West Georgia Woman Magazine 2021 Holiday Guide by West Georgia Woman Magazine/Angel Media, LLC

Woman

Complimentary

2021

West Georgia TM

Holiday Guide

Festive Fashion Forward

Unexpected Holiday Movies

Reinventing Advent Calendars

Holiday Wreaths Made Easy

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Happy Holidays! The holidays are a time of celebration for many that includes spending time with friends and family, holiday parties, cooking delicious treats 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. This is the perfect time to assess our current situations and focus on the things we are grateful for in our lives. This month (November), we are celebrating our sixth anniversary in West Georgia. As I spend time reflecting on my life and what we have accomplished over the last six 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 fourth 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 2021 Holiday Guide as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. This issue is full of fabulous articles from reinventing advent calendars and unexpected holiday movies to virtual visits, bringing back office Christmas parties and why it's important to shop from local businesses in your community. Did you know that there is a difference between "local" businesses and "local independently owned businesses?" For Photo by Zachary Dailey example, just because a chain store like Walmart or T.J. Maxx is in our local community doesn't mean it's locally owned. On average, independently owned businesses generate $68 of local economic return for every $100 spent with them, in addition to funds they donate to help groups such as recreation sports teams and community charities. Shopping locally as much as you can really does make a difference in our communities. So before you go online or to a chain store to shop for the holidays, check out what the independently owned businesses in your own community have to offer. Of course, the best Christmas gift you could give us would be for you to support and shop with our community partners who advertise in our annual Holiday Guide. Without them, there would be no West Georgia Woman magazine! We've also included a couple of special articles with the help of two community partners and friends. On page 10, Greg Hendrix, owner of Mountain Oak Florist and Design in Carrollton, shares tips from the pros on how to create your very own holiday wreath. On page 22, Sidra McWhorter, owner of Sweet Pea's Boutique in Carrollton, tells us about the hottest fashion trends for the upcoming holiday season. As we approach the holidays, please remember to take care of yourself, make time to spend with family and friends and most important, to remember the true spirit of Christmas. Very special thanks to Shala Hainer for writing the wonderful articles included in our 2021 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 an abundance of love, laughter, peace and joy to you and yours during this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

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Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference. TM

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Volume 4 November/December 2021 Holiday Guide

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

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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Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2021. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All submissions will be included as space is available. West Georgia Woman reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions that are not in compliance with our editorial policy. If you wish to have your submission returned, please include a self addressed stamped envelope along with your submission.

What’s inside... 7

The Gift of a Lifetime

Holiday Wreaths Made Easy

Holiday Fare with Chef Rose

Virtual Visits

Unexpected Holiday Movies

How COVID-19 Has Changed Gift Giving – Maybe Forever

Getting Back to Business, Holiday Style

Keeping the Green in Christmas

Festive Fashion Forward

Reinventing Advent Calendars

Cops, Kids and Christmas

Unusual Holiday Traditions

Keeping the Green in Christmas T

he terms eco-friendly, sustainable and green get thrown around so often that it’s sometimes difficult to determine what those words actually mean anymore. Eco-friendly is supposed to mean the products – including the way they are produced, the materials and the packaging – are not harmful to the environment. Sustainable typically means that something about the product is designed to help the environment. That could be the materials used, the fact that the product was produced in a plant powered at least partially by solar energy, or that the production process itself has been streamlined to reduce waste. Sustainability is more about conserving natural resources. When used to describe earth-friendly items, green is kind of a catch-all word. And that can sometimes make truly eco-friendly and sustainable gifts difficult to tell from ones marketed in a way to make you think they are green products. Just because something is labeled all-natural doesn’t make it eco-friendly. Some companies take natural products and use harsh chemicals to turn them into marketable items, for example. If you’re unsure about a product, a quick online search usually tells you whether the product meets sustainability or ecofriendly guidelines. Buying eco-friendly gifts helps reduce practices that lead to climate change, but sometimes it’s more about the person you are giving a gift to. If the recipient has a love for all things environmentally friendly or is just a nature person, giving them a gift of sustainability shows you pay attention to what’s important to them – and that’s really what gift giving is all about.

Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas

Packaging and Wrapping When you’re looking for green gifts, consider the packaging. Choose items with recyclable packaging, such as cardboard. Some retailers give you an option of whether you would like the item in ecofriendly packaging – often recycled materials – or the original packaging, which is often flashier but less environmentally friendly. When you’re wrapping the gift, get creative! Not all wrapping paper – specifically those with foil or glitter – can be recycled, so for sustainability, try something new. Many fabric stores sell remnants for next to nothing, and gifts wrapped in fabric can be festive and unique. The fabric can be saved and reused year after year. If you see a news article that relates to your loved one, such as an article she’s mentioned in or that’s on

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a topic she’s passionate about, wrap the gift in the paper, making sure the article is front and center. Or, to go completely old school, use the funny pages!

Reusable Gifts Gifts that replace one-time-use items are the biggest trend in sustainability currently. Reusable silicon zip-top bags make for fun and practical stocking stuffers, as do bars of organic soap, which can be used until completely gone, leaving little to no waste. Many people who focus on living environmentally friendly have given up body wash, and the plastic waste the bottles create, for oldfashioned soap, which has hardly any packaging. Silicone or metal straws are getting more popular – when you take your own, you reduce the need for restaurants to provide you with plastic options.

Technology Gifts While technology gifts require charging or batteries, some still help people meet sustainability goals. Instead of a regular smart watch, Garmin makes a military-grade solar-powered version that

doesn’t require additional charging. In addition to regular smart features, it offers a power manager so you can select settings to affect the battery life, depending on how much light you have available at that time to charge it. For your loved one who doesn’t want to waste electricity charging devices, consider buying her a solar power bank. Many can charge more than one device at a time, and as long as it has sufficient sunlight, it can provide a continuous charge to devices. Consider lamps made from recycled materials and LED bulbs, or timers and motion sensors that help lights turn out when your loved one isn’t home.

Plant-Based Gifts When it comes to ecofriendly, not much beats a plant-based gift. While an actual plant might be too obvious, other gifts play into that thought process. For example, Sprout pencils look like regular pencils, but when they get too short to use, you can plant them – they have seeds hidden inside. There are even lollipops made with seeds inside, so once your recipient finishes her sweet treat, she can plant the seeds. Another idea is to make a homemade gift using plantbased materials, such as wood, cotton or hemp. This could be anything from decorations to clothing. Instead of giving a plant or an item with seeds, consider giving a gift from a company that plants trees. Several organization, such as Trees for the Future, sell products made from sustainable materials. Every time an item sells, they donate money toward planting trees. In some areas, just $1 can pay to plant 10 trees. This is almost like two gifts in one – the gift itself and the knowledge you are helping rebuild the environment at the same time. WGW

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Holiday Wreaths

Made Easy

Greg Hendrix, Owner, Mountain Oak Florist and Design Photos by Zachary Dailey

Mountain Oak Florist and Design shares tips from the pros

before, a holiday wreath is a great place to start. othing makes your house look more festive than a gorgeous holiday wreath gracing your The wreath form already gives you the shape, so just follow the inside and outside of the form to design a front door. Whether you want a new wreath unique creation straight from your heart. for your own door or as a gift for a friend or family The greenery you put on the inside is usually a member, making your own wreath adds a personal little shorter than what goes around the outside to touch to the holidays. ensure an opening remains in the middle. These tips can work with either fresh or silk When you’re filling in the materials. The live greenery will wreath, start around the last close to a month, usually, outside, laying the holiday if you spritz the greenery with • Use fresh greenery with various fragrances, such greenery at an angle so it water every couple of days. as eucalyptus along with your pine creates a circular flow around Although you might need to • Add a festive holiday bow – your local florist will be happy to make a professional one for you the wreath form. put it on your door later than for a small fee Add some to the inside of artificial wreaths, every time you • Spray a touch of glitter or fake snow on your wreath for a different look the circle to give you your open the door, you can enjoy • Use florist wire to attach small ornaments to framework, then fill in the the fresh smell of Christmas, the wreath by looping the wire through the middle in between, creating a which you don’t get from the ornament’s holder and wrapping the wire tightly around the wreath form – the greenery layered effect. longer-lasting silk wreaths. But will hide the wire Remember, you can always many times, you can reuse • Love this wreath but too busy or don't want to add more, so don’t worry if it wreaths made from artificial make it yourself ? Call Mountain Oak Florist at 770.834.2024 to order your own, customlooks a little sparse after your materials year after year. designed holiday wreath first round of greenery. If you’ve never crafted

Other Ideas

Materials

Round foam wreath form Scissors or small knife (wire cutters might be necessary for thick artificial stems) Hot glue gun Greenery – different types of pine (fresh or artificial) Branches with pinecones (fresh or artificial) Hypericum or other red berry bunches (fresh or artificial)

Instructions

Step 1: Start with a plain wreath base. Determine the length by holding the greenery over the form and noting where the stem hits the edge of the wreath form. Be sure to hold it at the same angle following the circle. Cut the greenery stems to your desired length. Put a dot of hot glue on the end of the cut stem and push it into the wreath form. Step 2: Fluff out the wreath to make it nice and full. Pro tip: Touch every branch to make sure it’s nice and fluffy. This is especially important with artificial materials. Step 3: Add different seasonal greenery such as pine or Frasier fir to make it personal and put your own touch on the wreath. This makes the wreath look fuller and gives it more texture. Use the same technique of placing hot glue on the end of the stem and pushing it into the foam wreath. Step 4: Add in some greenery with pinecones to give the wreath that extra dimension and pinecone effect, using hot glue to help hold the stems in place. Cut the stems to your desired length before inserting into the foam. Step 5: Take the stems of the berry bunches apart by cutting them just above the branch junctions, then cutting each stem shorter if necessary. Hold them at the same angle as the greenery to keep the appearance of circular motion. Put a drop of hot glue on the end of the berries and push them into the wreath base, scattering them throughout the wreath. Pro tip: Work your way around the entire wreath to make sure your greenery is balanced, and to make sure your red berries are spaced out evenly. “That really fills out the wreath to put the different textures of the pine and pinecones, and the red berries for a pop of color,” says Greg. “You can always add in more, but that makes you a nice holiday wreath.” WGW

Virtual Visits

Keeping your connections alive when you can’t be there in person

hile some families are choosing to get together in person for the holidays, many still need to connect virtually. Maybe a family member has a compromised immune system and it’s not safe for her to travel, or perhaps the cost of airline tickets for the family has skyrocketed so much this year that it just isn’t feasible. Whatever the reason, virtual meeting technology makes it simple to connect with family around the world to celebrate the holidays together. Plan a time that works for everyone, and prepare a list of activities well in advance. These activities help everyone feel connected by sharing the experiences with family, and the only limit to these activities is your imagination – well, and your budget, of course.

The Process With several video chat platforms to choose from, survey your family to see who has which one. Facebook has a free video chat option, as does Google. There’s also Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams, to name a few, although some require a fee, or they have a time limit. These will work on your family’s phones and computers, and sometimes a smart TV as well. If you have technologically

challenged family members, do a few test video chats prior to the holidays so they are comfortable logging in and communicating that way. Pick a few activities that everyone can participate in. Keep them simple and inexpensive, and make sure everyone involved knows ahead of time what their parts might be in the activities. Instead of you hosting the entire party, perhaps ask each family member to pick one activity to share. Set a time limit so everyone can plan their day. Just because they aren’t coming to visit you doesn’t mean they don’t have local family or friends they plan to connect with later in the day – or some may want to have virtual visits with several groups throughout the day. Giving a firm start and end time helps keep all participants on the same page, and it keeps it from getting awkward when you’re ready to say good-bye.

Virtual Activity Ideas • Meals. One of the main socializing times during the holidays is sitting down over a meal. There’s no reason you can’t do this virtually instead! Get together with family and set a simple menu, and ask everyone to

prepare similar items (think ham, mac and you have available, watching a movie together cheese and a green veggie, for example), as a family helps you keep traditions alive. Do or just let everyone pick their own food. Set you usually watch A Christmas Story every year a time to connect by video chat, and make when you get together? Have everyone find it a little before the meal time – maybe 30 it on their streaming service and press "Play" minutes or so to give everyone a chance to at the same time! Or, with some video chat finish getting their meals prepared. At the services, you can share a screen so everyone designated time, ask everyone to grab their is watching the same thing while still being plates and sit down on video to eat! able to talk and laugh with each other over the • S’mores. Whether it’s a small candle with a movie’s sound. mini marshmallow or a gas stovetop for larger • Talent show. This works especially well if you ones, making s’mores is a fun and easy virtual have a ton of kids in your family. The grownactivity. Grab ups can watch Enjoy the laughter that will ensue as some graham the kids strut their crackers – or stuff and offer all everyone tries to make their s’mores a even Teddy the praise and bit unconventionally. Grahams for mini applause they marshmallows normally would – with the in person. The chocolate of your children would choice, and enjoy get a kick out of the laughter that watching some of will ensue as the adults show everyone tries off their skills as to make their well. s’mores a bit • Scrapbook. unconventionally. This activity can • Games. When you all have the same board work two different ways. One way is to ask all game, virtual games are easy! Everyone participants to take selfies beside the video adds all the characters to their board, and chat screen so you can have memories of they move them on each other’s turns so being together, even in an unconventional everyone’s boards always look the same. If way. Ask them to take additional photos someone doesn’t have the game, they can throughout the day of the various activities still participate by tag-teaming on someone as well. Another option is to ask for photos else’s board and letting that person move their prior to the family event so you (or a techcharacter or roll their dice for them. Charades savvy teen family member) can put together works well by video chat, as do trivia games. a slideshow to share as one of your activities. • Movies. Depending on the amount of time Families have missed many important moments the past couple of years – baptisms, graduations, birthdays, retirements and more – but sharing photos of these events helps you stay connected and catch up with what’s been going on with your loved ones. While virtual connections aren’t the same as inperson, and you can’t give each other hugs, they are still connections, which we all desperately need. As the host of the virtual family visit, either mail the materials needed for the activities to your family members or provide them a list of items to buy so everyone can enjoy the same activities at the same time, making the party as close as possible to actually being there in person. WGW

Unexpected Holiday Movies

Ones you might not watch at Christmas, but you should

here’s no better way to kick off the holiday season than to settle in on the couch and binge watch Christmas movies. For most people, that means watching the same movies every year, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf and, sometimes controversially, Die Hard. If you’re looking for something new and different this year, several movies don’t seem like holiday movies on the surface because they aren’t Christmas-forward, but they totally fit the bill. These movies invoke the Christmas spirit, or at least have partial holiday themes that help you kick the season off right. So grab some popcorn and some people you love, and curl up for some new holiday movie fun! • You’ve Got Mail. This sweet love story features Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan who start out as rivals, both owning competing bookstores. They don’t realize that their e-pen pals, with whom they are slowly falling in love, are each other. Some adorable holiday moments, as well as the fact that the movie has winter scenes in New York City, make this movie worthy of your holiday binge. • Iron Man 3. An unlikely holiday favorite, this Marvel movie portrays Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, accidentally stranded in a small town during winter. The movie features Stark

testing a new Iron Man suit while the music from Jingle Bells sets the tone for the scene. Stark seems a bit Scrooge-ish by nature, but he meets a brilliant boy, and it almost seems like he’s looking at himself as a kid and engaging in some self-reflection. Perhaps a bit like the Ghost of Christmas Past? • The Long Kiss Goodnight. Samuel L. Jackson and Geena Davis team up to save a Christmas parade from a chemical bomb. The Christmas twist is that she seems to be a regular housewife, but after a car accident near Christmas, she discovers she’s a CIA assassin. To keep the Christmas theme going, holiday lights help foil the villain’s plan. No matter how much action she’s involved in, Geena’s character never waivers in her devotion to her young daughter. • Babe. This adorable movie about a pig who can herd sheep sheds light on the darker side of Christmas from a farm animal’s point of view – they don’t want to be Christmas dinner! Babe seems oblivious, even singing Jingle Bells and getting into the holiday spirit. In the end, Babe proves himself worthy to survive the season by showcasing his herding skills in a competition. Originally meant for kids, this movie gives a warm, fuzzy feeling to viewers of all ages.

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• Batman Returns. Tim Burton again brings out an eerie side of Christmas as part of this movie, with bad guys jumping out of giant gifts and attacking Gotham’s tree. There is a romantic scene with Batman, portrayed by Michael Keaton, and Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, under the mistletoe as well. While the movie is a little dark, it has some fun action and snowy scenes to give you a nice chill for the season. • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In this movie, sleigh-driving Santa is quite a bit harsher than our traditional stories make him out to be. He helps signify the loss of power by the White Witch, and he gives weapons as presents to the children. It’s perpetually winter but never Christmas, which is a problem the heroes and heroines work to solve by fighting the White Witch’s army. • Rocky IV. An oldie but a goodie! Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa spends his entire snowy holiday season, from Halloween through Thanksgiving and into December, training to beat the Russian heavyweight. They fight on Christmas Day, and Rocky is still able to wish his son a merry Christmas.

• The Ref. While this movie about a cat burgler, played by Denis Leary, who tries to evade capture during a holiday crime spree by taking a couple hostage in their home might seem a bit far-fetched as a feel-good option, it’s actually a fun movie to watch. It has clever, unexpected comedy, which fits with Denis Leary’s typical style. He ends up trying to serve as the mediator between the married couple – and some extended family – he is holding hostage as they bicker constantly. Turns out he found them as they were already contemplating divorce, and even a lifethreatening situation can’t seem to get them to stop their disagreements. • Just Friends. A cute and somewhat irreverent movie featuring Ryan Reynolds in the leading role, this movie focuses on a previously overweight, undervalued teen who grows up to be an extremely career-driven overachiever – which often means not caring about the feelings of others, as long as he gets ahead. He runs into his teen crush as he’s home for the holidays, and the dynamic between the two as they try to figure out if an attraction between them can work will keep you laughing – and sometimes cringing. WGW

Getting Back to Business,

Holiday Style

any businesses have resumed nearly normal in-office activities, and some never stopped going in-person. But after nearly two years of social distancing and limiting office interactions in various ways, either by rotating staff with virtual days, requiring staff to wear masks or separating staff with new cubicle barriers, companies are starting to feel the need to bring people together with an office holiday party. Office parties this year still have a few challenges, so let your company’s policies on social distancing and your employee’s overall level of comfort be your guide on what will work best. Every group’s holiday party will look different this year, but there’s always a way to make it fun and memorable.

Getting to Know Co-Workers Something that’s new post-pandemic is that everyone in your office might not know each other. If yours is still allowing full or partial virtual options, it’s likely some of the employees have never crossed paths in person. Start this process a few days before the party by

asking people to participate in a desk decorating contest. Ask the staff to walk around the office and judge the decorations, picking their top three. This might bring staff into other areas of the building they don’t normally frequent, prompting them to meet new co-workers along the way. Tally the results to award small prizes to the top three winners at the party. Instead of assuming everyone knows each other, ask the party attendees to wear name badges. Consider some ice breaker games, which can be fun whether you’ve worked together for years or have yet to meet. This type of game can help you get to know long-time co-workers better and make those you’ve never met feel like they are included. Having a gift exchange can help with this as well – white elephant gift exchanges are popular and often spark laughter with some good-natured competition. If you are still social distancing at work, it’s easy to space the chairs 6 feet apart and still have fun with this activity. Another idea is to hold some team competitions, such as a timed activity where groups of four build simple gingerbread houses using graham

crackers instead of gingerbread – just for ease, size and efficiency’s sake. This could also be a team scavenger hunt or trivia game. Set the teams randomly so people have to interact outside of their friend groups.

Keeping It Safe Whether we like it or not, we are living in a “new normal” world, and that comes with a few health and safety expectations. The biggest one of these is probably hand sanitizer. Although many people are comfortable getting back together in person, most expect hand sanitizer to be available wherever groups gather. For your office party, scatter hand sanitizer stations around the party area, especially anywhere near food and drink. While a sit-down dinner isn’t required, using tongs that will be touched by possibly hundreds of hands is still frowned upon in most cases. Instead, ask employees to grab a clean plastic fork every time they come to the food table to grab the “finger food” items. If you’re serving a meal, consider supporting a local business by getting a food truck or by hiring caterers to serve the food in the buffet line – only the caterer’s hands touch the spoon, not all of your

employees’ hands. For drinks, consider individual items like cans or bottles instead of large containers with dispensers, like you often see for water and lemonade. Another option is to assign someone on the party committee to pour the drinks into individual cups instead of letting each employee pour their own.

Respecting Comfort Levels Although everyone is ready to move forward, what that means to everyone isn’t the same. Some people are vaccinated, some are not, some choose to wear masks in crowds, some don’t, some are excited about hugging and shaking hands again, while others aren’t comfortable getting quite that close yet. Encourage your co-workers to respect everyone’s choices and comfort levels, and to just celebrate the fact that everyone was able to come together and celebrate the holidays. Office parties help employees feel appreciated, relax and get re-energized for a great start to the upcoming year. Whatever way your office decides to celebrate the season, use the time to spread good cheer among your co-workers and let them know their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. WGW

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Festive Fashion Forward The hottest trends in holiday outfits

much more difficult question to answer than what gifts to buy everyone on your list is what outfits should you wear to take full advantage of the holiday season. While the ageold adage is form vs. function, this year’s balance seems to reflect comfort vs. cuteness. West Georgia Woman has teamed up with Sweet Pea’s Boutique to help you find that perfect balance while staying completely on trend this winter. It’s important to remember that it’s not all about one piece – Sweet Pea's Owner Sidra McWhorter gives item pairing ideas as well as how to dress up your look with just the right accessories, helping you feel pulled together while making it look effortless.

Photos by Zachary Dailey 22

On trend and high fashion this holiday season, this soft luxurious faux fur jacket styled back with a fun graphic tee and printed pull-on bell bottom pant will have everyone at your holiday gathering asking how to copy your look. This may look super stylish, but it wears nearly as comfortably as pajamas. Comfort is key this year. Keep your eye out for faux fur to show up in unexpected places as well, not just jackets – think shoes, fitted shirts and handbags, for example.

Texture, texture, texture – the most popular fashion word this season! You’ll see interesting textures everywhere this winter, from cableknit sweater skirts to quilted jackets. But handbags are a girl’s best friend, and Andretta from Brighton is proof of that. A true artisan masterwork with her lasered leather, this bag will leave your friends greener than a Christmas wreath with envy. Who needs a tree when you can keep all the eyes on you? Sparkle and shine are the perfect accessory additions to any holiday ensemble. Mixing metals and stacking chains are all the rage, and these paper clip John Mederois necklaces will add the perfect amount of bling to your life. Stacking bracelets is truly on trend and a must have in your wardrobe. These gold BuDhaGirl bangles are made with organic products and have a slight give, making them comfortable enough for all-day wear. They are weightless, waterproof and soundless. So stack away, ladies – Santa will never hear you coming. coming.

Your feet are the first part of you that enters a room, so they have to be totally on-point. Perfect with jeans for any fall ensemble, these supple dipdyed leather peep toes are a great accessory to spice up any wardrobe. Tap into their versatility and make your shoes the most memorable conversation piece of the night.

Sweet Pea's has much more than just clothing. They offer everything from baby items, gifts, candles, charcuterie boards, handbags, accessories and an extensive collection of Brighton. They specialize in individually curated outfits with your personal style in mind. Visit them at 941 Maple St. in Carrollton or call Sidra at 770.836.8864.

hile the big players like Amazon and Wal-Mart say they sell convenience as well as products, many people overlook the services and unique gift ideas offered by local businesses. Spending your money with your area small businesses does so much more than just help you fill a Christmas stocking. Instead, you are helping a family keep their dream alive and keep local residents employed. Small businesses have an unbelievably huge impact on our economy. In the United States, 99.7 percent of all businesses have fewer than 500 employees and employ more than 58 million people.

Shopping Local: The Gift of a Lifetime

Santa Social! Receive professional pictures with Santa! Milk and cookies will be provided.

Monday, November 22 • 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. $25 for first child, $5 for each additional child SPACE IS LIMITED. RESERVE YOUR SPOT BY CALLING 770.838.9095

Black Friday Gift Certificate Sale! Friday, November 26 • 9 A.m. – 6 p.m. Buy more, save more on holiday gift certificates! AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN STORE.

1019 Rome Street • Carrollton 770.838.9095 www.indulgedayspa.net The best part about small businesses is that they give back locally. On average, they generate $68 of local economic return for every $100 spent with them, according to Fundera, in addition to funds they donate to help groups such as recreation sports teams and community charities. Keeping money local helps more than just sports teams. Businesses pay taxes that local governments spend on essential services such as the police force, public schools and highway improvements. Those funds also support infrastructure such as local parks. Local businesses return an estimated three times as much money per dollar to the local economy than chain retailers. Many small businesses source their products locally, which adds another level to their economic impact. Instead of importing all of their products from China, they keep the money in the community by buying from local vendors. In addition, these businesses are reducing energy and shipping waste by not bringing in as many outside products. This keeps shopping meaningful as well. Buyers can find unique products never found on Amazon, and the products become something to cherish when you know the person who created it could very well be a neighbor. This also is true with food –

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instead of large, frozen meat deliveries, for example, a local restaurant might opt to contract with a nearby farm to provide fresh, farm-raised meat. Now, a farm can stay in business as well, keeping even more people employed and more money in the local economy. The pandemic made many people realize just how tenuous the line is between staying open and closing for good for many small businesses. These businesses found ways to pivot and offer additional services, like more robust online shopping and curbside pickup – and most continue to offer those for customers. Many customers who decided to keep their business local said those services, and the desire to keep local businesses open, were more important than price, according to PR Newswire. So as you prepare for your holiday shopping, check out local businesses first. Step away from your screen, and enjoy some personal face-to-face time with a small business. Get to know your local businesses, and they will go out of their way to help you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones – gifts you might never find anywhere else. While you’re buying those presents, you’re giving the gift of longevity to small businesses that keep the money where you want it: in your community. WGW

Holiday Fare e s o R f e h C

With

Chef Rose and food photos by Zachary Dailey

oliday traditions don’t get any more memorable than the food you eat and the people you make the food with. For me, the holidays always mean good food and happy times in the kitchen with my mother. This year, I've created the perfect holiday drink, appetizer, entrée and dessert. The Christmas punch is a warm treat when gently heated – simply omit the soda or champagne. For the wonton bites, try lobster, shrimp or even marinated artichoke hearts instead of the crab. My whole roast chicken with vegetables recipe is sure to impress a holiday crowd, and Santa's butter cookies can be dipped into melted chocolate after cooling completely. Additionally, you can switch out the almond extract with lemon, coconut or all vanilla for assorted flavors. Happy Holidays! – Chef Rose

Preparation Combine orange slices, pomegranate seeds, pomegranate juice, orange juice and cranberry juice together in a punch bowl or pitcher. Mix and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Before serving, add soda and gently stir just enough to mix. Garnish with rosemary sprig Christmas Punch with Alcohol: Add 6 ounces rum or vodka of choice at the same time as fruit and juices. Add Prosecco or champagne right before serving. Serves 6 to 8 Always remember to drink responsibly.

Christmas Punch Ingredients 8 ounces pomegranate seeds 2 oranges, thinly sliced 1 cup orange juice 16 ounces pomegranate juice 16 ounces cranberry juice 20 ounces lemon lime soda Rosemary sprig for garnish Alcohol that can be added (optional): 20 ounces Prosecco sparkling wine or champagne instead of lemon lime soda 6 ounces rum or vodka

Crab and Cream Cheese Wonton Bites

Crab and Cream Cheese Wonton Bites Ingredients 5 ounces crab meat, fresh or canned, drained 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 green onion, finely sliced 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon Worcestershire 24 small wonton wrappers

Preparation

28Christmas Punch

In a medium bowl, stir together crab meat, cream cheese, green onion, garlic powder and Worcestershire until well blended. Spray a mini muffin tin with nonstick spray and gently press one wonton wrapper into each cup. Evenly fill each wrapper with the crab mixture. Lightly spay tops of wontons with additional nonstick spray for better browning. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until wontons are brown and crab mixture is bubbly. Makes 12 to 16.

Whole Roast Chicken with Vegetables Ingredients 1 whole chicken, 3 to 4 pounds Juice of half a lemon 3 to 4 cups chopped vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions and parsnips) 4 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Turn oven down to 350°F, and bake until the inner thigh reaches 165°F – about 75 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven, and allow to rest 15 minutes before carving. Serves 4 to 6.

Santa’s Butter Cookies

Ingredients 1 cup (2 sticks; 230g) unsalted butter, room temperature 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 large egg, at room temperature 2 and 1/4 cups

For the chicken rub 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon seasoning salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon parsley 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon rosemary 1/2 teaspoon sage 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Preparation Preheat oven to 450°F. Wash and chop vegetables. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Place in the bottom of a shallow casserole dish or a 9-inch-by-13-inch pan. Rub outside of chicken with remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and juice from half a lemon. Season with all of chicken rub. Place the chicken breast side up on the vegetables. Place the pan in the oven. Cook 12 minutes at 450°F. Whole Roast Chicken with Vegetables

(281g) all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 to 2 tablespoons milk if needed Sprinkles or coarse sugar (optional)

Preparation Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. In a large bowl or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes or until smooth. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract. Beat for an additional minute, scraping sides of bowl as needed. On low speed, add salt and flour. Mix until completely combined. Mixture should be soft enough to pipe through mixing bag. If not, add 1 1/2 tablespoons of milk. Add more milk if necessary. Add a large piping tip to a piping bag and pipe a 1 to 2 inch swirl on prepared baking sheet. If using them, add sprinkles or coarse sugar at this point. Chill cookies on baking sheet for 20 to 30 minutes. (Do not skip this step or cookies will not keep their shape.) Preheat oven to 350º F. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned on the sides. Allow to cool on wire rack. Makes 36 small cookies. WGW

How COVID-19 has Changed Gift Giving – Maybe Forever

iving experiences isn’t a new concept, but it has taken on a new life in light of the pandemic. For some, virtual experiences are still essential, and for others, memories help people connect more deeply than simply sharing gifts that are opened and quickly forgotten. Before you decide to give someone an experience instead of a physical gift, make sure the gift is personal. Is the recipient still social distancing? Is she active, or more sedentary? Is she into art or music? Experience options exist for nearly any hobby or interest, and giving an experience as a gift creates an opportunity for your loved one to try something new that she might never have thought of on her own.

Virtual Experiences If you know someone still social distancing, tons of virtual options exist. This could be a virtual class,

such as a cooking or art class or a science class for kids, or a virtual performance, like a symphony or theater performance from different areas of the world.

Memberships Memberships offer more than one-time experiences. If your loved one is an animal lover, maybe a zoo membership is appropriate – she can go as often as she wants for the next year, and usually take a friend or kids with her. Other membership ideas include museums, aquariums, sport venues such as a gun club or batting cage, or local venues where the memberships allow entry to a certain number of events during the year. Another option is a state parks annual pass, where they can park or camp for free. If there are kids involved, consider a membership to a trampoline park or mini golf center.

SEE THE BEAUTY IN THE HOLIDAYS Georgia Vision Institute is here to serve West Georgia and East Alabama with the highest quality eye care available. Our two (2) locations in Carrollton and Bremen offer services Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm.

Mark Ortiz, OD and Joe Johnson OD, are happy to serve patients at both our Carrollton and Bremen locations. Each provides primary eye care – wellness checks, glasses and contacts as well as treatment for glaucoma and diabetes. Dr Johnson also leads our Dry Eye clinic while Dr Ortiz focuses on specialty contact lens fittings.

Keith Berry, MD and Lauren Yancey, MD are located at our Carrollton location. They perform over 2500 surgeries a year all from our Nationally Certified Ambulatory Surgery Center. From advanced technology cataract surgery to microincisional glaucoma surgery, we provide the same skills and technology of Atlanta without the drive!

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Events Whether your loved one enjoys sporting events, concerts, festivals, wine tastings or different types of performing arts, you have many opportunities to provide a memorable experience. When you buy tickets to events, check the insurance and cancellation policy. If the event has to be rescheduled, for example, you might want the option to get your money back in case the new date doesn’t work for your gift recipient. Or, if your loved one gets sick and can’t attend, insurance might enable her to purchase a ticket to a different event in the future instead.

pets, fitness or art, for example. If the family doesn’t have a streaming service such as Netflix or Hulu, a year-long subscription could be a creative gift.

Staycations or Staying Local

While a true getaway might be too pricey, what about a spa day? Or, give the recipient a two-day RV or yurt rental, where they can go somewhere nearby with a few creature comforts, but still get out of the house. Better yet, plan to go with them to build more memories together! Another idea is to fund a movie night complete with rented blow-up, outdoor movie screen, warm blankets and all the fixings for s’mores. Subscriptions Local one-time attraction passes make excellent Subscriptions might not be traditional experience gifts. Think escape room, movie tickets, experiences, but they let your loved ones try a theme park, a paint-and-sip class, indoor skydiving something new without any risk. Some subscription or a helicopter ride. boxes include monthly deliveries, while others are Many of these are more fun as a group, which quarterly. makes it easy to give the same gift to your whole Make this meaningful by thinking about the family – instead of making memories separately, you recipient’s hobbies and interests – it might be now have another excuse to get together during the clothes, cooking, gadgets, science, whiskey, makeup, year and build stronger bonds as you grow closer jewelry, snacks from around the world, tea, coffee, through experiences. WGW

Reinventing Advent Calendars

or more than a century, advent calendars have helped people count down to Christmas. They typically start on December 1 and have a small door to open each day through Christmas Eve. Behind the doors hide small toys or chocolates. Traditionally a religious tool, these calendars often depict Christian themes and have Bible verses inside each door. But that was then, and this is now. The recent reinvention of advent calendars means they come in all shapes and sizes, and they hold everything from wine to makeup. They’ve sometimes become a marketing tool, even, where businesses can get 24 samples into a family’s hands just in time for the holidays.

Whether you’re looking to try some new products without a full commitment or want to share a religious learning moment with your children nightly during the holidays, there’s an advent calendar available to meet your needs.

Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful CLOTHING • JEWELRY Kids FOOTWEAR • GIFTS

There’s nowhere you see the magic of Christmas more than in the eyes of a child. Keep that magic alive all month by sharing a daily treat with the children in your life. Regardless of what your kids or grandkids are into, an advent calendar exists to meet their interests. For toys, choose from a wide selection including dinosaurs, dolls, Disney, LEGO, Hot Wheels or Playdoh. There are a variety of advent calendars that offer craft supplies and ideas, as well as storybooks and games.

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For more grown-up options, keep it simple with coffee, tea or hot chocolate. For something even more adult, go for wine, whiskey, beer or tequila advent calendars. Women might enjoy calendars filled with various beauty products, ranging from night creams to

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makeup to hair products. Some advent calendars offer bath bombs or jewelry as well. If she’s a plant lover, look for one that has an adorable succulent behind each door. Not to be left out, many options cater to men as well. Think hot sauce, jerky selections, tools and beard oil.

For Anyone When you have a group of people who will share the advent calendar, choose options that anyone can enjoy. Food is always a good choice, such as popcorn, cookies, candy or noodles. Some advent calendars offer a pair of socks every day, or a variety of ornaments. For fitness buffs, look for advent calendars geared toward healthy lifestyles, with snack options and exercise ideas for each day. Science types might enjoy a build-your-own radio set, where you get a new part and new set of instructions every day, until the radio is complete on Christmas Eve. Movie buffs can find treats, toys and fun facts about such movies as Elf, Harry Potter and the Marvel series. Not to be left out, your favorite pet

can have a calendar as well, with yummy treats for them to look forward to during the holidays.

Make Your Own If you’re the crafty type, consider making your own advent calendar you can use year after year. You can build a wooden box that holds 24 drawers, or sew (or even glue) 24 small pockets on the front of a large rectangle of felt. Another idea is to take 24 small mason jars, paint them in holiday colors, and use colorful fabric or burlap over the lid, finishing it off with festive ribbon. Make it a new family tradition to fill the drawers, pockets or jars with candy, small toys or other even special Bible verses, changing the contents as your family grows to help keep the magic of the holidays alive for years to come. WGW

You can make an advent calendar out of almost anything.

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 for special needs children, 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 in Carrollton. Santa Claus drops in, listens to the children's Christmas wishes and takes photos with them. After time 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 Lt. Dan Keever, first vice 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." Lt. 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 can count on the police when they need them. Donations of any amount and gift cards to Target or Walmart are gratefully accepted. To help kids in Carroll County receive Christmas gifts through this program, call Eddie LeBlanc at 770.318.5618 or you can mail your donation to Barry Carroll Foundation F.O.P Lodge 35,

DONATE $100 AND THE FOP WILL MATCH $100!

Cops, Kids and Christmas

Contact: Eddie LeBlanc – 770.318.5618

Eddie@cmbrentals.com or eleblanc@carrollton-ga.gov

Inc. at P.O. Box 1949, Carrollton, Ga. 30112. If you make a $100 donation to the Cops, Kids and Christmas program, the FOP will match $100.

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 up to $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. All proceeds from BINGO go directly to the FOP and their charitable programs.

Chris Cromer Memorial Golf Tournament This annual tournament is in memory of Cpl. Chris Cromer who died of cancer in 2000. This event will benefit the charity efforts of the FOP while keeping an officer's heritage alive. The annual golf tournament is scheduled for Nov. 8 and Nov. 15, 2021. Lunch will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m. Registration for an individual golfer is $125 and a foursome is $500. This includes lunch and green fees and a personal golf cart. Trophies for first, second and third place team, closest to the pin and the longest drive will be awarded. Registrations and sponsorships are still available. Mail checks to Barry Carroll Foundation F.O.P. Lodge 35, Inc. P.O. Box 1949, Carrollton, Ga. 30112. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Det. Rita Worthy to help her with the medical bills she accumulated during her lengthy battle with COVID-19. Det. Worthy worked for the Carrollton Police Department for over 40 years and is still an active and loyal member of the FOP. Anyone who donates $300 or more to the FOP through the end of 2021 will receive two tickets to the FOP Sponsor Appreciation Dinner, an annual event for law enforcement and the community on Jan. 15, 2022. Tickets include dinner and a performance by actor and celebrity impersonator, Tim Beasley. Being well experienced in live stage shows and variety celebrity impersonations, Tim now features himself in the full costume, voice and manners to become a mirror image of the corrupt, yet lovable and goofy Hazzard County lawman, Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane of the Dukes of Hazzard. For more information the FOP and its charitable programs, call Eddie LeBlanc at 770.318.5618 or email Eddie@cmbrentals.com or eleblanc@carrollton-ga.gov. The Barry Carroll Foundation F.O.P. Lodge 35, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(C)(3), and all donations are tax deductible. Follow the FOP at www.facebook.com/carrolltonfop.

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very family has their own set of traditions that help them feel close during the holidays. Maybe you bake cookies together, or always give each other ornaments with the year stamped on them. You might go together to see the same Christmas lights display each year, or cook a huge family dinner on Christmas Eve. While none of these traditions sound out of the ordinary, some strange traditions exist across the country. They help build a sense of community in their areas and foster new and different family traditions for the people who live there.

Unusual Holiday Traditions From Coast to Coast

• Along the coast of California, boat parades are all the rage. Residents dress up their boats in holiday lights and other decorations – sometimes very elaborate – before floating along major port areas. These parade celebrations often spill over onto the shore, with areas such as Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco and the City Pier in Santa Barbara hosting large celebrations for the families who come to see the colorful, water-borne parade. California has some competition in the boat parade arena – Biloxi Beach in Mississippi shares the idea, adding an impressive fireworks display when the parade concludes. • In Lindsborg, Kan., residents celebrate their Swedish roots with a St. Lucia Day festival celebrating the life of the martyr St. Lucia. The festival is meant to represent light and hope for the winter solstice. The eldest daughter of participating families dresses up in a white robe and carefully wears a crown of ivy and candles while serving traditional Swedish dishes to her family. • In the Midwest, specifically in Minnesota, ham or turkey don’t make the Christmas menu. Instead, many families traditionally serve lutefisk. It’s an old Nordic holiday food, and that area hosts a large population of Scandinavian immigrants and their

descendants. Lutefisk is a dried white fish they soak in water and treat with lye, giving the fish a gelatin consistency. Not everyone who serves lutefisk actually likes it, but they don’t waver from tradition. Maine strays from what most of us consider original as well. Many of their residents cook cod, crab, lobster or eel as part of their holiday meals. • Not all decorations stem from cold-weather ideas. In New Mexico, many families spice things up by hanging a red pepper called ristras around their homes during the holidays. The peppers are dried and used similar to garland or shaped into wreaths for a festive display said to bring health and good luck. • Several cities ditch the Christmas trees and make their own from what they have readily available. On Block Island off Rhode Island, they stack lobster traps – usually around 200 of them – in the shape of a giant Christmas tree. While some decorations reflect traditional holiday spirit, you often see life preservers and colorful boat oars adorning the tree. Not to be outdone, the Arizona city Chandler starts building a huge holiday tree out of tumbleweeds, getting started as early as September. They wrap the tumbleweed tower, which usually comprises about 1,000 tumbleweeds, with regular Christmas lights and a star on top. In West Palm Beach, Fla., residents make the ultimate sandcastle: a giant sculpture of a Christmas tree, estimated to be 35 feet tall using 700 tons of sand. • On the banks of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, residents light up the holiday evening, but not with Christmas lights. Instead, they burn large bonfires – sometimes 20 feet high – along the riverbanks on Christmas Eve. This long-standing tradition started to help light the way for Pap Noel. Locals describe the event like a fun tailgating party, and the event has started to draw interest from tourists as well. Road trip, anyone? WGW

Word Bank

Messiah Yuletide Workshop Heavenly Host Santa Claus Gifts Rudolph Father Christmas Nazareth Advent Calendar Peace Shop Local Tree Skirt Chimney Family Christmas Tree Joy Decorations Winter Figgy Pudding

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

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