The Holiday Guide 11.19.2021

THE PRESS

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

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Brentwood baker brings sweetness to the holidays Cravings N Cookies is a new business that offers nearly ‘any dessert imaginable’ JAKE MENEZ

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umpkin pie at Thanksgiving dinner, cookies for Santa Claus and visions of whatever

sugar plums are all proof that there’s no better time of year than the holiday season to have a sweet tooth.

Dessert lovers will be eager to hear about Cravings N Cookies, a new Brentwood business that specializes in cookies, pies and a wide variety of other desserts, including some special offerings for the season.

“Part of why I started the business was to spread happiness,” Hilary Johnson said. Johnson is the owner of Cravings N Cookies, which she started in 2020 as an outlet during the pandemic. Like many other people sheltering in place, Johnson had used her newfound free time at home to experiment in the kitchen. She has been

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baking since she was 9 years old and has a stepmother in the catering business, so she was no stranger to the recipes she was creating.

After being encouraged by her four daughters that her baking was something she should share with others professionally, Johnston started Cravings N Cookies, where she now offers cookies, pies and “nearly any dessert imaginable.” All of Johnson’s desserts are made using local fruit and organic vegetables from the area, as well as cage-free local eggs.

Johnson says her most popular offering is s’mores brownies as well as her homemade cinnamon rolls, but going into the holidays, she plans to offer seasonal creations as well.

“For Christmas, one of the desserts I’ll have is chocolate peppermint pie,” said Johnson. “I’ll also be bottling my own homemade vanilla extract that would make the perfect gift.”

Orders can be made by calling Johnson at (925) 568-6156. A website is coming soon.

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

10 holiday gift ideas for people who love to cook

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any people know someone who loves spending lots of time in the kitchen. Some

home cooks may enjoy whipping up favorite recipes, while others might get excited about experimenting with new flavors and ingredients.

A love of cooking paves the way for many different gifting opportunities. Food-related gifts also come in a wide variety of prices, making it easy for shoppers to spend as little or as much as they want. Check out these 10 gift ideas for the foodie on your holiday shopping list. ♦ Sheet pans ♦ Air fryer tool set ♦ Dutch oven ♦ Kitchen compost bin ♦ Serving board ♦ Electric wine opener ♦ Spiralizer ♦ Apron and accessories ♦ Meat delivery ♦ New blender

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

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Boujee Baskets wrap up holiday spirit DAWNMARIE FEHR

friend, Fancy McClinton, encouraged her to share her talent with the public.

“Anytime she needed to bring something somewhere, she did these over-thetop baskets. The ‘boujee’ part is dead on and people see these baskets and are so impressed,” said McClinton of the baskets of high-end goods for middle-class budgets.

“I told her she needed to sell these and spread the joy. People love unique things, and these are really unique.”

When taking orders, Taylor always asks for some information about the basket’s recipient. She said the more information she can get about the person, the better basket she can create. Once she has her ‘fun facts,’ she starts shopping for the person, patronizing local and small businesses whenever possible.

“No two baskets are the same,” said Taylor. “I like them to be as custom as possible, and I try to get special things. I like to try and make it so the receiver feels like that basket was completely created for them and not a commercial basket just off the shelf. Every basket is made with love, it’s personal for me and I’m very passionate about it.”

Custom basket orders require oneweek notice. To order a custom gift basket, call or text 925-503-7071, or visit https:// bit.ly/3kG9Ve9.

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he season for gift giving is rapidly approaching, and one Oakley resident has a basket

full of personal gift ideas.

“Rhonda Taylor is the owner of Boujee Baskets & Beyond, a custom gift basket and home decor business. As someone who has long enjoyed filling a container with personalized gifts for family and friends, she now shares that love with her customers.

“A little bit of me goes into every basket I make,” she said. “I love the pure joy and happiness these baskets bring to people. I sent a basket order to Colorado, and they sent me back a picture and it just makes me so happy to see their joy.”

Taylor also sells premade baskets, home décor and antiques, and all her goodies can be found in Rancho Co-Op in Oakley. She rented a space there after her ON THE COVER: Boujee Baskets & Beyond, a custom gift basket and home decor business, is located in Rancho Co-Op in Oakley. Rancho Co-Op is located at 5685 Main St.

Photo by Andrew Rulloda

Oakley resident Rhonda Taylor creates and sells custom gift baskets and home decor.

A Soap & Candle Company

Now is the time to order holiday and end of year gifts for customers, clients, family, and friends!

Gursky Ranch has gift ideas to meet any budget.

We specialize in custom baskets, fruit and nut trays, and corporate gifts large and small.

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

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NOVEMBER 19, 2021

The holiday survival kit: what to know C H R I S T I N A D A LT O N

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t’s the holiday season. It should be a time of celebration, enjoying family and friends, and giving

thanks for all that is good. At least that is what we are told through commercials and the continued “Happy Holiday” wishes that commence with Thanksgiving Day. Can we agree that there is a lot of pressure to have a happy holiday season?

But for many Americans, the holiday season rings in demands and expectations that can be difficult to manage. Statistically, it is the most stressful time of year. This is proven through the upswing of depression throughout November and December.

These demands can be amplified when families have experienced divorce, death, dealing with blended families and even balancing the schedules of adult children who now want to begin their own traditions with in-laws and their new families.

If you can relate, then this month’s article and next month’s reflections may provide strategies on how to do more than just survive your holidays. This is about

discovering tools that will help you to be your “best self” during this time of year.

What brings you joy during the holiday season? Part of this understanding is to acknowledge trigger points that may cause stress, and keep you from fully being your best self. A way to explore what might trigger you is to do a journey of holidays past. As you reflect on those holidays, and begin to recall what especially brings you joy, consider for a moment what has changed and may no longer be possible due to family and friendship changes. This could easily become a subconscious trigger.

For instance, this will be my first Christmas without my mother-in-law, the person who pulled all her boys and their families together for Christmas magic and love.

By reflecting on the joy she brought and knowing that she will no longer be here to share the future together, I can reflect on “What can I do this holiday season that respects my own experiences of her to continue to find peace in the holiday traditions?” This exploration can set the groundwork for success and eliminate a possible trigger for you and your loved ones. What I realized first when I did this exploration is the need to “frontload” the conversation with the other family members on how we can continue to have a fabulous holiday. To realize that the holidays are a shared affair can mitigate

any negativity. It is a great opportunity to empower everybody to come together.

Communication will end any assumptions anyone is feeling. As you reflect on who will be in your holidays this year, the simple question you may ask your family is, “What do you want this holiday season to look like for you to feel complete?” This question can open the door to establish a conversation of respect, knowing each family and friend may have changed in some way over the last year and may need something different. It can also reveal whether others have some of the same triggers as well.

Reaching within yourself to understand what you need to thrive in this holiday season will empower you for others.

How will you redefine what you love to celebrate that brings value and meaning to this season? There are many tools and techniques to guide you so that you can be your best self throughout the season.

Another key suggestion might be, “What does my best self feel like? When do I enjoy myself the most so that I can enjoy others better?” These are meaningful ideas to consider during this emotionally charged time of year. It is often difficult to enjoy the holidays if you don’t fully understand what you need from the holidays. Part of that understanding is to acknowledge your trigger points that may cause stress, and

keep you from fully being your best self.

I would like to invite you to consider a few techniques to guide you to create a joyous holiday season. Consider what traditions make this season meaningful and share your experiences with your loved ones to gather their thoughts.

Likewise, encourage them to share how the holidays can be more valuable for them.

This may mean creating a conversation of compromise. Think about what causes stress for each of you.

In next month’s article, I will discuss further ideas to consider to release unwanted stress and create the best holiday season possible for you and those you love.

After all, the road you pave will only be as smooth as you allow it to be. Let’s take this drive together for a happy journey.

Christina Dalton is the principal of EYHLifeCoach; EYH stands for Expand Your Horizons. Dalton is Executive Coach, Life Coach, Relationship Coach, and has a Masters in Counseling. Pupil Personnel Credential. Life Coach – University of California Davis Accreditation Master of Science – Counseling. Credentials in Mathematics, Social Science, Pupil Personnel Service Credential (PPS), Professional Certified Coach (PCC).She has experience in Family and Community Counseling, School Counselor, Educator.

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NOVEMBER 19, 2021

HOLIDAY GUIDE

Fraudulent ‘charities’: how to spot them

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iving to charity is a selfless endeavor that’s vital to the survival of countless nonprofit

organizations across the globe. Without the generosity of donors, many charitable organizations would cease to exist, leaving the people they help vulnerable to illness and financial hardship.

Fraud may be the furthest thing from donors’ minds, but charitable individuals must be aware of it as they consider donating to charity.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), charity fraud increases during the holiday season, when many people embrace the spirit of giving and seek to make end-of-year tax-deductible gifts to their favorite charities.

The FBI also warns that charity scams are common after disasters or tragedies, including pandemics. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission noted in September 2020 that Americans had lost more than $145 million to charity fraud related to the coronavirus in the first six months of the pandemic.

One measure all prospective donors should take is to learn the signs of charitable fraud as an added measure of protection against the criminals behind the scams.

Many charity scams target seniors, but no one is entirely safe from it. AARP notes that the following are two warning signs of charity fraud. ♦ Pressure to give: Reputable charities do not pressure prospective donors into giving. A strong, trustworthy charity will accept donations whenever donors choose to make them.

Legitimate operations like the American Red Cross may heighten their solicitations after natural disasters, but such groups still will not try to pressure people into donating. ♦ Thanking donors for donations they don’t recall making: AARP notes that some charity fraud perpetrators will try to convince potential victims they have already given to a cause. This is done in an effort to lower potential victims’ resistance, giving them a false sense of security and the impression that a fraudulent operation is legitimate. If donors don’t recall donating to a specific charity, chances are strong they didn’t make such a donation and that the message of gratitude is merely a fishing expedition intended to reel in new victims.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

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NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Great holiday gifts for retirees who cannot wait to travel

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etirement provides a chance for adults who have worked throughout their lives to take a step back, relax and enjoy the Modern retirees like to get up and go, and holiday shoppers can take that joie de vivre into consideration as they look for the perfect gift for retirees who can’t wait to fly or hit the open road.

fruits of their labors.

Though the most indelible image associated with retirement might once have been a rocking chair, modern retirees like to get up and go.

Holiday shoppers can take that joie de vivre into consideration as they look for the perfect gift for retirees who can’t wait to fly or hit the road. ♦ Maps: It might seem simple, but roadmaps can be an ideal gift for retirees. A recent poll from RBC Wealth Management found that 63 percent of Americans age 50 and older say travel is an important retirement goal. Roadmaps of their own country or a foreign country can help seniors plan their dream vacations. Seniors can study maps and create their own routes as they visit popular tourist attractions and find lesser-known locales along the way. ♦ Vouchers/gift cards: Airline vouchers can inspire retirees to fly to locales that have long been on their bucket lists. If seniors prefer to take to the open road, hotel vouchers or Visa gift cards that can be spent anywhere that accepts credit cards can help pay for gas, meals or entry to popular parks and tourist attractions. ♦ Projector and portable screen: Retirees may want to get away from it all, but that doesn’t mean they have to leave everything behind. A projector and portable screen can let on-the-go seniors enjoy movie night under the stars or watch their favorite teams even when they’re far from home. This can be an especially good gift for retirees who are eager to gas up their RV and leave home behind for a few weeks.

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

♦ Lifetime pass to world-renowned parks: All United States citizens or permanent residents are eligible for the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass, which provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites across the country. Those sites are managed by federal agencies like the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation, among others. A similar system is in place in Canada, where adults age 65 and older can gain unlimited admission for a full year to more than 80 Parks Canada locations across the country.

♦ Tablet: Of course, retirees may still want to enjoy some of the comforts of home while they’re off in parts unknown. A new tablet can help traveling retirees read the latest bestsellers and stay in touch with family and friends via video conferencing apps like Zoom. Many campgrounds and hotels now provide free WiFi to guests, so a tablet can be just what on-the-go retirees need to stay connected to life back home.

Holiday shoppers can make the season bright for their favorite retirees who can’t wait to spend their newfound free time traveling the world.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

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very Christmas, the Brentwood Regional Community Chest and The Friends of Oakley collaborate

to provide food and toys to families in need in far East Contra Costa County.

In order to ensure that as many families as possible are provided with items, the organizations have announced they have realigned their boundaries.

The Brentwood Regional Community Chest will serve families from Brentwood, Knightsen, Byron and Discovery Bay. The Friends of Oakley will serve families from Oakley and Bethel Island.

Brentwood The Brentwood Regional Community Chest will be registering families for that organization’s planned Dec. 18 giveaway at the Brentwood Senior Activity Center, 193 Griffith Lane, on: ♦ Monday, Nov. 22 from noon to 1 p.m; ♦ Friday, Dec. 3 from 2:30 to 3 p.m ♦ Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 5 to 6 p.m.

The giveaway is limited to the first 500 people from Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay and Knightsen. Identification and proof of residency is required to register.

The organization promises to not share any personal/family information with any

outside organization or agency. Masks are required at the registration events.

For more information and registration information, visit The Brentwood Regional Community Chest website at brcchest.org.

Oakley The Friends of Oakley giveaway, which serves Oakley and Bethel Island residents, has planned a food and gift giveaway on Sunday, Dec. 12 from noon to 3 p.m. at Oakley Recreation Center, 1250 O’Hara Ave. The giveaway is offered to families in need of assistance. The families will receive a holiday meal of fresh and non-perishable food as well as a gift for each child through the age of 17 during the planned Dec. 12 giveaway.

Drive-through sign-ups will take place On Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Les Schwab, 89 Carol Lane, in Oakley.

Registrants must bring a photo ID and a current utility bill to verify they live in Oakley or Bethel Island.

One family meal will be provided per residence, according to the organization. If sign-ups are determined to be duplicated with another service provider or invalid for any other reason, the registration will be voided, the organization says on its website.

For more information on the Friends of Oakley or to volunteer for the organization, visit FriendsofOakley.com.

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Toy-buying tips when shopping for kids

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hopping for gifts for kids can make many shoppers nostalgic for their own childhoods. Few

adults can forget the joy of finding the perfect gift under the tree on Christmas morning. Recreating that magic for a youngster can be as joyous for gift givers as it is for kids. That’s especially so when shoppers make it a point to give safe, age-appropriate gifts.

Metro Creative Photo

Shoppers should consider a host of factors when looking for safe toys for kids this holiday season.

Whether shopping for their own children or their grandkids, nieces or nephews, shoppers can keep these tips in mind to ensure they give toys that are as safe as they are fun. ♦ Speak to mom and dad first. When buying for a grandchild, niece or nephew, shoppers should first ask mom or dad for suggestions. Parents will know which types of toys their children like, and they’ll also know the child’s level of maturity. Some kids may not be mature enough to play with otherwise age-appropriate toys, while others may be mature beyond their years and enjoy more complex toys than their age would suggest. Parents will know what makes a good toy and what doesn’t. ♦ Learn what to look for on labels. Toy labels are great sources of information, but shoppers must know what to look for.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that toy labels include information about age-appropriateness (i.e., ages 3 and older) as well as directions regarding how to use the toy. If the instructions seem a bit complex for the child the item will be for, look for something else. Children’s toy labels also include additional information with which consumers may not be familiar. For example, toys labeled ‘ASTM F963’ meet the latest safety standards from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. An ‘ASTM D4236’ label indicates the materials associated with the art toy

have been reviewed and deemed safe by a toxicologist. More information about toy label requirements can be found at cpsc. gov. The AAP advises that electric toys should be given to kids only if they include the UL label. That means the toy has been certified by the global safety certification company UL, LLC. ♦ Avoid certain features. The AAP says toys that are loud, shoot objects into the air or contain small pieces pose a threat to children. Especially loud toys can damage children’s hearing, while projectiles can increase the risk of eye injuries or choking.

Toys with small pieces also pose a choking risk to young children who may try to put the pieces into their mouths. ♦ Err on the side of caution. Consumers who are uncertain about the safety of a given toy, even after reading its label, should err on the side of caution and give only toys they’re confident won’t pose a safety risk. Even toys that may seem safe could be dangerous to kids who might otherwise seem old enough. For example, the AAP advises against giving kids under 12 hobby kits and chemistry sets because such kits may contain dangerous chemicals that even pre-adolescents are not old enough to handle safely.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

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Charity groups announce holiday food and toy giveaways

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

COME TO THE TREE LIGHTING IN CITY PARK AFTER THE PARADE

NOVEMBER 19, 2021