Gift guide 2013 final

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

Beacon Communications Holidays 2013

Partying

Outside the Box

Creative themes for your seasonal soiree

Gifting the Family Foodie Gift ideas for the food fanatic on your list

Songs for the Season

Holiday music for the next generation

Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 2

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14 Secrets to holiday baking success

6 Gift ideas for the food fanatic on your list

15 Gift wrapping tricks and tips

9 Great gifts for men and women hoping to get healthier

16 Colors of Christmas Coloring Contest

10 Boost holiday spirits with holiday ‘spirits’

18 Holiday decorating not bound to strict schedules

12 Holiday music for the next generation

20 Travel tips for holiday visits

13 Out-of-the-box themes for your holiday party

22 Christmas Word Search

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s CELEBRATE the Season s

4 Last-minute shopping for the holidays

Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 4

Last-minute shopping for the holidays Many people wait until the last minute for Christmas shopping, when there are still gifts and deals to be had.

I

t’s December 22 and you’ve just barely made it through half of your holiday shopping list. The panic may have set in that you just don’t have enough time to get everything done.

This is a common scenario around the holidays. Shoppers have the best intentions to get their gifts early, but whether because of work obligations or social events, the task seems to get pushed further and further into December. Soon many are staring down the calendar experiencing sweaty palms. Many others may be putting off holiday shopping simply because of the current state of the economy and affordability.

For the scores of shoppers who consciously or subconsciously wait until the last possible minute to shop, there are ways to survive and surprise friends and family with great gifts.

Call Ahead Seating

• Gas card: It may sound funny and tacky, but a gas card from a brand-name station is a universally acceptable gift for anyone who drives regularly. With fluctuating gas prices, filling up the tank can be an expensive venture. Having a pre-paid gift card can help.

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• Magazine subscription: A magazine subscription is an easy fix as a last-minute gift. Purchase one copy of the magazine at the newsstand and wrap it up nicely. Put a note that a year’s worth of this periodical is on the way. No one will suspect that the gift was a last-minute thought.

• E-certificates: Retailers like music or book sellers will e-mail a gift certificate code to the person of your choice on a selected date. For those who are never without an e-reader or mp3 player, digital gifts could fit the bill.

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• Food and beverages: While everyone is heading to the mall in droves, you can be stepping inside of a gourmet food or spirits store. Splurge on fine cheeses or that trendy bottle of liquor that a gift recipient has mentioned but not yet purchased for him- or herself.

• Gift cards: They may not have sentimental meaning behind them, but gift cards are fast and easy. Chances are you can run into a store and be out with a handful of gift cards in less than 15 minutes, depending on lines at the checkout counter. Also, many supermarkets, bookstores and other retailers offer gift card kiosks enabling you to shop for different gift cards all in one place.

Online retailers are also there to help lastminute shoppers. Many online retailers guarantee in-time-for-Christmas shipping even on gifts ordered as late as December 23. However, overnight shipping charges will cost more. But it’s all worth it to get the item in time.

Waiting until the last minute for shopping can induce some anxiety. But knowing about easy gifts for procrastinators can take the stress out of this type of shopping.

5 • Celebrate the Season • 2013

Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 6

Gift ideas for the food fanatic on your list Gift the foodie on your holiday shopping list with something that encourages their love of cuisine.

S

ome people are a cinch to shop for come the holiday season, while others can be more of an enigma.

When it comes to the latter, shoppers should determine what tickles their mysterious friend or family member’s fancy, such as a favorite hobby or even something to do with his or her profession.

Food is a passion for many people and provides holiday shoppers with a great opportunity to make a loved one’s holiday season even more special. Perhaps thanks to the increase in cable networks focusing on food, foodies, those people with an appreciation and passion for cuisine, have grown in number in recent years, and holiday shoppers with foodies on their lists have a host of potential gift options at their disposal.

• Cooking class: Many foodies don’t just like eating food but cooking their favorite cuisine as well. For those who like to get their hands dirty before filling their bellies, consider paying for a cooking class. Many communities have cooking classics for various types of cuisine, so consult your friend or family member, asking them which cuisine they’d like to learn and when they’re available. Or let them find their own class and then pay for the class. This can be a

great way for foodies to learn something new and meet fellow food afficionados along the way.

• Specialty spices: Spices can make the difference between an ordinary meal that’s void of flavor and a meal that’s so flavorful it won’t soon be forgotten. When spicing things up for a foodie this holiday season, don’t just buy regular spices at the grocery store. For example, instead of standard cinnamon, buy a specialty spice like Mexican or Vietnamese cinnamon. Such specialty spices can add extra flavor to a meal while becoming the go-to spice for the home chef among your friends and family members.

• Pressure cooker: Many foodies are fawning over pressure cooking, which can cut down on cooking times without sacrificing nutrition. Some recipes may take half the time to prepare with a pressure cooker as they might with a more traditional cooking method, an important time saving element that’s attractive to foodies who want to enjoy their favorite foods but feel pressed for time on weeknights. And while pressure cookers employ steam to cook foods quickly, that steam also traps flavor, whereas boiling can wash flavor out.

• Serving dishes: Of course, many foodies want to share the fruits of their

labors with friends and family. For the person who loves throwing dinner parties, consider some serving dishes this holiday season. Serving dishes can range from casual (for the foodie who can’t wait to fire up the grill) to formal (for the gourmet foodie), so get a feel of your friend or family member’s preferences before purchasing a set of serving dishes.

• Cookbook: The ideal fallback item for holiday shoppers who can’t seem to find anything for their favorite foodies, cookbooks filled with recipes for dishes from their favorite type of cuisine (i.e., Italian, Thai, Cajun, etc.) are sure to please. When gifting with a cookbook, peruse a few of its recipes to determine if there are any special ingredients that appear throughout. If there are, purchase these ingredients and gift them as well.

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7 • Celebrate the Season • 2013

Many foodies also laud pressure cookers for their nutritional benefits.

Steaming certain foods can intensify their flavor, which allows cooks to rely less on potentially unhealthy additions like salt or butter to ensure a meal is flavorful.

Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 8

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9 • Celebrate the Season • 2013

Great gifts for men and women hoping to get healthier Subsidizing a loved one’s gym membership is a great way to help him or her realize a resolution of living healthier in the year ahead.

T

he holidays are synonymous with many things, including gettogethers with family and friends, shopping and, at the tail end of the season, resolutions. One of the more common New Year’s resolutions is a commitment to getting healthier.

This year, holiday shoppers can combine the tradition of gift-giving with the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions by giving a loved one who wants to improve personal health a gift that can make keeping that resolution that much easier.

When holiday shopping this season, consider the following gift ideas for that health-conscious friend or family member who’s looking to turn over a new leaf in the new year by adopting a healthier lifestyle.

• Gym membership: Fitness centers tend to see a spike in enrollment at the dawn of a new year, as men and women who want to get healthier take the first step by signing up for a gym membership. The holiday season can be a great time to sign up for a membership, as many fitness centers waive their initiation fees in an effort to attract more customers. When trying to help a friend or family member get back on a healthy track, offer to pay a portion of their membership fees or, if their preferred club is

charging an initiation fee, offer to pay that instead. Recipients might feel more obligated to go to the gym if they know a loved one helped pay for it.

• Cardiovascular machine: Many people cite a lack of time as the primary reason they don’t exercise enough. Getting to and from the gym takes time, but having a cardiovascular machine, whether it’s an elliptical machine, an exercise bike or a treadmill, at home removes this hurdle, increasing the chances that people will exercise more often. And the potential benefits of routine cardiovascular exercise are considerable.

According to the American Heart Association, as little as 30 minutes of daily cardiovascular exercise each day can significantly reduce an individual’s risk for heart disease.

• Bicycle: Few activities are more enjoyable and simultaneously beneficial as riding a bicycle. Many people still enjoy riding a bike just like they did when they were children, when they might not have known just how healthy riding a bicycle was. Cycling improves cardiovascular fitness, lowering a person’s risk for heart disease while helping to build and tone muscles. In addition, men and women with preexisting joint conditions often

find riding a bicycle is a great lowimpact exercise that encourages them to get off the couch in a way that doesn’t aggravate their conditions.

Many adults received a bicycle as a holiday gift when they were children, and those looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle might be just as excited to receive a bicycle once again.

• Cookbook: Adopting a healthier lifestyle does not have to be all about exercise. In fact, eating healthier is just as important as exercising more.

A common misconception about eating healthy is that healthy foods don’t boast the flavor of those irresistible, yet ultimately unhealthy, foods we can’t get enough of. However, a healthy diet can be flavorful, so help health-conscious men and women get started with a cookbook filled with healthy and delicious recipes. Before buying a cookbook, find out if the book’s eventual recipient has any specific dietary restrictions, including if he or she needs to eat gluten-free or has been told to avoid red meat.

Then find a cookbook that suits them but does so in a way that allows them to embrace healthy eating.

Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 10

Boost holiday spirits with holiday ‘spirits’

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he holiday season is a festive time of year when opportunities to entertain abound. The search may be on for the ideal food and beverage recipes to tie into the holiday season.

Although just about any drink can be given a holiday spin with the right name (think Merry Martinis), you may want to come up with a theme drink that fits with your particular party. Explore these ideas for delicious and festive alcoholic and nonalcoholic options.

The Candy Cane 1 ounce vodka 1 ounce peppermint schnapps 1/2 ounce heavy cream Dash of grenadine for color Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Pour into glasses filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a candy cane.

Sweet Santa Shots 1 ounce Midori liqueur 1/2 ounce grenadine syrup Carefully layer the grenadine syrup and the Midori liqueur in a shot glass to have red and green layers.

White Christmas Hot Chocolate 3 cups light cream or half-and-half 3/4 cup vanilla candy melts, chopped 1 teaspoon vanilla Pinch of ground cinnamon 1 ounce Irish cream liqueur Combine 1 cup of the cream with the candy in a saucepan. Melt over low heat, being careful not to burn. Add the remaining cream, vanilla and cinnamon until everything is heated. Add the liqueur and stir. Garnish with more cinnamon. Serve warm.

Holiday Sparkle 2 ounces apple cider 1 ounce club soda Cinnamon stick Mix cider with club soda and serve in a tall glass with a cinnamon stick garnish.

A refreshing and nonalcoholic drink option.

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Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 12

Holiday music for the next generation

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ne of the early indicators that the holiday season has arrived is the music play at retail stores and on the radio. Christmas music evokes strong emotions that help many people recall fond memories of holidays spent with family and friends.

While certain holiday albums have become classics, younger artists have begun to embrace holiday music as well.

For example, Universal Music Group Nashville has announced that “Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas,” will be available for purchase this holiday season. The Robertson family is based out of Louisiana and are the stars of the A&E reality show “Duck Dynasty.” In addition to being prolific duck hunters, the Robertsons also grew up singing in church, and members of the family will be showcasing those talents on their holiday album.

Former “X Factor” winner Leona Lewis has revealed she is going to be recording a Motown-inspired Christmas album, while R&B superstar Mary J. Blige will put her soulful spin on holiday classics with her first-ever Christmas album. “A Mary Christmas” will be released through Interscope Records. Blige is working with acclaimed composer and arranger David Foster.

In addition to those forthcoming albums, holiday enthusiasts can choose from many recent holiday albums from seasons past.

“American Idol” alum Scotty McCreery put some serious country twang into his “Christmas With Scotty McCreery” album.

“Christmas in the Sand” is Colbie Caillat’s nontraditional Christmas album for those who may not live in cold or snowy locales.

“Cheers, It’s Christmas” is the first Christmas collection from country star Blake Shelton. Guest artists include Miranda Lambert, Kelly Clarkson and Michael Buble.

“On This Winter’s Night” is Lady Antebellum’s first holiday collection and includes various versions of Christmas classics.

“Merry Christmas, Baby” is the first ever holiday release from legendary singer Rod Stewart.

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arties are an integral part of the holiday season, when friends and family gather to celebrate and give thanks.

For holiday hosts, parties are a great opportunity to make the season even more festive with an event that guests won’t soon forget. The following are just a few themes to make your holiday party as memorable as it is merry.

• Christmas sweater party: Christmas sweater parties have grown in popularity over the last decade, when revelers have tried to outdo one another with the most outrageous holiday-themed sweater. Give prizes for the most outlandish sweater and let guests know early on so they can begin their hunt for a holiday sweater that’s so ugly or outrageous you can’t help but love it.

• Christmas costume party: Costume parties aren’t just for Halloween. This holiday season, consider making your holiday bash a costume party, encouraging guests to dress up as their favorite characters from holiday tales like “Frosty the Snowman,” “A Christmas Carol” or any of the host of beloved holiday legends.

• Caribbean Christmas: The weather come the holiday season may be the one thing to put a damper on the festivities. To combat blue feelings from potentially inclement weather, consider a Caribbean theme for your holiday party this season.

Rather than wearing sweaters and long pants, wear beach attire and give the party a touch of the Caribbean. Outfit your home in beach decor and serve food and drinks reminiscent of the Caribbean instead of more traditional holiday fare like eggnog and gingerbread cookies.

• Film festival: Holiday movies are another tradition of the season, so why not invite friends and family over for a holiday film marathon? Include classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story” and encourage guests to submit their own favorites for consideration.

• Christmas karaoke: For those who love to belt out their favorite holiday tunes, consider throwing a Christmas karaoke party that allows guests to perform their own renditions of their favorite Christmas carols. Purchase a home karaoke set and ask guests in advance of the party if there are any particular songs they’d like to perform.

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13 • Celebrate the Season • 2013

Out-of-the-box themes for your holiday party

Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 14

Secrets to holiday baking success

Certain tips can ensure your holiday baking is successful.

B

aking is popular come the holiday season, when baked goods are often gifted or shared with family and friends at holiday gatherings.

Individuals turn out sweet treats left and right, and these treats are often gobbled up by appreciative holiday revelers.

Although some people have mastered baked goods, others can benefit from a few tricks of the trade. Utilize these tips to make holiday baking that much easier.

• Overworked cookie dough may result in dry cookies. Try not to handle dough more than is necessary to roll it out to desired thickness. When rolling the dough, put it between two pieces of waxed paper to reduce flour usage on the rolling pin.

• When baking brownies or other bartype cookies, line the inside of the pan with greased aluminum foil. This way you can lift out the dessert and cut it neatly instead of risking sticking.

• The same technique can be used

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when baking cookies. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and bake as directed. The cookies should slide right off when done, and you won’t have messy pans to wash afterward.

• Double-check your oven temperature with a reliable thermometer to make sure it is accurate. This will help you bake more efficiently and adjust the time or temperature accordingly.

• Many cookie doughs can be refrigerated or even frozen, so you can make a big batch and then spread out your baking as needed throughout the season.

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T

Thicker paper means you’ll also be able to achieve more intricate folds and better creasing around boxes. It also may be more forgivable around oddly shaped items.

Although some people are gift-wrap gurus, there are many others who feel that their wrapping skills are lacking. Regardless, anyone can create delightful wrapped gifts with a little know-how.

Gift bags are the go-to wrapping medium when you’re short on time or have items that are not easily wrapped with paper. Because they come in a variety of sizes -- and even giant plastic bags to contain large gifts -they are often more convenient.

Prepare

Other Tips

The first step to wrapping is to have all of the supplies in one place. There are some people who have actually dedicated small rooms as gift-wrap stations. While you don’t have to go this far, find a large table and keep your tape, tags, paper, ribbon, scissor, pen, and other accessories nearby.

There are different tips that can help with wrapping.

Also, sort out the gifts according to recipient and have any gift receipts handy to wrap up with the gift.

• Use ribbon to dress up a gift and direct the eye away from any imperfections.

he holidays are here and that means shoppers have started to stockpile gifts for those they love. Once the shopping rush is over, the time to wrap all of those great finds and treasures has come.

Wrap at a time when there are no distractions and you can devote your attention to the task at hand, like after children have gone to bed or during the day when no one is home.

Paper or Bags?

When purchasing wrapping paper, it may be tempting to skimp on the quality of the paper to save money. However, a thicker, higher quality paper will make wrapping go more smoothly. That’s because it will be less likely to tear on boxes or when you’re rolling out and cutting it.

• Buy neutral-patterned wrapping paper that coordinates with other papers. This way if you run out of one type of paper you can stagger other pieces and make a collage of papers so there’s no waste.

• Keep a stack of paper scraps and use it instead of tissue paper to fill in gift bags.

• Keep scissors sharp for clean cuts.

• Pack smaller items or oddly shaped things into a different container that is easier to wrap.

• Roll up clothing and place into a paper towel tube to turn the wrapping into a candy cane shaped gift.

Practice often makes perfect when it comes to wrapping gifts. Having the right paper, a few decorative supplies and some patience can ensure that gifts look festive this year.

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15 • Celebrate the Season • 2013

Gift wrapping tricks and tips

Celebrate the Season • 2013 • 16

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17 • Celebrate the Season • 2013

COLORS OF CHRISTMAS • Holiday Coloring Contest

CELEBRATE the Season s s 18

Holiday decorating not bound to strict schedules

S

ome people are so eager for Christmas to arrive that they simply cannot wait long to transform their homes from the traditional decor into a holiday wonderland. Others prefer to build up the suspense of the season and wait until mid-December before decking the halls.

There is no right or wrong time to start decorating, but there are some tips to make that process easier.

Christmas items can sometimes be found on store shelves as early as September, and even those homeowners who intend to

decorate when the season is in full swing can purchase items now and then bring them out when the time comes to decorate.

Shopping early allows holiday enthusiasts to be more choosy about their decorations.

Many families start their holiday decorating on the day after Thanksgiving. Such families should know there are benefits to using artificial greenery in the decor. A real Christmas tree or wreath may dry out and present a fire hazard if purchased too early.

If you want the tree in the window for a full month or more, an artificial tree is a safer

choice. Decorating before December also allows families to enjoy their decorations much longer. It can be hard work to decorate the house, and equally arduous to remove those decorations, so decorating earlier allows homeowners to enjoy the fruits of their labors a lot longer than they would if they decorate in December.

Some people feel that decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving is a tad too early, and there are advantages to decorating in early or mid-December, when stores have a wider selection of decorations at shoppers’ disposal. Some stores do not display all of their merchandise until after Thanksgiving. If you have your heart set on a natural Christmas tree, decorating later helps to ensure the tree remains fresh, fragrant and safe with the right care.

Homeowners who delay their decorations

also can take inventory of what neighbors are doing and design a decorating scheme that blends with the neighborhood or stands out.

Some families even prefer to save their decorating until right before Christmas, choosing to decorate on Christmas Eve. Those who prefer to a more religious them to their holiday decorations may prefer to decorate later and keep their decorations on display until the celebration of the Epiphany, when the magi are said to have arrived bearing gifts for the baby Jesus.

Whether families enjoy stringing up lights as soon as Thanksgiving is over or waiting until Christmas Eve, there is no wrong way to embrace the spirit of the season.

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CELEBRATE the Season s s 20

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housands of people take to the skies come the holiday season. High fares do doubt await holiday travelers, who also can count on higher baggage fees and fuel surcharges. Buying tickets early can help offset some of those costs, but many travelers may not know where they’ll be spending the holidays until the last minute, leaving them at the mercy of the airlines.

Waiting for last-minute airline sales can be tricky, especially during the holidays when everyone needs to travel in a specific date range. Airlines continually evaluate just how many seats they have already sold to determine prices on reduced-fare seating.

Getting a good deal or being gouged may come down to a variety of factors, but buying early when flying during a heavy travel season is often the best way to go.

Airlines rarely discount tickets during the holiday season, when demand is especially high. Therefore, booking as soon as you know your travel plans increases the liklihood you can get the flight you want and not have to make concessions. In addition to booking early, there are other ways to save some money and arrive relatively jolly for a holiday visit. s 4RAVEL MIDWEEK Flying on a weekday is often less expensive than flying on a weekend. Some travel experts say flights on a Tuesday or Wednesday traditionally offer the lowest fares. s #ONSIDER AN ALTERNATE ROUTE Choosing connecting flights in travel hub cities may cost less than direct, nonstop flights. While from flight to flight may be less convenient, it’s likely to cost less money.

s 3HIP YOUR GIFTS Rather than paying high fees for extra checked baggage, ship your gifts or have them directly shipped to your loved ones when buying online. s "OOK IN MID .OVEMBER Some travel experts say that Christmas travel is at its cheapest during the middle of November.

If you can arrive early at your destination then you can also save. Experts suggest flying before December 17 can earn travelers the best deals. s #HOOSE AN UNPOPULAR mIGHT TIME Early-morning, overnight and dinnertime flights are less expensive than more popular travel times. s !RRIVE ON #HRISTMAS It’s often less expensive to travel on Christmas, when surcharges may be waived and flights may be less packed.

PLEASE DON’T DRINK & DRIVE!

“Key” Strategies For A Safe New Year’s Celebration:

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t probably comes as no surprise that more traffic fatalities due to drunk driving occur at the New Year than any other time, but of course, you should never drink and drive. With your safety in mind, these community sponsors urge you to review these important tips for hosting or attending a safe celebration!

A New Year is coming, bringing much celebration, With good friends and good times and free-flowing libation -So party on hearty, but leave driving alone, Because we want to see you get safely home!

• Plan an alcohol-free celebration – Host a fondue or “make your own” ice cream sundae party as a fresh alternative. Add some fun party games to keep guests entertained without drinking!

• Check your keys with the host – This is an effective strategy for giving the host some control over inebriated guests.

• Keep the number of a taxi company handy – A good tip for both party guests and hosts alike.

• Offer to drive a guest home – Start the New Year off right by performing a good deed and help keep drunk drivers off the road.

• Appoint a designated driver – Use the buddy system and you can return the favor next time.

• Provide lots of snacks to party guests – Drinking on an empty-stomach rapidly increases alcohol’s debilitating effects.

• Post transportation info on party invites – Include information for public transportation, car pools and taxi company phone numbers.

• Don’t let a friend drive drunk – Take the car keys away or use one of the strategies above to see your friends safely home.

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BECAUSE SAFETY IS KEY,

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Christmas Word Search

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