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theapachepowwow.com
December 2016
By KAITLIN LEE
By CHRISTIE WANG
Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again! Neighbors are bringing out those outdoor holiday decorations, and everyone is merry in the spirit of the holidays. Need to spice up your living space with holiday cheer? Here are some low-cost, DIY decorations you can make! Make Your Own “Tree” Use yarn or string to create a mini tree on an empty wall. Add sparkly, paper circle ornaments to decorate your tree and secure it with tape. Instantly, an empty space can be brought to life! Use Garlands Hang up any greenery with Command hooks around the house. This can bring a festive air to a deserted mantel or stairway. If you bought too many ornaments, you can even add them along with berries for a pop of color to the greenery on a doorway or banister. The Centerpiece Every dining table needs a focal centerpiece! Take a clear, cylindrical vase often used for displaying flowers. Fill the vase with assorted wrapped candies which may include Christmas-themed Hershey kisses and peppermint candies. Tie a decorative bow around the exterior of the vase. Not only is this centerpiece an inexpensive option for the table, but it may also serve as a treat during the holiday season! Dressing those Candles Some of those scented candles that you bought in previous years sit around the house year-round, not even being put to use! During this holiday season, you can dress up those plain and clear candleholders with holiday ribbons. When placed on the mantel next to the Christmas tree, they can tie a whole room together! Christmas Card Display You know those family Christmas cards you get from friends and family? Time to put them to use! Because of the assortment of colors, display them on a cork board with holiday lights. The cards can add color to a room. Best of all, you don’t even have to make them yourself!
cwang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of PINTEREST.COM
Staff Writer
Sugar mice are traditional Christmas treats from our friend across the pond, the United Kingdom. You might have heard of them from the Harry Potter books or from the song “Sugar Mice,” by the band Marillion. They are eaten with coffee or tea and can be easily purchased in any British market. However, there is also a recipe to make your own sugar mice; it’s so easy, even little children can make it. What You’ll Need: 2 bowls A whisk Paper towels 1&1/4 cups powdered sugar 1 egg Food Coloring (used to add color to the mice but not necessary) Flavor Essences (used to add flavor but also not necessary) Chocolate Chips/M&Ms (to make eyes) String or Ribbon (for the tails) Steps: 1. Since the yolk isn’t needed, you will need to separate the egg whites from the yolk. Beat the whites until they are bubbly, but not stiff. 2. Strain the powdered sugar into a bowl and add the egg whites slowly, mixing them until they have a firm, dough-like texture and can be kneaded. If the mixture becomes too wet, just add more powdered sugar. 3. At this point, you can add a drop or two of food coloring or flavor essence. This isn’t a mandatory step. 4. Separate the dough into parts the size of mice. You should most likely have eight of them. 5. Then roll each piece into an oval shape, pinching an end to form a nose. 6. Lay them out on a paper towel to avoid sticking. At the end of the unpinched part of each mouse, add a piece of ribbon or string. This will form the little tails of the mice and will help you eat the mice without getting your hands dirty. You can also add “eyes” by using chocolate chips, M&Ms, or any other spherical-shaped sweet. Usually, the eyes of sugar mice are little drops of food coloring, but I think candy adds character. 7. Leave them out to dry and then enjoy this unique holiday treat with some nice tea or coffee!
klee@apachepowwow.com
By MARUKO MYINT
Staff Writer
Every year, November and December bring the start of the holiday season; a time to snuggle under your cozy Christmas decorations, drink hot chocolate, and of course visit Disneyland! The theme park has been a family favorite since 1955, with its happy atmosphere, familyfriendly attractions, and memorable characters. In addition to these wonderful attributes, with the holiday season, “The Happiest Place on Earth” only gets happier! From the middle of November to the beginning of January, the park gets a major Christmas makeover, turning Main Street, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and several other parts of the park into a Christmas wonderland. Once you take your first step into the amusement park, you’ll be immediately taken aback by the masses of string lights and garland decorating the shops and street. A main centerpiece that lies on Main Street is the tree itself, with
a whopping height of 60 feet and hundreds of ornaments covering its every inch. Simply walking into the area will surely brighten your day and bring Christmas spirit! Certain rides also undergo a Christmas makeover to truly put its guests into the the spirit of the holidays. “Haunted House Holiday” is a result of two memorable holidays being combined, with the Tim Burton movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, as the backdrop to the ride. It follows the plot of the film and is a fan favorite among numerous of visitors, causing very long lines throughout the night. Jungle Cruise has also transformed into the “Jingle Cruise”, where there are several decorations strewn throughout
the attraction. The skippers, the boat-driving narrators, also tell Christmas jokes, incorporating the holiday season into their classic humor. Another ride is “It’s a Small World Holiday”, when the ride is shifted more into a “Happy Holidays” theme, and everything from the theme song to the props are changed. The exterior is also decorated with Christmas lights, making the ride even more attractive and appealing. If you ever get hungry throughout the day, trying to make it from one holiday-themed ride to another, make sure to rest and get one of Disneyland’s exclusive and limited-for-theseason holiday food! Some of the more well
known ones are the yule log from the Plaza Inn, peppermint stick ice cream with crushed candy cane waffle cone, turkey pot pie bread bowl, and the pumpkin spice bread pudding. Another festive part of Disneyland during the holidays is the Christmas Fantasy Parade. It has six parts featuring Mrs. Claus, Mickey and Minnie, Goofy and Max, the Disney Royal Couples, toys from Toy Story, and of course Santa Claus! It’s definitely an essential part of a Disneyland Christmas day, so make sure to line up and watch it! Disneyland is truly one of the best places to be during the holiday season, with its merry atmosphere and exciting attractions, you’re bound to make great memories. So grab a family member or a friend and enjoy the Christmas spirit of Disneyland!
mmyint@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPART.COM and SIMPLECRAFTS.COM
