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30 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & SHOPPING • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 29, 2019
This year’s HOT HOLIDAY GIFTS T
he holiday season is synonymous with many things, including exchanging gifts with friends and loved ones. Each year, certain items prove more trendy than others. Get the scoop on the gear and gadgets that are bound to be on the top of wish lists this year.
Amazon Echo Show 5 This is the latest incarnation of the Echo Show at a more affordable price point than past incarnations. The screen is a smart display and enables users to make video calls, play games, watch videos, check the weather, and control smart home devices. A new privacy feature allows users to turn off the camera and microphone when the device isn’t in use.
Battery pack case
Fitbit fitness tracker
Tile Trackers
There’s no need to waste time sitting by the phone charger waiting for popular iPhones to revive their batteries with a battery pack case. A charging case provides extra talk time or video streaming and fits comfortably on various models.
A Fitbit product is certain to be a winner for fitness enthusiasts. The Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband is an affordable option capable of tracking workouts. It also can sync with a phone and is waterresistant.
Handy Tile gadgets connect to keys, bags and other belongings that frequently go missing. Simply connect to the app and the device will ring, identifying the location. The upgraded version covers 200 feet and has a louder volume.
VicTsing Wireless Shower Speaker
Blink XT Home Security Camera
iRobot Braava Robot Mop
Whether a friend or loved one is practicing for a night out at karaoke or enjoys getting pumped up in the morning with upbeat tunes, a waterproof shower speaker is a hot gift. It can stream music or bluetooth over calls from a phone.
People with security on their minds, including those who want to keep tabs on their homes while they’re at work or on vacation, may cherish this security camera. The newest version is weatherproof and has cloud storage. Motion detection will set off an alert on a person’s phone or tablet in real time.
This powerful robot will mop and sweep tile and hardwood floors. Pair it with the traditional iRobot vacuum and an entire house can be cleaned without lifting a finger.
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These are just a handful of the items that will be coveted this holiday season.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 29, 2019 • HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & SHOPPING
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32 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & SHOPPING • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 29, 2019
Eco-friendly gift
options T
he saying “the more the merrier” certainly applies during the holiday season. But during a season of big gifts, extra food and travel, “more” can exact a heavy toll on the environment.
According to Stanford University, Americans generate 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve than during the rest of the year. While no one wants to take anything away from the spirit of holiday season, everyone can take steps to make the holidays more ecofriendly. In fact, there are various eco-friendly gifts that can make great presents and benefit the environment at the same time.
Purchase experiential gifts When making holiday shopping lists, think of gifts that offer experiences rather than material goods. Gifts that involve experiences, such as going to a sporting event or attending a play or musical, decrease reliance on wrapping paper. Such gifts also reduce clutter in the recipient’s house and conserve the resources otherwise used to manufacture alternative items that would have been purchased. Experiential gifts that also tap into environmental pursuits, such as touring with an animal rescue group, or accommodations at a carbon-neutral hotel can be an added bonus.
Opt for locally made gifts Select gifts made by local artisans or companies that operate domestically. This cuts down on the carbon emissions from having to ship products from long distances or even overseas.
Give climate-friendly stocking stuffers Companies like Cool Effect offer gifts for those looking to offset carbon emissions through clever funding. People can buy and offer gifts that correlate to packages like Costa Rican
wind power or the “poo package,” which funds biogas digesters for family farms in India that capture methane emissions from cattle dung.
Get crafty Gifts from the kitchen or ones made by the giver can be crafted from sustainable materials. They also show how you care by taking the time to customize a gift for the recipient.
Avoid gag or useless gifts Select gifts only with utility in mind. Skip purchases that are made only to beef-up the look of presents under the tree or to make it appear that gifting was more generous. Items that a person cannot or will not use will ultimately be relegated to the trash, which is wasteful.
Wrap in reusable materials Fancy wrapping paper certainly looks nice, but choose other materials that can be reused. Look for decorative tins, boxes, fancy gift bags, and other items that can be reused for years to come. Sustainability is possible during a season of excess when gift givers shop and wrap gifts with the environment in mind.
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34 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & SHOPPING • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 29, 2019
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Information on holiday party invitations
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echnology has changed nearly every facet of everyday life, and that includes holiday hosting. Whereas hosts once had to worry about getting invitations stamped, sealed and sent out on time, e-invitations, often referred to as “evites,” have simplified the invitation process immensely.
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Hosts can still send invitations the old-fashioned way, but they also can now use preexisting templates to design holiday invitations in minutes and send them out to all of their guests.
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While the way invitations are sent has changed immensely, the information to include on the invites has stayed the same. If it’s been awhile since you sent a holiday invitation, this refresher course on what to include on your invites can ensure guests know all they need to know about your holiday party.
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Date and time: The date and time of the party should be clearly stated on the invitation. The holiday season is one of the busiest social seasons of the year, with family gatherings and office parties dotting December schedules. Leave nothing to the imagination on your invitation and clearly indicate the day of your party and what time it begins. Location: It might seem like a nobrainer, but don’t forget to include the location of the party on your invitation. Even if you annually host a holiday party at home, include your full address so guests, especially new invitees, have something to enter into their vehicle GPS systems.
Degree of formality: Guests will want to know if the party is formal or casual, so let them know via the invitation. If no dress code information is included, guests will likely assume the affair is casual. Menu: If you plan to serve a meal, include information about the menu on the invitation and request that guests with specific food allergies inform you or bring their own food to the party. Theme: Holiday parties sometimes have themes. So if you want everyone to dress up as a favorite holiday movie character or if you want to throw a Santa-themed soiree, make sure to include such information on the invitation. Accommodations: The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that, each year, hundreds of people die in drunk driving crashes during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. If you plan to serve alcohol, let guests know on the invitation and let them know you will arrange for safe transportation home, if necessary. Ridesharing apps have made it easier than ever to get home safely, but hosts should still keep the phone numbers of local taxi companies on hand and make sure guests rooms are ready to accommodate guests who get a little too festive. Party invitations have changed dramatically over the last couple of decades. But they still serve as a guests’ primary source of party information.
Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 29, 2019 • HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & SHOPPING
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36 HOLIDAY PARTIES, DINING & SHOPPING • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, November 29, 2019