GIFT GUIDE-11.23.11

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Geographical and service restrictions apply to AT&T U-verse services. Call or go to www.att.com/u-verse to see if you qualify.1.Access to select content requires compatible device qualifying U-verse TV plan or monthly subscription fee and Wi-Fi connection and/orcellular data connection. Available content may vary by device and/or U-verse TV subscription and is subject to change. Data charges mayapply. 2. Access to HD service requires $10/mo and HD Premium Tier for an additional $5/mo. 3. $43 Off for 6 months: Offer ends 1/31/12.New residential U-verse customers ordering U-family or higher TV and U-verse Internet Pro or higher plans. After 6 months U-verse servicewill be billed at then existing standard rates unless canceled by the customer. 4. $53 Off for 6 months: Offer ends 1/31/12. New residentialU-verse customers ordering U300 or higher TV and U-verse Internet Elite or higher plans. After 6-months U-verse service will be billed atthen existing standard rates unless canceled by customer. AT&T U-verse: Pricing excludes taxes, fees and other charges including cityvideo cost-recovery fees where applicable. Residential customers only. Prices programming features and offers subject to change withoutnotice. Credit restriction may apply. A one-time TV service activation fee of $36 applies. AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet: Internetspeed claim(s) represents maximum downstream speed capabilities. Speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Many factors can affectactual speeds including the use of other U-verse services. A $4 monthly High Speed Internet equipment fee applies. U-verse internetprice includes 250 GB of data/mo. For more information go to att.com/internet-usage. Offers may be modified or discounted at any timewithout notice. Other conditions may apply to all offers. AT&T employees or retirees not eligible for promotional offers.

AT&T MWT acquiresCommerce TownshipStore

The AT&T store in CommerceTownship at 3290 North PontiacTrail west of Haggerty Road (nextto Sonic) recently joined MWT’sfamily of stores. At AT&T MWTstores, customers can take care ofall their communications needs inone place. That includes cellphones, home phones, advanced TVservice, and high speed internet.

“Most wireless stores only sellphones. Here, we provide all ofyour services in one stop,” saidowner Paul Yousef. “Customers canstart service for their wireless or

home phone, Internet and U-versedigital TV, upgrade service, getdemonstrations and even pay theirAT&T bills here.”

The staff is knowledgeable,helpful and quick.All employeescomplete extensivetraining and arecertified by AT&T.The stores also offerlive phones,computers andother devices thatcustomers can testfor themselves.

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channels. With U-verse, you canrecord up to four shows at once ona single DVR and record and playback shows from any room in yourhome. Multiview even allows you to

follow up to fourchannels at once.You can even useyour Xbox 360 asyour receiver forcost savings. U-verse also offershigh speedinternet service,which includeswireless home

networking capability and severalother features.

“Comparing U-verse to othercable provider’s technology is like

comparing the Jetson’s to theFlintstones,” said Yousef. “It’s reallythat much better and you can signup for as low as $29 a month.”

AT&T, the nation’s fastest mobilebroadband network, has gotteneven faster. With 4G from AT&T,users can download songs andphotos in a blink or load websitesand watch smooth-streaming videosup to four times faster.

AT&T now features unlimited talkand text to any mobile number onany U.S. carrier. The offer isincluded with any unlimitedmessaging plans.

Stop by the Commerce locationand meet the friendly helpful staff.

PAGE 2B www.spinalcolumnonline.com SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

NOVEMBER 23, 2011 www.spinalcolumnonline.com PAGE 3B

B www.spinalcolumnonline.com SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

The HOLIDAYS

In these challenging financial times,the idea of a long holiday shoppinggift list can be overwhelming. That's

why many groups of gift givers arechoosing to enact a "secret Santa" plan,in which each person chooses the nameof one recipient and buys only for thatperson. Everyone buys one gift; every-one gets one gift; everyone's happy;and the spirit of Christmas giving soarswithout scorching credit card bills.

Who's Planning 'Secret Santa'Gift Giving?

The first and most obvious group isthe large family, one with many branch-es to the family tree. With three or fourgenerations gathered together to cele-brate, the gift list might have includedpresents for dozens of people. Nowmore families are putting an end to "getsomething for everyone," still buyingindividual gifts for the kids but creatinga "secret Santa" arrangement for eachof the adults to buy a present for justthe one chosen recipient.

"We were all vastly relieved when mymother suggested this plan," says AlanLarkin of his 40-plus-member extendedfamily. "Not only is it a big savings toeveryone's budget but also the present-opening session didn't last four endlesshours, and we each got a quality giftwe could really use."

Other groups choosing "secretSanta" plans this year: large circles offriends who have long had a traditionof sending one another gifts, col-leagues in big companies who nowfind it wonderful to buy for just oneco-worker, and roommates on tightbudgets for whom buying for manypeople is a stretch, including peoplein sorority houses, retirement homes,etc.

"I am not as close to some of myhousemates and always found it hardto buy for them with my limited funds,"says retirement community residentEllie Montgomery. "So when we weretold that we'd do a 'secret Santa' thisyear, it made Christmas shopping funagain."

How To Establisha 'Secret Santa' Plan

All it takes is one person in authori-ty, such as the family matriarch or theboss, to agree to your suggested idea,and you can help that leader draft an

official e-mail to everyone in the familyor group. For example, "This year, we'vedecided to try something different!With our 'secret Santa' gift-givingarrangement, a secret drawing will paireach of us with the name of one otherperson, and you then buy only for thatperson. Everyone buys and receives ameaningful gift," and so goes the "howthis will work" portion of the letter. Be

sure to request confirmation that every-one has received the news of this newgifting plan. Complete agreement andparticipation is what makes this planwork well.

Seeing as this is a change to thegroup's tradition, expect to be askedquestions about how this plan willwork. Share the method:

• Print a list of all family/group

members' names on a master list, mak-ing sure to include any significant oth-ers expected to attend the holiday din-ner.

• Print a second copy of this masterlist, and cut out each person's name ona little slip of paper. Then place eachslip of paper into a hat or bowl.

• Next, you or a volunteer drawsnames one at a time and writes themdown next to the names on the masterlist, recording who is buying for whom.

• If you pull the same name forgiver and receiver, just drop that slipback into the hat and try again.

• In the end, you have a completedmaster list of "secret Santa" buyers andreceivers. And you keep that list secretfrom all.

• As soon as possible, contact eachperson on your list via phone or in per-son — or through text or e-mail, if nec-essary — to let people know whomthey will be buying for.

Everyone then chooses a gift specifi-cally for the person whose name hereceived, and in the notification letter,everyone is told to spend only up to aset dollar amount that the family/grouphas agreed to. It could be $25; it couldbe $40. It's whatever your groupdecides when you put it to a vote.

"We discussed this plan duringThanksgiving dinner," Montgomerysays. "And we let democracy rule; $20it was."

New Twists on 'Secret Santas'Add an extra dash of fun to your

"secret Santa" arrangement by leavinglittle notes for your recipient during theweeks leading up to Christmas.

"We wanted to make it fun, soeveryone was getting notes with hintsabout who their 'secret Santa' is orwhat their gift is. Some people left theirrecipients little cups of chocolates orsomething from the dollar store a fewdays before Christmas, all building upto the big reveal," Larkin said.

The gift-opening session is thenmagical for the kids and even moresmile-inducing for the adults when theydiscover who their "secret Santa" is.Everyone revels in the spirit of giving ina different way, and many groups agreeto make the "secret Santa" plan a newannual tradition. ❏

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The HOLIDAYS

Finding the perfect holiday gift forthat special someone in your life canbe the headache that keeps on giv-

ing. Even couples who have been togeth-er for decades can falter under pressure.Though, at least that far into a relation-ship, each person likely has an under-standing of what the other enjoys.

But what about a new love that devel-ops during these chilly months? Whatdoes one get the new suitor? Is a gifteven appropriate? How much money istoo much to spend on this not-yet-signifi-cant other?

All good partnerships begin with opencommunication. The National HealthyMarriage Resource Center urges buddingcouples to discuss whether they evenwant to exchange presents, instead ofassuming what the other is thinking.From there, the duo can set the parame-ters of price and emotional value (light-hearted, romantic, etc.).

Most dating experts agree that themonetary value of the gifts at this earlystage should not exceed $50. Accordingto Relationship 411, "No one is sayingyou have to come off cheap, but if youspend too much money on your first giftit could cause feelings of guilt if yourpartner did not or could not spend thesame. Expensive gifts are also suggestiveof a more serious relationship, whichcould make your new love interestuncomfortable."

Syndicated columnist Amy Alkon akaThe Advice Goddess further stresses thatnew couples should stick to fun itemsthat reflect each other's personalities.She recommends books as a surefire,inexpensive holiday hit — unless, ofcourse, the recipient isn't much of areader.

It's OK to get a feel for a new part-ner's tastes in literature, TV shows andthe like, but Alkon says to avoid listeningtoo closely. Intimate, one-of-a-kind giftsmay be heartfelt, but they serve as redflags in a relationship's infancy.

"(Don't) go on eBay for three weeksand try to find the rare thing that theirmother lost when she was a child, whichis just very desperate and bad," Alkonwarns.

However, because of the unstableeconomy, Alkon says that hitting up one'slocal thrift store for gifts isn't out of the

question. Depending on the recipient'sown income and interests, one mightuncover secondhand gold. This can beespecially true, she continues, foryounger couples who delight in rum-mage-sale treasures.

One may be surprised to hear thatseemingly innocuous, generic items that

often appear at white elephantexchanges can also be troublesome for afresh relationship. Bonny Albo, datingguru for About.com, writes: "Items thatare only practical in nature (such as acan opener), suggest a more seriousrelationship than what the two of youhave forged." Albo instead counts maga-zine subscriptions, food items and cardgames as new-couple friendly for theholidays.

One must be careful when giving edi-bles. Find out whether the recipient is ona specific diet and whether the recipienthas any allergies. This will eliminatemuch of the worry. Whether it's a sweettreat or the offer to take the other per-son to a restaurant of his or her choice,the way to a man's or woman's heart thisseason might be through his or herstomach.

Whatever gift that a new couplemight bestow upon each other, theexperts tend to agree: It's the together-ness of the holidays that really makes adifference. ❏


New couple exchangesNot too personal is your best bet

"No one is saying youhave to come off cheap,

but if you spend toomuch money on yourfirst gift it could causefeelings of guilt if yourpartner did not or could

not spend the same.Expensive gifts are alsosuggestive of a moreserious relationship,

which could make yournew love interestuncomfortable."

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of THE HOLIDAYS special pull-out section.

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The HOLIDAYS

Unlike the years when parents stood

in long lines to grab up the almost-

unobtainable Tickle Me Elmo or a

tiny Zhu Zhu Pet, so far toy experts

aren't predicting any one toy to take the

2011 Christmas selling season by storm.

In fact, Christopher Byrne, known

throughout the country as The Toy Guy,

says in the third sales quarter, manufac-

turers were still "waiting for some indica-

tion about where the season is going to

go."

"Fortunately, we talk to kids, as well

as retailers and manufacturers, and we

see several things that are going to be

really great and on trend,"

says Byrne, who is director

of content for

TimeToPlayMag.com. "One

of the benefits of prices

being down is that the

'price of entry' for a hot toy

is comparatively low vs.

previous years. That means

a lot more kids will be able

to be involved in what's hot,

for things like $14.99 dolls and

$11.99 cards sets (such as Redakai

by Spin Master)."

For parents who are willing to spend

a little more for a gift that is both fun

and educational, Byrne recommends

LeadPad Explorer by LeapFrog ($99). "It

is an educational toy that looks like an

iPad," he says. "Very cool!"

Pre-schoolers won't be disappointed

with two fun new Fisher-Price toys, says

Brenda Andolina, director of public rela-

tions and brand marketing for Fisher-

Price.

The Little People Zoo Talkers Animal

Sounds Zoo ($39.99) is a fun Fisher-

Price "learn while you play" toy. The

interactive play set features animal

recognition technology that brings ani-

mals to life.

"Play with animals continues to

be a top-ranked play pattern for

kids, and the Zoo Talkers adds so

much more context to animal play

that really sets it apart from com-

petitors," Andolina says.

Little photographers

will love the Kid-Tough See

Yourself Camera ($69.99)

that was introduced at Toy Fair

The year's hot toysInexpensive gifts will entertain this season

The Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sound Zoo, by Fisher-Price, is sure tobe popular with the younger set this holiday season.

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The HOLIDAYS2011. "This camera offers a new dimen-

sion in the digital camera market that

makes it easy to get a picture of yourself,

among other things," she says, explaining

it's a kid-proof digital camera/video

recorder that's designed especially for lit-

tle hands. With its rubberized sides and

wrist straps, it's easy to grip but will

keep working even when it is

dropped again and again. Plus, it

comes in different colors for

boys and girls.

Older girls that want to be

camera-ready will be enthralled

with Mattel's Barbie Designable

Hair Extensions ($31.99), Byrne

says. "It's hair play meets high

tech."

Speaking of Barbie, she's as

popular as ever, says Bret

Ingraham, a public relations rep-

resentative for Mattel Brands.

The traditional and collectible Holiday

Barbie retails at $39.99 and wears a

floor-length gown with a golden lame

underskirt, embroidery and sparking

jewel accents. Also new is Barbie I Can

Be ... Architect doll ($13.99).

Girls ages 6 and up will be asking for

Radica Figit Friends Interactive Toy

($49.99), predicts Ingraham. Mattel is

calling them "every girl's best friend this

holiday season." Figit Friends can talk

and laugh, and are made of tactile skin

that enables lifelike movements. Oh, and

they can dance, too!

Older girls might prefer a different

kind of doll that just happens to make

both Mattel's and Byrne's "top" list. "The

Monster High Dead Tired line

are great ghoulish dolls that

are appealing to older girls,"

Byrne says. Another selling

point — they retail for just

$11.99 each.

Boys who love the

excitement of World Wrestling

Entertainment will be thrilled

with the new WWE Flexforce

Colossal Crashdown Arena

Playset, says Ingraham. The

$39.99 arena will really come to

life when kids use it with the

Mattel Flexforce Figures ($12.99).

But hey, who says Christmas is just

for kids? Byrne believes the holidays are

a great time to buy a gift that the whole

family can enjoy. In 2011, he's recom-

mending the Logo Board Game by Spin

Master ($24.99). "It's a new family game

that celebrates advertising," he says. "It's

really fun.” ❏

The Fisher-Price Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera is just the thing to keep littlephotographers busy this holiday season and throughout the whole new year.

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The HOLIDAYS

Procrastinatorsseek perfectionwhen gift shopping

Some 23 million people hit thestores on Christmas Eve last year,according to the International

Council of Shopping Centers. For some,this last-minute gift shopping is a tradi-tion, an annual ritual of braving thecrowds to be swept up in the holidayfrenzy. For many others, though, it's thestressful byproduct of a to-do list aslong as Santa's and the desire for per-fection.

"Many people who procrastinate useit as a mechanism to cope with the anx-iety associated with starting or com-pleting any task or decision," says Dr.Soroya Bacchus, a board-certified psy-chiatrist. "What's curious is that pro-crastinating in response to anxiety actu-

ally creates more anxiety for that per-son in the long run."

Last-minute shoppers may have a"good" reason to postpone that shop-ping trip — e.g., waiting for the sales,looking for the perfect deal or haven'tdecided on a gift yet — but their hesi-tation likely has more to do with inse-curity and perfectionist tendencies.

"They worry about whether or notthe person they are shopping for willlike the gift they buy or that the recipi-ent will judge them based on howmuch money they spent," Bacchus says."Others have feelings of intense anxietyrelated to getting everything done forthe holidays: the cooking, the cleaning,the dealing with the in-laws. It can be alot to handle all at once."

That drive to create the perfect holi-day experience translates into the per-fect storm of anxiety and stress,Bacchus says. Is this the perfect gift?What if they get me a nicer, more

Avoiding last-minute stress

Want to beat the last-minute holiday shopping stress? Forget about get-ting it perfect. Just get it done. Make a list; tackle a little bit at a time;and don't waffle on decisions. PAGE 15B ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

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The HOLIDAYS

expensive present? What if it goes onsale next week? And why start shop-ping when the decorating isn't done?

"Trying to make sure everything isjust right will cause you to spend toomuch time on one item when you have10 things on your plate, and to-dos likeshopping can be pushed to the lastminute," Bacchus says.

Want to avoid the gift-list stress?Stop thinking, and start doing. Forgetabout getting it perfect. Just get itdone. Follow these five steps to get ahead start on your holiday shopping:

• Make a list. Do a bit of brain-storming a few weeks before the shop-ping season starts. Make a list of thoseyou wish to buy gifts for, and come upwith two or three ideas for each per-son, ideas you can realistically afford.

"Do this quickly; don't over-think it;and don't take a break until you have atleast one idea for each person," saysToni Coleman, licensed psychotherapistand relationship coach. "Let yourselfreally go with this, writing down any-thing that occurs to you. Every giftdoes not have to have the same mone-

tary value — and avoid even thinkingthat you 'should spend' a certainamount."

• Break it down. Make your listmore manageable by break-ing it down into several shop-ping trips or Internet sessions.Vow to grab one gift each timeyou run errands, or start surfingfor deals on Black Friday with aresolution to purchase oneitem online each day untilyou're done.

The point is to setaside specific timesto tackle that to-do list.

"This helps toget it mapped outin a way thatthere are mini-mal trips to thestore and timespent searchingonline or off,"Coleman says. "Putthe time you will dedicate tothis task on your schedule like anyimportant appointment or event."

• Get moving. Give the gift list andschedule some thought — but don't

over-think it. Once you have a fewideas on paper, start taking action.Make a point to make one purchasethat day.

"A little bit of plan-ning can help you reach your

goals, but a lot of planning andthinking tends to have the oppo-

site effect," Bacchus explains."By simply taking action, you

are guaranteed to find your-self further down yourshopping list than if you

had not."Plus, you'll

have an instant feel-ing of accomplish-

ment. Checkingoff one item on

your list willlikely feel sogood thatyou'll want todo it again.

• Standfirm. Once you've made

a decision, don't second-guess yourself."Many procrastinators find them-

selves struggling with gift ideas andend up shopping at the last minutebecause they can't decide on the best

gift or keep changing their minds. Onceyou decide on something, get it,"Bacchus says.

"In the grand scheme of things, agift is just a gift," she says. "It's a ges-ture of kindness. It is not the end-all ofdecisions, and chances are the recipientwill appreciate the thought more thanthe actual gift itself."

• Make it fun. Gift buying doesn'thave to be a grueling ordeal. Schedulea shopping day with friends or family,and plan a nice lunch or dinner after-ward. Having others relying on you toshow up will eliminate any urges topostpone, and having something tolook forward to will keep your mind offlong lines and decision-making,Coleman says.

If you must shop alone, rewardyourself with your favorite latte, anindulgent snack or a pre-Christmasstocking stuffer.

"When you finish buying gifts forsomeone else, pick up a little somethingfor yourself as a personal high-five foraccomplishing your goals," Bacchussays. "It may sound selfish, but theprospect of personal gain always incitesfeelings of motivation." ❏


Procrastination❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 11B

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The HOLIDAYS

❐ The Huron Valley Chamber ofCommerce has announced that its annu-al Christmas Parade will be held at 10a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, in downtownMilford. Sponsored by CommunityChoice Credit Union and American ConeyIsland.

❐ The Huron Valley Chamber ofCommerce has announced that its 4thannual food drive is now in effect. Jointhe Milford Rotary, Carl’s Family YMCAand the Huron Valley Milford HighSchool band and other community lead-ers by participating in the “Feed a Family... Fill a Truck” campaign. Bring yournon-perishable food items to theChristmas Parade on Nov. 26 and helpfill the truck. The truck will be down-town for the Holiday Open House onDec. 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. as well.

❐ Wixom Public Library’s children’s pro-gram, Holiday Crafts, will be held at 6p.m. on Monday, Nov. 28, at 49015Pontiac Trail in Wixom. We’re going todecorate our own holiday ornamentsusing paint and Sharpies. Registration isrequested. 248-624-2512.

❐ Scott Lake Baptist Church is holding aHoliday Cookie Exchange Party at 6:15p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 811 ScottLake Road, Waterford. Bring two dozenof your favorite cookies to mix andmatch with new friends; refreshmentswill be served and all are welcome. 248-681-1681.

❐ Coats for the Cold — The OaklandCounty Sheriff’s Department and the vil-lage of Wolverine Lake invite you tobring your clean, slightly worn coats toVillage Hall located on Glengary Road inWolverine Lake Monday through Friday,9 a.m. to 5 p.m. now throughWednesday, Nov. 30. For more informa-tion, contact the Lakes Area Chamber ofCommerce at 248-624-2826.

❐ The Courtyard Marriott and theGreater West Bloomfield Chamber ofCommerce invite you to our HolidaySocial featuring light hors d’oeuvres,cash bar, music by Gratitude Steel Bandalong with 50/50 and raffle drawings.This is a warm and wonderful way tostart the holiday season. Please bring anunwrapped child’s toy to be donated toToys for Tots. The event will be heldfrom 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec.1, at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel,31525 W. Twelve Mile Road, WestBloomfield. Admission is free.

❐ Prudential Great Lakes Realty hasannounced that they will be participat-ing in this year’s Hospitality House FoodPantry Santa Shop. New unwrapped toysand gifts for kids up to 18-years-oldmay be dropped off now through Friday,Dec. 2, at 2000 Oakley Park Road, Suite201, in Commerce. There is a specialneed for hats, mittens, gloves, scarves,and toys for all ages and the Santa Shopitself will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, atSt. Matthew’s Lutheran Church inWalled Lake. For more information,call Prudential Great Lakes Realty at248-360-6800.

❐ Mary Helen Guest Elementary Schoolis holding a craft show and Santa’sSecret Shop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. onSaturday, Dec. 3, at 1655 Decker Roadin Walled Lake. Vendors are still beingaccepted. For more information, call248-345-3027.

❐ Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club willhost its 12th annual Toys for TotsBenefit from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Dec.4, at 4770 Waterford Road in Clarkston.This event will feature live music per-formed by local musicians Phil TreaisGroup, Skee Brothers, Urban Nomads,TJ Craven, Blues Conspirance, SlightReturn and more with special MC John

PAGE 17B ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

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The HOLIDAYS

O’Leary of 94.7 WCSX. Cost of admis-sion per person is a $10 donation orNEW, UNWRAPPED toys of that approx-imate value. All contributions will go tothe U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for TotsFoundation. A cash bar and food itemswill be available. For further information,please call Dan or Salli at 248-623-0444, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdaythrough Saturday.

❐ Add a special meaning to your nextvisit to a Huron-Clinton Metropark –drop off a new, unwrapped toy to bright-en a child’s Christmas through the Toysfor Tots program. Seven Metroparksand the Huron-Clinton MetroparksAdministrative Office will serve as collec-tion sites for the Toys for Tots program.Toys will be collected through Sunday,Dec. 4 at Lake Erie, Lower Huron, andMetro Beach Metroparks, and theAdministrative Office; and throughSunday, Dec. 11 at Hudson Mills,Kensington, Indian Springs and StonyCreek Metroparks. New, unwrapped toysthat have no violent connotations maybe dropped off at park offices or theMetroparks Administrative Office forthis program, conducted annually by theU.S. Marine Corps Reserve to serveneedy children in local communities.General information can be foundat www.metroparks.com or by calling1-800-47-PARKS.

❐ The Walled Lake City Library is havingan adult Holiday Tea Party at 7 p.m. onTuesday, Dec. 6, at 1499 E. West Maple,Walled Lake. Join us for our annual holi-day tea with tea expert Pat Sagert. Wewill sample Pat’s specially blended teasand enjoy various “sweet treats.” Patwill discuss tea etiquette and tea-relatedholiday customs. She will also have herspecial teas and extensive collection oftea accessories available for purchaseafter the event. Participants areencouraged to bring their own tea serv-ice (cup, saucer, spoon). Registration.248-624-3772.

❐ The Lakes Area Chamber ofCommerce Holiday Mixer will be heldfrom 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec.6, at the Shark Club located at 6665Highland Road in Waterford. Admissionis $10 per person. Join us for a fun hol-iday networking event. Help us help theless fortunate in our community bybringing a non-perishable food item tobe donated to one of our local foodbanks, Hospitality House.

❐ Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club willbe hosting a Desert Angel Miracle Box

Packing Party on Thursday, Dec. 8, from4 to 7 p.m. at 4770 Waterford Road inClarkston. Donated items will be packedand shipped to our servicemen and ser-vicewomen stationed overseas. Alongwith the suggested items such asinstant foods, new men’s and women’sblack socks, foot/skin care items, etc.,we will be focusing on homemade cook-ies, hot cocoa mixes and Christmas CDsand DVDs. Please pack cookies in tins orplastic storage containers labeled withyour name and address. For a list of sug-gested items or if you need furtherinformation, please call the club’soffice at 248-623-0444 or check outthe Desert Angel website atwww.TheDesertAngel.org. It does cost$12 to ship a box and cash or checkdonations would be greatly appreciated.Please make checks payable to DesertAngel. Packing a Miracle Box is a simpleway to reach out and remind our troopsof how much they are appreciated andthat they are not forgotten.

❐ Holy Spirit Lutheran Church is holdinga free community Christmas carolingevent at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9, at4800 Orchard Lake Road across fromWest Bloomfield High School. All arewelcome and light refreshments will beserved.

❐ Waterford Community Church is host-ing a “Walk Through Bethlehem,” from7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and from 4 to 8p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9-18, at3900 Airport Road in Waterford. Theirguides will take you through the city ofBethlehem during the time Jesus lived.Visit baby Jesus in the stable and expe-rience the story of Christ’s life. Toursleave every 5 minutes. There will be livemusic and refreshments. Admission isfree. For more information, call 248-623-1340 or visit www.waterford-wired.org.

❐ Indian Springs EnvironmentalDiscovery Center’s “Snacks with Santa,”will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.Saturday, Dec. 10, Indian SpringsMetropark located near White Lake. Visitwith Santa, decorate a cookie, hear aholiday story, and make some crafts!Tickets are $5 per child in advance and$7 at the door. Space is limited. Photosare $2. Tickets are non-refundable. Formore information call 248-625-6640.

❐ Kensington Metropark’s FarmCenter’s “Snacks with Santa,” Saturdayand Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11, by appoint-ment only. Each session includes a snack(fruit, cookies, juice, hot cocoa, and cof-fee), horse-drawn hayride or sleigh-ride,holiday sing-a-long, and most impor-

PAGE 18B ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

Holiday fun❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 16B

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The HOLIDAYS

tantly, a visit with Santa! Admission isby advanced ticket purchase only.Tickets are $8 per person, on sale at theKensington Metropark office locatednear Milford/Brighton. For additionalinformation call 1-800-477-3178 or248-685-1561.

❐ HAVEN’s 25th annual Gift Giveaway isa celebration of hope. HAVEN invites thecommunity to share the hope thatdefines the season by sharing gifts atthe 25th annual Gift Giveaway. The GiftGiveaway acknowledges and celebratesthose that have benefited from HAVENservices in the past year. At the GiftGiveaway, new, unwrapped gifts are pro-vided to individuals and parents whohave received HAVEN services in the

past year. They select special gifts foreach dependent member of their house-hold. Last year 738 individuals, includ-ing 500 children, participated. Thismarks the 25th year that HAVEN is ask-ing members of the community todonate new, unwrapped gifts for GiftGiveaway. There is a list of gift sugges-tions at www.haven-oakland.org/gift-giveaway. Included on the list are itemsin varying price ranges and include easy-to-buy gift cards and items that arealways in demand, such as coats, teengifts, home goods or small appliances,as well as a notice of those that are usu-ally received in abundance. Gifts are tobe dropped off at designated times Dec.11-13 at St. Paul United MethodistChurch, 165 E. Square Lake Road inBloomfield Hills, 48302. For additionalinformation or assistance, please phone248-334-1284. There are specific dona-tion collection times each day. Theyare 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11; 10a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12;and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec.13. Financial contributions are alsoencouraged. Financial support allows

HAVEN to meet the needs of ourprograms and ensures that theycan respond to families that come toHAVEN in times of crisis throughout theyear. For more information aboutHAVEN and its programs and services,visit www.haven-oakland.org or call248-334-1284.

❐ The Lakes Area Chamber ofCommerce has announced that Soldiers’Angels is collecting donations for a unitthey have adopted out of Ft. Hood,Texas that is deployed in Afghanistan.The contact for this group is fromMichigan and is the son of a retired ser-vicemember who helps with variousSoldiers’ Angels events. The unit hasapproximately 150 soldiers. They needletters and cards from you each month.Donations can be dropped off at thechamber office located at 305 N. Pontiac

Trail, Suite A, Walled Lake. We are openMonday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.A list of the most requested and allowedcare package items, most of which canbe found at your local dollar store, isavailable on the chamber’s web site,www.lakesareachamber.com

❐ The city of Wixom and the Walled LakeEagles have teamed up for “OperationSoldier.” The team will be collectingitems to send to our soldiers inAfghanistan. Let’s send some holidayspirit and cheer from home! Drop offunwrapped items by Thursday, Dec. 1,at the Parks and Rec desk at 49045Pontiac Trail or the Community CenterLounge at 49015 Pontiac Trail. The sol-dier’s wish list includes toiletries, CDsand DVDs, warm blankets, non-perish-able foods, iTune/iPhone gift cards, puz-zle and word find books, chapstick, artsupplies, flavored water drink packets,travel games, calendars, and notebooks.For more information, visit www.wixom-gov.org, e-mail [email protected],or call 248-624-4557.

Holiday fun❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 17B

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The HOLIDAYS

Regardless of age and interests, mostpeople have at least one electronicgift on their holiday wish list.

Manufacturers are up to the challenge,with a variety of gift possibilities for youto consider. Not surprisingly, manyinvolve music.

An Orb music player is an affordableway to enjoy music — whether it befrom an Internet radio station or service,iTunes or another source — on anystereo. The player is controlled by a

smartphone and plugs into a homestereo. It retails for $79.

Aspiring musicians no longer have tosettle for playing air guitar, thanks to theFretlight guitar. It teaches how to playthrough video guitar lessons that drive aseries of lights embedded in the instru-ment's neck. Ranging in price from $499to $799, the Fretlight guitar comes invarious models and colors.

Even the humble pen has gone elec-tronic. Livescribe manufactures "smart-pens" that record audio and match it upwith what is being written. TheLivescribe Pulse records notes two ways.It creates digital copies of everythingwritten by hand while recording audio.

The Pulse also links the two together.The user can access audio quickly by tap-ping parts of his or her notes. All of thisis uploaded to the user's computer,where Livescribe software archives andmakes the notes fully searchable. Otherfeatures include a calculator, a translatorand a paper piano that plays a mini-piano drawn on paper.

For a student or professional whosepen needs aren't that complex,Livescribe's Echo (about $100) records

everything the user writes and says. Thewritten and audio notes can be uploadeddirectly to a personal computer for sav-ing and searching or to online destina-tions, including email, Facebook andGoogle documents.

Need a gift idea for the techie whohas everything? Then consider RaviRatan's USB flash drive cuff links, each ofwhich contains 2 gigabytes of functionalstorage. Most can be engraved and costbetween $195 and $225.

Those looking for a small but impres-sive electronic gift should look into wear-able camcorders that records everythingthe user sees. These units, which can sellfor under $200, are optimized for mobileuse. The devices fit comfortably over theear and point where the user looks.Some units continuously records video asthe user experiences it, and clips can beshared instantly via email, text,Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more.

Three-D glasses are the perfectChristmas gift for someone who likes tospend time in another dimension.Ingri:Dahl's line of 3-D glasses is afford-able ($29.95) and useful, and it includesclip-ons for those who already wear glass-es. The glasses can be used both in movietheaters and for 3-D television watching.

Earbuds that get tangled can beannoying. Eliminate this problem withthe gift of Zipbuds, tangle-resistant ear-buds that come in a variety of colors.Zipbuds are compatible with iPhones,iPods and most other media devices.Packages start at $39.99 and includeZipbuds earphones, three custom-fittedear tip sizes and two sport ear clips.

Another possible gift for the iPhoneuser on your list is Iomega's SuperHero.It sells for less than $60 and backs upthe phone's contacts and photos everytime it charges.

Even some traditional Christmas giftsare being made in electric versions. Oneis Remington's Touch Control beard andstubble trimmer. It is the world's firstgrooming tool with a touch-screen inter-face, aimed at tech-savvy travelers withits USB charging capabilities. It retails forabout $50.

If your gift budget is really tight,check into Applecore's apple-shapedcable managers, which keep cords untan-gled. They sell for less than $5 and areavailable in a variety of colors.

The techie on your list will be pluggedin and ready to go. ❏


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The HOLIDAYS

It's good to be the family pet, especiallyat Christmastime, when so many petsget spoiled with lavish holiday gifts.

According to the American Pet ProductsAssociation, of the 72.9 million Americanhouseholds owning a pet, many treattheir animals as members of the family,indeed as their own children. To rewardtheir pets for the unconditional love,laughter and positive health benefits theybring, owners are buying fabulousChristmas gifts for them.

According to the APPA, more andmore companies traditionally known forhuman products are going to the dogs,and cats, and reptiles. Big-name compa-nies are now offering lines of pet prod-ucts ranging from dog shampoo, petattire, and name-brand toys to gourmettreats and food.

Another leading trend in today's hotChristmas gifts for pets is personalizedeverything. Owners are ordering mono-grammed sweaters or even designing cus-tom T-shirts for their dogs to wear whileout on walks or strutting their style at thedog park. Want to match your pet?Design a matching shirt for yourself, ordesign a tote for your pet's on-the-gowater bowl and other gear. Other person-alized gift items include food and waterbowls, collars, leashes, bedding and toys.

ApparelBelieve it or not, pets are getting faux

mink coats for Christmas. The APPAreports this fashion piece as part of agrowing trend in "straight from the cat-walk" designer apparel for pets, alongwith designer plaid jackets, matchingjeweled and leather collar and leash sets,and holiday outfits for the Christmas cel-ebration. If a personalized T-shirt is nothigh-fashion enough, pet owners are

going to pet stores to buy apparel andaccessories, including brand-namebooties to keep pets' paws warm andprotected in winter. And give your dogsome style with his or her tags, such asthose made with precious metals andstones. If you can't find what you're look-ing for, ask a local jeweler if they candesign and create it.

ToysCaring pet owners know that pet toys

can harbor bacteria or even dust mitesover time, so they often choose toreplace their pets' last-season toys with awhole new collection of plush squeakytoys, catnip balls, birdcage mirrors andbells, and hamster balls. The owner's"children" love to get toys for Christmas,and many — such as tug toys for dogs— are also designed to help with clean-ing pets' teeth.

LifestyleThe pet who's toted around with his

owner can travel in style with the gift ofa new carrier, and the APPA says thatsome owners are purchasing leather car-riers complete with cellphone and waterbottle holders to keep them in style, aswell. The good life may include the pet'snew automatic feeder and water dis-penser, a self-cleaning litter box,enhanced terrarium lighting systems, oran expanded habitat for hamsters withadditional wheels, tubes and toys. Andanother pet-on-the-go essential is a safe-ty harness and seat belt for the car, aswell as a personalized comfy cashmereblanket to sit on during their travels.

Pets may not dream of sugarplumswhile napping on their new Egyptian cot-ton bedding, but they'll rest easily know-ing how much their owners love them. ❏


A furry ChristmasThe latest gift ideas for your pets

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The HOLIDAYS

Here's how to pickout a gift box that'sa present in itself

When you pick out the perfectgift for those on your shoppinglist, package that item in a

pretty gift box that they'll want to keepand use again. We're not talking thethin, cardboard gift boxes you see;we're talking sturdier, keepsake boxesthat are meant to last, holding treas-ures such as love notes, engagementcards and other precious items.

A good gift box isn't just two timesthe present. It's also smart for the envi-ronment.

"Always consider the waste that youmay be creating when you buy andwrap a gift," says Sophie Uliano, authorof "Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Stepsto an Earth-Friendly Life." "It's amazingto realize that half of what ends up in

the landfill is paper, most of which ispackaging and (paper). Landfills havebeen closed all over the place becausethey are chock-full."

Even with the advent of wrappingpaper made of repurposed and recycla-ble materials, it still takes time for thepaper to decompose. An alternative is agift box that is never discarded.

Here are some of the top gift-boxoptions to consider:

• Card keepsake boxes: A cottageindustry has recently emerged arounddecorative boxes created by theme andfashionable design. Originally marketedas a more ornate way to present wed-ding greetings, these boxes make theperfect keepsake containers. Look forsizable black-and-white damask cardboxes with an attached 4-by-6-inchphoto frame that sits atop the box ondisplay and can fold down. Hot colorsfor two- to three-tiered card boxes,which suit holiday gifting but are verydisplayable all year long, are silver, gold,metallic purple and even Tiffany blue.

• Hat boxes: All things retro andheirloom are in style now, and Victorianor modern-style hat boxes have emergedas a top display item. They also work asstorage pieces for hats, wigs and loveletters or special greeting cards.

"I visit antique shops and vintagestores to find hat boxes, often gettingthem for less than $5, and I use thoseas my gift packaging or as the giftsthemselves," says budget shopper KatieMcCardle.

• Photo keepsake boxes: Storage isvery important for homeowners, andmany are buying leather or decorativekeepsake boxes with a slot on top fordisplaying a photo. You can find theseat budget-friendly stores.

• Jewelry boxes: Although some arecrafted with mahogany and can getpricey, you'll find affordable, colorful,fabric-covered jewelry boxes for as littleas $19.95. The best part? These soft-textured boxes are gifts in themselves.

• Multimedia boxes: Many organiza-tion shops offer colorful storage boxes

made for storing CDs, Blu-ray discs andother media. In bright candy colors orneutrals, these boxes provide your giftrecipient with secondary use of a well-chosen storage box after the enclosedgift has been revealed.

• Natural canvas boxes: Be eco-friendly for the holidays. Lidded boxesmade of organic canvas are available inneutral tones of tan or brown, and theydouble as multi-use storage bins suit-able for anyone on your gift shoppinglist, male or female. Find these at homedecor stores for as little as $17.99.

• Wicker boxes: The natural look isin, and many recipients will take a liddedwicker box and add it to their bathroomas a place to store magazines or extratoilet paper. A wicker box can also holdcrafting items, catalogs or any numberof sundries that require attractive stor-age in the home. Because wicker is neu-trally colored — most often Earth tones— it's a style that's sure to work insome area of the recipient's home. ❏


Start thinking inside the box

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Dr. Guy Pupp in Guatemala with apatient and his mother.

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GIFT GUIDE-11.23.11

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