12.06.13 Special Issues: Holiday Guide

Holiday guide Winter wonderland, dorm style theTrinitonian

8 DEC.06.2012

by Luke Wise Everyone loves holiday decorations, but with finals just around the corner, many of us struggle to find the time or lack the inspiration for sprucing up our dorms. However, all it takes is some creativity and a little bit of free time to get your room into the holiday mood. Here are seven festive suggestions to make your dorm the bestdecorated on campus: 1. It isn’t the holidays without some lights to hang up.

Grab some cheap lights from Walmart or Home Depot and hang them up on your balcony or around the room. Tip: get yourself the solar-powered ones for outside—they are cheap and incredibly easy to use. Also, grab some red and green light bulbs and turn your boring lamp into a festive decoration.

2. Also, what would the holidays be without a tree? Go out and purchase a nice Christmas tree, or, if you are at the end of your budget, grab a cheap fern from a nearby nursery. Throw some tinsel and ornaments on that bad boy and you are all set. Charlie Brown would be proud. Not a devoted arborist? Bust out the Menorah or Kinara instead.

3.

Got some cardboard boxes lying around? Grab some festive wrapping paper or make your own and showcase your superb present-wrapping skills. Once done,

place them under your new fern “tree” and pretend they are all the amazing presents you never got as a child.

4. Get yourself a great holiday playlist. Nothing puts you in the holiday mood better than Christmas music, and it really adds a nice touch to the overall ambience of the room. Turn up the music especially loud to cover up your neighbor’s crying over the horrors of finals week.

5. Speaking about ambience, an important part of the holidays are the wonderful smells. Sure, we can’t have candles in the dorms, but what about Febreze? Choose between the incredibly appealing “Glistening Pine,” “Winter Frost” or “Cranberry Cider” and go to town. It doesn’t get more festive than that.

6. Don’t forget the door, either. Cover the entire thing in wrapping paper like a present, put up some stockings, cut out some paper snowflakes or hang a nice wreath. Or, do all of the above—the more the merrier.

7. Finally, you can’t forget the classic mistletoe. Put it over your door and you can be sure no one will disturb your studying during reading days.

Add some personal touches to your dorm and adornments, and before you know it, you’ve got the most festive room on campus. Have fun decorating!

A guide to roommate gifting

With Thanksgiving and our food comas behind us, and Christmas music now officially legal postTurkey Day, it’s time to start brainstorming gift ideas for your roommate(s). In true holiday spirit, I have compiled this guide to aid you on your gift-giving journey of joy.

The Best Friend Roommate:

Be thoughtful! Don’t rush. Think about their hobbies, their musical interests, what they like to read in their spare time (I’m told it exists). Find something that is tailored to their personality. For instance, do they have a favorite cologne or perfume that only has a few spritzes left? Personal products are a safe route. Want something more meaningful for your bestie? Look for an activity you can do together to create even more glorious memories.

Do you both enjoy art? Take a painting class. Spurs fans?

Tickets are a must. Get creative and make this gift unique.

The Roommate with No Boundaries:

This roommate does not realize there are two sides to every dorm room. “Mi casa es tu casa” is their favorite motto. Buy something of yours that they always borrow. Maybe it’s your basketball, your new skirt, your shampoo or toothpaste. Purchase a new, similar product and you’re set. No more worrying that you’ll run out of Herbal Essences mid-rinse.

The Non-Texan Roommate:

Look no farther than the closest H-E-B, Walmart or convenience store. All come completely stocked with tacky yet understandably proud Texas mugs, picture frames, blankets, t-shirts and maybe the random snow globe (the Alamo surrounded by red, white and blue glitter). They will be “home” for weeks, and odds are they’ll be stricken with homesickness (because Texas is their new home). A nice Lone Star State reminder will comfort them during those lonely weeks away.

The Roommate You Hate:

So this is the person you can’t wait to get rid of. You literally dream of the day you walk down to the Witt Center and erase them from your life. I understand. But, hey, it’s the holidays, and no one likes a Grinch. Odds are you’ve shared a meal at least once. Buy a gift card to their favorite off-campus restaurant. Maybe they will break bread with someone else and this time you’ll have the room to yourself.

by Carlos Anchonado graphics by Caroline Jakubowski

Best Holiday Music Compiled by Alessa Hutter From classics to new features, here’s a list of Christmas songs that will have you rockin’ around the Christmas tree before Santa Claus comes to town:

“All I Want for Christmas is You”— Mariah Carey “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”—Dean Martin “Blue Christmas”—Elvis Presley “Chanukah Song”—Adam Sandler “Christmas [Baby Please Come Home]—Michael Bublé “Feliz Navidad”—Jose Feliciano “Hark the Herald Angels Sing!”— Frank Sinatra “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”—Ella Fitzgerald “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”—Jackson 5 “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”—Perry Como “Jingle Bell Rock”—Bobby Helms “Last Christmas”—Wham!

“O Holy Night”—Céline Dion “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”—Brenda Lee and Johnny Marks “Santa Baby”—Earth Kitt “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”— Bruce Springsteen “Sleigh Ride”—Ella Fitzgerald “The Christmas Song”—Nat King Cole “Where Are You Christmas?”—Faith Hill “White Christmas”—Bing Crosby You can find all of these and many more on Spotify’s “The Ultimate Holiday Playlist.”

graphic by Caroline Jakubowski

Holidayguide

theTrinitonian DEC.06.2012

9

Holiday Recipes

Compiled by Jennifer Miler, graphics by Lydia Duncombe

Maybe it’s just the Texan in me, but I love me some hot peppers. Since not everyone in my family shares my enthusiasm, it’s very rare that anything “hot” shows up on our table, but it is my firm resolve this Christmas to make a snack worthy of both this season and this great state. When I saw this cheese ball recipe, my mouth began to water. Jalapeño peppers, bacon and cheese – what could be more perfect?

Bacon-Jalapeño Cheese Ball 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 2 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded (about ½ cup) 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped, divided 2 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped, divided 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon lime juice ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ¼ teaspoon ground cumin Pinch cayenne pepper ¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, half of the bacon, half of the jalapeños, garlic, parsley, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, ground cumin and cayenne pepper until well combined. On a large plate, stir together the remaining bacon, the remaining jalapeños and the toasted pecans until evenly combined. Shape the cream cheese mixture into a ball. Roll the ball in the pecan mixture until coated on all sides. Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Serve with your favorite crackers. Leftovers should be wrapped tightly and can be refrigerated for up to three days.

Source: browneyedbaker.com Just because we’re easing into winter doesn’t mean we should give up pumpkin. A few weeks ago, my boyfriend made these pumpkin ginger cupcakes with an Irish cream frosting, and they were completely to die for. I’m not much for cupcakes, or even cake, but these cupcakes fulfilled every dream I never knew I had. Make them for those nights of sitting around the fireplace, leave some out for Santa, or give them out to Christmas carolers for all I care; for heaven’s sake just MAKE THEM. Moist, spicy, and full of pumpkin goodness – welcome to heaven.

Pumpkin-Ginger Cupcakes 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant butterscotch pudding mix 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger 1 cup butter, room temperature 1 cup white sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners. Whisk together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, cloves, and crystallized ginger in a bowl; set aside.

Beat the butter, white sugar and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. The mixture should be noticeably lighter in color. Add the room-temperature eggs one at a time, allowing each egg to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla and pumpkin puree with the last egg. Stir in the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Source: Joshua Pedrick and allrecipes.com.

And, because cupcakes aren’t muffins, they deserve frosting. This is one option, although I would recommend substituting Irish cream for milk, based on the delicious success of my boyfriend’s frosting.

Butter Cream Frosting 1 cup butter, room temperature 3 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 to 2 tablespoons milk or cream In a mixing bowl with electric mixer, combine the butter with confectioners’ sugar. Beat on low speed until sugar is moistened, then beat on medium to high speed for about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk or cream and beat until smooth. Beat in more milk or cream, as needed for spreading consistency.

Source: southernfood.about.com The Christmas song “Here We Come A-caroling” is a contemporary rendition of the original carol in which is called, “Here We Come A-wassailing” If you don’t know what wassail is, this is the perfect time to find out. The easiest way to describe wassail is to call it hot apple cider, but there are countless ways to make it, including using wine (or, traditionally, ale) as the main ingredient. Here is one rendition of this classic Christmas beverage. Hot chocolate and eggnog, step aside.

Best Ever Hot Wassail 8 cups apple cider 2 cups orange juice 1/2 cup lemon juice 4 whole cinnamon sticks 12 whole cloves, or 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg Combine all ingredients in a large pan. Bring to simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce heat and continue simmering for 45 minutes. Ladle into cups or mugs and enjoy.

Source: yummyhealthyeasy.com

Holiday guide

DEC.06.2012 10 theTrinitonian

Are you familiar with the “white elephant” gift exchange? The premise is that you show up with one totally useless wacky gift that is typically under $10, draw numbers to see who goes first and then let them open a gift. As subsequent participants unwrap their gifts, they can steal away another’s newly acquired goods. A white elephant gift party is a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate the holidays, whether it’s with family, friends or co-workers. Do you have a white elephant party coming up, or perhaps you merely have friends with goofy senses of humor? Then let the gift-swapping begin!

Let’s start with the gag gifts…

1) A framed and autographed photo… of yourself. Clearly, everyone will know who the present is from once it’s opened, but that is just the sacrifice you’ll have to make for this gag gift. The frame is the only thing that will cost you, and Walmart has a selection, some for under $3. Also, even though the gift is a joke, the recipient can use the frame for something else (or, who knows, maybe they’ll keep your picture).

2) Set of rechargeable batteries with the “toy not included.” Just like the picture frame above, this may be a gag gift, but a pack of rechargeable batteries is also useful. This gift can cost as little as about $10, it’s easy, and these batteries are energy efficient—they’re the gift that keeps on giving! Just buy a pack of “green batteries” and label it with a tag that says “toy not included.”

3) City dweller’s s’more kit. Here’s what you do: just box up some candles or tea lights, an old pronged fork, some marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers. Voilà! You have a s’more kit perfect for any indoor dwelling—even the white elephant party!

And now for the gift gifts…

1) A gift card. Gift cards are the perfect white elephant present, because there is always somebody who will love it.

Keep in mind that with a $10 budget, a card to, say, Barnes & Noble isn’t going to do much good, but a card for a coffee shop, iTunes or some other business with inexpensive items will make a great gift.

2) Accessories, gadgets, toys—oh my! If you have never been to the site ThinkGeek.com, go to it now—even if you don’t have a white elephant party coming up! This site has gadgets and gizmos for anyone, many for under $10. Check it out.

3) Edible goodies. You really can’t go wrong with cookies, candies or chocolates. I mean, who doesn’t like something sweet—especially around the holidays? These are inexpensive to buy, but if you want to save even more money (and make the gift even more special!), you can make your own.

Remember, the key is to wrap the gift nicely to make it look more extravagant than it really is. After all, the best part about exchanging gifts is the anticipation of what is inside. Happy gift-giving!

1. Photo coasters. For this gift, you will need 4x4 tiles (19 cents at Home Depot), felt mounting circles, photos that are 4x4, glue stick, popsicle stick, resin (make sure it dries clear—you can purchase this at Hobby Lobby with a 40-percent-off coupon) and a straw. First, glue the pictures to the tiles with glue stick. Second, seal the picture tiles with resin. It is very important to follow the instructions on the resin label to a tee. Spread out the resin with the popsicle stick. Be aware of any bubbles that may pop up within the first 15 minutes. Use a straw to blow out any troublesome bubbles. Third, wait. For approximately 72 hours, that is. Lastly, mount the felt circles onto the bottom of the tiles so that the coasters can slide easily without scratching any surfaces. Voilà! You now have the perfect homemade gift.

2. Personalized snow globe. You will need photo or transparency paper (make sure the size is half an inch smaller than the bottle’s width and height, a glass jar (spaghetti sauce jars work well), glitter and sequins, clear/light corn syrup, water and packaging tape. The first step is to prepare your photo (print a photo onto a transparency). Next, roll up your photo and put it into your jar. After this, you will fill over half the jar with water and the rest with the corn syrup. Add glitter and sequins. Lastly, tighten the lid on your jar AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. You don’t want any leakage. Shake snow globe and enjoy!

3. Chalkboard wine glasses. What you will need: Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Brush-On in black, wine glasses and chalk. If you are looking for an easy DIY, then this is the project for you. Simply dip the bottom of the wine glass into the chalkboard paint and wait for it to dry. This is super fun, and allows you to leave a personalized message on the bottom of the wine glass. You might consider decorating the top with some fun colors (puff paint and 3D paint stick well on glass).

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Giving cheap & Easy

The season of giving is upon us once again, and, if you are anything like me, then you have given yourself too many things. The old saying goes, “it is the thought that counts.” While this may be true, grabbing something from your dorm’s trash can does not count. Some effort, even on a tight budget, is necessary for the people we deem important enough to spend time, thought and affection on. Worry not; I am here to help you purchase cheap (in a good way) gifts that will hide how poorly you manage your finances from your friends and family.

Gifts come in many different forms depending on who they are for. If the recipient is even inclined to something whimsical and fun—and definitely if they are a geek—then you should take a look at thinkgeek.com. Some of the items on this website can be on the expensive side of the spectrum (why does it cost $89.99 for a Jedi bath robe? and why don’t I have $89.99?), but they specifically have a section that is entirely filled with items under $10. At this point, I should stop writing and just paste a link to the website and call it a day. There are a lot of cool gifts, like a “Harry Potter” beanie and Superman-themed socks that have tiny capes at the top.

A month may seem fleeting, but it can also be a very long time, especially during winter breaks after the novelty of being back at home with family and high school friends grows thin. I cannot think of a better companion than a subscription to Netflix or Hulu. There are literally thousands of hours of content on both of these streaming services. You can even watch said content on almost any device—even on a Nintendo 3DS! Making absolute statements is never a good thing, but I know that everyone will agree with me when I say that a person can never go wrong buying a book as a gift; the recipient will always be grateful and overjoyed. My witty, hilarious and ironic use of absolutes aside, a book is one of those gifts you can buy new for under $10, or even cheaper used at Half Price or somewhere similar. The choices are limitless. Pick one at random, look at awards or use your best judgment.

If none of those gift ideas fits your designated giftee, then you could always make something with your own two hands.

I understand that this may seem like the cop-out answer. I promise that this idea is not here and not last because I ran out of other legitimate ideas. Though I am also not saying that it is not on this list in some part because I ran out of ideas. That sentence was purposefully obfuscated to hide the truth within. I digress. One time, I received a piece of 8 ½ by 11 paper with some ink on the page. It was neither the most useful, the most expensive nor the coolest gift I have ever received.

But it was the most meaningful one because of the person who gave it to me and what it represented. Make a comic for someone you care about or a popsicle doll or some sort of origami thing, or buy a mug and then paint it. You can even just write a note or give them a long hug. Go crazy. Just do something. Make sure you show the people that matter to you that, well, they matter to you.

Holiday guide

theTrinitonian DEC.06.2012

11

Presents for parents

by Julie Robinson

A gingerbread house how-to

by Cassie Watson

Crafting your own gingerbread house from scratch can seem like a very simple and easy activity to undertake. It’s important to realize, however, that making a gingerbread house isn’t just an art project—it also requires a bit of architectural intuition. A shoddily built house can quickly become a pile of icing and graham crackers before it has the chance to be a gingerbread house. To get started, here is some stuff you’ll need: 1. Icing and graham crackers. Don’t go out and spend money on a prefabricated, build-your-own-gingerbread-house set. That’s for pansies. You don’t need it. A box of graham crackers and a standard container of cake icing will do just fine. The possibilities are infinite when you can use your own imagination. It’s more fun that way anyway. Plus, you can make more than one house! Maybe even a gingerbread village. If you want to get a little fancy, using an icing bag will give you a little more precision, but a butter knife will be plenty effective.

2. I’ve found that the best candies to use are M&Ms, Dots, Redhots and other small candies. Twizzlers (or red vines, if you prefer) are also good to use. Splitting them in half makes them go a little farther and actually fit on corners a little better.

To avoid collapse, here are some helpful tips: 1. Start with a foundation. Don’t just start putting walls and a roof up without first using a graham cracker for the floor of your house. This will give you a place to anchor your walls and make it easier for the walls to stay in place while the icing dries between them.

2. Build the gingerbread house on a level and sturdy surface. A wobbly table (or jerky friends who shake the table in the midst of your building endeavor— sabotagers!) will likely cause your house to fall apart, especially in the earlier stages when the icing is still soft.

3. Icing is your friend. Use this stuff liberally (it’ll make the house more fun to eat later!) Especially when putting walls up, ice both inside and outside of each corner. This will ensure that the walls are super secure. This also applies to the baseboards of your house. Ice where your walls and that oh-so-necessary foundation we discussed meet, again both inside and out. The more you ice, the more places to stick small candies (again, making it more fun to devour later). This brings me to my next tip.

4. Candy is your friend, too. And it doesn’t just serve as a decorative purpose; it also adds stability to your corners and where the walls meet the foundation.

5. The roof is the hardest part. So before you start, make sure you’ve cleared your mind, centered your chi or whatever it is you do to mentally prepare for a challenge. It’s best to do this only when the icing on the walls and foundation are completely dry. This will keep your entire creation from crumbling while you try to put the roof on. Once you’ve iced the two halves of the roof together and where they touch the walls, you have to physically hold the roof together while the icing dries. Don’t worry, you won’t need to maintain this position until it completely dries, but just long enough for the icing to set a little. If this fails continuously, there’s no shame in going adobe style. We are in San Antonio, after all.

When you’ve reached the end of the semester and the end of your budget, the struggle truly begins: figuring out what to get your friends and family for the holidays.

Your parents are by far the easiest demographic to buy gifts for because you truly don’t have to buy them anything. Here are my top five found-around-thehouse holiday gifts you can give your parents without spending a dime of your own money.

1. Paper Towels: There is no doubt that your parents use paper towels, so it’s easy enough to take a roll from under the kitchen sink, stick a bow on it, and attach a cute note saying something like: “you can use these to clean up all the messes I get myself in.” Cute, fun and you’re done.

2. Tylenol: You can be conservative and Ziploc the recommended 2-3 pills/day or go all out and give them the whole bottle, but just attach a Post-It note with the words “for all the headaches I’ve given you,” and this is actually the easiest gift in the world.

3. Kleenex: This might be a gift that you have to give your parents before Christmas day, specifically whenever they see your semester grades. If you’re stingy, a roll of toilet paper will do.

4. Glue: Stick it in a gift bag with a cute card saying something along the lines of “maybe this will fix our broken family” or “sorry for breaking your heart,” and this gift is sure to stick in their memories.

5. Anti-Depressants: If you don’t have these lying around the house, feel free to steal a few from your roommate and maybe take a few extras for yourself, because everyone knows you haven’t celebrated the holidays right until you’ve had your Abilify.

Remember, parents shouldn’t have very high standards. They have already had years of experience acting surprised and excited about your horrific handmade crafts that you likely gave them every Christmas until you were ten. They should be thankful enough that you survived the semester, let alone thought up such creative and sentimental gifts. graphic by Caroline Jakubowski