Holiday Magic November 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers

Schumacher Ceramics Christmas Show and Reception JOIN US for our 23rd Annual Christmas Show & Sale Dec 2 & 3, 2017 in our Galt Gallery.

Fall & Winter Gallery Hours: Sat & Sun 12-4pm

“Happy Holidays and thanks for all your support over the years at our Clarksburg location!”

WE HAVE A NEW ADDRESS!!

232 South Lincoln Way. #100, Galt, CA 95632 (916) 744.1062 schumacherceramics.com

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Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

2017 Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour Friday, December 1st: 12pm to 8pm Saturday, December 2nd: 10am to 7pm Sunday, December 3rd: 11am to 5pm Rain or shine!

Tickets on sale November 1st One of Northern California's most popular holiday home tours returns with six elegantly decorated homes in East Sacramento's historic Fabulous Forties neighborhood.

This self-guided walking tour begins on 47th street between M and Folsom Blvd with participating home addresses and a neighborhood map on the back of each ticket.

Don't miss the Holiday Boutique and Cafe located at Sacred Heart Parish School.

No ticket is required to visit the Holiday Boutique and Cafe.

www.sacredhearthometour.com Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the event.

Children over the age of one must have a ticket.

Advance tickets can be purchased at a number of fine local retailers until Thursday night prior to the tour or online at SacredHeartHomeTour.com The Holiday Home Tour is a fundraiser that benefits Sacred Heart Parish School.

All ticket purchases are non-refundable.

To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

Book Your Ski Trip Rental Now (NAPS)—“S’now foolin’”: Winter is coming. That means now’s a good time to book your ski vacation.

If you wait until the first snowfall, advise the experts at the world’s leading online vacation rental marketplace, HomeAway vacation rental pickings will be slim.

Vacation rentals are especially popular in mountain destinations, and ski season bookings spike in the fall. “Vacation homes that can sleep large groups go first,” explains HomeAway’s travel expert Melanie Fish. “If you’re traveling with a smaller group, there is more flexibility, but don’t wait too long to find that perfect ski-in/ski-out. By mid-November, half of the mountain homes rented on our site are already booked.”

Here are five reasons to book a vacation rental this winter:

1. Better value. The average vacation rental runs 1,850 square feet while the average hotel room is 325 square feet. For those keeping track at home, that’s more than five times the space of a hotel room. You can expect to get twice the space at half the cost per person when you rent a vacation home instead of a hotel room. Furthermore, extra space

means room for your skis and snow gear.

2. Access to amenities that you don’t have to share with anyone. Perhaps one of the most overlooked perks of a vacation rental is that you often get the amenities and perks of some of the best hotels but without having to share them with anyone else. This can include anything from a hot tub to an outdoor fireplace. You don’t have to reserve it, pay extra or visit only during certain hours.

3. Unique accommodations. A standout of vacation rental travel is that it provides authentic experiences you can’t have just anywhere. Each rental comes with its own unique qualities. Want a bunk room for the kids? Or a ski-in/ski-out on your favorite run? HomeAway has filters that can help you find the right match according to where you’re going, when you’re going, how many people you’re traveling with and what extras you want, such as a fireplace or hot tub. Each vacation rental is plotted on a map, so you can see exactly where you’re staying.

4. Home cooking. A vacation rental is a home away from home and that can include home cooking. Most vacation rentals come with full kitchens, which can mean big savings, especially on a ski vacation. Cooking break-

Here’s a cool idea: Plan your ski vacation before the cold sets in and you’re less likely to get frozen out of choice accommodations.

fast before heading out and packing a lunch for the mountain make it easier to enjoy that après-ski treat at a mountain restaurant.

5. Privacy. This comes in handy, especially during peak travel season. It’s your vacation, why share it?

Basically, the further out you book, the more options you’ll have and the greater

chance that everyone in your group will get the accommodations and experience they want.

Learn More For more information or to view available rentals, visit www.HomeAway.com/skiseason.

Healthy Holiday Eating Is Easier Than You Think (NAPS)—Year after year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports, the average American gains about a pound during the holiday season. It may not seem like much, but over the course of a lifetime, around a pound a year can really add up. That’s one reason many people are concerned about how to handle holiday treats.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 40 percent of American adults are obese; that’s more than 129 million people. Additionally, 88 percent of American adults do not meet the government’s national physical activity recommendations for aerobic activity and muscle strengthening. Around 45 percent of adults are not sufficiently active to achieve health benefits. And, one in three adults could have diabetes by 2050.

“Creating opportunities to eat healthy foods during the holidays, and limiting candy, sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food, can go a long way to living a healthier and happier life,” says Dr. John Agwunobi, M.B.A., M.P.H., Chief Health and Nutrition Officer, Herbalife Nutrition.

To help curb sweet tooth cravings this holiday season, Herbalife Nutrition introduced

Protein Bites, a fun-sized, on-the-go holiday treat with four grams of protein and no artificial sweeteners.

“A good snack should deliver protein without too many carbohydrates,” says Dr. Agwunobi. “Snacking, when done right, keeps energy levels up between meals and helps control hunger, which makes Protein Bites a perfect go-to snack to satisfy cravings.”

Agwunobi offers additional tips to help you stay on track this holiday season:

Healthy Holiday Eating • Plan your meals. Planning your meals affords you the opportunity to create smaller, healthier portions.

• Eat mindfully. Slow down to really taste and enjoy your food. Eating slowly gives your body time to signal your brain that you’re full, which takes about 20 minutes. If you eat too much too quickly, it’s easy to gobble up as much as twice what your body needs before your brain even gets the message.

• Replace a meal or two with a nutrientdense meal replacement option like the Herbalife Nutrition Formula 1 Shake.

• Stay positive. If you eat more on some days, eat less on others.

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding beverages that are high in calories and sugar.

• Eat a healthy snack before leaving home to prevent overeating at parties. Holiday parties often have foods high in salt, sugar and calories. When you arrive, check out the party food options before you begin eating, and make a mental note of what and how much you will eat.

Remember, the holiday season doesn’t have to be a detriment to your health goals. With some simple planning and healthy snacks, you can enjoy the holidays and still stay on track.

Learn More For information, visit www.Herbalife.com.

Smart snacking can help keep your energy up and your appetite under control through all the holiday festivities.

To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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A year-long celebration in song

Sacramento Women’s Chorus celebrates 30 years The Sacramento Women’s Chorus (SWC) is a vibrant and exuberant chorus that, for the past 30 years, has entertained the Sacramento region with music that makes a difference.

The SCW provides a safe and open place for women from all walks of life to join in song and community. Its mission reads: “We sing to honor peace, justice, social equality and celebrate the lives of all women” and SWC lives up to its goal by presenting programs that are a skillful blend of entertainment, message and meaning.

“No one could have dreamed of a better 30th Jubilee year than the one that we are having,” says Board President, Lily Andrews.

“In the spring we invited internationally known Cris Williamson, a leader of the singer/songwriter genre, to be the featured guest at our first ever concert at the Crest Theater. Then we filled the house in mid-October with our Birthday Bash party-themed concert. It has been a banner year from singing from the steps of the Capitol at the Sacramento Women’s March in January to having just been honored with an invitation to be a part of the World AID’s Day commemoration on December first.”

Not only has SWC sung in a variety of places and put on two amazing concerts, but this year marks the return of its very popular Holiday Concert and Community Sing-along. This family friendly, fun evening will be held on Monday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church near Watt and El Camino in the Arden-Arcade area.

Additionally, SWC is once again partnering with Maryhouse this holiday to provide much needed supplies and services for homeless women and their children. Tickets for the holiday event are a $5 donation at the door and guests are encouraged to bring tangible donations of personal hygiene supplies for women, infants and children. For more information about how you can support the SWC, please go to their website at sacramentowomenschorus.com

Give The Gift Of Music For The Present Of A Lifetime (NAPS)—This year, you can make singing holiday songs extra special—when you bring the joy of music home by purchasing a piano.

Here are four reasons having a piano in your home is a gift that keeps on giving.

1. Playing music is good for your health. Even though you’re sitting down, playing the piano is a workout all its own, and offers different physical and physiological advantages to players of all ages. For instance, regular piano playing sharpens fine motor skills and improves hand-eye coordination. Research suggests that piano lessons for older adults have an effect on increased levels of human growth hormone, which slows the adverse effects of aging. Bringing music into your life can also reduce heart and respiratory rates, cardiac complications and blood pressure and increase your immune response. Studying piano has even been shown to amazingly improve memory—particularly verbal memory—and build good habits such as focus and perseverance, diligence and creativity.

2. Playing music can be good for your career. Music has been an important part of the lives of many highly successful people, from former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to hedge

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fund billionaire Bruce Kovner to filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

A number of such high achievers say music opened up the pathways to creative thinking and sharpened their qualities of collabora-tion. It improved their ability to listen and gave them a way of thinking that weaves together disparate ideas with the power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously.

3. Playing piano can make you happy. The piano has been an unparalleled outlet for those seeking to decompress, express their creativity and simply have fun. Plus, studies show that people who make music experience less anxiety, loneliness and depression. In many adults, playing the piano was the most effective activity for reducing cortisol levels related to stress.

4. Playing music is good for your family. For 200 years, the piano has been considered a part of the heart of a home, bringing together family and friends, and strengthening communities with the joy of music. It’s something the whole family can cherish together, at any age and any season.

To help you bring music into your home, you can download the Steinway & Sons Piano Buyer’s Guide at www.steinway.com/ buyersguide. It shows how to select the size and style of piano that’s right for you—from new to certified pre-owned to suit just about any budget—and how to locate an authorized dealer.

Your whole family can benefit from getting a piano this holiday season.

Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

Additions Kitchens Bathrooms

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Providing quality adult day services since 1992

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Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

Thanks for being our loyal fans!

We wish you a Merry Christmas & a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

5924 S. Land Park Drive 393-7001 6200 Folsom Boulevard 455-8831 giovannisnypizzeria.com

Scan the above barcode

The Sacramento Civic Ballet

Crockett-Deane Apprentice Co & Deane Dance Center Present . . .

The Nutcracker (one act with narration)

and Christmas Angels Friday, Dec 15 at 8. preview selected scenes Saturday, Dec. 16th at 7pm Sunday, Dec. 17th at 2pm

Affordable fun for the whole family

Tickets at the door or at deanedancecenter.com: • Children $10 • Adults $15 • Preview only $8 • Seniors/Students $12 (Saturday night add $5 per ticket)

The Center at Twenty Three Hundred 2300 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento Questions? Contact DeaneDanceCenter.com

916.453.0226 To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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Unique and Personal Holiday Gifts at Effie Yeaw Nature Center

MEMBERSHIP for nature-lovers NATURE CAMP for fun-lovers (kids!)

ADOPTION for animal-lovers GOOD READS for book-lovers

Visit today and find the special gifts your friends & family will love!

9:00am to 4:00pm Tuesday-Sunday * Inside Ancil Hoffman Park, Carmichael

Or shop online at www.Sac.NatureCenter.net

Exterior Christmas Light Service install and remove

Let us light up your life!

(916) 416-1548

t h ig L le d n a C & Carols th - 5:00PM Sunday Dec. 24 American River Community Church 3300 Walnut Ave., Carmichael

info@arcconline.org www.arcconline.org 916-483-3465

the se�� � T ‘

For citrus, the gift that keeps on giving!

(916) 686-1180 www.BigOakNursery.com 10071 Grant Line Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624

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Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

Christmas Pageant at Trinity 2016

Saturday, December 23rd at 7:30 pm A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Please join the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Choristers for our traditional service of Lessons and Carols. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service celebrating the birth of Jesus, which is traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings, interspersed with the singing of carols, anthems, and hymns.

Sunday, December 24th - Morning Service at 10 am.

There will be one service in lieu of the regular service schedule.

Sunday, December 24th - Christmas Eve at the Cathedral Christmas Eve is a big deal at Trinity Cathedral!

We have four services and a concert from which to choose. �3:00 pm there will be a Family Eucharist with a Children’s Pageant, and music will be sung by the Cathedral Choristers with special guests from the St. Michael’s Episcopal School chorus. �5:00 pm is a Family Eucharist and Children’s Pageant, and music will be sung by the Celebration Choir, including “Jesus Child” by John Rutter. �8:00 pm is a Rite Two Solemn High Mass with incense. Music will be sung by the Cathedral Choir. �10:30 pm “A Spotless Rose” a concert by the Cathedral Choir conducted by Canon David Link, organist & choirmaster. Included will be music by Herbert Howells, Hugh MacKinnon, and others. �11:00 pm “Midnight Mass” including the “Mass at the Crib” by George Malcolm, and “O Magnum Mysterium” by Tomas Luis de Victoria.

Monday, December 25th - Christmas Morning Service.

There will be a single service at 10 am with baptism.

To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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LicensF t

Privately Owned and Operated

Hospice and Palliative Care...

Ensures Quality of Life at the End of Life Many people shy away from the words hospice or “end of life care” and do not broach the topic. day, or at times, within a few hours. We at Absolute Compassion believe there is a better way.

Knowledge and education can give us peace of mind in moments when medical decisions have to be made for loved ones, friends and neighbors. Being familiar with what hospice and palliative services are, as well as understanding ones’ rights and options, can be of tremendous comfort to all involved in these stressful moments of decision making. from hospice and palliative care services provided by a compassionate team of health care professionals who support all areas of wellbeing: the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a patient’s care. Hospice and palliative care services focus on quality of life during that moment, managing pain and symptom relief rather than curative treatments.

We encourage you to attend one of our community trainings/classes and meet with our team of dedicated professionals, so you can have peace of mind while making or helping someone else make quality of life decisions. Please call or email us for questions or concerns regarding hospice and palliative care services.

“

May you harvest plenty of joy to

with Absolute Compassion!”

Absolute Compassion Hospice & Palliative Care · 916-399-5922 6355 Riverside Blvd. Suite T, Sacramento, CA 95831 Hospice@AbsoluteCompassion.com t www.AbsoluteCompassion.com

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Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

Unique Items To Give Or Keep Are Found At JEWELRYBYJENNELL.COM

We Create the Design You Make it Distinctive Shirley J. Carr – CEO shirleycarr@gmail.com

916-397-7788

OPEN DAILY

NOVEMBER 3 - JANUARY 15 7th & K Streets, Downtown Sacramento

Through December 13th

For 150 years, the Sacramento Children’s Home has been dedicated to caring for our community’s most vulnerable children and families. With eight programs across six locations, we offer a comprehensive spectrum of prevention, early intervention, and treatment programs to strengthen families and stop the generational cycle of child abuse and neglect. We serve over 6,900 children and 4,600 families a year, and over 1,300 children at holiday time alone. For most of these children, gifts donated through our Holiday Giving Program will be the only gifts they receive this year.

GoDowntownSac.com/icerink

To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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I T ’S N O T T O O L AT E T O B U Y S E A S O N T I C K E T S A N D S AV E 15% O F F T H E R E G U L A R T I C K E T P R I C E

A MASTER SINGERS

CHRISTMAS Two new and beautiful venues, two matinees to choose from, and a special performance at the Harris Center in Folsom.

Join us at your new holiday tradition!

JINGLE ALL THE WAY! Children’s Holiday Concert

First F Fi rstt Uni rs U United nit ited d Methodist M Met eth et hodi hodi distt C Ch Church hurch hurc h | Sat S Saturday, atu turd rda day ay, Dece D December ecemb mber 16, 16 1 6, 2017 6, 201 017 at 3:00 017 3:0 :00 00 PM M Tickets: $5.00 $ for adults, $3.00 $ for children

For season tickets, single tickets, & information about our season, visit www.mastersingers.org or call 916-788-SING (7464) Westminster Presbyterian Church (13th and N Streets) Sunday, December 10, 2017 at 3:00 PM First United Methodist Church (21st and J Streets) Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 7:00 PM Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 3:00 PM Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 7:00 PM Tickets: $25 General, $20 Senior, $10 Student Harris Center for the Performing Arts (Folsom Lake College) Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 7:00 PM Tickets only available through the Harris Center Box office.

Visit www.harriscenter.net or call 916.608.6888 Tickets: $19-$29, $39 Premium; $10 discount with student ID

Holiday Crafters Corner December 4-8, 2017 11:00AM to 3:00PM Daily Casa Crafters are busy creating unique holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, ornaments and much, much more. Vendors will change throughout the week so check us out often. Staying for Lunch?

Make your reservations now as space is limited!

Casa Garden Restaurant & Event Venue operates solely to benefit the Sacramento Children’s Home.

www.casagarden.org 2760 Sutterville Road Sacramento, CA 95820 916-452-2809 A-14

Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

Strategies to avoid holiday weight gain Staying fit during the holiday season can be quite challenging, even for the most ardent fitness enthusiasts and disciplined calorie-counters. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, many people are offered a wide assortment of foods, beverages and other indulgences — typically in mass quantities.

According to researchers at Stanford University, although the average person only gains around one pound during the holiday season, quite frequently that pound sticks around, and those extra pounds add up year after year. As a result, it doesn’t take too many years of holiday bundt cakes to gain a considerable amount of weight.

Holiday season weight gain is not unique to the United States and Canada. Investigators at Tampere University of Technology in Finland tracked weight gained in the United States, Germany and Japan during those countries’ festive times and found that each country’s participants gained weight, particularly during the holiday season. Annual holiday weight gain can contribute to weight-based problems such as obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

The holiday season might not be the best time to start a diet, but holiday eating does not have to derail healthy lifestyles. The following are ways to avoid holiday weight gain and still enjoy all of the parties, adventures and time spent with friends and family.

• Focus on festivity instead of food. When hosting holiday festivities, make the

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bulk of the celebration about an activity rather than food. If guests are focused on fun, such as a sing-a-long, dancing or tree-trimming, they may be less likely to overeat.

Don’t show up starving. Eat a light, healthy snack before participating in any holiday revelry. Hunger pangs may drive one straight to the buffet table.

Survey your options prior to eating. Guests should scope out the food choices and then make the smartest selections possible. Avoid creamy sauces, greasy foods and those that are heavy on cheese. Fill up on vegetables and then you won’t feel bad about splurging on a dessert.

Go sparingly on alcohol. People seldom realize how quickly calories from beverages can add up. A 12-ounce glass of beer has about 150 calories, a five ounce glass of red wine has about 125 calories and a 1.5-ounce shot of gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, or tequila has about 100 calories, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Furthermore, alcohol lowers inhibitions, so you may be more likely to overindulge in more spirits or extra food when intoxicated.

You can’t buy back calories with exercise.

Putting in a marathon exercise session the next day probably will not undo the damage done from overeating the night before. Maintain a consistent workout schedule all through the holidays.

Holiday weight gain is not inevitable for those who take control and exercise discipline.

Pack in the fun without packing on the pounds this holiday season.

Baking shortcuts for time-pressed entertainers ‘Tis the season for baking cookies, cakes and other treats. However, during the holiday rush, it’s easy to get side-tracked or tired, and perhaps even a little bit overwhelmed by all the things to do in such a short period of time. Holiday baking doesn’t have to add to seasonal stress. With these tips and shortcuts, there will be plenty of sweet treats for the family.

ies can be whipped up in mere minutes.

Make a batch of dough and then freeze or refrigerate it, thawing it when the time comes to bake. Also, think about baking one day and decorating the next if pressed for time.

Stick with tested recipes

Icing can be tricky to master. Simply heating colored candy melts and pouring over cakes or painting onto cookies can add festive appeal to desserts. Candy melts even come in many different colors and can be combined to achieve the tint desired.

Although holiday bakers may want to branch out a bit with their culinary creativity, recipes that have previously been prepared with great success can take some of the work out of holiday baking.

Preparing recipes you recall preparing in the past is much easier than trying something new. If you’d like, add sparkle to old standards, such as decorating oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies with colored sprinkles.

Cookies are fastbaking

Did you know that cookies were originally made to test oven temperatures?

Culinary historians say that cookies were first made to test if an oven was hot enough to bake other goods. Today, cook-

Embrace colored candy melts

Keep ingredients in top form

Don’t let poorly performing ingredients or a lack of supplies be your undoing. Butter can be softened quickly in the microwave when needed for recipes. Eggs can be brought to room temperature by allowing them to sit in a bowl of warm water. Ensure that brown sugar stays soft by putting a piece of sliced bread in the container. Don’t forget to stock up on other baking staples, such as vanilla and almond extracts, baking powder/soda, molasses, and confectioner’s sugar.

Don’t bake from scratch

Not all recipes need to be made from scratch. Boxed cake mixes can be embellished and turned into delicious desserts without much fuss. Substitute melted butter for oil, buttermilk for water, and add an extra egg for a rich cake. Mix in chocolate chips or nuts or experiment with garnishes for a festive look.

Parchment paper is key

Line cookie sheets or cake pans with parchment paper for easy dessert release and quick cleanup. Parchment paper and even foil can help lift cakes or cookie bars out of pans so they look neat and do not stick.

Holiday baking can be made much easier by employing a few tricks of the trade.

To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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Holiday hosting how-to: Party pointers from three of Napa’s premier winemakers (MS) — The holiday season is about to hit full swing. This special time of year is synonymous with many things, including gatherings with family and friends.

Each year, holiday hosts face the challenge of setting their seasonal soirées apart from all the other parties guests attend between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Such a challenge is nothing three of Napa Valley’s top winemakers haven’t faced before. Each year, Chimney Rock Winery’s Elizabeth Vianna, Markham Vineyard’s Kimberlee Nicholls and Rutherford Hill’s Marisa Taylor play host to family and friends and each have their own unique take on holiday hosting.

Break free from first-time jitters

It’s common to feel pressure when hosting a holiday gettogether for the first time. Many families have traditions that date back several decades, so being tasked with carrying on those traditions can sometimes be daunting. But Taylor, a wine country native and veteran host, notes that honoring family traditions while simultaneously creating a festive and fun atmosphere is nothing to be afraid of.

“People are sometimes intimidated by holiday entertaining,” says Taylor, whose Rutherford Hill Merlot has long been a benchmark for Napa Valley varietals.“But the truth is, just a few small touches can create an ambiance that elevates the whole experience. I think it even makes the food and wine taste better!”

Taylor incorporates family history with her own unique hosting touches by bringing out vintage family photos and heirlooms that guests can pass around her stylishly decorated dinner table.

Let new traditions take root

Another way for hosts to set their holiday parties apart from the masses is to try something new at the dinner table. Each year, Vianna, who presides over the production of the popular Stags

Leap District Cabernet Sauvignons, hosts a special kind of dinner for friends who help her get through the often exhausting harvest season. Dubbed “Friendsgiving,” the celebration takes place at the end of autumn harvest season and includes friends, family and colleagues who contributed to another successful harvest. Vianna even encourages “Friendsgiving” guests to bring a postcard from somewhere around the world to use as a dinner table place card. This simple, yet creative idea inspires interesting conversation at Vianna’s holiday table, and hosts can incorporate their own creative touches to make their parties more memorable and enjoyable. For example, each year, Nicholls, whose award-winning varietals at Markham include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, assembles a graceful tablescape using marble and wood serving trays, vintage tablecloths and a tiered cake stand to create an elegant display guests won’t soon forget.

The more the merrier

Family always make the holiday dinner guest list, but Nicholls notes that holiday hosting is about opening our homes to people, whether those people share our last names or not.

Inviting some fresh faces can stimulate engaging conversation and lift the spirits of someone who might not be able to make it home for the holidays.

“I’ve been known to invite people I meet at Markham winery who might not have anywhere else to go for the holidays,” says Nicholls. “Somehow there’s always enough food.”

To enjoy a Napa Valley holiday of your own, Chimney Rock, Markham and Rutherford Hill wineries are offering a chance for two lucky winners to visit Napa Valley complete with airfare, lodging, behind-the-scenes vineyard tours, VIP lunches with scenic views overlooking the Valley and even the chance to blend your own Merlot. Visit the Napa Valley Holiday Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/NVHoliday for more information.

Graceful tablescapes add creative flair while inspiring conversation around the holiday dinner table.

5 ways to make holiday guests comfortable The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day marks one of the busiest periods of the year for long-distance travel. The United States Department of Transportation says that come Thanksgiving, the number of long-distance trips (50+ miles away) increases by 54 percent, and around Christmas that number rises by 23 percent over the remainder of the year. Those travelers ultimately need a place to rest their heads, and many stay with family and friends.

Entertaining during the holiday season involves accounting for guests’ comfort, and that often means hosts must put their visitors’ needs over their own. Although some sacrifices need to be made, there is a way to find a happy compromise that can help the holidays go smoothly and happily. Consider these ways to help guests feel welcome whether they stay for a few hours or a few days.

1. Cater to specific dietary needs. One of the ways to treat guests kindly is by being aware of any special dietary needs they may have when it comes to preparing holiday meals or other foods during their visits. Some guests may require low-sodium diets, while others may be monitoring their blood-sugar levels and must dine ac-

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cordingly. Vegetarians and vegans limit the foods they eat, while others may avoid foods based on religious preferences. Offer a variety of foods and try to cater to guests’ needs as much as possible. When in doubt, consult with the guest so he or she feels welcome and does not go hungry.

2. Make sleeping spaces as private as possible. Not everyone has a separate guest room for overnight stays, but try to make sleeping areas as private as you can when visitors spend the night. Use privacy screens or set guests up in a family room that’s away from the center of activity. Hosts may want to give up their own rooms for the comfort of guests.

3. Offer storage space. One way to make guests feel comfortable is to give them their own storage space. This can include space in a closet, a couple of drawers to stow their belongings, or hangers in the entryway for coats and other winter attire. Not only will this keep things more organized, it can provide guests with comfort.

4. Include guests when preparing for entertaining. Many guests like to feel involved, and by including them in

meal preparation, decorating or shopping, you can help them feel included and appreciated.

5. Keep snacks and other creature comforts readily accessible. Guests may feel sheepish scavenging through cabinets or drawers looking for items.

Make things easy to find by leaving items out on counters or indicating

where items can be found. For example, if you know a guest enjoys an evening cup of tea and some cookies, leave out the cookies, tea bags and kettle so that he or she can indulge when the urge comes.

Guests are a large part of the holiday season. Help them feel comfortable whenever they visit your home.

Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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s r o d n e p V o h S t f y r Gi e l l a G Art s��������������arts center 5330B Gibbons Dr. Carmichael, CA 95608 ������������������

www.scottsseafoodontheriver.com

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Holiday Magic • November 2017 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • To advertise, call 916-429-9901

To advertise, call 916-429-9901 • A special advertising section of Valley Community Newspapers • November 2017 • Holiday Magic

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