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A miniature Christmas village is the perfect decorative piece to add to your home for the holidays. Here are a few tips to help you create an enchanting display your whole family will love.

THE COMPONENTS

Take some time to re ect on the elements that will make up your village before you go out and buy anything. For example, you’ll want to opt for gurines and buildings from the same brand to ensure everything in your village is proportional. Be sure to include: • Moving parts. Animated features such as a skating rink, cable car, train, windmill or merry-goround will bring your village to life and draw the eye to various sections. • Infrastructure. Streets, bridges and walls will provide structure to your village and help you organize the buildings in a logical way. • Accessories. Benches, re hydrants, street lamps, trees, ag poles, birds and other details are essential to create a realistic display.

THE ASSEMBLY

First, you need to choose a spot for your village such as under the Christmas tree or on a replace mantel. e location should give you enough room to create depth and varying heights in your display. If certain features need to be plugged in, make sure there’s an electrical outlet nearby. To maximize your village’s wow factor, test out several con gurations (with the lighting turned on) and choose the option that best showcases each element. Use risers, boxes or books to elevate sections of the village as needed. Once you’ve settled on the layout, add the streets, arti cial snow and accessories. If there are wires, make sure they’re hidden. Finally, place the gurines near street lamps or illuminated buildings so they’re visible in the evening too. If some areas of the village are in shadow, add a miniature spotlight or a tiny strand of string lights. If you keep these tips in mind, your Christmas village is sure to become a holiday essential.

Are you tired of untangling Christmas lights and trying to salvage squashed ornaments when you decorate for the holidays? Here are six storage tips that can make things easier. 1.Insert strands of Christmas tree beads into separate plastic bottles 2.Wrap string lights around pieces of cardboard or empty wrapping paper rolls Are you wondering what type of gift to get for a relative who lives in a retirement home? If so, here are a few ideas. • A best seller. If your loved one likes to read, look for a new release they can add to their collection. Be sure to pick a book in a genre they enjoy such as historical ction or action adventure. • A potted plant. Whether you opt for a lush fern or a owering species, the greenery is sure to liven up their space. Opt for a modest-size, low-maintenance variety. • A warm accessory. Keep you loved one comfortable this winter with a plush bathrobe, soft slipIf you’re looking for a festive way to spend time with your family over anksgiving, here are ve fun games that will get everyone moving. 1. TURKEY TAG Transform clothespins into turkeys using feathers, googly eyes and other craft supplies, then clip them on to the back of each player’s shirt. When the game begins, try to unpin other players’ turkeys without losing your own. e last person with a pin on their back wins. 2. SWEET POTATO RACE e rst person to roll a sweet potato across the oor and over the nish line wins. e catch is you can only use a spoon to push it. Alternatively, see who can blow a feather across the room the fastest using a turkey baster. 3. THANKSGIVING CHARADES On individual pieces of paper, write down holiday-themed phrases such as marching in a parade, 3. read rolls of ribbon onto a paper towel holder 4. Place small Christmas tree ornaments in egg cartons 5.Bundle wrapping paper rolls in a garment bag 6. Hang wreaths on hangers in a closet Once your decorations are organized, stow them in clear plastic bins so you can easily see what’s

inside. Also remember to label each container. pers or wool socks. Alternatively, choose a quilt or blanket for their bed. • A goodie basket. Purchase a gourmet gift basket or assemble one yourself with treats your relative loves. Make sure to avoid perishable items if their room doesn’t have a fridge. • A decorative item. Visit local shops and craft fairs to nd unique pieces that will add character to their home. Consider pairing a handmade frame with a new family photo. While all of these presents are sure to be well-received, remember that the best gift you can give a

loved one is time spent together. carving the turkey, setting the table, baking pumpkin pie and playing football. Take turns picking a phrase and silently acting it out while other players try to guess. 4. GRATITUDE PICK-UP STICKS Use a multi-color set or make your own by painting wooden skewers. Assign a category (person, place, food, thing) to each color. When a player picks up that color stick, they have to say something they’re thankful for in that category. 5. TURKEY WADDLE is is a great game to play outdoors. Each player holds a balloon between their legs, and the rst person to waddle across the nish line with their balloon still in place wins. For larger groups, create teams and make it a relay race. Additionally, you can search online for anksgiving trivia, riddles and jokes to liven up your dinner table discussions.

If you want your holiday feast to be a classy a air, you’ll need to take special care when you set the table. Here are a few key components you’ll need.

ILLUMINATED CENTREPIECES

Place an assortment of Christmas balls in vases, vintage lanterns or Mason jars. Weave miniature fairy lights between the ornaments to create a magical glow when the overhead lights are dimmed.

IMMACULATE TABLE LINENS

Whether you opt for a plain or patterned tablecloth, you’ll want to make sure it’s free of creases. Inspect the entire surface for stains, debris and hair, especially if you have pets. Use cloth napkins for a re ned look.

SPARKLING DINNERWARE

Everything from bowls and plates to cups and utensils should be freshly washed and in pristine condition. If you want to use silverware, take a few minutes to polish each piece. Keep an eye out for cracked or chipped glassware and set it aside.

STYLISH ORNAMENTS

To complete the holiday look, adorn the table with a variety of high-quality decorations such as pillar candles, pine garlands and crystal gurines. Use miniature wreaths, pine cones or bells to create charming place cards. Finally, remember to leave enough space for the platters of food, and set out cork trivets to protect your table from hot dishes.

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Boxing Day extends holi y fun Boxing Day extends holi y fun

e end of the year presents plenty of opportunities for shopping and celebrating. Starting with anksgiving preparations, there is a steady supply of days geared around generosity and merriment, counting down to the holiday gifting and entertaining season. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and all of the weekends preceding Christmas are prime opportunities to snag discounts and deals. However, for those in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, gift-giving doesn’t cease with the passing of Christmas. Boxing Day, which falls the day after Christmas, has nothing to do with bringing empty gift boxes out to the recycling bin. While it has transformed into another day to grab seasonal deals, Boxing Day has historically served as a day to give to the less fortunate. During the Victorian era in Britain, servants were not given o on Christmas Day because they had to work during their employers’ celebrations. erefore, they were allowed o the following day - December 26 - to spend time with their own families. e holiday became standard practice in 1871. Boxing Day may have gotten its moniker from wealthy people who would give their employees boxes lled with small gifts, Christmas dinner leftovers and money as recognition for their service. Others believe it refers to alms boxes placed in churches for the collection of donations for the poor. December 26 also is the feast day of St. Stephen, the patron saint of horses, so Boxing Day has been tied to sporting events involving horses. is includes horse races and fox hunts. Even though the British established early residency in America, the Boxing Day tradition did not travel over to the colonies from England. However, Canadians and other former British strongholds celebrate it as a public holiday. O ces are closed and public transportation may run on holiday schedules. Boxing Day is yet another end-of-year opportunity to share gifts and well wishes with loved ones and the less fortunate.

RECIPES

Wines that pair well with turkey If you plan to serve turkey with all the trimmings this anksgiving, you’ll want to o er your guests a wine that enhances the avor pro le of this traditional holiday meal. Here are a few prime options.

AROMATIC WHITES FRUITY REDS

Wines characterized by strong oral or herbal When matched with turkey and gravy, tart and notes pair well with meals that have bold and fruit-forward picks like grenache, Rioja and varied avors. is makes them an ideal match Beaujolais mimic the role of cranberry sauce. for roasted turkey and savory sides. Consider a However, pinot noir remains a go-to choice for sauvignon blanc, viognier or dry riesling. red wine drinkers on anksgiving.

CRISP ROSÉS SPARKLING WINES

e fruit and acidity of a dry rosé makes it a A light and zzy glass of bubbly strikes the wine that pairs well with almost anything. e perfect balance with a decadent turkey dinlightly spiced white zinfandel has long been a ner. Prosecco, cava and Champagne are festive, staple of the traditional anksgiving feast, but food-friendly options. However, the low alcohol you also can’t go wrong with pinot noir or gren- level and fruity avors of a moscato d’Asti make ache rosés. it a good choice for light drinkers. For more recommendations, speak with the knowledgeable sta at a local wine shop.

MEATBALLS WITH A HONEY-BALSAMIC GLAZE

ese delightfully seasoned meatballs are a great complement to your holiday meal. ey also make a fantastic appetizer. Start to nish: 30 minutes Servings: 24 meatballs

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

• 2 tablespoons butter 1. Preheat the oven to 204 C (400 F). • 1 onion, nely chopped 2. In a small pan, melt half the butter. Add onion and 1 clove of garlic, and cook • 3 cloves garlic, nely chopped over medium-high heat until the onion is • 1/2 cup milk translucent. Pour into a large bowl and let • 1 egg cool. 3. In the same bowl, add the milk, egg, • 2/3 cup breadcrumbs breadcrumbs, old-style mustard, pork • 1 tablespoon old-style mustard and beef. Salt and pepper to taste. With your hands, combine the mixture until it’s • ½ lb ground pork uniform and then form it into 24 bite-size • ½ lb ground beef meatballs. • Salt and pepper, to taste 4. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the • 3/4 cup ketchup oven for 12 minutes. • 1/2 cup honey 5. While the meatballs cook, melt the rest • 2 tablespoons soy sauce of the butter in a pot. Add the rest of the garlic and cook for a few minutes. Add the • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard ketchup, honey, soy sauce, yellow mustard • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinegar. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and let simmer for about 5 • 2 tablespoons balsamic reduction minutes. • 2 tablespoons chives, nely chopped 6. Once the meatballs are cooked, transfer them into the pot and gently mix until they’re well coated in sauce. Place them one by one on a plate. 7. Top the meatballs with the balsamic reduction and chives. Place a toothpick in each one to make them easier to serve.