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Some of what you’ll fi nd inside❆ The Top 25 Holiday Songs of the Past Decade

❆ Historical Information about Decorations❆ Tree Lighting and Safety Tips

❆ Gift Ideas for the ‘Foodie’ in your family

Supplement

❆❆❆❆

Local Shopping

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F amily gatherings are synonymous with the holiday season. Even those families who have spread out far and wide often manage to come

together at least once at the end of the year. When families include members who don’t live within driving distance of one another, those who aren’t hosting the holiday festivities must plan an overnight stay. Lodging costs can be considerable during the holiday season because hotels can quickly fill to capacity. Holiday hosts who want to go the extra mile can invite guests to forgo hotels and stay overnight at their homes, where guests can spend more time with hosts and won’t have to worry about finding lodging they can afford. Though it’s a nice gesture to host overnight guests during the holiday season, it’s also one that requires a little work on the part of the hosts, who must take time ouf of the often hectic holiday schedule to prepare their homes for guests. The following are a few pointers for hosts who want to ensure everything is ready and accommodating for overnight guests.

• Take inventory of household linens. Depending on how many guests you’ll be hosting, you may need to stock up on extra linens. If only one or two people will be staying overnight, you should be able to make due with what you have. However, if you’ll be hosting a second family for the holidays, whether it’s one night or a

full week, then you will likely need to buy more linens, including bedding, pillows and blankets. Take inventory of what you have and make sure you have adequate bedding for each guest, as well as some extra bedding in case of emergency.

• Discuss pet allergies. Holiday hosts who have pets should discuss pet allergies with potential overnight guests well in advance of the season. If guests are allergic to your pets, then it might not be comfortable for them to stay overnight at your home. While most families would not want to shelter their pets on a holiday, doing so is an option but one that may not even be worth it. Pet hair and dander around the house might be enough to trigger an allergic attack even when the pet isn’t in or around the home, so sheltering the pet may not be a solution after all. Discuss this issue with prospective guests well in advance of the season so they have time to find affordable lodging in the event that any of them do have a pet allergy.

• Stock up on toiletries. Toiletries are bound to run out if you’re hosting guests for the holidays. Before guests arrive, stock up on these items, including toilet and facial tissue, hand soap, bath soap, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and extra toothbrushes in case guests forgot to pack their own. These items have no expiration date, so even if you end up buying more than you need you can always use them down the road when guests have long since returned home.

• Clear the house of clutter. Clutter can make a home seem even more crowded when guests are staying overnight. Clutter can accumulate anywhere in the house, from bathrooms to a living room to the kitchen. When hosting guests for the holidays, you will need all the space you can get, so clear the house of as much clutter as possible. Put all toys away and clear the common areas of items like shoes and clothing that can make a space seem more cramped. In addition, clear the dining room table of any items that aren’t needed at mealtime and choose festive centerpieces that don’t take up much space.

• Don’t be caught off guard by a storm. If guests will be staying multiple nights, it’s safe to assume everyone, hosts and guests included, will want to get out of the house, be it to enjoy local holiday celebrations or simply to avoid cabin fever by getting some fresh air. But the holiday season gets its fair share of inclement weather, including snowstorms. Hosts should not be caught off guard by a snowstorm, stocking up on items like a snow shovel, a snow blower and salt or a de-icing product for walkways and driveways before guests arrive. This will ensure everyone won’t feel trapped inside the house should a storm arrive unexpectedly. Hosting guests for the holidays is no small task. But hosts who prepare in advance can ensure everyone makes the most of their time together.

Parties are an integral part of the holiday season, when friends and family gather to celebrate and give thanks. For holiday hosts, parties are a great opportunity to make the season even more festive with an event that guests won’t soon forget. The following are just a few themes to make your holiday party as memorable as it is merry.

• Christmas sweater party: Christmas sweater parties have grown in popularity over the last decade, when revelers have tried to outdo one another with the most outrageous holiday-themed sweater. Give prizes for the most outlandish sweater and let guests know early on so they can begin their hunt for a holiday sweater that’s so ugly or outrageous you can’t help but love it.

• Christmas costume party: Costume parties aren’t just for Halloween. This holiday season, consider making your

holiday bash a costume party, encouraging guests to dress up as their favorite characters from holiday tales like “Frosty the Snowman,” “A Christmas Carol” or any of the host of beloved holiday legends.

• Caribbean Christmas: The weather, come the holiday season, may be the one thing to put a damper on the festivities. To combat blue feelings from potentially inclement weather, consider a Caribbean theme for your holiday party this season. Rather than wearing sweaters and long pants, wear beach attire and give the party a touch of the Caribbean. Outfit your home in beach decor and serve food and drinks reminiscent of the Caribbean instead of more traditional holiday fare like eggnog and gingerbread cookies.

• Film festival: Holiday movies are another tradition of the season, so why not invite friends and family over for a holiday film marathon? Include classics like “It’s a

Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story” and encourage guests to submit their own favorites for consideration.

• Christmas karaoke: For those who love to belt out their favorite holiday tunes, consider throwing a Christmas karaoke party that allows guests to perform their own renditions of their favorite Christmas carols. Purchase a home karaoke set and ask guests in advance of the party if there are any particular songs they’d like to perform.

PREPARATION POINTERS How to get your home ready for holiday guests

Out-of-the-box themes for your holiday party

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Gift ideas for the food fanatic on your list

Some people are a cinch to shop for come the holiday

season, while others can be more of an enigma. When

it comes to the latter, shoppers should determine what

tickles their mysterious friend or family member’s fancy,

such as a favorite hobby or even something to do with his

or her profession.

Food is a passion for many people and provides holiday

shoppers with a great opportunity to make a loved one’s

holiday season even more special. Perhaps thanks to the

increase in cable networks focusing on food, foodies, those

people with an appreciation and passion for cuisine, have

grown in number in recent years, and holiday shoppers

with foodies on their lists have a host of potential gift

options at their disposal.

* Cooking class: Many foodies don’t just like eating food

but cooking their favorite cuisine as well. For those who

like to get their hands dirty before fi lling their bellies,

consider paying for a cooking class. Many communities

have cooking classics for various types of cuisine, so

consult your friend or family member, asking them which

cuisine they’d like to learn and when they’re available. Or

let them fi nd their own class and then pay for the class.

This can be a great way for foodies to learn something new

and meet fellow food afi cionados along the way.

* Specialty spices: Spices can make the difference between

an ordinary meal that’s void of fl avor and a meal that’s

so fl avorful it won’t soon be forgotten. When spicing

things up for a foodie this holiday season, don’t just buy

regular spices at the grocery store. For example, instead

of standard cinnamon, buy a specialty spice like Mexican

or Vietnamese cinnamon. Such specialty spices can add

extra fl avor to a meal while becoming the go-to spice for

the home chef among your friends and family members.

* Pressure cooker: Many foodies are fawning over pressure

cooking, which can cut down on cooking times without

sacrifi cing nutrition. Some recipes may take half the time

to prepare with a pressure cooker as they might with a

more traditional cooking method, an important time

saving element that’s attractive to foodies who want to

enjoy their favorite foods but feel pressed for time on

weeknights. And while pressure cookers employ steam to

cook foods quickly, that steam also traps fl avor, whereas

boiling can wash fl avor out.

Many foodies also laud pressure cookers for their

nutritional benefi ts. Steaming certain foods can intensify

their fl avor, which allows cooks to rely less on potentially

unhealthy additions like salt or butter to ensure a meal is

fl avorful.

* Serving dishes: Of course, many foodies want to share

the fruits of their labors with friends and family. For the

person who loves throwing dinner parties, consider some

serving dishes this holiday season. Serving dishes can

range from casual (for the foodie who can’t wait to fi re

up the grill) to formal (for the gourmet foodie), so get a

feel of your friend or family member’s preferences before

purchasing a set of serving dishes.

* Cookbook: The ideal fallback item for holiday shoppers

who can’t seem to fi nd anything for their favorite foodies,

cookbooks fi lled with recipes for dishes from their favorite

type of cuisine (i.e., Italian, Thai, Cajun, etc.) are sure to

please. When gifting with a cookbook, peruse a few of its

recipes to determine if there are any special ingredients

that appear throughout. If there are, purchase these

ingredients and gift them as well.

Gift the foodie on your holiday shopping list with something that encourages their love of cuisine.

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Good Luck Teams!

300 N Water St, Salem • 812.883.2639870 S Maple St, Orleans • 812.865.8877

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Staple of Holiday Decor Has a Deep HistoryChances are, holiday revelers will fi nd themselves underneath

the mistletoe at least once this holiday season. While they

might know what to do when that time comes, they might

not know the history of that plant above their heads.

Especially sacred to Celtic Druids, mistletoe was believed

bestow life and fertility, while also protecting against poison

and serving as an aphrodisiac.

Mistletoe would later take on a more political meaning,

as the ritual of cutting the mistletoe came symbolized the

emasculation of the old King by his successor.

Nowadays, mistletoe is typically hung in doorways or

entryways from one room to another. This tradition can also

trace itself back several centuries to the Middle Ages. During

the Middle Ages, branches of mistletoe were hung from

ceilings to ward off evil spirits. Throughout Europe, mistletoe

was placed over doorways in the house as well as the stables as

a means to preventing the entrance of witches.

The tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe likely stems

from the belief that mistletoe bestows fertility and is often

associated with the Roman festival of Saturnalia, a period

of merrymaking that pre-dated Christmas. In 18th century

England, a young lady standing underneath the mistletoe

could not refuse to be kissed. Once kissed, the kiss would

signify deep romance or eternal friendship.

History also suggests that mistletoe was a symbol of peace. In

Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace. When

standing underneath the mistletoe, enemies could declare a

truce and spouses could end any marital turmoil with a kiss.

Lighting a Christmas tree may seem like child’s play, but time and again people struggle with the task. Untangling wires and wrapping them around boughs can be nerve wracking, but lighting a tree doesn’t have to be a chore when you follow some tips from the professionals.

First, keep in mind that wrapping lights around the tree horizontally is more work and often doesn’t produce a multi-dimensional effect. Rather, string the lights from the trunk up to the top, working vertically. This is actually how the tree decorators at Rockefeller Center in New York City do the famous tree year after year. This method helps eliminate tangled wires and empty spots.

Remember to plug in the strands of lights before you begin to check for burnt-out bulbs and to adjust the spacing of lights to prevent dark spots.

Think about varying light bulb sizes to add more dimension. String an inner layer of small LED white lights to produce an inner glow on the tree before adding larger, colored lights on top to increase visual appeal. Just be sure to match the same wattage of the lights so that you do not have power surges and can prolong the life of the bulbs.

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25 Most Popular HolidaySongs of the Last Decade

Even though the first decade of the 21st century witnessed a change in how nearly everyone acquires and listens to music, some things about music -- especially holiday music -- may never change. According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the following 25 songs were the most performed holiday

songs of the first decade of the 21st century. The date was compiled with the aide of Mediaguide, the most comprehensive digital audio performance tracking technology in the world.

1. Winter WonderlandWritten by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. SmithPerformed by: Eurythmics

2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)Written by: Mel Torme, Robert WellsPerformed by: Nat “King” Cole

3. Sleigh RideWritten by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell ParishPerformed by: The Ronettes

4. Have Yourself A Merry Little ChristmasWritten by: Ralph Blane, Hugh MartinPerformed by: The Pretenders

5. Santa Claus Is Coming To TownWritten by: Fred Coots, Haven GillespiePerformed by: Bruce Springsteen

6. White ChristmasWritten by: Irving BerlinPerformed by: Bing Crosby

7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule StynePerformed by: Michael Buble

8. Jingle Bell RockWritten by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross BoothePerformed by: Daryl Hall & John Oates

9. Rudolph The Red Nosed ReindeerWritten by: Johnny MarksPerformed by: Gene Autry

10. Little Drummer BoyWritten by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry SimeonePerformed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra

11. It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The YearWritten by: Edward Pola, George WylePerformed by: Andy Williams

12. I’ll Be Home For ChristmasWritten by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck RamPerformed by: Josh Groban

13. Rockin’ Around The Christmas TreeWritten by: Johnny MarksPerformed by: Brenda Lee

14. Silver BellsWritten by: Jay Livingston, Ray EvansPerformed by: Anne Murray

15. Feliz NavidadWritten and Performed by: Jose Feliciano

16. Frosty The SnowmanWritten by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. RollinsPerformed by: The Beach Boys

17. A Holly Jolly ChristmasWritten by: Johnny MarksPerformed by: Burl Ives

18. Blue ChristmasWritten by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. JohnsonPerformed by: Elvis Presley

19. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like ChristmasWritten by: Meredith WillsonPerformed by: Johnny Mathis

20. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa ClausWritten by: Tommie Connor (PRS)Performed by: John Mellencamp

21. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley HaldemanPerformed by: Gene Autry

22. (There’s No Place Like) Home For The HolidaysWritten by: Bob Allen, Al StillmanPerformed by: Perry Como

23. Carol Of The BellsWritten by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola LeontovichPerformed by: David Foster (instrumental version)

24. Wonderful ChristmastimeWritten and Performed by: Paul McCartney (PRS)

25. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed the World)Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)Performed by: Band Aid

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