West Georgia Woman Magazine 2020 Holiday Guide

Woman

Complimentary

2020

West Georgia

Holiday Guide

Festive Holiday Centerpieces

Carroll County CASA Fosters Love During the Holidays

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Ditch the Holiday Stress Solving the Name-Drawing Dilemma 1

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Merry Christmas!

The holidays are a time of celebration for many that includes spending time with friends and family, holiday parties and gift-giving. They can also be a time of reflection – thinking about things you've accomplished this year and looking forward to opportunities for self-improvement in the new year.

The holidays are a perfect time to assess our current situations and to focus on the things we are grateful for in our lives. This month (November), we are celebrating our fifth anniversary in West Georgia. As I spend time reflecting on my life and what we have accomplished over the last five years, I want you to know how thankful I am for you! Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine.

In This Special Issue We are so excited to provide you with our third annual West Georgia Woman magazine holiday guide!

We have been working harder than Santa’s elves so we could finish this beautiful special edition for you. I hope you enjoy our 2020 holiday guide as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.

This issue is full of fabulous articles from ditching the holiday stress and festive centerpieces to affordable holiday gifts and traveling during the holidays. We've also included ways you can give others your time, treasure and talent right here in West Georgia.

We've also included a special article about Carroll County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a local nonprofit organization that inspires the spirit of community through their annual fundraising Turkey Trot race. The funds from the race go directly to benefit foster children by enabling CASA to purchase essential items for them. Learn more about CASA and their mission on page 24.

Be sure to check out our community partners' "Santa's Secret Savings" coupon section on page 20. Please shop locally and support our community partners as much as you can by using their coupons found inside this publication. Without them, there would be no West Georgia Woman magazine!

Shopping locally as much as you can really does make a difference in our communities.

As we approach the holiday season, please remember to give yourself some special care, spend quality time with family and friends and most important, remember the true spirit of Christmas.

Very special thanks to Shala Hainer for writing the wonderful articles included in our 2020 holiday guide. She is an amazing writer, and we are so grateful for her monthly contribution as our copy editor and for her valued contributions to our special issues.

I wish for abundant blessings for you and yours during this holiday season.

Peace and Joy,

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Publisher

Photo by Zachary Dailey

Finding our voice. Knowing our value.

Making a difference.

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West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives.

This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia women!

Please be sure to tell them we sent you!

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

Contact us: (404) 502-0251 Online: www.westgeorgiawoman.com

Follow us! @WestGaWoman

Volume 3 November/December 2020 Holiday Guide

Publisher/Editor Need a copy?

Get yours from our racks at Kroger, Publix, Southern Home and Ranch and Food Depot (Maple Street) in Carrollton. We have them at Lee-King and Lee-Goodrum pharmacy locations in Newnan, the Inspiring women wanted.

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West Georgia Woman is a monthly pubThe views, opinions, positions or stratlication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of egies expressed by the contributing this issue are copyright 2020. West Georgia authors are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a differpositions or strategies of Angel Media, ence.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction without or any employee thereof. Angel Media, permission is strictly prohibited.

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Holiday Guide Editorial

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributor Rose Isaacs

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LLC. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information in this publication and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.

Mail correspondence to:

West Georgia Woman Magazine P.O. Box 2782 Carrollton, GA 30112

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

Advertising Sales

Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com Angela Brooks Dailey, owner and publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine, has lived in West Georgia most of her life and has a deep love and appreciation for the area.

She received her B.B.A in management from The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., and is a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey.

Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch Sydney play soccer.

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What’s inside...

Ditch the Holiday Stress

21

Festive Holiday Centerpieces

10

Solving the Name-Drawing Dilemma

22

Holiday Fare with Chef Rose

13

Affordable Holiday Gifts

24

Fostering Love: Carroll County CASA Turkey Trot

18

On the Road Again

28

A Helping Hand

20

Santa's Secret Savings

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Ditch the Holiday Stress W

ith holiday gatherings, gift lists, travel to visit family (or even worse – people traveling to your house!) and the added issue of COVID-19 this year, the season of blessings can quickly turn into the season of stress. Using some practical tips, you can ditch the stress and get back to enjoying the holidays.

Make Lists Start now! Make several lists, starting with one for the different places you need to be and when. This might be a socially distanced event at your church, a volunteer opportunity you enjoy each year such as working at a soup kitchen, kids’ school parties (if allowed this year!) or a work obligation.

Other lists might include one of people you need to buy gifts for, what you plan to buy them, what food you want for any family gatherings and who should cook or bring each dish.

Keep your lists handy so you can update them every time you think of a new item to add. Using post-it notes while you’re on the go helps you write down quick thoughts, or you can add the items to a notes app on your phone. Another helpful trick is texting yourself reminders to write down later.

Share Duties The overwhelming amount of tasks you need to complete during the holidays can quickly drive you into the Christmas crazies.

Instead, realize you don’t have to do it all. You have people around you who can help, with a little direction. Once you have your lists made, it’s simple to begin assigning those tasks to others.

For example, when your list of gifts is ready, hand that list to your spouse or other family member. Ask them to buy all the items noted and check them off the list for you. The decision making is the hard part; you’re giving them the easy part.

Similarly, it’s not just up to you to make all the food for any family or friend gatherings. After you make your list of desired food, divvy that up between the

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people who are coming. Make sure to account for drinks, appetizers and desserts as well as the sides. If you’re hosting, you typically provide the meat for the main meal, such as the turkey or ham, but there’s no rule that says you can’t assign that to someone else.

If there are several dishes that need to be cooked at your house, plan it out so that certain dishes go into the oven at certain times to ensure there’s not a lastminute rush on the limited oven space.

Sharing duties also works when you’re decorating your house. Give yourself several days to get it done – start by asking family members to help you bring the decorations out of storage and into your living area, then plan certain pieces on different days. One day might be just the Christmas tree, while another day is set aside for any exterior decorations like lights or wreaths. Yet another might be other interior decorations such as garlands. Take your time, play some holiday music and get your family involved in making your house festive.

Make a Budget Money creates a major stressor during the holidays. Gifts, decorations and extra food aren’t cheap, but they don’t have to break the bank.

Include a budget on each list, and stick to it. Sharing

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food duties helps keep that budget reasonable, but if your gift budget is getting out of hand – as it tends to do as families grow – suggest drawing names or limiting the amount everyone is allowed to spend on each gift.

Generic Gifts There’s always that one person who shows up you didn’t expect, or someone who wasn’t supposed to buy you a gift who ends up giving you one.

Eliminate this stress before it happens by having a few generic gifts on hand that will work for nearly anyone. Check out some area markets to buy homemade jams, apple butter or local honey, for example. Dress them up with some holiday ribbon and pre-package them with some tasty crackers for an instant gift.

When you’re in the grocery store, look for generic gift ideas. They often have hot chocolate sets, complete with cute mugs, marshmallows and the hot chocolate mix. Many department stores have cozy throw blankets already tied up in a bow for you.

If all else fails, opt for quick and easy gift cards.

Lower denominations work best so you can mix and match depending on how much you would like to give. If you buy three $10 coffee shop gift cards, you

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can give one to three different people who show up unexpectedly, or all three to one person who shows up with a nice but unexpected gift for you. If you don’t need to use them as gifts, treat yourself after the holidays by using them on your own.

Self Care The holiday hustle and bustle often pushes self care to the back burner, but it’s even more essential during this stressful time. Know what recharges you, and take a few minutes every day to do one or more of those activities. It could be taking a hot, relaxing bath, or perhaps going for a quiet, peaceful walk.

The Mayo Clinic recommends other options as well, including listening to soothing music, reading a book, getting plenty of sleep and trying not to cave into the pressure of eating readily available holiday candy and unhealthy snacks too often.

Remember the Reason for the Season For some, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. For others, the holidays focus on quality time with family and friends. Some might see the holidays as a time to give back and improve the

lives of others.

When you feel stressed as the holidays approach, reflect on what is most important to you about this time of year. Focus on the moments that bring you joy, and don’t sweat the small stuff. If you forgot to buy all the ingredients you need to make your Grandma’s special dressing for your family gettogether, remember that it really doesn’t matter.

Your family and friends are there with you, making memories and enjoying time together – that’s what’s most important. Years from now, no one will remember exactly what they ate that day, but they will remember how you made them feel – warm, welcome, happy and loved. WGW

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Solving the Name-Drawing Dilemma

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Fun ways to draw names for Secret Santa

s your family or friend group grows, it tends to become too expensive to buy everyone a gift – at least, a gift they aren’t going to regift at their next possible opportunity. Instead, many choose to draw names for Secret Santa gifts.

But pulling names out of a bowl or using random matching websites such as Elfster don’t sound exactly exciting.

Spice up the holiday season with a clever and memorable name swap game, ensuring each family member or friend receives a meaningful gift – and that drawing names becomes part of the fun.

Hot Potato or Musical Chairs For this quick take on an oldie but goodie kids’ game, tape a name face down on a ball. Pick your favorite holiday song, and play a few seconds of it while the group tosses the ball around randomly.

When the music stops, the person holding the ball takes off the name to discover who they are choosing a gift for this year. Continue until everyone

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has their Secret Santa partner.

If some members of your group can’t be there, try video chatting with them. When it is their turn, they can designate someone who is there in person to catch the ball for them. As the organizer, you can take the name off the ball and secretly communicate it to the person by text so everyone can see their reaction.

Instead of ball, try musical chairs. When the music stops, hand whoever is left standing the name of the person they should buy a gift for.

Stickers This option works well when everyone is getting together in person – Thanksgiving is a popular time for this game. Before everyone arrives, secretly place stickers with names on them on the bottom of chairs or plates – dessert plates also make a good choice, since the dinner conversation has likely started to wind down.

When you have everyone’s attention, tell them

about the stickers – ask them to find their sticker and remove it, so they can take it home and remember who they are supposed to give a gift to.

• •

Group Trivia Prepare a list of questions that relate to your group. Some ideas include: • Who is the oldest/youngest person here?

• Who lives the farthest away?

• Whose initials spell something? (For example, LOL, ALL, DUH, CAN) • Who has been at their job the longest?

• Who is the tallest/shortest person here?

Who has been married the longest?

Whose birthday is closest to Thanksgiving? (Or a holiday of your choice)

Use a variety of questions geared toward both kids and adults. As each person answers one Thanksgiving is a of the questions, popular time for hand them a the sticker game. random Secret Santa name.

If someone hasn’t answered a question by the time you’ve finished your list, rework one of the questions to match the person. For example, try, “Who is the second youngest person here?” If you aren’t sure which question to rework, keep it simple, perhaps something like, “Who here is

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wearing a red shirt?”

This game works well if you have people out of town who aren’t attending – video chat with them if you can so they can enjoy the fun.

Gift Lists In addition to having a fun Secret Santa event, here’s a way to make sure everyone gets a gift they want. Set a budget, such as $50 per gift, and give each person five slips of paper. Have them write

Gift lists are a great way to make sure everyone gets the gift they want.

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their names on each slip, then write a gift they want that falls within the budget.

Put all your guests in a circle, then put one person’s five slips in a bowl. Hand the bowl to the first person to draw one of the gifts – that’s the gift they are supposed to buy for that person. Toss the remaining slips, put in another set of slips, and hand the bowl to the second person in the circle.

Continue until everyone has drawn.

This takes the guesswork out of choosing gifts for the hard-to-buy-for people while ensuring the recipient will love the gift. They’ll still be surprised because they don’t know which present you drew.

As a thoughtful twist to this game, give your family or friends the option to choose five charities instead of gifts. Their Secret Santa should donate the amount of the budget (such as $50) to the charity they draw in the name of the recipient, then provide a receipt as the present at the gift-giving party. This helps keep the spirit of giving back in the gift-giving season, bringing your community, not just your family and friends, into your party. WGW

Affordable Holiday Gifts

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he holidays are supposed to be about getting together with the people you care about – but let’s be honest. Gifts make the holidays that much more fun.

Giving a thoughtful, memorable gift takes a little bit of planning, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.

The least expensive but most thoughtful gifts are often the most meaningful ones people like the best.

For any kind of affordable gift, spend some time thinking about the recipient so you can make the gift personal. What are their hobbies, or interests?

Do they like to exercise? Are they a wine enthusiast?

Maybe they have a certain item they love to collect, or they are very involved with certain causes. Tailor your gift specifically to that person, and they will appreciate the thought and effort you put into the gift, regardless of how much you spent.

Eco-friendly For someone who is environmentally conscious, buying specialty organic, cruelty-free, low-carbonfootprint gifts can get expensive. Look for smaller ways to show that person you respect their ideals.

Reusable metal straws, for example, are something they can carry with them to use at restaurants instead of the plastic straws provided. Cute, reusable sandwich/snack bags are getting easier to find, as are products made from renewable materials such as hemp and bamboo – think kitchen towels or

Personalized Taking an everyday item and turning it into something personal gives it a life of its own. Many websites offer personalization options, but this is an area that is easy to DIY if you are the crafty type.

Take a plain throw pillow or picture frame and stencil on a wedding anniversary date for a newlywed couple, for example, or the word “Home” for someone who just bought a house. Cross stitch an ornament for a friend, adding their last name for an extra personalized punch.

Coffee mugs and plastic tumblers are easy to personalize with names, initials or an inspirational saying, such as “You Got This.” Find towels, fluffy blankets or duffel bags that can be embroidered with an initial or name – this turns basic gifts into something useful and thoughtful. Many items can be personalized easily and affordably, so give free reign to your imagination.

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wooden spoons and bowls. Reusable shopping bags are always handy – nice ones, not the $1 ones you buy at the grocery store – and they are available in a variety of styles, so you’re sure to find some that match your recipient’s personality.

Personal Care When you’re thinking about personal care items, there are a few considerations. First, understand that body wash and scented candles are a bit overdone, and they aren’t usually super personal gifts. Second, not every scent works for every person. Also, not everyone uses the same kind of personal care items that you do.

That doesn’t mean personal care items won’t make memorable, affordable gifts. Instead, expand your idea of what personal care means, and focus on making the gifts thoughtful, catering to each person’s wants and needs.

For someone who is busy and stressed often, perhaps consider an essential oil diffuser – many come with a small selection of essential oils, but the main gift is the diffuser itself. This gives the recipient something to use to relax while letting them choose the essential oils they like the best. Another idea might be some cushy, fuzzy slippers or gloves that have a super soft lining, or an eye mask you can use

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warm or cold.

To incorporate scents into the gift, stick to ones that cater to relaxation, such as a lavender pillow spray or eucalyptus bath bombs. Try to stay away from holiday-specific scents – the holiday tends to be basically over by the time you give the gift.

Personal care can also include items your friends and family use to relax, such as yoga mats or foam rollers to use after exercise.

Gift Cards Giving cash seems a bit impersonal, but gift cards enable you to tailor your gift specifically to the recipient. A teenage girl might enjoy a gift card to a makeup store, while a teen boy might prefer one to a video game store, for example. Think of an activity the recipient enjoys, such as camping or going to the movies.

If you know their favorite restaurant or where they get their hair done, consider those experiences for gift cards as well. Even if your gift card won’t cover their entire experience, they will appreciate your thoughtfulness in helping pay for the things they enjoy. If you need to give small denominations, such as $5, consider gift cards to a coffee, cupcake or candy shop, where the $5 is likely to cover at least one item. WGW

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Local Law Enforcement Makes Positive Impact with Kids Through Christmas Shopping Program

he Carrollton Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is an organization that consists of full-time employed and retired members of local and state law enforcement.

The lodge also consists of associate members who support the FOP's mission.

The FOP is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement personnel, with more than 330,000 members in more than 2,200 lodges. The Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 was chartered on April 24, 1975, and was named for a Carrollton police officer who was killed in the line of duty.

The FOP is very active with helping local special needs children and adults, underprivileged children and children who have been affected by crimes – either as victims or witnesses. The lodge also supports FOP members, members of public safety, the Special Olympics, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), as well as numerous other local groups and civic organizations.

Cops, Kids and Christmas This year's "Cops, Kids and Christmas" event will be held in December at Walmart in Carrollton for special needs children and at Target in Carrollton for kids who have been affected by crimes and the underprivileged.

On the day of the event, the kids meet the officers they will be shopping with at the Train Depot in Carrollton.

Santa Claus drops in, listens to the children's Christmas wishes and takes photos with them. After time spent with Santa, the kids climb into police cars with the officers and are encouraged to play with the patrol car P.A. system, lights and sirens on the way to shop.

Once the cops and kids arrive at the store, breakfast is provided for the children. After breakfast, the children go with their police officer partner to shop for their gifts.

They are given, on average, $200 to $250 for Christmas shopping and are encouraged to purchase whatever they would like within the budget.

"Some of the kids select items they need, such as clothing or personal items," says Det. Sgt. Dan Keever, past president of the FOP. "Some of them purchase gifts for their siblings and parents. It touches your heart to see these children – some of whom have so little – think about others before thinking of themselves. Another fun thing about the event is watching the kids as they speak over the patrol car P.A. system and flip the switches to change the lights and the sounds of the sirens while riding in the car to shop. It is so much fun to interact with these kids and see the big smiles on their faces." Det. Sgt. Keever says this event means so much more than just a nice thing the FOP does for the community. "Cops, Kids and Christmas" gives children positive interaction with law enforcement and helps to plant the seed that the children

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Wednesday Night BINGO Another fun and exciting way you can support the FOP's charitable programs is to attend its weekly BINGO night every Wednesday at Venue 1625, located at 1625 Bankhead Highway in Carrollton.

Compete each week for a chance to win $1,500 during the electronic and paper BINGO, participate in a 50/50 raffle with several prizes and enjoy refreshments at the concession stand. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the first ball is called at 7 p.m. Masks are recommended and social distancing is in place.

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On the Road Again

Stay in the Holiday Spirit with These Travel Survival Tips

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he screaming. The crying. The hair-pulling. And then there is the kids’ behavior! Holiday travel doesn’t have to look like that, thankfully.

The best part about the holidays is seeing friends and family. Traveling to see them is stressful enough, but it’s complicated this year by the lingering COVID-19 issues. With a little planning and preparation, you can enjoy your trip without losing your mind.

Pack Lightly The fewer bags you have, the easier it is to manage loading your car or navigating the airport. If you’re traveling to visit family who doesn’t mind you using their washing machine, pack only half the clothes you need for the duration, with the plan of washing them and wearing each item at least twice. Try packing only mix-and-match items, so you can swap shirts and bottoms for different looks throughout your visit.

If you’re flying, this is especially important. Packing just a carry-on bag is best, but if you must check a bag, put your essential items in your carry-on in case your checked bag gets lost. These items might include a single change of clothes, daily medicines and important documents.

If you’re driving, packing lightly ensures you have plenty of room in your car to transport gifts. Flying with wrapped gifts isn’t advised because security has

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the right to unwrap and examine any of your gifts.

Instead, consider shipping them ahead of time.

Plan Bathroom Breaks Long drives mean essential bathroom breaks, especially with kids in the car. COVID-19 has complicated this a bit – many fast-food restaurants, where travelers would often stop to use the restrooms, still have closed dining rooms. Some rest stops are closed as well.

This is where a little planning comes into play. If you know anyone in the car likes to use the restroom every couple of hours, map out your route and choose exits that are about two hours apart. Look at the businesses at the exits to find the ones that have several gas stations – although a few gas stations might not have restrooms available, most have opened their restrooms to the public. Stopping at an exit with several gas station options ensures you can find one or more with open public restrooms.

Snacks Although this is particularly important if you’re traveling with children, even adults travel happier when they aren’t hungry. On car trips, it’s easy to toss in some snacks while you’re getting organized for the trip. Single-serve bags are often easier so no

one ends up fighting over the same snack. Healthy snack items such as fruit and dippable veggies might require a small cooler for long trips.

When you’re flying, save money by bringing snacks instead of buying them at the airport. It’s a good idea to check your airline’s website just in case they have restrictions, but in most cases, airlines allow you to bring solid food on board. Think prepackaged food such as pretzels or crackers, or food you make yourself such as a sandwich, chopped fruit or sliced vegetables. Place your food in clear zip-top bags so security can see immediately what is in each bag. The only thing off-limits is liquids, so don’t risk packing items such as salsa, dressing, gravy, creamy cheeses or even peanut butter.

Most airlines require you to remove your snacks from your carry-on while you’re in the security line and send it through the X-ray machine separately.

Keep those items in their own bag so you can easily remove them as you go through the security checkpoint.

Chargers We’re connected in a million ways these days, and those connections require charging. Whether you’re using a cell phone, tablet, computer or portable game consoles for the kids, keep your chargers handy.

When traveling by car, make sure each person has their own chargers, with plenty of places to plug them in – sharing chargers often leads to someone running out of battery, and there goes your peaceful journey.

Airports often have electrical outlets in the waiting areas, but not necessarily on the plane. Invest in a couple of nice portable battery packs – many can charge more than one device at a time. These can take six to eight hours to charge up, so make sure to plug the battery packs in the night before you leave.

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Sanitation Supplies If you’re worried about COVID-19 or other germs, take your own hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.

Use both as you travel by car, wiping down gas pump handles, for example, and sanitizing your hands after every pit stop.

Most airlines are allowing up to 12 ounces of hand sanitizer in your carry-on bags. If the hand sanitizer container is larger than 3.4 ounces, you’ll be pulled aside during the security check so they can screen the sanitizer separately – allow a little extra time if you’re carrying a large bottle. Use sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Use disinfecting wipes in the airport waiting area, on the plane seats, buckles and trays, and the major areas you might touch in the hotel room, like the remote control, phone, clock, doorknobs and drawer handles.

Research A peaceful trip starts way before you leave.

Because many guidelines have changed in public areas, check websites of hotels, the airlines and any planned events, or call ahead and ask about restrictions. These include whether masks are required and whether cash is accepted, or if you have to pay with a credit or debit card. Some hotels aren’t cleaning rooms daily to reduce exposure, and some no longer offer breakfast.

If you’re flying, research whether the airline has separate bag fees – some are even charging for carry-ons. Also, find out where on the website it tells you how long it is taking to get through security – check that site throughout the time you’re getting ready to leave to ensure you provide enough time to make your flight. Check on parking as well. Having that all planned out and reserved ahead of time takes one more hassle out of the equation.

Be Patient Even the best-planned trips often go wonky somewhere. Roads are closed due to accidents or construction, and flights get delayed. Remember to take a breath and focus more on the fact you will eventually make it to your destination, and late is better than never.

Enjoy the time talking to your kids or the people you’re traveling with – stop for a meal, or perhaps take a scenic route and make some new memories rather than stressing about the delays. WGW

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kip the trip to the store and reuse or repurpose items you might have around the house already to make stunning holiday centerpieces.

With a few quiet minutes and a dash of creativity, you can turn everyday items into unforgettable centerpieces without stretching your already tight holiday budget.

Festive

the carnations just tall enough to cover the top of the vase.

The rule of three fits these arrangements well – if you want to cover more space than one small vase can, use three instead of two for a finished look.

Carnations have colors to match nearly any decoration idea you have. Fall colors include red, orange, bronze, yellow, purple and tipped carnations, where the petals are white with colored tips. For Christmas, reds, whites and peppermint tipped are the most popular.

Dress up the arrangements with other pieces from nature, such as colorful leaves or small, fragrant fir branches.

Holiday Centerpieces

Clear Vase or Trifle Bowl Filling a clear vase or trifle bowl – or both to make a full tablescape -- offers endless centerpiece ideas. Take a tall, wide cylinder vase or clear trifle bowl and fill it with objects of your choice. This might be small pumpkins of various colors, Christmas ornaments, or fruit such as apples and cranberries. Add a festive punch by weaving a batterypowered strand of lights through the items in the vase.

Another simple option is to fill the vase or bowl with water, then place seasonal branches inside. For Thanksgiving, this might be plain, thin curvy sticks, while holly branches with red berries work well for Christmas.

The water holds the branches mostly upright, and they are typically heavy enough to sink deeply into the vase or bowl.

Incorporating candles adds a peaceful, reflective element to the centerpiece. Fill a few inches of the base of the vase or bowl with seasonal items such as cranberries, orange beads or items that match your color scheme, such as blue and silver ornaments. Place a wide pillar candle in the center.

The candle should be high enough that you see at least an inch above the top of the vase or bowl. Hold it there while you pour more of the decorations around the candle to keep it in place – fill the bowl or vase as close to the top as possible. For added Christmas zing, put a couple of inches of Epsom salt in the base first to make it look like snow.

If you don’t have a wide cylinder vase or a trifle bowl, try placing any clear bowl on top of a cake plate, then fill the bowl with your decorations of choice.

Flowers Flowers as centerpieces never get old, but designing or buying a large, mixed-flower centerpiece can get expensive.

Instead, opt for a small arrangement of carnations.

Carnations come in a multitude of colors, and they are one of the most affordable flowers available.

Centerpieces work best when they aren’t too tall to see each other across the table, so choose shorter vases, and cut

Wooden Box or Basket The rustic look is trendy right now, and if you have a low, rectangle wooden box or rustic basket, make that your table’s focal point. Dress it up by tying ribbon around it, then fill it with cute decorations. For example, place small real or fake Christmas trees inside, or try a variety of candles – different colors and varying heights add visual interest. Surround the trees or candles with cranberries for a bigger pop of color.

Many of the items you could use in a cylinder vase work in the box or basket as well, such as apples, small pumpkins, pine cones and ornaments. If you want to add some fresh flowers, put three to five mason jars in the box or basket to use as rustic vases.

Quick Paper Centerpieces Sometimes the simplest centerpieces are the best. Make several paper cones in a variety of sizes and colors – thicker paper tends to work best for these. To make cones that will stand on their own, cut out a paper circle, then cut a large triangle out of the circle – cut out about a quarter of the circle. Pull the sides of the open area together and overlap them to form a cone, then tape the edges or use a small amount of glue along a seam. The paper could be plain colors, patterns or paper you decorate yourself.

Wrapping paper gives you even more bang for your buck.

Take small, empty boxes of various sizes and wrap them carefully. Wide, flat boxes work best. Tie colorful ribbon around each box and stack them in the center of your table.

If you have a certain color scheme, such as blue and silver, wrap the boxes with one color and use ribbon of the other color to instantly tie your centerpiece in with the rest of your decorations. WGW

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Holiday Fare

1 bottle red wine 1 cup apple whiskey 1 cup brandy

Preparation

With

Chef Rose

In a slow-cooker or large stockpot over low heat, combine apple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice, brown sugar and cinnamon sticks.

Place cloves, allspice and nutmeg in a tea steeper or place in coffee filter and tie with butchers twine.

Add to juices.

Heat until warmed completely through.

Add orange and apple slices as garnish.

In a separate pitcher combine wine, whiskey and brandy and stir well.

To make the drink, simply fill your preferred glass 3/4 full of the juice mixture and 1/4 of the wine mixture. Feel free to adjust this to your taste.

Always remember to drink responsibly.

Photos by Zachary Dailey

Mulled Cider Ingredients 2 quarts apple juice 1 quart cranberry juice 1 pint orange juice 1 cup brown sugar 3 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon allspice 1/4 of a whole nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg Orange slices for garnish Apple slices for garnish

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Perfect Cheese Board Ingredients To build a cheese board that impresses your friends and family, be sure to select one or more wedge of cheese from each of the following categories below: Flavored or speciality cheeses: blue (pictured), Gorgonzola, Stilton, or flavored goat cheese Semi-firm cheeses: cheddar (pictured), provolone, fontina.

Soft cheeses: Brie (pictured), mozzerella, goat cheese – plain or flavored.

Smoked or aged cheeses: Parmesan (pictured), Gouda, grueyre.

Dried fruit: figs (pictured), apricots, cranberries.

Fresh fruit: Granny Smith apples (pictured), strawberries, blueberries.

Sliced deli meat: thin sliced prosciutto (pictured), salami, or pepperoni.

Jam or compote: strawberry preserves (pictured), apricot, apple.

Crackers.

Preparation Lay the cheeses out from firm to soft with fruits and other sweet items adjacent to the soft cheeses.

Lay meats adjacent to the harder aged cheeses.

Roast Ham with Honey Pear Glaze

halfway.

Bake until pears are tender, cranberries begin to burst and internal temperature of ham reaches 165 degrees, or about 30 to 40 minutes.

Ladle juices from pan into a medium saucepan.

Stir in remaining 1/2 cup honey, the sugar and ginger.

Bring to a gentle boil over medium-heat.

Cook until mixture is syrupy and has reduced by half, about 20 minutes.

Brush glaze over ham.

Transfer ham to a cutting board, carve and serve with pears and cranberries.

Ingredients 1 Fully cooked, smoked, bone-in ham (about 10 pounds) Whole cloves, as needed 2 cups apple cider 1 1/2 cups honey 1 cinnamon stick 5 Bosc pears, quartered and cored 3 cups fresh cranberries 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Preparation Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Score ham all over in a diamond pattern.

Insert cloves into diamonds.

Place the ham in a large roasting pan.

Pour cider and 1 cup honey over the ham.

Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, basting with pan juices halfway through.

Add cinnamon, pears and cranberries to pan.

Cover ham with foil and bake 45 minutes – basting

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Ingredients 3 1/2 cups white chocolate chips 1/4 cup butter 1 can sweetened condensed milk 2 teaspoons peppermint extract 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

Preparation Add white chocolate chips, butter, sweetened condensed milk and peppermint extract to a microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave for around 2 1/2 minutes, or until chocolate chips are completely melted, stirring every 30 seconds throughout cooking time.

Stir until thoroughly combined.

Pour into a baking pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy removal.

Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

Lightly press candy canes into the fudge.

Refrigerate until firm (around 1 to 2 hours). WGW

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Fostering Love

CASA’s Annual Turkey Trot Raises Funds for Children in Foster Care

K

eep the “giving” in Thanksgiving by joining Carroll County CASA for their annual fundraising Turkey Trot race. These funds go directly to benefit foster children by enabling CASA to purchase essential items for them.

“Many children enter foster care with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” explains Briana Evans, Carroll County CASA executive director. “These funds will allow us to purchase clothing, school supplies and pay for any other necessities that may be requested from DFCS for the children. These funds are not used for program operating expenses.

Funds from the Turkey Trot go directly to benefit children.”

The Turkey Trot began years ago as the Color Run, hosted by Tisinger Vance, with the proceeds benefiting CASA. Tisinger Vance decided not to continue the Color Run last year, so CASA took on the challenge and updated the idea to create the

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Turkey Trot.

CASA wants to make sure everyone who is interested has a chance to participate, so they offer several race options, including a 5K, 10K, 1-mile fun run and a Gobble Wobble for younger children, ages

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Santa Social!

Receive professional pictures with Santa!

Milk and cookies will be provided.

Monday, November 23 • 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. $25 for first child, $5 for each additional child Receive 20% off all Indulge Too Retail

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3 and up. Other activities include a holiday costume contest and photos with Santa.

Last year, more than 100 participants joined CASA for the race and helped the organization raise around $7,000. “This year, even with COVID, we expect to hit that same number, or maybe even higher with the 10k race option being added.

We have organized the race to align with COVID regulations by adding a virtual race option and reorganizing the structure of the race to ensure safety and social distancing,” Briana says.

supervised volunteers provide an independent voice for children, one child at a time, by speaking for their best interests in the family court system.”

CASA volunteers are trained individuals who work with children in foster care to ensure their voices are heard and advocate for their safety while in the system. These volunteers submit CASA reports to the judge for each hearing so he may have a better understanding of what is going on in the child’s current placement. The volunteer addresses any issues and concerns about the case and makes recommendations to the court for the About CASA child’s well-being until permanency is CASA stands for achieved.

Court Appointed Currently, there are Special Advocates. about 180 children in Their mission states, foster care in Carroll “Through the power County, and roughly of volunteer advocacy, 55 volunteers serving Carroll County CASA half of those children. works to ensure that all “Our goal is to have victims of child abuse all children served by and neglect are given a chance to thrive in a Adults and children alike enjoyed visiting with Santa at the 2019 Turkey CASA volunteers,” Briana shares. “It is safe, permanent home. Trot. Left: 2019 CASA Board Chair Cason Hightower and right, race important that we CASA's trained and volunteer Becky Preston.

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Turkey Trot Safety Guidelines During COVID-19 Carroll County CASA promises to follow all safety regulations and asks that you do the same to ensure the health of all participants. A few changes were made to last year’s guidelines to support these regulations: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

There will be no race day registration. Registration will close on Tuesday, 11/24 at 11:59 pm.

You will be assigned a race start time beginning at 9:00 am. Your race start time will be emailed to you on Tuesday 11/24. (If you would prefer to start with a specific person/group, please make note of this in your registration and we will do our best to accommodate) Please arrive 15 minutes before your start time to check-in.

At the race shoot, there will be waves of 25 participants in 2-minute increments. For example, Wave A will begin at 9:00. Wave B will begin at 9:32, and so on.

Social distancing will be regulated at all times.

We will have Packet Pickup on Wednesday, 11/25 from 11:00 am- 2:00 pm at the CASA office OR you can check-in 15 minutes before your assigned start time.

We are encouraging participants to bring their own water. However, there will have a dedicated volunteer passing out bottled water at all times.

All CASA volunteers will be required to wear masks.

Participants are encouraged to wear masks before and after running but it is not a requirement.

Please do not congregate at the start line or after you cross the finish line.

Water stations will disperse individual bottles of water instead of paper cups and volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves.

Awards will be available for pick up on site shortly after the final runner crosses the finish line.

We will not have an awards ceremony due to social distancing regulations. Awards not picked up will be mailed to participants.

Parking regulations will be announced closer to the race day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Briana Evans at bevans@carrollcasa.org.

STAY O N T HE NIC E L IST HEAT UP YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY.

678.699.2307

WWW.MOES.COM/CATERING

CARROLLTON 26

• NEWNAN

Left: this hunter and her catch scored first place medals during the 2019 Turkey Trot costume contest. Right: CASA Executive Director Briana Evans, right, with Recruiting and Training Coordinator Stephanie Cater judged the costume contest.

recruit and train adequate volunteers to speak up for the remainder of the children in care who do not have a CASA volunteer. DFCS often becomes overwhelmed with their caseloads and tend to change case managers often. CASA volunteers are usually that one stable person in the child’s life.”

She explains that CASA volunteers serve as another set of eyes and ears for the judge. It is important for CASA volunteers to gather information regarding the case so the child’s needs and wishes are not overlooked while in foster care.

How You Can Help If you’re interested in volunteering, the first step is completing the online application and scheduling an interview. Approved volunteers attend 30 hours of class training and 10 hours of court observation.

Training classes usually occur twice a week for four weeks. “However, due to COVID, we have been offering virtual Zoom classes with limited in-person contact,” Briana says.

CASA encourages volunteers to work on their case on their own time. “The only thing we require is that each volunteer sees their child at least once a month,” she explains. “Usually, a CASA volunteer with one case may spend 10 to 20 hours a month working on their case. However, it depends on the

case and the time available from the volunteer.”

CASA also appreciates donations, which you can make through the website. There is still time to become a Turkey Trot sponsor as well.

Also, mark your calendars for CASA’s Holiday open house on Dec. 10. “Individuals may stop by the office and bring any unwrapped gifts or gift cards that will go directly to children in foster care for the holidays,” Briana shares. “This is a great time to also learn more about CASA and ways to help.” CASA provides light refreshments for the open house.

The organization serves boys and girls from birth to age 18, so nearly any toy, age-appropriate gift or gift card is needed and appreciated. WGW

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A Helping Hand

Ways You Can Give Back This Holiday Season

Southwire Provides Hope for the Holidays in Final Phase of $1 Million Donation. Earlier this year, Southwire announced an expansion of its Giving Back efforts in response to COVID-19, creating three phases with a commitment to donate $1 million toward COVID-19 relief with a focus on hunger, education and Hope for the Holidays. Moving into the third, and final, phase of Southwire’s COVID-19 relief effort, the company will focus on providing Hope for the Holidays during the months of November and December through a total contribution of $250,000 to organizations like Toys for Tots, Salvation Army Angel Tree and Feed My Starving Children.

Additionally, in honor of Southwire’s 70th anniversary, the company will host a virtual Hope for the Holidays fundraising event on Dec. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m., with a goal to raise an additional $70,000 toward these causes by partnering with its local communities. The three-hour Facebook live event will feature a wide variety of musical performances, inspirational messages and much more.

For more information, visit Southwire’s Newsroom at www.southwire.com/newsroom and social channels for the latest updates on this event.

Haralson County Toys for Tots. Shopping is already underway for the Haralson County Toys for Tots program! Your generous donation will help send hope and happiness to children who need it most – and every donation to the program stays right here in our community. Last year, the program distributed nearly 8,000 toys to roughly 1,300 local children. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, contact Kelley Robinson at 770-880-0790 or visit https://tallapoosa-ga. toysfortots.org.

Project Joy. Based in Newnan, Ga., this organization began over 30 years ago to help foster children for Christmas. Project Joy works with referrals from the Coweta County Division of Family and Children Services to give Christmas gifts and clothing to needy children, the elderly, foster children and grandparents who have removed their grandchildren from foster care to raise them in their homes. Project Joy will be accepting donations of clothing, shoes, coats and gift cards for children and the elderly in Coweta County from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24. For more information on donating items to Project Joy, call Ms. Frances Smith at 770.310.5041 or email her Fhsmith105@gmail.com.

Operation Christmas Douglas County. Started in 2015, Operation Christmas Douglas County has provided over 47,000 needy local children with new Christmas gifts in its first five years – the more than 1,000 volunteers brought holiday cheer to more than 11,000 children last year. Children enrolled in Douglas County schools and their younger siblings may receive a free Christmas gift.

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To qualify, children must reside in Douglas County and receive free or reduced-price lunch. This is a community effort and is not sponsored by the school system. This year’s distribution will occur on Dec. 12, 2020 from 9 to 11 a.m. at several locations around the county. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, visit www. facebook.com/TheElfSquad/.

Carroll County Fraternal Order of Police Shop with a Cop. Current and retired officer members of the Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 of the Fraternal Order of Police take children shopping for Christmas. In 2020, they are scheduling four shopping events: three days for special needs children and one for those in financial need.

The children are chosen from victims or witnesses of crimes that the officers have encountered and recognize as in need of holiday assistance. The FOP relies on community donations, and they will match every $100 donation dollar for dollar. Mail or drop off cash, check or Wal-Mart/Target gift card donations to 115 W. Center Street, Carrollton, Ga. 30117 or contact Officer Eddie LeBlanc at 770.318.5618. Email Eddie@cmbrentals.com or eleblanc@carrollton-ga.gov to arrange for credit card payment. Please see ad on page 15 for more information.

Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club Empty Stocking Fund. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the 2019 Carrollton Empty Stocking Fund, Inc. supported 405 children and seven local non-profit agencies.

Started in 1946 by the Carrollton Jaycees, the Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club currently administers this 501(c)3 foundation. Club members and other volunteers purchase Christmas gifts with the Empty Stocking Fundraiser's proceeds. The spending allowance is $100 per child. The local school system and the Carroll County Division of Family and Children Services provide the Club with the children's names in need, their wish lists and their clothing sizes.

To provide services to as many local children as possible, the Club cross-checks the list with numerous agencies and other local charities (including those in the surrounding counties) to avoid duplication and help as many families as possible have a great Christmas. You can make donations through PayPal online at https://tinyurl. com/y5lnw9jr. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, call Rebecca Smith at 770.830.6600.

Bowdon Area United Christian Ministries. offers Christmas gifts for needy children from Bowdon area schools and their families, including toys, clothes, food and other needs. Two retired teachers shop for each child individually using donations, making sure each child gets personalized gift choices. Send donations to 190 Grammar School Road, Bowdon, GA 30108 or call (770) 258-0303 for more information. WGW

“Give Dollar a Hollar for all your home comfort needs!”

www.DollarHeatingandAir.com

Find us on

The Braxton Dollar Foundation Inc, is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2018 in honor of our youngest son Braxton Dollar, who received his angel wings in June 2018, after an 18-month battle with DIPG. DIPG is a terminal form of brain cancer that develops and grows in the brain stem.

We hope you will join us in helping keep Braxton’s memory alive, as we help other children and their families navigate through their pediatric cancer diagnosis through our foundation.

Because no one fights pediatric cancer alone.

Donate: Paypal – http://paypal.me/Braxfoundation?locale.x=en_US (Be sure to select friends and family when making a Donation) Amazon Smile – This Holiday Season support the Braxton Dollar Foundation while you shop at Amazon Smile! https://smile.amazon.com/ch/83-4645515 Monetary Donations can be made at any local Synovus Bank Branch.

braxfoundation@gmail.com • Facebook @BraxtonDollarFoundation • Instagram @braxton_dollar_foundation 29

Word Bank

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Jesus December Cookies Elves Christmas Goodwill Angels Santa Tidings Presents Noel Wreath Bethlehem Jolly Toys Mistletoe Reindeer Poinsettia Scrooge Tradition

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

Give Them a Reason to SMILE This Christmas!

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Left to right: Andrea Stone, Marketing Director; Michael Stone, AAMS®, PPC®, AIF®, Wealth Manager, Founder and CEO; and Jennifer Sauls, Director of Operations and Client Services.

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Merry Christmas

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