Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Thursday, November 24, 2011
Take the stress out of holiday home decor Creating the most festive home for the holidays is every hostess’s goal – with red bows and twinkling lights, the aroma of cinnamon or evergreen and the classic sounds of Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby playing in the background. “A warm, welcoming environment can stimulate our senses and evoke memories as we gather with our family and friends,” said Heidi Thompson, co-owner of Scentsy, a home fragrance company. “Some simple, advanced planning can help ease the stress of this hectic time. Every hostess should enjoy the season rather than fret over m i s m at c he d c ent er pie c e s or placement of home decor.” A festive and safe holiday atmosphere is just moments away with these helpful hints: • P icking the perfect evergreen: When selecting a live Christmas tree or evergreens, inspection is key to ensure it is truly fresh cut. Touch the branches to test
for moistness of the needles and inspect t he tree trunk. Many trees are painted to look fresher, and this can be discovered by inspecting the tree trunk. Once at home, position the evergreens away from heat sources and keep the tree stand filled with water to prevent it from drying out.
By Tresa Erickson
W
ith Christmas come all sorts of gift exchanges f rom Secret Sa nta to white elepha nt excha nges. Historically, white elephants were considered tokens of power and prestige owned by the wealthy. They required special care that only kings and members of the nobility could afford to give.
• A sweet-smelling atmosphere: A romas of cinna mon, spiced grapefruit and peppermint bring a warm, inviting environment to any holiday party or family night toget her at home. Creating a fragrant home environment safely is simple with Scentsy wickless candles, which also add holiday decor accents to your home. • Brightening the home: Whether white, multi-colored or twinkling, i t ’s i m p or t a nt t o e x a m i n e Christmas lights when decorating indoors or outdoors. Check each st ra nd for f ray ing w ires a nd replace any burnt-out bulbs. Also, be careful when using ladders to hang lights and remember not to
A sweet-smelling atmosphere: Aromas of cinnamon, spiced grapefruit and peppermint bring a warm, inviting environment to any holiday party or family night together at home. Creating a fragrant home environment safely is simple with Scentsy wickless candles, which also add holiday decor accents to your home.
overload extension cords with too many strands.
tangled lights, wrap each strand around a rolled up magazine. This will prevent any damage to the strands.
• Storing for next year: To simplify ne x t ye a r ’s t r a n sfor m at ion, organize decorations and clearly label each box. Give each box a number so you know where to sta r t t he decorat ing process. To avoid the inevitable ball of
Adva nce prepa rat ion ca n help make the season less stressful and more enjoyable for the hostess. After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. (ARA)
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A white elephant was considered the gift of all gifts, unless, of course, the recipient did not have the means to care for the animal. Such was often the case when a king would give one to a servant he was displeased with. Upon receiving the gift, the ser vant might believe they were being honored, only to realize later they weren’t, as the expense of caring for the animal became a burden. While white elephants continue to be revered i n some A sia n c u lt u r e s t o d a y, f e w p e ople act ua l ly ow n one due to t he enormous ma intena nce costs involved. They must settle instead for a white elephant gift. Unusual and useless to some degree like their namesake, white elephant g i f ts ca n be excha nged i n numerous ways. Pa r t icipa nts most com mon ly select a white elephant gift within a certain price range. They wrap t heir g if t a nd br ing it to t he appointed location. Ever yone draws a number to determine the order in which they will select a gift. The person with number one selects a gift, opens it and holds it up for everyone else to see. The person w it h number t wo then selects a gift and opens it. If they like the gift, they keep it. If not, they may exchange it for the first person’s gift. Play continues in this manner until all of the gifts are taken. Participants may be permitted to ma ke further exchanges afterwards. There are several variations of the white elephant gift exchange. Gi f ts m ig ht be pu rchased or found, exchanged after or before unwrapping, limited to a certain number of excha nges a nd so forth. Whatever rules you choose to use, a wh ite elepha nt g if t exchange can be a lot of fun, in spite of the impracticalness of the gifts. The exchanging can get really wild when a gift pops up that everyone wants.
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, November 24, 2011
Get creative: Quick, easy, smart gift wrapping By Tresa Erickson
Time to change your ways and make the presentation count just as much as the gift inside.
ou have so ma ny people to buy for that by the time you finish shopping, you’re bu shed a nd it show s i n you r wrapping. You hand out gift after gift shoved into a gift bag with a crinkled piece of tissue paper, revealing little about the time and effort you put into buying the gifts.
Y
and bows. You can make your gifts stand out by using alternatives, like comics or wallpaper.
To avoid the last-minute crunch, wrap your gifts as you buy them. Yes, yes, you won’t be able to see what you’ve bought, but you can keep track of them on paper and color-coding the gifts you wrap, if need be.
While ribbons and bows are nice, you can use alternatives in this area as well. Embellish your gifts with the natural-pinecones or a sprig of holly from your yard.
Go ahead and wrap that doll for your niece, but place a red dot on it in an inconspicuous corner in case you need to find it later. Set up a gift-wrapping station in your home. Clear off the desk in your study, stack your gift wrap in a bucket next to it and hang a pair of sharp scissors and some tape above it. Don’t forget the gift bags and boxes, tissue paper, ribbon, bows and gift tags. You will be more likely to wrap gifts as you buy them if you have everything you need at hand. Just make sure you have some place to put the gifts once wrapped. Keep in mind you do not have to use the standard wrapping paper
Brown paper bags, fabric scraps, foil, old maps and magazine pages will also do the trick. Empty coffee cans and tins will work wonders for small or unusually shaped gifts.
Switch out the ribbon for a colorful string of beads, scarf, belt or leash for the pet owner. Tie on small toys to kids’ gifts and wooden spoons to cooks’ gifts. Rather not? How about a sma ll Christmas ornament instead? The same principle applies to gift tags. You can buy some or make you r ow n f rom old Ch r ist mas ca rds. Just cut t he ca rd into a holiday shape and mark the “to” and “from” in silver or gold.
Keep your gift-wrapping station well stocked, and when possible, buy supplies that will work for other holidays as well.
Keep your gift-wrapping station well stocked, and when possible, buy supplies that will work for other holidays as well. Blue-foiled paper, for example, will work for Hanukkah and birthday gifts, while white tissue paper will
work for any gift. You don’t want to buy so much Christmas stuff that you end up having to find a place to stash it all until next year. Gift wrapping doesn’t have to be a hassle. The key is to set up a place to do it and to do it all along.
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You will have more time to devote to the actual wrapping, and it will show. People will love receiving your beautifully wrapped gifts just as much as they do opening them and seeing what’s inside. They will appreciate the effort you went through from start to finish.
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No-tech, imagination-boosting toys every child should have Ever y yea r, lists f ly a round t he Internet a nd a ir waves, pa rents line up in stores a nd ever yone ta l k s about w hat t he sea son’s hottest toys will be. All the chatter can make it seem like everyone’s forgotten t he sing le most enduring “toy” at the disposal of every child – imagination. Plenty of high-tech toys encourage creativity, but to really fire up a child’s imagination it’s hard to beat the power of timeless, classic toys that rely on a child’s interaction rather than on electronics. This t y pe of nosta lg ic toy ca n become a ch i ld’s best f r iend, and parents will be happy their ch i ld ren have somet h i ng t hat doesn’t requ i re bat ter ies a nd doesn’t stop working just because it’s dropped a few times. Here are five timeless, nostalgic, low-tech toys that every child should have: A classic doll. Cou nt less generat ions of litt le g irls have fallen in love with a special doll. This is one toy that can serve many functions, from best friend and confidante to teacher and even role model. If some of today’s brash, in-your-face styles of dolls leave you shaking your head, never fear: you can still find dolls that offer contemporary appeal combined w it h more homespu n v a lues. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, the popular family restaurant/ ret a i l store fou nd ac ross t he
country, recently introduced a line of rag dolls called Butterflies. Soft and cuddly, these 15-inch dolls of relatable characters, such as a ballerina, princess, cheerleader and schoolgirl, make a wholesome, imagination-inspiring addition to a l it t le g i rl’s toy box . V isit w w w.crackerba r rel.com/store/ butterflies/ to learn more. A wagon. W het her it’s a n oldfashioned metal one in fire-engine red or one of the modern, SUVsized plastic numbers available today, nothing beats a wagon for getting kids moving. It’s also a toy that can keep pace with a child’s development and cha ng i ng st y les of play. Ver y young children will enjoy riding as pa rents tow t hem a long on trips to the park or walks around t he neighborhood. As children grow, they begin to use the wagon t he m s e l v e s , e m plo y i n g it t o transport toys or other children. Turn it over and it’s a makeshift fort or castle. A building set. Whether it’s plastic, wood, or metal, a building set can fire the imagination of budding engineers. Building materials that link together have a leg up on oldfashioned blocks, allowing kids to create increasingly complex structures. With so many different construction toys available, it’s possible to find a building set for virtually any age or skill level.
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You can find plenty of “no-tech” toys to nourish your child’s creativity and imagination, even in today’s high-tech world. Dress-up items. Pretend play is an important way children explore their own potential. Dressing up as a doctor, nurse, firefighter or police officer helps children learn about career choices and adult roles, and facilitates creativity through role playing. Creating a dress-up chest is simple and low-cost.
An easel and drawing pad. Sure, coloring books are great, but there’s somet hing about an easel t hat makes a child feel like a real artist. A simple wooden frame holding a large drawing pad can become the launch pad for flights of fancy rendered in crayon, watercolor and even washable magic marker. W hate ver you r ch i ld’s me d ia or favorite subject, putting him
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or her in front of an easel w ill enhance enjoyment of the artistic experience – and give you a bird’seye view of your budding artist at work . Imag i nat ion is t r u ly the greatest toy – and tool – of childhood. Fortunately, you can find plenty of “no-tech” toys to nourish your child’s creativity and imagination, even in today’s hightech world. (ARA)
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, November 24, 2011
How to find the right gift for the hard-to-please teen F i nd i n g t he p e r f e c t g i f t f or teenagers can be a notoriously d i f f icu lt task. T hei r l i kes a nd dislikes can often change within seconds based on the latest trends and fads. So how can you please even the most cha l leng i ng-to-shop-for teen? Gift cards and cash work, but are also very impersonal. Here are a few gift ideas to satisfy even the pickiest teen.
Clothing Face it, as much as you’d like to be on top of the hot styles that teens a re wea r i ng , you’re probably s e v e r a l s t e p s b e h i nd w h a t ’s actua l ly in. Give him or her a spending limit and take your teen shopping for some clothes. They w ill get a gift they rea lly want and you’ll learn about what they like to wear. Plus, it gives you the ultimate veto power over questionable purchases if you’re paying for it.
Music A s w it h clot hes, most pa rents probably have differing musical tastes than their kids. Instead of a gift card to a music store, get a list
of the music they like and gift it to them via iTunes. Plus, it also gives you the opportunity to learn what they like – even if it isn’t what you’d listen to on your iPod.
“Spide r-M a n : E d ge of T i me� lets gamers play the roles of the classic Amazing Spider-Man and futuristic Spider-Man 2099 through a high-octane, adrenaline-fueled adventure in which t he heroic web-slingers must urgently work together across time to save each other and prevent a disaster that ultimately leads to the death of Peter Parker.
Technology What teen doesn’t want the latest tech toy? Whether it’s a new MP3 player, headphones, mobile device or video game system, you probably can’t go wrong. If your teen has a gaming system already, a new game is one place to turn.
“ X-Me n D e s t i n y � i nt r o d u c e s gamers to three all-new mutant c h a r a c t e r s f or c e d t o c ho o s e between siding with the X-Men or Brotherhood of Mutants.
Te e n s ov e r w h e l m i n g l y f a v or action or adventure video games, accord i ng to a Ka iser Fa m i ly Fou ndat ion su r vey, a nd roleplaying games have always been a mong t he best-sel l i ng , most popular games available. Two new Marvel games from Activision fit both the action/adventure and role-playing criteria.
Players customize the path, powers and development of their character and decide their role in the mutant cause alongside, or against Marvel ch a r ac ter s such a s Ma g neto, Cyclops, Wolverine and Gambit.
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For you r teenage daug hter, a trip to a makeup counter to get a makeover can be a great bonding experience – as well as a lot of fun. Depending on how old your daughter is, the trip can also serve as a great lesson for how much makeup to wear and how it should be applied. (ARA)
Don’t believe the myth that teens are hard to shop for. With the right approach, you can find the perfect gift for the most discerning teenager.
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, November 24, 2011
This Gorgeous hand-blown red and green glass bowl is another exclusive keepsake from Teleflora’s renowed Flowers-in-a-Gift collection. It will brighten Christmas for many years to come.
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Tips for shopping smarter this holiday season With ongoing economic u n c e r t a i nt i e s , s h op p e r s a r e expected to take a different approach to holiday shopping t his year, preferring gifts that provide longterm real value versus those that provide an immediate, but shortlived “wow” effect. Homemade gifts, whether they are baked goods, crafts, artwork or are knitted or embroidered, rank high on the list of favorites. They deliver a strong message that you care enough to give of your time and not just your money. Persona li zed g if ts a lso send a st rong message, even t houg h they don’t require a lot of money. Simple gifts can easily be made to appear extra special with just a few added touches. For example, why not give a picture frame with a favorite picture inside? Or consider including a DVD of the person’s favorite actor, or a big box of candy or even a special book w ith an added gift of a bookmark. A not her h ig h ly econom ica l gifting approach is the purchase of a single larger item that can be shared and enjoyed by multiple family members, such as a gaming system, electronics or a ride-on vehicle. Smaller, less-expensive items that can be enjoyed by the whole family include board games, candles and flowers.
E duc at ion a l g i f t s, e s p e c i a l l y when purchased for children, also prov ide a real long-term value. With the high cost of books and school supplies, it’s sometimes ha rd to keep up w it h just t he basics for school-aged kids, so the holidays prov ide an idea l time to purchase those tools that give students an added edge in school. A mark-my-time digital booklight is just one example of an educational g i f t t hat prov ides i m med iate appeal and continues to benefit the student throughout the school year and even through summer reading prog ra ms. A book ma rk, t i mer and booklight in one, it helps kids track their required reading time – day or night – and, in the process, encourages them to build strong reading habits. Available at retail stores or through mark-my-time.com in a number of eye-catching colors, including blue, pink and green camouflage, it actually makes reading fun. It’s an affordable stocking stuffer idea that will be appreciated and used long after the holidays are over. Ot her a f fordable, but equa l ly at t ract ive educat iona l g i f t s designed for short- and long-term appea l include book s, pu zzles and word games. Even traditional
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school supplies can be jazzed up to create attractive gift ideas when they’re purchased in today’s hot colors, gel textures and st ylish designs. And, since the holidays hit right before the start of the second school semester, it might be an ideal time to replenish supplies in an attractive and fun way. The ultimate in gift frugality is the recycled gift. Once frowned upon is now viewed as acceptable by many, and there are even websites devoted to d i sc u ssi ng proper regifting etiquette. An eBay survey found that 83 percent of adults have received an unwanted gift. Of those, 46 percent say they have resold or regifted items. • Set a budget in advance. Be realistic but make a commitment to stick with it. Some financial experts recommend a budget of 1 to 2 percent of your annual income to cover all holiday-related expenses, including gifts, entertainment and travel expenses.
It’s possible to find the perfect gift that fits your budget and needs exactly.
• Ma ke a shoppi ng l ist before leav ing t he house. Wandering aimlessly through the stores can lead to overspending.
• B eware of discounts based on inflated prices. Don’t be fooled by sales that promote double-digit discounts on extravagantly priced items. It’s the bottom-line price that counts.
• C ompare prices before making impromptu purchasing decisions. Be certain to include all related expenses, including shipping and installation expenses, if appropriate.
• C o n s i d e r p a t r on i z i n g l o c a l mercha nts i nstead of buy i ng online this year. Not only will you be doing your part to help support the local economy, but you might
the latest markdown price rather than the actual price paid for it. Worried that the recipient will see what you paid for the gift? Ask for a gift receipt-the price won’t be listed-and tuck it inside the gift. That way, the recipient will have the receipt if needed.
No one sets out to buy a Christmas gift that must be returned, but it’s inevitable.
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WESTERN MAINE HOLIDAY
The current economic climate is causing people to change the way they do a lot of things in life, including the way they celebrate and shop for the holidays. (ARA)
Returns made easy By Tresa Erickson
Now THAT's a Bargain!
actually find some great deals as brick-and-mortar retailers are becoming more agg ressive in combating online sales strategies.
Something you purchase could very well turn out to be the wrong size or color or be defective in some other way and need to be returned. It is important you prepare for the possibilit y when shopping a nd follow these tips.
Leave items be. Do not clip price tags, open boxes or throw away packaging materials. This could make the items difficult, if not impossible, to return. Wrap up the gifts as packaged, and again, tuck the receipts inside.
C h e c k ou t t h e r e t u r n p o l i c y before you buy. Mercha nts a re not lega l ly obl igated to ret u r n or exchange an item unless it is defective or was misrepresented. Most, however, w i l l. Ma ke sure that sales are not final and get the dates returns are allowed.
policies often vary among regularpriced, sale and clearance items.
While you’re at it, find out whether a store credit or refund will be issued and how much it will be. Return
Keep a l l receipts. Some stores will not accept returns without a receipt, while others will, but for
T he s e a re ju st t h re e t ips for making returns as hassle free as possible on recipients. If shopping online, you will have a whole new set of terms to deal with. Make sure you follow the tips above and find out if items can be returned to an actual store nearby or will have to shipped back and for what fee. Not ever y online retailer offers free shipping on returns.
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, November 24, 2011
Try adding a twist to your holiday staples this year We look forward to the holidays for many reasons, and the food is often near the top of the list. But while traditional holiday dishes are a familiar comfort that everyone in the family can look forward to, there’s no harm in adding a slight twist to your staples to give them a gourmet touch. No, it’s not a good idea to scrap your family favorites altogether, but adding a surprising special touch to this year’s dishes could be all you need to invigorate your holiday meal. Ma y b e it ’s au g ment i n g y ou r sweet potatoes with a couple tasty additions or providing a finishing touch in the form of a delicious sauce for your traditional steak dinner. Even just adding a slight change to one part of your meal will bring a little extra life to your traditional fare. Nielsen-Massey Vanillas offers a line of pure vanilla and gourmet extract products t hat can be a part of your solution when you’re looking for ways to add that extra little bit of f lavor to your classic dishes. They also provide a number of holiday recipes if you’re looking for a place to start. Here are a few ideas for classing up traditional holiday foods.
Side dish If you’re like many families, sweet potatoes are a staple at this time of year. While nobody can argue with their raw goodness, try taking this side dish to the next level by adding a tablespoon of Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract with some cooked and crumbled bacon. Whipping your potatoes with those ingredients, some cream cheese and a dash of maple syrup will have your guests asking what you did to make your usual sweet potatoes taste so good.
Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon light brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter, softened Directions: Combine the stock, w ine, onion, marjoram, garlic, vanilla extract, tomato paste and brown sugar in a saucepan. Simmer u nt i l reduced by ha l f. St ra i n through a fine mesh strainer into a small saute pan. Whisk the butter into the sauce one tablespoon at a time over medium heat. The sauce will become glossy and slightly thickened. Once the steaks are done, spoon the sauce ov er t hem . C on sider add i ng sauted mushrooms for an extra complement to the steaks and sauce.
Dessert The dessert spreads at holiday g at her i ng s a re s omet h i ng to behold. You’ll often have a table full of desserts laid out for grazing throughout your party. Tr y this twist on gingerbread cookies and you’re sure to see your confections disappear before the rest.
Try sweet potatoes whipped with vanilla, cream cheese, and a drop of maple syrup. Top with crumbled bacon.
Gingerbread
page 8 ‰
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, November 24, 2011
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Directions: Line two light-colored, heavy baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt, set aside.
Gingerbread from page 8
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D i v ide dou g h i nto t w o e v en pieces, press each piece into a disk shape, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. Preheat oven to 350 F. Working with one piece of dough at a time, place on a clean, lightly floured surface. For dusting the rolling surface and pin: In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder with 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. This will help keep the cookies a nice chocolaty brown. Roll dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a 2 3/4-inch cookie cutter, cut desired cookie shapes. Transfer cookies to prepared cookie sheets using a thin metal spatula. Bake eight to 10 minutes, remove and place cookies on wire a rack to cool. For a crispier cookie, roll dough to a 1/3-inch thickness and adjust baking time accordingly. Whatever your holiday specialty may be, t hin k about ways you ca n ma ke it ex t ra specia l t his yea r. Sca n you r recipe book s, look for a variation of the recipe on the Internet or just use your imagination and give it a test run before the holidays. Then when it comes time to enjoy, your guests are sure to be impressed. (ARA)
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1/4 cup high-quality cocoa powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Chocolate Extract 1 egg 1/4 cup original unsulfured molasses
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November 25 to December 25
Open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1190 Main Street (Route 26) Oxford, ME 04270
Toll Free 1-877-743-0709 (207) 743-0709
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WESTERN MAINE HOLIDAY
138 Main Street, South Paris 1-800-686-7633 www.creaserjewelers.com
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, November 24, 2011