Home for the Holidays lights up the night
Find distinctive gifts at Unique Boutique Mistletoe Misfits spread joy Appetizers for every occasion
Living magazine Bureau County Republican P.O. Box 340 Princeton, IL 61356-0340 815-220-6948
General Manager/ Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Story by Katlyn Sanden
hose who are overwhelmed by holiday shopping or enjoy finding one-of-a-kind items for that special person may want to check out Unique Boutique this season.
Unique Boutique, located at the Peru Mall through December, offers handmade treasures from over 25 local vendors. Some of their current offerings include tie blankets and pillows, sublimation tumblers, glass tumblers, earrings, home décor, lamps, table runners, baskets, coloring book carrying cases, bags, backpacks, candles, crochet items, doll and goose clothes, signs, decorative bricks, flavored mustard, jams, hot cocoa bombs, car freshies, woodworking, and jewelry.
“I wanted to make my store cute, warm, and inviting,” said owner and founder Sammi Sarosinski. “We try to make it easy for people to shop who don’t know what they’re looking for.”
Sarosinski said she incorporates all of the handmade items and displays them throughout the store, grouped together to give people
ideas on several gifting options. She thinks that may be what sets her apart from other shops, because her store looks and feels like an actual boutique, but with 98 percent handmade items. This combination makes everything unique and special, she said.
“I don’t know how I’ve figured out to make stuff people like, but they do,” Sarosinski said. “It probably has to do with my past retail experience and helping people find things they want. I do enjoy it. You meet some really cool people. If you would’ve asked me 17 years ago if this is where I’d be, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Nearly 20 years ago, Sarosinski, who now works in Bureau County, was working retail at a store in the Peru Mall. She thrived on the chaos that holiday shoppers can sometimes bring, but also enjoyed spending her weekends shopping at local vendor markets, where her love for crafting took off.
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“When my daughter was in preschool, she wanted a tutu,” Sarosinski said. “My friend and I went to a vendor show, and they wanted $45 for them. I was a young mom and couldn’t afford $45 for something she’d play in once and never use again. We thought we could make this cheaper and we did.”
CONTRIBUTED
Unique Boutique offers a variety of baked goods, including flavored mustards and jams.
A roll of tulle and elastic later, a tutu was created and a dream was born. That first year Sarosinski made tutus in every color and created hair bows to go with them. She started out at Burgoo and has since added several surrounding craft and vendor shows to her repertoire throughout the spring and summer months.
With so much success and connections made at area vendor shows, the Unique Boutique opened nearly 7 years ago in the Peru Mall. With items curated from some of the best crafters and makers in the Illinois Valley, there is sure to be something for everyone.
“We have such a variety of products, and we also have a variety of ages of our vendors. We have as young as 7 through almost 80 years old,” co-owner Cathy Sarosinski said.
“I think it’s cool to have so many people say their daughter is in high school, but she wore your bows when she was little, and now we’ve gifted them to our friend’s little girls,” Sarosinski said.
Story by Katlyn Sanden
Looking for something fun and affordable to do with the family this holiday season? One annual favorite is Home for the Holidays, a Christmas light drive-thru presented by the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Bureau County Fair.
Home for the Holidays runs through December 25 at the Bureau County Fairgrounds and is open Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 5 to 8 p.m.
“It’s one of those events any family can do,” said Jenica Cole, Princeton Chamber of Commerce director. “It’s bringing people in from outside Bureau County, but also the locals love it. We see them multiple nights
throughout the season.”
She said what started five years ago as a partnership with the Bureau County Fair has far exceeded everyone’s expectations. In the first year alone, they had nearly 50 businesses and residents who wanted to sponsor a light, she said. They have almost doubled that number of lights since.
“We felt really good about that,” Cole said. “It reinforced the fact that Princeton and Bureau County want to support and be involved in fun things for our families and residents.”
Kyle Burrows, vice president of the Bureau
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Kyle Burrows, Jenica Cole, and another volunteer greet the community with Santa Claus and the Grinch at last year’s event. They say you never know when Santa and the Grinch will make an appearance this year.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
A group of volunteers gets the lights ready for Home for the Holidays. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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County Fair Board, said it’s great because the community truly comes together.
“It’s a true pleasure to partner with the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce to host this wonderful, annual event,” Burrows said. “We’re deeply grateful for the generous support from our sponsors and the community. I enjoy seeing families come together to enjoy the festivities. That is what makes it all so rewarding.”
Cole added that what also makes them unique is their attention to detail.
“We pay attention to detail,” said Cole. “We make sure our sponsorship signs are lit up and glowing.”
Many businesses and families have jumped at the opportunity to sponsor their own
Lori Rumbold, owner of Optimal Health in Princeton, jumped at the opportunity to be involved and do something for the community. She said it’s a great way to get her business out there in front of people, and she appreciates the attention to detail.
“I sponsored a light because it’s cool,” Rumbold said. “I enjoy seeing all the different families and businesses.”
Home for the Holidays is a free event, but Cole said donations are appreciated since that is what sustains them each year.
“It’s really not about the donations,” Cole said. “It’s really about having an event
around the holidays. The best part for me is when I work the gate and I see a family come through multiple times. I hope it remains a long-standing event and we keep growing.”
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The Mistletoe Misfits have become so popular that communities have requested their presence in their holiday traditions.
Story by Katlyn Sanden
Once again, the Mistletoe
Misfits are spreading joy and Christmas cheer this holiday season. They can be found in nursing homes, community events, and thrift shops. You never know where they might pop up.
The Mistletoe Misfits is a group of women who have a passion for community and bringing cheer to the Illinois Valley and beyond by dressing up as Santa’s
elves. They specifically enjoy visiting nursing homes to perform their festive dances, sing, and tell their elf jokes.
“The idea came about when I was doing a performance at Liberty Village (with a different group),” Tracy Carriere said. “At the conclusion of the performance, a lady grabbed my hand and was in tears, thanking me for coming because they don’t get to go out and see things like this anymore.”
It was this interaction that spurred Carriere into creating the Mistletoe Misfits with a few friends. It has grown since its first year in 2023.
“When we get older, we lose the magic of Christmas,” Carriere said. “I wanted to create an interactive group where we dress like elves, dance, sing, and tell the corniest jokes in the world. It came together really fast.”
Christine Simmons, activity director at the Pavilion of Ottawa, said her residents are eagerly anticipating another visit from the Mistletoe Misfits this year.
“They were thrilled to have them here,” Simmons said. “They were so excited when I told them they’d be coming back this year. It’s very interactive. Last year, they had a snowball fight, and my grandkids and residents were part of the show. They absolutely loved it. We have a memory care unit,
and you couldn’t get the smile off their face for weeks afterwards. They definitely left an impact on the residents.”
Vanessa Hoffeditz, who plays Peppermint the Elf in the group, said that’s the sole mission of the Mistletoe Misfits.
“It’s a wonderful group of fellow elves,” Hoffeditz added. “We have a lot of fun. One of the greatest things I see is in the memory care units. Seeing individuals who may have lost some of their memories, faced with dementia, or don’t always recognize people in their lives, sing along with us is very emotional. To go into those settings and bring something back to them that maybe was lost due to dementia is pretty rewarding.”
Carriere, who plays Twinkle the Elf, said she’s loved every show they’ve performed.
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“Some of our music brings out memories, and that’s powerful,” Carriere said. “There have been several shows that stood out, like the Illinois Veterans Home. Getting to meet the veterans and hear their stories of what they did and bring some joy back to those people who did so much for us; it stood out.”
The Mistletoe Misfits can be found at upcoming Christmas walks, parades, nursing homes, thrift shops, and more this holiday season.
Amy Murphy, store manager at The Princeton Closet, is looking forward to hosting the group the weekend
after Thanksgiving.
“We want to bring cheer to the community,” Murphy said. “We’re so excited to kick off the holidays with them. They have such a fun sense of humor.”
The Mistletoe Misfits have nearly a packed schedule this year, but booking requests can be sent on their Facebook page.
“We just want to spread joy and make Christmas happy for everybody,” Carriere said. “Some of my elves came up to me and said Christmas wasn’t really that special to me anymore (with the kids out of the house), and this group has made Christmas exciting again. It’s just about getting out there and spending time with others.”
By Shannon Serpette
Whether you’re hosting a family gathering, going to a potluck, or simply wanting some delicious snacks for an afternoon of watching football, appetizers are always a sure bet. People love them, and they’re often easy to make.
Here are some appetizer recipes that have been popular for generations, as well as a couple with unique twists. Since you may not have much extra time to make appetizers during this time of year, most of these recipes are simple and can be assembled quickly.
INGREDIENTS
1 sleeve of Town House crackers
1 pack of thin bacon, cut into halves
4 tablespoons brown sugar
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and put an oven-safe cooling rack on top. Wrap a piece of bacon around each cracker, then place them on the rack. Sprinkle each with brown sugar. Bake for two hours or until crispy.
INGREDIENTS
24 frozen tater tots
12 bacon strips
Dipping sauce of your choice
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees, and put an oven-safe wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Cut the bacon strips in half to create shorter strips. Wrap a piece of bacon around each tater tot, then place them on the rack. Position them so the seam side of the bacon is down. Bake them until the tater tots are brown and the bacon is crispy – about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the bacon.
Put the tater tots on a serving dish alongside the dipping sauce and place a toothpick in each one.
INGREDIENTS
2 cans of crescent roll dough
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini
1/8 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
6 ounces sliced salami, folded in half
6 ounces thinly sliced ham, folded in half
4 ounces sliced prosciutto, folded in half
8 slices of any variety of cheese, cut in half
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a small bowl in the middle of the baking sheet.
Open the cans of crescent roll dough and unroll. Use the perforated lines to separate the dough into triangles. Place the triangles of dough around the bowl so they overlap a little, with the broadest part of each triangle next to the bowl to create a starburst pattern. Layer the mozzarella, pepperoncini, basil, salami, ham, prosciutto, and your choice of sliced cheese on top of the base of the ring around the bowl. Take the bowl off the baking sheet. Take the small ends, or the tips, of the triangles of dough one at a time and pull them over the filling, tucking the end underneath the circle base of dough. Repeat the process until the filling is enclosed and only a circle remains.
Bake until the dough is golden and the cheese has melted – typically between 20 to 30 minutes. Let it cool for five minutes before cutting it into slices for serving.
INGREDIENTS
1 and 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups sour cream
3/4 cup mild chunky salsa
Tortilla chips or veggies for serving
DIRECTIONS
Place the shredded cheddar cheese in a bowl, then add the sour cream and salsa, and gently stir until well combined. Refrigerate for an hour before serving with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables.
INGREDIENTS
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow crème
1/4 cup milk
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Assorted fruit
DIRECTIONS
In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, marshmallow crème, milk, vanilla, and nutmeg, beating until smooth. Place the dip in a serving bowl, then put it on a platter and arrange the fruit around it.
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