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4 holiday party must-haves A Special Publication of Kankakee Valley Publishing • December, 2018
A2: Santa Savings • December, 2018
4 holiday party must-haves Parties are highly anticipated events come the holiday season. Office parties, gatherings with friends and family celebrations are just some examples of the many soirees that dot the social schedules of millions of people between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Office parties might be governed by certain organizational protocols, but parties with friends and families come with no such rules. That said, holiday hosts might want to keep their guests’ expectations in mind when planning their get-togethers. While there’s always room to try something new, the following are some must-have items when hosting holiday parties. 1. Holiday foods and beverages It goes without saying that holiday hosts will be expected to provide food for their guests. But certain foods, such as gingerbread cookies, can put everyone in the holiday spirit. And don’t forget that staple of the holiday beverage menu: eggnog. Eggnog can be made with and/ or without alcohol so everyone can enjoy this beloved holiday
beverage. 2. Decorations Decking the halls is a holiday tradition, and hosts should make an effort to string some holiday decorations before welcoming guests into their homes. A Christmas tree might be the most ubiquitous decorative item come the holidays, so hosts can make their tree the centerpiece of their decor. Hang some mistletoe around the house, which also can be adorned with season-specific plants like holly and poinsettias. If kids are attending the party, a kid-friendly decoration station can even be set up to ensure the youngsters have fun and stay busy during the festivities. 3. Music Christmas music can go a long way toward getting everyone in the holiday spirit. Utilize iTunes or music streaming services such as Amazon Prime Music or Pandora to ensure that the holiday hits keep coming throughout the party. 4. Games Games can be a great way to keep guests occupied during the
party. From a safety perspective, games that engage guests might prevent them from overindulging in alcohol at a time of year when the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration says drunk driving incidents are at their highest. Games in which participants can win holiday-themed prizes might be especially enjoyable for players.
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Holiday parties are highly anticipated parts of the holiday season. Hosts can take their parties to the next level by incorporating certain must-have items into the festivities.
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Santa Savings • December, 2018: A3
Celebrating the holidays as a blended family
The most downloaded Holiday Songs Music is integral to many celebrations during the holiday season. Whether you’re planning an office party, hosting friends and family at home or simply looking to get in the holiday spirit, you might want to explore this list of the most downloaded Christmas/holiday songs on iTunes. 1. All I Want For Christmas Is You — Mariah Carey 2. Mary, Did You Know? — Pentatonix 3. Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24 (Instrumental) — Trans-Siberian Orchestra 4. Mistletoe — Justin Bieber 5. Christmas Canon — Trans-Siberian Orchestra 6. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree — Brenda Lee 7. Believe — Josh Groban 8. Last Christmas (Single Version) — Wham! 9. Jingle Bell Rock — Bobby Helms 10. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year — Andy Williams 11. Hallelujah — Pentatonix 12. Wizards in Winter (Instrumental) — Trans-Siberian Orchestra 13. Winter Song — Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson 14. Hallelujah — Lindsey Stirling 15. Last Christmas — Taylor Swift 16. Feliz Navidad — José Feliciano 17. Santa Tell Me — Ariana Grande 18. A Holly Jolly Christmas — Burl Ives 19. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) — Nat “King” Cole 20. Hard Candy Christmas — Dolly Parton
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Emotions run deep come the holiday season. Holiday planning can be hectic, especially for blended families. Today’s families are increasingly blended, meaning they’re a combination of families due to divorce or death. Even though the holidays are meant to be joyous, navigating traditions and accommodating the unique needs of all involved — including cultural traditions, visitation schedules, rituals, and religious beliefs — can be challenging. But blended families need not fret as they attempt to negotiate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or New Years. Logistics The first step to holiday planning is to keep in mind predetermined custody or visitation agreements. Although there can be hope for holiday flexibility and generosity, try to stick as close to existing arrangements as possible. Some families choose to divvy up particular holidays throughout the year in advance. Others may do it as plans get arranged. As long as the arrange-
ment is fair to everyone, the choice is up to the families. The plans should be made known to all involved. Discuss expectations The Stepfamily Association of America says that communication during the holiday season is vital, especially for children so they know what to expect. Writing down specific itineraries can help alleviate the stress of not knowing where they will be at a given time. All members of the family should vocalize how they feel about particular aspects of the holidays so that no one is disgruntled. Do not expect others to be mind readers. Perhaps one person is focusing a significant amount of energy on trimming the tree when that isn’t as important to others. Discussing expectations can make planning that much easier. Create new traditions The holidays without everyone under the same roof enjoying traditions that have been part of celebrations for years can con-
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tribute to feelings of anxiety for people accustomed to these annual traditions. Draw the focus away from how things used to be done and create new traditions that all can anticipate. Host a holiday movie night if this isn’t the year to have the kids for Christmas. An annual outing to see a concert or show might be a new tradition the entire blended family can enjoy. Don’t expect perfection Putting too much emphasis on trying to make the holidays perfect can backfire. Blended families must recognize that holiday celebrations will change. It can take time to find a new celebratory rhythm, and comparisons always will be made. It’s acceptable to have mixed feelings about new traditions, but each member should go into the season with a positive attitude. Blended families may face additional challenges during the holidays. Working together, such families can restore joy to the season and create new traditions.
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A4: Santa Savings • December, 2018
Great last-minute gift ideas Tradition is a hallmark of the holiday season. Religious services, family gatherings and trips to see Santa Claus are just a few of the many traditions people adhere to during the holiday season. Many holiday shoppers also adhere to the time-honored tradition of last-minute shopping. The perfect gift can sometimes prove elusive, especially as the sand in the holiday hour glass keeps dwindling. These last-minute gift ideas may be just what shoppers need to put smiles on the faces of their loved ones this holiday season. • Books: Books are often overlooked, especially now that so many readers use e-readers. But books can be an ideal gift and especially convenient for last-minute shoppers, who can even gift e-books. For example, Amazon, which has thousands of e-books in its online library, makes it easy for shoppers to gift e-books to Kindle users, who will simply receive an email on Christmas morning informing them
that their books are ready to be downloaded to their devices. • Experiences: A 2017 survey by the global research firm NPD Group found that roughly 40 percent of holiday shoppers planned to give experiences as gifts last year. Experience gifts open up a host of possibilities for last-minute shoppers stuck on what to give those loved ones who seemingly have it all. • Food/beverage: Television channels such as The Food Network have changed the way many people look at food. When gifting the family foodie, lastminute shoppers may not need to look further than the latest hotspot restaurant or specialty grocery store for the perfect gift. Take them out for a night on the town or give a gift card they can use at their convenience. The craft beer boom has created a host of devoted and knowledgeable beer drinkers, so a gift card or growler from a local craft brewery is sure to please people who love hoisting frosty pints. • Streaming service subscrip-
tions: Many people are cutting the cord with their cable companies in favor of streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. Subscriptions to such services can make ideal and affordable holiday gifts. A six-month or yearlong subscription likely won’t break shoppers’ budgets and will provide months of entertainment to loved ones. Last-minute holiday shopping is easier than ever, especially for shoppers willing to think outside the box.
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15 ideas for making holiday memories 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. 1. Annual memento: Have the kids or adults make one new handmade ornament each year. This way the tree is always evolving, and everyone can track milestones. 2. Cookie day: Devote one day to making Christmas cookies. Invite friends or family members over. Distribute some cookies to elderly neighbors. 3. Holiday classic: Spend a night in and 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. 4. Christmas concert: Host a gathering of children where they
can sing or perform their favorite tunes for an audience. Take it on the road to a nearby nursing home. 5. Dine out: Take a break from cooking, shopping and hosting and stop into a restaurant you’ve been meaning to try. Keep it local to support nearby businesses. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. Trim a tree: Get together with adult friends at a tree-trimming party. Rotate the hosting house each year. 9. Play dress-up: A gentleman can dress up as the man in red and pop into a friend’s holiday gathering. 10. Wilderness walk: Enjoy the crisp air and snow and see a local park from a winter perspective.
11. Acts of kindness: Choose any act of kindness and make it happen this Christmas. It can include feeding the hungry or helping a disabled person shop for the season. 12. Kids’ Secret Santa: Spread the 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. 13. Hand out hot chocolate: Make a big thermos of hot chocolate and give it out to shoppers or workers who have been out in the cold. 14. Read religious stories: Understand the true meaning of the season by reading Biblical passages. 15. Camp-in: The first night the tree is decorated, allow the kids to sleep beside it under the glow of Christmas lights.
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Santa Savings • December, 2018: A5
Be prepared for unexpected company The latter part of the year is full of social engagements with family and friends. Pew Research Center says 92 percent of all Americans plan to celebrate Christmas as a holiday, with 69 percent using it as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends. While many social occasions surrounding Christmas are anticipated for months in advance, unexpected pop-ins are also the norm this time of year. Rather than being caught off guard, individuals can take steps to prepare for unexpected guests. • Have food available. Even if guests pop in for a little while, it’s nice to be able to offer them something to eat. Keep cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, pretzels, and other snacks on hand. Make-ahead, crowd-friendly foods can be prepared and frozen. Casseroles, pasta dishes and stews are hearty and can serve in a pinch when unexpected visitors arrive. Simply take out to defrost and heat up. • Keep the bar stocked. Toasting to a happy holiday season is the norm during this time of
Cheese and crackers are filling snacks to have on hand and are easy to serve to unexpected guests.
year. Toasting requires hosts have some spirits on hand. Stock the bar with a few staples, such as red and white wine, vodka, rum, whiskey, and mixers. Also, you may just want to create a signature or seasonal cocktail that can be served when guests arrive, such as a spiced punch or a holiday eggnog. • Keep things neat. Set aside a closet or space that can serve as a catch-all where errant items can quickly be stored should guests arrive. Gather loose toys, books or stray papers in a basket and then stash the basket in the closet until guests depart. Rou-
tinely empty the dishwasher so dirty dishes left in the sink can be quickly loaded before guests arrive. • Create an aromatic atmosphere. Scented candles that evoke the aromas of the season can refresh stale indoor air. Butter cookie-, apple pie- and cinnamon-scented candles can make it seem like you just finished some holiday baking. Guests tend to drop by on a moment’s notice come the holidays. Preparing for the unexpected can make such visits more enjoyable.
Santa letter-writing secrets At the tip of the North Pole resides a jolly man who collects letters from children asking him to deliver all of their hearts’ desires. Although Santa Claus does a thorough job of making sure children’s treats are delivered on the same night, sometimes he needs assistance with reading and responding to the thousands upon thousands of letters sent to him each year. That is why he often relies on an extensive list of helpers to handle much of his holiday correspondence. According to Smithsonian, the practice of writing to St. Nick dates back more than 150 years. Early depictions of Santa show him as a disciplinarian. The first Christmastime Santa letters were actually sent by Santa, rather than the other way around. Such letters encouraged children to be good boys and girls. Eventually, an illustration by Thomas Nast depicted “Santaclaussville, N.P.” as Santa’s address, providing children with a place where they could send their correspondences to the big guy in red. The Universal Postal Union, an intergovernmental organization
that coordinates postal policies across 192 member nations, indicates that 1,350,000 letters to Santa were sent by Canadians, while Americans sent more than one million and Britains mailed roughly 800,000 such letters in 2012, the most recent year from which figures are available. To account for the staggering number of letters sent, various post offices and postal programs were established to help Santa with the task of tackling children’s wish lists.
In Canada, children can address letters to Santa and use the postal code H0H, 0H0. In 2016, the USPS instituted a new letter-writing option that enables parents or guardians to include a personalized response letter back to children who address letters to Santa. The package can be postmarked to: North Pole Postmark Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Drive, Anchorage, AK 99530-9998. See Letter on A6
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The history of Christmas stockings
Just when the excitement of opening presents abates after the last of the packages under the Christmas tree have been torn open, children and adults alike may discover that there are more treats to be had nestled inside of stockings hung on the mantle. The hanging of Christmas stockings is a tradition with an extensive history. Several legends attribute the hanging of stockings to different people or events. Here is a look at some of the stories that have made Christmas stockings so popular. St. Nicholas Day Rather than hanging stockings on Christmas, many countries celebrate Saint Nicholas Day on December 6, and this is when stockings are proudly left out for treats. The small, inexpensive trinkets are later unwrapped and enjoyed on Christmas Day. Dutch heritage One tradition says that, in
16th century Holland, children kept their clogs filled with straw in front of the hearth for Santa’s reindeer to find. They also left treats for Santa Claus. In return, Santa would leave gifts in the clogs. Over time, stockings were swapped out for clogs. Merchant’s family story A popular tale tells the story of a merchant, his wife and three daughters. After the wife falls ill and dies, the man becomes devastated and squanders all of his wealth on frivolous things to mask his sadness. When it comes time for the daughters to marry, the man does not have money for a dowry. St. Nicholas hears of the plight and knows the man would be too proud to accept charity. Therefore, St. Nicholas anonymously tosses three bags of gold coins down the chimney. The man’s daughters had done the laundry prior and left their stockings hanging by the fire-
place to dry. The gold landed in the stockings, thus starting the Christmas stocking tradition. Italian good witch One stocking story does not attribute the tradition to Santa, but to a kind-hearted Italian witch named “La Befana.” La Befana arrives on a broomstick the night of January 5 and fills the stockings of good children with sweet treats and toys. Bad children are awarded lumps of coal. La Befana is also credited with being the old woman who the wise men ask for directions to Christ’s manger in the Christ child’s story. After turning down an offer to accompany them, La Befana later carried gifts in search of Christ. Christmas stockings have become part of holiday traditions, and this beloved tradition has its own unique history.
Creative ways to reuse Christmas cards Roughly 1.6 billion Christmas cards, including boxed cards, are purchased in a given year. That’s quite a lot of cards to address and mail, and many festive greetings for recipients to read and display. With so much money and effort put into sharing Christmas greetings, some people may wonder how they can prolong the merriment offered by these cards. Here are some creative ways to put Christmas cards to new use once this holiday season has come and gone. • Make your own gift tags. Christmas card stock is the perfect medium to turn into gift tags for presents. Cut the cards into squares or rectangles or use a stencil to create whatever shape you desire. Then use a hole punch to create a space for ribbon or another tie. Use the tag to dress up gifts with something more unique than self-stick tags. • Get magnetized. All it takes is a scissor, some glue and sheets of magnet for a decorative and fun craft project. Turn favorite Christmas cards into mementos that can be saved year after year, which also will dress up refrigerators or other magnetic surfaces. This idea works well for photo greeting cards as well. • Make Christmas card ornaments. Use the cards to create uniquely shaped ornaments for the tree. Cards can be turned into block shapes and hung with ribbon. Another idea is to punch out circles or ovals from the cards and tile them on a foam egg to look like a multicolored pine cone. Explore your creative side and decorate your tree at the same time.
Holiday greeting cards can be recycled into gift tags, ornaments or even framed to stretch out their usefulness.
• Create greeting card garlands. Display cards by stringing them together and hanging them from the mantle or another prominent area. If cards are too large, punch out large circles from the cards and then attach those disks to heavy thread. • Decorate your packages. Instead of overspending on preprinted gift bags, make your own. Buy plain bags in a solid color and then embellish them with cutout patterns or pictures from Christmas cards. • Frame favorite cards. Make greeting cards a permanent part of holiday decor by framing the most decorative ones you receive. Use these frames year after year and put them on display with other holiday decorations.
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Letter from page A5 Many other letters to Santa end up routing to various post offices where thousands of volunteer “elves” can adopt letters and make children’s wishes come true. A “Letters to Santa” program enables children in serious need to get items that can help keep them safe and happy. Parents may also investigate a number of services that will provide letters from Santa, Mrs. Claus or elves for nominal fees. These letters can be personalized with details. Santa has even gone high-tech with personalized videos and pictures as well. A quick web search can yield the instructions on how prospective helpers can get started.
Children can improve their chances of letters being read and received, with these tips. • Identify who is writing the letter and share some details about your life. • Make sure you’ve been nice and well-behaved. • Ask Santa how he has been and engage in some polite conversation. • Politely ask for the toys you’d like. Understand that Santa is busy, so keep the list brief. • Thank Santa in advance for his kindness. Hopefully, he’ll have time to reply. • Write and mail the letter as early as possible, as things tend to get busy as Christmas nears.
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Great gifts for seniors Every holiday shopper ends up with at least one loved one on their shopping list who they can’t seem to find anything for. Some people seem to have it all, while others may be less than forthcoming with regard to items they may need or want. Many seniors tend to fall into the latter category. Shopping for holiday gifts for seniors can be difficult if shoppers don’t know what seniors want. But the following are a handful of gift ideas that might make this holiday season that much more special for seniors. Books - A 2015 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 69 percent of adults age 65 and over acknowledged reading at least one book in the previous 12 months. That makes books a good bet for shoppers who don’t know what to get their 65-andover loved ones this holiday season. But shoppers might want to opt for more traditional print books rather than e-books, as the survey found that only 15 percent of readers age 65 and
for Retirement Studies® found that 25 percent of retirees admitted they wished they would have saved more for retirement travel. Holiday shoppers can light up seniors’ smiles by gifting travel gifts this holiday season. One idea is to transfer airline miles to an elderly loved one so he or she can get a free or discounted flight. If that’s not a possibility, some new luggage or a Global Hotel CardTM sponsored by Orbitz®, a gift card that can be redeemed at 70,000 hotels across the globe, is sure to please. Family time Shoppers who are especially stuck on what to get seniors for Christmas can just resolve to spend more time with their elderly loved ones. Many seniors genuinely have everything they need, and such men and women may only want to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Make a New Year’s resolution to spend more time with the special seniors in your life if the perfect gift is eluding you.
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over had read an e-book in the previous 12 months. Gym membership - According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, more than 80 percent of adults do not meet the guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. That can be especially troubling for seniors, who are at greater risk for osteoporosis, a medical condition in which age-related tissue loss contributes to brittle, fragile bones. Physical activity, including muscle-strengthening activities like weight training, can help combat osteoporosis. Family members stuck on what to get aging loved ones may want to consider gifting a membership to a local gym. Many gyms offer heavily discounted memberships to seniors, and such gyms may even offer senior fitness classes at no additional cost. Travel gifts - Many retirees love to travel, but not every senior has the means to take off for parts unknown. A 2013 survey from the Transamerica Center
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A8: Santa Savings • December, 2018
A quick and delicious holiday dessert The holiday season is synonymous with many things, including delicious foods. While Thanksgiving turkeys or Christmas geese will be found on many a table this holiday season, baked goods and desserts are what many people look forward to this time of year. Holiday hosts with a lot on their plates might not have the time to prepare homemade baked goods for their guests. Thankfully, the following recipe for “Chocolate-Strawberry Pie” from Addie Gundry’s “No-Bake Desserts” (St. Martin’s Press) can be prepared in just 15 minutes, all without turning on the oven. Chocolate-Strawberry Pie Yields 1 pie 1 pint fresh strawberries, washed, trimmed and halved 1 store-bought (or homemade) chocolate cookie pie crust 2⁄3 cup sugar 1⁄4 cup cornstarch 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1⁄4 teaspoon minced crystallized ginger 1⁄8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Pinch of kosher or sea salt
6 large egg yolks 21⁄2 cups half-and-half 6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped 1⁄2 tablespoon rum extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Additional strawberries for garnish (optional) 1. Place the strawberry halves in a single layer in the bottom of the pie crust. 2. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, ginger, nutmeg, and salt over medium heat. 3. Whisk in the egg yolks to create a thick paste. Gradually whisk in the half-and-half until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. 4. Add the chocolate and whisk until combined. Add the rum and vanilla extracts. Cool the mixture for 4 minutes. 5. Pour the filling over the strawberries and up to the top of the crust. Chill the pie for 2 hours or until set. 6. Garnish with additional strawberries, if desired.
Did you know?
Pets are cherished members of the family, and many pet parents choose to purchase gifts for their animal companions. According to a survey conducted by Rover.com, 95 percent of pet owners have purchased Christmas gifts for their pets. While Christmas is the most popular holiday to buy presents for pets, pet owners also buy presents for their pets’ birthdays and for Valentine’s Day.
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