Tis the season ofgiving! Oh, I justlove this time ofyear. Giving – andyes, I’ll admitselfishly getting –gifts is so muchfun. I love it all somuch. I pridemyself in findingthe “perfect” giftsfor those that I loveso dear.

Our main feature this month shares the secretsto gracious holiday gift-giving. Be sure to check itout for some wonderful ideas.

With all the hustle and bustle, however, let usnot forget the true meaning of the holidayseason!

Until next year, God bless you and MerryChristmas!

Editor’s noteCreativeLiving

Specialty Publications Editor

Creative Living is a monthly advertising-sponsoredmagazine published by the Specialty Publications

Department of The Community Press/The Community Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to EditorMelissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/

394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail

mhayden@communitypress.com.

For advertising call 687-4614.

Contact

TopicsFinancial PlanningAdvice

Health & FitnessMind • Body • Spirit

Local BusinessRestaurants • Shops

3 8 Senior LivingApartments • Care

At HomeDecor • Repair

Last Minute Gift GuideSpecialty shops

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Features

TTiippss ffoorr ttaakkiinngg tthhee bbeesstt ccaarree ooff yyoouurr mmoouutthhFight gum disease and tooth decay with these helpful tips.

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SSeeccrreettss ooff ggrraacciioouuss hhoolliiddaayy ggiivviinnggIt’s the gift-giving season. Read about wonderful ideas to show how much you care.

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Page 12

PPrreeppaarree ffoorr yyoouurr ffiinnaanncciiaall ffuuttuurreeAsk yourself these five vital questions.

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F I N A N C I A L P L A N N I N G

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Have you ever wondered ifyou’ll be able to afford retire-ment? Do you question ifyour finances will keep youafloat if your family were toexperience a medical emer-gency or another expensiveand unplanned event?

Five vital questions to prepare for your

financial future

“Financial aware-ness and educationare extremely impor-tant, which is whypeople need to take amoment and thinkabout their areas ofneed and risk anddetermine whichsteps are the bestones to take todevelop a strongfinancial future,”said Michael R.Fanning, executivevice president, U.S.Insurance Group,MassachusettsMutual LifeInsurance Company(MassMutual).

Take one hour toreview your financesand discover if thereare areas where yourplans can bestronger.

Here are fivequestions created byfinancial experts atMassMutual to askyourself:

1. What are my goals?Before you get

started, determinewhat you need tofinance, especially inthe future. Some typ-ical goals to considerinclude home own-ership, starting afamily, paying forcollege tuition andfinancial independ-ence.

2. Who depends on me?Part two of deter-

mining your goals isassessing whodepends on youfinancially, includinga spouse, childrenand parents or in-laws. These depend-ents can change – forexample your chil-dren may leave thehouse when theygraduate – so youmight want to takethat into considera-tion and re-evaluate

FINANCIAL see page 4

CCrreeaattiivveeLivingCCeelleebbrraattee yyoouurr bbuussiinneessss!!

IInnvviittee yyoouurr nneeiigghhbboorrss ttoo tthhee ppaarrttyy..CCaallll 668877--44661144 ttoo aaddvveerrttiissee!!

your plan during thecourse of your life.

3. What are my risks?Assessing gaps in your

coverage is a vital step inthe planning processbecause it allows you tocreate a Plan B. Commonrisks include dying toosoon or living too long,getting hurt, being unableto work due to a job layoffor illness, being retired ona fixed income but facingincreasing health carecosts or owning your ownbusiness and not beingable to sell it when youneed to retire.

4. What do I need?When you have your

risks and goals all linedup, set out to answer thequestion: What do I needto make my financesstronger?

For example, wholelife insurance can helpprovide security to yourfamily if you were to dieat a young age. It is also aproduct that accumulatescash value, a componentthat can help at home inthe face of unexpectedemergencies or to supple-ment retirement income.

If you’re a small busi-ness owner, you could

take a loan from yourwhole life policy to helpwith payroll until receiv-ables come in, for exam-ple. While the aboveoptions are valid solutionsfor many, keep in mindthat access to cash valuesthrough borrowing orpartial surrenders willreduce the policy’s cashvalue and death benefit.

It can also increase thechance the policy willlapse, and may result in atax liability if the policyterminates before theinsured dies. Consulting atrained financial profes-sional is recommended.

Disability income

insurance insures a por-tion of your incomeagainst an unexpectedinjury or illness thatleaves a person unable towork and provide forfamily. Some carriers alsooffer retirement contribu-tion protection, in theevent of a disabling illnessor injury.

5. Who should I talk to?If you feel you need

assistance in strengthen-ing your finances, consid-er involving a financialprofessional to help guideyou through the process.This person can give you

an outside opinion, whichis helpful when dealingwith emotional issuesinvolving the people youlove. A financial servicesprofessional can also sug-gest sound strategies youmight not know about.

And lastly, be prudent.It is important to work

with a financially strong,reliable company with along track record of per-formance likeMassMutual. For moreinformation, visitwww.massmutual.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

H E A L T H & F I T N E S S

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Don’t ignore that reminder cardNearly 75 percent of American adults suffer from

various forms of periodontal (gum) disease anddon’t know it. Visiting your dentist twice a year isthe best way to maintain good oral health and treatproblems early that may be both costly and painfuldown the road.

The world isn’t flat and neither is your mouthBrushing may clean your teeth, but what about

the other surfaces in your mouth that harbor badbreath germs? That’s why adding a mouthwash toyour daily routine is essential to clean what brush-ing and flossingmay miss.

You eat with it, you communicatewith it, you even show your undying

affection with it – so why not takecare of it? Consider these oral caretips from New York-based dentist,

John E. Dodes.

FINANCIAL from page 3

TIPS see page 5

Tips on taking the best care of your mouth

Most people are look-ing for ways to improvetheir health, but there isno easy solution.

Whether it’s weightloss, sports training, los-ing that last 10 to 15pounds or simply lookingto maintain current levelsso you can continue toperform the activities thatmake life wonderful suchas keeping up with yourkids (or grandkids), it canbe a challenge to find theright solution.

At Snap Fitness theyunderstand that people

want to improve theirhealth and there are verygood reasons why westruggle.

They want to help youachieve the results you arelooking for so that you havethe capability and energy tofully enjoy your life.

Snap Fitness offers avery friendly fitness envi-ronment and chances arethat many of your friendsand neighbors belong toSnap Fitness in Milford.

To help you get started,our certified fitness pro-fessionals will spend

hours with you to under-stand your goals.

They will also ensureyou have a comprehen-sive exercise and nutritionplan that is easy to under-stand and follow.

They will also followup with you periodicallyto check your progressand answer any questionsyou may have.

They know the firstfew months are the mostcritical when starting anew habit and they wantto support you along theway.

At Snap Fitness theyfocus on their membersenjoying their workoutexperience and beingcomfortable and confi-dent.

They want to ensurethat you are successful inachieving your goals.

One brand-new tool(that is proprietary toSnap Fitness) that makesit easier for members toremain motivated toachieve their goals iseasyFIT.

EasyFIT is a completefitness program with a

small, portable device thatconstantly monitors yourdaily activity.

Combined with mys-napfitness.com, it pro-vides online resources andsupport to help you reachyour goal.

If you are interested insome support to achieveyour goals, please contactJen Main and PattiLaughlin 248-0063 orcheck out the websitewww.snapfitness.com/milford2.

H E A L T H & F I T N E S S

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Achieve your goals with help from Snap Fitness

Consider two-in-one formulas Coffee can discolor teeth, so if you

are a coffee lover and in need of a whitersmile, look for products like toothpastesand rinses with peroxide and fluoride.They can whiten teeth and restore enam-el. Additionally, foods like celery, applesand carrots act as a natural stainremover to scrub away some of those

unwanted spots.

Technique mattersThere’s a proper way to brush and

floss. If you’re unfamiliar with the cor-rect technique, ask your dentist for help.You can also visit the American DentalAssociation’s website to watch somegreat tutorials on proper technique.Courtesy of ARA Content

TIPS from page 4

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H E A L T H & F I T N E S S

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This season issupposed to be themost wonderfultime of the year. Butfor many of us, it’sthe most annoyingand stressful.

For some theChristmas musicgets old byThanksgiving.Others just aren’table to feel that holi-day spirit thateveryone keeps yap-ping about.

And let’s not even mention the traffic,the cold, the cranky crowds.

It can be a that time of the year whenyou have to, once again, meet up with“those” people – you know, the in-laws,the exes or even your own family.

For the unattached, it can be the timeof the year when you’re remindedrepeatedly that you’re single – as one ofKatkin & Associates’ clients said,Christmas can feel like “SinglesAwareness Day.”

This is the time of year when we findourselves missing relatives and friendswho are no longer with us, bringingback a new wave of grieving.

And for a select few it’s actually evenworse.

All of this (and more not mentionedhere) can cause feelings of dread, anxi-ety, depression or a combination of allthree.

Medically, the phenomenon ofSeasonal Affective Disorder also startskicking into high gear.

This is a type of depression that hasbeen linked to the shortening sunlighthours. The symptoms of SeasonalAffective Disorder are just like depres-sion, but they occur during the wintertime, with its limited daylight hours.

The Winter Solstice, the shortest dayof the year, is Dec. 22.

Any or all of the above cancause people to feel blueinstead joyous, anxiety insteadof excitement.

Managing these feelingsand coping with these stres-sors can be the best gift youcan give yourself and yourfamily.

Many people try to go with-out help, and when they dothat, they can find themselvessuffering more than needed-oreven worse, they can becomethat dreaded relative everyonewants to avoid during the holi-day season.

Give Katkin & Associates acall at 831-9408 or check outour website:www.KatkinTherapy.com.

They have friendly, under-standing counselors who arewilling to help you getthrough these holiday blues.

What to do about those holiday blues

• A change in appetite,especially a craving forsweet or starchy foods • Weight gain • A drop in energy level • Fatigue • A tendency to over-sleep

• Difficulty concentrating • Irritability and anxiety • Increased sensitivity tosocial rejection • Avoidance of social sit-uations and a loss ofinterest in the activitiesyou used to enjoy

Holiday blues.

Symptoms of SeasonalAffective Disorder

L O C A L B U S I N E S S

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Kevin Smith is a nativeof Swan’s Island, Maine,and a third-generationfisherman who knows thebest, freshest seafoodwhen he sees it.

Fortunately for those ofus in Cincinnati, Kevinopened Lobsta Bakes ofMaine in March 2009, inone of Newtown’s quaint,turn-of-the-previous-cen-tury homes, and made ithis goal to bring the land-locked region top qualityfresh fish, shellfish, andhandcrafted, gourmettakeaway foods served upby friendly, helpfulemployees.

Kevin and his crewbelieve in small, inde-pendent businesses andstrive to make customers’ shoppingexperiences fun and rewarding.

Since fresh seafood is so perishable,Kevin tries to order only as much as theshop can sell in a day, and on occasionruns out of something.

He encourages customers to callahead and request something be putaside for their dining plans.

Of interest to foodies, the same greatseafood in the displays is also used inhomemade soups and house-smokedfish, spreads, and artisanal smokedseafood sausages and smoked salmonbrats. A creative and delicious change ofpace from the norm in these parts.

Kevin has lifelong relationships withactive fishermen and calls upon themfor their best catches.

The fish arrive daily from the coastafter Kevin painstakingly sources whatis in-season during and after shophours.

At a time of year when people aretempted to overeat hearty, high-caloriecomfort foods, seafood is a smart choicefor those who don’t want to rack upwinter pounds, yet crave tasty, nutrient-dense dining.

There are even live lobsters at the“lobsta house” just waiting to graceenthusiasts’ plates. You can request tohave the lobsters steamed for no extracharge as an added bonus to a scrump-tious meal.

All Lobsta Bakes employees are envi-ronmentally conscious and they recycleas much as possible while always look-ing for ways to increase recycled vol-ume. Compostable food containers gohome with everyone who buys preparedfood.

During warmer months, a small,organic kitchen garden provides freshgreens and tomatoes used in LobstaBakes’ handcrafted foods.

The cooking staff has impressivecooking credentials.

According to Ben Sargent, BrooklynChowder Surfer and host of the CookingChannel’s Hook, Line, and Dinner:“Make friends with the fishermen.” Restassured, Kevin is friends with the fisher-men as one of their own.

Lobsta Bakes has been awarded theBest of the City award.

Surprisingly enough, Lobsta Bakes isalso a great blueberry pie maker – theyare so popular among customers andhave been called, “absolutely outstand-ing.”

Lobsta Bakes of Maine hours:Tuesday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 6:30p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call561-0444 or visit www.lobstabakes.com.

Lobsta Bakes is located at 3533Church Street, Newtown, and Twitterand Facebook pages are in the works.

Call 687-4614 to advertise in CCrreeaattiivveeLiving

A taste of the finest seafood

Live lobsters at the “lobsta house” are just waiting to grace enthusiasts’ plates.

L O C A L B U S I N E S S / S E N I O R L I V I N G

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Enjoy the best years ofyour life making friends,being active, living ful-filled at Sutton Grove.

Fun. Comfortable.Relaxing. Secure. That’swhat you call home –that’s what you’ll callSutton Grove.

Sutton Grove is a hid-den treasure in the heartof Mount Washington,within walking distanceto Kroger, local banks, thelibrary, post office andpharmacy.

It is a peaceful andsecluded independentretirement communitydesigned for your pleas-ure and living enjoyment.

Seventy-five spaciousone- and two-bedroomapartments are located on

three floors. Elevator serv-ice accesses the secondand third floors.

The apartments areunfurnished, so you cansurround yourself withyour own furniture, pic-tures and decorations soyou feel right at home.

Weekly housekeeping,nutritious meals and mostactivities are included inyour monthly rent, whichstarts at the reasonablerate of $950 a month.There are pet-friendly andpet-free areas, as well.

Residents also have thechoice to have mealsincluded in their rent orcook on their own.

Although Sutton Groveis an independent livingcommunity, personalized

support and health careservices can be designedfor your individual needsby a home health careagency.

The home health careagency, on-site seven daysa week, helps to promotemaximum independenceand dignity while provid-ing such services asbathing, dressing, medica-tion reminders and assis-tance with other daily liv-ing activities.

More importantly,you’re not just a residentat Sutton Grove, you’re amember of a family.You’re known by nameand cared about.

For more informationor to arrange a tour, call231-0008.

Enjoy the best years of your life at Sutton Grove

Sutton Grove in Mount Washington.

By Golly’s in Milford is offering newSunday dinner specials from noon to 10p.m. Choose from a sirloin steak, barbe-cue chicken, teriyaki chicken, pork chop,or spaghetti with meat sauce and garlicbread for $9.99.

So what all comes with these spe-cials? How about a non-alcoholic drink,salad, baked potato, and a dessert. Areyou kidding me?

Don’t forget kids eat free Sundaysfrom noon to 10 p.m.

In January, By Golly’s will begin toshow its Sunday Night Matinee Movieon the 100-inch projection screen down-stairs.

The movies are all kid-friendly andthe popcorn is free.

Mondays still bring half off for dine-in customers all day. Every Tuesdaynight join in on team trivia at 7 p.m.

Thursday nights bring karaoke at 9p.m. and starting Jan. 8 a competitionkicks off with a $500 grand prize.

It’s more fun at By Golly’s

S E N I O R L I V I N G

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In 1997, two Cincinnati Jewish nurs-ing homes, Glen Manor and theOrthodox Jewish Home, merged andbecame Cedar Village.

With this merger many rich and won-derful traditions were begun. One ofthem was the annual Christmas MitzvahDay, formerly known as Switch Day.

Switch Day was implemented by theOrthodox Jewish Home Auxiliary.

This group of dedicated communityvolunteers and their families wouldcome in and perform the work of thenon-Jewish staff on Christmas Day.

The idea was conceived by FriedaAaron, who had worked at theOrthodox Jewish Home as director ofactivities, and is currently a resident lifecoordinator at Cedar Village.

Local doctors, nurses, family mem-bers, and community volunteers wouldcome in and assist so the non-Jewishstaff could enjoy their Christmas holidayat home with their families.

From that first Christmas to today,the tradition is still carried on at CedarVillage. Though volunteers are unable totake over for all staff that day, they doprovide assistance to the many dedicat-ed employees on Christmas Day.

Each year on Cedar Village’s MitzvahDay, more than 100 community volun-teers assist with programs, serve meals,perform light housekeeping, cook, greet,assist in the deli, and provide assistancein many other capacities.

One very special project is delivering

Christmas gifts to the non-Jewish resi-dents.

Although many volunteers from thecommunity participate, it is the coregroup of dedicated, hard-workingFriends of Cedar Village volunteers whodo a yeoman’s job each year.

The Friends of Cedar Village auxil-iary volunteers have been active partici-pants since the Orthodox Jewish Homedays.

Mitzvah Day is the chance to make adifference in the lives of the nearly 300residents who call Cedar Village theirhome.

A group of volunteers from theRockdale Temple Brotherhood look for-ward to Mitzvah Day each year.

Beginning early in the morning,almost 50 congregates arrive to make aspectacular pancake breakfast for theresidents.

“It is a huge undertaking and we loveevery minute of it,” said Gerry Korkin,former president of Rockdale Temple.

“Dozens and dozens of homemadepancakes are cooked on the griddle atthe same time, and then served hot andfresh with butter and syrup,” saidKorkin.

“We know the residents at CedarVillage enjoy this every year,” he said,“but not more than we do. Coming backyear after year – and seeing the bigsmiles on their faces – is the reward forthis labor of love.” he said.

Mitzvah Day to be held Dec. 24 at Cedar Village

CCCCrrrr eeeeaaaa tttt iiii vvvveeeeLivingYYYYoooouuuurrrr nnnneeeeiiiigggghhhhbbbboooorrrrssss wwwwiiii llll llll lllloooovvvveeee rrrreeeeaaaaddddiiiinnnngggg aaaabbbboooouuuutttt yyyyoooouuuu

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Oak floors add to thevalue of a house, and lenda richness and warmth tothe family homestead.

Hardwood floors alsoadd class to commercialbuildings, boosting thevalue of a business, andencouraging people tobecome customers.

Bluford Jackson andSon Hardwood Flooringhas been in business since1919, when BlufordJackson started the busi-ness in Madeira.

They have since movedto 910 US Highway 50 inMilford, where they arelocated now.

“That was my great-grandfather,” said RyanJackson, who along withhis grandfather, John, nowrun the business.

“He started the busi-

ness, and set the stan-dards high, which is whatwe follow now. We listento our customers, and thatinsures satisfaction.”

Bluford Jackson andSon has been the leadingsource of hardwood floor-ing in the Cincinnati areafor over 90 years.

They spe-cialize ininstallingand refinish-ing hard-wood floor-ing at a com-petitive pricefor both resi-dential andcommercialbuildings.

“All ofour flooringis the highestquality oak,which comes

from Monticello,Kentucky, andPortsmouth, Ohio, amongother places,” saidJackson.

“The brands that weuse are 3M, OshkoshDesigns, and Dura Seal,because they are known

for their intricate crafts-manship, their durability,style and aestheticappeal,” he said.

According to Jackson,there are not many prob-lems the company cannotremedy.

“A lot of what we do istearing up carpets andputting in new woodfloors,” explained Jackson.

“Sometimes peoplehave a bad stain in a smallpart of their floor, but ithappens to be very visi-ble. Usually we can sandthat stain on site, and thenmake it match the rest ofthe floor. Other times wetear up the tile in akitchen, and replace itwith hardwood floor thatcomplements the rest ofthe room,” he said.

Bluford Jackson and

Son offers a variety ofstyles, woods and finish-es, and some of those canbe seen on their website atwww.blufordjackson.com.

The company has 19employees who are alltrained in the superbinstallation techniquesused by the company.

“One of the thingsabout our refinishing isthat we use a dustlesssanding method,” saidJackson.

“We have a trailer thatwe park in the driveway,and it allows us to get ridof almost every bit ofdust, so the homeownerdoesn’t have to deal withthe dust,” he said.

If a floor is watersoaked, Jackson says fans

A T H O M E

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Quality hardwood floors at Bluford Jackson

QUALITY see page 14

It’s that time of yearwhen you are most likelyto be hosting a party withfriends or family.

Make that gathering alittle more festive and spe-cial by extending the holi-day spirit to the drinksand refreshments youoffer your guests. Meier’shas the recipes that areeasy to make and are sureto please your holidayguests.

MMeeiieerr’’ss SSppiicceedd WWiinnee ––Nothing could be easier tomake than to warm upMeier’s Spiced Wine in acrock pot. Garnish the potwith orange or appleslices but really all thespices you need arealready in the wine.

The wine is a blend ofhearty grape wine andspices that will surely addto your holiday enjoy-ment. Serve warm with acinnamon stick.

HHoott SSppiiccee CCiiddeerr ––Another warmed bever-age that is best preparedabout an hour before yourguests arrive. Add 12cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks,1⁄4 tsp. allspice to 1 bottleof Meier’s SparklingApple Juice in a saucepan.

Bring to a boil, removefrom heat and let stand 1hour. Remove the spicesand serve warm in mugs.It’s a great way to enjoythe chilly weather withfriends.

From traditionalsparkling wine punches tosomething non-alcoholic,Meier’s has two recipesthat are sure to pleaseyour holiday guests.

Meier’s Classic Champagne Punch

Two 750 mL bottles ofReiem Extra DryChampagne

One 750 mL bottle ofMeier’s Sauternes Wine

1 can frozen lemonadeconcentrate

1 can frozen orangejuice concentrate

3 cans water4 cups cubed canned

pineapple drained1 quart club soda

Combine lemonadeand orange juice concen-trates, water and pineap-ple in a punch bowl. AddMeier’s Sauternes Wine,club soda and a block ofice.

Just before serving addchilled Reiem Extra DryChampagne. Garnish withfruit like strawberries orgrapes. Makes about 30servings.

Meier’s Non-AlcoholicSparkling Punch

This is a fun recipegreat for kids and thosewho wish to avoid alco-hol.

Two 750 mL bottles ofMeier’s Sparkling PinkCatawba or WhiteCatawba 100 percentGrape Juice

1 can lemonade con-centrate

1 cup pineapple juice1 cup cold water3 cups chilled ginger

aleCombine all ingredi-

ents just before serving ina punch bowl with ice.

Meier’s Sparkling Cider Punch

Two 750 mL bottles ofMeier’s Sparkling 100 per-cent Apple Juice

1 can of lemonade con-centrate

28 oz. of ginger aleSlices of red and green

applesCombine all ingredi-

ents just before serving ina punch bowl with ice.

Meier’s Mulled PortAfter dinner, soothe

your guests with a glassof Meier’s mulled port.

Two 750 mL bottles ofMeier’s No. 44 Ruby Port

1 cinnamon stick

4 whole cloves1 whole nutmegStrip of fresh orange peel

Make spirits bright with Meier’s holiday recipesL A S T M I N U T E G I F T G U I D E

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MEIER’S see page 12

L A S T M I N U T E G I F T G U I D E

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Decades ago, when therhythm of life seemed moresedate, gift-givers probablyhad more time to invest inconsidering a gift and shop-ping for it.

Today’s hectic pace, how-ever, can make gift giving achallenge, even for the mostdedicated giver.

You can recapture thegrace and thoughtfulness of abygone era this holiday sea-son with a few tips:

Agreat gift, given in a way thattells the recipient how much heor she is valued, respected andwished well, is the essence of theholiday spirit.

• Food is a classicholiday gift. It can bepersonal (such as therecipient’s favorite holi-day cookies), or broadenough in appeal to sat-isfy a group with vary-ing tastes (such as a boxof chocolates for a fami-ly or office mates).

• A gift is a warmand touching way to say“thank you.” The holi-days are a time for cele-bration, but also toexpress gratitude – tothose you love and alsoto those with whom youenjoy a professional rela-tionship, whether it’s thebaby sitter or a client.

Thank-you giftsshould be planned inadvance to allow your-self plenty of time tofind just the right,thoughtful gift. Tailoryour thank-you giftaccording to the rela-tionship you share withthe recipient.

Something home-made might delightyour child’s teacher,while a business col-league would appreciatesomething light-heartedand surefire, like

Melting Snowman cook-ies.

• Play the thoughtfulhost and ensure yourguest room is wellstocked for the holidays.In addition to all thenecessities, don’t over-look the niceties, whichshould include a modestyet cherished token thatguests can enjoy whilethey visit, or take withthem when they depart.

Decades ago,Grandma might have seta decorative tin, filledwith homemade cookies,in the guest room forvisitors to enjoythroughout their stay.Modern hosts mightpresent some indulgentbutter toffee for gueststo savor.

• Be a helpful guest.Grandma would neverhave thought of arrivingat a party empty handedduring the holidays.

You can improveupon that classicthoughtfulness by send-ing food gifts ahead oftime, rather than bom-barding your host witharmloads of stuff when

you walk through thedoor.

A dramatic red vel-vet cake will be warmlywelcomed as a kindtreat for your hosts andtheir family to enjoywhile they prepare fortheir party. And they’llanticipate your visit allthe more as they enjoythe fruits of yourthoughtfulness.

• Teach children thejoys of giving. Involvechildren in your holidaygift-giving preparations,from writing the shop-ping list to wrappingand presenting presents.

Encourage them toremember by namethose who deserve spe-cial thanks at the holi-days, from neighborsand baby sitters tograndparents and teach-ers.

Teaching childrenabout giving remindsthem there’s more to theholidays than just get-ting presents them-selves.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Secrets of gracious holiday giving

Place all ingredients in a 2-quartsauce pan. Bring to a full simmerover medium heat. Reduce heat tolow and simmer about 20 minutes.Remove spices and serve warm.

Meier’s sparkling juices andwines can be found at their RetailStore and Wine Shop that is locatedjust 1.5 miles south of the KenwoodTowne Centre on Plainfield Road.

Visit www.meierswinecellars.com

for more information and morerecipes. There you will find recipesfor glazed baby carrots and sherriedsweet potatoes that will add to yourholiday feast.

Meier’s is Ohio’s oldest andlargest winery, founded in 1890 andis celebrating 120 years of greatwinemaking.

Try a wide selection of tablewines, award winning dessert wines,champagnes and vermouths.

The wine shop offers a variety of

affordable wine related gifts, wine-making supplies along with a selec-tion of sparkling non-alcoholic 100percent juices that will add to anyspecial occasion.

So stop by for that special gift forfriend, neighbor, mail carrier, teacherand anyone you wish to show yourappreciation for all they do for you.

Drink responsibly and happy hol-idays from Meier’s Wine Cellars!

MEIER’S from page 11

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Whether it’s for your-self or a gift for a specialsomeone, Urban Chick,6740 Clough Pike, is theplace to shop.

Thanks to Terri Smithand her new fashion for-ward boutique, urbanstyle can now be found insuburban Anderson.

Urban Chick featuresan eclectic mix of clothes,jewelry, handbags andscarves from a variety oftoday’s hottest designers.

Urban Chick is com-pletely and utterly for andabout women, of all ages,in fact! It’s the perfect stopduring a girl’s night out.

Prices are affordableand fair, you can find any-thing from a lovely neck-lace for $10 to a hip jacket

for $150. Smith is also the owner

of True Colors salon inAnderson and hasenjoyed her experience ofbeing a business owner inthe community for the last11 years.

With a variety of styl-ish items and art piecesthat are as unique as youare and at prices thatwon’t break the bank,Urban Chick has every-thing you need to spruceup your personal style orfind that one-of-a-kindChristmas gift that willhave your girlfriends des-perate to discover whereyou do your holidayshopping.

The warehouse-apart-ment setup is fun and

inviting. The staff is friendly

and can assist you withfinding the perfect item

for you or a friend. It’s a great place to do

your holiday shoppingtoo!

Check out Urban Chickon Facebook or call 233-2445 for more informa-tion.

Get stylish this Christmas at Urban Chick

You’re almost out oftime!

No worries, however,with Markus Jewelers inthe area. As always, theirholidays are sparklingwith diamonds and pre-cious stones of the highestquality. There is some-thing beautiful for every-one and every budget thisyear at Markus Jewelers.

Markus Jewelers is up-to-date on all the latesttrends, including alterna-tive metals such as stain-less steel, sterling silver,titanium and tungsten.These pieces offer a big,beautiful, unforgettablelook for a reasonable price.

Be sure to check outCharinsky, an exclusivehand-made line.

Markus Jewelers isAnderson Township’sonly full service jewelry

store with two experi-enced jewelers on thepremises. Customers fromall over the tri-state aretaking advantage of theon-site repair servicesincluding chain repair,ring sizing and restring-ing. Watch band and bat-teries are done while youwait.

The jewelers at Markusare also experts in repairwork, carefully mending abroken piece with skilledcraftsmanship.

Call 474-4950 for moreinformation or visitMarkus Jewelers at 2022Eight Mile Road. They arealso offering wish lists.Fill one out for your lovedones to make their shoppingdays easier and be automati-cally signed up to win a spe-cial prize. Adrawing will beheld Dec. 20.

Say Merry Christmaswith Markus Jewelers

You awaken to thesounds of the “wild” par-rots in the swaying palmtrees. As you step off yourporch, you spy thenumerous other colorful,tropical birds amid thelush foliage surroundingthe gently flowing streamin front of your cottage.

Down the path – twoquick turns – and you’repassing the lounge chairsand umbrellas around thecrystal clear water of theswimming pool.

A few more steps andthe azure blue water ofthe Caribbean comes intoview directly in front ofyou.

Turn right and you’rein the spectacular outdoordining room overlookingthe sea, where both oldand new friends are wait-ing with warm greetingsand hot coffee.

Following a goodbreakfast and great cama-raderie, you leave yourtable and head down thewalkway to the waitingboat where more friendswelcome you aboard.

Ten minutes later,you’re under way to enjoythe thrill of “Flying with-out wings” while you“visit” some of the mostfascinating creatures – inthe most beautiful scenery

– imaginable.You have set aside

your everyday life for atime … You are a SCUBAdiver.

“This is the lifestyle welive … where we enjoy‘The Experience of aLifetime - Every Time,’ ”said Jim Barrie, owner ofThe Scuba Shack inFlorence.

Visit The Scuba Shack’swebsite atwww.TheScubaPlace.comor call 283-1550 to findout how easy it is to put anew diver’s kit and giftcertificate under the treethis year, and … Give thegift of a lifetime.

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The best Christmas… ever can be used to dry it out,and then they use sandingto try and restore the floorto a new beauty.

If it can’t be saved, thecompany will replace thefloor, and some of thedesigns they are able toinstall are stunning.

“We don’t do structuralproblems, where the basicstructure needs repair,”said Jackson. “But most ofthe cosmetic damage wecan repair or replace.”

At a time when somany jobs are outsourcedoverseas, and much of theindustry that madeAmerica great is no longeron the rise, it is refreshingthat Bluford Jackson andSon uphold the high stan-dards in business thatpays its way forwardfrom an era whenAmerica’s pride was high.

When customers call

513-831-6231, they canrest assured that qualifiedtechnicians will be ontheir job.

“We have always triedto do the highest qualitywork that we can possiblydo,” said John Jackson,whose father started thebusiness. “I am proudthat our business has sucha history of quality.

“I remember a younglady who called me andwanted me to do herfloors in a house in IndianHill, and she told me ourcompany did flooring forher grandma, and hermother, and now shewanted us to do hers.

“I am also proud thatmy grandson has takenover so well. It makes mefeel good that we havesuch a great company,” hesaid.

QUALITY from page 10

Call 687-4614 to advertise in CCrreeaattiivveeLiving CCrreeaattiivveeLiving

Reach all of the familyCall 687-4614

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It’s that time of year when hol-iday wishes can come true.

It comes with a warm feelingfrom the cookies baking in theoven and the delicious aroma ofa home for the holiday’s dinner.

The eyes dance from all thetwinkling lights and jolly music.Feet are sore from whirlwind-marathon shopping, but it’s ahappy tired as the presents arewrapped and placed away forsafe keeping.

The season can be full of somany merry activities; it can befun to be of good cheer. That is,until the cash runs short andcredit card bills start to arrive.

And no matter how much cre-ative budgeting is done, livingpaycheck to paycheck becomesharder and harder.

These days, everyone is affect-ed in some way from a tightereconomy. Making ends meet ismore than taking on that season-al job.

The good news is there is aplace to go for help. FacetJewelry, Music & Pawn is allabout making holiday wishescome true.

As a licensed pawnbroker bythe state of Ohio, Facet Jewelry,Music & Pawn can loan cash onyour items of value and thatincludes your jewelry.

Unlike the swarming amountof gold buyers advertising greatdeals, Facet doesn’t just buy orpawn on just your gold. Theypay for your gem stones and takeinto consideration your items’marketability.

With two locations that haveretail showrooms, Facet has theopportunity to resell your jewel-ry and not melt it down as isoften done by the average goldbuyer.

Better options are also given ifyou need cash but don’t wish topart with your cherished items.Facet can loan you cash againstyour item in the form of a pawn.

No dealing with the bank’sdenial to your small loan. Thereare no credit checks or applica-

tions to fill out. Once you pay back the cash

loan, you can get your treasuredpiece back. You may redeem youritem in as few as three days orFacet can hold your item as col-lateral for a minimum of 100days.

You may extend that 100 dayperiod by making paymentstowards thefinancecharge,which con-sists of 5 per-cent of prin-cipal plus $4per month.

Of course,better still, ifyou nolonger wantyour jewelryor otheritems ofvalue, Facetwill buythem forcash. Takingadvantage ofthis opportu-nity duringhigh goldprices is agreat option.Think of allthose giftsyou couldbuy!

Trade-insare very pop-ular as well.People wholike toupgrade orchange theirjewelry styletake advantage of the great dealof double the cash offer for theirtrade-in.

Maybe there’s an item such asthat nice Gibson Les Paul guitaryou’ve had your eye on, ormaybe that Remington 870, Facetwill let you trade towards theprice!

Options like this are too goodto pass up especially during the

holiday season!Facet has a variety of mer-

chandise for your holiday shop-ping ease. They carry anythingfrom flat screen televisions, digi-tal cameras, iPods, camcorders,gaming systems, video games,DVDs, Blu-rays, stereo systems,tools, sporting goods, firearms toso much more!

The music department at Facetis as large as many independentmusic stores. Guitars, drums,amplifiers, disc jockey equip-ment, studio speakers to all sortsof band instruments desired forplay, Facet has it.

New and pre-owned hand-guns can be found in theirfirearms department. You mayalso see rifles, shotguns, knives,

bows and accessories. Facet hasthe right firearm for you whetheryou’re a hunter, collector or justconcerned about protection.

Celebrating in 2011, havingbeen in business for more than 20years, Facet is locally owned andoperated and serves theCincinnati community.

So, no need to ship off yourvaluables to strangers in anoth-er city for an estimate. No needto deal with the in and out thedoor gold buyers. Facet canhelp!

With jewelry being the heartof Facet, each of the two loca-tions has expert jewelers onstaff and all of the customdesigns are performed on-site.

How romantic would a holi-day proposal be? Rivaling someof the largest stores in theTristate is the selection of newand estate pieces at Facet.Repairs are also done by Facet’sexperienced jewelers.

Whether you needappraisals, engraving,remounts, or watch batteries,all types of repairs are availableas an express service or whileyou wait.

But wait, there’s more! Facetoffers 60 day layaway. So makeyour holiday shopping stressfree, by shopping early andplacing items in their conven-ient layaway!

Visit one of their showroomsthis season and you’ll be sureto catch the holiday buzz. It’sentirely possible to see an elfwrapping your purchases.

They are located in Ameliaon State Route 125 four miles

from Interstate 275 and inMilford in the Milford ShoppingCenter across from McDonald’s.

Check out the web site shop-facet.com for a preview or formore information.

Be sure to friend Facet onFacebook for special sale insights!

There’s no other place as dedi-cated to making holiday wishescome true. It’s not fantasy, it’sFacet.

The holiday season is a pawn us

Facet can help make your holiday wishes come true!