Holiday Magic - December 2011

December 2011

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Take Me Home

Wine 101

A Winter for Birds

Host A Holly Jolly Christmas E s s e n t i a l

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E n l i g h t e n i n g

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E n t e r t a i n i n g

w w w. wo m e n s l i f e s t y l e k a z o o . c o m

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The People Who Make It Happen...

December 2011 Table of Contents

Publisher: Darlene Clifford dclifford@womenslifestylekazoo.com

Contributing Writers: Sandy Derby Kelly Duggan Emily L. Magyar Heidi McCrary Jeff Murphy Judy Pearson

Sales: Sales Manager Ruth Ann Dibert radibert@womenslifestylekazoo.com

HOLIDAY MAGIC Organizing Strategies to Maximize Your Joy............................................4 Simple Ways to Personalize Your Holiday Décor...................................................6 Wine 101 ........................................................10 Interior Ideas: Seasonal Décor.......................20 Capture the Magic..........................................29 Organizing Strategies to Maximize A Winter for the Birds .....................................32

Sales Representatives: Brenda Murphy Maria Pavletic

Layout & Design: jr4 designs JR Harper

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS Courage Concepts .........................................26 Reader’s Lounge............................................38 Wine: A Girl's Best Friend ..............................38

Photography: Christopher McGuire Photography www.chrismcguirephoto.com K. Redmond Photography www.facebook.com/kredmondphotography

LOOKING & FEELING GOOD Fashion.............................................................8 Holiday Glamour.............................................14

Office Manager: Patty Clifford

Contact Us

BUSINESS & FINANCE

By Phone: 269-350-5227

Financial Sauvé..............................................12

Sales Info: 269-271-1032

By Mail: Greater Kalamazoo Women’s LifeStyle, P. O. Box 2284, Portage, MI 49081-2284

By Email: info@womenslifestylekazoo.com

Website: www.womenslifestylekazoo.com

Coming In January Fresh Starts

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY Host a Holly Jolly Christmas Parmesan Pepper Spritz Crackers ............16 Merry Mushroom Bites ..............................16 Savory Soiuthwest Donuts ........................16 All Aglow Melon-tinis .................................17 Cherry Cranberry Mojitos ..........................17 Peppermint Blitz Hot Chocolate ................17 Sweet Homemade Treats Cinnamon Spiced Café Latte ....................22 Chocolate Chip Cannoli Pie ......................22 Ice Cream Cone Sundae Fudge ...............22 Gluten Free Penguin Poppers .......................................25

COMMUNITY NEWS & HAPPENINGS Calendar.........................................................36 December 2011

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Be of Good Cheer, the Holiday is Here

Organizing Strategies to Maximize Your Joy

his time of year I am always busy helping a number of my clients prepare for the Holidays and year-end. It should be a time of joy for all; yet for many, it’s a time of panic. The following tips and insights may be helpful as you prepare for the final countdown to festivities and the New Year.

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First and foremost, I learned early on from my family, friends and clients: “What you emotionally buy into, you mentally buy into (rationalize) and then you financially buy into.”

Be conscious about your perceptions, choices and pocketbook. They have long term ramifications and they are the building blocks of how you organize your life, time, environment and finances. This is especially true regarding the “stuff” that fills our homes and closets. Successful advertising has lead many down the path of financial folly and emotional confusion. I believe it all comes down to clarity and balance. Typically we know this, but during the holidays (especially Christmas) we can lose our balance and get caught up in “buy”. Have you ever stood in line on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) at 5:00 in the morning to get the season’s latest got-tohave gifts? If you have clarity about what is really important to you and those you love, you can avoid over-committing, over-spending, and over-doing.

Preplanning, balance and being financially savvy are the major keys to success and emotional sanity throughout the holidays and all year long. I always start with lists. They make it easy to follow a process and ensure nothing is forgotten. They also cut down on impulse purchases.

My working lists:

❑ Who is coming for meals and what they are bringing (or what you are taking). ❑ Gift recipients – family, friends, clients, service providers & unexpected drop-in’s. ❑ Actual gift items for those recipients - have a ❑ ❑

closet or stash place with extra gifts? Shop there first! Don’t over-do.

Menus and ingredients you will need (don’t forget the beverages – punch, non-alcoholic, bubbly etc.).

Plan your timing – when and where are you shopping. Even if you are shopping online, you need to have time for the free or standard shipping vs. paying extra for rush delivery or finding something out of stock and backordered.

Think about simplifying and reducing the cost of gift giving. It truly is about the relationships not the amount of stuff we give. Most of us need no more new stuff. I see closets and drawers filled with un-

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used gifts. I LOVE gift certificates and experiences because there is zero waste.

Swim lessons, spa treatment, a house cleaning, golf, dinner, a movie out, babysitting etc. are great gifts that produce no clutter and help the local community.

If members are financially struggling, consider doing a family name drawing so only one gift needs to be purchased.

Also, if there are unemployed family members or friends tell them a gift of their time in helping set up or clean up or wrapping gifts would be the greatest gift of all.

If you often overcommit to do things and disappoint people, stop over-promising. It leads to hurt feelings and reduced trust. Realistically assess what you can do and be upfront about it.

Finally, take time to find your personal meaning to the season. You might also consider volunteering at a local charity or church/synagogue in serving a meal or donating a gift to those in need. Volunteering and

donating to the less fortunate can be a richly rewarding and humbling experience. It also teaches children a valuable lesson in caring for others.

I always feel a richer impact of the season when I share and make a difference in another’s life.

Mary Dykstra MBA, CPO is a Certified Professional Organizer, speaker and time management coach. She is immediate past Director of Examination Development for the Board of Certified Professional Organizers and a current Industry Member Board Director of National Association of Professional Organizers. Her website is www.withinreach.biz.

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From the Publisher …And Mamma in her ‘kerchief and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap….

Really? How on earth does one ‘settle their brains’ just before the BIG DAY? Or was his brain settled…and she’s on the other side of the bed going “What did I forget? What time do I need to get the ham in the oven so it’s ready for our guests? Where did I put that gift for Timmy? Is it wrapped? Oh my gosh! I forgot…”

We have all been there. This year, I think I’ll make it my goal to go to bed on Christmas Eve with a settled brain. Would you like to join me…with a settled brain that is?

What I’ll need is a few tips on organization from Mary Dykstra - page 31. I love the idea of creating work lists to plan everything out…if it’s on paper it won’t be floating around my brain. Ahha! I’m getting to that settled brain part already! I’ll add some of the “Buy Local” gift ideas to my shopping cart and a few of the simple creative decorating ideas from our pages and I should be all set. Then I’ll look at the (mostly) local fashions on page 8 and decide what I want to wear for the holidays. At that point, I should be all set. Oh – yes…I won’t forget to BREATH. From All of Us at WLSK - Have a WONDERFUL Holiday Season!

Darlene December 2011

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Simple ways to personalize your holiday decor (ARA) - What do the holidays mean to you?

It's a special time of year for many people, and many of us share similar tastes and traditions when it comes to how we decorate and celebrate. But if you're craving something different this year, personalizing your holiday decor can be a great way to put a fresh face on the season.

Here are a few ideas for placing a personal stamp on your holiday - from decorations to home decor: Holiday murals Wall murals are a time-honored design trick for completely changing the look of a room.

Imagine an idyllic, snow-covered landscape as a backdrop for this year's Christmas tree.

Or perhaps you would like to spice up your New Year's party with a New York City scene in your dining room. Since you might not want those scenes gracing your walls year-round, removable murals could be a great way to personalize your holiday decor - temporarily.

A new product, SmartStick by MuralsYourWay.com, makes it easy to customize your holiday decor. The removable mural can be repositioned anywhere in the home and can be reused hundreds of times without losing its adhering qualities. The website offers holiday designs to appeal to virtually every taste, and the material is so versatile you could even put it on a window or smooth exterior wall and use it year after year.

Do-it-yourself decorations No purchased holiday decoration could ever be more personal than something you make yourself. Fortunately, DIY holiday decoration projects can be as simple or as grand as you like.

You can opt for easy personalized projects, such as putting family members' names on holiday stockings or tree ornaments, or decorating some dollar-store picture frames with holiday colors and accoutrements. Or, you can go for high-impact with a larger personalized project, such as creating a wrapping paper wall in one room of your home.

Holiday hues Green, red, silver and gold will always have their place in holiday decor, but celebrating the season doesn't mean you have to give up your love of teal, chartreuse or lemon yellow. In fact, incorporating your favorite non-holiday colors into your holiday decor is a great way to personalize your home's look for the season.

Home decor stores now carry a wealth of holiday decorations and ornaments in non-traditional colors, and incorporating them into your home is as simple as finding creative ways to use what's available. Perhaps your salute to your favorite colors will be subtle, such as napkin rings that boast your most-loved shade of blue or a hint of pink or orange in your holiday wreath. Or, you can make a bold, modern statement by emphasizing non-traditional colors throughout your decor and using traditional holiday hues in supporting roles.

However you choose to do it, personalizing your holiday decor is a great way to make the season even more special. Plus, it's an opportunity to flex your design creativity, explore new decorating ideas and create one-of-a-kind holiday memories.

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December 2011

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December 2011

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Keep it

Hot even in the Cold

You’ll be ready to party in this red taffeta dress! Dramatically ruffledneckline makes for an elegant and feminine look. $420 Available at: Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, www.terijon.com

All wrapped up and ready to go…from the bryn walker collection $149 Available at: Earthly Delights

This Hand Crafted Carnelian & Sterling Silver Jewelry Is Said To Be A Stone Of Ambition And Drive.

Earrings: $36. Pendant $34 Necklace – 20” $74 Bracelet $129.

Available At: Siestasilverjewelry.Com

Lazer grooved sheared rabit jacket with white and silver fox trimming $599 Available at: Burtrum Furs

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One of the “must haves” this holiday season - ruffled cardigan $39.99 Available at: Stein Mart

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tween 50 to 55 degrees and red wines between 60 to 65 degrees. To get the wines at the right temperature, follow the 20 minute rule – red wines in the refrigerator 20 minutes before serving, and white wines out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before serving.

Q: How long does a wine keep after it is opened?

A: Air is a wines best friend and enemy. A little amount of air softens the wine and makes it pleasant to drink.

However, the oxygen in the air also oxidizes the wine and turns it into vinegar. A wine bottle, if properly stored, can last 3 to 5 days, maybe even longer. Cork the bottle and lay it on its side in the refrigerator – don’t worry if it is a red wine. The lower temperature slows down the oxidation. You can take the red wine out of the refrigerator about half an hour before you want to drink it.

by Rimple Nayyar Q: What is Wine?

A: Simply stated, wine is a natural process that turns sugars in juice into alcohol by yeasts. This process is called fermentation. Wine can be made from any fruit, although over 99% is made from grapes.

Q: Why is wine mostly made by fermenting grape juice?

A: Almost all the grapes from the vine taste the same.

Grapes, unlike other fruits, contain so many different flavor compounds that when fermented the juice is amazingly complex, offering a wide variety of flavors and textures. A cherry wine will for the most part taste like cherries. However, the chemical compounds in grapes can mimic various fruit flavors. Lucky for us!

Q: What are different categories of wine?

A: Wine can essentially be divided into three broad categories – sparkling, still, and fortified. Sparkling wines have bubbles such as Champagne. Still wines have no bubbles such as Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, etc. Fortified wines are made by addition of liquor, such as Ports.

Q: What are the different types of still wine?

A: Wine can be white, red or rosé. The juice of the grape is white in color, except for a few varieties of grapes.

White wine is made by pressing the grapes to allow the juice to run free. The juice is than fermented to produce wine. Red wine is made by allowing the skin of the grapes to stay in contact with the juice during fermentation. This allows the wine to absorb the skin color, hence giving wine the red color. In fact, white wine can be made from red grapes by removing the skin from the juice. Rosé wine is made by allowing the skin to stay in contact with the juice for a shorter time – hours instead of days. This process gives the wine just a hint of color.

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Q: What are tannins?

A: Tannins are found mostly in red wines. Tannin is a compound present in grape skins, seeds and stems and is detected in the mouth as causing a drying sensation. This is the same feeling when drinking a very strong tea.

Since most white wines are not fermented on their skins, they do not contain tannin. To understand the sensation of tannins, take a few grapes, peel the skin and eat it without the pulp. The dryness caused on your palate is from the tannins.

Q: What is dry and sweet wine?

A: Fermentation converts sugar into alcohol. If fermentation is stopped before yeasts have consumed all the sugar, the sugar left behind is termed as residual sugar.

Depending upon the sugar level, the wine can be classified as sweet or semi-sweet. Wines without residual sugar are said to be dry.

Q: Why is acidity so important in a wine?

A: Acids make wine taste refreshing. They are most noticeable in crisp tasting whites, but are present in all wines to a varying degree. Low acid wines taste soft and smooth and can be pleasant to drink, but can also taste flabby with no backbone – akin to a pop that has gone flat. High acidity is perceived as a tanginess that makes your mouth water.

Q: What is the proper temperature to serve wine?

A: The right temperature can mean a world of difference in how wines taste. We tend to drink our red wines too warm and our white wines too cold. White wines too cold may be refreshing on a hot day but lose their nuances and can sometimes be nearly tasteless. Red wines served too warm will taste overly alcoholic and light. So as a rule of thumb, white wines should be served be-

Q: To breathe or not to breathe?

A: Many people will open a bottle of wine by pulling the cork and leaving it on the table to breathe for hours. The fact is you are wasting your time if you do not decant the wine. The thought behind removing the cork is to allow air in the wine to soften it up. However, it has been shown scientifically that the narrow opening of the bottle does nothing even in a 24 hour period. So if you want to let the wine breathe, open it and decant into a carafe or a decanter a few hours before drinking.

Q: Should I decant my wine?

A: A wine is decanted for two reasons. First, allow air into the wine to soften it. Then second, to remove sediments. People usually decant older wines to remove the sediments. However, I lean against decanting old wines.

The window for an older wine is very small. As I mentioned, the air can be an enemy to the wine, especially in an older wine. If you decant an older wine to remove the sediments, make sure your friends are around so you can drink the wine before it falls apart. Most younger wines will benefit from a few hours of decanting, although not necessary since the wine should open up in your glass.

Q: Does wine get better the older it is?

A: This is a big myth that wine gets better as it ages.

Wine is the middle step of sugar conversion to vinegar. If left long enough, it will eventually turn into vinegar. In fact, there are only a very few wines that age well. The majority of the wines are meant to be drunk within 3 to five 5 of the vintage. However, wine does change as it ages. It may be fruity and tannic when it is young, but may take on some more austere characteristics as it ages and loses the fruitiness and the big tannic structure.

Many people are disappointed when they taste older wines. By all means, have a small cellar to age the big California Cabernets and Bordeaux wines. But if you like the wines fresh and fruity, buy a few bottles, drink them up. After all, as one my friend said ‘so many wines and so little time.’

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December 2011

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Can’t Make a Budget Work?

Try Filling Your Buckets Whether you are trying to save money or lose weight, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, as with dieting, sometimes the financial strategies that work the best are a little bit offbeat, even fun. Consider the success of certain bank’s “Keep the Change” program where your debit card purchases are rounded up to the closest dollar and the difference is transferred from your checking to savings account. Another savings strategy found to be effective is the “bucket concept.”

Rather than adhere to the traditional budgeting chore of writing down your expenses and tracking them each month, the bucket concept requires you to divide your spending into six categories and assign a specific percentage to each bucket.

The bucket approach was first encountered in Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker. In his book, that spent time on the New York Times’ bestseller list, Eker suggests dividing your income this way: • 50% for necessities such as your mortgage payment or rent, car payments, groceries, utilities, gas, internet, cell phone, etc.

• 10% for long-term savings to fund vacations, car repairs, house maintenance, clothes, etc.

• 10% for retirement accounts such as your 401(k) plan or IRAs. • 10% for fun.

• 10% for education, from repaying student loans or funding your continuing personal development to saving for your children’s college education.

• 10% for charity.

When making your allocations to each bucket, consider 100% of your total after-tax income.

This means, that in addition to income you earn, you also divide inheritances, bonuses, even your tax refund into six categories. Eker’s key is that this money should never be commingled. That is, you cannot borrow from long-term savings to fund a dinner out or forgo your regular deposit

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into the education bucket when your charity bucket is empty and you want to contribute $100 to your friend’s bike-a-thon.

The easiest way to fund each bucket would be to open separate checking accounts.

This may not be feasible with your employer and could involve significant banking fees. You can open a 529 college savings plan and an IRA and fund them directly from your checking account. Also, if you have a 401(k) at work, that account is funded automatically.

Interestingly, however, many people report success with substituting jars for checking accounts, particularly for the fun account where it is easy to spend cash. Perhaps that’s because by actually placing money in a jar it encourages them to think about finance more often than at bill-paying time or during an annual review with a financial advisor.

Using a jar also can be especially effective if you are trying to save for a family vacation. For example, as your family sees the savings accumulate, they may be more inclined to make sacrifices to stay within your food budget. Of course, if you’d rather keep your long-term savings in a money market account to earn interest, putting a piece of paper noting the amount you invested in that account could also serve to motivate your family.

In discussing the bucket concept with clients, there are some common reactions. Most notably, many say that they spend far more than 50% of their income on necessities. In fact, given the high cost of living in particular parts of the country, surviving on half of what you make may be an impossible goal. Naturally, you can adjust Eker’s percentages to reflect your own circumstances.

For example, if you need 65% for necessities, you might drop education, charity, and long-term savings to 5%. However, you are encouraged to at least reflect on the possibility of living on 50% of your income. Often, simply considering the idea can help you to start to prioritize your expenses and to think more proactively about what you are spending your money on each month. In fact, quite a few clients have come to the realization that they were living in a house that was too expensive for them.

Debt is another issue that can throw a wrench into Eker’s ideal percentages. If you have significant consumer debt, you may need to direct more than 50% to your necessities bucket in order to help you dig out of that hole as soon as possible. However, once you are out of debt, funding your longterm savings account can help you stay debt-free.

That is, as your long-term savings account builds up over time, you’ll have a cushion so that you won’t have to pull out your plastic to manage an unexpected car or home repair bill. In that sense, your long-term savings can also function as the traditional “emergency account.”

The positive energy you create – in combination with the structurally sound bucket approach to budgeting – may be just what you need to move further down the road to financial freedom.

Sandy K. Derby, CFP®, ChFC has been in the financial services industry since 1989. She has been selected as one of America’s Top Financial Planners by Consumers Research Council of America. Sandy is President of Derby Financial & Assoc. LLC, where our goal is to help women become financially secure and independent, through comprehensive financial planning. Sandy can be reached at sandykderby@derbyfinancial.net or 269-3215047. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc PO Box 64284, St Paul MN 55164-0284, 800-800-2638. Member FINRA/SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. is not affiliated with Derby Financial & Associates, LLC.

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December 2011

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So many parties… so little time. any of us find our busy selves dashing all December long from one party to the next – running from work to an evening soiree. So how do you stay looking fresh throughout the day and into the evening? How do you go from day time professional to merry and festive in a jiffy?

Here are a few of my secrets and some of my favorite items I throw in my bag to help make the glamorous transition.

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1. Refresh your fragrance at the end of the day. Perfume is not developed to last all day so feel free to freshen up with another spritz.

2. Use a makeup and lid primer after applying skincare, but before applying all over makeup. This will keep you looking fresh longer and keep makeup from disappearing.

3. Mid-day blahs? For dry skin, freshen-up your look by lightly “pressing” moisturizer over makeup. For oilier skin, freshen with blotting sheets then lightly dust face with translucent powder.

4. Bare legs? Lotion up and dust with a little shimmer bronzer for sexy, glowing skin.

5. Back-comb hair to add a little volume, shake, then lightly spray to add shine and protect.

6. Add lip gloss and then go and enjoy the festivities

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5 6 1. Diane by DVF It all started in 1974 when the wrap dress was launched by Diane VonFurstenburg — making her mark in fashion. And now she does it again with her new fragrance, Diane; a sensual, sophisticated fragrance that is as recognizable as her famous wrap dress. Diane is infused with exotic base notes such as myrrh and musk, and laced with familiar essences of vanilla and violet, as well as floral and green accents. Very modern. Very special.

Very holiday glamour. $90-$110.

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2. It’s a 10 Miracle Shine Spray From anti-humidity to adding softness and taming frizzies, It’s a 10 Miracle Shine Spray will make your hair look like a million bucks. Throw it in your handbag for a little extra spritz of control and shine later in the day. A must have for holiday beauty. $19.96.

3. Fusion Beauty Plump and Re-Plump Liquid Lipstick in Starlet A shimmering blast of trendy color instantly lifts and hydrates lips simply by licking them. This is the perfect product when needing glamour on the go. Love the color and love the convenience. $41.

4. YBF Automatic Eyebrow Pencil Duo Eyebrows frame your eyes and balance your face, so the brows cannot be overlooked. These eyebrow pencils match any color and there’s no need for sharpening – just twist. Giving customizable color and a natural feathery look, this convenient pencil has a no-fail application, day or night. $20 for two brow pencils.

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5. Skintimate Baby Soft Shave Cream Create extra shine and smoothness all year long with the Skintimate Baby Soft Shave Cream with vitamin E, baby oil, and anti-oxidants.

Legs will feel smooth, moisturized, and look fabulous with that holiday cocktail dress. It’s definitely a personal favorite of mine.$2.95.

6. Beth Bender’s The Get in Line Eyeliner Stencil Kit So you have this really big night planned. You want to look special, but you have a little difficulty with applying certain products – eyeliner being one of them. Well help has arrived…and without an appointment. Using Beth Bender’s

Get in Line Kit you can get those sexy cat eyes easily. Even Kate Middleton is rumored to be a devoted fan of the product.$32.

7. Smashbox Softbox or Smokebox Eye Shadow Palettes Get a range of photo-ready day and night eye looks with these fail-safe palettes. Softbox includes six ethereal shades to create lovely, soft looks while Smokebox gives you six perfectly coordinated shadows in dramatic shades. Each allow you to simply scan the tag or peel back the shade label on the palette for application tips. Why choose one when you can have both. $42 each.

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Host a Holly Jolly Party (Family Features) When it comes to celebrations, there’s no season quite like the holiday season.

The celebration experts from Wilton share party tips and irresistible recipes to help create a fabulous cocktail buffet complete with all the trimmings.

“It looks like it would take lots of time and effort, but it really doesn’t,” says Nancy Siler, Vice President of Consumer Affairs at Wilton. “We’ve worked out all the details to make it easy, elegant and delicious.”

Siler suggests setting up a beverage station so guests can serve themselves, or recruit a friend to help prepare and serve your signature cocktails — sugar-rimmed Cheery Cranberry Mojitos and colorful All Aglow Melon-tinis that twinkle with sparkle gel. And for a warm beverage choice, offer rich, thick hot chocolate garnished with frosty snow-

men, peppermint curls or chocolate candy-coated marshmallows.

“When it comes to the food, a mix of savory and sweet is a must,” Siler adds. “Tree-shaped Merry Mushroom Bites and tiny Savory Southwest Donuts piped with avocado to resemble a wreath will wow both the eye and the palate. For another unexpected twist on tradition, stack peppery spritz crackers in a clear glass canister.”

And for the sweets, beautifully decorated snowflake shaped holiday butter cookies are displayed on stacked pedestal plates alongside a bowl of truffles adorned with festive candy drizzles and luminescent pearl dust. Both treats make a fitting finale — and can be made in advance.

For more holiday recipe and decorating ideas, visit www.wilton.com.

Parmesan Pepper Spritz Crackers Makes about 7 dozen crackers 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 2 cloves garlic, finely minced 1/3 cup milk Preheat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, combine flour, black pepper, white pepper and salt. In large bowl, beat cheese, butter and garlic until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture to cheese mixture. Mix until dough forms a ball.

Gradually add milk, mixing until fully incorporated.

Shape into small logs and place in Cookie Master Ultra II. Using desired disk, press crackers onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet on cooling grid. Remove from sheet and cool completely. Store in airtight container up to 1 week.

Merry Mushroom Bites Makes 24 bites 1/3 cup diced yellow onion 3 tablespoons butter 12 ounces portobello or baby portobello mushrooms, coarsely diced 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary 1-1/4 teaspoons black pepper 3 eggs 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1-1/4 1 1/2 1/2

teaspoons salt package (4 ounces) water or other favorite crackers cup sour cream red bell pepper, thinly sliced Chopped rosemary or parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare Bite-Size Silicone Tree Mold with vegetable pan spray. In large skillet, cook onion and butter over medium-low heat stirring occasionally until soft, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, rosemary and black pepper; cook until liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes; cool slightly.

Transfer mixture to food processor. Add eggs, flour, and salt. Pulse until mixture is pureed with no large pieces of mushroom or onion. Fill cavities of silicone mold completely with mushroom mixture, patting flat. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until top of the mushroom mixture is firm. Cool in pan 15 minutes; carefully remove and place on cracker. Top with sour cream, sliced red pepper and, if desired, rosemary.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Savory Southwest Donuts Makes about 36 mini donuts 1 tablespoon ground paprika, divided 1-1/2 cups cake flour 1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 garlic clove, finely minced 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro Topping 1 1

ripe avocado teaspoon lime juice Salt to taste Additional chopped cilantro

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray Mini Donut Pan with vegetable pan spray. Lightly sprinkle wells with some of the paprika. In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cumin, chili powder and salt. In second bowl, whisk together milk, egg, oil, garlic and cilantro. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until flour is moistened. Fill each donut cavity about 1/2 full. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched. Let cool in pan 4 to 5 minutes before removing. Wash pan, dry thoroughly and prepare with pan spray and paprika.

Repeat with remaining batter.

For topping, mash avocado with lime juice and salt; stir until smooth using a whisk or in a food processor. Pipe avocado mixture over top of cooled donuts.

Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately.

See step-by-step instructions for Mint Chocolate Chip Truffles, Chocolate Raspberry Chip Truffles and Snowflake Shortbread Cut-Out Cookies on www.wilton.com.

Snowflake Shortbread Cut-Out Cookies, Mint Chocolate Chip Truffles, Chocolate Raspberry Chip Truffles, Parmesan Pepper Spritz Crackers, Merry Mushroom Bites and Savory Southwest Donuts

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All Aglow Melon-tinis, Cheery Cranberry Mojitos and Peppermint Blitz Hot Chocolate

Cheery Cranberry Mojitos Makes 1 cocktail 6 fresh torn mint leaves, plus additional sprigs for garnish 1/2 lime, cut into four wedges 1 tablespoon dried cranberries 2 tablespoons Wilton Red Colored Sugars, plus additional for garnish 2 ounces rum 3 ounces cranberry juice 2 ounces club soda In tall glass, thoroughly muddle mint leaves, lime wedges, cranberries, and red sugar. Add rum, cranberry juice and club soda and stir. Add ice and additional club soda to fill glass.

Peppermint Blitz Hot Chocolate All Aglow Melon-tinis Makes 1 cocktail Wilton Red Sparkle Gel 2 ounces green melon liqueur 1 ounce lemon flavored vodka 1 ounce bottled sour mix 2 ounces club soda Maraschino cherries (optional) Squeeze Wilton Red Sparkle Gel around the inside of a martini glass. In cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine melon liqueur, vodka, sour mix and club soda; shake well. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with maraschino cherries.

Makes about 4 servings 1 quart (4 cups) milk 1 cup (about 6 ounces) Wilton Dark Cocoa Candy Melts, roughly chopped 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract 3 ounces chocolate liqueur (optional) 1 ounce peppermint liqueur (optional) In a large pot over medium-low flame, heat milk and Candy Melts, whisking frequently, until boiling. Remove from heat. Stir in extracts and liqueurs, if using.

Garnish with peppermint sticks or curls or snowman decorations and serve immediately.

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i n t e r i o r

i d e a s

by Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is a professional interior designer based in Grand Rapids. Her work has been featured on HGTV as well as numerous publications, including Kitchen Trends and Home Magazine. Ashley’s passion is “creating environments that enliven the spirit.” Visit her website at www.ashleycoledesign.com.

f you’re anything like me, decorating for the holidays is something to look forward to. I make it an event; bring out the snacks, turn on festive music and cherish each holiday treasure as it comes out of the storage boxes. This ritual really brings me into the season. Beyond the excitement of upcoming celebrations, decorating for the holidays is a reason to give your home a mini facelift, without a long term commitment. Seasonal décor has a way of adding sparkle to an otherwise neutral space. There are ways to incorporate decorations into your existing rooms while maintaining a feeling of cohesiveness with your existing design.

I

Theme Stay with one theme and style for your holiday decorating. It makes your space feel professionally finished. If you look through home magazines featuring seasonal décor, you’ll notice that throughout many of the spreads, there is a linear theme for each home. It helps pull things together and takes away the chaotic feel you encounter walking down overdone holiday aisles in craft stores. Chances are you already have a number of items within the same theme. Start with those and add to it each year.

Choose 2 to 3 colors for your holiday palette and keep it consistent. Multiple color palettes can become too distracting.

Color Choose 2 to 3 colors for your holiday palette and keep it consistent. Multiple color palettes can become too distracting. Try using combinations like gold, brown and red or silver, blue and white for something fresh.

Let the colors that you lean toward for your overall home decorating lead the way to the seasonal palette.

Why not make it an extension of your home?

Space Give your rooms a different look and feel for this special time of year. Re-arrange your furniture so the focal point is the tree, fireplace or wherever you may hang stockings. Create the best lay-out for cozy conversations and entertaining. Extend the dining table as part of your initial holiday decorating in preparation for gatherings. It will be one more item off your to-do list just before the guests arrive.

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Lighting

Quality

For overall lighting, I always suggest layering different types of light and dimmer switches wherever possible. For the holiday season, it is even more important to create the right mood with lighting. Don’t go overboard with multi-colored strand lighting. Small, white lights are the most versatile and pleasing. They go with any color scheme and will last for years to come. When entertaining, don’t underestimate the power of candlelight.

You wouldn’t choose an abundance of paper and plastic items for your long-term house décor, so why bring it into your home for the holidays? Keep these materials to a minimum. Invest in quality keepsakes that can be brought out year after year and passed down to the next generation. Wood carved holiday figures, colorful glassware, vintage metal platters, pinecone wreathes and luxurious swags of fabric are just some ideas to look for. Like anything else in your home, you should love it!

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The holiday season is a perfect time to share delicious and decadent family recipes with friends and relatives. This year, introduce them to new sweet homemade treats that are sure to quickly become holiday favorites.

Cinnamon Spiced Café Latte 4 servings Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes 3/4 1 3 1

cup ground coffee teaspoon ground cinnamon cups cold water 14-ounce can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk Whipped cream, as desired Additional ground cinnamon

Stir together ground coffee and cinnamon. Brew coffee in coffee maker using 3 cups cold water.

Pour sweetened condensed milk into large coffee pot or 1 1/2-quart pitcher. Add hot brewed coffee, stirring until thoroughly blended.

Pour coffee mixture into café mugs.

Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with additional cinnamon, if desired. Serve immediately.

Ice Cream Cone Sundae Fudge 64 pieces Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

1 1 1 3 1 3/4 3/4 1/2

Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray cup semi-sweet chocolate chips cup bittersweet chocolate chips 14-ounce can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk tablespoons unsalted butter Dash of kosher salt cup unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped cup coarsely chopped sugar ice cream cones cup white baking chips cup well-drained chopped maraschino cherries

Chocolate Chip Cannoli Pie 8 servings Prep Time: 25 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes 1 9-inch unbaked pie shell, thawed according to package directions Water Cinnamon sugar 1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese 1 14-ounce can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk 1/3 cup powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips or miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips Whipped topping

Heat oven to 350°F. Brush pie shell very lightly with water; generously sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Stir ricotta cheese, sweetened condensed milk, powdered sugar and vanilla in medium bowl until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into pie crust.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Filling will appear slightly soft. Cool completely on wire rack. Chill at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped topping, if desired.

Chocolate Chip Cannoli Pie

Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Coat foil with no-stick cooking spray.

Combine semi-sweet chocolate chips, bittersweet chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in medium saucepan.

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes.

Stir in peanuts, chopped sugar cones, white chocolate chips and cherries until thoroughly blended. Spread in prepared pan.

Cover and chill 3 hours or until firm.

Remove fudge from pan by lifting edges of foil. Peel off foil.

Cut into 1-inch pieces.

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Penguin Poppers Ingredients • 18 jumbo black olives, pitted • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened • 18 small black olives • 1 carrot 1. Cut a slit from top to bottom, lengthwise, into the side of each jumbo olive.

Carefully insert about 1 teaspoon of cream cheese into each olive. Slice the carrot into eighteen 1/4 inch thick rounds; cut a small notch out of each carrot slice to form feet. Save the cut out piece and press into center of small olive to form the beak. If necessary cut a small slit into each olive before inserting the beak.

2. Set a big olive, large hole side down, onto a carrot slice. Then, set a small olive onto the large olive, adjusting so that the beak, cream cheese chest and notch in the carrot slice line up. Secure with a toothpick.

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Your Courage Almanac Holiday stories are everywhere. We know the new year is coming, but when it gets here, we’re usually recuperating from the 45 days preceding it. This year will be different. I challenge you to plan now how courage will play a part in 2012. Here’s a handy almanac to get you started.

January With New Year’s always comes resolutions. We make too many and fail too soon. This year, have the courage to pick one really hard one and work on it all year. Remember its quality not quantity.

February Ah, the month of love. Find the courage to fall in love with someone or something unexpected. Unexpectedly good things could result.

March Everyone celebrates the Irish this month. Reach for the courage to celebrate not just your heritage, but your family, including their glories and faults.

April Spring means renewal. Pull out the courage to renew something in your life. Your January resolution? Your resume? The way you style your hair? A relationship?

May As you celebrate mothers this month, remember the courage it takes to be a single mother, a mother in poverty, a disabled mother, a mother in a developing nation, a mother without children who loves them all anyway. Include them in this special celebration.

June Father’s Day is just around the corner. Have you ever considered the courage of our country’s founding fathers? Study up on one or several.

They were a brilliant group, far ahead of their time.

July Our country’s greatness is based on the constitution. Read it - It’s shorter than any grocery store novel. Then be courageous enough to stand up and speak up when you see someone’s rights being neglected.

August Education is clearly the answer to the world’s woes. Step forward courageously and help a child or family who need a little extra help preparing for the school year ahead.

September Do you love your job? If not, have the courage to find one you do! Life is too short to do something you hate every day.

October Our minds play tricks on us sometimes and makes us think we’re not worthy. This month, your treat comes when you dig for the courage to realize that you have special qualities that no one else can duplicate.

Think of three, and then think of them every time you feel inferior.

November Want to see some real folks of courage? Spend a day at your local shelter this month. No one is there by choice, and accepting a handout is very hard for most of us. Learn from their courage and share some of your strengths with them.

December Light some candles, pour yourself an egg nog, and look back over the year. You probably had some shortfalls, but I’m sure you had successes as well. Find the courage to dwell on those. They are the gifts you brought to the world this year. And now that you’ve followed this courage almanac once, there’s no reason not to do it again in 2012!

Judy Pearson is the founder of Courage Concepts, an organization which fosters courage in women through seminars and Courage Conventions. Judy is also the author of magazine and newspaper articles, as well as two books about ordinary people who exhibited extraordinary courage. Her latest, Wolves at the Door, has been optioned for a movie.

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Capture the Magic Enjoy An Intimate, Elegant Night In Now that your holiday decor is complete, why not enjoy it to the fullest with an at-home date night? Making date night as memorable as possible is a goal for any couple, whether that couple is celebrating a silver anniversary or enjoying their first date.

Evenings in come with all the good things an enjoyable night out on the town provides, such as good company and a delicious meal.

Dress Up Dress for the occasion just as you would if you were going out on the town, forgoing those comfortable sweatpants and hoodies for more elegant attire that sets the night apart from a typical weeknight.

Go Gourmet Just because you won’t be dining at a 5-star restaurant doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy gourmet cuisine. Mimic meals you might enjoy at a favorite restaurant, complete with appetizer, entree and, of course, dessert. Especially ambitious couples can even prepare their own desserts the night before.

Dance the Night Away Load up your mp3 player with music that will last well into the night. Consider songs that capture a romantic mood. If your cuisine has an ethnic flair, enhance your date night with music with the same cultural theme(s). Putamayo records has a great selection of world music.

Make the Perfect Pair No gourmet meal is complete without the right bottle of wine. John Russo, owner of John Russo’s Wine Warehouse, suggests Russo & Amante Chardonnay ($14.99), which is an elegant, buttery, dry white that pairs well with white meats, soup, salads, appetizers and as an aperitif. Or if you prefer a red wine, he recommends Savini Riserva Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($19.99), which is aged 15 months in wood and another 6 months in the bottle before release. And, this wine would pair very well with steaks, roasts, and robust pasta dishes.

Don’t Ignore the Decor An elegant and intimate night in should extend beyond the meal. It’s encouraged that couples be sure to eat by candlelight and dress up the dining room’s decor with a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. Fresh cut flowers purchased from the florist will go a long way toward creating a romantic date night atmosphere.

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Pay it Forward Have you ever found yourself Christmas shopping at the mall and you don’t even know why? You could purchase a tin of cookies for your co-worker, but you hesitate. She’s on a diet.

You wonder what to buy for your great uncle. That sweater was nice, but he’s already got clothing galore with no space to store it. You consider a knick-knack for your cousin. You like it, but would she? You drift past an army of shoppers, all on a mission, marching to nowhere.

When did it happen? When did Christmas become a holiday punctuated by the obligatory giving of “stuff” we don’t need?

You remember the coolest Christmas you ever had. Was it when you received something? Or when you gave something?

You know the answer. It’s when you made someone else’s eyes light up. It’s when you made a difference in a person’s life. It’s when you gave something.

This Christmas, wouldn’t it be nice to share that joy of giving? There is a way. Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan offers the Caring Choice Card. You can purchase this unique “pass it forward” gift to your friends and family, and they in turn use the amount on the card to donate to a favorite charity. Charities accepting the Caring Choice Card

benefit the homeless, local churches, the disabled, the arts, finding cures, and more. There are over 80 charities to choose from, most local in nature. A Caring Choice Card is a thoughtful gift for someone who “has everything” and who would love to share in the joy of giving.

Visit www.caringchoicecard.org to learn more or purchase cards. You’ll receive the cards and gift envelopes in the mail in increments of $25, $50, $75, or $100. Then, when you give the Caring Choice Card, the recipient simply visits the site, enters a code found on the back of the card and selects his or her favorite non-profit. That charity receives 70% of the funds, with 30% remaining with Goodwill.

And get this. The Caring Choice Card is the only gift you can write off on your taxes! That’s because all funds are distributed by Goodwill, a registered 501(C)(3).

The Caring Choice Card makes you look good, the recipient feel good, and it does good. And dodging fewer cars at the mall? Hey, that’s not a bad thing!

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A Winter

for the Birds • Place feeders in sheltered locations out of severe winds. Placing feeders close to the house, or using window feeders, both offers the birds more shelter and gets them closer for great viewing. You can also place feeders near protective cover like hedges.

• Bigger is better for winter feeding. Large capacity feeders mean you’ll have to brave winter weather less frequently to refill them.

Keep ‘em clean

B

ird feeding is an easy and enjoyable hobby for people of any age, ability and skill level. Whether you’re new to bird feeding or a seasoned pro, here are some tips to help you enjoy a successful, mutually beneficial relationship with your backyard birds this winter:

Figuring out feeders The type of feeder you use is important. To attract the greatest number of species, you’ll need to provide different types of feeders and feed choices.

Hopper and platform designs are always popular, but whatever feeders you use during winter should have a few features in common: • A wide cover over feeding ports, perches and dispensing trays will help prevent feed from being buried by snowfall. The cover should extend several inches over the feeder edge to ensure protection from all but the worst storms.

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Birds appreciate cleanliness when it comes to their feeders. Because natural food sources are scarce in winter, your feeders will attract hungry birds. It’s important to clean them regularly to keep them free of mold, mildew and other unhealthy conditions that could foster disease.

Backyard with benefits Here are some steps to make your backyard even more beneficial to birds: • Consider adding a heated bird bath. Birds have difficulty finding fresh water in the winter.

• Leave bird houses and nesting boxes in place through winter to act as shelter for roosting birds.

• Choose bird-friendly landscaping that includes sheltering evergreen plants, and plants that provide fruit for a natural winter food source.

courtesy of ARA

Give birds a boost with food high in fat, nutrition and energy With insects and fruit harder to find naturally during winter months, most birds will thrive on seeds.

Suet, solid fat rendered from beef, venison or vegetables, is also good for birds and provides much needed concentrated energy. Serving suet used to be a messy affair, but bird feed producers have made the task much easier for the server and even more beneficial for birds.

Your seed choices should be high-quality and tailored to provide birds with the biggest energy bonanza possible. Sunflower is a great seed option for winter because it’s rich in oil, which attracts birds and provides them with plenty of energy.

Peanuts are another high-energy option. Choose hulled varieties that are whole and more nutritious than peanut pieces. They’re especially attractive to titmice, nuthatches, wrens and woodpeckers.

Once you’ve invested in good seed and the right feeders, don’t overlook the importance of storing seed properly. Store in airtight containers in an area of your home where the seed won’t be exposed to extreme temperatures. Never store seed outside as this can attract pests and predators.

This winter, boost backyard birds’ energy levels and serve up the right seed in the right feeder.

You’ll enjoy winter bird-watching and the birds will benefit from the extra energy. Be patient, it may take a few weeks before the birds discover newly placed feeders. While you wait, be sure to keep the feeders full. Eventually, the birds will come.

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CALENDAR

of Events

It’s easy to get listed in our Events Calendar. Our deadline is the 10th of the monthprior to publication. Email us at: calendar@womenslifestylekazoo.com Please type Calendar in the subject line. Or you may mail your info to P. O. Box 2284, Portage MI 49081-2284 December 1 Indoor Labyrinth Walk Parish Church of Christ the King, Texas Dr. & 8th St. Kalamazoo. 6 pm - 7:30 pm.

Open Labyrinth Walk. 7:30 pm - 8 pm Group walk with special prayers offered for people with HIV/AIDS. www.parishchurch.org or 269-388-2988.

December 1 Run Through the Lights Gazelle Sports. 6:30 pm. Gazelle Sports and the Kalamazoo Area Runners will once again host Run Through the Lights to benefit Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. Join us for a festive 5k run or walk through the holiday lights of downtown Kalamazoo! 269-3425996. http://www.gazellesports.com/RTTL December 1 – 3 Late Night Broadway Gilmore Theatre Complex's Williams Theatre. 9 pm. Mr. Gruber will be joining the graduating seniors of WMU's Music Theatre program for an evening of New York show tunes. $20, $15 seniors, $5 for WMU students. For tickets: 269-387-6222 or at the box office. www.wmutheatre.com December 1 - 11 White Christmas Civic Auditorium. Call for times. As fresh as a new fallen snow, this dazzling stage adaptation of the heartwarming film classic is sure to be a holiday treat for the entire family. $12 - $23. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com December 1 – 29 Charles Dicken's “A Christmas Carol” The New Vic Theatre. Mon. - Fri. 7:30 pm; Sat. & Sun. 2 pm & 8:30 pm. 2nd annual production of New Vics CHRISTMAS CAROL. Free. 269-381-3328. newvictheatre.org December 2 Art Hop Various Locations throughout Downtown Kalamazoo. 5 – 9 pm. Art Hop is a free event that features new art exhibits in a fun, casual atmosphere. Numerous galleries and businesses in the downtown area host a variety of artwork. Free. 269-342-5059. www.kalamazooarts.com December 2 Art Hop – Expanded Downtown Kalamazoo. 5 – 9 pm. The event provides the opportunity for individuals to view great art from local artists while also taking advantage of shopping specials and restaurants. During these expanded Art Hops approximately 40-50 locations are featured. Free. 269-344-0795. www.downtownkalamazoo.org December 2 – 3 Greens & Gifts Sale Kalamazoo County Expo Center, North. Fri. 9 am – 7 pm, Sat. 9 am – 4 pm. Presented by the Kalamazoo Garden Council.

Wreaths, roping, swags, centerpieces, unique designs and bundles of greens will be sold. Bring your own container and have it filled. Admission is free. For more infor-

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mation contact Cleora Mohney at 269-3277337 or cimgardener@aol.com www.kalgardencouncil.org December 2 – 31 Winter Wonderettes Farmers Alley Theatre. 8 pm. The Marvelous Wonderettes are back as they create a rockin' 60s party to celebrate the holidays with friends and family! $31 - $33. 269343-2727. www.farmersalleytheatre.com December 3 – 4 Christmas at Wings Wings Stadium. 8 am – 5 pm. 21st annual art & craft show. Unique gifts, home decor and many other creative items. Over 300 vendor spaces. Artists and crafters come from all over the US. Attracts 26,000 43,000 shoppers. Free. 269-349-1185. www.eagletakeflight.com December 3 – 31 Outdoor Ice Skating Millennium Park. Hours vary. This large outdoor refrigerated ice rink features an excellent skating surface, warming house, restrooms, skate rental, skate sharpening and food concessions. $4 admission plus rental costs. 269-329-4522. www.portagemi.gov December 4 Lunch with Santa Fetzer Center. 11 am – 1:30 pm. Enjoy a festive lunch buffet with your family and watch the smiles on your little ones faces as they have their personal visit with Santa.

And there is never a problem with photos, you can take as many as you like! Children $8, under 3 free; Adults $13.50. 269-3873232. www.fetzercenter.com December 4 Jazz for the Holidays Miller Auditorium. 3 pm. A music scholarship benefit concert featuring the University big bands, both Gold companies, with faculty and student performances. $15, Seniors $12, Students $5. 269-387-2300. www.wmich.edu/music December 5 Kalamazoo Chapter of IAAP Meeting K-RESA, 1819 E Milham Rd. 5 pm. Christal Whitaker, Community Branding for Best Buy, will be speaking to The Kalamazoo Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). Cost is free. Michelle Stickley at 269-553-2086 or michelle.stickley.cnuz@statefarm.com for more information December 6 Free Vein Screening Premier Vein Center. If your legs ache or feel heavy, Schedule your FREE painless screening. We can tell right away if you may have a vein disease. Register at http://www.premierveincenter.com/veinscreening or 269-388-6350.

December 6 Tree of Love Ceremony Borgess Medical Center. 6 – 8 pm. Tree of Love Ceremony to fund mammograms for

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low-income women without health insurance. For more information call 269-2268100.

December 6,7,10 Weekend Kalamazoo Indoor Flea & Farmers Market Kalamazoo County Expo Center, Expo South. 7 am – 3 pm. Special Weekend Market! Come check out all the great deals on new & used items! 65 Booths Available! For booth space call 269-383-8761 or email or visit www.kalamazooexpocenter.com December 7 Free "Healthy & Fit U" Presentations Focus On U Fitness, 545 N. Drake, 11:45AM - 12:45PM or 6:30PM - 7:30PM. Learn the difference between “weight loss” and “fat loss”, why conventional diets fail, and how to create your own program! Ladies only.

Call 269-532-1075 for details.

December 7 Holiday Chocolate & Parchment Wassailing Parchment Community Library. 6 – 8 pm.

Lighting ceremony, harper Erica Holcomb and singer/guitarist Bob Holderbaum Hot chocolate and cookies. Wassailing activities in Parchment. Contact Leslie Hoff at 269381-8636.

December 7 Health Seminar on Urinary Leaking Women's Health Care Specialists. 6:30 pm.

Dr. Roger Beyer hosts an informal health talk for women on urinary leaking treatment options. Free. Refreshments served. RSVP or more info: 269-372-7600 or info@drrogerbeyer.com December 8 Meg Wheatley presents Skills for Leading in Uncertain Times Transformations Spirituality Center. 9 am – 3 pm. As a consultant, writer and speaker she travels the world trying to shift paradigms of what makes for effective organizations and communities. $90 Info @ www.transformationscenter.org or info@transformationscenter.org or 269381-6290 ext. 249 December 8 Holiday Wreath Workshop Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Create a beautiful round wreath that can proudly be displayed throughout the holiday season. All materials will be provided, bringing shears or sharp pruners is recommended. KIA Members, $40, NonMembers $50. 269-349-7775 ext 3101 to reserve your spot!

December 8, 15, 29 Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo Colonial Kitchen 7617 S. Westnedge Portage. 7:30 am. Dec. 8th Megan Ingersoll Discover Financial Services: Your College Kid. Dec. 15 Ellen Colston Weaver's Guild.

Dec. 29 Matt & Emily Leinwand, Crayons for Kids. More info @ dwvanloo@sbcglobal.net or 269-327-8647 December 9 White Nights Wellspring Theatre, Epic Center. 7:30 pm.

As the cold and bleak darkness of winter envelops the uppermost territories across the northern hemisphere, Fontana welcomes back Cleveland Orchestra principal cellist mark Kosower to warm us up with a program of Russian music. $30, $15 in advance. 269-382-7774. www.fontanachamberarts.org December 9 – 11 K-9 Fanciers Dog Show & Weight Pull Kalamazoo County Expo Center, South. Fri. 3 pm, Sat. & Sun. 8 am. U.K.C. Regional event with weight pulling, conformation and junior showmanship. Admission is free to

spectators, there is a registration for participants. For information email mtanko693@aol.com and for entries go to dogonez.com December 10 Buy Local Art & Gift Fair Kalamazoo Nature Center. 9 am – 4 pm.

Meet fun and interesting people as you visit the booths of some of the top local artists and vendors during one of the seasons most unique shopping experiences. Free.

269-381-1574. www.naturecenter.org December 10 Make & Take: Holiday Ornament Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. 12 – 4 pm. Get ready for the holidays with this fun and easy ornament class. Participants will make metal ornaments using copper sheet and wire as well as other items. All materials are included. KIA Members, $40, Non-Members $50. 269-349-7775 ext 3101 to reserve your spot!

December 10 Big Yoga Holiday Gathering Awake and Aware Yoga Studio. 1 – 3 pm; 3 – 4 pm Holiday Social Hour; 4 – 5 pm “Yoga of Sound”. Adapt to challenges of weight, stiffness, injury and holiday stress. $35. To register: contact Meera at 269-2273108 or bigyoga@comcast.net www.awakeandaware.net December 14 Coping with the Holidays Grief Support Services at Oakland Centre.

5:30 – 7:30 pm. Open to children and teens ages 4 – 18 and their caregivers. Learn what grieving children really need at the holidays. Participate in holiday crafts, cookie decorating and a delicious dinner, all in a safe environment. Free. Please RSVP

by Dec. 9th to Julie Waldron at 169-3450273 or journeys@hospiceswmi.org

December 18 A Brass Celebration of Christmas Dalton Center Recital Hall. 3 pm. Western brass quintet & friends. $15, Seniors $12, Students $5. 269-387-2300. www.wmich.edu/music December 22 Make a Gift Powell Branch Library. 4 – 5:30 pm. Make something special for a loved one! Grades 1 – 6. Free. 269-553-7970.

December 28 Decorate Holiday Cookies Powell Branch Library. 3 pm. Sweet fun for the holidays. Grades 1 – 6. Free. 269-5537970.

December 29 – 30 Movie and Popcorn Powell Branch Library. 2 pm. Free movie and popcorn! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1, rated PG-13, will be showing Dec. 29th and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2, rated PG-13, will be showing Dec. 30th. Family program. 269553-7970.

December 31 New Year's Fest Downtown Kalamazoo. 5:30 pm – 12 am.

New Year's Fest is an all ages showcase of performing arts that takes place New Year's Eve in downtown Kalamazoo. There are a variety of activities that take place including music, magic, comedy, exhibitions, fireworks, and great food! $5 in advance, $8 day of event. 269-388-2830. www.newyearsfest.com December 31 New Year's Fest Kalamazoo Valley Museum. 12 – 4 pm.

Come see an early ball-drop for kids; crafts and activities, too! Free. 269-373-7990. www.kalamazoomuseum.org

December 31 – January 1 Time Square in The Entertainment District New Years Eve Party The Entertainment District, 300 E Michigan Ave. Time – TBA. Come to the biggest New Years Eve Bash in the Area with Time Square in The Entertainment District! Come grab a great dinner and make your Midnight memorable to ring in 2012! 269-978-8451. www.entertainmentdistrict.biz January 1 John Daley Memorial One One Run Spring Valley Park, Kalamazoo. 1 pm. Join us for a walk or run around Spring Valley Park. Finish in our big tent filled with food, music and fun! We'll give away tons of prizes, and you may even win the coveted grand prize...Charlie Miller's Chainsaw!

269-342-5996 ext 107. http://www.gazellesports.com/oneonerun January 3 ARTbreak: George Rickey Works Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. 12 – 12:45 pm.

Enjoy brief interviews with artists George Rickey and wonderful footage of his moving sculpture set to music. An Indiana native, Rickey spent time in Kalamazoo and the Art Institute. Free. 269-349-7775. www.kiarts.org January 6 Art Hop Various Locations throughout Downtown Kalamazoo. 5 – 9 pm. Art Hop is a free event that features new art exhibits in a fun, casual atmosphere. Numerous galleries and businesses in the downtown area host a variety of artwork. Free. 269-342-5059. www.kalamazooarts.com

December 14 The 10 Commandments of a Great Resume "The 10 Commandments of a Great Resume" will be presented for free at the Van Buren Conference Center in Lawrence. The presentation starts at 6 pm. For more information call The Resume Professor at 269657-3842 or email theresumeprof@gmail.com December 14 Borgess Bariatric Seminar Borgess Lawrence Education Center. 6 - 8 pm., Free. Register at 269-226-8135 or www.bariatrics.borgess.com December 14 “Healthy Living Starts At The Grocery Store” Tour Meet in Hardings’ main entrance across from Focus On U Fitness (545 N. Drake).

6:30 – 7:15 pm. Learn how to read & understand labels plus more from a certified personal trainer. Visit FocusOnUFitness.com and sign up on the Free Tour tab.

December 15 Heart Failure and Stroke Education Class Borgess Health & Fitness Center. 4:30 5:30 pm. Gifts for Givers. Free. Register at 269-226-8135 or www.wellness.borgess.com December 17 “Healthy Living Starts At The Grocery Store” Tour Meet in Hardings’ main entrance across from Focus On U Fitness (545 N. Drake). 11 – 11:45 am. Learn how to read & understand labels plus more from a certified personal trainer. Visit FocusOnUFitness.com and sign up on the Free Tour tab.

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Reader’s Lounge

By Alexandra Fix

Wine Is A Girl ’s Best Friend

In memory of John Lennon I would like to share a commemorative wine this month called Rosso “Imagine” this wine was designed and named in honor of John Lennon.

Have you ever wondered why a wine maker creates a wine with a blend of grapes instead of a single grape varietal? This allows the wine maker to express their artist qualities and create a wine with its own unique flavor and aroma profile similar to a chef creating a culinary recipe or an artist painting a masterpiece.

The result is a wine like no other in the world.

In Stitches, A Memoir

By Anthony Youn M.D. With Alan Eisenstock Gallery Books, 2011, $25.00 Growing up in Greenville, Michigan, Anthony Youn is about the only KoreanAmerican kid in town and a self-proclaimed “nerd” on top of that. His goal in life, urged on by his parents, is to become a doctor like his dad. It’s the thing to do and he ultimately does it well.

Currently a practicing plastic surgeon in the metro-Detroit area, Youn shares the story of his journey through medical school at Michigan State University and into the world of professional healthcare with wit, compassion and sincerity.

Readers will laugh long and hard over some of the episodes and shed a tear or two along the way. A favorite guest on the Rachel Ray Show, Youn may already be familiar to readers.

Rosso “Imagine” contains unique blend of grape varietals Nebbiolo, Barbera, Freisa and Neretto (the grapes almost sound like notes of a song!) This blend of grapes was custom designed to create an interesting, exciting, harmonious experience on the pallet and is said to sing in harmony like John Lennon.

It’s Time To Play Outside, 101 ways for your young child to enjoy independent fun under the sun

By Miska L. Rysnburger AuthorHouse, 2011, $13.99 This refreshing parent aid is NOT about playing outside every minute with your child, but rather about encouraging your son’s or daughter’s wonderful big imagination to grow through independent outdoor play.

“Anything and everything a child needs for play can be found in both nature and by what is inspired in the young child’s mind.” Miska Rysnburger has delightful ideas for any season to get kids going. Give a five minute start, to plant the seed of an idea, then let them go. When those famous words, “I’m bored,” pop out of a child’s mouth over the holiday break, your gift recipient will be prepared.

Did you know that you can make bubbles that will freeze outside? Ever thought about little snow people? Are you ready for some snow painting? Also included in the winter outdoor play are activities like snow princesses and soldiers, snowflake catchers and outdoor restaurant. If snow’s not in your forecast, there are tons of year-round ideas to stimulate a child’s natural creativity. Rynsburger, mother of three, has a background in elementary education and makes her home in Holland, Michigan.

Alexandra Fix is the author of ten non-fiction children’s book, including the series Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Heinemann Library).

Over the years, she has truly enjoyed being a children’s librarian, registered nurse, freelance writer, mother and grandmother.

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Rosso “Imagine” Grapes: A unique blend of 50% Nebbiolo, 35% Barbera, 15% Freisa and Neretto grown in the high Piedmont area called Canavese.

Color: Ruby red, slight burgundy reflections.

Nose: Full, clean aroma with fragrances of blackberry and reminiscent of hay and pepper.

Tasting Notes: Warm, dry, slight vanilla note, slight tannin sensation, traces of soft wood and long finish of raspberry jam. Ages superbly!

Matching: Matches ideally with all meat dishes.

Locally you can find these wines at the below locations.

Cosmo’s Cucina, Kalamazoo Country Club, Oakwood Bistro, Webster’s, Irving’s and D&W (Oakland Drive location only) Shipping Available - if you would like this wine shipped as a special gift - Please Call: 269-998-9300 More Information can be found at www.SkandisFineWine.com Christine Skandis founded Skandis Fine Wines, LLC for the purpose of preserving heirloom grape varietals – wines the typical consumer has never heard of - grapes that could otherwise reach a level of extinction because they are grown in such limited quantities. Christine was inducted into the Dionysian Society International, the world’s oldest wine society in 2006. She is one of only 6 female members in the world.

www.womenslifestylekazoo.com

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