CALENDAR

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

By KAITLIN LEE

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!

By WILLIAM WANG

Staff Writer

Small. Obscure. Comfortable. Nest Tea House truly lives up to its namesake. Nestled in the corner of the plaza on Las Tunas Drive, this tea spot offers a relaxed atmosphere with boba tea.

In a day and age when boba places try so hard to differentiate themselves, some may argue that Nest Tea House isn’t trying hard enough. However, Nest Tea House can surprise you. There aren’t any overly exotic tea flavors or a spectacular, Instagram-worthy wall to take pictures with. The drinks don’t come in mason jars, and they definitely don’t light up.

You’ll walk in and see a modern, minimalistic design: wooden panelling on the floors, simple tables, black cushioned chairs, a counter and some novel decorations occupying the right side of the room. That’s it. That’s Nest Tea House. And far from not trying hard enough, Nest Tea House is doing exactly the right thing when it comes to taking the laidback approach in this time of boba tea madness.

After all, a nest is a home, a place where people can feel comfortable, and Nest captures that ambiance well. It’s a great study environment for someone trying to find the balance between a library, which can be too stifling and Starbucks, which can be a bit too energetic. Nest even offers free wifi, a small patch of outdoor seating, and plenty of sunlight during the daytime. And, because they don’t serve any themselves, you can feel free to bring in outside food. The drinks here are not the best, but they’re good enough for the price (which is generally less than $5). My personal favorite is the green milk tea, no boba. It’s clean, simple, and refreshing. I’ve heard great things about their Hokkaido line of drinks, but stay cautious because Hokkaido can be a bit too sugary. Fortunately, if you don’t have much of a sweet-tooth, Nest offers customizable levels of sugar. All in all, if you’re already well-versed in tea house menus, ordering at Nest should be a familiar experience even as a firsttimer. It’s not the flashiest, and it doesn’t have the best tea around, but it does a good job creating a unique atmosphere. So, if you’re looking for a nice place to study or relax, try Nest Tea House.

By JOSIE CHEN

Staff Writer

Golden Wonder is a luxurious bath bomb infused with cognac and lime oil. It brightens your mood with its sweet, orange scent and its cute present shape, coated with gold shimmers.

Butter Bear is moisturizing and nourishing, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth. It contains vanilla, butter, and cocoa that dissolves in the water and melts onto your skin.

Father Christmas is a festive bath bomb in the shape of Santa Claus. With a fragrance of cotton candy, it has a burst of green that appears as the red and white fizz away when used.

Mistletoe is a bright pink and blue bath bomb that fizzes into a beautiful purple. It has a jasmine scent that helps to soothe and relax your mind by relieving stress.

Stardust is a star-shaped bath bomb that fills your bathroom with a mix of vanilla, rosewood, and bergamot scents. As it fizzes away, your bathtub will be left shimmering and sparkling, while leaving your skin silky soft.

So run to a Lush store near you and pick up a few bath bombs for this festive season. Soak in the sweet aroma and enjoy your time of relaxation.

20

By WILLIAM WANG

Staff Writer

A new beginning. A new year in the upper-left hand corner. A new thirst for success. As the city brightens with decorative lights and holiday spirit permeates the air, ambition comes alive; New Year’s Day is on our doorstep. 2017 opens the door to new opportunities, renewing motivation to succeed. For AHS students, a new year is a new semester. It’s prime time to achieve more, study better, and bridge the gap between dream and reality. 2017 is also a particularly special event for seniors. As their high school story enters its final act, they cherish their final moments as Apaches while looking forward to new beginnings beyond AHS. Good luck to all in 2017!

cf.powwow@gmail.com December 2016

“I think this year I want to get an adequate amount of sleep and do activities I actually enjoy this year.” — Jeffrey Zhang, 12

“My goal for this year is to work on procratinating less and being less sarcastic all the time.” — Angela Lui, 11

“My resolution is to handle my priorities and tasks better! It’s definitely been challenging this year, but if I work hard now it’ll be smooth sailing later!” — Tiffany Zhu, 10

“This year I want to try and do something cool in a volleyball game and make as many friends as I can in the class of 2020!” — Ethan Vuong, 9