Christmas2008

C H R I S T M A S

Volume 1, Issue 3

A Holiday Supplement

2008

M

Christmas Remembered

Written and illustrated

by Dave Goss

emories of Christmas in Bay City, Michigan in the early years, consists of mainly warm feelings of love and looking to a higher reality. Time mostly blurs the negative and accentuates the positive.

I grew up in a very humble home at 206 24th Street in Bay City, Michigan. Though we were quite poor by today's standards, I was unaware of that fact at the time because all of our relatives and acquaintances were poor also. Our world was much different then. That difference was exaggerated by the innocence of my youth.

One of my first memories of Christmas was of a giant mechanical Santa Claus, in the store window of Levine's Furniture Company, which was at the time on Water Street. I remember my dad carrying me, so I was probably 2 years old or younger. We had been out looking at the Christmas decorations in downtown Bay City, which was an annual event on the Sunday evening, before Christmas. We had gotten out of the car and were walking down Water Street. We stopped in front of an illuminated display window in Levine's Furniture Company, directly in front of a giant, animated Santa that laughed a deep guttural, “Ho, ho, ho,� and slapped his knees with both hands as his body quaked. His eyes were unseeing and cold. I was terrified and began to cry. I'm sure that my memory makes the robotic Santa Claus bigger than he really was. Dad tried to calm my terror by telling me that the Santa Claus was just a machine. But it didn't work.

After Thanksgiving; I would hurry home from school to check in the upper right corner of the front page of the Bay City Times to see a small cartoon illustrating how many shopping days were left before Christmas. Most businesses were not open on Sundays, so there were only six shopping days per week.

Levine Furniture Company 1950

Time moved so very slowly then. I remember watching the clock in Mrs. Jefferson's third grade class at Fremont School; wishing for the sweep hand to go faster, so that we could begin Christmas vacation.

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One of the major events in younger years, was the annual Bay City Shovels, Children's Christmas Party; which always took place at the Empire Theater on North Washington.

My dad worked at The Shovels for many years as a welder. It was a very special event for my sisters and I because we were

allowed to watch a movie; something that was normally not allowed by our church.

Then, as we exited the theater, we were given a paper grocery bag full of candy and toys. I remember when I was very young, I couldn't carry the bag because it was so big and heavy.

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Mother loved to Christmas- shop at Knepp's Department Store, on Washington Street. When just a toddler, she held my hand as we walked up the steps to the second and third floors. I remembered the amount of effort that it took to move my little legs up so many steps. There were tubes that took all of the transactions from the different floors to a central cashier. The floors were worn and creaking, from the crowd of eager shoppers. The store had the aroma of an old building. I remember one particular day, Mom had taken me by the hand and walked me up and down the flights of stairs. I was getting tired and cranky and began to squawk rather loudly.

Then, I noticed a toy that had been advertised on TV. There was a whole shelf, loaded with Slinky toys in little cubical boxes.

“Look Mom; Slinkys,” I yelled out, smiling brightly.

“You're not getting a thing if you don't straighten up and behave yourself,” Mom said angrily.

I screamed to the top of my lungs, she told me later, and fell to the floor kicking my legs and screaming: “I wanna Slinky!”

Mom picked me up by an arm and swatted me solidly on the butt, then walked away and let me scream myself out. Mom was still angry when we arrived home. I began lobbying for a new Slinky toy for Christmas.

I watched the Slinky commercial on TV and sang along with the Slinky jingle. Mom used the Slinky toy as a behavior modifier.

“You're not getting a Slinky toy if you can't clean your plate,” or “Only good boys get Slinkys.”

On Christmas morning we all got our customary gift of a new pair of flannel pajamas and a puzzle. I was just tuning up, getting ready to voice my disappointment in not getting what I wanted for Christmas, when Mom set a cube-shaped package tied with a red ribbon in front of me as I sat on the floor. I knew it was a Slinky toy immediately. It was without doubt the most appreciated present that I received. If Mother had spent a thousand dollars on a room full of toys, I would not have been any happier than I was with my ninety nine- cent, Slinky toy.

I had been playing on the basement steps

with my Slinky on a morning in February, getting it to walk down the narrow steps, when my dad came down the steps and did not see my Slinky. He stepped on it as he ascended the stairs; bending and deforming the toy. Dad tried to bend it back into service. But, it never worked right after that.

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Our Christmas season was always centered around the Wesleyan Methodist Church and its Christmas program. The Christmas Story was always reenacted with home-made costumes that were generally made from cast-off clothing and old sheets.

Straw was spread about the altar area to simulate the stable in Bethlehem. My dad and my siblings all sang in the church choir.

Mom was just too shy to draw any sort of attention to herself, but was there watching.

The younger children were given little rhymes to recite by memory. Most of the members of the church were involved in some way in the amateur, but magical Christmas Program.

Members of the church were given ceramic acorn banks with a slot on the top, to fill during the Christmas season. The proceeds were given to the missionary fund.

As part of the seasonal program, the young children were given the job of smashing the acorn banks with a claw hammer. I remember carrying out this task with great enthusiasm; scattering the broken shards of ceramic acorn throughout the congregation.

At the end of the Christmas program, as we exited the church on the corner of Catherine and Jenny Streets, we were given a small, decorative box of Christmas candy from St. Lauremt Brothers; filled with candy and peanuts.

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At the age of eight years, I began shoveling sidewalks for different neighbors.

I was proud to buy my family members presents for Christmas with the money that I made. They were never expensive presents; a new comb for my dad, a pack of hairpins for mom, maybe an ink pen or a writing tablet for my brother and sisters.

The snows seemed to come much earlier, and heavier back then, in the south end of Bay City. One of my steady customers were Mr. and Mrs. Preston, who owned Bunk's Restaurant on Lafayette, between McCormick and Webster. Bunk's was wellknown then, for their chicken pot pies. You could buy the pies in a ceramic dish, then, you would not be charged for the dish on the next take-out.

Bunk's was conveniently located, just down the alleyway from our house on 24th.

The Preston's residence was next door to Bunk's. They hired me to shovel the walk, from the residence and around the corner and in front of the restaurant. I enjoyed being out there in the new-fallen show with the colors from Christmas tree lights reflecting and creating a magical aura; like one of the photographs in a Christmas Ideals magazine, or a Courier and Ives Christmas card.

It was a lot of work for an eight-year-old.

But, when the job was finished, and I went to the Preston's door to be paid. The weight of two quarters in my hand felt fabulous.

In the late '50's, you could catch a commuter, (which was a van with two bench seats,) downtown for 20 cents. I would normally walk the distance from 24th Street to Center and Washington Streets and spend an entire evening Christmas shopping with as much as $5.00 to spend. There was a Woolworth's dime store on Adams Street across from the Bay City Times. The air in the store was filled with the aroma of pine and caramel corn. Alvin and the Chipmunks, sang “Christmas Don't be Late;” through speakers in the ceiling. I usually bought most of my Christmas gifts there, or at the Kresge's dime store, on the corner of Washington and Center.

I would end my downtown Christmas shopping, with a cup of hot chocolate, and a Coney from Caris' Red Lion, which was usually full during the Holiday season.

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Christmas time has always been a magical time; filled with wondrous anticipation, fascinating stories, colorful lights and antique ornaments, snow, runny noses and the fresh aroma of a real pine tree in our tiny living room on 24th Street. When seen through a child's eye; Christmas was the one time when we all reached for that perfect ideal of contentment, when thoughts are good and families are together. A snapshot in time where we know, at least for the moment, that life truly can be wonderful.

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The giving and receiving of gifts was nice.

But the real magic was in the warm moments, when the weather was cold and snowy, but our hearts were warm.

Stress Less During Holiday Travel

If you’re flying to your holiday destination Aim for the middle - Booking flights midweek (on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays) can mean a better price.

Traveling midweek means smaller crowds to deal with than on the Saturday or Sunday after the holiday. If you can, book the first flight out on the Monday morning after the holiday.

Be an early bird - Don’t take the last flight of the day. Flights scheduled earlier in the day tend to have better on-time performance. And if problems arise due to weather or other delays, an early flight gives you a better chance of booking another flight and still arriving at your destination the same day.

Play the waiting game - Arrive at the airport in plenty of time to get through all the security checks. And prepare for long waits with activities for the whole family.

Don’t get wrapped up- If you’re bringing gifts, leave them unwrapped – it will make going through security much easier. There will be plenty of time to wrap them once you get to your destination. Even better, shop online and ship the presents directly to your destination.

If you’re driving on your holiday trip Get in tune - Get a routine maintenance check for your car and top off all fluids, especially anti-freeze and windshield washer fluid.

Brace yourself - Pack a winter survival and emergency kit that has blankets, jumper cables, flashlights (with fresh batteries), and non-perishable food. Make sure your cell phone is fully charged and you have up-todate maps.

Create a kid zone - Plan travel activities that will keep children entertained while on the road. Create an activity bag for each child that has new and familiar toys, audio books, as well as in-the-car group activities such as the I Spy game, treasure hunts or license plate games.

Festive is the typical mood of the holidays.

While the season certainly has its stressful moments as well, many realize that such moments are fleeting and approach the season in good spirits.

As many people know, however, some are inclined to spend the holidays celebrating a little too much. It's no secret, for example, that America's highways are never as dangerous and people more accident prone than during the holiday season. In Texas, where the Texas Department of Transportation notes there were better than 1,600 alcohol-related crashes on state roadways in 2006 alone, the number of such accidents routinely rises during the holidays.

Many find the most heartbreaking part of many alcohol-related crashes are the innocent victims. Oftentimes, drunk or impaired drivers crash into law-abiding motorists.

The heightened number of drug- or alcoholrelated accidents during the holidays only underscore the importance for motorists to be more aware during this festive season. With the roadways often busy with shoppers and revelers alike, adhering to the following tips can be the safest way for motorists to keep themselves and their families safe this season.

If you have consumed any alcohol, call a cab. Most states consider a person with a blood alcohol content (BAC) .08 or above to be legally drunk. But even if you've had just one drink and feel perfectly capable of driving, that one drink might have impaired your driving at least somewhat. Play it safe and take a taxi

whenever you've had any alcohol, even if you only had one drink. Fully aware that drunk driving accidents increase during the holidays, police forces across the country set up checkpoints to ensure all drivers are sober.

Avoid any potential problems by simply calling a ride whenever you've had any alcohol.

Pay close attention and know where you're going. Even if a light is green, pay close attention to the intersection as you approach. Just because you're aware the light is green, that doesn't mean a potentially impaired driver or pedestrian crossing your lane knows that. Be sure to closely examine an intersection as you approach to safeguard you and those you're traveling with from anyone who might be running a red light, particularly if you're driving later at night.

It's also important to travel with directions on hand. The more you drive during the holiday season, the more susceptible you become to an accident. In addition, if you don't know where you're going, you're more inclined to drive aimlessly and not be as attentive as you could be.

Make sure everyone is buckled up. Simply put, there is never a good excuse to travel in a car without wearing a seat belt. In a study titled Association of Driver Air Bags with Driver Fatality: A Matched Cohort Study, by Peter Cummings, Barbara McKnight, Frederick P. Rivara, and David C. Grossman, seat belts were found to be more effective at reducing the risk of death than air bags. Seat belts were shown to reduce the risk of death by 65 percent, while air bags reduce the risk by 8 percent. Much of the risk that comes with driving involves relying on how well the strangers sharing the road with you drive. By wearing a seat belt at all times, you're greatly reducing the chance other drivers can fatally harm you.

Obey the speed limit. The holidays are a busy time of year, and nearly everyone on the road is in a hurry to get somewhere. However, speeding is not only against the law, but potentially very dangerous as well. Obey the speed limit at all times. When speeding, it's easy to lose control of your vehicle should a fellow motorist begin swerving or driving erratically. Defensive driving should be practiced at all times, but even more so during the holiday season, when motorists cannot predict with whom they're sharing the road.

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Family Features December is one of the busiest travel months of the year. When you add the normal stresses of travel to the holiday rush, you can feel a lot more manic than merry.

If just thinking about holiday travel makes you tense, take heart. There are some things you can do to minimize the stress.

Stay Safe and Alert on the Roadways This Season

No matter how you travel, getting rest is key to having a good time. The less sleep you get, the more stressed you’ll be.

Holiday schedules can make it hard to get enough good sleep. But these tips can help you get more rest and make your holiday more relaxing: Avoid overloading your schedule. Not every minute has to be filled with busy activity. Down time for reading, resting, or watching TV is good for everyone.

Exercise is a good stress reliever.

Working up a sweat can work off tension and help you sleep better.

Choose a hotel for your stay that offers amenities such as online check-in, fitness centers and comfortable beds.

Don’t let traveling add stress to your holidays. Planning ahead can make your travel days a lot merrier than you think.

Family Features

With so many things to do and events to attend, the last thing anyone needs is more holiday stress. So when it’s your turn to host a holiday meal, take advantage of these tips and recipes so you can enjoy it as much as your guests do.

-Make lists. Writing things down will help you stay organized and not leave anything out.

-Keep it simple. Don’t wear yourself out

trying to decorate every inch of the house or by cooking a complicated four-course meal you’ve never tried before. A simple wreath, some pretty candles, and a menu of tried and true favorites are all you need.

-Use short-cuts. Why chop two pounds of carrots when you can get them pre-cut at the store? When you buy things such as bagged lettuces and bottled dressings, you’re also buying yourself some time.

-Make ahead. Choose a menu that includes some items that you can make a

Make-Ahead Party Mashed Potatoes

day or two in advance such as Make Ahead Party Mashed Potatoes or Cranberry Cheese Bars. You want to be out of the kitchen and ready to enjoy your guests when they arrive.

Here are some recipes to help you start planning your menu. Any one of these easy-to-make dishes is a delicious addition to your stress-free holiday meal.

For more delicious recipes, visit www.crisco.com, www.hungryjack.com and www.eaglebrand.com.

Servings: 24 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour

Ingredients: Crisco(r) Original No-Stick Cooking Spray 6 cups water 12 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 teaspoons garlic salt 2 teaspoons onion salt 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, cubed and softened 2 cups milk 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream Paprika 1 (15.3-ounce) package Hungry Jack(r) Mashed Potatoes, flakes Cooked bacon, chopped (optional) Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions: Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13 x 9-inch oven safe casserole with no-stick cooking spray; set aside. Heat water, butter, garlic salt and onion salt to boiling in a 6-quart Dutch oven.

Remove from heat. Add cream cheese, milk and sour cream, stirring until cream cheese is dissolved.

Stir in potato flakes, mixing until all ingredients are well combined. Spread mashed potato mixture into prepared pan.

Sprinkle with paprika and bake 1 hour or until bubbling around edges and golden brown.

Top with bacon and parsley, if desired.

Tip: Before adding paprika and baking, potato mixture can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Sprinkle with paprika and bake as directed above.

Cranberry Cheese Bars, Make-Ahead Party Mashed Potatoes and Salmon Pastries With Dill Pesto See the next page for additional recipes.

Prepare Yourself and Your Home for the Holidays

Cranberry Cheese Bars

Servings: 2 dozen Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients 2 cups Pillsbury Best(r) all-purposflour 1 1/2 cups oats 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand(r) Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk) 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 (16-ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, combine flour, oats, 3/4 cup brown sugar and butter; mix until crumbly.

Reserving 1 1/2 cups crumb mixture, press remainder firmly on bottom of greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes.

In small bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.

Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth; stir in lemon juice. Spread evenly over prepared crust.

In small bowl, combine remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar and cornstarch; stir in cranberry sauce. Spoon evenly over cream cheese layer. Top with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 40 minutes or until golden. Cool.

Chill. Cut into bars. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Salmon Pastries With Dill Pesto

This recipe was a $5000 category winner in the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off(r) Contest Servings: 24 appetizers Prep Time: 25 minutes

Directions: 1/2 cup lightly packed chopped fresh dill weed 1/3 cup Crisco(r) Light Olive Oil 1/4 cup Fisher(r) Chef’s Naturals(r) Chopped Walnuts 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1 clove garlic 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper, if desired 3/4 pound salmon fillet, thawed if frozen and patted dry

(ARA) – Holidays are the quintessential time for entertaining, but the hustle and bustle to create a welcoming home also invites a lot of stress.

ensure the music doesn’t run out. Select songs that enhance the mood you’re looking to create. I like something upbeat for cocktails and mellow for dinner.

When planning your party menu, arrange your preparations in order of what takes the longest to prepare to what needs to be served hot or cold. Prepare your food ahead of time and place finishing touches before serving. I do this so that I can spend more time with my guests, and not in the kitchen.

Designate one hour on the day of the party to get yourself ready. Choose an outfit that makes you feel stylish, yet still comfortable enough to work in the kitchen.

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crust will have rounded side.)

Spoon 1 level teaspoon dill pesto onto center of each rectangle; top with 1 salmon cube. Bring 4 corners of each rectangle over filling to center and pinch at top; pinch corners, leaving small openings on sides to vent steam. (For rectangles with rounded side, bring 3 points together at top, pinching to seal.) On ungreased large cookie sheet, place pastries 1 inch apart.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Place remaining pesto in small resealable food-storage plastic bag. Cut small tip off 1 bottom corner of bag; squeeze bag to drizzle pesto over serving plate. Place pastries on serving plate. Sprinkle pastries with remaining cheese and garnish with dill weed sprigs.

Serve warm.

Prepare Your Home

Throughout the party, walk around to refill glasses and keep your ears open to

package (15 ounces) Pillsbury(r) refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box Dill weed sprigs

Directions: Heat oven to 400°F. In food processor bowl with metal blade or in blender, place chopped dill weed, oil, walnuts, lime juice, garlic, mustard, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the salt and pepper. Cover; process, stopping once to scrape side of bowl, until smooth.

If salmon has skin or bones, remove them; rinse fillet and pat dry with paper towel. Cut salmon into 24 (1-inch) cubes.

On cutting board, roll 1 pie crust into 12inch round. Cut into 4 rows by 3 rows to make 12 (4 x 3-inch) rectangles. Repeat with remaining crust. (Rectangles cut at edge of

Prepare Yourself

Don’t be afraid to use your guests as you’re hosting if necessary. Having everyone pitch in creates a lighter atmosphere and serves as a great ice breaker for those who don’t know each other.

Holiday Entertaining -- Dial Up the Fun Factor

It's that season for making party rounds and opening up homes to friends and family.

Maybe it's your turn to play host or hostess and you're not sure where to start or how to set your party apart from the others. More importantly, you want to ensure guests have a good time.

Even if you've waited until the last minute for party planning, you can still host a memorable and fun event. Here are a few ideas how.

Secret Santa gift exchange: Part of the enjoyment of the holidays is exchanging gifts with others. Instruct guests to bring along an inexpensive gift. You can set the price limit at $10 to $15. Place all of the gifts in a big red bag and play Santa, handing out a gift to everyone who attended.

Play games: Scour the game aisle of your favorite store for board or action games that would work well in large groups. Or, modify baby or bridal shower games to fit a holiday theme. Door prize games, or "Pin the Red Nose on Rudolph" are silly ideas that can add up to fun, especially when the cocktails are flowing.

Create the mood with lights and music: Christmas and New Year's are celebrated in most areas during the darkest days of winter.

So shed light on your festivities with plenty

of twinkling lights and votive candles.

Create a holiday playlist on your MP3 player and make sure the tunes continue all night long.

Involve guests in decorating: Short on time? Gather up supplies for decorating and advertise that you're having a tree-trimming or house-trimming party on your invitations.

Allow guests to get crafty and be involved in dressing up your home.

Don't fret about food: You don't have to be a gourmet chef to host a winning party. If food isn't your forte, don't worry about catering the event or looking to prepackaged appetizers and snacks. As guests mingle and hop from party to party, they're not going to be looking for an elaborate sitdown dinner. Fresh veggies and dips, bite-sized finger foods and the like are standard party fare. If you want to get creative, take any of your favorite foods and just make them in miniature. Tiny burgers, bite-sized pizzas, and even small peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can delight.

Cocktail savvy: Stock the bar with the old standards for variety and come up with one signature drink you can make in bulk. Why not try a frosty punch and give it a themeinspired name, such as "Winter Wonderland"? Be sure to have plenty of non-

Hoping for a White Christmas?

If, like the famed singer Bing Crosby, you've been dreaming of a white Christmas, you might want to move to a handful of cities that seem to be able to provide just that year after year. In a report on the probability of a white Christmas in the United States by meteorologists Neal Lott, Tom Ross and Matthew Sittel of the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), five locations had a perfect track record with respect to providing the white stuff on December 25. The study examined climate normals from 1961 to 1990. Over that period, the cities of Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan, Hibbing and International Falls in Minnesota, and Stampede Pass in Washington all produced a white Christmas every year. Not surprisingly, those who live further north have a much greater chance of experiencing a white Christmas, but not as much as one might think. For example, films are fond of depicting New York City as a place that frequently sees a white Christmas. However, according to the aforementioned study, New York has just a 10 percent chance of a white Christmas. To put that into better perspective, the city of Richmond, Virginia, has a 7 percent chance of having a white Christmas. Despite the fact that Richmond is in the southern United States, its chances of having a white Christmas are not all that much different from New York's. What's more, Richmond and Seattle share the same probability, despite the fact that Seattle is located in the Pacific Northwest, a region many are quick to associate with wintery weather. Perhaps most surprising was the likelihood of Flagstaff, Arizona, having a white Christmas. With a probability at 56 percent, Flagstaff is one of the best bets a snow afficionado can make if they're hoping to experience a white Christmas.

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alcoholic drinks on hand for those designated drivers. * Dessert bar: Top off the evening with a dessert bar where guests can create and garnish their own desserts. Set out ice cream and fixings, a fondue pot with skewers of fruit, different pies with nuts and whipped cream, or any other combination you can think of.

Try out a couple of these tips for a memorable evening that doesn't take much planning.

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Did You Know?

Though it might seem as though it's been around forever, the beloved holiday song "Frosty the Snowman" actually wasn't produced until 1950. Written by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson, the song was first recorded by legendary country singer Jack Autry and the Cass County Boys. Once they finished penning the now classic Christmas tune, Rollins and Nelson shipped the lyrics to Autry, who just a year earlier achieved great success with another holiday favorite, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." While Autry's version remained the most successful, and arguably most recognizable, version of "Frosty" for many years, its success in terms of charting was actually outdone just a year ago. The peak position for Autry's original version on the U.S. Pop Singles chart was #7 back in 1950. However, the 2007 rendition by former American Idol participant Kimberly Locke reached #1 on the Billboard U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary chart. The television adaptation of "Frosty the Snowman" remains astaple of the television schedule each holiday season.

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Keep Your Holidays Festive and Fire-Free

Decorating the house is a tradition shared by many families come the holiday season.

Whether you keep it simple with a just a tree and a wreath on the front door, or follow Clark Griswold's lead and string up enough lights to see your home from outer space, chances are you'll be doing some decorating this holiday season.

While decorating is a festive way to enjoy the spirit of the season, it's important to consider safety when decking the halls. One of the biggest safety risks each holiday season is fire. Lights on the house and the addition of a tree inside can be serious fire hazards, so be sure to consider the following ways to fireproof your home when decorating this season.

Inspect old and new lights. For some families, the holiday lights are akin to an heirloom, handed down from one generation to the next. If you're using older lights, be sure to check for frayed wires, cracks and bare spots.

Newer lights can have problems, too.

Check wires periodically to be sure they're not too warm. If they feel overly warm, that could be a significant fire hazard.

Turn the lights off when leaving the house or going to sleep. While it's nice to display your lights for the neighbors, it's also

a safety hazard to leave them on when you're not home or when you're sleeping. Even if you're just making a quick trip to the grocery store, the lights should be turned off. No matter how quick that trip might be, it doesn't take nearly as much time for a fire to start and do some serious damage to your home.

Make sure decorations are flame retardant. Decorations are often placed throughout a home. This can include near heating vents and even within reach of lights on the tree. Never place decorations too close to either the vents or the tree, and make sure anything you hang around the house is flame retardant. While decorations made by the kids at school might be nice, they're probably not resistant to flames. Hang them on the refrigerator door instead.

Be cautious with candles. Candles are also very popular during the holiday season.

Unfortunately, candles are as dangerous as they are popular. If decorating with candles, make sure they're always placed in stable holders, and far away from the Christmas tree and other flammable items. And just like with the lights, be sure all candles are extinguished whenever going to sleep or leaving the house, regardless of how long you'll be gone. HL08C620

Family Features Keep Hot Food Hot and Cold Food Cold To keep bacteria from growing, it’s important to keep hot food at 140°F or above. After cooking or reheating foods, keep them hot in an oven set at 200° to 250°F. For serving, a chafing dish, food warmer, slow cooker, or electric warming tray can keep hot food hot. Do not reheat food in a slow cooker. However, once reheated to 165°F, foods can be transferred to the slow cooker and kept hot.

Cold food should be held at 40°F or colder. Nest cold dishes in bowls of ice. It’s best to arrange and serve cold food on several small platters rather than on one large platter. Keep them refrigerated until serving time. Replace empty platters; don’t add fresh food to a dish that already had food in it.

Cold food can be out of the refrigerator a maximum of 2 hours. After that, the food will be in the “Danger Zone” - temperatures between 40°F and 140°F where bacteria thrive and grow. Discard any food left at room temperature more than 2 hours (1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F).

Spiral-Cut Hams Spiral-cut hams are best served cold.

However, if you wish to reheat one, cover the entire ham or portion with heavy aluminum foil and heat at 325°F for about 10 minutes per pound. Be sure to use a food thermometer to insure the ham reaches 165°F - a temperature high enough to destroy any bacteria that may be present in a fully cooked, pre-sliced ham.

The Always-Popular Meatballs Whether you make homemade meatballs ahead of time or purchase them from the freezer case, it’s important to reheat them to 165°F before serving - and keep them hot.

When making homemade meatballs, it’s best not to store raw egg-meat mixtures in the refrigerator. As soon as you mix and form the meatballs, cook them until they reach 160°F. If not using them right away, cool them in a single layer and refrigerate in shallow containers. Reheat and use the cooked meatballs within 4 days. Leftovers may be frozen.

Safe Handling of Buffet Foods The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends these practices to keep all hot and cold buffet foods safe: Keep Everything Clean -Wash your hands with warm soapy water before and after handling food.

-Keep your kitchen, dishes and utensils clean.

-Always serve food on clean plates - not those previously holding raw meat and poultry. Otherwise, bacteria which may have been present in raw meat juices can cross-contaminate the food to be served.

Cook Home-Prepared Foods Thoroughly Cook foods to safe minimum internal temperatures as measured with a food thermometer.

-Beef, veal and lamb steaks, roasts and chops may be cooked to 145°F. -All cuts of fresh pork to 160°F. -Ground beef, veal and lamb to 160°F. -All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F. Chill Promptly -Divide cooked foods into shallow containers for rapid cooling.

-Store these foods in the refrigerator or freezer until serving.

Handle Frozen Convenience Foods Safely -Follow handling and cooking instructions on frozen convenience foods.

-Thaw foods in the refrigerator, not out on the counter.

-Before serving cooked foods intended to be served hot, reheat them to 165°F. Handle Take-Out Foods Safely -Refrigerate cold perishable foods as soon as possible, always within 2 hours after purchase or delivery. If the food is in air temperatures above 90°F, refrigerate within 1 hour.

-When picking up hot take-out foods such as fried or rotisserie chicken, transport the food to the buffet location and keep it hot.

-If you plan to eat at a later time, take-out or delivered food should be divided into smaller portions or pieces, placed in shallow containers, and refrigerated.

The “Two-Hour” Rule -Bacteria grow rapidly in the “Danger Zone” - temperatures between 40°F (refrigerator temperature) and 140°F (the minimum for holding hot food).

-Foods should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F).

-Keep track of how long foods have been sitting on the buffet table and discard anything there 2 hours or more.

-Leftovers from safely handled dishes should be refrigerated and used within 4 days. Frozen cooked leftovers will taste best if used within 3 months but are safe indefinitely.

Following the USDA’s recommendations will keep your bountiful buffet safe for guests.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov.

The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. For additional information, go to www.fsis.usda.gov.

Bountiful buffets are a sideboard of scents, an intriguing array of choices, and an attractive sight for the eye. Whether it’s a holiday celebration, a family gathering, a sportswatching party, or a potluck dinner, the chance to partake in a variety of delectable dishes is fun for everyone.

However, buffets - where foods are often left out at room temperature for several hours leave the door open for uninvited guests: bacteria that cause foodborne illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foods prepared in the home cause thousands of foodborne illnesses yearly in America.

The top two causes of foodborne illness are: 1. Leaving food out at an unsafe temperature, and 2. Not cooking food to high enough temperatures to destroy bacteria.

Appetizer Meatballs Your Way Choose from Tex-Mex, Swedish, Chinese, or Middle Eastern flavors

Basic Meatball Mixture

Makes 48 1 1/2 pounds ground meat or poultry, or any combination (ground beef, veal, pork, lamb, chicken or turkey) 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs 1/4 cup milk 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400째F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking sheet with non-stick spray or olive oil, or line pan with non-stick aluminum foil.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine ground meat, onion, bread crumbs, milk, parsley, salt and pepper.

3. Add the seasoning for the flavor of meatball you want.

4. Form 48 meatballs from mixture and place on prepared baking sheet.

5. Bake 15 minutes, or until meatballs reach 160째F (165째F if using ground poultry).

6. If not serving immediately, keep warm in a 200째F oven or cool and refrigerate in shallow containers.

7. Accompany the meatballs with dipping sauce listed for meatball variety.

Tex-Mex Meatballs

Ground beef stands up to hearty flavors.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin.

Dipping sauce: Purchased chunky salsa or green tomatillo salsa.

Swedish Meatballs Ground turkey or chicken gives a delicate flavor.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg.

Dipping sauce: 1 cup sour cream 1/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons (half of a 1-ounce packet) dry onion soup mix, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon dried dill weed

Mix together at least an hour before serving.

Chinese Meatballs

Get best flavor by using some ground pork.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic, 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon ground ginger.

Dipping sauce: purchased (10-ounce) jar sweet and sour sauce.

Middle-Eastern Meatballs

Get best flavor by using ground lamb.

Seasoning for meatball mixture: 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Sprinkle formed meatballs with 2 tablespoons sesame seeds; press into meat.

Dipping sauce: 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup chopped green onions 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar

Photo courtesy of Tetra Images/Getty Images

G FAMILY FEATURES

ame days, parties and last minute get-togethers call for super snacks that are easy to make and delicious to share.

A simple solution is to keep several recipes that call for on-hand ingredients within reach, so you can go from pantry to party in a snap.

One of America’s classic snacks, Chex Party Mix, now offers a new way of entertaining family and friends with convenient 15-minute microwave preparation.

“My grandma and mother both made party mix, and now I make it when I entertain,” says Katie Lee Joel, TV food personality and author of The Comfort Table, an entertaining and recipe book. “With so many flavorful options and speedy microwave preparation, these party snacks are easy to make and simply delicious.”

Here are five simple, go-to recipes for this party season.

For more recipes and nutritional information, visit www.chex.com/recipes.

Muddy Buddies

18 servings (1/2 cup each) Start to Finish: 15 Minutes 9 cups Corn, Rice, Wheat or Chocolate Chex cereal (or combination) 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup butter or margarine 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.

2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.

Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.

3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch

Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix

Cheesy Ranch Chex Mix

26 servings (1/2 cup each) Start to Finish: 15 Minutes 9 cups Corn, Rice or Wheat Chex cereal (or combination) 2 cups bite-size pretzel twists 2 cups bite-size cheese crackers 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted 1 package (1 ounce) ranch dressing and seasoning mix 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal, pretzels and crackers. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 30 seconds or until melted.

Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated. Stir in dressing mix and cheese until evenly coated.

2. Microwave uncovered on High 3 minutes, stirring each minute. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool. Store in airtight container.

16 servings (1/2 cup each) Start to Finish: 15 Minutes 8 cups Chocolate Chex cereal 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 6 tablespoons butter or margarine 3 tablespoons light corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup white vanilla baking chips

1. Into large microwavable bowl, measure cereal; set aside. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.

2. In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave on High 3 minutes, stir ring every minute. Spread on cookie sheet. Cool 10 minutes. Break into bite-size pieces.

3. In small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla baking chips uncovered on High about 1 minute 30 seconds or until chips can be stirred smooth (bowl will be hot). Drizzle over snack. Refrigerate until set. Store in tightly covered container.

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch

Mix and mingle with time to spare!

Katie Lee Joel

Prep Steps

The key to any party is planning ahead so you can have fun. Set the table and have the music ready to go the day before. Salads, soups and desserts can usually be made in advance.

Flavorful Party Favors

Send guests home with a bag of goodies — fudge or party mix are Joel’s favorites as they keep well. Or, package these foods for the hostess in a pretty gift bag or a mason jar with a homemade label.

Kid Picks

Including your smallest guests in your gathering is so important — and fun!

It’s nice to make children something similar to what the adults are eating so you don’t have to double your work.

But, leave out some of the spices for a more mild-mannered version.

The Original Chex Party Mix

24 servings (1/2 cup each) Start to Finish: 15 Minutes 3 cups Corn Chex cereal 3 cups Rice Chex cereal 3 cups Wheat Chex cereal 1 cup mixed nuts 1 cup bite-size pretzels 1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces 6 tablespoons butter or margarine 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes.

Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

For a big bold taste, add 2 tablespoons red pepper sauce with the seasonings.

Cinnamon-Apple Chex Mix

Cinnamon-Apple Chex Mix

16 servings (1/2 cup each) Start to Finish: 15 Minutes 5 cups Wheat Chex cereal 1 cup lightly salted whole almonds 1/4 cup butter or margarine 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup chopped dried apples 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt-covered raisins 1.In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal and almonds.

2. In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon uncovered on High about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until mixture is boiling; stir. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

Microwave uncovered on High 3 minutes, stirring and scraping bowl after every minute. Stir in apples; microwave uncovered on High about 2 minutes or until apples just begin to brown on edges.

3. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 5 minutes. Place in serving bowl, stir in raisins. Store in airtight container.

The Super Snack Couple: Pretzels and Chocolate

Quick -- what packs antioxidants, nutrients like magnesium, calcium and copper, fiber and grains while satisfying sweet and salty cravings and serving as a convenient, portable treat? It’s a match made in snacking heaven: the pairing of pretzels and chocolate.

Even better, there are scores of potential partnerships that bring out the best of both foods, depending on the type of chocolate and pretzel and any embellishments. Pretzel and chocolate fans of all ages can satisfy their hankering by picking up a snack at their local supermarket. Pretzel Dips from Snyder’s of Hanover, for example, are available in milk chocolate, white chocolate, special dark chocolate and chocolate peanut butter and have quickly become a hot product line.

For those who want to try their hand at home, chocolate and pretzel snacks are also easy to make. Indeed, the biggest challenge is deciding what match-up to try first.

Sticking with Tradition: Visit any candy store or bake sale and you’re likely to see perennially popular chocolate-dipped pretzel rods. They are simple to create. First, slowly melt the contents of one bag of chocolate chips or melting discs (milk, dark or white chocolate all work well) in a double boiler or in a microwave-safe bowl.

Be careful when handing hot chocolate around youngsters. Next, using small tongs or holding on to the edge on the side, lower the bottom 2/3 of the pretzel rod into the

melted chocolate and twist the rod until it’s coated with the chocolate. Finally, lay the rod on wax paper and let the chocolate set.

Optional: After the chocolate sets slightly but does not harden, roll the rod in the topping of your choice, like sprinkles, miniature candies, colored sugar, minimarshmallows cut in half or chopped peanuts.

Decadent Double Dipping: For an even more indulgent treat, twirl pretzel rods in peanut butter first, then dip or roll in melted chocolate. Or dip pretzels in warm caramel, roll in chopped nuts and dip in melted chocolate. Finish with a drizzle of melted white chocolate.

Bark Better Than Bite: Mix instead of dip. Put pretzels (minis and homestyle work well) in a zippered plastic bag. Break the pretzels using the palm of your hand or a wooden spoon and set aside. Melt chocolate chips (again, any variety/flavor) using a microwave or double boiler and stir until smooth. Add pretzel pieces to the pot or bowl and mix well. Pour the mixture into a jelly roll pan and spread with a metal spatula or the back of a spoon until even.

Place in the refrigerator to harden for at least a half hour. When ready to eat or serve, remove the bark from the fridge and break the bark into pieces (irregular or jagged sizes are fine). Refrigerate again in an airtight container.

Optional: Add chopped nuts or candies for extra variety.

Ways to Ward Off Holiday Weight Gain

(ARA) - Each year we see it coming. As the holidays head our way, we brace for the weight gain that often results from the traditional sweets of the season.

Many of us gain a pound or two between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

What’s more, we rarely lose the extra weight during the spring and summer, the New England Journal of Medicine reports.

Fortunately, you can avoid those unwanted extra pounds with a common sense approach to your health. With some expert advice, it’s possible to stay fit as we face the season of bountiful desserts.

“It’s not an accident to be healthy,” says C. Howie Howard, a health-conscious cook and student advisor at Brown Mackie College in Kansas City, Kan. “Most people don’t realize how food influences them.” For instance, when we eat fast food, we tend to feel tired an hour later. This is because the typical fast food meal contains high glycemic carbohydrates that break down quickly, releasing a rush of glucose into the bloodstream, which creates a feeling of sleepiness. Few of us link the meal we ate to the way we feel. We think we’re just tired. “If you listen to your body, it will become easier to discern how the foods you eat make you feel,” Howard says.

As an experiment in recognizing how your body reacts to food, Howard suggests eating a hard-boiled egg and fresh fruit for lunch. An hour later, take note of your energy level. You won’t feel the fatigue of a fast food “crash” because the carbohydrates in these low glycemic foods break down slowly, releasing glucose into the blood stream gradually. “The whole idea is to find ways to eat that are both enjoyable and satisfying,” he says.

Terry Harris, assistant director of admissions at Brown Mackie College in Findlay, Ohio is a certified specialist in health, fitness and nutrition. He ran a fulltime personal fitness training business in the Toledo/Perrysburg area of Ohio for

Seasons Eatings: For the holidays, Snyder’s of Hanover has developed a special pretzel wreath recipe that’s perfect for serving or bringing as a gift. Slowly melt chocolate chips over low heat in a small saucepan or in a microwave-safe bowl and stir until smooth. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and place five mini-pretzels in a circle shape, with the bottom of the pretzels -- the end that has one hole -- on the outside of the ring. Take one pretzel at a time from the circle and dip the side halfway into the melted chocolate. Then place it back into the circle. Form a second layer by dipping five additional pretzels, one by one, in the chocolate. Place them over the newly formed wreath, so that coated holes overlap two bottom pretzels.

Decorate with desired toppings, while the coating is still soft. Refrigerate until coating is firm, about 15 minutes.

If you’re willing to part with them, chocolate-covered pretzels make ideal gifts for the holidays or special occasions. Once chocolate is set and hardened, wrap pretzels in cellophane or plastic wrap and secure with a festive bow. Or carefully fill a glass jar with pretzels, cover and decorate the top with ribbons, bows or fabric. Pretzels will keep at least a month when sealed or refrigerated, but it’s likely they won’t last that long.

For more delicious pretzel recipes visit snydersofhanover.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

nearly a decade, and now offers nutrition consultations on a part-time basis.

“The first thing I tell clients is to relax. Stress makes the chocolate attack worse,” Harris says.

“One thing you can do leading up to the holidays is focus on your caloric intake each day.” Harris recommends eating meals comprised of different colors, which helps to cover each food group, with each serving about the size of your palm. “You don’t have to deny yourself dessert. You can shave calories from each meal to make room for it without consuming extra calories,” Harris says.

Michael Baker, associate director of admission at Brown Mackie College in North Canton, Ohio is an avid runner who took first place in the Portage Lakes Triathlon in Akron, Ohio last September. Baker stresses the importance of movement, and offered tips on how to fit exercise into a busy schedule.

“When heading out to do holiday shopping, plan to park as far away from the door as possible,” Baker says. “This relieves any disappointment you may feel when the lot is crowded, and the walk will do you good.” Baker also suggests exercising while watching your favorite television shows. “You don’t have to go to the gym to get yourself moving,” he says.

Ernest Angelini, business manager in the student services department at Brown Mackie College in Louisville, Ky. agrees that exercising doesn’t have to interrupt your schedule. “You can do leg lifts at your desk while you work,” he says. “And always take the stairs instead of the elevator.”

Angelini offers this advice for partygoers: “It’s best not to go to a party hungry.

Eat sensibly before arriving. You’re sure to find delectable food, but keep in mind that the main reason you’re there is to spend time with others. Taste the sweets, but don’t gorge. Moderation is the key.”

Angelini has also come up with a clever way to ensure self-control when faced with holiday goodies. “I always plan a vacation to the sun belt after the holidays,” he says. Knowing that you’ll soon don a swimsuit can do wonders for the “moderation theory” when holiday temptation hits.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Handmade Floral Gifts are Budget-friendly Season Brighteners

(ARA) – Are you trying to balance a shrinking holiday gift budget with a list of recipients that just seems to grow longer every year? You’re not alone. With many Americans prepared to spend less on holiday shopping and decorating this year, it’s likely more people will choose to give homemade gifts and create their own holiday decor.

Homemade gifts can be a great way to stretch holiday gift-giving dollars. Plus, each gift makes a personal statement that you cared enough, investing your time and effort to convey the holiday spirit. Making gifts is also a good way for families to spend time together during the holiday season.

It’s possible to find homemade gift and decorating ideas to fit virtually every taste and budget. Food, especially baked goods, and craft items continue to be top choices for handmade gifts. Both categories offer a wide range of options that can be made by people with all levels of expertise – from dedicated and experienced crafters to relative newcomers to the tradition.

Whether you’re a seasoned handmade gift-giver looking for something new and exciting to make, or a beginner looking for a fail-safe gift, decorations and crafts made with fresh cut flowers can be a sure-fire winner. Floral gifts deliver fresh, fragrant and personal touches to the recipient’s (and your own) home. Plus, it’s easy to find ideas for all skill levels at www.flowerpossibilities.com.

“Fresh floral arrangements can range from basic and simple to more creative and elaborate,” says Jill Slater, flower designer for flowerpossibilities.com. “Regardless of the design, the charm and allure that a homemade floral arrangement offers will add a warm and inviting feel to any room of the house.”

Here are two festive “flower recipes” sure to brighten the holidays – and the home – for the flower lover on your list. Or, give yourself a fragrant gift and make the arrangements for your own home. You’ll find more recipe ideas at www.flowerpossibilities.com.

Holiday Hostess Gift

Materials: 2 washcloths – holiday colors like red 1 sprig of holly 1 red rose One sheet of holiday theme decorative velum 1 yard decorative ribbon 1 medium-sized rubber band

A floral display makes an elegant centerpiece for your holiday table.

Double-sided tape 1 coaster 1 water tube Floral preservative/food Floral clippers and scissors Directions:

Make a 3-inch fold at the bottom of the long side of each washcloth. Fold this end to meet the edge of the opposite side of each washcloth. Stack the two folded washcloths on top of each other. Cut the velum to the height of the folded washcloths. Roll the washcloths together and wrap the velum around them. Secure the velum around the washcloths with double-sided tape and then a rubber band for extra security.

Tie the ribbon in a square knot around the rubber band and place the rolled washcloths on top of the coaster. (To tie a square knot: left over right, right over left). Cut the holly and rose short and insert them into the water tube that has been treated with floral preservative/food. Now, place the water-tubed flower into the top of the rolled washcloths.

Holiday Elegance

Materials: 1 loaf pan from the kitchen cupboard 1 brick floral foam Two 12-inch tapers 3 stems stargazer lilies 12 stems red roses 2 stems yellow-berried hypericum, divide into six to eight clusters 8 stems leather fern 6 stems sword fern

2 stems lemon leaf Floral clippers and knife Floral preservative/food

Directions: Soak the floral foam in water that has been treated with floral preservatives/food for about 30 minutes.

Insert the soaked floral foam into the loaf pan and insert two tapers, equally spaced, into the top of the foam.

Cut two sword fern stems to 9 inches in length, two more to 7 inches and the remaining two to 5 inches. Next, insert one of each length into each side of the short end of the loaf pan. Cut all the leather fern stems to approximately 4 inches and insert the stems into the floral foam to cover it almost completely.

Cut the lemon leaves at varying lengths, dispersing them throughout the arrangement.

Divide two stems of yellow-berried hypericum into six to eight clusters, cut to approximately 8 inches and scatter them evenly throughout the arrangement.

Use the individual blooms of the stargazer lilies and insert them evenly throughout the arrangement.

Cut two red roses to 7 to 8 inches in length and insert them at the narrow ends of the arrangement. Cut another 10 red roses to approximately 4 inches in length and insert them throughout the arrangement.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

12 Days of Holiday Cookies

(Family Features) I love to keep the cookie jar filled all year ‘round. But for the holiday season I kick into high-level baking mode, producing a mountain of cookies.

Unfortunately, a typical holiday schedule full of to-do lists makes extra time for baking unusual.

But I won’t let a hectic holiday schedule make me give up my holiday baking tradition. Veteran bakers like me take smart short cuts to streamline cookie production.

So come into my kitchen and let me share some of my best tips for a holiday cookiethon: • Use store bought, refrigerated sugar cookie dough in a tub, found in the dairy section. It’s my secret ingredient for holiday baking this season! One tub will make 4 1/2 dozen—you can make different types of cookies, or all the same if you like.

• Make it memorable by inviting a couple friends—or the kids—to help in shaping and baking cookies. Take photos to capture fun moments and create a photo album or scrapbook.

• Borrow extra cookie sheets and cooling racks to streamline baking.

• Collect pretty plates, platters or tins for gifting cookies—comb garage sales, dollar stores and flea markets. Include a recipe card so recipients can recreate the treats.

• Count on sampling a few cookies, so always bake more than you think you’ll need—and serve with a glass of milk!

Whether you’re hosting a cookie exchange, an open house, gifting friends and neighbors, or supervising your Sunday

melted Nestlé Toll House Premier White Morsels.

Berry Chocolate Cookie Tartlets (Makes 2 dozen tartlets)

school class in a marathon baking session, check out the 12 magically easy ideas for jolly holiday cookies at VeryBestBaking.com

1 1/3cups (about 1/3 tub) Nestlé Toll House Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Tub Dough, slightly softened 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1/2 cup Nestlé Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries or cherries, chopped PREHEAT oven to 325º F.

Candy Cane Crisps

COMBINE cookie dough and flour in large mixing bowl.

1 1/ cups Nestlé Toll House Refrigerated Sugar Cookie (about 1/3 tub) Tub Dough, slightly softened 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

BAKE for 10 minutes or until light golden brown around edges and puffy.

(Makes 1 1/2 dozen cookies)

PREHEAT oven to 325º F.

STIR crushed candy canes into cookie dough. Refrigerate for 15 minutes for easier handling. Roll dough into 18, 1-inch balls.

Place 2 inches apart on foil-lined greased baking sheets.

BAKE for 14 to 16 minutes or until edges are set but centers are still soft. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

TIP: Drizzle Candy Cane Crisps with

DIVIDE dough into 24, 1-inch balls. Press dough into mini-muffin cups.*

REMOVE tartlets from oven and immediately fill with morsels and cranberries. Cool for 10 minutes in muffin cups. Carefully remove to wire rack, do not invert; cool completely.

*If making tartlets in batches, keep extra dough in the refrigerator.

TIPS: Tartlets may be filled with your favorite combination of morsels.

Dough can be made in advance and refrigerated.

Courtesy of Family Features

ank you for a wonderful year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

TriCityLocal.com

Go Green, Give Green, Save Green for the Holidays

(ARA) - There’s no question that these days we are all more focused on green – both in terms of the environment and our pocketbooks. However, the holidays can often be a challenge for both with the abundance of parties, shopping and overall excess that accompanies this time of year.

It is estimated that between Thanksgiving and the New Year, an extra million tons of waste are generated nationwide each week.

According to the California Integrated Waste Management Board, 38,000 miles of ribbon alone is thrown out each year -enough to tie a bow around the Earth!

Rather than waiting for the New Year to get your green efforts back on track, try following these tips and ideas to live, give and save green this holiday season.

Go with the Glow The holidays wouldn’t be the same without the bright, twinkly glow that comes with strings of lights adorning rooftops, eaves and trees. But beautiful holiday lights can be a real drain on your energy bill. Want an easy fix? LED lights use less than 10 percent of the electricity consumed by filament bulbs and can save you close to 95 percent on your electricity bill, according to www.ChristmasLightsandDecorations.com.

(ARA) - The holidays are always a time for giving, not only of gifts to family and friends, but also to organizations supporting different causes. This year, consider some new ways to give good gifts while also supporting the issues most important to you, your friends and your family.

One way to shop for gifts while supporting important causes is through eBay Giving Works, eBay’s program for charity listings.

The program has helped raise more than $150 million for over 15,000 deserving nonprofits worldwide through buying and selling activity on eBay. On www.ebaygivingworks.com you will find thousands of listings for the perfect gifts that benefit your recipients’ favorite charitable organizations. The possibilities span the gamut of popular items such as brand new skis, jewelry, the latest handbags or electronics, everyday home and garden items to even one-of-a-kind celebrity experiences. And, each charity listing stands out with a unique

Home for the Holidays Save time, money and stress -- plan to stay home for the holidays this year. The money and gas you will save adds up. In fact, www.use-less-stuff.com reports that if every American family reduced holiday gas consumption by just one gallon -- about 20 miles -- we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons. So sit back, relax and enjoy the holidays -- at home.

That’s a Wrap Most mass-produced wrapping paper you find in stores is not recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, here's a great chance to get creative. Wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children's artwork. According to the Sierra Club, if every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

The Gift of Giving Planning to upgrade your electronics this holiday? Have toys and clothes that you and your family no longer use? Donate unwanted items to a local charity. In addition to ridding yourself of unwanted clutter and keeping extra waste out of landfills – you have the opportunity to make

blue and yellow charity ribbon, so look for this ribbon on eBay when shopping.

Another great way to shop for the people on your list and find good gifts that have a positive impact on people and the environment is through a new marketplace called WorldofGood.com. The site is a one-stopshop where consumers will find eco-friendly and ethically sourced products, which make distinctive holiday gifts. Holiday shoppers can find organic clothing, accessories and home decor items made from recycled materials, animal-friendly beauty products and even fair trade coffee and chocolate on the site … all perfect ideas for those recipients who seem to have everything or are hard to buy for.

Many of the products on WorldofGood.com are created from recycled, reclaimed and/or sustainable materials. For example, shop for stylish earrings created from vintage bicycle parts, colorful baskets woven from telephone wire, or living room furniture crafted from

someone else’s holiday bright. Tighter budgets are sure to impact holiday spending this year and local thrift stores offer gently used goods at great prices. And, your donation is tax deductable, which means more green for you in the coming year.

Give Green, Save Green Eco-friendly gifts are sure to be a hit this holiday season. Take, for example, the Sodastream home soda maker. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the average family of four will go through 200 soda bottles and cans -- most of which end up in our landfills. The Sodastream system creates fresh sparkling water and over 20 flavors of sodapop in seconds -- at a fraction of the price of store-bought soft drinks -- all while eliminating the need for individual bottles and cans. An added bonus? A home soda maker is a great family gift that cuts down on numerous individual gifts – as well as all of the extra wrapping that comes with it. To learn more, visit www.sodastreamusa.com.

So whether you are already a green guru or just joining the movement, these simple steps make it easy to bring a little more green -- to the Earth and your wallet -- this holiday season.

reclaimed wood, and reduce the impact on our environment with gifts that make use of materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

Other gift ideas from the site include unique items such as beautiful scarves and sweaters knitted by Andean women from the hillsides of Peru and gorgeous ceramics created by artisan sculptors from the mountains of Nepal. Giving via WorldofGood.com enables artisans and producers all over the world to provide for their families, preserve cultural traditions and sustain the environment we all live in. Because these artisans are able to earn a fair wage for their products, they receive improved access to good jobs, health care and education.

Make www.ebaygivingworks.com and WorldofGood.com your go-to destinations for everyone on your holiday shopping list, so that you can give good this season and make a positive impact on the world.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tiny Yuletide Treasus

(ARA) – The traditional holiday fir, the Norfolk Island Pine, has a back story worthy of a Hollywood movie. When you see these delicately shaped pines at your favorite retail store, you’re taking home a bit of nautical history.

Norfolk Island Pines or “Araucaria heterophylla” are native to Norfolk Island in the South Pacific. Their romantic history involves a famous sea captain and sultry South Sea Islands. In 1774, during his second exploratory sea voyage to the South Pacific, Captain James Cook discovered Norfolk Island.

On a weary vessel named Resolution, Cook and his crew also discovered stately 200-foot giant pines they named Norfolk Island Pines. They were prized as a source of pine planks desperately needed for ship building and nearby flax for making sails.

Today, like modern day explorers, a few intrepid seed cone “hunters” from Florida travel to the Hawaiian island of Oahu every two years to revisit the grand Norfolk Island Pines that thrive in the warm, tropical breezes and coastal soil.

The harvesters brave dizzying heights of 100 feet to pluck the hardiest seed cones from the whirling branches. The lime green prickly seed cones are then shipped to Costa Farms south of Miami, where horticultural experts plant them, using six to eight seeds per pot to assure consistently superior pines for perfect holiday decorating.

The soft and compact needles, strong branches, and naturally symmetrical shape of the Norfolk Island Pine make it the ideal holiday tree. It can handle homemade ornaments and keepsakes, and provide endless decorating and gift-giving options.

“Miniature evergreens are the trend in home decor, particularly with live trees like the Norfolk Island Pine,” says Ethne Clark of Traditional Home magazine. “These miniature versions are elegant in a lovely container on the mantel, or decorated in the children’s room for fun.”

Small enough for a table-top display or large enough to be the dramatic focal point of any room, the pines tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. And, they come in a variety of sizes from 14 to 44 inches tall for a nice floor plant.

e Story behind Your Traditional Holiday Tree

“These living trees are affordable, ecofriendly ways to decorate and provide years of pleasure,” says Jose Smith, chief executive officer of Costa Farms, one of the nation’s leading nurseries.

After the holidays, you can place the tree in a pretty pot to beautify your spaces and naturally refresh your indoor air.

Other creative gift ideas and decorating tips with a Norfolk Island Pine include: * Stumped on a teacher’s gift and refuse to buy another candle? Many table-top trees come fully decorated with a gift tag and fit nicely on desks. * Holiday party coming up? The trees make great hostess gifts. Don’t forget your boss, friends, and colleagues. * Express yourself! Enjoy your family time by encouraging your children to decorate their own tree. Create theme trees like a “tropical Christmas’ for your dining and family rooms -adorned with mini flowers, tropical fish ornaments and seashells. * Don’t forget your kids in college.

Norfolk Island Pines make perfect gifts for students who want to decorate and add green to their rooms.

Caring for Your Norfolk Island Pine: * They grow best indoors in a sunny location and prefer to be near a window -- but away from direct heat.

Avoid direct intense sunlight. * Indoors they flourish in 50 percent humidity so consider running a humidifier or sit them in a tray of pebbles, watering the pebbles during winter months. * Keep the soil moist but don’t let it dry out or stand in water. * If you live where the temperature stays above 60 degrees (such as zones nine and10), your Norfolk Island Pine can be planted outdoors in the landscape. * As a houseplant, the Norfolk Island Pine naturally filters the air from indoor toxins and provides muchneeded moisture during the dry winter months.

Select from 14- to 44-inch tall trees, fully decorated or ready for your finishing touch, available at neighborhood retailers.

Norfolk Island Pine

Norfolk Island Pines may be grown in most temperature ranges which are suitable for people. However, they will do better when grown in cooler temperatures of about 65 degrees f., with slightly cooler night temperatures (never below 50 degrees). Extremes in temperature, either hot or cold should be avoided.

Norfolk Pines need bright light (but never full sun), preferably a spot within four feet of a large window. These plants can survive, with only household incandescent or fluorescent lighting if they receive a minimum of 16 hours of light each day. Although this will be effective in keeping the plant alive for a year or two, there is no substitute for bright, natural light. Turn the plant frequently to keep it symmetrical.

They should be thoroughly watered (preferably with rainwater or water which has set for 24 hours or longer) weekly in the summer to keep it slightly moist, never soggy. (Water more often if the plant is drying out earlier).

In the winter, allow the soil to dry completely before watering again.

Humidity is very important. Lack of sufficient moisture in the air will cause tip browning, needle drop, and eventually, the lower branches to die off. Misting is the best thing you could do for your tree, followed by any other method which would add humidity to the room (humidifier or aquarium?)

Norfolk Pines are one of the very few plants who enjoy being misted with COOL water, rather than room temperature water.

The only pruning that should be done is snipping off brown tips and dead branches. Brown tips will never turn back to green, and unfortunately, once they have turned brown, growth will stop from that point. Any other pruning you may decide to do will have the same effect... no new growth from that point.

Should you decide to decorate and use your Norfolk as a Christmas tree, be sure that the soil is kept sufficiently moist during that time when it is decorated.

Lights have a severe drying effect on plants. Be sure to mist your tree daily, or provide other sources of ADDITIONAL humidity.

DON'T leave the decorations in place any longer than necessary!

How to Teach Your Kids Smart Holiday Shopping

(ARA) – Commercialism runs rampant during the holiday season. But all the hustle and bustle that goes along with gift giving is a great opportunity to teach children how to shop for gifts and manage their money.

“Children love giving and receiving gifts.

By getting them involved in the gift buying process, you can make it a valuable learning experience, too,” says Scott Oberkrom, director of Community Investments at American Century Investments. “The best way to teach children about money is with real-life scenarios they can comprehend. Purchasing gifts for their friends is a great opportunity for them to learn.”

YesYouCanOnline.info, a Web site that helps parents teach their children good financial habits, offers the following ideas when preparing for this year’s gift giving: The first step is to set aside money each week for a gift fund. This might be a good time for your child to set up a savings account. Depending on the balance, they might

5 Tips to Find Gifts on a Budget Without Feeling Like "Mr. Scrooge"

(MS) -- This holiday season, thinking about shopping doesn't have to conjure up thoughts of black coal or empty stockings.

It's not surprising that in a recent nationwide survey conducted by PersonalShopper.com, 48 percent of respondents were NOT looking forward to holiday shopping this year, up 22 percent from last year. In fact, 47 percent said that they would be spending less this year due to the uncertain economy and an increase in their expenses. Nearly all Americans, similar to the 99 percent of respondents, will be looking for a variety of ways to save money this holiday season. Here are five tips for finding great gifts on a budget: 1. Conserve your energy and save online. Avoid the crowds, save your gas and enjoy the convenience of shopping from the comfort of home when you want. Eightythree percent of the respondents from the survey said they will shop online as much, or even more, than they did last year. The primary reasons for this expected spike is in an effort to cut down on their fuel consumption, it's less of a hassle and more significantly, 72 percent expect to find better deals online. And if you're like the 33

even earn a little interest. Help them learn to split their allowance or other income between fun money and savings.

If their normal allowance isn’t enough to buy gifts for everyone on their list, discuss ways they can earn extra money for their fund, such as raking leaves, babysitting or doing other neighborhood chores. You might also explain how to cut back, such as skipping weekly trips to the candy store so they can purchase a gift for their sibling instead.

As they save, sit down with your child and make a list of people with whom they would like to exchange gifts. Do they really need to give presents to their second cousins or their tent mate from summer camp? The more gifts they give the more money they need to spend. Instead of giving gifts to everyone, they can always make a homemade craft or send a holiday card.

After your child has some savings and determines who they want to give gifts to, it’s time to head to the store and do some shoppercent of respondents who prefer to shop from 8 p.m. to midnight, you don't have to worry about the stores being closed or the fact that you're in your pajamas and makeup free.

2. Make a budget and stick to it. Trying to save money, especially when you are filled with the holiday spirit is easier said than done. This year, nearly half of the respondents aren't looking forward to holiday shopping is because they "don't think I'll be able to buy the gifts I really want without busting my budget or maxing out my credit cards." Free services like PersonalShopper.com's MyGifts Budget Tool helps you give great gifts without breaking the bank. It allows you to set up a master budget for all of your holiday shopping and will even recommend gift ideas for each person on your list based on your pre-set spending limit.

3. Consider group gifts. Thirty-five percent of respondents indicated they planned to reduce the number of gifts they buy overall to save money this year. There are two creative options to achieve this.

Consider giving a present to an entire family instead of buying individual gifts or pool your funds with your siblings to get one big gift for mom and dad. That way no one is left off your list and you'll be sure to delight everyone.

4. Resist the urge to re-gift. Over 60

ping. This is a great learning moment for children to start comparison shopping. To help kids understand comparison shopping, ask these questions:

Is this the lowest price for this item?

Can it be negotiated?

Are coupons or discounts available?

Is it worth paying a little more for a gift that is environmentally friendly or supports a local merchant?

Is the gift a worthless trinket that will break or high-quality with long term benefits?

Does the store, in person or online, provide gift wrapping or free shipping?

If your child’s friend doesn’t like the gift, can it be exchanged?

“By starting early and spending their own money on gifts they choose, kids really get involved in the gift giving process while learning valuable financial lessons along the way,” says Oberkrom.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

percent of respondents indicated that they have re-gifted an item they've received.

Times may be tight, but you don't need to scrounge around your house for items you didn't like and bestow them on someone else. Surprisingly, respondents also indicated that over half of the recipients of these re-gifted items are the people closest to them, their friends and family. If you don't like the ceramic pig, do you really want to saddle Aunt Marjorie with it?

Unless she's has a collection of pigs, donate or sell it. In fact, 30 percent of survey respondents indicated they have received gifts in the past they considered inappropriate, with hideous home decor items and cheap perfume topping the list.

5. It pays to get personal. If you're like 47 percent of the survey respondents, the most difficult people to buy gifts for are your in-laws and your own mother because they either have everything, are too picky or they don't offer any ideas. Unfortunately, not buying presents for one's parent or inlaws is usually not an option. If you're stumped, get creative and make a gift from the heart. 17 percent of survey respondents indicated that giving homemade gifts is another way to reduce their budget this year.

Avoid becoming Scrooge this holiday season with these money saving tips and enjoy the spirit of giving.

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Stay in the Spirit and Out of Debt This Holiday Season It’s Not Too Late to Set a Budget Without Being a “Bah Humbug”

(ARA) - Sticking to a well-orchestrated budget while hunting for the must-have gifts of the season, planning the perfect holiday meal and arranging flawlessly timed travel are not tasks for the novice. This time of year can drain even the savviest shopper’s budget, but there are easy ways to save and even earn money this holiday season.

When Jonni McCoy became a stay-athome mom, she learned first-hand how to manage her family budget with only one income. Since then, she has written three books and launched a Web site (www.miserlymoms.com) teaching others how to make frugality a lifestyle for the entire family, especially during the holidays.

Try to avoid a holiday shopping hangover this coming January and start with a financial game plan to tackle holiday decorating, gifts, travel and entertaining.

Take time to prepare your budget, draw up gift lists and comparison shop for the best deals. Here are some more tips from McCoy to help you make the most of your holiday spending.

Deck the Halls – For Less * Stay simple. Use evergreen trimming as a table centerpiece and sprinkle silver confetti over it for some sparkle. * For unique holiday home decor, buy

terra-cotta clay, roll out 1/2-inch-thick pieces and use cookie cutters to make ornaments. Let them dry overnight, paint and then decorate. * Display your holiday cards in a festive basket or punch holes in the cards and string ribbon through them to hang around your home.

Shopping Wonderland * Make a detailed shopping list of who you are buying gifts for. Set a dollar limit and the type of gift you would like to purchase next to each name. Total up the amounts and make sure you can afford what you are planning to spend.

Once you fit the gifts within your budget, carry the list and stick to it while shopping. * Save money while you shop by using credit cards with special holiday promotional offers. * Spend a few minutes online at your favorite retailer’s Web site and search for Web deals. Some offer better prices and free shipping.

arranged in decorative containers and themed gifts for those on your list such as the movie or pet lover. * With large groups or family, draw names for gift-giving and set a spending limit.

Giving one or two people a very nice gift is often better than giving many people a small gift. * Make your own gift tags from last year’s greeting cards. Use scalloped scissors to create edging.

Most importantly, stop shopping once you have neared the end of your budget and you have purchased all of the items on your list.

It is very easy to keep shopping with all of the retailer promotions during this time of year. It’s never too early to begin thinking about next year. Stocking up on decorations and gifts during the after-holiday sales will get you ahead of the game and help keep you within budget next year.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Give From the Heart, Not the Wallet * Think outside the gift box and make creative and personal gifts. Easy and cost-effective ideas include baked goods

Pinching Pennies for the Holidays?

Six Simple Tips on How to Have the Best Holiday Ever on a Grinch’s Budget

(ARA) - It’s hard to get excited about the holidays when it costs more to fill up your gas tank than it does to buy a Christmas tree. Making plans for the holiday season is more stressful when you’re on a tight budget, and it’s easy to find yourself down in the dumps when you’d rather be decking the halls. So what can a cash-poor holiday elf do to keep her spirits up and gifts under the tree on a shoestring budget?

Don’t panic.

If Santa can supply gifts for the children of the world in one night, anything is possible. You, too, can have an amazing holiday season without breaking the bank or the spirit of the season -- it just takes a little planning ahead. By starting a few weeks early and sticking to a timeline, you can give yourself some much-needed breathing room come crunchtime. You’ll even have more time to enjoy the season with family and friends because you’ll be tackling your to-do list over time, not all at once.

Get serious about your budget.

It’s time to get serious with your budget -- start by writing down how much you want to spend on holiday gifts, cards, decorations and celebrations. If your total doesn’t reflect the

reality of your bank account, start over. While it’s hard to cut costs on special items like Uncle Pete’s favorite slippers, these items can easily be covered if they’re in your budget at the start. Stick to your budget -- but create a slush fund to cover unexpected surprises, like that last-minute secret snowman gift for the office party. If money is scarce but your list is long, consider starting a new holiday tradition: send an easily shared group gift to relatives, such as a harvest basket full of tasty seasonal treats. You’ll save money by avoiding individual gifts and make gift giving a breeze in the future by carrying on your new tradition.

It’s the thought that counts.

When you give a gift, you’re letting someone know you care, no matter how big or small that gift is. If you think you’re not spending enough on loved ones for the holidays, remember how special you feel when you get something nice from someone in the mail -- it’s always nice to be remembered. In this day and age of e-mail and instant gratification, going out of your way to do something kind for someone speaks louder than words or a gift card from a bigbox store.

Look to old traditions for new inspiration.

While taking the entire family for a good old-fashioned wassailing might not be in the game plan this December,

taking cultural cues from bygone days isn’t a bad idea at all.

Your friends and family can start a new tradition easily -- all it takes is a fun activity to bring you all together. A time-honored tradition that’s fun for the whole family is building and decorating a gingerbread house together. While making one from scratch can be challenging, it’s a snap to order a premade kit online.

Shop smarter to save more.

It’s easy to buy more than you need at the mall, so avoid that trap by shopping online or using catalogs to nip impulse purchases. Another way to shop smart is to take advantage of budget-friendly credit plans offered by many retailers which can help stretch out payments over time and ease the strain on your wallet.

The cheapest gift you’ll ever give: Love.

By demonstrating your love in little ways during the season, you’ll brighten the holidays of everyone around you.

Make a CD of your favorite holiday songs for a friend or organize an afternoon of fun-filled sledding with the neighbors.

Afraid of being labeled a Scrooge? Take a lesson from corporate America. You’re not downsizing, you’re rightsizing by focusing on the things that really matter during the holidays: spending time with friends and family and making wonderful memories together.

Last Minute Holiday Help

Top Tips for Dashing Through the Snow Toward the Holiday Finish Line (ARA) - While it seems that the Thanksgiving leftovers were just finished, the holiday season is here and that has many a yuletide procrastinator shaking in their snow boots. But they are not alone. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, last year 35 million people had not even begun their holiday shopping 10 days before Christmas.

“The holidays are an important time to recognize our relationships with friends and family and we do so by exchanging gifts and greetings, but the most essential tradition is just to spend time together,” says Rochelle Lulow, holiday etiquette expert at American Greetings. “Even if you’ve waited until the last minute to tackle your to-do list, there are many things you can do to help get everything done, and to give you more time to spend with loved ones.”

Lulow offers the following helpful tips to tackle that to-do list and get to the celebrating:

Make a list, check it twice:

While the sound of the holiday clock ticking adds a tremendous amount of pressure, take a few minutes to sit down and draw up a list with corresponding budget. It will save you time in the long run -- as you can consolidate your shopping trips -- to ensure that no one is forgotten.

Poinsettia Facts

December 12 is National Poinsettia Day

Poinsettias are native to Mexico. The Aztecs called the poinsettia Cuetlaxochitl.

They made a reddish purple dye from the bracts. Chile and Peru called the poinsettia the "Crown of the Andes."

Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family. Many plants in this family ooze a milky sap. Some people may have skin irritation from the milky sap.

In nature, poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall. The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves).

Poinsettias are priced according to the number of blooms. The more blooms, the more expensive the plant. The flowers or cyathia of the poinsettia are in the center of the colorful bracts. Poinsettias have been called the lobster flower and flame leaf flower.

Poinsettias are not poisonous. A study at

Hold a quick brainstorming session:

Enlist the help of friends and family to find out what everyone on your list needs or wants. In their early bird aisle wandering, they may have already spotted the perfect item for you to pick up.

Escape the traffic:

Try shopping during extended hours, or, if you have the vacation time to spare, consider taking a weekday off in order to play catchup.

-Go online for speedy, yet personalized gifts: The bonus is that the Internet is open 24/7 and there are never any lines.

By all means, delegate:

Just because you’ve waited until the last minute does not absolve any immediate family members from having holiday duties. Try assigning some gift wrapping or the addressing of holiday greeting card envelopes to another family member.

Ohio State University showed that a 50 pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight tummy ache. Poinsettia sap that can irritate the skin and cause an upset stomach if consumed in large enough quantities.

A fresh poinsettia is one on which little or no yellow pollen is showing on the flower clusters in the center of the bracts. Plants that have shed their pollen will soon drop their colorful bracts.

Poinsettias represent over 85 percent of the potted plant sales during the holiday season. Ninety percent of all poinsettias are exported from the United States.

In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, mentioned poinsettia plants in his writings.

Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.

Poinsettias are commercially grown in all 50 states. California is the top poinsettia producing state. .

The Paul Ecke Ranch in California grows over 80 percent of poinsettias in the United States for the wholesale market. Ninety per cent of all the flowering poinsettias in the world got their start at the Paul Ecke Ranch.

There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available. $220 million worth of poinsettias are sold

during the holiday season. Seventy-four percent of Americans still prefer red poinsettias; 8 percent prefer white and 6 percent pink.

Eighty percent of poinsettias are purchased by women. Eighty percent of people who purchase poinsettias are 40 or older.

Poinsettias are the best selling flowering potted plant in the United States. In 2004 over 61 million plants were sold.

Poinsettias are the most popular Christmas plant even though most are sold in a 6 week period.

An NCCA Bowl game in San Diego is named the Poinsettia Bowl.