One Gift Fits All!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Giftscriptions – the only gift delivered all year long.
2 Subscriptions
FOR THE PRICE OF 1!
One as a gift – One for yourself OR Two gift subscriptions For more details ➤ see ad on page 5
Check Out the Classifieds on Page 7
Coweta’s Local Daily Newspaper, Published 5 Days A Week Thank you for picking up MyConnection. Look for your copy delivered free to your home from The Newnan Times-Herald each Wednesday. You’ll find entertainment and travel news, as well as upcoming events, easy-to-make recipes, and things that matter to you and your family.
Family Features
D
on’t save all the great food for one holiday meal — make holiday mornings special with some simple, hearty and flavorful breakfast recipes the whole family will want to wake up to.
Amazing Breakfast Muffins
n Make
Overnight Breakfast Casserole the night before, then just heat it up in the morning.
n Set
out some Amazing Breakfast Muffin Cups — they’re perfect for people who like to graze throughout the morning.
n Breakfast
Pizzas with sausage are quick, fun and delicious — and loved by everyone, from the picky kids, to the uncle who’s never satisfied.
Breakfast Pizzas
n Sweet
& Savory Bruschetta will become your new go-to recipe that makes you proud when you’re asked to bring an appetizer or a brunch dish to share.
Find these satisfying recipes to wake up your holiday breakfasts on page 6.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Sweet & Savory Bruschetta
20 Suggestions for
Simple Acts of Kindness By Deborah King
Simple acts of kindness were very visible in the days and weeks following Superstorm Sandy. Everyone thinks of New Yorkers and Jersey-ites as tough folk, but they were as busy thinking about their neighbors as about themselves in the aftermath of this catastrophic event. It’s hard to imagine the “city that never sleeps” being totally dark below 40th Street. No power, which means no hot shower, no hot food, no heat, no elevators, no land line phones, no computer, no TV, no gas available for the car, and no way to charge the cell phone when texting is the only means of communication. So what happened? A New York startup company set up a cell-phone charging station that also broadcast Wi-Fi at a bank branch. A well-known battery company drove its trucks into battered Battery Park with phone chargers and internet accessible laptops. Homes that had power set up extension cords and power strips so passersby could charge their phones. Gyms that had power opened their doors free
Family Features
F
or the millions of Americans traveling over the holidays, the details of planning and pulling off a trip can make the season anything but jolly. Fortunately, you can take some of the hassle out of holiday travel by planning — and shipping — ahead.
Ship Gifts Ahead Instead of lugging gifts on an airplane or having gifts take up space in the car, consider shipping them to your destination ahead of time. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before sending your gifts on their way: n Use
the proper materials: a new cardboard box designed for shipping, professional-grade packaging tape, and packaging material such as foam packaging peanuts or bubble cushioning (at least two inches all around).
n Put
a label inside of the package, including both the destination and return addresses.
n Use
a shipping option that provides a package tracking number.
n Take
batteries out of toys, electronics, etc., before shipping, and wrap them separately inside the package. home-made holiday treats in an airtight container or plastic bag before packing them in a shipping box.
Be Prepared Minimize travel hassles by doing some prep work before you leave town. n If
you’re checking baggage, don’t pack items you can’t do without. If your luggage gets lost or delayed, you’ll miss those essential items. Pack them in your carry-on bag.
n Whether
you’re driving or flying, make the time go faster with plenty of entertainment for the whole family. Load up mobile devices with games, songs, ebooks and movies. Give each child their own entertainment backpack with age-appropriate toys and activities.
n Make
sure your vehicle is road-ready. Have it looked at by your local auto shop to be sure everything is in good working condition. Make sure tires are inflated properly. And pack a winter safety kit, just in case.
n Seal
Ship Luggage Ahead To cut down on baggage fees and time in line at the airport, you may want to think about shipping your luggage. There are several ways you can do this: shipping a suitcase as-is; packing and shipping a suitcase
in a box; or purchasing a luggage box instead of using a suitcase. By putting luggage in a box, you can protect your luggage and provide a good surface for a shipping label. Here are some helpful tips for packing and shipping your luggage: n Be
sure to notify the place you will be staying that you are expecting a
package. That way, they will sign for the package even if it arrives before you do. n Make
sure you have the correct destination address. Some hotels and resorts have a separate luggage
➤ SEe TRAVEL TIPS, PAGE 4
1. Help someone who is struggling with old age or heavy bags to cross the street. 2. Stand up for someone who is being bullied. 3. Offer to buy a meal for a homeless person. 4. Spread holiday cheer by paying for strangers to fill up their cars with gas. 5. Post a request on social media for a homebound invalid to receive cards and well wishes. 6. Stop to help an animal that has been injured. 7. Send someone a note of thanks. 8. Pay for the drinks or food at the next table in a restaurant. 9. Give a big tip to someone who doesn’t expect it. 10. Pick up trash instead of ignoring it. 11. Compliment someone. 12. Give another driver your
to non-members so they could have showers and at least get in a work-out. Some doctors set out signs on the street offering free medical care. Various restaurants offered free meals. Individuals set up tables filled with snacks, or hot coffee. People whose homes had power brought in friends and sometimes total strangers to share a meal, a hot shower, or a place to sleep. A large veterinary practice offered free office visits for traumatized pets. Some grocery stores set out free provisions. Everyone pitched in. Rather than further burdening official rescue workers, some private citizens took jet skis or row boats or even inflated air mattresses to bring stranded storm victims to dry land. Social media were flooded with offers of shelter and hot showers. Why does it take an event of this magnitude to bring out the best in us? It’s so easy to do something small and simple that can bring a smile to someone’s face, can lighten someone’s burden for a moment or two, or can actually change someone’s life. Here are 20 suggestions for simple acts of kindness: parking spot. 13. Let a car in front of you in traffic. 14. Tell your family members or your co-workers or boss how much you appreciate them. 15. Leave a book on a train or bus for someone else to read. 16. Let that harried mother go ahead of you on line in the grocery store. 17. Thank the people in your community who make a difference — the police, firemen, teachers, nurses, bus drivers. 18. Cheer up the lonely. 19. Adopt a soldier. 20. Smile at everyone you pass. You’ll be amazed at how doing something as small as smiling at a store clerk or sincerely thanking the person who prepared your holiday meal can make you feel better about yourself and the world.