FamilyFocus-December_2019

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only when they can be monitored.

Artificial candles can be used in place of real candles.

• Check for freshness in live trees. A fresh tree will last longer and is less of a fire hazard than an old tree.

• Place Christmas trees at least three feet away from all heat sources, including fireplaces and heaters.

• Use decorations that are noncombustible or made from flameresistant materials.

• Pay attention to the age recommendations of decorations to see if they can be used in homes with young children. Some items, however common, are choking or strangulation hazards.

• Avoid putting small, “mouth-sized” decorations near the ground or on lower limbs of trees, where young children can easily reach them.

D

ecorations help make the holiday season a magical time of year. Stores are awash in color and twinkling lights, and similar imagery is on display in private homes.

Designing holiday displays can be a great way for families to spend time together and kick off the celebration.

In fact, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International, around 90 percent of Americans decorate their homes for the holidays.

• Exercise caution when hanging decorations at high heights. Make sure the ladder is secured and have a spotter who can hold the ladder and pass items up safely.

When trimming the tree and decorating this holiday season, families must keep safety in mind. A little planning and some precautionary measures can ensure displays are enjoyed all season long. Travelers Insurance offers the following holiday decorating safety tips.

• Do not overload outlets. Plan displays according to the number and location of available outlets.

• Never exceed the maximum number of light strands that can be attached

together.

• Use lights and products that have been tested for safety. Certification marks like UL, ETL and CSA are from nationally recognized laboratories.

• LED lights should be used whenever possible. Such lights consume less energy and run cooler than other bulbs.

• The ESFI says candles start almost 50 percent of all decoration fires.

Minimize the risk by using candles

• Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs. • Exercise caution when decorating near power lines that extend to the house.

• Keep hung stockings far away from open flames so they do not catch any errant embers.

These are just a few suggestions for decorating a safely for the holiday season.

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Keep safety in mind when decorating for the holidays

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Why

annual checkups are so important Nutritious diets and routine exercise are two hallmarks of a healthy lifestyle.

Combining the two can lower people’s risk for various diseases and contribute to a high quality of life. But food and physical activity are not the only things people should do to improve their chances of living long, healthy lives. Preventive care is important.

One of the most effective principles of preventive care is to schedule an annual checkup with a physician. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, routine health exams and tests can find problems before they start. During annual check-ups, doctors may notice some red flags, such as high cholesterol, that men and women won’t detect on their own. These warning signs could be increasing people’s risk for disease and/or discomfort. Many of these red flags are undetectable without proper screenings, which is why annual checkups are integral to maintaining one’s health. Annual checkups also serve as a great time for adults to be screened for certain cancers. The American Cancer

Society notes that cancer screenings are used to find cancer before a person develops symptoms. That’s a vital benefit of annual checkups, as cancers caught in their early stages are more easily treated.

In addition, catching cancer before it has metastasized greatly improves patients’ prognosis. Another reason to schedule annual checkups is that they make perfect opportunities for patients to discuss their family histories with their physicians. This is especially important for adults over 40, as age and family history are significant risk factors for a host of conditions and diseases. Men and women concerned about conditions and diseases that their family members have had can discuss those concerns with their physicians during their annual checkups.

Physicians can then recommend ways for patients to balance their risk, calming patients’ concerns and giving them a road map to reduce their risk for conditions and diseases that seem to run in their families. Annual checkups are as vital a component of a healthy lifestyle as nutritious diets and routine exercise. By scheduling annual checkups with their physicians, adults can closely monitor their overall health and potentially uncover issues before they escalate into major health risks.

exchanges at the office

Tips for successful office Secret Santa exchanges

T

he holiday season provides plenty of opportunities to socialize. Holiday celebrations are sometimes akin to family reunions, but friends also tend to celebrate together in December. Such celebrations sometimes include different groups of friends, and that may require hosts to do a little extra to break the ice so everyone relaxes and has a good time.

Secret Santa gift exchanges can make for a great ice breaker, even if guests are buying gifts for people they don’t know.

If you plan to make Secret Santa part of your holiday party this year, consider these tips to ensure it goes off smoothly.

Start planning early. Hosts likely know everyone coming to their party, so they should take the lead and organize the Secret Santa exchange. Let guests know as early as possible, even including the information in the party invitations, so they have time to shop.

Make it optional. Forcing people to mingle and exchange gifts is never a

good idea. Give guests the option to participate ask them to indicate if they will or won’t when they RSVP. Set a reasonable gift limit. Figure out a budget that works for everyone. There are plenty of gifts to be had for $20 and under. Gag gifts or “dollar store” gift themes can ensure no one goes overboard in terms of dollar value.

Consider a wish list. Asking participants to fill out wish lists ensures that their Secret Santa buddy will have an idea where to start shopping.

Enlist a digital helper. Technology can make organizing Secret Santa exchanges even easier. Elfster is an online gift exchange app that can help hosts effectively organize their Secret Santa parties.

Fun is key to Secret Santa exchanges, so make sure to keep things lighthearted when planning the party and exchanging gifts.

G

ift giving is a big part of the holiday season. While people typically exchange gifts with relatives and close friends, it’s not uncommon for coworkers to exchange gifts as well.

Office gift exchanges are not as simple as giving gifts to friends and family members. Gifts that might be entirely appropriate to give to relatives and friends may raise eyebrows if given to coworkers. To avoid awkward situations, professionals can consider the following tips before purchasing gifts for coworkers.

Contact your human resources department. Many companies have established protocols that govern office gift exchanges. Some may prohibit gift-giving altogether, while others may place dollar limits on gifts or restrict gifts to certain items, such as food or gift cards. Contact human resources before organizing an exchange or purchasing gifts to ensure you don’t violate company rules.

Keep it simple. Even if your office has no rules governing gift exchanges, keeping things simple and placing a dollar limit on gifts can avoid hurt feelings and awkward situations. No

one expects an elaborate gift from a coworker, so something as simple as a $20 gift card should suffice.

Reach a consensus regarding gifts for supervisors. Discuss exchanges with your coworkers before purchasing gifts for supervisors. Workplace environments can become awkward and uncomfortable if one person appears to have spent more on a gift for a supervisor than his or her coworkers.

When gifting supervisors, decide on a dollar amount that everyone is comfortable with and agree to only purchase gifts for a supervisor if everyone can afford to do so. Someone may not be able to afford a gift, and that person should not be made to feel bad.

Supervisors must think before buying gifts as well. Supervisors who intend to buy their subordinates gifts also must take steps to avoid potentially awkward situations. Giving the same gift, such as gift cards to local stores and restaurants, will avoid giving the impression that you’re playing favorites.

Office gift-giving is common during the holiday season. Such exchanges should be handled delicately and be respectful of everyone in the office.

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

How to approach gift

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Prepare the

fireplace for holiday decorating

A

jolly holiday season can be made even more merry with a roaring fire. Homeowners often build holiday tableaus around the fireplace to serve as festive backdrops. The mantle and the fireplace itself also may be a prime spot to dedicate to decorating this time of year.

Even though Christmas tree fires are rare, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, when they do occur they’re likely to be serious. That is why trees and other flammable decorations need to be kept clear of gas and wood-burning fireplaces and stoves. In addition, many other guidelines should be heeded to ensure fireplaces and holiday decor safely coexist this season.

Read labels on decorative items carefully before decorating. Be sure to only select items that are flameresistant or retardent. Cherished collectibles and other items should always be kept far away from open flames and heat.

It pays to have a fireplace inspected and cleaned for use prior to operation, advises Doherty Insurance Agency. Rely on a trained chimney sweep, and have the fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned at least once per year.

Even though it may be picturesque, do not place wrapped packages or gift boxes near the fireplace, as they tend to be highly combustible. Keep

presents and other flammable items at least three feet away from the fireplace.

Do not be tempted to dispose of wrapping paper, boxes or even a Christmas tree in the fireplace.

Wrapping paper contains additives that make it burn at high temperatures. A Christmas tree hasn’t been properly seasoned and could be a fire hazard and potentially contribute to excessive smoke and creosote.

Keep decorations that kids will be tempted to touch away from the fireplace so kids do not hang out near the heat and open flames.

Fireplaces are often a focal point of holiday decorating and entertaining.

Homeowners who want to incorporate their fireplaces into their holiday decor must emphasize safety when doing so.

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Choosing a Christmas tree for your family home is one of the most iconic of holiday traditions.

Live and artificial trees are symbols of life embedded into the holiday.

Here are some tips for creating a memorable tradition for your family.

BRING SNACKS We all make better decisions on a full stomach. Whether you are cutting down your tree or choosing from trees that have been pre-cut in a lot, packing a Christmas cookie or two never hurts the process. A thermos of cocoa will also bring you and your family some warm holiday cheer while you shop.

BRING TOOLS There are a few tools to bring when choosing your tree, the first being a measuring tape. You want to make sure your tree will fit the space. If you are buying from a lot, most trees are organized by type (pine or spruce) and then by height. But don’t forget to also measure diameter. Keep in

Freshly cut Christmas trees are farmed specifically for the holiday season and support local economies. They also tend to last a bit longer than pre-cut trees available elsewhere.

mind that the branches will relax after the tree is set up in a stand, making it even fuller.

LOOK FOR THE BEST Check each trees freshness before deciding on one. When you bend a needle, does it break in your hand?

Fresh firs will snap while fresh pines should bend but not break. When you touch the tree, the needles should stay on. A tree that seems to be losing its needles will probably be completely bald before Christmas Day. Make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Consider a local tree farm with experts who will be able to accurately answer any questions you have on the quality and robustness of the tree.

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Christmas trees are an iconic symbol of the holiday season.

Whether they are personal trees nestled in the corner of a living room for families to enjoy or towering evergreens serving as Christ the focal point of a town square, Christmas trees are a wonder to behold.

Many people have fond memories of time spent around the Christmas tree sharing gifts and family traditions. Live trees and their pine-like aroma can be especially nostalgic trees to include in holiday plans. The National Christmas Tree Association says that approximately 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States every year.

North American trees hail from all 50 states and areas of Canada.

While freshly cut trees can be particularly beautiful and aromatic additions to the season, they require a bit more work than artificial trees in order to remain beautiful and thrive throughout the holiday season. Maintenance can help keep Christmas trees as perfect as possible.

• Even though it is tempting to buy a real tree as early as possible, their shelf life is limited even with the best care.

Dural Christmas Tree Farm advises that, under the best conditions, a real tree should last up to four weeks before drying out.

• Consider the needles when looking for a real tree. Pull your hand toward your body along the branches. If many needles fall off, the tree is past its peak.

• Think about the room in which the tree will be located. Leave at least 6 inches

between the tip of the tree and the ceiling, accounting for the height of the tree stand as well.

• If needle retention is a goal, the Scotch pine variety has the best needle retention and a high survival rate, lending to its popularity, offers Precision Tree and Landscape. Douglas fir and balsam fir are other durable trees.

• If possible, buy a freshly cut tree from a reputable nursery or tree farm, advises The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Many precut trees sold elsewhere were likely cut weeks before and may not be fresh.

• Cut the bottom of the tree trunk before bringing it home to facilitate the uptake of fresh water daily. Trees can absorb as much as a gallon of water in a day, so make sure the tree gets fresh water every day.

• Keep trees away from as many heat sources as possible and away from direct sunlight to prolong longevity.

• According to Karabin Farms in Connecticut, to make a Christmas tree last longer, boil a gallon of water and then dissolve one cup of sugar in the water.

Allow to cool. After freshly cutting the trunk, pour in the warm sugar water.

Continue to add fresh, cool, plain water to the tree stand afterward.

Once needles begin to fall off with frequency, the tree is reaching its prime.

Remove it so it does not become a fire hazard.

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Choosing Your Tree tips and tricks Christmas tree

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Holiday

hosting

simplify

How to holiday hosting on the day of the party

in small spaces

G

atherings of family and friends are a big part of the holiday season. Hosting such gatherings can be a great way to show loved ones how much you appreciate them, and hosting also saves hosts the trouble of traveling during one of the most hectic travel seasons of the year.

When hosting a large crowd at home, space can be a difficult hurdle to clear. However, a few helpful strategies can help space-starved hosts pull off a holiday soiree where everyone is comfortable.

Pare down the menu. Holiday feasts don’t have to resemble medieval banquets with excessive amounts of food and drink.

Hosts with small kitchens and tiny dining quarters can pare down the menu, limiting offerings to just a single entree and a few simple side dishes, so everyone feels comfortable at the table and has ample room to eat. A small menu also gives hosts more time to spend with their loved ones during the festivities.

Don’t overdo it on drinks, either. When planning the drinks menu, avoid offering cocktails, which take time to prepare and often require guests to visit the kitchen for refrigerated ingredients. Limit drinks to wine, beer, water, and soft drinks, storing cold beverages in a cooler kept outside on a front or back porch or in an area outside the kitchen so cooks can work without interruption.

Move some furniture. If your main living space is small, consider moving some bulky furniture into a bedroom or office where guests won’t be spending time. Then make better use of the open living space by placing folding chairs or other accommodations to ensure there’s ample seating for everyone. A single recliner can only be enjoyed by one person, but removing it from a room may create enough space for as many as three folding chairs.

Go small on decorations. If you know you’ll be hosting in advance of the holiday season, decorate with guests in mind.

That might mean skipping a six-foot Christmas tree in favor of one that takes up less space. Avoid leaving any fragile decorations out, as adults or overexcited kids may knock them over as they try to navigate a cramped space.

Holiday hosting can be fun, even in small spaces. A few simple tricks can make even the smallest spaces accommodating.

C

ome the holiday season, many people look forward to gatherings with family and friends. Such gatherings are often held in private homes, and that means someone must take on the task of hosting.

the party. So when it comes time to clean, focus on the common areas where guests will be. Living rooms, dining areas and restrooms should garner the bulk of your attention when cleaning. If guests might be wandering outdoors, make sure leaves and dirt have been cleaned off of patios and decks.

Preparing menu items in the days leading up to the party can make the day of the festivities that much easier for holiday hosts.

There are many advantages to hosting holiday gatherings. Hosts won’t have to travel during a notoriously busy time of year to take to the roads and sky. Hosts also won’t have to book hotel rooms or arrange for other accommodations, saving them money and time during a season that tends to be expensive and packed with social engagements.

As the day of their holiday parties draws near, hosts can take several steps to make the day of the party easier, allowing them to spend more time with their family and friends.

Choose the right menu. The right menu can go a long way toward making hosting easier on the day of the party. Various factors, such as food allergies and the size of the guest list, must be considered when planning a holiday menu. As hosts scour cookbooks for the right foods, look for recipes that don’t require everything to be done on the day of the party. Prep work tends to take as much, if not more, time as cooking the foods. So look for recipes that allow you to do most, if not all, of that prep work in the days leading up to the party.

Clean the common areas. Guests likely won’t be spending time in every room of your house during

Plan a playlist in advance. Expect to be busy on the day of the party, even if the party is catered or all the food prep was done long before the first guest arrived. Because you will be busy welcoming guests, you likely won’t have time to set the musical tone for the party, so do so in advance of the big day. If you want to stick to holiday music, many streaming apps offer various stations that play holiday music exclusively. Simply choose a station you like and then begin playing music when the first guest arrives.

Make a list of supplies and check it twice. About two weeks before the party, sit down and make a thorough list of everything you expect to need.

Include food, beverages, dining needs (i.e., plates and silverware), and entertainment. A couple of weeks before the party, purchase items that won’t spoil, such as beverages like water, soda, wine, and beer and extra utensils if necessary. Doing so saves time during your grocery store trip the week of the party.

Holiday hosts can take several steps in the days leading up to their parties to make hosting easier once guests arrive.

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019 Answer: Manger

Answer:Jon Stewart

Answer:Meghan Trainor

Answer: Stocking

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Here’s How It Works: Sudoku Puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it get to solve the puzzle!

Answers: A. ornament B. evergreen C. bough D. tensel Answers: A. fireplace B. invites C. dinner D. entertain

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Beef brisket is a relatively inexpensive, yet highly versatile cut of meat. It’s equally at home in a pastrami or corned beef sandwich as it is on Christmas and Chanukah holiday tables. When cooked correctly, brisket is tender and delicious.

Brisket comes from the area of cows or steers ages two and up, or veal ages two to four months, according to the recipe and cooking technique resource Food Fire Friends. The brisket can be found right above the leg in the area between the front legs. Brisket is essentially the lower chest, or pectoral region of the animal, responsible for holding up the weight of the cow. As a result, this is a dense and tough muscle area with a lot of connective tissue.

Thanks to its density, brisket requires long cooking times at relatively low temperatures to produce a tender, boldly flavored beef dish. Brisket is best smoked or braised, which means simmered in a small amount of liquid. Most briskets will have a layer of fat on the surface. Better Homes and Gardens magazine says that this should be sliced away before preparing the brisket.

Try using brisket in place of a rump roast in this recipe for “Beef Roast with Dark Rum Sauce” from “Crock-Pot® 365 YearRound Recipes” (Publications International, Ltd.) from The Crock-Pot Kitchens.

Keep in mind that brisket will require long cooking times in a slow cooker and may need to be cut in half to fit into the pot.

Makes 6 servings 1 teaspoon ground allspice ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon ground cloves 1 beef rump roast or beef brisket (about 3 pounds) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup dark rum, divided ½ cup beef broth 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 whole bay leaves, broken in half ½ cup packed dark brown sugar ¼ cup lime juice

In a small bowl, combine allspice, salt, pepper, and cloves.

Rub spices onto all sides of meat.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat until hot. Sear beef on all sides, turning as it browns. Transfer to Crock-Pot® slow cooker. Add ½ cup rum, broth, garlic, and bay leaves.

Cover; cook on low 1 hour.

In a small bowl, combine remaining ½ cup rum, brown sugar and lime juice, stirring well. Pour over roast. Continue cooking on low 4 to 6 hours for the rump roast (cook on high for 5 to 6 hours for brisket), or until beef is fork-tender. Baste beef occasionally with sauce.

Remove and slice. Spoon sauce over beef to serve.

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delicious brisket

Deliver for the holidays

Beef Roast With Dark Rum Sauce

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Cooking for a holiday crowd

Decorations and shopping draw much of the attention come the holiday season, and rightfully so. But many people’s fondest holiday memories occurred around the dinner table during meals with friends and family.

Holiday foods tend to be rich, flavorful and time-consuming to prepare.

However, all the effort is usually worth the satisfied smiles on the faces of loved ones.

Planning holiday meals is challenging, and hosts often doubt if they have enough food for everyone. No one wants guests to leave feeling hungry, nor do they want to have tons of leftovers, much of which will inevitably end up in the trash. Determining how

much food to serve involves figuring out a few key items, including the mix of guests (ratio of children, men and women), the length of the occasion, the timing of the event, and the type of meal one plans to serve. For example, if the holiday gathering is an after-dinner cocktail party, hosts can get away with offering very little food. However, hosts of holiday dinners have a lot more food to prepare.

To get started, consider these general guidelines, courtesy of Allrecipes.com and The Spruce, a home living resource.

Think about which foods you plan to serve. Popular foods tend to go more quickly than other items, so serve more than the general portion guidelines

suggest. Shellfish appetizers, roasted or mashed potatoes, wings, and slices of rich meat are examples of popular fare.

The more foods you offer, the smaller the portion sizes can be. But because guests will likely want to try all the offerings, expect the average person to consume more food per individual when several foods are offered.

Most people will eat two to three portions each of appetizers or snacks.

In fact, appetizers (for a hungry crowd) may be consumed in greater abundance than subsequent courses.

Average portion sizes for each guest include: 3 ounces of dips; 3 ounces of salad; 6 ounces of meat or main entrée; 5 ounces of starch; and 11⁄2 pieces of

dessert. These estimates can be used to calculate how much food will be needed.

Think about adding “safety” items to the menu that can be pulled out in a pinch and don’t require much prep work. These can include cheese and crackers, extra bread, nuts, olives, or pretzels.

Hosts who are overly concerned that guests may go overboard can tame portion sizes by hiring servers who can oversee buffet lines. Otherwise, serve guests plated meals directly from the kitchen, from which hosts can dole out the right amount of food to ensure everyone gets enough to eat.

I came from a long line of storytellers.

My childhood is full of memories of family gatherings and hours of stories of those who walked before us. Prior to buying the health food store in Farmington, Missouri, I worked as a tour guide in historic Ste. Genevieve. Storytellers love being a tour guide, we get to tell stories all the time. I loved my job as a tour guide.

I was raised on a beef farm in the Mississippi river hills on the Jefferson and Ste Genevieve county line. I grew up on a very good diet. We raised home grown meat and all foods. We also ate a lot of game from those river hills. I soon converted my husband after we were married to a healthy diet. We always shopped at all local health food stores.

Purchasing items, we could not buy at other stores. We started shopping at a very small health food store in Farmington. It wasn’t a very busy store. It mostly supplied the owners church congregation with items they could not get elsewhere.

Well, I was comfortably settled in tours in Ste. Genevieve and loving every minute of it. The owner of the Farmington health food store told me her store was for sale.

She said, “You are really into good health and seem to know a lot about health foods.” Well, that made me stop and think. I knew I would be doing a better service helping people to stay healthier.

I was really only entertaining folks as a tour guide. I knew I had acquired a lot of information from my French and Indian relation on herbs and plant medicines. I decided to give it a try and told the owner I would work for her one year with the option to buy it at the end of the year.

The first six months you couldn’t have given it to me. The folks who frequented the store were all very quiet, the lady who owned the store was also very quiet. I love people and never meet a stranger.

The last six months of the year, the folks seemed to get friendlier and adapt to my chatter. I could tell I was acquiring new friends.

I purchased the business August of 1991.

Ii was just renting a small portion of the building. The person renting the larger portion, purchased the entire building at the end of two years. I was devastated, I had the business growing and I really didn’t want to move. I found a building on Karsch Blvd and ran the store from that location for eight years. We were outgrowing that location too. The original building,

I started out in, was now empty. That business had gone out of business. I purchased the entire building in 1999. We had to do some work on the building. I liked being downtown again. I felt more comfortable there. Earth Mother has continued to grow over the years. We now have six employees. Several of them have been with me over twenty years. They all have the same passion for helping other folks. The store has become sort of a landmark. It is my hopes that it will always continue to be a place where folks can receive advice on natural medicine. Long after I am gone, I pray the store will be here helping people.

Well about two years ago, a new adventure came to me. A man and his niece stopped by the store. The man said he herd I liked Indian artifacts. He told me he had a porcelain family of life size Indians. He said his wife had collected them and she had passed. He thought I might be interested in them. He quoted me a price and I knew they would have been a lot more when they were new.

They had a few scars on them but I was able to fix them. I purchased them and stood there looking them after he left. I thought, ‘what am I going to do with all these Indians?’ - there was an adult man, three larger children and a smaller child.

I immediately felt they represented my great great grandpa, three of his children (one of them being my great grandma) Wow, how cool is this?! My head is spinning, if I can find a manikin to represent my great great grandma… my third great grandpa came down the Mississippi from Canada. My third great grandma had her baby time when they arrived in St. Louis.

They couldn’t find a vacant room for her and the Court house made room for this birth in a small room in the old court house in St Louis. She was beautiful. She fell in love with my great great grandpa the Indian. They had several children, one of them became my great grandma Mary. I was named after her. Mary married a man of Indian blood named Isaac Bettis. She was a midwife and medicine woman. Her father was very knowledgeable on all of the herbs and plant medicines. I don’t think any of this happened by accident. I really wonder if there wasn’t some divine interventions, how five porcelain Indians found a way into my life. This enabled me to open the Earth Mother Native American Gallery.

Opening the door, allowing me to pursue

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Five Porcelain Indians

two of my favorite passions; helping folks to stay healthier on Gods medicine he put on Earth and also sharing my stories at the same time.

You are welcome to visit the Gallery anytime that Earth Mother Health Foods is open. I will be available part of the time to tell you about my native family. I hope to have a video and tv soon, so you can also see it anytime we are open and I’m not there. We will honor all of the tribes

in the future. I’m kind of partial to the Cherokees. I have fed them for several years when they follow the Trail of Tears through Farmington. One of my cousin’s boys was with the group a few years ago.

I feel humbled and blessed to be able to honor the first true Native Americans who put the first footprints on and walked gently on our Nation.

– Marylee Visnovske, Owner of Earth Mother Health Foods

Earth Mother is one of the oldest and largest health food stores in Southeast Missouri! We have over 4,000 square feet of organic foods, vitamins, supplements, books, etc. to fit your health care needs!

CheCk out the multiple lines of health Care produCts we Carry for your everyday needs: • Vitamins & Supplements • Spices & Herbs • Books & Pure Essential Oils • Groceries (organic, bulk, etc.)

• Pet Supplies • Cleaning Products • Health & Beauty Supplies • Gluten & Sugar Free

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573-756-7852

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Wrapping gifts is a very old tradition

T

he holiday season is rife with tradition.

One of the most recognizable traditions involves wrapping gifts. While the wrapping paper many gift givers use today is a relatively recent phenomenon, the tradition of wrapping gifts is centuries old, with some historians even suggesting it dates back to ancient times. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis® notes that many ancient cultures celebrated various holidays that included exchanging gifts, adding that it’s very likely that, even in ancient times, gifts were wrapped to surprise their eventual recipients. Bojagi is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth that might have begun being used some time during the Three Kingdoms of Korea period, which

began in 57 BC and ended in AD 668. The Japanese tradition of furoshiki, which can be traced back to the 17th century and possibly as far back as AD 710, involves using a traditional wrapping cloth to transport certain items, including gifts. As for the gift wrap familiar to today’s holiday celebrants, that traces its origins to the early 1900s. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis® notes that Eli Hyman and Morris Silverman founded the first gift wrap company in the United States in 1903. Unfortunately for gift givers back then, adhesive tape had not yet been invented in 1903, and wouldn’t be for another 27 years.

Did you know?

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ome holiday traditions, such as holiday lighting displays, are impossible to miss, while others are more subtle and possibly even unknown to many celebrants. One tradition that falls into the latter category involves the placing of oranges into Christmas stockings. The origins of Christmas stockings are rooted in legend, and one of the more popular tales involves a widowed father of three beautiful girls. According to Smithsonian. com, this father was struggling to make ends meet and was concerned that his financial struggles would affect his daughters’ ability to find a spouse. As the legend goes, St. Nicholas was wandering through the man’s town and heard of his concerns. Recognizing that the man was unlikely to accept charity, St. Nicholas slid down the chimney of his house and placed three gold balls in the girls’ recently laundered stockings, which were hanging by the fire to dry. The value of the gold balls, which were discovered the following morning, was enough to ensure the girls could eventually wed. So what does that have to do with oranges? Those who wanted to replicate the tale could not so easily come upon gold balls to place in stockings, so they chose something similar in appearance: oranges.

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

Decorate with a nose toward inviting holiday aromas

Embrace delectable holiday scents in seasonal decor

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oliday decor is as much about the sights and sounds as it is about the scents of the season. Few things evoke the holiday spirit as much as the aroma of fresh evergreen or spicy cinnamon and cloves. Incorporating inviting aromas into holiday decor can make homes feel even more special.

Filling a home with fragrant decor takes a little ingenuity and planning. Here are some ideas to incorporate the scents of the holiday season into your decor.

Use a real Christmas tree. An easy way to create a pine-like scent indoors is to select a real Christmas tree. Ask the tree farm which varieties are the most fragrant. If a fresh tree is not possible, fill a decorative basket with pine cones and evergreen boughs for that woodsy appeal.

Create a seasonal scented simmer. Take to the stove to make a homemade air infusion from ingredients in and around the house. Simmer pine branches, citrus peels, vanilla, nutmeg,

cinnamon, and whatever else can be placed in a pot or slow cooker with water. The scents will permeate the house for hours if enough water is added to the mixture.

scents to the home by way of freshly baked goods or holiday meals. Nothing beats the smell of cookies right out of the oven, and the scents can linger for hours.

Make holiday sachets. Some of the same ingredients for the holiday simmer can be dried and sewn into sachets. Add ribbon and hang on real or artificial trees. Or tuck the pouches into various areas around the house.

Make beeswax ornaments. Add scented oils to melted beeswax and pour into molds. Hang these creations as ornaments on trees or in other areas of the home.

Experiment with scented candles. Scented candles can be found at various stores during the holiday season. Select among popular holiday aromas like pine, cinnamon, apples, and Christmas cookie varieties.

Utilize essential oils. Natural food stores and other retailers may sell essential oils, which can be diluted and sprayed on surfaces or into the air. Exercise caution around upholstery, or test for staining before use.

Spend more time in the kitchen. Add delicious

Craft some “gingerbread� ornaments. A mixture of cinnamon, applesauce and glue can be used to make ornaments or gift tags that resemble gingerbread cookies, and these ornaments have more staying power than actual cookies.

Design a pretty pomander. Stud an orange with cloves. Cut off the top of the orange and hollow out a place for a small tea light. The warmth of the flame will produce more scent.

Rich and inviting aromas can fill a home with the holiday spirit.

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

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1. Santa’s Skis 2. Elf ’s stripes on shirt 3. Elf ’s snowflakes on hat 4. Elf ’s pointy shoe 5. Bow on gift 6. Rudolf ’s collar

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FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

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FIND 6 DIFFERENCES IN THESE PICTURES

FAMILY FOCUS DECEMBER 2019

ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20

TAURUS Apr 21/May 21

GEMINI May 22/Jun 21

CANCER Jun 22/Jul 22

Aries, there are big changes on the horizon for the upcoming year. If you have been putting off making a career change, you may come across the right opportunity when you least expect it. A new position may come with a higher salary, which is an added benefit.

Taurus, make organizing your finances a priority in the coming months. Focus specifically on developing a solid budgets.

If you find it hard to monitor your spending, then use a notebook or an app to figure out where your money is going. Soon you’ll have a better feel for your finances.

Partnership comes easy to you, Gemini.

After all, your’s is the sign of the twins. In the coming year, you will branch out regarding those people you keep close. Perhaps a new romantic relationship is in the cards, or the stars may point toward a business development. Only time will tell.

After a whirlwind of changes, Cancer, you’re ready to bring some order back into your life. This doesn’t mean you cannot have fun, however. It just means keeping track of the details and sticking closer to home for the time being. This year can be a great time for fostering family relationships.

LEO Jul23/Aug23

VIRGO Aug 24/Sept 22

LIBRA Sept 23/Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24/Nov 22

Leo, fame may come calling in the year ahead. Even if you are not directly in the spotlight, others may learn your name. Some may even admire you for something you have already accomplished. Expect others outside of your normal social circles to be familiar with your achievements.

The new year will bring about changes in your love life, Virgo. Partners may feel the bite of separation, while new adventures may be waiting for those looking for their love matches. Don’t worry; your bonds will be tested as you become emotionally resilient to the changes that come your way.

Brush up on your communication skills, Libra. This year favors various types of communication. This includes writing letters, learning to navigate social media and even teaching others about the written word. As you learn how to express yourself, new relationships may evolve and flourish.

Scorpio, expect the year ahead to be one marked by bold decisions. You have to be a risk-taker to get things done, and this may require you to move outside of your comfort zone. Confidence will grow as you build a new business or move to a new city.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 21/Dec21

CAPRICORN Dec 22/Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21/Feb 18

PISCES Feb 19/Mar 20

Sagittarius, shake off any disappointing karma from the previous year, as it’s all about fresh starts for you this year. The stars are pushing on all of your passions, and you are ready to embark on a new chapter. Just remember that taking chances doesn’t require foolish gambling.

Pick your game plan and see it through.

The planets strip away your outer covering to showcase the beautiful butterfly beneath, Capricorn. This is the year to really shine and show your talents to others. Don’t be afraid of how others currently perceive you, as you are going to set them all on a new course of discovery by unleashing an inner rock star or artist.

Aquarius, networking is a great way to keep friendships fresh. In the new year, you will have so many social engagements that you might not be able to keep up. This will certainly be a change from the lull of activity that you’ve experienced in the past. Enjoy those nights out and all of the attention that comes your way.

People often see you as a sensitive artist, Pisces. In the months to come, you can turn that perception on its head as you go into boss mode and really put your power and sense of persuasion to full effect. Expect dynamic new friendships to come your way as you put your personalized stamp on projects.