoy how they can tone and strengthen your body. They give the added benefit of burning more calories, while helping to flatten stomach muscles, and strengthen back muscles. Try them, and you will feel the difference. They are available in men’s and women’s styles. Where can you find SpringBoost? • Drop into Arnotts sports department for a pair or if you want to find your local stockist call 012765155 or email: info pacellisports.com
Christmas
All you want for
Elle MacPherson Cupcake, Deep Charcoal Bra €62 and Brief €34
Make this Christmas one to remember, full of joyful memories to treasure with a surprise gift for a loved one. Her
Shaun Leane Ring €350 Brown Thomas
Alexander McQueen Red Glove Clutch €580
This Amaryllis gift set is a great stocking filler Aldi €2.99
Tess Daly Beauty Spa Treats €20 M&S
Him
This Roberts Revival Radio is perfect for the vintage enthusiast €195 M&S
Dolce & Gabbana High Shine Wallet €175
Paul Smith Cufflinks from €90
TomTom available from Reads of Nassau St, Dublin 2 €119
Paco Rabanne Ultrared Man Eau de Toilette Spray
Stripe Tassel Scarf €13 M&S
Monica Vinader Rings from €65 Brown Thomas
glitz
Get your
Available from feemans.com
on
With plans for Christmas party celebrations well under way it’s now time to decide what to wear, writes Collette Devlin
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hristmas is all about sparkle, lots of sparkle! Indeed, this festive season fashion and makeup trends are all about sparkle – from hair accessories to shiny metallic eyes to glitzy little dresses. Choosing the perfect party dress has never been easier as all the high street stores are brimming with pretty sparkling numbers so you can’t go wrong. You’ll find strapless, off-the-shoulder, sequined, sculpted and shiny
Pearls of Extravagance Hair Comb from GlitzySecrets
dresses from mini to midlength to glamorous evening gowns. There is no escaping the 80s shoulder pad dress which is everywhere but don’t fret because there are designs in this style to suit all shapes. The LBD is also back with
Bobbi Brown Black Plum Deluxe Trunk
a bang – just on time for the festivities, which is great news if you are a little strapped for cash. Accessorise your favourite little black dress with this season’s highheeled ankle boots and a glitzy bag and you’re ready to
go. If you have the time, try customising it with some sequins and sparkles yourself. Purple is this festive season’s new red, from violet berries to rich plums, the purple reign of colour is everywhere on the catwalks. Clinique’s new ‘Black Tie Violets’ colour collection is a sweetly feminine, yet bold line which features a range of girly violet tones that mirror the festivity and allure of the season. Smoky eyes are still on-trend, although there are several takes on the smoky eye this Christmas, with colours such as blue, gold or violet taking over from black. Some of the hottest holiday makeup looks include eyes and cheeks in hues of luxurious plums and vibrant violets complemented by glossy lips, Hollywood red and gothic blackcurrant lips, metallic eyes of silver, bronze and gold, as well as the perfect nude pout. Striking fake eyelashes with lashings of mascara are essential to complete your party look, along with black liquid eyeliner flicks. Achieve the perfect Christmas party hairstyle by adding something simple like a headband, ribbons, or hairpin for extra glam. Curls and waves are also ideal for the holiday season. Glamorous updos are great for showing off those new holiday earrings and pretty hairclips. MAC Lip Kit
Make-up palet available from asos.com
Diamante flower headband from Tesco
News Become a Santa Baby with LA Make-Up this Christmas
LA Make-Up Academy are not only Ireland's leading training institute in Make-Up Artistry, Beauty Therapy and Fashion Styling, they also offer a wide range of services to meet all your beauty needs this Christmas. Treat yourself, or a loved one this Christmas with a luxurious treatment or gift voucher. With a range extending from make-up applications, one to one lessons, manicures, spray tans and fashion styling sessions - all enjoyed with a glass of bubbly - there is something to suit everyone! Enjoy Christmas in style, or kick-start your New Year with a new you! Contact LA Make-Up on 01 6751999 or visit www.lamakeupacademy.com
Delicious food this Christmas at Da Enzo’s
Da Enzo Restaurant located at 10 Malahide Road is open seven days a week. Catering for all kinds of parties in their new function room, it’s the perfect venue for your Christmas party. Lunch specials start from only €13 Monday to Saturday, from 12pm – 4pm. There is free parking available and you can leave your car overnight if you wish. Come dine at Da Enzo today and enjoy a wonderful experience and delicious Italian food. Also open Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Book now at 01 4420013.
Experience Diamond Heaven this Christmas
Dublin’s Latest Boutique Diamond Store opened it’s doors on Wicklow Street this month. Offering the widest range of styles and the best priced diamonds in Ireland, it really is diamond heaven. CARATz aim to provide their clients with prices on-par with Antwerp and the U.S. Their in-house design service provides clients with the ability to design their own jewellery. CARATz cater for all budgets with a 1ct GColour SI Clarity, Platinum Ring available from an amazing €3,990. With their unlimited range, unbeatable prices and world-class customer service, there really is no other place to equal the CARATz experience. Telephone 01 6169954 or visit www.caratz.ie
Let your Pearly Whites shine this Christmas
Teeth Whitening Ireland was established in 2005 to provide safe and effective teeth whitening at an affordable cost. At that time there was no other viable alternative than visiting a cosmetic dentist. Teeth Whitening Ireland was Ireland's first online supplier of teeth whitener. Teeth Whitening Ireland sells Dr George’s Dental White which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show as America’s best kept secret. Dental White is a home teeth whitening kit which contains safe, professional, dental strength teeth whitening gel and customizable mouth trays. The result is beautifully white teeth for €39.99 and with next day delivery it would make an ideal Christmas present. Visit www.teethwhitening.ie for more information.
Look fabulous this Christmas
Imagine having smooth, hair free skin without shaving, waxing, plucking, or bleaching. Using the latest Candela Laser technology, GentleLase at Face and Body offers safe, fast, effective treatments for both men and women. Unlike other treatments, the GentleLase process is easy, requiring no creams or gels, no pre-treatment waxing, and no needles. Treatments are comfortable, treating hair follicles in a fraction of the time of other methods, and using only the gentle power of laser light. FAB are offering an unbeatable deal with 70 per cent off when you sign up for a course of three areas or more! Book today at (01) 6336400.
Bringing innovation to the classroom with HomeVision
Although funding for schools has been hit in recent budgets, HomeVision, an Irish company providing telephone, broadband, and digital TV, are providing an innovative programme for students and teachers alike. Whilst most schools are busy trying to afford resources through traditional cake sales and sponsored read-a-thons, HomeVision and Promethean, a global-leading manufacturer of interactive classroom technology, have teamed up to offer fabulous interactive whiteboards in return for parents and friends signing up to HomeVision’s Broadband service. This programme requires 30 and 40 sign-ups respectively - depending on the type of whiteboard you want - and people benefit with huge savings in comparison to other competitors. So far, the response has been very positive from Principals and parents alike. This initiative by HomeVision brings a silver lining to the classroom, providing affordable resources at an otherwise difficult time. For further information on the programme visit www.homevision.ie / schools.
Galore Gadgets
What do you get a person who has everything? A gadget of course! Check out our top 10 choices.
DVD Multimedia Micro System available at Aldi €89.99
Put your skills to the test with this talking Chess Professor from Aldi €24.99
This HP Notebook, Vivienne Tam special edition is only €585 at Marks and Spencer Aldi’s iPod Docking Station €34.99
Sony X30 digital camcorder - €349
Samsung has launched its first 22” HD Ready LCD TV with built in DVD player for the ultimate Christmas present! €399
This superfast Samsung Jet phone is available from €49 on bill pay from O2
Chic and contemporary Icona Espresso and Cappuccino maker €200 This digital golf scope is perfect for all lovers of the game. €9.99 at Aldi
Make someone’s Christmas with an Xbox 360Elite Console €249.99