Reporter Herald Gift Guide 2012

GIFT IDEAS

COMFORT & JOY

GIFTS THAT LIFT SPIRITS

SWEET STUFF CHOCOLATE GIFTS

2012

FOR HIM & HER

Holiday Book

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GIFT IDEAS

COMFORT & JOY

GIFTS THAT LIFT SPIRITS

SWEET STUFF CHOCOLATE GIFTS

2012

FOR HIM & HER

reporterherald.com The 2012 Holiday Book is an advertising feature of the Loveland Reporter-Herald. ©2012 Prairie Mountain Publishing.

For advertising information, call Linda Story, 970.635.3614

Table of Contents 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 15 16 18 20 22 24 26

Secrets of Building a Great Gift Basket Canyon Concert Ballet’s The Nutcracker The Sweetest Gift Enjoy Holiday Entertaining Again Wrap Your Gifts with Style Gifts for Her Gifts for Him Gifts for Pets Top Tech Gifts The Whole Kit & Caboodle That’s the Spirit: Colorado’s Distillery Boom A Gift of Comfort and Joy Old-School, New Fun Holiday Happenings

Contributing Writers: L.L. Charles, Melissa Howell, Jessica Royer Ocken, Lindsey Romain, Kristi Ritter, Taniesha Robinson Summer Stair, Darren Thornberry.

Additional Content: CTW Features, Brandpoint Features Coordinator/Editor: Greg Stone Advertising Director: Linda Story

Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 3

Secrets of Building a Great Gift Basket

By Brandpoint

G

iving a great gift basket is like bestowing a buffet of gifts on your loved one, and when the well-puttogether gift basket is opened, well, that’s a magical moment. Beneath the pretty decorations lie enchanting mysteries that emerge one-by-one to the delight of the recipient.

The personal aspects of a gift basket are also endearing. You can customize a gift basket to the occasion and tastes of the recipient, and taking the time to do so shows your thoughtfulness and caring.

Building a great gift basket can be fun and easy. The gift experts at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store offer some advice for putting together a gift basket that will charm any recipient:

The first steps

Begin by deciding what to put in the gift basket - packaged food, gourmet coffees, collegiate items, apparel, candles, personal care items like soaps or lotions, cooking utensils, books, jewelry, home decor items, gardening tools, ornaments, picture frames, etc. Practically any hobby or area of interest can be an inspiration for a gift basket. Base your choice on the recipient’s personality and interests.

Next, choose a container. Baskets, of course, are the classic container, but don’t overlook other options, especially if they fit the overall theme you’ve chosen. For example, load a toy football helmet with

items inspired by his favorite football team. A large stockpot can be ideal for holding cooking utensils for a foodie or budding chef. A planter makes a useful and decorative container for gardening tools.

Arranging items

Once you’ve chosen the perfect container, think about how you’ll arrange the items that go in it. First, add some decorative shredding (available in craft stores, or make your own with colored paper and a paper shredder) to help stabilize items in the container and make it look even more attractive. Then, follow these rules of thumb for arranging items: * Place tallest items in the back. If you’re using a round container, choose a side to serve as a visual ‘back.’ * Moving forward, stair step the rest of your items from tall to short. It’s OK if the rows are not perfectly straight or even. In fact, a little variance in the arrangement will make the basket look even more appealing. * Be sure to place packaged items with the most interesting side facing forward so it’s immediately visible. For example, if you’ve included a bag of the recipient’s favorite coffee, make sure the brand name is showing so he or she will be able to tell at a glance what’s in the basket. * Be careful not to completely hide any items. It’s fine to have things peeping

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through here or there, but avoid burying anything on the bottom. Buried items could potentially get lost and tossed out with the shredding. * If you need to hold items in place, secure them using some glue lines or glue dots (also available in craft stores.) Fitting everything snugly is the key.

The finishing touches

Once your basket is artfully filled, place the entire container in a large cellophane bag. Gather the bag above the contents of the basket, then tie a bow at the narrowest part of the gathered bag.

For smaller containers, pull the corners of the bag under the container and tape them. Trim any excess bag at the top.

You can either hand-deliver your gift basket - which gives you the instant gratification of seeing the surprise and happiness on your loved one’s face - or ship it if that’s more convenient and practical.

When shipping, be sure to package your basket securely. If you purchase a gift basket at Cracker Barrel, they will pack it for you at no extra cost and you just pay the actual shipping fee.

If creating a gift basket yourself is not your cup of tea - or if you prefer to have an expert handle the job - the gift gurus at Cracker Barrel can do it for you based on your specifications.

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4 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

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Canyon Concert Ballet’s

The Nutcracker

By Summer Stair, Loveland Reporter-Herald

A

n annual holiday tradition for many, The Nutcracker ballet, brings to life on stage the magical story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King.

This year once again the Canyon Concert Ballet, Northern Colorado’s premiere dance school and professional company, will be performing The Nutcracker in Loveland, Fort Collins and Cheyenne. Kim Lang, executive director of Canyon Concert Ballet, says that in its 31st year of doing the holiday ballet the company is excited for some of the changes the audience will experience.

Canyon Concert Ballet dancers will be performing new chorography and will have a live orchestra at every venue, adding to the experience.

“This is my 20th year with the company and I still get teary eyed doing it (The Nutcracker),” says Lang. “Seeing all of the hard work everyone has put into and seeing it come together is magical.”

This year the company is looking forward to its performance at the Rialto, which is a new venue for them, and for having the chance to work with Loveland Orchestra, as well as the Fort Collins Symphony.

Those looking to catch The Nutcracker will find it at the Rialto in Loveland November 23 through 25, at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins December 6 through 9, and in Cheyenne, Wyo., December 15. Each event will offer multiple performances. For more information on performance times and to purchase tickets, visit ccballet.org.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Loveland – Rialto Theatre with The Loveland Orchestra November 23-24 at 7 p.m., November 24-25 at 2 p.m.

Fort Collins – Lincoln Center with the Fort Collins Symphony December 6-8 at 7 p.m., December 8-9 at 2 p.m.

Cheyenne – Cheyenne Civic Center with the Fort Collins Symphony December 15 at 7 p.m.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 5

The Sweetest Gift Hope for chocolate springs eternal – especially this time of year.

Never have the choices been more artful or delicious.

By Jessica Royer Ocken, CTW Features

V

isions of many candies dance in our heads come holiday time: candy canes on the tree, peppermints fashioned into wreaths, allsorts stuffed in stockings. But one reigns supreme. The holiday season is practically drenched in chocolate.

Chocolates, gift-boxed or pick your own, ranked as the No. 2 holiday gift last year surpassed only by books, according to Unity Marketing, a Stevens, Penn. marketing consultancy that surveyed 2,000 buyers.

“Chocolate earns its top rating as a gift because it fits the bill. It is something everyone likes, yet it also feels like a treat,” says Pam Danziger Unity Marketing president. “Even though it is readily available and accessible, chocolate still makes the recipient feel special.”

Happily for holiday shoppers, there’s a gobsmacking array of creative, delicious new offerings from which to choose.

If you’re lucky, there’s a handcrafted

Godiva Holiday Trufflle Lollipops

chocolate maker on Main Street in your town who’ll offer a sample before you buy.

Happiness in a box

A box of chocolates is a virtually goof-proof holiday gift. Easy to find, not too costly, impressively packaged and wrapped, a chocolate assortment offers something for everyone. (Not wild about nougat? Here, try the maple fudge!) It’s a gift that’s passed the test of time. The humble Whitman’s Sampler celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Top seller: the 12-ounce sampler ($8.99, drug and grocery stores).

“We’re just part of people’s traditions,” says Mark Sesler, chief marketing officer for Russell Stover Candies, owner of Whitman’s. “We’re part of the holiday feeling no matter how modern or advanced society has become.”

While U.S. consumers have long preferred milk chocolate, our appreciation for dark chocolate is on the rise.

Sweets for Holiday Entertaining

While sweets often make perfect gifts, don’t forget they are also an essential part to any holiday party. For over 30 years, Schmidt’s Bakery & Delicatessen in Loveland has been making the finest German delicacies from scratch, using only the very best ingredients.

For your holiday party they offer a variety of made-from-scratch holiday pies, breads, cookies, cakes and cupcakes. They also offer custom and full-service catering services.

Stop by Schmidt’s Bakery and Delicatessen today. They are located at 808 14th Street SW in Loveland, online at schmidtsbakery.com or by phone at 970.667.9811.

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6 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

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“Consumers’ palates are changing and adapting as they learn about and try new, finer varieties,” says Joan Vieweger, president of the Fine Chocolate Industry Assoc. and co-founder of Choclatique, a Los Angeles artisan chocolate maker.

A growing interest in the origins of chocolate and the conditions in countries where cacao is grown is shaping our tastes. Consultant Joan Steuer, president of Chocolate Marketing, LLC, describes this phenomenon as “chocolate with a purpose,” and notes that many brands now tout their earth-friendly practices and support for local farmers right along with the rich flavor of their product.

New this year, the Feed 8 Origins Collection from Godiva ($25 for 8 pieces, Godiva boutiques) caters to this worldly perspective with a globe-trotting box of chocolates from around the world: Ecuador Dark, Costa Rica Milk, Uganda

A box of doughnut-shaped truffles from Choclatique

Dark and Venezuela Milk. Godiva provides eight school meals for children in these countries for every box sold.

Why stop at one?

At the holiday time, chocolatiers pile it on, amping up the drama (and upping the price) by stacking box on box. A tower of boxed, beribboned chocolates is a generous gift, and the presentation can be thrilling, especially for children.

Choclatique offers a Tower of Delight with more than 110 pieces of chocolate in 12 colorful boxes stacked nearly 2-feet tall ($195, online). The brightly wrapped and beribboned 3-box holiday tower from Portland-based Moonstruck Chocolate combines a classic assortment, dark chocolate and milk chocolate ($60, specialty retailers and fine grocers).

Fancy that!

Chocolate is easy to mold, shape and decorate, and season by season, chocolate makers vie to deliver the most fanciful designs. The Christmas season marks a pinnacle of their creativity.

The Madelaine Chocolate Co., which makes high-end chocolates for many private labels, also produces an endless, charming parade of foil-wrapped novelty chocolate items designed to delight children at the holidays: Santas, snowmen, Hanukkah coins, angels,

bells, bears, Christmas lights, Christmas trees, penguins, stars. The company will sell some 40,000 of the jolly 1-oz chocolate Mr. Santa Claus figures, says Estee Farber, marketing director. Mr. Santa “is adorable, he’s shiny, he’s very seasonal,” she says. The seasonal figures “are stocking-stuffers, and you can afford to buy one for everyone at your holiday table.”

On the luxury end, there are shaped chocolates shaped and flavored for more discerning palates. For the young-at-heart and deep of pocket, Choclatique offers a box of 15 cupcake-flavored truffles – each tiny morsel shaped and iced to resemble a fanciful pastry ($35 for a 51-piece box).

They’re also available as doughnuts. In the fancy-food-on-a-stick department, Godiva’s Holiday Truffle lollipops ($3) are intricately detailed, the wreath with a tiny red ribbon, the snowman with a carrot nose. At Moonstruck Chocolates the whimsical four-piece Mr. and Mrs. Claus or Penguin Truffle Collections ($15) are best sellers.

Even mass-market chocolatiers strive for distinction at holiday time. For the second year, Nestlé is partnering with artist Paul Frank on a limited edition Nestlé Crunch bar. The 2.75-oz. bar, packaged in a gift envelope, boasts a new wide-mouthed portrait of Julius the Monkey and his pal Clancy the Giraffe ($1.99, Target).

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 7

Enjoy Holiday Entertaining Again

By Melissa Howell, Loveland Reporter-Herald

M

enu planning. Grocery shopping. Hours spent in the kitchen. Cooking. Cleaning.

Tired feet. Sore backs.

The holidays often bring opportunities for gathering with family and friends, yet hosting such events can bring out lessthan-ideal feelings and experiences during one of the busiest times of the year.

To help relieve the stress and ensure that a holiday get-together goes smoothly, party planners and hosts often turn to a catering service.

“We (people who entertain) love to cook the food and make it all, but it is a lot of time in the kitchen cooking, washing dishes, you’re tired, your feet hurt,” said Bridget Nannan, owner of Greens Point Catering in Longmont. “We need to take the budget we have and see if catering can help to allow the quality time with our families.”

Caterers can provide culinary help at a variety of levels, depending on a client’s budget and needs, from a few desserts a client can pick up directly, to a fully catered in-home event where the caterer provides a full-staff that offers not only cooking and serving a meal, but also does the set-up and clean-up and the client and guests simply show up and enjoy the time with friends and family.

“The reason for using a bakery or catering business, of course it reduces stress for the lady of the house, to not worry about dishes she has to prepare,” said Raluka Ioan, owner of Romana Cake House. “It’s a much more professional approach; we eat not only with our mouths, but also with our eyes. Presentation is important.

You want the meal to taste good, but also be beautifully presented and that’s what we can do. It reduces stress when you have a long list of things to do.”

According to Nannan, “you don’t have to be a foodie to enjoy catering.”

Considering how quickly dates fill up during the holiday season, now is the time to start thinking about how a caterer can help with your holiday events.

The peak of the hectic holiday celebrating, according to Nannan, falls on the first three weeks in December, specifically the first three Saturdays.

“We also love being able to cook and serve comfort food. Clients want it and need it. We do that and we know that food,” she said.

Nannan said Greens Point Catering also allows clients to bring in their own recipes for them to follow.

“Seasons are all about traditions and families. There are neat extra touches that

Whether reducing muscle tension or relieving stress, regular therapeutic massage is just the thing to keep you, and the people on your gift list, feeling merry this holiday season.

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8 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Thursday, November 22, 2012

caterers can do. We take clients’ recipes and turn it around and serve it.”

As an increasing number of people are exposed to new food trends and ideas through such venues as the Food Network and blogs, but the experience of creating new food experiences can be time and cost prohibitive. Another advantage to using a caterer, according to Nannan, is that the caterer can create these new culinary experiences for their clients, allowing them to try new and exciting things.

Whether it’s a small gathering with a few sandwiches and desserts to a large multi-course event, a number of local caterers can take away the time spent planning and preparing a get-together, adding to the time spent enjoying the season with family and friends.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 9

Wrap Your Gifts with Style

By Brandpoint

T

his year, before you reach for the usual old boxes and bows, rethink your wrapping routine with these simple, inexpensive ideas to help you punch up every present.

Think beyond the box: Hold the sweater boxes and wrap your gifts in more interesting packages. Items like baskets, buckets and tins are not only fun to unwrap, but they can also pull double-duty by being used around the house after the gift has been opened. If you saved gift boxes from last year, try repurposing them with bold, new twists. Decorate box lids using rubber stamps to create a personalized look that showcases your recipient's initials and favorite colors. Or, create a one-of-a-kind package by covering a box with colorful ribbon or decorating it with festive holiday tape. You can even use it to create various designs.

Keep it under wraps: Set aside traditional wrapping paper in favor of unexpected materials to make gifts feel even more special. For glitz and glam, try wrapping presents in silver tissue paper, sparkly scrapbook paper or sheets of foil to create stunning style. For the crafters in your life,

Here, have $10

seasonal fabric makes a great alternative to wrapping paper; and those who love to travel will appreciate gifts wrapped in repurposed maps and exotic newspapers.

For close family members, children's artwork makes for original, whimsical wrapping paper that doubles as a special keepsake. Just have your kids draw, doodle or paint on brown craft paper, then use it to wrap presents for grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Add an adornment: Holiday ornaments, silk flowers and even pieces of costume jewelry will make each present a little more personalized - and much more fun to open.

Instead of ribbon, you can also try tying up packages with leftover pieces of yarn. Not only is it a cute and unexpected adornment, but the fuzziness of the yarn also adds a cozy texture that's perfect for the holiday season. If you're looking for a final finishing touch, try making a bow out of raffia, tulle or holiday-themed Peppermint or Cinnamon Snow EZ Start printed packaging tape.

Play tag: Repurpose last year's holiday cards to create gift tags that shine. Just cut a design or picture from the front of the card.

Then, punch a hole near the edge and use a

felt marker to write your recipient's name on the back. Thread some ribbon through the hole and secure it to your gift for a quick and easy tag that's sure to stand out.

Ship and surprise: In addition to all of the gifts you'll give in person this season, the holidays are prime time for mailing plenty of packages, presents and goodies, too.

Packaging tape in fun holiday prints, like EZ Start printed packaging tape from Duck brand, helps ensure your gift is protected and looks fabulous when it arrives. You can even use it to spruce up envelopes for all of the holiday cards you send.

From cute and quirky to stylish and sophisticated, a few simple materials and these easy tips are all you need to make each gift as unique as its recipient. No matter whose gifts you're wrapping this holiday season, they're sure to find your one-of-akind creations simply unforgettable.

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10 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Thursday, November 22, 2012

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comes a time when home isn’t Tjusthere a place to come for the holidays.

It’s full of memories, a part of your life and theirs. But it’s also a place they now struggle to maintain. Moving is not an easy subject to bring up — for you or them.

The Good Samaritan Society can help you have that conversation. We’ll help you understand how they can be free to do what they want and feel a real sense of belonging.

To find out what your options are, call (970) 624-5464.

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society provides housing and services to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or other protected statuses according to applicable federal, state or local laws. All faiths or beliefs are welcome. Copyright © 2012 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 11

Gifts for

Her

By Kristi Ritter, Loveland Reporter-Herald

T

reat that special woman in your life this holiday season with a gift that suits her personality. Whether it’s giving a class to learn how to sew, a massage to let her relax, a candle to fill the home with holiday scents or a monthly bouquet of flower, that special lady will be thrilled with any of these gifts from local businesses.

Brush Essentials

Convenient in this trendy travel case, this tote provides everything you need to be beautiful on the go. The tote includes a face brush, eye brush, Kabuki brush and brush cleaner. $48. Merle Norman, 265 East 29th St. Suite F, Loveland, 970.669.6777, merlenormanstudio.com.

Holiday Scents

Add light to any room with Woodwick and RibbonWick candles in an assortment of holiday scents. The crackle of the wood wick and the flame from the ribbon wick will add pleasure to the unique sensation from these candles with a long-lasting fragrance. $2.99 to $24.99. Jax Mercantile, 950 E. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, 970.776.4540, jaxmercantile.com.

Polish Your Pout Lip

This fun gift set includes four lip polishes in dashing colors perfect for any woman. $30 for the set. Merle Norman, 265 E. 29th St. Suite F, Loveland, 970.669.6777, merlenormanstudio.com.

Fiesta Time

Add some spice to your table with Fiesta Dinnerware in the latest colors that suit any collection. These options are available in individual pieces or to purchase as a four-piece set for $24.95. Jax Mercantile, 950 E. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, 970.776.4540, jaxmercantile.com.

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12 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

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Sweet Treats

Kilwins is the perfect gift for any lady with a sweet tooth. Choose from delicious chocolates, fudge, caramel corn, ice cream and many other made-in-store treats, or wrap up a special holiday treat with chocolate Santas and Nutcrackers, truffles and candy canes. Kilwins, 114 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, 970.221.9444, kilwins.com.

Relaxing Splendor

After a crazy holiday season, any person can enjoy a relaxing massage. With a variety of massage types and specialties, Massage Heights will treat your special lady to the ultimate relaxation. $49.99 for a 60-minute massage and $74.99 for a 90-minute massage. Massage Heights, 5865 Sky Pond Drive, Suite G-112, Loveland, 970.663.75269, massageheights.com.

Fragrant Bouquet

Every woman loves flowers, so why not give her a fresh bouquet every month for the next year? At Earle’s Flowers you can order a standing order of flowers to be delivered monthly. You set the price and the experts will choose a seasonal display. Earle’s Flowers, 1421 N. Denver Ave., Loveland, 970.667.7550, earlesflowersandgifts.com.

Dynamic Cosmetics

Handcrafted Gifts

For the crafty lady, give the gift of learning with a sewing class from The Sewing Circle.

Ranging from beginner to expert classes, ladies will be able to learn to quilt, make bears and even totes. Classes range in price from $15 to $40. The Sewing Circle, 2948 Council Tree Ave. Suite 107, Fort Collins, 970.223.3465, the-sewingcircle.com.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 13

Gifts for

Him

By Darren Thornberry, Loveland Reporter-Herald

T

he popular wisdom at gift-giving time is that guys are hard to buy for and that the stuff they do want is as boring (to you) as a box of rocks. So if you’re drawing a blank about what to buy for the fellows, then peruse this gift guide, featuring local businesses, for maximum wow factor. Here are some gifts guaranteed to dazzle the man in your life.

Dr. Marten’s Ironbridge Boot

When he shows up at the work site in Dr. Marten’s, he’ll be the envy of the whole crew. Let Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. lace him up in the Dr. Martens Ironbridge Extra Wide safety boot ($135). It’s built to the highest safety standards with a wider last and outsole platform, safety toe cap, slip resistance and the famous Dr. Martens style. He’ll look good getting the job done! Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., 3500 S. College Ave – The Square, Ft. Collins, 970.226.1776, fortcollinsshoes.com

Crown Royal Maple Finished Whisky

Big Foot X/T Tires

If your man’s truck doubles as an off-roading adventure machine, the tires have got to get him there and back.

Big O Tires recommends its Big Foot X/T – a heavy-duty tough traction tire with alternately scalloped shoulder lugs. This is what off-road toughness is all about. Prices range from $190 - $395 by size. Big O Tires, 1506 N. College Ave., Ft. Collins, 970.493.3356, bigotires.com

Liberty Franklin Gun Safe

Sipping a drink by the fire while the snow comes down – what guy doesn’t like the sound of that?

Wilbur’s Total Beverage stocks the new Crown Royal Maple Finished Whisky ($24.99 for 750 ml). Enjoy Crown’s signature whisky finished with maple-toasted oak. It’s exceptionally smooth with a warm and woody maple touch. Wilbur’s Total Beverage, 2201 South College Ave., Ft. Collins, 970.226.8662, wilburstotalbeverage.com

The gun owner and outdoors enthusiast would love the peace of mind that comes with owning a Liberty Franklin series gun safe. It boasts a 1-hour certified fire rating at 1,200 degrees. The 4-in-1 FLEX interior provides great storage choices, including up to 41 long guns (50 model). Prices range from $1,395 – 2,495.

Rocky Mountain Shooters, 3507 E Mulberry St., Unit A, Fort Collins, 970.221.5133, rmss.com

Viking V129K Billards Cue

Front Range Pool Tables offers the Viking V129K ($365) cue for the billiards man in the family. American-made, from tip to bumper, this cue could turn his game around. The maple shaft has been aged five years, and the butt plate features the Viking logo.

It’s a beauty! Front Range Pool Tables, 1600 E. Mulberry St, Unit 3, Fort Collins, 970.419.0816, frontrangepooltables.com

14 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Colorado Eagles Hockey

If your man’s a hockey fan, he needs a new reason to cheer as the pro lockout drags on. What better way to lift his spirits than with gear from your local NHL affiliate team – the Colorado Eagles! With pro hockey on ice, so to speak, there’s never been a better time to support your local team, see a wealth of budding talent and wear the home jersey with pride ($90$120). Colorado Eagles Hockey, 1625 Pelican Lakes Point, Ste 100, Windsor, 970.686.7468, coloradoeagles.com

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Hunker Down Jacket

Jax Mercantile has cold-weather gear covered. He’ll stay toasty on that backcountry trip in the Mountain Hardwear Hunker Down jacket ($100).

With 650 goose fill, abrasion-resistant sleeves, adjustable cuffs, and fleece-lined handwarmer pockets, it’s ready to go exploring. Jax, 950 East Eisenhower, Loveland, 970.776.4540, jaxmercantile.com

.

.

Gifts for

Pets

By L.L. Charles, Loveland Reporter-Herald

D

on’t forget your faithful companions this holiday season.

They’re always there with a sympathetic ear or a friendly nuzzle – and they never tell your secrets! Reward their friendship with a well-chosen gift or treat, guaranteed to set their tails wagging.

Natural Balance Holiday Treats

This gift pack of treat rolls includes three different flavors (Beef, Lamb and Turkey); each makes a great training treat. You control the portions of this pet-pleasing soft delicious treat. The holiday pack contains three one-pound rolls, and you can also purchase one-, two- and four-pound rolls individually (choose from Turkey, Lamb, Beef or Duck). Natural Balance Holiday 3-Pack: $11.99. Poudre Pet & Feed, 622 North College Avenue, Fort Collins, 970.482.2741; 6204 South College Avenue, Fort Collins, 970.225.1255; 2601 South Lemay, Unit 18, Fort Collins, 970.226.0277; 2100 West Drake Road, Unit 5-7, Fort Collins, 970.682.2585; NaturalFeedStore.com

Beds, Mats And Toys

Time for a nap? They’ll spend their down time in super comfort with a bed or crate map from West Paw Design. The Nature Nap mat is an easy-to-wash durable dog or cat bed that stands up to multiple machine washings. Extra layer of padding is comprised of 61 percent recycled IntelliLoft® fiber batting, which is carefully sewn inside to eliminate bunching and create a raised edge for added support and comfort.

There’s also a fun selection of durable toys made from recycled materials, too. Made in Montana, USA. From $22.99 to $89.99.Hank's Pet Food Market, 2245 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, 970.685.8621, HanksPetFood.com

Dog And Cat Puzzles And Games

Skineez Dog Toys

These plush dog toys (no stuffing means no mess) come in a variety of sizes and animal types. Dogs love the multiple squeakers, and they make great tug-o-war toys. Toys vary in size from 13 to 24 inches; choose from many different animal patterns.

Priced from $6.99 to $8.99. Poudre Pet & Feed, 622 North College Avenue, Fort Collins, 970.482.2741; 6204 South College Avenue, Fort Collins, 970.225.1255; 2601 South Lemay, Unit 18, Fort Collins, 970.226.0277; 2100 West Drake Road, Unit 5-7, Fort Collins, 970.682.2585; NaturalFeedStore.com

Keep your critters engaged and entertained with a puzzle game from The Company of Animals.

Developed by Nina Ottosson, these puzzles are great for occupying puppies to seniors, giving nonambulatory or post-surgical dogs something to do, or just amusing yourself while amusing your dog or cat! (Even cats can get into the action, using their claws to manipulate the pieces; Ottosson indicates which of the toys are appropriate for cats.) Choose from a full line of dog and cat puzzles and games, priced from $14.99 to $49.99. Hank's Pet Food Market, 2245 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, 970.685.8621, HanksPetFood.com

Doggy Daycare And Grooming Services

Do you have another pet owner on your gift list? Consider a gift certificate for obedience training classes, grooming or daycare in the high-tech Dog’s Own Grooming Salon. Many people get new puppies for the holidays and then realize how much energy and care they need. Gift certificates make great gift ideas – your lucky recipient can decide how they would like to spend it. Dogs Own Day Care, 224 East 29th St., Loveland, 970.669.4245, DogsOwnDaycare.com

Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 15

Top Tech Gifts I

f visions of smartphones have replaced the sugarplums in your holiday dreams, you’re not alone.

More than 35 percent of Americans include consumer electronics on the list of gifts they want to receive for the holidays, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). With the NRF predicting consumer spending this holiday season will increase 4 percent over 2011, it seems likely demand for tech gifts will keep pace.

High-tech gifts don’t have to be high cost, too. You can find a variety of useful and fun, user-friendly and elegant tech gifts for less than $300. So when you’re making your holiday shopping list, keep these ideas in mind.

Home Theater For a Song

While LG suggests a price of $329 for the BH6720S - 3D-Capable Blu-Ray Disc Home Theater System with Smart TV and built-in Wi-Fi, you can find it only for $250 to $300. The 5.1 channel speaker system includes four satellite speakers, a center channel speaker and a subwoofer to give you a real theater experience in the comfort of your own living room.

‘Connected’ players like this access to a variety of content and services from the Internet,

By Brandpoint

including movies and music from providers such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, CinemaNow, YouTube, Pandora, MOG and more. All online content can be accessed via a home network using the player’s built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.

the charger provides up to three hours of backup power for your cell phone.

MSRP is around $40 but you can likely find it for less online.

They’ve Got You Covered

Even if you love your iPad (and who doesn’t?), there are times when you yearn for an actual keyboard. The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover attaches to your iPad with magnets and functions as a keyboard. A leading product review site called it ‘the best keyboard accessory ever made for the iPad.’ Prices range around $100, depending on where you buy.

Web-Cams Move You

Great Tunes Cubed

From serving as a dock for your iPod, iPhone or iPad to functioning as a good old-fashioned alarm clock with FM radio, LG’s ND8520 does it all. The unique cube design delivers premium sound with its 2.1 Channel speaker system and built-in subwoofer. It’s also Airplay compatible, so you can easily stream your favorite tunes wirelessly. Android phone users can wirelessly stream their music via Bluetooth.

The suggested retail price is $299, but you can probably find deals online.

All Charged Up

LG BH6720S - 3D-Capable Blu-Ray Disc Home Theatre System with Smart TV and built-in Wi-Fi

Who hasn’t been caught with a low cellphone battery and no place to plug it in? Duracell’s Instant USB Charger makes it easy to keep any mini-USB powered device powered up on the go. With a lithium-ion battery and universal cable,

Always the Perfect Gift...

Chocolates • Ice Cream • Fudge

The whole concept of web cameras is amazing; they allow you to see and communicate remotely via your PC with people on the other side of the world or just across the street. But most web cameras require you to sit in one spot, in front of your PC, at a certain distance for optimum resolution. The Logitech Quickcam Orbit AF (around $175 on Amazon) solves both those problems. A motorized lens and intelligent face-tracking helps keep the camera on you, even if you move. And, the camera can handle even extreme close-ups.

Gamers Rejoice

Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the most highly-anticipated video game of the year, is available just in time for the holidays. Set in the year 2025, the game propels players into global conflict featuring advanced weaponry, robotics, and drone warfare in a new Cold War scenario whose seeds are being sown in today’s headlines. For an even more visceral gameplay experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops II is also playable in 3D!- It’ll be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC for roughly $60.

Great tech gifts will be welcome under almost any tree, and with some careful shopping and creative thinking you can find deals that ensure you’re not paying for those gifts well into the new year.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 17

Futurama Farmers of America:

The Whole Kit

& Caboodle

Fun with fungi: a mushroom growing kit.

There’s a DIY kit to suit every back-to-the-earth fancy. Some assembly (and with apples, several years and favorable growing conditions) required.

By Lindsey Romain, CTW Features

T

here’s a grassroots movement afoot.

A new generation is looking to the past, swapping cars for bikes, planting gardens and seeking out organic, local sources of food.

Finding a gift that passes muster with a sustainable-minded friend or loved one may seem like a tall order, but, in fact, it’s easier than ever thanks to a bounty of innovative do-it-yourself kits. Kits for growing or making foods and beverages are an easy way for folks to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty – or maybe just a little sticky – in a new project. Chances are, there’s an intrepid soul on your shopping list who’d be thrilled with a gift that challenges them to make something new, from scratch.

A kit “is cute, and it’s not a huge commitment in cost, time or amount of supplies,” says Claudia Lucero, co-founder of Urban Cheesecraft, a Portland company that sells DIY cheese kits ($19 to $50, specialty stores). With a dash of citric acid and some milk, home-crafted fresh mozzarella, ricotta or goat cheese is ready to serve in an hour. Cheese making is “easy, accessible and empowering,” says Lucero, and brings people closer to their

food source. “When people realize that an ‘old-world’ craft like cheese making can be taken on at home, they are immediately intrigued,” she says.

That old-world vibe can be a plus or a minus, depending on the giftee; but it’s difficult to imagine anyone who’d be put off by the idea of creating something from nothing.

The hands-on involvement “gives you ownership over the gift,” says Orlin Sorensen, co-owner of Woodinville Whiskey Co., a company that sells make-your-own whiskey kits ($149.99), available online or in Washington State and Oregon liquor stores. “For most people, there’s a lot more pride in earning a dollar than being given a dollar.”

Many kits emphasize the grubbier aspects of the DIY process. The Apple Tree-to-Be kit ($22) from Potting Shed Creations comes with 5 Ralls Janet apple seeds, a coir seedling pot, growing medium, a terracotta saucer, an aluminum tag, a hydrocarbon-free jute bag and a reference guide. Ann Killen, co-founder, says the company has been organic since the beginning, with products including wine bottles recycled to grow culinary herbs and

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18 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Thursday, November 22, 2012

contain terrarium gardens, and recycled steel and bamboo windowsill boxes for micro-greens. She also offers a Yule Treeto-Be, for growing a Christmas tree.

Killen attributes the growing interest in the plant kits to curiosity about food development.

“Maybe it’s because there is so much unknown with food and where it comes from,” she says. “Maybe it’s wanting a smaller footprint.” The Apple Tree-to-Be kit offers something else: together time. “It is a project that people can do together,” Killen says. “The process of planting, watching it grow and transplanting the tree to its final spot creates a shared experience.” Patience helps. It can take up to 10 years for a tree to journey from seed to actual apple production.

For less patient agrarians, there’s Back to the Roots ($19.95), a grow-your-own mushroom kit that promises a half-pound of edible mushrooms in just 10 days. According to Back to the Roots communications lead Megan Yarnell, the idea for the product came about when its co-founders, Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez, heard during a business ethnics lecture that it was possible to grow mushrooms on re-

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cycled coffee grounds. After some successful experimentation, they started growing mushrooms for area restaurants. When friends started asking how they could grow mushrooms, too, the kits were born.

Yarnell thinks the advantages of Back to the Roots extends beyond just the growing process, which is why it makes such a great holiday gift. “People can use the food to cook a meal for their friends or family. It’s a gift that keeps on giving, and it’s really distinctive.”

Underscoring its community spirit, Back to the Roots donates a kit and a sustainability curriculum to the classrooms of choice of mushroomers who post a photo of their grown kit on the company’s Facebook page.

Not every food-related kit requires soil and a green thumb. Glee Glum offers three fun candy kits: Make Your Chocolate, Make Your Own Chewing Gum and Make Your Own Gummies ($13.95 each, upscale grocers and specialty stores). These follow the same basic principles of most DIY kits – they’re all natural, with no artificial color, flavor, sweetener or preservatives – but they’re higher in sugar content and are more fun for kids.

Kits offer something for everyone.

Whiskey lovers will get a kick out of Woodinville’s product – “There’s nothing

like pouring friends a glass of your own whiskey from the barrel,” says Sorensen – and there are plenty of other niche kits, for beer, root beer, soda and wine.

Spreading the word about the rewards of cheese making was one of the perks for Urban Cheesecraft’s Lucero. After teaching herself how to make cheese and intriguing friends and family with the process, she started a cheese-making workshop.

“Soon, it hit me that clear instructions, gathered ingredients and fast, simple cheese might be enjoyed by my friends and the Etsy community,” she says of the online marketplace where she started her business.

At the end of the day, the real joy of kit giving isn’t just the idea of gifting a loved one something they’ll enjoy. Like any great gift, it’s about the shared experience.

“With a DIY kit, you get much more than whatever you can make with it,” says Molly Lederer, Glee Gum director of marketing. “You get a memorable activity,

For budding Johnny (and Jane) Appleseeds: the grow-your-own apple tree kit.

There’s a make-your-own-food kit for virtually every taste: clockwise from upper left, make your own gummy candy (out of seaweed), dark chocolate and chewing gum. a unique, hands-on way to spend time with friends or family. Time shared together is what makes the holidays special. That’s why more and more folks are choosing interactive gifts that everyone can enjoy.”

Cheese it!: mozzarela, chevre and paneer in minutes.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 19

That’s the Spirit Colorado’s Distillery boom fuels great holiday gift ideas.

By Darren Thornberry, Loveland Reporter-Herald

T

he next time you reach for your favorite spirit at a big box liquor store, know this: Colorado distilleries are crafting award-winning spirits and grabbing national attention. So if you see a Colorado label on the shelf, you’d be wise not to dismiss it. It’s happening statewide, but some of the choicest and most innovative spirits are being made right here in Northern Colorado. Vodka, gin, whiskey, rum and even liqueurs are all making their mark, becoming sought-after gifts and boosting the state’s economy, not unlike the spate of microbreweries began to do 20 years ago.

Colorado is synonymous with tapping

TASTINGS & TOURS

owned and operated, self-distributing (for now) business – most certainly a labor of love. “With the popularity of micro-distilling in the state, there is a wide variety of whiskeys, vodkas, gins and flavored spirits which is conducive to tasting events,” says Lesnick. “We love doing business in Colorado.”

Black Canyon’s Rita is a unique corn whiskey cocktail combining fresh squeezed limes and oranges, fresh mint and cilantro and the company’s proprietary whiskey. It’s all natural and locally sourced.

In Loveland, Dancing Pines Distillery handcrafts small batch spirits from artisan hammered copper stills. Whole ingredients,

Black Canyon Distillery

Spring 44

13710 Deere Court, Unit B, Longmont 720.204.1909, blackcanyondistillery.com Call for tours and tasting hours

505 West 66th St., Loveland 970.414.0744, spring44.com Call for tours and tasting hours

Dancing Pines Distillery

Spirit Hound Distillers

1527 Taurus Ct., Unit 110, Loveland 970.635.3426, dancingpinesdistillery.com Tastings: 1-8 p.m. Sat. Scheduled Tours: 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Sat (reserve online)

4196 Ute Hy (66), Lyons 970.420.2263, spirithounds.com Tasting and Tours: 3 to 8 p.m. Thurs - Fri; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat - Sun

©2012 Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. MERLENORMAN.COM

Tastings and tours at a local distillery make great gift ideas.

the Rockies, of course, but the number of spirit maker-members in the Colorado Distillers Guild might surprise you. They’re making grappa in Hotchkiss, rum in Lyons, pepper vodka in Centennial, and pumpkin liqueur in Boulder, just to cite a few examples.

“Colorado is becoming known as a tourist destination for people who are interested in experiencing unique microdistilled products,” says Susan Lesnick, owner of Longmont’s Black Canyon Distillery. “Coloradoans have a remarkable way of supporting local business.”

Black Canyon has been offering its sour mash for nearly two years. It’s a family-

Happy Holidays Paul Hummel, ChFC® Chartered Financial Consultant* 970-669-9720 • paul.hummel@investmentcenters.com

Located at: Home State Bank 935 N Cleveland Ave Loveland, CO 80537 Investment Centers of America, Inc. (ICA), member FINRA, SIPC, and a Registered Investment Advisor, is not affiliated with Home State Bank. Securities, advisory services and insurance products offered through ICA and affiliated insurance agencies and are * not insured by the FDIC or any other Federal Government agency * not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by any bank * subject to risk including the possible loss of principal amount invested.

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20 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Thursday, November 22, 2012

.

.

rather than extracts, are used, and batch numbers are handwritten on the label.

The distillery’s most popular drink – a beverage that truly stands alone – is its Chai Liqueur. Balancing the flavors from whole leaf black tea and five spices, it can be enjoyed neat or as an addition to your favorite cocktail. This tasty tipple won a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Among other terrific spirits, a Dancing Pines standout is its Cask Rum. After a turn in the pot still, it rests and ages in charred oak, making for a mellow spirit hinting of the cane molasses from which it came. All this from

a former paramedic firefighter, Kristian Naslund, who preferred the “hard stuff” to brewing his own beer.

A physical location is a requirement of obtaining a license to distill alcohol in Colorado, and tasting rooms and tours come part and parcel as a means to showcase what’s in the still (see sidebar). It’s a sure sign that Colorado spirits are taking off as gift ideas and delightful showcases of our state’s reputable burgeoning liquor industry. There is a local “spiritist” near you who will be glad to show you around, give you a taste and make you feel at home.

Colorado Cocktails CHAITINI

A delicious mix of traditional Chai tea spices and cream.

Serve in a martini glass.

- 2 oz Dancing Pines Chai Liqueur - 1 oz Vodka - 2 oz Half and Half Add all ingredients over ice in a martini shaker. Shake until chilled. Pour in martini glass, garnish with a cinnamon stick.

BLACK CANYON RITA

Pre-mixed cocktail from Black Canyon Distillery. Try Black Canyon Rita in the blender with a little ice or over the rocks with a salted rim, and for the adventurous, add local fresh Colorado peaches, pears or any other fruit.

From Left to Right: Dancing Pines Distillery’s Cask Rum, Black Canyon Distillery’s “Rita”, Black Canyon Distillery Whiskey.

Photos Courtesy of Dancing Pines Distillery, Black Canyon Distillery and Black Canyon Distillery.

With Warm Wishes

From My Family To Yours...

Take time with what is really important and let me take care of the rest.

For a free portfolio review, please call me at

--

. . .. Located at: Home State Bank 300 East 29th St. Loveland, CO 80538 Investmentnt Cente CCenters e rs of America, America Inc Inc. ((ICA), ICA)) mmember ember b FINRA FINRA/SIPC, NRA/SIPC is not affiliated Home State Bank. Securities and insurance products offered through ICA and affiliated insurance agencies are *not insured by the FDIC or any other Federal Government agency *not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by any bank or its affiliates *subject to risks including the possible loss of principal amount invested.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 21

A Gift of Comfort & Joy

Sometimes, it really is the thought that counts. Exploring gifts that lift the spirit.

By Melanie Wanzek, CTW Features

T

his holiday season, take a moment to slow down – and then contemplate how to help others do the

same.

“It is so easy in our very hectic world to forget what’s really important,” says

Marilyn Tam, author of the forthcoming “The Happiness Choice,” (Wiley, 2013).

“This is true even if we are so focused on something good.”

Tam speaks from her own bustling life experience. The former CEO of Aveda, Tam held senior executive positions at Reebok and Nike. She co-founded and now serves as executive director of the Us Foundation, a nonprofit that facilitates global action to address social, economic and environmental issues.

Even while doing important work, she says, one needs time to step away and reflect on living a balanced life,.

“We live dynamic lives, so we need to recognize there is a dynamic balance for different moments in time,” she says.

For Tam, the idea of a life-enhancing gift has less to do with objects than with a special experience. “We have so much stuff,” Tam says. “What we need to think about is how we can help people we love

have the opportunity to relish the moment through meaningful experiences we can share together.”

A meaningful gift, she believes, is one rooted in unique, memorable experiences.

Find activities that someone might not choose to do on his or her own, such as a cooking class, a pottery class or even a hot air balloon ride. Ready to give a life-giving gift? Here are some ideas.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Practicing yoga can lead to a greater improvement of mood and a decrease in anxiety, according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine by a researcher at the Boston University School of Medicine. Yoga studios offer a variety of classes to fit the interests and skill level of the student. Many sell class cards so the recipient can select classes at his or her convenience.

To take the gift to a higher level, consider

C hristmas tree s afety t ips 1/3 of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.

Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.

Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed - www.nfpa.org

Located at

Emergency Number: 911 Non-Emergency: 970-962-2497

Our Family Helping Your Family

22 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Thursday, November 22, 2012

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A Taste of Local Fare

A membership to a local food cooperative is a gift that combines tasty treats with meaningful investment. A food cooperative gives back to its members and the community.

Co-ops throughout the country offer a variety of food, wellness and home goods.

No two are exactly the same, but they all share the same priority: serving people, says Elizabeth Archerd, membership and marketing manager for The Wedge, a Minneapolis cooperative.

The most important consideration in purchasing a cooperative membership is location, she says. Proximity is key. At The Wedge, an $80 deposit covers the one-time lifetime membership fee on behalf of someone else; the receiver then stops in the co-op to complete the paperwork to become a member.

Other options: a pre-paid summer CSA membership, through which recipients receive a box of fresh local produce each week for a particular season, or creating a gift basket of locally produced honey, jams, granola and grains.

Gifts with fair-trade pedigree: a hand-cut mollusk shell set in a sterling necklace and a hand-painted tray from Peru.

A Gift to Keep Giving

Consider a gift that invests in the future of others. Many global fair trade companies distribute their wares to local gift stores and some have online storefronts, including Ten Thousand Villages, Akron, Penn. Marketing manager Michele Loeper says the group’s sole focus is to end poverty around the globe. The organization provides sustainable income opportunities to artists in developing countries by travel-

ing to the countries, forming relationships with the artisans and buying their work at a fair price. “Our purchasing is based on long-term relationships and consistent orders from year to year, meaning artisan can plan for the future and build better lives,” Loeper says. “Every purchase made at a Ten Thousand Villages store allows us to provide real and lasting income opportunity to women and men who would otherwise have no real income opportunity.”

Experience the Holiday Season LOVELAND VISITORS CENTER

1st ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Join us for great local shopping, food, festivities and fun Saturday, December 1st • 12:00pm – 4:00pm

» Free photos with Santa » Free glitter tattoos and holiday crafts for the kids » Local holiday entertainment » Apple cider and holiday cookies » Loveland gifts featuring over 25 local artists and businesses including homemade honey, salsas, jewelry, sculpture, ornaments, cards and more LOVELAND VISITORS CENTER (970) 667-3882

I-25 at US 34 Loveland, Exit 257

CIR STONE CREEK

5400 Stone Creek Circle, Loveland, CO 80538

AIL DR FOXTAIL

25

AVE

Also visit WinterWAlk in Historic Downtown loveland Saturday, December 1st 10:00am – 4:00pm www.downtownloveland.org

IN ROCKY MOUNTA

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adding a yoga retreat. At Nurture Through Nature in Maine, retreaters can design their own holistic eco-retreat, with private yoga instruction, guided mediation sessions and wood-fired steam baths.

34

HIGHWAY 34

Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 23

Old-School, New Fun

Forego the fads this holiday season and seek out toys that have withstood the test of time.

By Taniesha Robinson, CTW Features

S

ixty years ago, when French electrician Andre Cassagnes came up with the idea for a toy that used a joystick, glass and aluminum powder to draw pictures, he probably had no idea it would provide joyous playtime for children decades later. Today, Etch A Sketch is a household name that even made headlines during this year’s political season. How does such a simple toy still have so much popularity?

Toys that stand the test of time “draw you in, challenge you and remind you why you’re amused every time you play with them,” says Scott Eberle, who writes the Play in Mind blog for Psychology Today and co-authored “Classic Toys of the National Toy

24 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Hall of Fame,” (Running Press, 2009).

Etch A Sketch entered the hall of fame in 1998.

Classic toys foster learning and encourage creativity, Eberle says. To make the hall of fame, a toy must attain “icon” status – with wide recognition, respect and longevity – and display innovation.

Toys that are creative or engage the imagination are more likely to become a timeless hit with children, says Phil Wrzesinski, owner of Jackson, Mich.based Toy House & Baby Too toy store. He says his top sellers are usually interactive and open-ended, providing many ways to play.

“A lot of modern toys, everything is sort of scripted out for the kids and the play patterns are not as random,” says Tim Walsh, author of “Timeless Toys,” (Andrews McMeel, 2005). Walsh invented the board game Blurt and is a fan of toys such as crayons, LEGO and Play-Doh that allow a child to create and build “anything that their mind conceives.

Adrienne Appell, trend analyst for the Toy Industry Assoc., cautions holiday shoppers in search of a special toy for a child to avoid “watch-me” toys. “They’re fun and they’re cute for a little while, but they

Thursday, November 22, 2012

don’t really captivate the children or hold their interest.” The best toys allow for play that evolves and changes.

Author Scott Eberle makes an exception for wind-up toys such as a Jack-in-theBox and cheerful figures that a child can bring to life with a few twists of a key.

“As you set them in motion they seem to spur imagination rather than vitiate and degrade it,” he says.

“One of the tenants of a timeless toy is that kids love to play with it repeatedly,” Walsh says. “They don’t play with it once and say, ‘Oh ok, I’m bored. That’s enough of that.’ They come back to it again and again.”

Repeated-play value is the key factor for toys to continue entertaining children beyond the holiday season, let alone decades. And, to find the right toy for little ones and big kids alike, toy store owner Phil Wrzesinski encourages gift-givers to seek out help from their local toy store.

“Your local, independent toy store is going

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that experience with the child they’re buying it for. “That creates new memories,” she says.

Walsh agrees: “When a toy or game can last ten or fifteen years and you start to see a second generation of people playing it, it starts to have more meaning because there are memories involved.”

In with the Old...

Continued innovation is one hallmark of classic toys.

Check out these new twists on some timeless toys:

LEGO Friends

Girls love LEGOs, too – and early this year the company launched its first product line, Friends, tailored to them. Now, some 27 percent of U.S. sales of the construction toy are to girls, up from 9 percent last year, the company says.

Twister Mania for XBOX 360 Kinect

Gamers must bend and twist their bodies with lightning speed to match the shapes of silhouetted objects on screen. Yes, the muscle-pulling risk remains an essential part of gameplay.

Barbie I Can Be…President

Scrabble Flash

Barbie is running for President and standing on her own two feet this year – literally. Barbie I Can Be… President doll is the first to stand without support in Barbie’s 53-year history.

It’s the old word-building game you love with shuffling speed. Build as many words as you can with the electronic tiles before time runs out.

Bridgestone • Continental • Falken • Pirelli • Big O • Sumitomo • Michelin • BFGoodrich

Michelin • BFGoodrich • Goodyear • Yokohama • Bridgestone

Merry Christmas FroM Your LoC CaLLY owned, FuLL ServiCe Tire S STore!

Check this list twice before be traveling this holiday se eason: • Full Tire and Brake Service • Batteries and Electrical Service • Belt & Hose Replacement • CV Axles/Driveline Services • Preventative Maintenance • Cooling System Flush • Diesel Service & Repair • Air Conditioning Service • Engine Tuneups and Repair • Fuel Injection Service • Oil and Lube • Power Steering • Transmission

and, of course, the best selection of tires in town!

2480 N. Lincoln Loveland, CO (970) 667-6074 OnLInE AT BIgOTIRES.COM • On FACEBOOk TOO!

Bridgestone • Continental • Falken • Pirelli • Big O • Sumitomo • Michelin • BFGoodrich

.

to know these kinds of toys,” Wrzesinski says. “This is what we all do. We talk about not just what’s cute and what’s going to be a good seller but what fits our mission and what’s going to be a great toy.”

Analyst Adrienne Appell encourages gift-givers to pick a toy that resonates with them personally and then share

Michelin • BFGoodrich • Goodyear • Yokohama • Bridgestone

Thursday, November 22, 2012 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book 25

Holiday Happenings in Northern Colorado The Ice Rink at the Promenade Shops at Centerra

Silver Jubilee Christmas Concert

Open Daily through February 24.

Promenade Shops at Centerra

Mame “We Need a Little Christmas” November 8 - January 13 Candlelight Dinner Theater 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown

Loveland Winter Farmer's Market

November 24; December 8, 15, 22, January 12, 26; February 9, 10 a.m.

5720 McWhinney Blvd.

Annual Community Tree Lighting

Sunday, November 25, 5 p.m.

Loveland Museum/Gallery, 502 N. Lincoln Ave., Downtown Loveland

'Tis the Season Community Sing-a-Long

Presented by Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers December 2, 2-4 p.m.

Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland

Presented by the Rialto Theatre Center & Loveland Museum/Gallery December 9, 2-4 p.m.

Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland

Youth Art Class – Watercolor Ornaments

December 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Loveland Muesum / Gallery Sequel Building, 541 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland

Miracle on 34th Street

Sounds of Christmas

Presented by Rialto Theater Center December 5, 7-9 p.m.

Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland

Ring in the Season

Presented by Bells of the Rockies December 7, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland

2012 Jingle Bell Run/Walk Northern Colorado

Presented by Arthritis Foundation December 1, 8 a.m.

Colorado State University, Campus Oval, Fort Collins

Presented by Loveland Choral Society December 14, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; December 15, 2-4 p.m. & 7:30-9:30 p.m., December 16 2-4 p.m.

Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland

A Christmas Carol

Interstate Cowboy Christmas Ball

December 8, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland

Loveland Lights

Presented by Loveland Public Library December 1, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; December 2, 12-6 p.m.

Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams, Loveland

Tot Art Class – Holiday Keepsakes

Loveland Museum / Gallery December 5, 3-4 p.m.

Loveland Museum / Gallery Sequel Building

Presented by Up in Lights Productions December 19, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; December 20, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; December 21, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; December 22, 2-4 p.m., 7:30-9:30 p.m., December 23, 2-4 p.m.

Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland

For more information on holiday happenings visit the City of Loveland at www.ci.loveland.co.us or visit www.engagingloveland.org.

Annual Holiday Sale

Pottery and Navajo Rugs

3 Old Town Square Fort Collins, CO 970-495-0328

Holiday Hours

Mon-Sat 9:30-7 Sunday 11-5

www.meanwhilebackattheranch.us

26 LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD / Holiday Book

Thursday, November 22, 2012

from the Staff of Steven J. Hood, DMD Comprehensive General Dentistry A Gentle Approach to Dentistry 3013 North Taft Ave., Suite 1 • Loveland

970.669.8662

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To: Mom

cates … ifi t r e C t if G x a J t!

Always Perfec

To: My Best Friend

From: Santa

T o : Y ou

Grown-Up And S till H un! a F v i g n G

ifts for Everyone

fi hi fishing hunting h ti athletics clothing footwear camping optics & photography gourmet kitchen yard & garden hardware & paint military surplus ag equipment equine & pet auto

ollins • Loveland • Lafayette ◆ Fort C www.j axgo

ods.co m

Wilbur’s Gift Giving Ideas for Christmas Season 2012 “Bordeaux 2009 Selection”

“Tour de France”

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“Sweet Deal”

German 4-Pack Gift Set Normal Price $61.99 Special priced 4 Bottles

Gift Box $44.99

Includes the following 4 German wines: • Deinhard Riesling Classic • Deinhard Piesporter Riesling • Jacob Heims Old Vine Kabinett • Jacob Heims Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese

2201 South College • Open Mon-Sat 9-10 • Sun 10-6 • (970) 226-8662 • www.WilbursTotalBeverage.com