I have a confes-sion to make, I’m ashopaholic!

That’s right Ican’t get enough ofshopping! Now, Idon’t always haveto buy – sometimesI just look – butthis is by far myfavorite recreation-al activity. In fact, Ialready have all my Christmas shopping fin-ished!

That’s right! Don’t worry, however, if you’re still fighting

the crowds. There’s nothing wrong with lastminute gift buying, especially during the busyholiday season. That’s why this month CreativeLiving is featuring local businesses that justmay have that perfect gift you’ve been waitingfor. Check them out in the Last Minute GiftGuide section. Also, be sure to read through thearticle about how to tackle last minute shop-ping, there’s some helpful tips in there for youprocrastinators! Merry Christmas!

Editor’s noteCreativeLiving

Page 6Page 6

Specialty Publications Editor

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

Department of The Community Press/TheCommunity Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to EditorMelissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/394Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail

mhayden@communitypress.com.

For advertising call 923-3111.

Contact

TopicsLocal BusinessServices • Shopping

Health & FitnessMind • Body • Spirit

Last Minute Gift GuideSpecialty shops

3 9 Better HearingHearing aids

Senior LivingApartments • Care

4

5

10

FeaturesRReeaaddyy.. SSeett.. SShhoopp!!Tips on how to tackle the crowd this holiday season.

6

YYoouurr ccrreeddiitt mmaatttteerrssKeeping track of your credit and keeping it good.

8

HHooww ttoo mmiinniimmiizzee wwiinntteerr’’ss iimmppaacctt oonn aarrtthhrriittiiss ppaaiinnTips to stay pain free throughout the holiday and winter season.

11

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

3W e s t | N o r t h w e s t C R E A T I V E L I V I N GC o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mD e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

Are you ready forthe snow? Winteris just around the

corner and any day now,you are going to wake upwith a winter wonderlandright outside your door.

Now is the time to getyour snow blower out fora test start-up and tocheck that it is operatingcorrectly. Or, bring it infor a much needed tune-up from White OakMower Shop’s masterservice technicians.

Stop in and see theselection of Toro SnowBlowers, like the ToroPower Clear 180, a 58-pound muscle machinethat throws snow up to 25feet. The Toro PowerClear 180 make greatChristams gifts and are onsale now starting at $359.

Swervice after the pur-chase of a snow blower isalso very important.When it snows, you’llwant your snow blowerin tip-top shape.

Located at 3590 BlueRock Road, White OakMower Shop has the partsand services to get yougoing. For informationcall 385-43907.

Make sure you’re ready for the big snow

Be ready for the snow, visit White Oak Mowe Shop today.

CCrreeaattiivveeLivingCCeelleebbrraattee yyoouurr bbuussiinneessss!!

IInnvviittee yyoouurr nneeiigghhbboorrss ttoo tthhee ppaarrttyy..CCaallll 992233--33111111 ttoo aaddvveerrttiissee!!

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

4 C o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mC R E A T I V E L I V I N G W e s t | N o r t h w e s t D e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

Do you wish youcould hear yourchildren or grand-

children better on thephone, watch TV ormovies at a volume thatdoesn’t bother others inthe room, or follow a con-versation with friends bet-ter than you do now? Theholiday season, filled withreconnecting with friendsand family, is a perfecttime to make your hear-ing health a priority, too.

Join SharonChristopherson,owner/audiologist atChristopherson & ClarkHearing Center, and herassociate, Amy Smith, forholiday refreshments anda personalized demonstra-tion of the latest hearingaids, assistive listening

devices (ALDs), and con-nective devices that canhelp improve your enjoy-ment of the holidays andyour communication thewhole year through.

Sharon has more than30 years of experienceproviding courteous serv-ice, top-notch care, andproducts at competitiveprices. She has earned herpatients’ confidence byunderstanding their indi-vidual needs and recom-mending the best technol-ogy at prices they canafford. Sharon would behappy to assess yourhearing and show youhow hearing aids andassociated connectivedevices could make a dif-ference in your life.

Many ALDs are in

stock and others can beordered in time forChristmas. ALDs offerpeople with hearing losssimple solutions for talk-ing on the phone, watch-ing TV, and hearing alarmclocks, doorbells, orsmoke detectors. ALDsalert you to sounds youdon’t hear well andamplify sounds you’d liketo hear better, even withhearing aids.

If you or someone youknow would appreciatethe gift of better hearing,please stop by the office tobrowse our display ofALDs or call 598-9444 toschedule your hearing testor a free hearing aid trial,or for your free copy ofthe Consumer’s Guide toHearing Aids.

Great Christmas gift ideas

White OakNutrition has anew owner and

a new focus. Owner Jaci Fanetti

likes the idea of servingup healthy personalizedprotein smoothies in afamily friendly atmos-phere.

“I am the mother of fourchildren so I know what itmeans to offer guidance ina gentle way,” she says.“Still, I take people’s healthvery seriously.”

Jaci is looking forwardto seeing some old facesthat haven't been in for awhile and to re-establish-ing a dialogue with thosepeople. They open at 7:30a.m. and will be offering$1 off shakes for old cus-tomers who want to stopby and meet her. She is allears to listen and help.

Her new hot shakes aregreat on a cold day!

As a new owner Jaci ishoping to find a few peo-ple who love the shakesand want to becomeWellness Coaches.

“Weight loss challengesare a great way to havefun, lose weight and wina few dollars as well,” shesays. “I look forward toteaching others how torun challenges. That waywe can help more peopleboth lose weight andmake some money too!”

The next challengestarts on Wednesday, Dec.9, at 6:30 p.m. People arewelcome to join through-out the challenge.

To Contact Jaci atWhite Oak Nutrition call741-8600 or stop by at5830 Cheviot Road in theWhite Oak Center.

White OakNutrition undernew ownership

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

5W e s t | N o r t h w e s t C R E A T I V E L I V I N GC o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mD e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

CCaallll 992233--33111111ttoo aaddvveerrttiissee!!

www.communitypress.com

By Melissa Hayden • Editor

The day after Thanksgivingmay be the biggest shoppingday of the year, but that’s

only the tip of the iceberg.According to the InternationalCouncil of Shopping Centers theFriday after Thanksgiving onlyranks as fifth in the biggest sales,behind the two weekends beforeChristmas. The day on which salespeak depends upon which day ofthe week Christmas falls on, butthe highest sales day is usallyeither the last Saturday before Christmas orDecember 23.

So there you have it, procrastinators rule!As the holidays seem to get busier and busier last

minute holiday shopping gets more and more popu-lar. Here is a guide to help you stay on your feet,alert, and ready to grab, grab, grab!

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

6 C o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mC R E A T I V E L I V I N G W e s t | N o r t h w e s t D e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

Plan of attackMake a map. What store are you going to stop at first? How

long do you need to be there? How long will you really be there?These are critical questions when considering your plan ofattack. Set your priorities and consider distance, as well as thepopularity of the items you’re looking for and the bargainsoffered.

What to wearShoppers must always wear comfortable shoes and should

dress in layers.

Sleepy timeTry your best to rest. Get a good night’s sleep the night before

you go out and remember it’s OK to take a break and grab a biteto eat. You should even carry a candy bar and bottle of waterwith you.

Your shopping expereince can set the mood for your wholeseason, so try to have some fun and make it an adventure.Afterall, you are a last minute kind of person, this is what youthrive on.

Make a list, check it twiceAs difficult as it may be, try

to think ahead. Make a list ofthe people you still need tobuy for and what items theymay like, as well as where tofind those items.

Set a budget, stick with itJust because your last

minitue doesn’t mean youhave to spend every lastpenny. In fact, some of the bestdeals are available just daysbefore Christmas. Set a reason-able budget for yourself.

Shop!Ready.

Set.Shop!

An open house willbe held Saturday,Dec. 12 with

refreshments and in-storespecials. With your $50purchase you get a freegift valued at $10 whilequantities last.

It’s the most wonderfultime of the year – make iteven more wonderfulwith lovely decorationsand gifts from LutzFlowers. Beautiful poin-settias, a variety ofChristmas centerpieces,

silk and fresh arrange-ments – there’s no betterway to celebrate the holi-day!

In addition, LutzFlowers carries an arrayof gifts and charms thatcan add the perfect touchto any planter or floralarrangement. They alsohave a fine collection ofmemorial garden stones.

Lutz Flowers has beenproviding Cincinnati thefinest in flowers and giftsat affordable prices since

1918. They were recentlyvoted the best communityflorist on the West side byCommunity Press readers.They offer fresh floralarrangements, fruit andgourmet baskets and per-sonal care gift baskets.

Visit Lutz Flowers at5110 Crookshank Road,for more information, call921-0561 or visitwww.lutzflowershaus.com.

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

7W e s t | N o r t h w e s t C R E A T I V E L I V I N GC o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mD e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

Find the perfect gift at Lutz Flowers

ATotal Tan is nowoffering the sun-less spray tanning

booth Mystic Tan at itsGlenway and Delhi loca-tions. Mystic Tan givesyou the look of confi-dence, whether you’reshopping at the mall orhaving a night out on thetown. You’ll turn heads asyou pass by with the per-fect tan that looks likeyou’ve spent hours per-fecting. Even if you can’ttan through traditionalmeans, Mystic Tan givesyou a beautiful golden tanthat looks completely nat-ural. Hydrating nutrientsenrich your skin, givingyou a beautiful glow youthought you’d neverachieve on your own.Mystic Tan is quick, sim-

ple and dark! Get in andtake advantage of theirMystic Mondays, all sin-gle sessions in the Mysticare half price!

Do not forget to grabyour favorite tanner a giftcertificate for the upcom-ing holidays. A Total Tanis offering a discount ontheir monthly unlimitedpackage this December.Also, take advantage oftheir low priced lotionsincluding ‘Bodacious byBooty’ and give your spe-cial someone a great tan-ning gift bag to get themstarted in the upcomingtanning season. A TotalTan prides themselves ongiving you great tanningand products at affordableprices. A Total Tan likeyou never have before!

Grab a Mystic Tanfor the holidays

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

8 C o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mC R E A T I V E L I V I N G W e s t | N o r t h w e s t D e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

Your credit matters when it comesto applying for a job or a loan,purchasing insurance or seeking

an apartment to live in. If you don’tknow your credit score, or haven’t main-

tained a good credit rating, you mightbe in for a few surprises.

“There are so many different reasonsfor people to pay attention to their credit

Your credit matters:Staying on top of your credit

Credit see page 9

Looking for great gift ideas and a one-stop shopfor the holidays? Enjoy the inviting atmosphereat Zahneis Salon every Saturday in December

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as they extend to you amazinggift ideas and incredible savings during their holidayopen houses.

Located on Muddy Creek, next to Ameristop,Zahneis is a comfortable and relaxing full-service salonthat offers all the amenities including full body wax-ing, massage therapy, pampering body treatments andof course, nail expertise. The wide range of servicesalso extends into skincare with a multitude of facialsand chemical peels that can treat any skin conditionand improve skin’s overall condition to achieve ayouthful radiance.

Gift certificates with Tara and Ashley will save you30 percent as $70 gift cards are sold for only $50! Also,all Pevonia skincare gift baskets include complimenta-ry gift certificates and skincare treatments up to $80 infree services! Complete your loved ones’ holidays bygiving the gift of pampering and relaxation. You caneven create your own gift basket to complement yourgift receiver’s specific skin type or pampering style,and they’ll receive a complimentary gift card as well.

Call Tara Zahneis at 451-2333, Ext. 14, to addressany questions or to place you gift basket order aheadof time.

Great gift ideas, deals

Dazzle up yourfavorite 18-inchdoll with a

sparkling ruby, burgundy,emerald green, or goldChristmas gown, and asumptuous velvet, fur-

trimmed cape. Or keep her warm and

cozy with a lovely fur-lined jacket.

All this and more canbe found at PreviewProductions in Newtown.

Owner Joyce Rosselot

and her assistants SusanLehr and Sarah Wattershave been busy as elvesdesigning, sewing, andstocking the doll clothingboutique with the latest inholiday and winter fash-ions.

They have everythingfor special occasions andeveryday winter wear.Some outfits even comewith matching boots.

With such reasonableprices, this season is theperfect time to add sever-

al of the latest ready-to-wear fashions to yourfavorite someone’s dollcollection.

The best selection isalways in the store, locat-ed at 6720 Main St. inNewtown. Call 271-2524.

Preview Productions presents latest doll fashions

report,” says JenniferEhresman, a Bank ofAmerica customer experi-ence executive. “Pay billson time and use creditwisely, and over timeyou’ll lay the foundationfor a car loan or mortgageapproval. Knowing somebasic information about

your credit will help youstay on top of it and use itto your advantage.”

Here are some tips tohelp manage credit andimprove your credit rat-ing.

1. Always pay yourbills on time.

2. Don’t overspend.

3. Develop a budget.4. Read the small print

on interest rates.5. Review your credit

report.

“Stay in control of your

credit to achieve yourfinancial goals,”Ehresman says. “Yourcredit matters, and man-aging it proactively canhelp you improve yourrating and enjoy the bene-

fits that credit can offer.”To learn more on how

to responsibly manageyour credit, visitwww.BankofAmerica.com/Learn.

B E T T E R H E A R I N G

9W e s t | N o r t h w e s t C R E A T I V E L I V I N GC o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mD e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

Are you ready to hear ALLthe sounds of the season?Children laughing.

Excited whispers. Telephone callsfrom loved ones far away. All ofthe things that make the holidaysmemorable can be a major sourceof frustration if you have troublehearing. Don’t let hearing losscome between you and a lovedone.

The Place for Better Hearingwants to help you hear all the

sounds of the season. We willdetermine which type of hearingloss you have and recommendthe best hearing solution for yourhearing level and your lifestyle.

At your visit, you can expecta comprehensive hearing exami-nation. We then proceed with adiscussion of your lifestyle,including the types of soundenvironments you most frequent-ly encounter.

They will then discuss hearing

aid options. At The Place forBetter Hearing, they work withthe most advanced hearing aidsavailable today: S Series byStarkey. Every S Series hearingaid offers the best solution foryour hearing and your lifestyle,as well as, the ultimate in per-formance, comfort and personal-ization.

Finally, they can help you nar-row down your choice of hearingaids based on the investment you

are comfortable making. Theyunderstand the difficult econom-ic climate some of out patientsface. They are proud to offerCareCredit so you can enjoy con-venient monthly payments withno interest charges.

Make this holiday seasonunforgettable. Call The Place forBetter Hearing at 922-0123 toschedule an appointment or visitthem at www.hearingbetter.net.

Hear ALL the sounds of this holiday season

Credit from page 8

Don’t be left out

Call 923-3111 to learnhow you can be a partof the February 2009edition of the Private

School Directory, pub-lished bi-annually by

The CommunityPress/Recorder.

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

10 C o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mC R E A T I V E L I V I N G W e s t | N o r t h w e s t D e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

The holidays areupon us and withthe hectic bustle of

our days, we can getbogged down with all ofthe responsibilities weface. Do you provide carefor an elderly parent orrelative, but don’t knowwhere to turn for help?

Angel’s Touch NursingCare has the solution foryou and your family!Owner Bonnie Perrinoand her qualified staff canprovide expert care andassistance to your lovedones in their own homes.Whether it is as simple asaddressing Christmascards, hanging a wreath,helping with housekeep-ing, cooking, laundry, etc.Angel’s Touch NursingCare can ease the burdenfor you.

The staff at Angel’s

Touch can perform a mul-titude of tasks thatinclude meal preparation,medication reminders,grocery shopping, person-al care, etc. They can alsoprovide comforting com-panionship and overnightrespite for family mem-bers. They provide carefor any time frame need-ed, from one hour to 24hours a day.

“Being able to stay inthe comfort, security andfamiliarity of their ownhome is very important topeople as they age,”Bonnie Perrino says.“With our services theyare able to do that. Wecare for patients withneeds that vary from min-imum assistance to fullnursing care.”

Perrino, who hasowned Angel’s Touch

since 1995 says, “It can bedifficult to find caregiverssuited to the family needsand expectations, so wego the extra mile in pro-viding the personaltouch.” Angel’s Touchworks closely with every-one involved to coordi-nate schedules that fitdaily routines andrequirements of clientsand family members.”

They know how muchyour loved ones mean toyou so you can restassured that they willtreat them with the livingcare and respect that theydeserve. It is very reward-ing to know they can helppeople who really needthem. For information call661-4111. Angel’s TouchNursing Care is located at3619 Harrison Ave. inCheviot.

Angel’s Touch Nursing CareCCCCrrrr eeeeaaaa tttt iiii vvvveeeeLLLL iiii vvvv iiii nnnngggg

TTeellll yyoouurr nneeiigghhbboorrss yyoouurr ssttoorryyTTeellll yyoouurr nneeiigghhbboorrss yyoouurr ssttoorryyCCaallll 992233--33111111CCaallll 992233--33111111

CCrreeaattiivveeLivingDDoonn’’tt mmiissss oouutt oonn bbeeiinngg iinn tthheessppeecciiaall JJaannuuaarryy BBrriiddaall iissssuuee..CCaallll 992233--33111111 ttoo aaddvveerrttiissee!!

In fact, rheumatoid arthritis thatfirst appears in the winter or springmay be more severe than arthritisthat emerges in summer and fall,according to a French study of arthri-tis patients. In addition to cold tem-peratures associated with winter,viruses – which are more prevalentduring winter – may play a part in

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

11W e s t | N o r t h w e s t C o m m u n i t y p r e s s . c o mD e c . 9 , 2 0 0 9

Clovernook providesquality nursing careand rehabilitation,

as well as one of the mostprogressive, effectivewound care centers in theTristate. Clovernook isnestled into six park-likeacres in the residentialneighborhood of NorthCollege Hill and its caringprofessional staff is dedi-cated to serving the needsof the residents and theirfamilies.

The Progressive Wound

Centre was opened in2004, due to Clovernook’ssuccesses in healing vascu-lar, venous, diabetic, surgi-cal, pressure and complexwounds. The ProgressiveWound Centre team usesstate of the art productsand innovative treatments.With quality care, carefulmonitoring, and a unifiedteam approach, the profes-sionals at The ProgressiveWound Centre advancehealing in dramatic ways.The Progressive Wound

Centre is like no other inthe region!

All rehabilitation therapies: Physical,Occupational, Speech,Respiratory, andRecreational are availableto their residents.Clovernook is Medicaidand Medicare certifiedand provides private pay,as well as some privateinsurances. They providelong-term and short-termcare, and skilled and inter-mediate care.

Clovernook offers qualitynursing care, rehabilitation

You’re not justimagining it– you really

can feel winter’schill in your bones,especially if you’reamong the 45 mil-

lion Americans whohave arthritis.

Coping with thisoften debilitating

disease can be evenmore challenging

when the weatherturns cold, making joints feel

even more stiff and painful.

How to minimize winter's impact on your arthritis painthe increased severity of winter-onsetarthritis, the study concluded.

But winter’s chill shouldn’t driveyou indoors until the spring thaw.Just the opposite, says the Web siteAthritisToday.org. Walking outside inthe winter has many health benefitsfor arthritis sufferers, including burn-ing calories and helping you feel pos-itive and motivated, the site says.Plus, inactivity is often associatedwith an increase in pain.

So how can you stay active andmanage your arthritis this winter?Here are a few tips:

Stay warm and dryDampness and cold exacerbate

arthritis pain. Dress warmly andavoid dampness. If you live in anarea with particularly damp weather,equip your home with a dehumidifierto take excess moisture out of the air.

When walking outside, wearwarm, waterproof footgear and gloves. Layer yourclothes for warmth and breathability, and choose fabricsthat wick moisture away from your skin.

Stay active“Use it or lose it” definitely applies to arthritis suffer-

ers. Exercise can help keep joints moving, strengthen

Arthritis see page 12

How to minimize winter's impact on your arthritis pain

C R E A T I V E L I V I N G

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

W e s t | N o r t h w e s t D e c . 9 , 2 0 0 912

By Carol Silver ElliottCEO/President, Cedar Village

We’ve all heardsomeone saythat the weather

is changing and that theycan “feel it in my bones.”Well, truth is, folks witharthritis in many casescan, indeed, feel it in theirbones and there is evi-dence to support thatweather sensitivity can gohand in hand with arthri-tis.

What is arthritis? It’s acatch-all term that refersto more than 100 differenttypes of diseases thatinvolve joints, surround-ing tissue or other con-necting tissue, resulting inpain, swelling and stiff-ness. Arthritis affectsmore than 45 millionAmericans and that num-ber continues to increase.

While cold weather canexacerbate joint pain andstiffness, experts say thatthere are things you cando to feel better this win-ter season. The mostimportant one is not to letwinter keep you coopedup inside until the treesbegin to bud! Keepingactive and keeping yourjoints moving will help to

lessen pain.Walking is a vital form

of exercise, especially forthose with arthritis. If it istoo cold to walk outdoors,try an indoor course like agym or mall. If theground is dry, walkingoutdoors is worth doing –the fresh air can feel great.Just make sure you bun-dle up and stay dry.Dampness can make yourjoints feel more uncom-fortable. Bundling upmeans layers so choosefabrics that wick moistureaway from your skin, nottrap it against you.

Another great form ofexercise, any time of year,is swimming. Warm waterpools are available inmany areas and they canbe a real boon for thosewith arthritis. Whetheryou take a water exerciseclass, swim or just dosome water walking, thebuoyancy of the water canmake this more comfort-able and the resistance ofthe water can give you agreat exercise in less time.

One more winter haz-ard to avoid, especially ifyou have arthritis, isweight gain. Between theholidays and lower levelsof activity in the cold,

many people find that thescale shows a highernumber when the winterends than when it began.If your activity level iscurtailed, your calorieconsumption should becurtailed as well. Why isweight gain such anissue? Additional weightputs additional pressureon your joints-and thatcan make your discomfortgreater. Of course, if yourexercise level increases,you can manage your reg-ular intake without modi-fication. Another benefitof exercise!

Arthritis is a chroniccondition that benefitsfrom ongoing medicalmanagement. Make surethat you are seeing yourdoctor regularly, that youshare with him/her anyconcerns you have anddiscuss any options thatmight make winter morecomfortable for you.Would a nutritional con-sultation help? Howabout a session with apersonal trainer or physi-cal therapist?

You can make a differ-ence in your arthritis painthis winter. Stay warm,stay active and stayhealthy!

Does winter have to be achy?

muscles connected to joints, preservebone health, and improve your overallhealth and fitness, according towww.Arthritis.org, the Web site of thenot-for-profit Arthritis Foundation.

If you are less active during winter,arthritis can cause even the smallestmovement to be painful. Maintain yourprescribed exercise regimen, under yourdoctor’s guidance, as much as possibleduring winter months. The movementwill help fight off the stiffness that coldweather brings to your joints.

Keep to your dietOur diets tend to become “heavier”

in colder weather as our bodies instinc-tively crave warmth-generating and fat-building fare to help us stay warmer.But it’s important to maintain a healthydiet throughout the winter. Controllingexcess weight, which puts undue strainon already sore joints, is a key elementof managing your arthritis. Also, talk toyour doctor or a qualified nutritionistabout what nutritional supplementsmight be helpful in minimizing yourpain.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Arthritis from page 11