EVERY BUSY WOMAN’S GUIDE TO
holiday survival Make your list and check it twice with the Holiday Survival Guide including: • Women-Recommended Businesses • Shopping Maps • Entertaining Tips • Decorating How To’s Don’t see something listed? Please visit EveryBusyWoman.com for daily updates on what’s hot and happening this season and more recommended favorites in the Lowcountry and beyond! Happy Holidays! Betty Betty@EveryBusyWoman.com
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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS Friday, November 8 - Tuesday, December 31: Holiday Festival of Lights James Island County Park is illuminated with hundreds of breathtaking light displays on a three-mile drive. Park the car and experience exciting attractions custom-designed for holiday cheer at Santa's Village and Winter Wonderland including Outdoor Holiday Movie nights and Children's Museum of the Lowcountry Craft Night. www.ccprc.com Saturday, November 30: Charleston Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Join Mayor Riley for holiday merriment in Marion Square as tree lighting festivities kick off at 4:30 pm following the kick off of the special extended Holiday Farmers Market. www.charlestonarts.org Sunday, December 1: Chanukah in the Square www.charlestonarts.org Sunday, December 1: Charleston Christmas Parade The parade is from 2pm to 4pm, and begins at the intersection of Calhoun and Meeting Streets and proceeds down King Street to Broad Street to Lockwood Blvd. www.charlestonarts.org Saturday, December 7: Holiday Parade of Boats The parade begins at approximately 5 pm near the Mt. Pleasant side and ends in the Ashley River, (after processing down the Charleston side of the Cooper River), at approximately 7:30 pm. www.charlestonarts.org Sunday, December 8: Mt Pleasant Christmas Light Parade & Tree Lighting The tree lighting and fireworks display begins at approximately 5:30 pm at Moultrie Middle School, immediately followed by the parade with more than 100 floats marching down Coleman Boulevard beginning at around 5:45 pm concluding at the Sea Island Shopping Center around 7:15 pm. www.comeonovermp.com Friday, December 13: King Street Shop Walk More than 60 King Street retailers offer a night of discounted shopping, holiday celebration and entertaining fun all benefitting the Center for Women. www.kingstreetshopwalk.com Saturday, December 14: Historic Holiday Fun Event Learn about Christmas traditions of the past, enjoy hearing Twas the Night Before Christmas and participating in fun holiday crafts at The Charleston Museum. www.charlestonmuseum.org Sunday, December 22: Christmas Classical Kids Concert Sing along to favorite holiday songs and listen as well loved stories come to life with classical music from Chamber Music Charleston. www.chambermusiccharleston.com
For a complete list of events, visit EveryBusyWoman.com and ChristmasinCharleston.com.
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ENTERTAINING GUESTS When the family is coming to your home for the holidays, give them this list for suggestions on how to spend their time in Charleston. Museums The Charleston Museum Mile includes 6 museums, 5 nationally important historic houses, 4 scenic parks and a Revolutionary War powder magazine, as well as numerous historic houses of worship and public buildings including the Market and City Hall. charlestonmuseummile.org
Theatre Visit CharlestonArts.org for a full list of shows and concerts performed throughout the Lowcountry. And don't miss Every Busy Woman's favorite place to laugh Theatre 99 (page 21) - home of Charleston's improv and sketch comedy. theatre99.com
Music Want to hear great local music? No one has a more comprehensive, well-informed list than Metronome Charleston. metronomecharleston.com
Tours You must see Charleston from the water and the combination packages offered by Charleston Harbor Tours include plantation and carriage tours as well. charlestonharbortours.com
Shopping Print out your holiday magic parking voucher at CharlestonArts.org and stroll beautiful downtown Charleston for world-class shopping and dining.
For fun things to do with kids, see page XX. For a list of special holiday events, see page 6.
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THANKSGIVING CENTERPIECE Casey O'Dell of O'Dell Landscaping shares a surprisingly easy yet stunning Thanksgiving arrangement using a pumpkin and succulents to create an impressive holiday display. ❏ Materials: Pumpkin; Sphagnum Moss; Shallow Dish or Bowl;
Floral Pins; Succulents; Tillandsias - aka: air plants; Found objects like moss, lichen and Resurrection Fern; Sharpened garden shears ❏ Clip the stem of your pumpkin for a nice, even surface on the
top of the pumpkin. ❏ Put the Sphagnum Moss in a bowl, mist with water, then toss
like a salad to moisten the moss. Place a generous portion of moss on the top of the pumpkin pressing down to make a "base" for your plantings. ❏ Select a succulent, remove from pot and brush away the dirt from
the roots. If roots are too long, use your shears to snip them until a manageable length. ❏ Position the succulent on the pumpkin as desired and use a floral pin to secure the plant to the pumpkin - pinning the roots, not the plant itself. ❏ Repeat this process with succulents and found objects making sure to vary the trailing plants, height and colors to create layers and depth. You may also easily divide the succulent into multiple plants by delicately separating at the roots. ❏ Using moss, lichen and other found objects, cover the floral pins so that none are visible. Use any trimmings that have fallen off the plants to make "bundles" in places that need extra dimension. Tuck moss underneath plants to give them needed lift. ❏ Place air plants and found objects in last to complete the look, texture and dimension you envision for your pumpkin. ❏ This looks great as a table centerpiece or on the front porch stairs. Easy to care for, simply mist or spray lightly with water once a week to keep the moss moist. Once ready to disassemble, compost the pumpkin and place the succulents in dirt to keep the plants for future projects or to display on their own.
For step-by-step, illustrated instructions visit EveryBusyWoman.com.
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HOLIDAY DECORATING Making a Wreath
Garland Go-To’s
1. Purchase a wire wreath form at a craft store, or take 2 coat hangers, and form them into the shape of a circle, wrapping them with floral tape to secure them together.
1. Pick your medium: cranberries, popcorn, beads, can tabs, CD’s or decorative paper. 2. String it: for items like cranberries, use a needle and a very-long, sturdy thread. For tabs or CD’s, you can use twine or ribbon. For paper, make a chain by looping the paper into rings and securing them together.
2. Wrap your wreath form using grasses, branches or vines. Overlap your chosen medium, using wire or hot glue to secure it to your wreath form. 3. Add decoration using wire or hot glue to secure it. For Halloween, try wrapped-candy. Thanksgiving wreaths look great with acorns, leaves or small pumpkins. Use pinecones, birds, berries or snowflakes for a Christmas. wreath. Silver bells and blue ribbon look beautiful in a Hanukkah wreath. 4. Think outside the “ring”! Wreaths don’t have to be circular, try square and rectangular shapes for a nice change. Decorative items are all around you, like wine corks, bottle caps or tiny framed pictures!
3. Go au natural using evergreen trimmings or dried fall leaves secured together with floral wire.
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Just east of bustling Meeting Street is the French Quarter with charming galleries and boutiques tucked away on tree-lined streets. The recently-renovated Old City Market and Market Street boasts local treasures from sweet grass baskets to pralines. Step off of Broad Street into galleries and gift shops, and stop at a boutique, coffee shop or eatery on East Bay Street. Just off Upper King, Cannonborough-Elliotborough has hip and colorful, locally-owned shops and eateries.
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A walk down King Street takes you from the eclectic, locally-owned shops on Upper King, to the upscale boutiques and national-chain stores mid-peninsula, to the galleries and antique shops on Lower King Street.
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DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON SHOPPING
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PARTY PLANNING CHECKLIST ❍ Select a date, time, theme & location ❍ Choose & Send Invitations (by mail or email) ❍ Food
❍ Appetizers ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
❍ Sides
❍ Main Course ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
❍ Desserts ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
❍ Caterer’s Number: ________________________________________ ❍ Beverages
❍ Beer ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
❍ Wine: Red & White
❍ Non-Alcoholic Beverages ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
❍ Ice, Ice Bucket/Tongs & Garnishes ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
❍ Bartender’s Number: ________________________________________ ❍ Other ❍ Tables & Chairs ❍ Napkins/Plates/Cutlery ❍ Music
❍ Clean Up/Trash Receptacles ❍ Platters/Trays & Serving Utensils ❍ Hand Towels & Soap for Guests
❍ Decorations ❍ Glasses & Cups ❍ Cab Service Numbers
✃
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Highway 17 North is flanked by several shopping centers with a mix of locally-owned stores and national chains. Tucked in between the centers are antique shops, home good stores and more. On Coleman Boulevard, you'll find charming stores with great local-finds, the Mt Pleasant Farmer's Market on Tuesdays, the Old Village area and Shem Creek offer fabulous dining options. Head further east to Sullivan's Island or Isle of Palms for laid-back shops and restaurants lining the ocean. Spas, upscale clothing and fabulous gift shops can be found at the Belle Hall Shopping Center at 526 and Long Point Road. Cross over the Wando to Daniel Island for more great locally-owned shops. Venture off the highway into the enchanting I'On Village for locally-owned gems and restaurant in a charming, strollable setting.
• Wide Variety of Art Classes/Workshops for Adults and Kids
eosartsupply@gmail.com www.eosartsupply.com
843.881.2588
1405 Ben Sawyer Boulevard, Suite 102, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
DIY HOLIDAY CARD IDEAS Custom art Use a scanner to scan in your child's drawing or one of your own pieces. Personalize e-cards E-cards are eco friendly and cost-efficient. Consider personalizing it with links to your favorite recipes, a family letter with links to photos or compile your favorite holiday music and include a link to the playlist. Share a recipe Use a recipe card to write out your favorite holiday recipe and sign your family's name to the back. Deck the halls Make an ornament or an easy lettered-garland that doubles as your holiday card. C'mon get crafty From potato stamps to upcycled holiday cards or wrapping paper, visit our Homemade Holiday Cards board for inspiration Pinterest.com/EveryBusyWoman.
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• Fine Art Supplies
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Highway 61/St Andrews Boulevard and Ashley River Road boast several restaurants and gift shops tucked in between professional business offices. You'll also find large discount retailers like TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Kohls. Sam Rittenburg is home to the Citadel Mall anchored by Belk and Dillard's. Along Sam Rittenburg, there are shopping centers with national chains and locally-owned home goods, beauty and fashion stores. In the Old Towne area, you'll find home furnishing and accessories and antique shops along with local eateries. The bustling Windermere Boulevard shopping area has fabulous clothing boutiques, shoe stores, gifts and stationery shops, spas, local eateries and the Earth Fare green shopping market.
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The funky Shops at Avondale off Highway 17 South feature gifts, clothing, consignment shopping, bars and more. Continue down 17 to find various shopping centers in between the area's "Auto Mile".
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WEST ASHLEY SHOPPING
Pondering what to wear while reading and re-reading the invitation? Here's the dress code decoded:
Work Best If it's a work function, keep it in the realm of work-appropriate. Upgrade your business suit with a fun leather skirt paired with a button down and great heels and accessories. Festive Attire Put back the light up reindeer sweater and opt for a casual look with a little oomph. Add sparkle tastefully with jewelry, a touch of bling (sequined tank under a tailored jacket) or in fun accessories like handbags, hats or shoes. Pair bright holiday colors with neutrals; metallics particularly work well for the holidays. Cocktail Attire More casual than formal but still dressed up. Think flirty dresses that hit above the knee glammed up with accessories. Tip: A fun trend to try for the season is decorative nail art. There are how-to's all over Pinterest or take a photo to your nail tech for a pro job. Try glitter details or adornments like snowflakes.
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HOLIDAY WHAT TO WEAR