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HolidaySweet

Treats

Have you herd? We’re on page

108.

Plus:

Easy Ornaments

Jolly Good Cookies

Best Gifts for Families

Fun Indoor Activities

10 Ways to Slow Down and Savor the Season

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100% REAL CHOCOLATE TO L L H O U S E .C O M

Share your stories and read others at

All trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

Every Christmas Eve, my daughter and I bake cookies for Santa. One year, when she was about 6, my daughter let me know that Santa prefers Toll House® chocolate chip cookies. It’s no coincidence that those are her favorite as well.

WhoWould YouBake Some

Love for?

S:6.875”S:9.5”

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Unless noted to the contrary, all trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland.

For complete recipes and

more family-favorite holiday

activities and crafts, visit us at

NestleFamily.com/Holiday

TM

®

advertisement

Nestlé Family and our brands are committed to helping nourish healthy, happy families.

Give the Gift of LoveThis Holiday Season

Chocolate Mini Chip

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Nestlé Crunch

Snowball Cookies

Peppermint Fudge

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Homemade for the Holidays: Homemade cookies, brownies and treats make perfect

gifts for all the special people in your lives. Try some of our favorite seasonal recipes and share the love.

Add an additional personal touch by creating simple, custom wrapping and see their faces light up.

The holidays are a very special time for families, filled with traditions and memories shared

and treasured. Celebrate the season of giving with your family and friends. There’s no better

time to show your love, and Nestlé is delighted to share ideas we hope will inspire you.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

3

Logan, age 5,

photograph by

Jade Albert

On Our Cover:

10 Ways to Slow Down and Savor the Season 78

Sweet Holiday Treats 29, 58, 108

Easy Ornaments 69

Jolly Good Cookies 58

Best Gifts for Families 93

Fun Indoor Activities 86

58 Jolly Good Holiday Cookies Whether you’re making a care package for far-off family, swapping cookies

with a friend, or leaving a snack for Santa, these eight festive sweets are

bound to be prized — and devoured.

69 Treats for Your Tree Bring star quality to your tree with our stamped clay medallions, mini

mittens, and other delightfully easy ornaments.

78 Readers’ Favorite Holiday Traditions Ten families share the rituals that help them reconnect with the true

meaning of the season.

86 Four Ideas for Indoor Fun Need some winter vacation salvation? Turn the troops loose on these easy

and engaging hands-on projects.

�58

78

86

Decem

ber/Ja

nuary

2011

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Ev

ery

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y F

un

Cre

ati

ve

So

luti

on

sT

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Gu

ide

11 Our Fun Staff

A family gift that makes everyone happy.

12 Disney Fun

Enter to win a cruise on the Disney Dream, plus other

great offerings from our parent company.

15 Mailbox

Readers respond to our September issue.

19 Let’s Create

Make a scarf that’s warm (and cool), have fun with holiday

packaging, craft a magnetic pet habitat, and more.

29 Let’s Cook

Our crowd-pleasing gingerbread trifle lets kids bake a

cake, cook custard, and whip up a fluffy topping.

33 Let’s Party

Ring out the old and welcome the new with a fool-the-

clock, fancy-dress New Year’s Eve party that’s fun for all.

37 Let’s Go

Spend a day in the Bavarian-themed town of Helen,

Georgia. Plus, Pennsylvania’s Steamtown train museum.

42 Success Story

One mom gives her family a license to be grumpy — and

finds everyone getting happy instead.

45 My Great Idea

A high-scoring holiday card, tips for slowing down the

Christmas morning frenzy, and more.

51 Healthy Fun

How to build a pond hockey goal, set fitness targets, and

help your family feel great.

55 Family Home

With empty boxes and other recyclables, you can set up

your young cooks in their very own play kitchen.

93 Our Favorite Things

Special holiday gift guide edition.

104 Fun Shop

The latest FamilyFun products.

106 Keep In Touch

Send us your ideas! Plus, this month’s online highlight.

108 Treat of the Month

The ultimate dessert for foggy Christmas Eves.

December/January 2011

20

12

52

55

99

106

29

34

37

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

5

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Goodness conquers all. Meet your secret weapon in the junk

food wars. The sweet citrus that kids love, Cuties® are a cinch to peel, fun to eat and

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Goodness conquers all. Meet your secret weapon in the junk

are a cinch to peel, fun to eat and

bursting with good things like vitamin C, folate and other important nutrients. Plus,

Cuties are free from fat, cholesterol and sodium. And the winner is: your kids’ health.

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A Special Edition of

PLUS: easy holiday organizing tips BONUS! clip-and-use gift tags and decorations

gifts, recipes, decorations, & traditionsfestive ideas

On newsstands now

Your ultimate holiday guide!

Complete with full-color

photos and step-by-step

instructions, this 100-

page collector’s edition is

packed with the very best

Christmas ideas from the

experts at FamilyFun.

Party Food

BO

NU

S

This cheery fellow won’t have a chance to melt — he’ll

be gobbled up too quickly! Dress him in whatever

tasty tidbits you have on hand, or use the appetizing

suggestions shown here.In a large bowl, mix ½ teaspoon garlic salt and ½ teaspoon

onion powder with 16 ounces softened cream cheese. Cover

the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours. Make the

snowman by rolling two thirds of the cheese into a ball for his

body. Roll the other third into a ball for his head and stack it on

top. Add features, such as a carrot nose and scarf, raisin eyes,

pretzel arms, and a hat of crackers. Make a mini corncob pipe

by sliding a ½-inch piece of canned baby corn onto a toothpick.

To make one, bake your favorite cake recipe in a 9- by

13-inch pan, taking care to spread the batter evenly so

that the top is level. Let the cake cool thoroughly, remove

it from the pan, and cut it as shown in one of the diagrams.

Assemble the cake on a platter, if needed, then frost and

decorate it as you wish.

With just a few cuts, you can transform a simple cake into

a holiday symbol: a tree for Christmas or a dreidel for

Hanukkah. After it’s frosted, let your kids embellish it with

candy ornaments, such as gumdrops and peppermints.

two-in-one cake

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While most stops take about 15 minutes, guests linger at the

last house to savor a special dessert and revel in the good com-

pany.

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frosty the cheese ball

Plan a Progressive DinnerEvery year, Tara Barton organizes a house-to-house feast in her

McDonough, Georgia, neighborhood. Each of the 11 families

involved supplies a different course for the holiday meal. “The

kids love our party and look forward to it because they know

they’ll get to run around and visit lots of friends,” Tara says.

NE

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FUN

59FamilyFunChristmas 2010

First make the topping. In a medium bowl, whip

K cup whipping cream until it’s frothy. Add

1 tablespoon chocolate syrup and a dash of

cinnamon, then continue to whip the mixture

until it forms peaks. Set out six mugs. In each,

microwave 1 cup milk and 2 teaspoons sugar for

90 seconds. Stir in ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.

Top each with a dollop of chocolate cream,

a drizzle of chocolate syrup, and a dash of

cinnamon. Serves 6.

This vanilla-flavored tummy warmer, topped

with a dollop of chocolaty cream, turns the

classic hot chocolate recipe on its head.

hot vanilla

FE

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IVE

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58 FamilyFunChristmas 2010

cut

Inside you’ll find...

• 28 recipes

• 40 crafts

• 23 gifts kids can make

You’ll also get:

• Keepsake projects

you’ll treasure

• Meaningful traditions

to start this year

• Sweet ways families

can give back

And so much more!

Every idea family-tested & approved!

$9.99 at major retailers or order online at

FamilyFun.com/funshop

�������������� ��������#&∀�∋��������������������� ���

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

9

Advertising

VP, SALES AND GROUP PUBLISHER Deborah Mignucci

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ellen Antoville

NEW YORK 212-727-4847

Errol Griffiths, Douglas Harrison, Christine Barker

CHICAGO 312-595-7734

TERRITORY MANAGER Lauri Krajewski Niedermaier

ACCOUNT MANAGER Andrea Conti-Pabst

ACCOUNT MANAGER Stephanie Balter

LOS ANGELES 818-955-4704

WESTERN MANAGER Meryl K. Russo

SAN FRANCISCO 707-933-1823

Jenks & Co. Liz Horan Jenks,Margie Petersen

ATLANTA 404-846-1616

Fusion Media Sales Julie Kern

BOSTON 978-263-5577

Northeast Media Marketers Kurt Jones

DALLAS 469-232-9636

Zeko Media Dean Zeko

HONOLULU 808-737-4621

Media Links Laurie Doerschlen

CLASSIFIEDS 708-352-8832

Classmark Kathy Gleason

VP AND GENERAL MANAGER Aparna Pande

Editorial correspondence: 47 Pleasant Street, Northampton, MA 01060 or queries.familyfun@disney.com. Address manuscripts and other materials to Let’s Create, Success Story, or Let’s

Go. FamilyFun does not accept and cannot be held responsible for any unsolicited materials. All materials must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope and become the

property of FamilyFun. All rights to submitted materials also become property of FamilyFun. Materials may be edited for length and clarity and may be used without compensation and

acknowledgment. Please include a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. Subscription rates: $14.95 per year (10 issues) in the U.S.; $24.95 (U.S. dollars) in Canada; $34.95

(U.S. dollars) overseas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FamilyFun, P.O. Box 37033, Boone, IA 50037-0033. Subscription correspondence or back

issues: Go to FamilyFun.com/mysubscription; write to FamilyFun, P.O. Box 37033, Boone, IA 50037-0033; or send e-mail to FAFcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com.

Mailing lists and cover wraps: From time to time, we provide our subscriber mailing lists to selected companies for their promotional use. If you prefer that

your information not be provided, please have your mailing label available, log in at FamilyFun.com/mysubscription, and go to “Add/Update Your E-mail

Address.” To receive your magazine without a cover wrap, please go to FamilyFun.com/mysubscription and select “click here to e-mail customer service” to

send your request. © 2010 FamilyFun. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Printed in the U.S.A.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Ann Hallock

EDITOR Jonathan Adolph

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Mary Giles

MANAGING EDITOR Barbara Findlen

SENIOR EDITORS Debra Immergut, Deborah Way

SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ellen Harter Wall

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Becky Karush

ASSOCIATE TEST KITCHEN MANAGER Alcestis Llobrera

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Sandra L. Wickland

ASSISTANT EDITORS Amy Brown, Joy Howard

COPY CHIEF Faye S. Wolfe

RESEARCH CHIEF Beth Honeyman

ASSISTANT EDITORIAL RESEARCHER Jennifer Lynch

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Jean Cranston

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Amy Kaldor-Bull

Consumer Marketing and Manufacturing

DIRECTOR, MANUFACTURING Duncan Calhoun

SR. MANAGER, CONSUMER MARKETING Curt Baker

CIRCULATION DEVELOPMENT MANAGER John Albin

ASSOC. CIRC. DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Senora Higgs

ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER Patricia Ventrello

ASSOCIATE CIRCULATION MANAGER Matt Rokicki

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jennifer Mayer

SENIOR PRINT PURCHASING MANAGER Deborah Nassayan

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER Tisha Paul

Marketing and Research

DIRECTOR, MARKETING Mary Jo Rathgeb

MARKETING DIRECTOR Lindsay Margolis

ASSOCIATE MARKETING MANAGER Katherine Wegert

MARKETING COORDINATOR Chase Kehoe

SALES DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Regina Buzzi

RESEARCH DIRECTOR Peggy O’Neill

CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Dana Fiore

SENIOR PROMOTION DESIGNER Gosia Nosowicz

D I S N E Y P U B L I S H I N G W O R L D W I D E

PRESIDENT R. Russell Hampton Jr.

SVP, GROUP PUBLISHER Rajmohan P. Murari

VP, FINANCIAL PLANNING Jean-Pierre Fabre

DIRECTOR, FINANCE Erika Weaver

VP, GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES Robin Eletto

DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES Melissa Hughes

ART DIRECTOR Michael Grinley

DEPUTY DESIGN DIRECTOR Moira Greto

PHOTO EDITOR Mark Mantegna

SENIOR DESIGNER Kandy Littrell

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTORS Tim MacKay, Sally Weaver

DESIGNER Pablo E. Yglesias

DIGITAL MANAGER Samuel Mead

FACILITIES MANAGER Elaine Kehoe

OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Amy Wickland Pytko

RECEPTIONIST Terry Carr

BUSINESS SYSTEMS ANALYST Thomas Lepper

Brand Development

DIRECTOR, CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT Deanna F. Cook

MANAGER, CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT Dawn Chipman

SENIOR DESIGNER, CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT Chris Shadoian

CONTRIBUTORS Rani Arbo, Deborah Geigis Berry, Nicole Blum, Jodi Butler, Sharon Miller Cindrich, Ken Haedrich,

Charlotte Meryman, Catherine Newman, Leslie Garisto Pfaff, Nicole Blasenak Shapiro,

Kimberly Stoney, Lisa Stowe, Maryellen Sullivan, Lee M. Woodruff, Lynn Zimmerman

Gary Valentine, Dean Cain,Paris Hilton (as the Voice of Bella)

and Mario López (as the Voice of Zeus)!

Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Program Content © 2010 Hybrid, LLC. All Rights Reserved. © ABC Family.

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103411 CROCS – Ski Woman (Crocband Winter Boot PLUM)

the crocband

winter boot

form-to-foot support über-lightweight odor-resistant

Feel the warmhearted hug of Croslite,™ the loyal,

loving technology in Crocs™ shoes that massages your feet, while

cozy linings keep your toes toasty. Surefooted shoes that love you back.

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My husband’s side of the family is large (2 grandparents + 7 grown kids + 6

spouses + 11 grandchildren = 26 people to think about at Christmas!). On a

practical level, that’s too many to buy gifts for. And on a values level, we’d all

rather make the holidays about giving to others, not getting a ton of presents.

The solution? Our annual family donation drawing, which has become a

beloved holiday tradition. Here’s how we do it.Ann Hallock

Editorial Director

Our Fun Staff

A few weeks before Christmas, an

e-mail goes out to all the adults in the

family noting that it’s time to pick charities

for the annual donation drawing, and

reminding them how the whole thing works.

Each family writes a check for an amount

equal to their family’s total age in years. So if

you have two 40-year-old parents, an 8-year-

old, and a 6-year-old, you contribute $94.

The families then discuss the various groups

they’d like to give money to. Each person gets to

write down a choice, so you can agree to pool your

family’s votes for one organization or submit a slate

of candidates (one year, my daughter, then a pre-

schooler, simply wrote down “help tigers”).

When the cheering subsides, the winning

family collects the money and writes a single check

for the grand total to the charity of their choice.

Winner's bonus: claiming the donation on their

tax return! Next year they send out the reminder

e-mail, which starts the tradition all over again ...

On Christmas morning, everyone arrives

with kids, food, checks, and charity names on

slips of paper. At some point during the mayhem,

the slips of paper are thrown into a hat, and my

father-in-law (aka Grandaddy) picks the winner.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

11

A Gift That Makes Everyone Happy

the

crocband winter flat

the

crocband mammoth

the

crocband mammoth

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T H E F I N E P R I N T

12

Stars of the Stage

Dancing chimney sweeps, a bottomless carpet-

bag, a flying nanny: the Mary Poppins musical is

full of magic. In the show, a shopkeeper’s ginger-

bread stars remind Mr. Banks of his childhood

and help him connect with his children. Bring

that connection home by baking these

celestial treats. Simply use any ginger-

bread cookie recipe (or try ours

at FamilyFun.com/magazine)

and a star-shaped cookie cutter.

Before baking, brush the stars

with milk, then sprinkle them

with yellow sugar. For tickets to

the show, visit marypoppins.com.

You’ll Flip for This Toy

Tron: Legacy enters theater terminals

December 17. The film is a follow-up to the

original Tron, with Sam Flynn venturing into

the dangerous Grid his father explored in 1982.

We have 15 Zero Gravity RC Light Cycles

(valued at $35) to give away. Modeled after the

swift, light-trailing vehicles in the Tron uni-

verse, the RC cycle can race up walls and even

across the ceiling. For a chance to win, send an

e-mail by January 31, 2011, with your name,

address, birth date (entrants must be age 13 or

older), and phone number to contest.family

fun@disney.com, with “Light Cycle” in the

subject line. One entry per household, please.2

super

sweep

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I N S P I R E D R E C I P E

G R E A T G I V E A W A Y

Win a Dream TripThe newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney

Dream, doesn’t set sail until January, but it’s already making

waves. The ship boasts the first at-sea water coaster, which

winds up, down, and around the upper decks and swings out

over the ocean, 150 feet below. And “magical” portholes in

inside staterooms provide real-time views outside.

Want to be one of the first to experience the Disney Dream?

FamilyFun has secured a slot for one reader family on the

Magical Preview Cruise, January 23 to 26. The prize includes

airfare, meals, and lodging in a deluxe stateroom with a

veranda, for a family of four. For full details, see the Disney

Dream Cruise contest rules at FamilyFun.com/magazine.

Don’t delay: the entry deadline for this extraordinary oppor-

tunity is December 15.

For a chance to win, send an e-mail by December 15, 2010,

with your name, address, birth date (entrants must be age

13 or older), and phone number to contest.familyfun@

disney.com, with “Disney Dream” in the subject line. One

entry per household, please.1

Disney Fun

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Begins November 5, ends December 15, 2010, for legal residents of 50 states and D.C., ages 13 and older. Find the full rules at FamilyFun.com/magazine.1

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Begins November 5, 2010, ends January 31, 2011, for legal residents of 50 states and D.C., ages 13 and older. Find the full rules at FamilyFun.com/magazine.2

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A M O M E N T T H AT M A D E

T H E M S M I L E F R O M G I L L T O G I L L

Riley • September 2009 • Got a great fish tale for her 5th birthday.

©Disney DP-10-18628

Ever y parent knows the t reasure that memor ies can be . And Disney memor ies ?

They ’re mag ica l th ings you can ho ld on to for a l l t ime . So why wa i t ? There ’s a

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disneyparks.com/memories and i t may appear in one of our ads .

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What Others Are Saying ...On her blog, janessweets.blogspot.com, Jane Malonis praised

the “ooey, gooey, sticky, chewy vibe” of the s’mores we came

up with for a Camp Rock 2 viewing party. Because the bars are

baked, she notes, they travel well in a lunch box, and “you

don’t need a campfire ... or even summertime” to enjoy them.

On Top of the SmokiesMy grandfather was Jack Huff, who established

LeConte Lodge, so it was a treat to read about it in the

Let’s Go section. Growing up on the mountain, my

dad had a love for the place, and it has always been a

part of my life. I am now passing that love on to my

own kids. Every year we go there for a Huff family

reunion. Here we all are on our latest visit.

Greg Huff Clemmons, NC

#1 The rank

readers gave Treat of

the Month. Moms

(and one grandma)

wrote to tell us the

Apple of Our Eye

cupcakes were great

back-to-school treats.

50,000The number of fans

who are now part of

the conversation on

our Facebook page

(Facebook.com/

DisneyFamilyFun).

3 The number of times in eight days

that @kneatfreak made our Rockin’

S’more bars, featured on our Disney

Fun page, after her September issue

arrived. The recipe, she tweeted us,

“is going to be the death of me.” Who

else wanted s’more? See below left.

September by the Numbers

Mailbox

C O R R E C T I O N

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

15

“Bike baskets don’t fit my 6-year-old son

Wyatt’s bicycle, and most are a little too

‘girlie’ for him anyway. The Bike Tube in

Let’s Create was a fun project that served

a practical purpose for us, too.”

Sherry Duin Portland, OR

In the November issue, the price given for Squap, a game featured in our “Toy of the Year Awards”article, was incorrect. It is $25, not $2.

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Mailbox

Tee Backpacks for Two I've been getting FamilyFun for more than ten

years and look forward to each issue. From

September, my daughter, Katherine, age 8, and

I took the idea of turning a T-shirt into a back-

pack and added matching scarves. Katherine

(left) and friend Maddie, 9, love their new gear.

Heidi Long Indianola, IA

“The neighborhood kids had a ball playing

Giant Marbles from ‘After-School Fun &

Games.’ My boys are the ones with the

curly blonde hair — identical twins.”

Carolyn Fennell Mount Pleasant, SC

Suggested Medal Categories

Tyson Champion Chart Encourage your kids to make healthier choices with some positive

reinforcement. Create this fun “Champion Chart,” complete with inspiring

medals to track and reward their progress! Just like serving 100% All Natural*

Tyson® Chicken Nuggets, the system may help you ease a fussy eater into

trying something new and encourage balanced eating habits, while motivating

kids to help out and spend family time together during meals.

Visit tyson.com to learn more. ©2010 Tyson Foods, Inc. Tyson is a registered trademark of Tyson Foods, Inc.

How it Works: Every time your kids perform a task in one of our

suggested categories, they earn a medal to be placed on that day. Each week,

have each child strive to earn three medals, in any combination. Once they earn

their medals, consider offering a special reward, such as:

• Choosing an active backyard game

to play as a family

• Picking a craft to create together

• Selecting a movie for family night

Super Snacker

• Eat a healthy snack on your own

• Come up with a new fruit or vegetable to pair with Tyson® Chicken Nuggets

• Invent a fun food name for your healthy snack

Adventurous Eater

• Be brave! Eat something for the fi rst time – just make sure it’s healthy

• Create your own dip to pair with Tyson® Chicken Nuggets

• Shape the food on your plate into an animal, face or trees

Awesome Athlete

• Go sledding or build a snowman in the front yard

• Walk the dog around the block

• Practice the sport of your choice for 30 minutes

Kitchen Helper

• Help Mom with the food preparation

• Set the dinner table for the family, or pick up the dishes after dinner

• Suggest a topic for “table talk” during one meal

*Minimally processed; no artifi cial ingredientstyson.com to learn more .

ft to create together

vie for f amily night

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Made with 100% all natural ingredients.

The nuggets, not the plate.

©2010

TysonFoods,Inc.

Minimally processed, no artificial ingredients

FF10032.indd 1 7/13/10 4:30:23 PM

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For more wearable winter warmers to make, look in our February 2011 issue.

C O M I N G N E X T I S S U E

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

19

iScarf

This funky scarf has a pocket

for your MP3 player, letting

you rock out to cool tunes

while keeping warm.

Cut a piece of polar fleece

into a long rectangle (ours

is 7 by 38 inches). For the

pocket, cut a polar fleece

rectangle that’s about an inch

wider than your music player

(our pocket is 3¾ by 4½

inches). Thread an embroidery

needle with embroidery floss.

Use a running stitch to sew

three sides of the rectangle to

the scarf, as shown. Attach

pom-pom ball trim to the ends

of the scarf with fabric glue.

simple

sewing

project

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

20

C R A F T E R ’ S N O T E

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

20

RecyclobotHere’s an ecofriendly activity for Christmas afternoon. Gather the

packaging that all those toys came in — cardboard box bits, molded

plastic cases, twisty wires, and styrofoam shapes — and challenge

your family to turn the materials into robots. Use tacky glue, tape,

and glue dots to hold your creations together.

festiv

e

frugal

fun

What can you do with the knee-high drifts of used

gift wrap that show up like Santa every Christmas?

Let them form the beginning of a year-long project

that ends with a game played on Christmas Eve

the following year.*Start by wrapping a small prize, such as an

inexpensive toy, in a section of gift wrap. Layer on

additional wrap to create a ball, securing it tightly

with plenty of tape. Through the year, on birthdays

and other holidays, add more layers to the ball.

On Christmas Eve, have players sit in a circle

with the ball and a pair of dice. One player begins

unwrapping the ball as fast as he can while the

player to his left rolls the dice repeatedly until he

gets a 7. When he does, the ball is passed to him to

unwrap, and the dice are passed to the next player.

Ripping and dice-rolling continues until someone

finally reaches the prize and claims it as the winner.

Wrap Ball Game

Kris Bordessa, a frequent contributor, plays this game every year. She says, “I love that the

game involves everyone and that I get one last use out of the wrap before it’s recycled.”

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COLORS: CMYK PUB: Family Fun DESCRIPTION: Mom ExcusesFOR QUESTIONS CALL: Jen Duncan 214-891-5808 INSERTION: Dec. 2010 / Jan. 2011

©2010 A

untie A

nne’s, In

c.

Purchase any pretzel product and get a free Signature pretzel of equal or lesser value. One coupon per person, one-time use only. Duplicated

or altered coupons not accepted. Not a cash substitute. Valid at participating U.S. Auntie Anne’s locations. Expires 12/31/11. (CPN3)

Find your nearest store at auntieannes.com.

Another Really Good Excuse: Buy A Pretzel, Get A FREE One To Share.

100021AUN 7 _875x10_5_FF.indd 1 100021AUN 7_875x10_5_FF.indd 1 10/12/10 4 :07 P M10/12/10 4:07 PM

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T A K E I T F U R T H E R

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

22

A hybrid between a gift bag and a box, this

sturdy holiday packaging can be used over

and over again. To make one, trim the top

flaps from a cereal box. Wrap the box as you

would a gift, leaving about 2 inches of paper

free around the open end. Fold the excess

paper down into the box and secure it with

glue stick or tape. For the handles, punch two

holes in each side of the box, thread ribbons

through the holes, and knot the ends.

Gift “Baxes”

If your family loves spinning the dreidel, check out majorleaguedreidel.com. The MLD organizes dreidel

tournaments and sells an official game board called the Spinagogue. Their slogan? “No gelt, no glory!”

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Everyone’s a winner with these

healthy dreidel treats! For each cookie,

cut the corners from one end of a fig

bar cookie to form a point. Insert a

pretzel stick into the opposite end.

Outline the cookies in white frosting,

and write (nun), (hei), (shin),

and (gimel) in the center in blue.

Shin Newtons

holida

y

treat

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www.payless.com

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FAMILY FUN Dec10.indd 1 9/14/10 4:59 PM

PACIFIC DIGITAL IMAGE • 333 Broadway, San Francisco CA 94133 • 415.274.7234 • www.pacdigital.comFilename: Operator: Time:256389pay01FAM_FN.pdf_wf02 SpoolServer 22:24:22

FF10264.indd 1 10/13/10 3:54:56 PM

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Card of

Houses

Thanks to easy-to-use

and inexpensive office-

supply-store stickers,

even preschoolers can

transform plain brown

cards into gingerbread

houses.

funfor

littleones

For these cards, we used a variety of self-adhesive products, including hole reinforcements,

name badges, and color-coding dots in N- and O-inch diameters.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

24

For each card, cut a house shape from

brown card stock using our template (avail-

able at FamilyFun.com/magazine). Fold

the side flaps in, then decorate the front with

office-supply stickers,* punching holes in

some, if desired. Cut a square of white paper

to fit the inside of the card for the message,

then secure it in place with a glue stick.

T O O L S O F T H E T R A D E

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I LIKE THAT IT MAKES

BRUSHING SAFE.

THEY LIKE THAT IT MAKES

BRUSHING FUN.

THANKS, ORAJEL.

Good brushing habits start with Orajel®.

Plus, it’s fluoride-free, so it’s safe if swallowed. Thanks, Orajel.

4 Months — 18 Months 18 Months — 4 Years

For more information, visit us at www.orajel.com. ORAJEL and BABY ORAJEL are trademarks of Church & Dwight Co., Inc. ©2010 Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

™ & © Nelvana ™Wild Things Productions. © M. Sendak All Rights Reserved. ©2010 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. HASBRO and its logo, MY LITTLE PONY

and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. ©2010 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

FF10297.indd 1 10/21/10 1:49:21 PM

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1

2

4

3

5

How to ...

You will need:

� 8K- by 11-inch

acrylic box frame

� Tacky glue

� Cereal box

� W-inch glue dots

� K-inch-diameter

magnets

� Plastic animals*� Marker cap

� N cup fine sand

� Small stones

� 4 wooden spools

or blocks

� String

� Pencil

� Tape

Choose plastic toy animals that easily fit inside the frame and have low-slung bodies to which

you can attach a magnet. A leggy giraffe won’t work; fish or reptiles like ours are safe bets.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

26

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Make a Magnetic Pet HabitatAdd life to an acrylic box frame — available at craft stores for

around $5 — by filling it with creatures that appear to move

under their own power. (In reality, you control the creatures by

sliding a hidden magnetic wand along the bottom of the box.)

1 Cut the back panel from the frame’s cardboard box, as shown.

To strengthen the floor of the habitat, use tacky glue to affix an

8K- by 11-inch piece of cereal-box cardboard inside the frame’s box.

2 Use glue dots to attach strong magnets to the undersides of

the plastic animals and to one end of the marker cap. You may need

to put two or three glue dots inside the cap first to fill the space.

3 Place the sand, the creatures, and a few small stones inside

the box, then cover it with the plastic lid.

4 Use glue dots to secure a spool to each corner of the box.

5 Knot the ends of a 2-foot-long piece of string. Sandwich one

knotted end between glue dots, and use a pencil to push it inside

the marker cap. Tape the other end of the string to the bottom

of the box. Move the wand

beneath the box to move

the creatures.

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©2010 Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon, EOS and Rebel are registered trademarks of Canon Inc. in the United States. IMAGEANYWARE is a trademark of Canon. All rights reserved.

There’s a story beyond every still. Find yours.

The all-new Canon EOS Rebel T2i shoots 18 Megapixels and 1080p Full HD video, with every

frame as beautiful as a photograph. All you have to do is pick it up and start shooting.

Visit usa.canon.com/beach to see what lies beyond this still. Inspired. By Canon.

FF10148.indd 1 8/16/10 10:40:20 PM

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TM

It all started in Hawaii with our original Island recipe. Today, King’s Hawaiian®

sweet bread and rolls are still creating lifelong fans wherever they’re served.

To truly know how irresistible they are, open up a bag and taste for yourself.

Almost making it to the table for over 50 years.

TM Aloha in ev� y bite.

FF10138.indd 1 8/16/10 10:39:28 PM

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Top your holiday table with a beautiful — and bountiful — dessertBy Kathy Farrell-Kingsley

Make the gingerbread:

Step 1 Heat the oven to 350°.

Generously grease and flour a

9-inch round cake pan. In a small

bowl, whisk together the flour, bak-

ing soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt.

Ingredients:

For the gingerbread:

� 2½ cups flour

� 1½ teaspoons baking soda

� 1 teaspoon ground ginger

� 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

� ½ teaspoon salt

� ½ cup butter, slightly softened

� ½ cup sugar

� ¾ cup dark molasses

� 2 large eggs, at room temperature

� ¾ cup buttermilk

For the vanilla custard:

� 9 large eggs

� ¾ cup sugar

� ¼ cup flour

� 3 cups whole milk

� 1¼ teaspoons vanilla extract

For the filling and garnish:

� 3 (12-ounce) packages frozen unsweetened

raspberries, thawed and drained

� 3 tablespoons sugar

� 1 cup chilled heavy cream

� 2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar

� ½ pint fresh raspberries

Our version of this classic English confection is a festive feast for the eyes. The

luscious layers of gingerbread cake, vanilla custard, raspberries, and whipped cream

form a dramatic dessert that also stacks up in taste. This three-part recipe lets kids

bake a cake, cook custard, whip up a fluffy topping, and assemble it all into a treat

that can feed a crowd. You can serve it in any deep bowl, but for maximum impact,

we recommend a trifle (ours is about 5 inches deep).*

Gingerbread Trifle

HANDS-ON TIME: 70 MINUTES / TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 55 MINUTES (PLUS CHILLING) / SERVES: 18

W H E R E T O F I N D I T

*A glass trifle or footed bowl like the one pictured can be purchased at a cookingsupply store or a large retailer, such as Target, for around $20.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

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Step 1 Divide the egg yolks and

whites by carefully tipping each

yolk back and forth between the

shell halves, letting the whites spill

into a bowl.* Place the yolks in a

separate bowl. In a large bowl with

an electric mixer set on medium-

high speed, beat the yolks and

sugar until the mixture is pale yel-

low and thick, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Reduce the speed to low and beat

in the flour.

Step 3 Pour the batter into the

cake pan and bake until a wooden

toothpick inserted into the center

of the cake comes out clean, about

45 minutes. Let the cake cool com-

pletely on a wire rack, then cover it

tightly with plastic wrap until

ready to use. It can be stored in

the pan at room temperature for

up to two days.

Step 2 In a medium saucepan,

bring the milk to a boil. Slowly

pour half the milk into the egg

mixture and beat until blended,

then pour the mixture into the

remaining milk in the pan. Over

medium heat, bring the ingredi-

ents to a boil while whisking con-

stantly. Allow the custard to boil

for 1 minute as you continue to

whisk. Remove the pan from the

heat and stir in the vanilla.

Step 2 In a large bowl with an

electric mixer set on medium-high

speed, beat the butter until it’s soft

and creamy, about 1 minute. Use a

spatula to scrape down the sides of

the bowl, then add the sugar and

molasses and beat again until the

mixture is well blended and fluffy,

about 2 minutes more. Add the eggs

one at a time, beating 30 seconds

after each addition. Slowly pour in

the buttermilk and beat well. Reduce

the mixer’s speed to low and slowly

add half the flour mixture to the

bowl and beat until blended. Repeat

with the other half.

Make the custard:

B A K E R ’ S T I P

Save the egg whites for omelets, meringues, and other dishes: refrigeratethem (up to four days) or freeze them (up to 12 months).*

Mpls/StPaul 10/11

People Style Watch 10/11

SJ–3

EXPECT MORE.

PAY LESS.®

®

* Terms and conditions apply to gift cards. The name and logo of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, expressed or implied, of any product or company. ©2010 Target Stores. Target and the Bullseye Design are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. 110325

Since 1962, Target has given

5% of its income to support local

communities. Today, that totals

more than $3 million in giving every

week. This holiday season, we

celebrate our partners who take

care of those in need, like St. Jude

Children’s Research Hospital.®

We’re making it easy for you to

help this season as well. Simply

purchase a Target gift card*

of $20 or more November 28–

December 4, and we’ll donate $1 per card to St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital — up to $750,000.

Shop and spread the joy.

www.stjude.org

‘Tis the season of giving.

FF0111COOK_3A:2010Template 10/27/10 7:06 PM Page 30

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Step 2 Arrange a layer of six

cake wedges over the bottom of a

2½-quart bowl. Fill the center with

a few of the trimmings. Spoon and

spread ¾ cup of the raspberry

mixture over the cake, then top the

fruit with 1 cup of custard. Repeat

the layering three more times with

the remaining ingredients. Cover

the bowl with plastic wrap and

refrigerate it for at least 3 hours to

let the flavors meld (the dessert

can be stored overnight).

Assemble the trifle:

Step 3 Let the custard cool

slightly, then cover its surface with

a piece of plastic wrap to prevent

a skin from forming. Let the cus-

tard cool completely, then refriger-

ate it until ready to use (up to

three days).

Step 1 In a medium bowl, toss

the thawed raspberries and sugar.

Remove the gingerbread from the

pan and use a serrated knife to slice

it into four equal wedges. Turn each

wedge on its side and slice it into

three equal pieces. Stack them, slice

the pile in half, and cut off 1½ inches

from the tips, reserving the pieces.

Kathy Farrell-Kingsley is a Connecticut-

based food writer and cookbook author.

Step 3 Before serving, make the

whipped cream. In a medium

bowl with an electric mixer on

medium-high speed, whip the

cream with the confectioners’

sugar until soft peaks form, about

3 minutes. Use a spatula to

spread the whipped cream on top

of the trifle, and garnish it with

the fresh raspberries.

n FIND NUTRITIONAL

INFORMATION ON PAGE 102

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

31

Soak stained baseball uniforms

in OxiClean® before washing.

For just pennies, you’ll bat a

thousand against dirt, clay

and other tough messes.

101 uses.101 ways to save.More info and uses at oxiclean.com

Strike outmajor

league stains.

USE #41:

©2010 Church & Dwight Co, Inc.

Oxi_VBDT_Family Fun_Dec Jan 10.indd 1 9/27/2010 10:01:16 AM

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No need to break out the good silver — get a shimmering look by decorating your table with metallic gift wrap.

Add even more glitz with an aluminum-can vase and shiny ornaments from the Christmas tree.

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FAMILYFUN

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A Happy New Year’s EveRing out the old and welcomethe new with a fool-the-clock

fancy-dress party that’s fun for all ages

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F A M I LY F U N C L A S S I C

Dress for the occasionAsk guests to wear fancy, funky outfits, then invite them

to craft accessories. For an elegant tiara, join two pipe

cleaners to form the headband, then use more to crown

it with criss-crossing loops or a festive “2011.” For a

snazzy bow tie, flatten a foil baking cup and fold the top

and bottom into the center. Wrap a pipe cleaner around

the middle to form a bow shape, then add a neck band.

Bake a timely treatThese clock cookies start

with your favorite sugar-

cookie dough, cut into

31/2-inch circles and baked.

Decorate the cooled treats

with white frosting and add

details with black decorator’s

gel. Let the cookies set

overnight, then slip them into

CD sleeves. If you like, hang

the goodies from a branch

spray-painted silver and stuck

in a weighted container (we

used a bucket).

Serve a cheesyTimes Square ballHungry partygoers will cheer our

silvery “midnight” snack, inspired

by the famed New York City original

(inset). Use an unopened 8-ounce can

(ours contains pineapple rings) and a

head of cabbage, covered and joined

with aluminum foil, for the base. Set

1-inch cheese cubes into mini foil

baking cups, then skewer them on frilly

toothpicks, inserting the pointy ends

into the cabbage. Hold the ball up high,

have the kids count down as you lower it

to the table, and let snacktime begin.

Shake things up Create a joyful

jingle with some

sparkly noise-

makers. For each, wrap

the end of a bunch of tinsel

around a chopstick and secure it

with a rubber band. Thread two small jingle

bells on a pipe cleaner and wrap the ends

around the top of the chopstick.

To accommodate kids’ bedtimes, set clocks back so “midnight” happens a few hours earlier.

At the big moment, let kids parade outside, banging pots and shaking their noisemakers.34

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VAN. MYTH. LEGEND.

The best-selling minivan* in the land is now vanlier than ever. Available features like a

Split-Widescreen Rear Entertainment System,† a hard drive that fits thousands of songs,**

a USB Audio Interface†† and a leather-trimmed interior will have you riding in dazzling

van glory. While a powerful and efficient 28 hwy mpg‡ V-6 engine will take you places

you forgot existed. Introducing the all-new Honda Odyssey. Like no van before.

1-800-33-Honda *Based on R. L. Polk & Co. U.S. retail registrations, Minivan segment, 1/08 – 6/10. †A separate source device is required to use split-screen function. **Hard disk drive (HDD) 15-GB memory audio system standard on navigation-equipped models. ††The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your Honda dealer for details. ‡19 city/28 hwy 2011 EPA mileage estimates for Odyssey Touring models with 6AT. Use for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage will vary. Touring Elite model shown. ©2010 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

odyssey.honda.com

VAN. MYTH. LEGEND.

The best-selling minivan* in the land is now vanlier than ever before. Available features like a

Split-Widescreen Rear Entertainment System,† a hard drive that fits thousands of songs,** a USB

Audio Interface†† and a leather-trimmed interior will have you riding in dazzling van glory. While a

powerful and efficient 28 hwy mpg‡ V-6 engine will take you places you forgot existed. Introducing

the all-new Honda Odyssey. Like no van before.

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Find more things to see and do in Helen at helenga.org.

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Spendaday in:

Helen, GeorgiaThere aren’t a lot of places in

the United States where you can

hear live polka music in the streets

or stroll around beside men in

lederhosen and women in colorful

dirndls. But then, there aren’t a lot

of places like Helen, Georgia.

Nestled by the Chattahoochee

National Forest, this small town is

a storybook version of a traditional

Bavarian village, complete with

gingerbread turrets and cobble-

stone alleys. Come winter, Helen

becomes even more magical, as

holiday lights, life-size toy soldiers,

and giant lollipops decorate the

streets, and Santa leads horse-

drawn carriage rides.

My husband, French, and I have

visited Helen during the holidays

many times, and we wanted to

share the experience with our

three-year-old (and aptly named)

daughter, Heidi. Driving into town

one brisk weekend last December,

A family finds that holiday fun is wunderbar at a Bavarian

village in northern Georgia By Deborah R. Huso

Left: Downtown Helen. Below:

1. Cabbage Patch babies at nearby

BabyLand General Hospital 2. A

Black Forest Bear Park resident

3. Alpine Mini Golf 4. Hofer’s Bakery

5. A carriage ride through town

1 2 3 4 5

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

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Helen hosts events throughout the month of December, including the annual Christmas Parade,

a treasure hunt, holiday craft-making, and Kinderfest, a traditional children’s festival.

we crested a low hill and saw a sudden

spray of twinkling lights and castle-

like buildings before us.

Heidi drew in her breath. “Wow,

look at that!” she cried. I couldn’t have

said it better myself. Here’s how we

enjoyed our outing, Bavarian-style.

We start the day with a horse-drawn

carriage ride offered by the Alpine

Carriage Company 1. As we clip-

clop along, our driver tells us the

history of Helen, which was once a

struggling mining and logging town.

In the 1960s, local business leaders

decided to make the community a

tourist destination by transforming it

into a Bavarian village. The plan

worked: these days, visitors flock to

see the unusual architecture and

attend German-inspired events and

festivals. ($7 for adults, $5 for kids

ages 12 and under; 706-892-8134;

alpinecarriagecompany.com)

After our ride, we explore the shops

along the decorated streets.

Inside the eclectic and delightful

Wildewood Shop 2, Heidi sifts

through a pile of gemstones and

plays with the dangling wind

chimes. Kids can make their own

sand art here, and Heidi opts to

get an airbrush tattoo as well.

“Look, Mommy, it’s a butterfly,”

she says. (Temporary tattoos

from $4; 706-878-9453)

At the Glassblowing

Shop 3, we are dazzled by

the delicate figurines that fill

the shelves. A fourth-generation family

of artisans is hard at work here, shaping

and stretching molten glass tubes and

rods into beautiful pendants, flowers,

dragons, even swan-shaped barometers.

(Figurines from $3; 706-878-3156;

glassblowingshop.com)

By lunchtime, we’re ready for some

hearty Bavarian fare at Hofer’s

Bakery & Café 4. Judging by the

crowd there, it’s the most popular

place in town; we pass the time in line

admiring the oodles of pastries in the

glass cases. I barely have room for

dessert, however, after my lunch of

hot sliced turkey and melted cheese

on a croissant, topped with bacon bits.

French orders Spätzle Schwarzwald, a

traditional noodle dish, and Heidi

chooses ham and cheese noodles.

(Entrées from $7.50, kids’ menu from

$4; 706-878-8200; hofers.com)

Fueled up, we walk down the block

to Charlemagne’s Kingdom 5, a

huge model railroad. Owner Willi

Lindhorst is a native of Germany, and

the kingdom, made from 300 gallons

of plaster, is a miniature version of

his home country. It includes the

Alps, the North Sea, an Oktoberfest,

moving cable cars, an autobahn — and

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

38

1. The model railroad at Charlemagne’s Kingdom

2. Clowning around at Jolly’s Toys

3. Helen’s Christmas lights shine as dusk falls

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Black Forest Bear Park (blackforestbearpark.com) on Main Street is home to 16 bears — retired circus performers, orphans, and former pets — that visitors can watch and feed from a covered walkway.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

40

a 22-foot-tall Matterhorn. “Look at

the trains,” Heidi says in wonderment.

“They’re everywhere.” ($5 for adults,

$2.50 for kids ages 5 to 15; 706-878-

2200; georgiamodelrailroad.com)

Next stop is Jolly’s Toys 6, where

an on-site toymaker builds many of

the shop’s wares, including wooden

animals, airplanes, and puzzles.

Heidi chooses a stuffed penguin and

marches to the cash register, asking

the clerk, “Buy it, please?” She hands

him money I’ve given her, then says,

“Thank you!” with glee. (Toys from $1;

706-878-2262)

Penguin in hand, we hop in our car

and drive about a mile to the historic

Nora Mill Granary 7, on the banks

of the Chattahoochee River. The

water-powered mill operates just as

it did a century ago, grinding flour

on the original millstones, each of

which weighs more than a thousand

pounds. The massive moving stones

mesmerize Heidi, and French can’t

resist purchasing some of the

mill’s whole wheat flour and grits.

(Flours and grits from $4; 706-878-

2375; noramill.com)

Before going home, we have to

visit gorgeous Anna Ruby Falls 8,

a set of twin waterfalls in the

Chattahoochee National Forest

just north of Helen. A gentle, paved

half-mile trail leads to the base

of the 200-foot cascade, which

glistens in the winter sunshine.

($2 per person; 706-878-3574;

www.usda.gov/conf)

Dinner is at the nearby Lodge in

Unicoi State Park 9. Tonight the

buffet offers everything from Georgia

mountain trout to barbecued baby

back ribs, plus an enormous ice-cream

and dessert bar. (Buffet from $13 for

adults, $7.50 for kids ages 4 to 11;

800-573-9659; unicoilodge.com)

As we leave the lodge and drive

alongside the still waters of Unicoi

Lake, Heidi squeezes her souvenir

penguin close and says, “Let’s go to

Helen again.” French and I smile,

knowing we’ll be back next winter.

Deborah Huso blogs about family travel

at deborahhuso.com.

1. Sweets from Helen’s

candy shops 2. Alpine

Mini Golf 3. Anna

Ruby Falls

How to Extend Your Stay

If you have more than a day tospend, Helen offers loads ofother fun things to do.

Attractions

In addition to its golf course, Alpine

Mini Golf offers dazzling holidaylight displays and an ice-creamshop. Open weekends Decemberthrough February, weather permit-ting, open daily March through November; 706-878-3328; helenminigolf.com

Located a half-hour south of Helen,BabyLand General Hospital is thebirthplace of the Cabbage PatchKids. Visitors can tour the hospital,and then “adopt” dolls to takehome. Free admission; 706-865-2171; cabbagepatchkids.com

Lodging

For a Bavarian-themed evening,check out the Helendorf River Inn

Suites and Conference Center, acastle-like hotel on the banks of theChattahoochee River. Doubles from$54; 706-878-2271; helendorf.com

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The place: Steamtown National

Historic Site, Scranton, Pennsylvania

Who visited: Bob and Maura Muller of

Rock Hill, New York, and their son,

Truth, age 10

Why they loved it: When the Mullers

first visited this 40-acre indoor and

outdoor train museum located at a

former rail yard, Truth, then 7, was “so

excited he was practically levitating,”

Maura says. They enjoyed the interac-

tive exhibits on railroad history and

technology, the guided tour of the

repair shop, the Junior Ranger program

that let Truth earn a badge, and the ten

trains open for exploration. The high

point for the family, though, was watch-

ing the turntable, a revolving platform,

turn a train around. “Lots of whistles

sounded, and huge clouds of white

smoke poured from the engine,” says

Maura. “It was one reason we’ve been

back two more times. Steamtown is a

fantastic, historical place.”

What it costs: $6 for adults, free for

kids ages 16 and under

For more information: Call 570-340-

5200 or visit nps.gov/stea.

Worth the Trip: On Track for Fun

Know someplace worth a trip?

Tip us off, and we might feature your family’s story here! See page 106 for details.

T E L L U S Y O U R S T O R Y

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

41

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Print your own cranky coupons at FamilyFun.com/magazine.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

42

To ease the stresses of traveling, a mom gives her family a

license to get grumpy — and finds them getting happy instead

By Deborah Mead

When I booked my family’s once-

in-a-lifetime vacation to Maui, I

planned it with a careful eye on the

bottom line. Even for just the three of

us — me, my husband, Keith, and our

9-year-old daughter, Veronica — this

was going to be an expensive trip. I

was determined to economize where

I could. Get up at 3 a.m. to catch the

cheapest flight? No problem. Endure

a three-hour layover in Dallas to save

several hundred dollars? Absolutely.

Fly cramped economy class? Who

cares? We’ll be carefree vacationers!

Whoopee!

But months later, as I was packing

for our trip, it hit me: was I com-

pletely out of my mind? We were

about to set off on a 14-hour haul, one

that would start in the wee hours of

the morning and would last until late

at night. Let me just say that no one

in my family is a model of patience,

least of all young Veronica. And when

one of us is tired and cranky, the bad

mood spreads like a virus, with one

irritable comment provoking an

even more negative response. Left

unchecked, the situation could easily

deteriorate into relentless hours of

snippiness and short tempers. This

was not how I wanted to start my

dream vacation.

But what to do about it? I decided

that our travel stresses needed to be

managed somehow, so that testiness

didn’t contaminate our whole trip.

Then I had an idea. I grabbed some

paper and started writing: “This

coupon entitles bearer to 10 minutes

of whininess, irritability, poutiness,

grumpiness, crankiness, sulkiness,

and/or general disagreeableness.” And,

in a burst of lawyerly self-preservation,

I added in small print, “Void where

prohibited.” I didn’t know whether I

would need to invoke that clause, but

I wanted to be covered, just in case.

When I showed Veronica the

coupon, she laughed, then pointed out

that 10 minutes might not be enough.

I agreed and made more coupons,

three for each of us. (Hey, Keith and I

get cranky, too!)

I didn’t really expect the coupons to

solve much. Like probing a toothache,

there’s a strange satisfaction to be

found in complaining and sulking, a

temptation that would be hard to

combat with just a few scraps of paper.

As it turned out, though, the coupons

worked just fine — if not exactly in the

way I had planned.

Arriving at the airport at 4:30 a.m.,

we had trouble finding an open coffee

shop. I noticed the early signs of exas-

peration on my husband’s face.

“Do you need to use a coupon?” I

asked in mock disbelief. “Even Veronica

hasn’t had to resort to a coupon yet!”

Veronica’s face lit up and she

teased, “Yeah, Dad, do you need a

coupon?”

Keith grinned. “Nope. Nothing

wrong here!” We laughed, and the

tension eased. Of course, finding an

open coffee shop also helped.

Don’t Leave

Home Without

These

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Deborah Mead (left, with Keith and

Veronica after their successful second try

at helicoptering in Hawaii) lives with her

family in Needham, Massachusetts.

During the second, longer leg of

the flight, Veronica squirmed in her

seat, trying unsuccessfully to sleep.

She turned to me and said, a hint of

trouble in her voice, “I think I might

need a coupon.”

“Okay,” I said. “But that means

you’ll have only two left.”

She thought for a moment. “Never

mind. I’m going to save them.” And

she resolutely shut her eyes, eventu-

ally managing to sleep for a couple

of hours.

Landing in Maui, I felt the tension

in my neck and shoulders growing as

I stood in line for 45 minutes at the

car rental agency. “What’s the point

of having a reservation if I have to

wait in a line like this!” I wanted to

scream. I glanced back to the seats

along the wall, where my husband

and Veronica were waiting. Making

smug faces, they teasingly waved a

coupon in my direction. But wait:

I was the one who brought up this

whole grumpiness issue in the first

place. There was no way I was going

to be the first one to crack! I pulled

myself up straighter, took a few

deep breaths and amused myself

with mental reruns of the Seinfeld

car rental episode. (“You know how

to take the reservation. You just don’t

know how to hold the reservation.”)

After 14 hours, two flights, three

airports, and what felt like hours of

waiting in lines, we were all relieved

to get to our hotel — coupons still

unused and tempers in check. In fact,

the coupons had worked so well, we

continued to deploy them — or, more

accurately, not deploy them — for the

rest of our vacation. Small setbacks

popped up almost daily: the mechan-

ical problem with our rental car,

the rain clouds that grounded our

helicopter ride, the mudslide that

forced us to cancel our drive along

Maui’s renowned coastal road. (I

admit, that last one was particularly

hard for me.) But instead of wasting

our precious vacation time being

grouchy, we began to treat these

moments as opportunities to joke

and laugh and prove to each other,

and ourselves, how even-tempered

and optimistic we could be.

By the end of the trip, none of us

had used a single coupon, a feat that

astounds me still. Who would have

thought that those little scraps of

paper would prove to be so powerful?

But they did. In fact, not only did

they assist us in keeping the peace

on our vacation, they also helped

us learn some lasting lessons about

ourselves and our capacity for self-

control. Unforeseen obstacles are

inevitable in life — but bad moods

are not. Sulking about minor incon-

veniences is a choice, we realized,

one that becomes increasingly easy

not to make if you’re determined to

stay upbeat.

Of course, back at home in the

real world, we still get out of sorts

sometimes. I don’t whip out the

coupons when Veronica grumbles

about her homework — or when I feel

my own stress level start to rise. I

suspect the coupons would lose their

special powers if we used them every

day. Instead, I’m holding onto them

for our next trip. In the meantime,

they’re a great souvenir of a truly

incredible family vacation.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

43

STAINS

HAVE

MET

THEIR

MATCH.

ARM & HAMMER®

ARM & HAMMER®

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Got a great idea of your own? Send it to us and you could earn $100! See page 106 for details.

I D E A S W E L C O M E !

N

Triple Word Score:

Happy Holidays

For our holiday card last year,

we used Scrabble tiles to spell

the words peace, hope, love, and

joy on our Scrabble board, where

we also arranged small photos of

ourselves. We snapped a picture

of the board, then used photo-

editing software to add each per-

son’s “age score” to the corner of

his or her picture. (Mom took a

couple of points off hers!)

June Pfaff Daley Cincinnati, OH

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

45

Turn Paper Bags Into Personal Piñatas

Instead of stuffing a large piñata for our family’s Christmas

party last year, we used paper bags to make the kids their own mini

piñatas in the shape of gingerbread men. For each, we cut two

gingerbread figures, then drew a face and features on one. We then

used our sewing machine’s zigzag stitch to sew the pieces together

(you could also use glue), leaving a small opening on one side. After

we filled the piñata with candy, we sewed the hole closed. The kids

loved these festive goodie bags!

Lisa Crankshaw Enoch, UT

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46

A Festival of Lights, and Fun Surprises

For Hanukkah last year, we celebrated eight nights of family fun. Our

kids, ages 6 and 3, painted a menorah on a sheet of heavy paper. We

snipped a flame-shaped hole above each candle, then we taped the sides

and bottom of the painting to orange construction paper to form a

pocket. Inside each flame, I wrote an activity, such as eating dinner

out, ice-skating, and baking cookies. To cover the writing, I slid long,

numbered strips of white paper inside the pocket and taped them in

place. Every morning, the kids pulled off a strip to reveal the activity

behind it. They couldn’t wait to see what each day would bring!

Kristin Rosler Providence, RI

Superlight Snowballs

When inclement weather keeps us inside, I let my kids

hold an indoor snowball fight with ultralight “snowballs.”

To make them, I stuff pieces of white pantyhose with fiber-

fill and close them with a knot. The balls are even lighter

than sock snowballs and can be thrown safely in the house.

Susan Reudelhuber Longwood, FL

Picture-perfect Party Hats

For my husband's birthday, we printed

pictures of family members on copy paper and taped

the photos, collage-style, onto party hats. The hats were

a big hit — and a memorable favor.

Casey Phillips Kansas City, MO

Keep Track of Good Deeds

Starting on New Year’s, everyone in my family does at least one good deed per day (helping a person in need, giving a

thoughtful compliment), then writes it on a slip of construction paper. We join the slips to make a chain. By the end of the

year, the chain winds all around the inside of our house. This fun project inspires us to do something kind every day.

Barbara Viator Logan, UT

Looking for more great Hanukkah ideas? Visit FamilyFun.com/magazine.

O N O U R W E B S I T E

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FAMILYFUN

48

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TELL US: How do you encourage sibling closeness?

Send your solution to My Great Idea at the address on page 106, e-mail

us at mgied.familyfun@disney.com, or visit FamilyFun.com/magazine.?

A Storybook GiftKids Can Make

Last Christmas, my kids, ages 10, 8,

and 6, made books on CD for their

cousins. We used a computer micro-

phone to record the kids reading a few

new storybooks aloud, and to capture

all their cool sound effects and voices.

Later, we burned the recordings onto

CDs and wrapped them up with the

books. These heartfelt gifts were lots

of fun to make and share.

Heather Tomasello Land O’ Lakes, FL

Countdown to a FamilyMember’s Return

Three years ago, my husband, who’s

in the military, was deployed overseas.

To help me and my daughter, Anna,

age 11, count the days until his return, I

cut one yellow ribbon for each day he’d

be gone, then hung a wreath on our

front door. Every morning, Anna and I

tied on a ribbon and said a prayer for

our servicemen and -women overseas.

Seeing the ribbons add up on the

wreath gave us both a daily dose of

hope and comfort!

Vivi Sasaki San Antonio, TX

1 Problem, 3 Solutions

Savoring the DayHow do you avoid a gift-opening frenzy on Christmas?

Engage in Trivial Pursuits We play a trivia game using question cards I made myself. When it’s

your turn to open a gift, you draw a card, which might test your knowl-

edge about a holiday movie or song. If you answer correctly, you get to

open your present. If not, you have to pull a stunt card and do what it

says — act out an impression, for example — before unwrapping your

gift. We’ve enjoyed this game for years!

Carrie Gering Madisonville, TN

Go ‘Round Our kids take turns passing out gifts in rounds. Everyone opens the

first round together, then the next round, and so on. This slows

things down a bit, and the kids like choosing each person’s next

present almost as much as selecting their own.

Allyson Little McBreen Round Rock, TX

Give Kids a Clue We design scavenger hunts for a few of the kids’ special presents,

such as the hamster they received one year. We hang the first set of

clues on the tree, and the kids follow them to the next set, and so on,

until they each find their hidden gift. This is a great way to make the

gift-opening last, and something the kids anticipate all year long.

Teri Anger Philadelphia, PA

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My name’s Angelene. I home-school my kids,most of whom have an attention span of about five seconds. To help keep them focused, I use any of a number of neat new transitions and animations in PowerPoint® 2010. Hey, I’m all for anything that can make algebra interesting.

See how you can make it great with new Office 2010 at office.com/2010.

>

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GGG

GGG

GGGG

GGGG

GGGGGOn Winter Trails Day, January 8, families can try snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for free

at dozens of resorts and Nordic centers nationwide. For details, go to wintertrails.org.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

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Winter can be a challenging time

to stay active if you live in a cold

clime, but not if the ponds are right

for skating. To inspire some heart-

pumping fun, make a pond hockey

goal like this one (or better yet, a

pair), modeled after those used at

the annual U. S. Pond Hockey cham-

pionships (uspondhockey.com) in

Minneapolis, Minnesota. No goalie

is needed — players score by shoot-

ing the puck through the openings in

the front of the goal — and the wood

sides double as handy backboards

for practicing passing. Best of all, a

goal can be easily assembled from

standard lumber for about $25.

Many home improvement stores

will even cut the boards to size for a

nominal fee.

go play

outside

The Goal Is Fun

H O W T O D O I T :

Cut the boards as

shown.

Assemble the boards

as shown, predrilling the

screw holes to avoid

splitting the wood.

Attach rope straps,

if you like, by drilling

holes in each short end,

threading though a rope,

and tying a knot.

Y O U W I L L N E E D :

� 1 (10-foot-long)

2- by 6-inch board

� 1 (12-foot-long)

2- by 6-inch board

� 1 box (3K-inch)

coated deck

screws (you’ll

need about 30)

� Drill

� 2 (10-foot) lengths

of polypropylene

rope (optional)

10’

72”

75” 24” 24” 10” 10”

48”

12’

1

2

3

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GGG

GGG

GGGG

GGGGG

GGGGGG

To get your child in the habit of coughing and sneezing into his sleeve, not his hand, place a

“Mr. Germ” sticker on his sleeve just above the elbow as a friendly reminder.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

52

T E A C H Y O U R K I D S

Calculate What’s on Your PlateTo find out the nutritional value of some of your family’s favorite meals,

go to fruitandveggiesmatter.gov and click on “Interactive Tools.” The

Analyze My Plate feature lets you fill a virtual plate with illustrations of

common foods, then it calculates portion sizes, calories, and more.

Get Moving in 2011Inspire your child to be more active with these

goal-setting cards. To start, have her make a

list of five to ten activities she wants to try or

get better at this year, such as snowshoeing

or doing a cartwheel. (For a blank version of

the card shown here, go to FamilyFun.com/

magazine.) After she completes each goal, she

can check it off her list and note the date. You

can even take a picture and tape it to the list

as a record of her success. When she’s accom-

plished all her goals, offer her a reward: snow-

shoeing at a nearby state park, for instance, or

getting a new leotard for gymnastics. Of course,

just being able to tell Grandma about her new

skills might be reward enough!

Need a healthy

appetizer for a class

party or a holiday

gathering? Trim a

platter with these

good-for-you edible

ornaments. Spread

low-fat cream cheese

on water crackers,

then top each with

colorful veggies, such

as peas, diced pep-

pers, carrot slices,

and broccoli stems.

Delicious

Decorations

website

we love

download

this

seasonal

snack

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Vicks NyQuil. The nighttime,

sniffl ing, sneezing, coughing,

aching, fever, best sleep you

ever got with a cold...medicine.

CCOLDD SYYMPPTOMMS TTACCKKKLED..

LIINEMMANN HIITTSS THE SSHEEEEETTS.

VINCE WILFORK

NFL Patriots Lineman

© Procter & Gamble, Inc., 2010. Read each label. Use as directed. Keep out of reach of children.

© 2010 NFL Properties LLC. Team names/logos/indicia are trademarks of the teams indicated.All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. NFL PLAYERS is a trademark of National Football League Players Incorporated.

Vicksks NNyQNyQuilluil T. Thhehe nighhttttimeime,,

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S:6.75”S

:9.5”

FF10287.indd 1 10/14/10 11:48:19 AM

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PA R E N T SFAMILY FUN

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Think small when stocking the kitchen’s shelves: little cans of tomato paste, empty food boxes in compact

sizes, plastic cups, and toy dishes and cookware. Add adhesive-backed hooks for dish towels or pot holders.

T A K E I T F U R T H E R

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

55

With just a few empty boxes and other recyclables, you can cook up

a clever playset for the young culinary wizards in your household

By Debra Immergut

Cardboard Kitchen

Here’s a simple recipe for fun: grab a couple of shipping boxes (often in ample

supply at this time of year, thanks to holiday deliveries), a plastic bowl, duct tape,

and a few items from the recycling bin, and assemble the perfect play center for

aspiring chefs. Whether you place it as a gift beneath the tree or make it with your

child as a cure for the “I’m bored” winter blahs, it’s sure to win rave reviews.

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C R A F T E R ’ S T I P

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

56

1. Base units Seal two match-

ing shipping boxes (ours are

18 inches square) with tape. Use a

craft knife and straight edge

to cut out rectangles (our cabinet

opening is 14 inches square; the

oven opening is 10 by 12 inches).

2. Doors For durability and clean

lines, use duct tape to edge the

cutout rectangles. Make a pair of

cabinet doors by applying a tape strip

down a rectangle’s center, then cut-

ting through the strip. For sturdy

hinges, apply tape strips overhanging

the edges along the sides of the cabi-

net doors and the oven door’s bottom.

Set the doors in place, then press the

overhanging tape onto the base.

3. Top units Fold tape over

the edges of a pizza box for the

above-sink window and more

boxes for the stove’s shelf unit.

Attach the units with tape as

shown.

4. Sink and faucets Set a

rimmed plastic bowl into a round

hole cut in the sink unit (it should

be 1 inch smaller than the bowl’s

diameter). Make holes for soap-

dispenser pumps as shown.

5. Knobs Gather colorful

plastic bottle and jar caps.*Insert a long bolt through a hole

in each cap and through the base.

Secure the bolt inside with a nut.

Burners Use

permanent marker

to draw coils on

paper plates, then

attach them to the

stove top with strips

of carpet tape.

The Cutest, Cheapest Kitchen Ever

4

5

1

3

2

For knobs, choose caps with holes in them, such as the tops of spice jars or

squeeze bottles of shampoo. You can also make a hole with a hammer and a nail.

Curtains For a no-sew window treatment,

snip a pillowcase into a squared-off U. Secure

the curtain with double-sided carpet tape

along the top edge. Gather the side panels with

ties and tape up a pretty view behind them.

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Family Fun magazine (Disney)(Dec/Jan) - singleJob #: 25784_z0100032 november Week 3 merch: martha stewart

only at macy’s, the martha stewart collection...make it fun

Specialty baking kits just for kids. 19.99 each. Mix & Measure Prep Set (shown), Bake Set, Pizza Kit and Chef Set help you make it fun. For recipes, tips & more great gifts visit macys.com/martha

0100032. For store locations and hours, log on to macys.com

25784_z0100032_FamilyFun_Dec_R1.indd 1 9/27/10 3:35:40 PMFF10258.indd 1 10/13/10 3:39:54 PM

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Whether you’re making a care package for far-off

family, swapping cookies with a friend, or leaving

a snack for Santa, these holiday treats are

bound to be prized — and devoured

JollyGood

Holiday

Decorating ideas and recipes by Sharon Cindrich, Meredith

Deeds, Carla Snyder, Kimberly Stoney, Lisa Stowe, and Virginia Willis

Photographs by

Alexandra Grablewski

Food Styling by

Lisa Homa

Prop Styling by

Victoria Petro-Conroy

Cookies

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Candy Cane Twists

Cookies

Ingredients:� 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

� ¾ cup sugar

� 1 large egg

� 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

� 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

� ¼ teaspoon salt

� 2½ cups flour

� ½ teaspoon red food coloring

� ½ teaspoon green food coloring

1. Using an electric mixer set on medium-high

speed, cream the butter. Continue beating and

gradually add the sugar.

2. Beat in the egg until evenly mixed, then add

the vanilla extract, the peppermint extract,

and the salt and blend well.

3. Use a wooden spoon to

stir in the flour, one third at

a time, until evenly mixed.

4. Divide the dough into thirds. Add the red food

coloring to one third and the green food coloring

to another, then knead the coloring into the

dough. Flatten each third into a K-inch-thick

rectangle, cover it in plastic wrap, and refriger-

ate until firm, about 30 minutes.

5. Heat the oven to 375°. On a lightly floured

surface, roll a pair of tablespoon-size pieces of

contrasting colored dough into 8-inch-long

ropes. Twist them together, pinch the ends,

then bend the cookies into a candy cane shape.

Repeat with the remaining dough.

6. Bake the cookies on an ungreased cookie

sheet until set but not brown, about 10 minutes,

rotating the sheet halfway through. Cool the

sheets on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then trans-

fer the cookies to the rack to continue cooling.

These colorful treats offer a clever

twist on the classic sugar cookie.

Peppermint extract adds that

authentic candy cane flavor.

Find great recipes, such as these Candy Cane

Twists, as well as holiday crafts, decorations,

and more in our special Christmas issue.

See page 104 for details.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

60

Makes: 18 cookies

Hands-on Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

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61

CaramelThumbprints

Melted caramel candy adds

luscious richness to the cocoa

goodness of these cookies

Ingredients:� 1 ½ cups flour

� ½ cup cocoa powder

� N teaspoon salt

� N teaspoon baking powder

� ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

� M cup brown sugar, packed

� 1 large egg, separated

� 3 tablespoons milk

� 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

� 1 cup finely chopped pecans

� 26 chocolate-covered caramel candies, such as Dove or Rolo

1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa

powder, salt, and baking powder and set aside.

2. Using an electric mixer set on medium-high speed,

cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 min-

utes. Add the egg yolk, milk, and vanilla and mix until

blended, about 1 minute. Add the flour mixture in two

batches and beat until combined, about 1 minute.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the

dough for 30 minutes.

3. Heat the oven to 350º. Line a cookie sheet with

parchment paper. In a medium bowl, beat the egg

white with a fork. Set aside about 1/4 cup of the pecans;

put the rest on a plate. Roll 1 tablespoon of the dough

into a ball, coat it with egg white,

and roll it in the nuts. Repeat with

the remaining dough. Put the cookies

on the sheet, leaving about 3 inches

between them. With your thumb, make

an indentation in the center of each cookie,

then reshape the outside edges, if they crack.

4. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, then take

them from the oven and gently press a caramel

candy into each cookie. Bake until the chocolate

and caramel soften, about 4 minutes. Grease the

tines of a fork with butter and press on each candy

to flatten it slightly. Sprinkle on the reserved nuts,

then cool the cookies on a rack.

Chocolate Surprises

Think of these cookies as miniature holiday

gifts for family and friends — beautiful on

the outside with a special surprise inside:

a gooey marshmallow center. A double

dose of chocolate is just the icing on

the, well, you know. See page 102

for the recipe.

Makes: 26 cookies

Hands-on Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

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IT’S SO EASY TO BE HEALTHY WHEN IT TASTES SO GOOD.Turn nutritious into delicious

with Sara Lee®

Soft & Smooth®

bread, buns and bagels. The

taste kids love. The whole-grain

goodness you expect.

youknowwhattheylike.com

©2010 Sara Lee Corporation.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY LIKE.

™

FF10030.indd 1 7/14/10 11:26:31 PM

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IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW HEALTHY IT IS UNLESS SHE LIKES IT.She’s particular about just

about everything. So make sure

her whole grains are yummy

with Sara Lee®

Soft & Smooth®

100% Whole Wheat bread.

youknowwhattheylike.com

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY LIKE.

™

With fi ber,

calcium,

vitamin D and

no high fructose

corn syrup.

©2010 Sara Lee Corporation.

FF10081.indd 1 7/15/10 12:50:32 AM

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Orange Cornmeal Crisps1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour,

Ocup of the cornmeal, the baking powder, and

the salt, then set the mixture aside.

2. Using an electric mixer set on medium

speed, beat the butter, sugar, and egg until

creamy (scraping the bowl often), about

2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low; add the

flour mixture, zest, and orange extract, and

beat until the mixture pulls away from the

sides and forms a dough, about 1 minute.

3. Divide the dough in half and form each

half into a 12-inch-long, 11/2-inch-wide log.

Cover the dough in plastic wrap and chill

until firm, about 1 hour in the refrigerator

or 20 minutes in the freezer.

4. Heat the oven to 375°. Line two rimmed

cookie sheets with parchment paper. Spread

the remaining 1/4 cup cornmeal on a small

flat tray; roll each log in the cornmeal to

coat. Cut the logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices

and place them 1 inch apart on the prepared

sheets. Bake until the cookies are deep

golden brown around the edges, about 10 to

12 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway

through. Cool the trays on a wire rack for

about 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to

the rack to continue cooling.

5. To make the glaze, stir together the con-

fectioners’ sugar, zest, 1/4 cup of the orange

juice, and the salt. If needed, add more juice,

a teaspoon at a time, until the glaze has a

flowing consistency. Spoon a few teaspoons

of the glaze onto each cookie.

Citrus tang and cornmeal crunch make

these crisps stand out on a holiday

cookie platter. If blood oranges are available,

use them to lend a rosier hue to the glaze.

Ingredients:F O R T H E C O O K I E

� 2 cups flour

� 1 cup fine cornmeal

� 2 teaspoons baking powder

� ¼ teaspoon salt

� 1 cup unsalted butter,

softened

� 1 cup sugar

� 1 large egg

� 1 to 2 teaspoons orange zest

� ½ teaspoon orange extract

F O R T H E G L A Z E

� 2 cups confectioners’

sugar, sifted

� Zest and juice of 2 medium

oranges

� Pinch of fine sea salt

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

64

Cookies

Makes: 48 cookies

Hands-on Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

65

Tropical Lime BitesBursting with flavor, these bars combine a spicy-and-sweet crust (thanks togingersnaps and coconut) with a delightfully tart filling

1. Heat the oven to 350º. In a food processor, blend the ginger-

snaps into fine crumbs, about 1 minute, then transfer the ground

cookies to a bowl. Process the almonds, sugar, and salt, about 30

seconds. Return the cookie crumbs to the processor bowl, then

add the butter and coconut. Pulse until mixed, about 35 seconds.

2. Line the bottom of a 13- by 9-inch pan with aluminum foil, leav-

ing an overhang on each side (this will allow for easier removal of

the bars after they’ve cooled). Generously butter the foil, then

press the crust mixture over the bottom of the pan. Bake the crust

until it’s set, about 10 minutes, then cool it on a rack.

3. To make the filling, whisk together the sugar and flour. Whisk

in the butter and eggs, then the zest, lime juice, and salt. Pour the

filling over the crust and bake until set, about 40 minutes. Cool

the pan on a rack until it reaches room temperature, then cover it

with foil and refrigerate until the filling is fully set, about 2 hours.

4. Remove the dessert from the pan by lifting the ends of the alu-

minum foil. Cut into 21/2- by 11/2-inch bars. Sift the confectioners’

sugar over the top and refrigerate until served.

Ingredients:F O R T H E C R U S T

� 3 cups gingersnap cookies

� 1 cup slivered almonds

� L cup sugar

� ¼ teaspoon salt

� ½ cup unsalted butter,

melted

� 1 cup sweetened coconut

F O R T H E F I L L I N G

� 2 cups sugar

� L cup flour

� ½ cup unsalted butter,

melted

� 5 large eggs, beaten lightly

� Zest of 1 lime

� 1 cup fresh lime juice

(about 5 limes) or bottled

key lime juice

� Pinch of salt

� Confectioners’ sugar

Makes: 24 bars

Hands-on Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

Cookies

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Spice Up Your Sugar CookiesThese three decorating ideas transform basic cookies into oooh-and-aaaah-worthy edibles

1. Egg Yolk PaintFor each color, add 4 drops of food coloring

to an egg yolk and mix well. Use a clean

paintbrush to create a design, then bake

the cookies according to your recipe.

3. Icing SwirlsFrost a cookie with a base color. Before it sets, pipe on rows

of other colors of frosting. Run a toothpick through the colors

in evenly spaced lines to blend and create swirls.

2. Mini-Marshmallow MasterpiecesUse scissors or kitchen shears to cut mini marshmallows in half.

If you like, dip the sticky side of the marshmallow in colored

sugar. Use the pieces to create poinsettias, snowmen, and more.

1

2

3

Cookies

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

66

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NO TO THE BAD STUFF. YES TO THE GOOD STUFF.

Saying NO doesn’t just make for a simpler ingredient list.

It makes for wholesome, great-tasting cereals and snacks

your family will love. At least that’s what we’ve been doing

since 1971. Check out our new packages in the natural

section of your grocery store or at BarbarasBakery.com.

FF10299.indd 1 10/21/10 3:09:54 PM

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Available

NOW on

DVD and

Blu-Ray!

© D

isney/

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ar

Find more out-of-this-world fun inspired by Disney/Pixar Toy Story 3! Visit www.walmart.com/toystory

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Bring the

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Excitement Home

FF10272.indd 1 10/27/10 6:57:54 PM

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

69

Christmas gets

even sweeter

with these six

irresistibly easy

ornaments

treatstree

F O R Y O U R

wool sweater

mitten template Family Fun.com/magazine

large-eye needle ribbon.

Mini Felted Mittens A sweater gets a second life as this colorful decoration1

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

70

Perfect Peppermints These jumbo Santa-red and snow-white candies come together quickly from jar lids, felt, and cellophane

two jar lids electrical tape.

white sticky-back felt.

✪ red sticky-back felt.

✪

cellophane wrap clear tape, ✪

needle embroidery floss

2

FF0111ORN_5A:2010Template 10/15/10 6:52 PM Page 70

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Visit our stores llbean.com 800-628-7381

no minimum order for a limited time*

FREE SHIPPING

Every day has 24 hours that could potentially be spent

outside. That’s why we spend countless hours designing

every product we sell for both durability and performance.

From perfecting a zipper pull to reading every customer

review — we overlook nothing. That’s the only way we

can guarantee the cold won’t keep you from enjoying the

outdoors. Take our new Snowfi eld Jacket, for example.

With fi ve key warming features, including our exclusive

waterproof, breathable TEK2® shell, you’ll be able to

stay out as long as you’d like. Wear it hiking, sledding or

skiing, and you’re guaranteed to be warm and toasty.

fi ngers and toes

It’s our attention to detail

that ensures you’ll always feel your

Men’s & Women’s

Snowfi eld® Jacket,$99

*Free shipping and handling applies to L.L.Bean’s delivery service within the U.S. and Canada. Limited-time offer expires December 20, 2010. Limitations apply. See llbean.com for details.

FFUN_DEC2010_llbean.indd 1 10/12/10 1:50 PMFF10319.indd 1 10/25/10 6:56:47 PM

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

72

Sweet Gingerbread Houses Kids can transform empty drink cartons into these cozy abodes

wax-coated carton

masking tape. white glue, brown paper

bag ✪ card stock

edge punch needle.

embroidery floss

✪ 3-D fabric paint markers

3

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Room enough to get away onyour getaway.The family that stays together… can always use a little extra room.

That’s why, when you stay at Embassy Suites, you get a spacious

two-room suite and a sleeper sofa to boot. Plus a free cooked-to-order

breakfast, and comped beverages* at our nightly Manager’s Reception.

At Embassy Suites, there are always more reasons to stay.

To book, go to embassysuites.com or call 800-Embassy.

*Service of alcohol subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age. ©2010 Hilton Worldwide. TM indicates a trademark of Hilton Worldwide.

FF10314.indd 1 10/13/10 3:19:40 PM

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

74

Homemade-Paper Stars No scissors needed here! Even the littlest elves can make these sparkly treasures, from paper pulp spooned into cookie cutters and dried

3 (9- by 12-inch) sheets of construction paper blender.

very hot water folded cloth towel plate, paper towel,

3-inch star-shaped cookie cutter. ✪

sieve

glitter. rag

baking sheet. ✪

ribbon loops

Pom-pom Cupcake These confections look so sweet, kids may want to whip up an entire batch — pretty please with a cherry on top?

needle embroidery floss small pink or red pom-pom

✪ mini cupcake wrapper candy-cup wrapper white glue, large

white pom-pom glitter glue cotton swab.

glitter ✪ tacky glue.

4

5

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© SLT USA Inc. 2010

Ready or not... Here I come!Ready or not... Here I come!

IntroducingHide-and-Seek Jojo

FF10274.indd 1 10/29/10 5:26:36 PM

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

76

Stamped Clay Creations Make a great impression on holiday visitors with these shiny medallions

household objects

air-dry clay waxed paper, cookie cutters.

straw.

shimmery paint ribbon

6

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STUFFcool family

Openings for Arms &Hand Pouch

Foot Pocket

MeetFaina!

A FIBER-PACKED

TASTE SENSATION

Vitafusion® Fiber Gummies pack 5 grams of fiber in each delicious sugar-free serving making it easy for you to get the

fiber you may need. Available at fine retailers.nwnaturalproducts.com

YOUR CHILDREN’S NAMES!

Perfect presents! LifeNames™ featureup to 4 children’s names. Money-back guarantee and free resize. Rings $169. Pendants $189. Bracelets $199. Orderby 12/23 for the Holidays! Find Carved Creations on Facebook. Design yours

online today! ccforlife.comor 888-497-7799.

THE NATURAL

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KIDS ‘N COLDS

100% natural, for multi-symptom relief,

Hyland's Cold 'n Cough 4 Kids

homeopathic formula relieves sneezing, sore throat, and

congestion. Safefor kids 2+ yrs. Great-tasting &

sugar-free base they won't mind taking!

CVS, RiteAid,& Walgreens.

800-466-3672 or hylands4kids.com

FASHION WITH MEANING

Keep loved ones close to your heart with quality hand stamped

personalized jewelry! Each pieceis hand-crafted, unique & beautiful. Rectangle Warmth ($80) and Circle

of Love (starting at $50) shown. 10% off! Code: TNT1210 at

HeartOnYourWrist.com

GIVE YOUR CHILD THE WORLD

Award-winning educational gift introduces your child to a new country each month. Delivered by postal mail and online games. Filled with goodies including: letters, souvenirs, stickers

and activities. littlepassports.com

NUDDLE

KIDS BLANKET

Cozy, warm and ultra plush the Nuddle Kids

Blanket’s exclusive foot pocket keeps

tootsies warm while an arm opening let’s kiddies read, play, snack & lay! 20% off thru 3/31/11! Code: FF10 at

nuddleblanket.com or 888-MY-NUDDLE

ID PALS THAT

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My family has found a great way to get our whole neighborhood into the holiday spirit

at once. The Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving, we hold an annual block party

that we’ve dubbed Deck the Cul de Sac.

We came up with the idea by accident several years ago. My husband, Keith, was hanging

our holiday lights when one of our neighbors joked, “Great, now my wife’s going to make me

do ours!” Soon several other neighbors came outside to decorate their yards, too, and began

giving one another a hand steadying ladders and stringing lights. We realized it was much

more fun to decorate together, so the next year I sent out invites and made our party official.

R E A D E R S ’

F AV O R I T E H O L I D AY

TR A D

I

1Deck-the-Block PartyREGAN COX CEDAR PARK, TEXAS

As told to Jennifer King Lindley

Illustrations by Beegee Tolpa

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

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Now we set up an ornament-making station

for the kids and play holiday music on outdoor

speakers to create a festive mood. We end the

afternoon with a potluck to celebrate our

handiwork — chili, spiced cider, and holiday

desserts are always on the menu. Last year,

one neighbor even hauled out a video projec-

tor to show How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on

his garage door. The kids sat bundled up on the

driveway and sipped hot chocolate while they

watched.

The kids especially love this party. All evening long,

they run up and down the block admiring everyone’s

light display!

TI O N

S

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and for many folks, the most hectic.

Luckily, FamilyFun readers know how to slow down and savor the best parts of

the season. Here, ten families share the rituals that help them turn down

the volume on holiday hubbub and reconnect with the

true meaning of the month.

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Each Christmas Eve, we open one special present: a new board

game. Past favorites include Whoonu, Boggle, Cranium Conga,

and Funglish — all no-batteries-required choices that stimulate lots of

family interaction and laughs.

We set up the board next to the

Christmas tree, then light a fire in the fire-

place and bring out some snacks. At the

end of a busy month, this tradition helps

us relax, reconnect, and enjoy the best

gift ever: family.

Every year on December 1, my kids and I meet in their

playroom to round up all the toys they haven’t

played with lately. While this may sound tricky, the kids

actually enjoy it. They even swap stories about each item

as they add it to the pile! Before long, we have a hefty

collection of outgrown but once-loved toys, which we

wrap and donate. In the past,

we’ve given things to foster

homes, children’s hos-

pitals, and families in

our church. "I love giv-

ing my toys to other

kids,” says my

7-year-old son,

Logan. “It makes

me feel awesome,

and I know they’ll

love them!"

It’s an age-old question this time of year: how can we take the focus off

material things and place it on having fun together? For our extended

family, there’s only one answer: stage a holiday road

rally! Part scavenger hunt, part reality-show stunt, this

event consists of a series of wacky

challenges that take us all over town.

To start, we split into a handful of teams,

each with a driver. Each team gets a long list of tasks

(which I come up with in advance) to complete and document. The team that

completes the most challenges most creatively earns bragging rights and a

trophy.

The lists are not for the faint of heart, though. One year, the teams had

to shoot hoops at a basketball court while wearing a fluffy pink prom dress

I’d picked up at a thrift store. Of course, hilarity ensued, which we captured

on video. Another time, they had to spot an animal and impersonate it for a

photo. Yet another challenge involved creating an outfit for a statue in a

nearby park using only natural materials, such as leaves and pinecones, and

some string that I provided.

When all the teams return, we share our photos, videos, and stories

and laugh ourselves silly. These memories last long after the year’s

holiday gifts are gathering dust.

Toy-Giveaway DayMELODY GODFREY SELAH, WASHINGTON

4

2Holiday Road RallyALISSON BURKE CLARK GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

80

3Christmas Eve Game NightTORI GUESS LAFAYETTE, COLORADO

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YOU’VE

been

elfed

YOU’VE

been

elfed

Each December, we assume our holiday alter egos: stealthy, gift-giving elves. We choose

a family we know through church, school, or sports, then secretly bring them a surprise

each of the 12 nights before Christmas.

On the first night, we wait until dark, then sneak up to the family’s door to hang

a stocking containing a small gift (usually a bird ornament) and a mysterious

message:

“ ‘Twas the first night of Christmas, and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

‘Cept suddenly one little soul did appear:

It’s your Christmas friend bringing you holiday cheer.

Tonight a partridge for your tree,

Tomorrow, who knows, wait and see …”

Each night after that, we drop off another little present, such as candy or

hot chocolate. The real fun is keeping from getting caught — no easy feat

when the family we’re “elfing” is peeking through the windows! Our kids,

Jordan and Katie Rose, ages 10 and 8, love trying to keep our iden-

tity under wraps for 12 whole days, especially when they hear

their friends speculating about who the elves might be.

Finally, on Christmas Eve, we do our big reveal. We ring

the family’s doorbell together and shout “Surprise!” We also come

bearing one last gift: a platter of homemade cookies and a Christmas book.

Without fail, the looks on their faces — usually a mix of amazement and grati-

tude — make our elfish efforts worthwhile!

Istarted clipping coupons a couple of years ago and

managed to slash our family of five’s grocery bill by a

whopping 70 percent! My daughter, Teagan, age 8, nick-

named me the Coupon Mommy, while my husband, Derek,

suggested we put my couponing skills to work for a good

cause: the local food bank.

Last year, after Thanksgiving, we all

pitched in, cutting coupons, scouting sales,

and keeping our eyes peeled for “buy one, get

one free” deals. When we were finished, we

were able to fill the bed of our full-sized pickup

truck — twice! — with diapers, cereal, toiletries,

canned goods, and other essentials. Our kids felt about

ten feet tall as they carried the brimming bags into the

food pantry. We plan to do this every Christmas in the

future, and throughout the year, too.

Every year in early December, we hold a Gingerbread Construction

Day. But instead of making sweet little cottages, my kids fashion log

cabins, igloos, skyscrapers, and other unusual structures, mostly from

candy saved from Halloween. To prepare, they even sketch blueprints of

their plans. When the big day rolls around, we bake a batch of ginger-

bread (mostly for nibbling, I confess), and the kids gather up any extra

materials they’ll need, such as graham crackers and

melted chocolate, which are great for walls and

mortar. To get in the spirit, we turn on our

Christmas lights, crank some holiday

tunes, and sip hot cocoa, too.

At the end of the day, the grand-

parents come over to admire the kids’

handiwork and hand out awards,

such as Most Colorful and Tastiest-

Looking. The best part, though?

Says my 11-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn,

“When we finally get to eat them!”

6

7

5Elf SomeoneLORAINE ZATAWSKI INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

Shop Sales for a ShelterHEATHER VOLDNESS OCALA, FLORIDA

Sweet Building ChallengeJILL NOGALES NAMPA, IDAHO

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

81

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clean

brothe

r’s

room

your

Four years ago, my husband and I were looking for a tangible way to help our growing family focus

on the true meaning of the season — helping others. We came up with an idea we call Good Deed

Jars. I used ribbons, mini jingle bells, and gift labels to decorate a mason jar for each of our kids. Now,

every November, the kids and I brainstorm 24 simple acts of kindness, such as “Hug someone

today,” “Let someone else go first,” or “Pick up a piece of litter.” When we’re finished, we print a

copy of the list for each child, then cut the lists into slips of paper that we fold and stuff in the jars.

Each morning in December, the kids can’t wait to draw a slip from their jars and get started

on that day’s task. Sometimes I actually catch them running around the house, trying to do

their good deed first thing! When they’re done, they stash their “finished” slips in a special

star-shaped box.

On Christmas Eve, we place that box under the tree as a gift for Santa — and a visual

reminder of all the kindness they have shown to others throughout the month. We talk about

how their acts, though individually small, together add up to a lot of goodness. It’s a lesson I

hope stays with them all year.

Last Christmas, my 10-year-old daughter, Peyton, told me that her favorite good deed was holding the door for someone

else. “I did it all day long at school and felt really proud of myself,” she said. “Even now, whenever I hold the door for some-

one, I think of my good deed jar and feel happy!"

We celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas by making a small

donation to 12 nonprofits, one for each day.

Every year, my husband, son, and I work together to research

organizations. We scour the Internet, read

magazine articles, and talk to local aid

groups. Often, we select places that have

touched our lives, such as the Ronald

McDonald House — an organization that

helped us tremendously when Brown, now

age 8, was born prematurely. Our dona-

tions have also helped provide seeds to

families who want to start gardens and

chickens to struggling farmers.

Brown can hardly wait to mail off each day’s donation, and he’s

even sent some of his own money (five tooth-fairy dollars!). Seeing

him get excited about helping someone else? For his dad and me,

that’s quite a gift, too.

There’s just something magical about a Christmas tree.

That’s why, although we have a family tree in our living

room, I set up a lighted mini tree in each of my kids’ rooms,

too. My 5-year-old son, Ayrton, especially delights in adding

ornaments he’s made, or ones that represent a

special interest, like the toy monster

truck he hung one year. And Ayrton’s

sister, Mia, age 3, is contemplating a

princess theme for her tree this year.

Each night in December, we read

the kids their bedtime stories in

the cozy tree light. Says Ayrton,

“I love how my tree glows and

keeps me company at night!”

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

82

8Good Deed JarsCHRISTINE PATRICK SEWELL, NEW JERSEY

9Trim a TreeTAMMY THERO-SOTO EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA

1012 Days of GivingBRISJA BROWN RIGGINS DORADO, PUERTO RICO

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Need some winter-vacation salvation?

Turn the troops loose on these easy and

engaging hands-on projects.

WRITTEN BY DEBRA IMMERGUT | PHOTOGRAPHS BY ED JUDICE | CRAFT STYLING BY KIMBERLY STONEY | STYLING BY ANN LEWIS

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1

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

87

When Lindsey Boardman noticed that her daughters, Ffion, age 6, and Carys, 4, were

no longer so enthralled by their building set, she gave the blocks a new lease on life

as a word-play toy. The übercreative mom (who blogs about her kid-pleasing projects

at filthwizardry.com) simply wrote basic vocabulary on blank adhesive labels

(the file-folder size fits nicely) and adhered them to Lego Duplo blocks. The project

inspires lots of open-ended play, especially if you let the kids suggest their own

words. “They will let you know what they want to write about,” says Lindsey, who

advises keeping labels and markers on hand for when inspiration strikes.

Writer’s Blocks

TRY THIS! Print Lindsey’s

starter list of vocabulary words

from FamilyFun.com/magazine.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

88

Professional artsy types use

light tables for all sorts of

creative tasks, but you rarely see

these pricey pieces of equipment

designed for home use. In yet

another stroke of mom genius,

Lindsey Boardman (see page 87)

fashioned a kid-friendly light

table to use for tracing, sand

painting, and more.

SEARCH “SAND PAINT ING” on YouTube.com to show your kids

inspiring examples of this quirky art form. It’s also fun to create lit-from-

below scenes using shapes cut from colorful plastic report covers or paper.

To make a simple light table, invert a transparent plastic

storage tub (ours is a 41-quart size) over a stay-cool fluorescent

light fixture ($10 at Home Depot). For easier tracing, use painter’s

tape to secure your original artwork and tracing paper. To try a

very different type of art, pour a bag of colored sand (available

in craft stores) onto the light table and have kids make designs

with fingers, dry paintbrushes, or combs. When playtime is over,

dump the sand onto a creased sheet of paper, then funnel it into

a ziplock bag for storage.

The Plastic-Tub Light Table

2T

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

89

Fun is where you find it,

and —let’s face it — some-

times that’s in the trash! So

it is with these big-top

beasties made from card-

board tubes. Whether your

crew goes for re-creating

our three-ring trio or

dreaming up their own wild

things, here’s how to get

them into the act.

3A Cardboard Circus

1 Gently flatten a cardboard tube to make it easier to cut. With scissors, trim the tube to

shape, making a head, neck and four legs as desired (note that the elephant has short, thick

legs, for example, while the giraffe has long, tapered ones].

2 Brush the critter with a base coat of tempera or acrylic

paint. To make the face, cut features into the tube (as we

did with the giraffe’s snout), or use tacky glue to attach

pieces made from painted tube scraps (as in the elephant)

or a paper plate (as in the lion).

3 Add final touches, such as painted details, sequins,

fringe, paper clips, pipe cleaner, or buttons. For a tail, cut

a slit in back and insert yarn with paint brushed on its end.

Decorate a spray can top to use as a stand.

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

90

Dial into the brand-new year with a personalized perpetual calendar. It’s a great

way to reinforce lessons about the months, the days of the week, and, with the

weather dial, even changes in the seasons. Display the finished calendar in an

accessible spot, so updating it can be a fun daily ritual as winter turns to spring.4Your Forever Calendar

1 Download our perpetual

calendar template from

FamilyFun.com/magazine.

Have your child draw a pic-

ture directly on the template.

Glue the artwork to a backing

of cereal-box cardboard.

With a craft knife, cut

windows and slits where

indicated (an adult’s job).

2 On card stock, trace a

CD twice and a 3½-inch

jar lid three times. Cut out

the circles (with pinking

shears, if desired). With the

craft knife, cut holes in the

dials and base, then attach

the dials with brads.

3 Write words on the word

dials by slowly turning each

dial to a new blank space in

the window (use pencil first to

fit the words, then go over

them with marker).

4 For the stand, trace the jar

lid onto cardboard, cut the

circle out, then cut it in half

and make slits in the rounded

sides. Insert these in the slits

at the calendar’s bottom.

TO MAKE THE DATE DIAL,

write the numbers 1 through 3

on the left side (larger dial), and

0 through 9 on the right side

(smaller dial)

AL

L P

HO

TO

GR

AP

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STACK AND ATTACH WITH

ONE BRAD

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Stocking stuffers that will make everyone smile.

Just in time for the holidays, ARM & HAMMER® Spinbrush® is the stocking stuffer for the whole family.

And because Spinbrush® SONIC removes up to 95% of plaque,* it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Visit Spinbrush.com for great savings.

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VIDEOGAMESPAGE 96

BOOKSPAGE 94

TOYSPAGE 99

S H O P P I N G S H O R T C U T

WR

ITT

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BY

AS

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E. B

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FA

YE

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FE

GAMESPAGE 98

CDs &DVDs

PAGE 94

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

93Looking for more great kids’ gift ideas? Our new ToyHopper app has hundreds of

FamilyFun-approved toys, books, video games, and more. For details, see page 104.

STOCKING

STUFFERS

LIKE ME

ON EVERY

PAGE!

A Special Guide toGreat Holiday Gifts

FF0111OFT_5A:2010Template 10/21/10 1:05 PM Page 93

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Through Worldvision.org and heifer.org, you can help those in need around the

world by making a gift, such as livestock or a year of schooling, in someone’s name.

� Illustrator Taro Gomi’s cheery activity book Play All Day delivers on its title with

easy yet entertaining paper projects. Kids can punch out more than 90 objects, from

sleepy tulips to chipper monkeys, to create all manner of things: ornaments, picture

frames, decorative boxes, games, finger puppets, and more. Ages 5 to 9. Chronicle, $20

� Kids obsessed with backhoes and bulldozers will mightily dig Robert Crowther’s

Amazing Pop-up Big Machines. In addition to pop-ups worthy of a hard hat,

nearly every spread packs in cool stats, unusual vehicles (ever see a crusher?), and

play pieces to hoist, haul, and unload. Ages 4 to 9. Candlewick, $18

� The handsome how-to Pop Up unfolds the seemingly formidable art of paper

engineering. Employing crisp, perforated templates illustrated by Frances Castle,

pop-up whiz Ruth Wickings breaks down basic creases and angles as well as

more advanced techniques (noisemakers!). By book’s end, a dragon, a robot, and

Frankenstein’s monster spring to life — along with readers’ own 3-D inspirations.

Ages 7 and up. Candlewick, $20

A Family Christmas spins classic

holiday tunes in a new way, from a

mandolin-infused bluegrass “Sleigh

Ride” to a rollicking New Orleans–

style “Frosty the Snowman.” Bonus:

the liner notes offer kids insight into

each track’s musical style, along with

fun trivia. (Did you know “Let It Snow”

was written on a sweltering summer

day in California?) Ages 3 and up.

Putumayo World Music, $15

Movies and Music to Make the Holidays Brighter

Don’t forget these kid-favorite movies,

out on DVD in time for the holidays:

2 Despicable Me

3 Shrek Forever After

4 Toy Story 3

1 The incredibly lush animation of

Academy Award–nominated The

Secret of Kells is reason enough to

watch this film. Add the intriguing

story of an adventurous boy and

his quest to save the illuminated

Book of Kells, and you have a great

family movie night DVD. Some

scenes of peril. Not rated. Ages 10

and up. New Video Group, $30

SMALLGIFTS

BIG FUN

S T O C K I N G S T U F F E R S

Lubies are soft, cuddly, six-inch balls

of cuteness that even Scrooge would

find hard to resist. The fuzzy fellows

come in 60 models. Ages 3 and up.

Rocket USA, $8

A Roundup of Gift Books

When slightly sassy design meets popular

Disney characters, you get Pook-a-Looz,

dozens of 12-inch-tall stuffed creatures,

including Piglet, Woody, and the Cheshire

Cat. Ages 3 and up. Disney, $13

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

94

1

2 3 4

C H A R I T A B L E G I V I N G T I P # 1

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T

C H A R I T A B L E G I V I N G T I P # 2

Through Kiva.com, kids learn about microlending. First, they pick a small-business owner from an interna-tional list to loan $25 or more. When the debt is repaid,they can lend the money out again to another in need.

Video Game Cheat Sheet for Parents

Kinect

bundled with

Adventures game

Ages 6 and up

Microsoft, $150,

Xbox 360

This hardware

add-on lets you play

games using your

body as the con-

troller. A sensor bar

sits near the TV

screen and trans-

lates players’ move-

ments to the action

in the game. Kinect

Adventures includes

20 activities, such as

white-water rafting

and running a

mountaintop obsta-

cle course. One to

two players.

With no controllers

and buttons to

push, this game is

truly freeing — it

makes for easier

game play and less

clutter in the house!

Disney Epic

Mickey

Ages 10 and up

Disney Interactive

Studios, $50, Wii

In the land of

forgotten Disney

characters, players

help Mickey Mouse

use the magical

powers of paint and

thinner to change

the game’s environ-

ment, battle evil,

and solve chal-

lenges. One player.

The story unfolds —

and changes —

based on decisions

kids make while

playing the game.

We love a good surprise, and opening Lego

Minifigures doesn’t disappoint. Each pack

contains an inch-high mystery figure, one of 32

available, including a caveman, a cheerleader,

and a scuba diver. Ages 5 and up. Lego, $2 each

SMALL

GIFTS

BIG FUN

S T O C K I N G S T U F F E R S

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

96

Kinectimals

Ages 6 and up

Microsoft, $50,

Kinect/Xbox 360

Pick a cute cub (lion,

tiger, cheetah, or

other big cat) as

your virtual pet.

Scratch its ears and

train it on the obsta-

cle course, then

explore the island to

unlock its secrets.

One to two players.

Use the Kinect

sensor system to

play hide-and-seek

in your living room

with a wild cat.

Move

bundled with SportsChampions game

Ages 8 and up

Sony, $100, PS3

In your hand, this

add-on controller

looks like a micro-

phone with a light

on top. On screen,

the light disappears,

and your onscreen

character is holding

anything from a

bug-zapping frog to

a bow and arrow.

Sports Champions

has six activities,

including table

tennis, archery, and

bocce. One to four

players.

Testers liked how

easily motions, such

as reaching over your

shoulder to pull an

arrow from a quiver,

are captured by the

controller.

Sesame Street

Cookie’s

Counting Carnival

Ages 3 to 7

Warner Bros.

Interactive Enter-

tainment, $40, Wii

($30, DS)

A Wii controller slip-

cover helps kids go to

the fair with Cookie

Monster and Big Bird

to learn numbers,

shapes, and patterns

through an assort-

ment of 14 fun mini

games. One player.

The controller slip-

cover hides unneces-

sary buttons, making

play easier. (A

chunky, easy-to-hold

stylus does the same

for the DS.)

Start the Party

Ages 7 and up

Sony, $40,

Move/PS3

This collection of

more than 20 fast-

moving mini games

has something for

everyone. The Move

controller becomes,

among other things,

an onscreen clipper

for crazy haircuts, a

toothbrush for an

alligator, and a

mallet for whacking

moles. One to four

players.

Hunt for (not very

scary) ghosts in your

own house by using

the remote’s flash-

light function.

Super Scribblenauts

Ages 10 and up

Warner Bros.

Interactive Enter-

tainment, $30,

DS and DSi

Testers loved this

super-duper upgrade

(now with adjec-

tives!) to the popu-

lar puzzle-solving

game. When players

type the names of

objects, they appear

virtually onscreen to

help complete a

task. One player.

Why complete a

game level riding a

plain cow when you

can soar on a

winged, polka-dot

bovine?

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MAGAZINE!MAGAZINE! MAGAZINE! MAGAZINE!

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TODAY?

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRAND-NEW

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

SEIZE THE DAY AND SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Save

25% off

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Subscribe today and get home delivery of Phineas and Ferb Magazine. Just fi ll out the attached card and mail today or call 866-201-5048 or go to http://phineasandferb.disneymags.com.

You’ll receive a full year for only $23.99! On sale March 2011.

WHAT YOU’LL GET• Brand-new comics brought to you direct from the creators of the TV show

• Puzzles, games, quizzes, interviews, cutouts, and posters–all starring your favorite Phineas and Ferb

characters

• Evil, courtesy of Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz

• Platypus, platypus, platypus!

• Find out if Candace will ever bust her brothers!

• Discover how many inators Doof has invented!

• Read the Daily Danville!

• See if Agent P will thwart Doof’s evil schemes–or at least get back to Phineas and Ferb in time!

PLUS!

This magazine better be evil, Perry

the Platypus!

Or at least contain a recipe for Dookle

Berry cake.

© 2010 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

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When you use Buy4.com to purchase gifts from

retailers, such as Old Navy and HearthSong, a

portion of the sale goes to the charity of your choice.

C H A R I T A B L E G I V I N G T I P # 3

Are you a stinky singing zombie or a cuddly cowgirl robot? Both are among the

3,000-plus goofy characters kids can be in Guess Who? Mix ‘n Mash.

Drawing from 45 ear, eye, and mouth cards — labeled “sneaky,” “clown,” and

so on — players assemble funny faces and display them without knowing what

their composites look like. Taking turns asking yes-or-no questions, players

discover their true identities. Two to four players. Ages 8 and up. Hasbro, $20

SMALL

GIFTS

BIG FUN

S T O C K I N G S T U F F E R S

The three-inch-tall Vinylmation figurines are all the rage in

and outside of the Disney parks. Each box contains a Mickey-

shaped mystery figure whose quirky styling is a large part of

the appeal. More than 100 figurines available. Ages 5 and

up. Disney, $10

Dweebies isn’t your ordinary

card-matching game: it

requires eagle eyes and a bit

of strategy. Players take turns

placing cards in rows, trying to

match the images on the ends

so that they can collect the cards

in between. But the trick is in the

timing. Play a matching card now

and take just a few cards, or wait

for a bigger row and hope you have a

match on your next turn. Two to six players.

Ages 8 and up. Gamewright, $10

Games With Lots of Character

Yes, you have time to earn your degree.

Yes, we know there are only 24 hours in a day.

www.wgu.edu/family 1.800.914.9897

WGU’s competency-based education lets you progress through your

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to keep living your life, while staying on target to meet your career goals.

It’s no wonder 94 percent of our graduates would recommend us.

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SMALLGIFTS

BIG FUN

Clear sound quality and a rechargeable battery make the Omnitech Mini

Speaker Pod a great MP3 companion. The price? It will make even parents

dance. Comes in six colors. Ages 7 and up. Omnitech, $10; available at Staples

With Play-Doh Creations Make ‘n’

Color Creatures, our testers had a

blast transforming the five cans of

dough and 16 draw-on, wipe-off plastic

pieces into fantastical beings. Ages 4

to 8. Hasbro, $8

The 1 two 3 Playhouse is a charm-

ingly decorated fabric home-within-

your-home that doesn’t take up much

space. The 57- by 30-inch house

attaches to a wall with a bracket that

sports cloud-shaped hooks, and folds

up flat (thanks to Velcro tabs) when not

in use. Ages 3 to 5. Chicco, $50

Future Project Runway stars will love

designing fancy outfits for this jaunty

12-inch cloth doll with silver shoes. The

Glam Her! kit’s array of ribbons, beads,

stick-on gems, flowers, and more can be

used to transform eight items of cloth-

ing, including a ballerina skirt, jean

jacket, and a shiny coat that matches the

shoes. Ages 6 and up. Alex, $27

Terrific Toys

Alphie is a robot with a mission: to

develop kids’ literacy, math, and

cognitive skills. After sliding one of

the 30 double-sided cards into a

slot, children select questions and

answers by pressing the correspon-

ding light-up buttons. For every

correct response, Alphie offers funny

faces and congratulatory remarks

(“Excellent processing.”). After in-

correct answers, he offers encour-

agement to keep trying. Comes

with 350 puzzles and games; ad-

ditional booster packs sold sepa-

rately. Ages 3 to 6. Hasbro, $40

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holiday wishesadvertisement

Ready or Not, Here I Come!

Hide-and-Seek Jojo. The first interactive toy that really plays hide-and-seek with your pre-schooler!

Get Tangled!

ESRB Rating: EVERYONE with Comic Mischief and Cartoon Violence

© Disney. Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo WiFi Connection are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

Power Up the Holidays!

Energizer® MAX® offers a complete line of long-lasting batteries for all the battery-powered gifts you give.

FamScapeSM is a new online game from Humana that rewards families for living healthy. Try it free at MyFamScape.com/FamilyFun.

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©2010 Energizer Energizer, Energizer Bunny design and other marks are trademarks of Energizer.

Join Rapunzel and Flynn on a hair-raising adventure designed for Wii™ and inspired by the new 3D animated Disney film, “Tangled.” Also available on Nintendo DS™.

For more information, please visit Disney.com/TangledVideoGame

Be a Game Day Champion!

It’s Club Penguin Game Day! on Wii™! Are you ready for the challenge? Compete in 12 exclusive events & 12 challenges, choose your team—up to 4 players and conquer the island!

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© Disney. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

Get the Party Started!For the first time, mix up Disney Channel shows and characters! Play as favorites from shows including Wizards of Waverly Place and Hannah Montana. Challenge your friends in over 30 games from popular show locations like Phineas and Ferb, Jonas L.A. and more!

ESRB Rating: EVERYONE with Comic Mischief

© Disney. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

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holiday wishes

advertisement

New Great Dora Games!Explore with Diego!

Join Diego and enter the imaginative world of Mega Bloks® in this video game adventure! Use Mega Bloks to construct bridges, land and sea rescue vehicles, and explore exciting habitats!

So Many Ways To Play.

LEGO® DUPLO® BRICKS are two times the size of the classic LEGO brick, making them a great way to kick off a child’s building career.

Get these DVDs filled with adventures and witty fun. Think like a scientist with Sid the Science Kid and explore nature’s wonders with The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!

Entertainment that Educates

For more holiday fun ideas, and a chance to win great prizes, visit NestleFamily.com/holiday

Something for Santa, Something for the Elves.

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In Dora’s Cooking Club, create tasty treats while practicing preschool math skills!

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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

102

n NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Jolly Good Holiday Cookies

Jump here!

Chocolate Surprises

[From page 61]

Ingredients:

For the cookies

� 2 cups flour

� 1 cup cocoa powder

� O teaspoon salt

� ½ teaspoon cinnamon

� ½ teaspoon baking powder

� ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted

butter, softened

� 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

� 1 large egg

� ½ cup whole milk

� 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

� 10 strawberry or other flavored

marshmallows, cut in half with kitchen

shears or scissors

For the icing

� 3 cups confectioners’ sugar

� L cup cocoa powder

� ½ cup sour cream

1 Heat the oven to 350°. In a medium

bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa

powder, salt, cinnamon, and baking

powder and set aside.

2 Using an electric mixer on medium-

high speed, cream all the butter and the

brown sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Add the egg and beat until mixed, about

1 minute. Combine the milk and vanilla.

Turn the mixer to low speed and add half

the milk mixture. Slowly add half the flour

mixture, then the remaining milk mixture,

then the remaining flour mixture. Mix

until well blended, about 1 minute.

3 Line a cookie sheet with parchment

paper. Using a 2-tablespoon scoop, drop

balls of the dough onto the sheet, leav-

ing about 3 inches between them. Bake

for 10 minutes. Remove the cookies

from the oven and top each with a

halved marshmallow, cut side down,

pressing it into the dough. Bake for an

additional 4 minutes, then cool the

cookies on a rack.

4 Make the icing: sift the confectioners’

sugar and cocoa powder in a large bowl.

Stir in the sour cream until it’s smooth.

Top the cookies with the icing so that

the marshmallow is completely covered.

Allow the icing to set, about 1 hour,

before serving.

FamilyFun (ISSN 1056-6333), Volume 20, No. 1, December/January 2011. FamilyFun is published monthly, except bimonthly in December/January

and June/July, for $14.95 per year by Buena Vista Magazines, Inc., a subsidi ary of Disney Publishing Worldwide, 44 South Broadway, White

Plains, NY 10601. Periodical postage paid at White Plains, New York, and additional mailing offices. : Send address changes to

FamilyFun, P.O. Box 37033, Boone, IA 50037-0033. In Canada: mailed under publication mail agreement #40007594, P.O. Box 875, STN A,

Windsor, ON N9A 6P2. GST 877-692-335. .

Makes: 20 cookies

Hands-on Time:

25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

40 minutes

LET’S COOK

● Gingerbread Trifle (FROM PAGE 29)

Per serving (1 cup): Calories 362 ● Total Fat 14 g (21% DV)

● Saturated Fat 8 g (40% DV) ● Cholesterol 164 mg

(55% DV) ● Sodium 225 mg (9% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate

52 g (17% DV) ● Fiber 3 g (13% DV) ● Sugars 30 g ● Protein

6 g (12% DV)

JOLLY GOOD HOLIDAY COOKIES

● Candy Cane Twists (FROM PAGE 60)

Per cookie: Calories 182 ● Total Fat 10 g (15% DV) ● Satu-

rated Fat 6 g (32% DV) ● Cholesterol 38 mg (13% DV)

● Sodium 37 mg (2% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate 21 g (7% DV)

● Fiber 0.3 g (1% DV) ● Sugars 9 g ● Protein 2 g (4% DV)

● Caramel Thumbprints (FROM PAGE 61)

Per cookie: Calories 386 ● Total Fat 20 g (30% DV) ● Satu-

rated Fat 11 g (52% DV) ● Cholesterol 24 mg (8% DV)

● Sodium 132 mg (6% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate 49 g (16%

DV) ● Fiber 2 g (6% DV) ● Sugars 40 g ● Protein 5 g (9% DV)

● Chocolate Surprises (FROM PAGE 61)

Per cookie: Calories 255 ● Total Fat 7 g (11% DV) ● Satu-

rated Fat 4 g (21% DV) ● Cholesterol 29 mg (10% DV)

● Sodium 112 mg (5% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate 45 g (15%

DV) ● Fiber 1 g (5% DV) ● Sugars 32 g ● Protein 3 g (6% DV)

● Orange Cornmeal Crisps (FROM PAGE 64)

Per cookie: Calories 101 ● Total Fat 4 g (6% DV) ● Saturated

Fat 2 g (12% DV) ● Cholesterol 14 mg (5% DV) ● Sodium

28 mg (1% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate 16 g (5% DV) ● Fiber

0.3 g (1% DV) ● Sugars 9 g ● Protein 0.9 g (2% DV)

● Tropical Lime Bites (FROM PAGE 65)

Per cookie: Calories 225 ● Total Fat 12 g (18% DV) ● Satu-

rated Fat 6 g (30% DV) ● Cholesterol 64 mg (21% DV)

● Sodium 92 mg (4% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate 28 g (9% DV)

● Fiber 1 g (4% DV) ● Sugars 22 g ● Protein 3 g (6% DV)

Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your dailyvalues may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Violight’s ZapiUV Toothbrush Sanitizer

Zapi uses pure UV light to kill e coli,

strep, H1N1, and other bacteria that

can live on your toothbrush.

Dentist recommended.

For an exclusive holiday gift offer

visit family.violight.com

Now, that’s something to smile about.

holiday wishes

advertisement

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STOCKING UNSTUFFER?

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ILL

US

TR

AT

ION

BY

MIK

E L

OW

ER

Y

The ToyHopper app

makes gift-giving a snap

Finding the right gift for each kid on your

list just got a lot easier! Our brand-new

ToyHopper app lets you browse

hundreds of family-tested products

organized by price, age, product type,

theme, and in other smart, helpful ways. You can make and

share wish lists and buy toys on the spot (including our Gift

Guide picks; see page 93) through Amazon.com. This is an

app to jump on! Go to FamilyFun.com/ToyHopper for more

information. Available at the App Store on iTunes for $1.99.

Christmas is here!

Don’t miss Christmas, our special

collector’s issue. Packed with our

favorite holiday ideas — great

decorations and gifts that kids can

make, inspiring traditions, tasty

treats, and organizing tips — this is

one holiday handbook you’ll want to

keep and use for years. Find it at

major retailers for $9.99 or order it

at FamilyFun.com/Christmasbook.

A calendar for a creative new year

Our compact 2011 calendar features

12 of our favorite no-fuss projects,

each with easy-to-follow instructions.

Visit FamilyFun.com/2011calendar

to order copies for yourself and

your friends for $5.99 a piece

(includes shipping and handling).

VisitFamilyFun.com/funshopto browse all of o

ur products!

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

104

Check out our Holiday Books

Two must-haves for a crafty Christmas!

FamilyFun Cookies for Christmas ($9.95)

offers dozens of fun recipes, ginger-

bread crafts, and gifts from the kitchen,

while FamilyFun Homemade

Holidays ($12.95) features 150

crafts, recipes, gift ideas, and

party plans. Order the books

individually, or get both for

$19.95 (plus shipping) at

FamilyFun.com/books.

F ROM

AND

Save on personalizedpartyware

Looking for a fun way to customize a gift from

the kitchen? Now you can put your own photo

on a pack of FamilyFun party plates, created

with our partners at Hallmark in three winter-

time designs ($10 for ten plates). Use them

for treat deliveries, parties, and cookie swaps

all season long — and don’t forget the

matching gift tags, party invites, and recipe

cards, available for select designs. To get

25 percent off, use the code FFHOLIDAY25.

Visit hallmark.com/familyfun for details.

FF0111SHOP_1A:2010Template 10/15/10 5:45 PM Page 104

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ToyHopperThe fun way to find the perfect

toy for every kid on your list

�250+ toys, tested by real families

�Search by price, age, & kid themes

�Browse fun, expert reviews

�See videos of toys in action

�Buy gifts from your iPhone® & iPad™

�

Even the best gift-givers need a little help sometimes.

ToyHopper – now on iPhone and iPad

Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod touch, and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

Includes

2010

����&∋∋�(�����!%�#�������∃∋#�)����������������� ���� ���

FF10261.indd 1 10/20/10 10:41:37 PM

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What’s Online?Looking for lots of great holiday ideas at a

glance? We’ve got you covered! Visit

FamilyFun.com/christmas, where you’ll

find dozens of

fun projects in

our quick-look galleries — including crafts

to make, treats to bake, and a variety of

handmade cards and gifts.

We want to hear from you!

Have you found some easy ways to make gift-wrapping more

green? Visit us on Facebook to share your best tips and pics.

F A C E B O O K F U N

PH

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RA

PH

S, T

OP

, L

EF

T T

O R

IGH

T: E

D J

UD

IC

E, JO

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ED

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E; B

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D:IS

TO

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PH

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OT

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Highlight: Holiday Galleries

Visit Facebook.com/

DisneyFamilyFun

Visit Twitter.com and follow

FamilyFun

WE LOVE LETTERS

Send them (and photos, too) to

Mailbox, FamilyFun, 47 Pleasant

Street, Northampton, MA 01060 or

to letters.familyfun@disney.com.

Letters may be edited. Please

include a daytime phone number

and an e-mail address.

GOT A GREAT IDEA?

Send it to mgied.familyfun@

disney.com or to the street address

above. Letters may be edited. We’ll

pay you $100 if we use your idea

and mention your family by name.

LET’S TALK TRAVEL

Has your family been somewhere

Worth the Trip? Send us the details

at queries.familyfun@disney.com

or to the street address above. We’ll

pay you $100 if we use your idea

and mention your family by name.

JOIN OUR READER PANEL

We ask you about topics near and

dear to our heart; you get the

chance to earn cash and prizes.

It’s a win-win! For details, visit

FamilyFun.com/readerpanel.

NEED SUBSCRIPTION HELP?

To save time (and paper), visit

FamilyFun.com/mysubscription,

where you can buy or renew a

subscription, update your home

or e-mail address, and more.

Lego Games Mini Mag

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

106

It’s good to have friends in

fun places! This month,

we’ve partnered with our

pals at Lego to bring

you a mini magazine

packed with fun

family game night ideas —

from tasty snack suggestions

to directions for building

your own Lego-brick trophy.

To download your free

digital copy, visit

games.lego.com/FamilyFun.

fun

freebie

FF0111KIT_1A:2010Template 10/14/10 5:18 PM Page 106

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W H E R E T O F I N D I T

Treat of the Month

These dashing desserts pay

homage to some of Santa’s best-

known helpers. They also make a

fun activity for little hands after

a holiday meal.

For each, carefully snap two

pretzels into antler shapes and

press them into a chocolate-

frosted cupcake. Shape each ear

from a third of a Tootsie Roll

Midgee and arrange them next to

the antlers. Press on a mini vanilla

wafer for a snout, then use a small

dab of frosting to attach a red or

brown M&M nose. Finish by

adding a pair of white M&M*eyes

dotted with black decorating gel.

PH

OT

OG

RA

PH

BY

ED

JU

DIC

E ID

EA

AN

D S

TY

LIN

G B

YL

YN

N Z

IM

ME

RM

AN

Rudolph and Friends

You can buy single-color bags of M&M’s at your local party or craft store.

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2011

FAMILYFUN

108

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DISREGARD PREVIOUS UPLOADED AD, USE THIS AD, THIS IS THE FINAL VERSION

A N A B C F A M I L Y H O L I D A Y F A V O R I T E

Sunday, 11/21 8pm/7c Holiday in Handcuffs10pm/9c Snowglobe

Monday, 11/22 7pm/6c A Carol Christmas

Tuesday, 11/23 6pm/5c Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure8pm/7c Aladdin

Wednesday, 11/24 8pm/7c Beauty and the Beast

Thursday, 11/25 8pm/7c Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Friday, 11/26 7pm/6c A Boy Named Charlie Brown9pm/8c Snoopy Come Home

Saturday, 11/27 8:30pm/7:30c Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Sunday, 11/28 8pm/7c The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation A New ABC Family Original Movie

Monday, 11/29 7pm/6c The Dog Who Saved Christmas

Tuesday, 11/30 6pm/5c Happy Feet

Wednesday, 12/1

8pm/7c Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Thursday, 12/2

7pm/6c The Santa Clause

Friday, 12/3

8:30pm/7:30c The Polar Express

Saturday, 12/4

All Day Harry Potter Marathon11pm/10c Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Sunday, 12/5

All Day Harry Potter Marathon

Monday, 12/6

7pm/6c Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfi t Toys8:30pm/7:30c Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Tuesday, 12/7

7:30pm/6:30c Cranberry Christmas8pm/7c Frosty’s Winter Wonderland8:30pm/7:30c Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Wednesday, 12/8 8:30pm/7:30c Miracle on 34th Street

Thursday, 12/9

6pm/5c Rudolph’s Shiny New Year 7pm/6c The Gruffalo A New ABC Family Original Special

8pm/7c Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town9pm/8c The Year Without a Santa Claus Friday, 12/10

8pm/7c The Santa Clause

Saturday, 12/11 All Day Holiday Movie Marathon9pm/8c Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Sunday, 12/12

8pm/7c Christmas Cupid A New ABC Family Original Movie

Monday, 12/13

9pm/8c Holiday in Handcuffs

Tuesday, 12/14

6pm/5c Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat 6:30pm/5:30c Dr. Seuss’ Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?7pm/6c Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Grinches The Cat in the Hat7:30pm/6:30c Puff the Magic Dragon

Wednesday, 12/15

8pm/7c Disney Prep & Landing8:30pm/7:30c Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo

Thursday, 12/16

8:30pm/7:30c Disney•Pixar’s The Incredibles

Friday, 12/17

8:30pm/7:30c Disney•Pixar’s Wall•E

Saturday, 12/18

All Day Holiday Classics Marathon8pm/7c Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story

Sunday, 12/19 8pm/7c Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 2

Monday, 12/20

8pm/7c Santa Buddies

Tuesday, 12/21

6pm/5c Miracle on 34th Street8:30pm/7:30c The Polar Express

Wednesday, 12/22

8pm/7c The Santa Clause10pm/9c Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Thursday, 12/23

8:30pm/7:30c Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Friday, 12/24

All Day Holiday Classics Marathon

Saturday, 12/25

7pm/6c Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Disney•Pixar’sToy StorySaturday, 12/18 at 8pm/7c

Christmas CupidA New ABC Family Original MovieSunday, 12/12 at 8pm/7c

The Santa ClauseThursday, 12/2 at 7pm/6cT

Christmas Cupid © ABC Family. The Santa Clause

© Disney. Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story © Disney•Pixar.

DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

© 2000 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

watch december 1-25abcfamily.com/25days

Dr. Seuss’ How the GrinchStole ChristmasWednesday, 12/1 at 8pm/7c

FF10308.indd 1 10/21/10 3:36:34 PM

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Family Fun 2010 Issue

Trim 7.875"x10.5" / Bleed 8.125"x10.75" / Live 7.375"x10" ABC 25 DOC Full Page Bleed Ad

10616 ABC Family Fun 10/8/10 1:31 PM Page 1

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