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Wishes2012 Holiday Happenings and Festive Gift Guide

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1501 University Dr. East #100 • 979-691-0677Starbucks Center across from Home Depot

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Publisher | Crystal Dupré

Director of sales and Marketing Ron Prince

Display Advertising Manager Joanne R. Patranella

special Projects Coordinator Dawn Goodall

Creative services Manager Jim Bob McKown

special Projects editor | shauna Lewis

section DesignerCourtney Lewellen

Contentstable of

fun in the snowat holiday magic

Play it safe

Jingle Bell fun Run,Bcs chRistmas PaRade

chRistmas at the cReek

12 days of decoRating

wheRe theRe’s smoke

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Calendar of EventsOngOing

Christmas at the Creek - The city of College Station will hold its second annual Christmas at the Creek event at Wolf Pen Creek, 1015 Colgate Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. Admission is free. Activities each night of the event will include a live nativity, hayrides, dance performances, performances by local church choirs and holiday shopping at vendors’ booths. Parking will be available across the street at Post Oak Mall. For more information, visit cstx.gov/Christmas.The Theatre Company - The Theatre Company, at 3125 South Texas Ave., will hold performances of “A Christmas Carol” from Nov. 30 through Dec. 16. For more information, visit www.theatrecompany.com.Stephen C. Beachy Central Park lights - Christmas light displays will at Stephen C. Beachy Central Park, at 1000 Krenek Tap Road, Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. Sue Haswell Memorial Park lights - Sue Haswell Memorial Park, 1142 East William Joel Bryan Parkway, will have Christmas light displays Nov. 29 through Jan. 1.Downtown Bryan lights - Downtown Bryan, including Sale Park, will have Christmas lights and decorations through Jan. 1. The displays began Nov. 16.Santa’s Wonderland - Santa’s Wonderland, which features a tour of Christmas lights each year, opened Nov. 16 for this year’s season, and will continue through Dec.

30. Customers can take the light tour by driving through with their own vehicle, or they can take hayride or bus tours. For prices and more information, visit www.santas-wonderland.com

nOv. 29Holiday Magic - The city of Bryan will hold its annual Holiday Magic event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Sue Haswell Memorial Park, at 1142 East William Joel Bryan Parkway. Children will be able to write a letter to Santa, color a holiday mural, ride the Polar Express train, climb the rock wall, jump on bouncers or make tree ornaments. There will also be a hill covered with snow for people to use for sledding, and Santa will be on hand for photos with children. For more information, call 979-209-5528.

Dec. 1Breakfast with Santa - Breakfast with Santa will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Dec. 1 at the Lincoln Recreation Center, 1000 Eleanor St. The event is free and open to the public. Activities will include a free hot breakfast, face painting, arts and crafts activities and entertainment. All participants ages 15 and younger will receive a gift from Santa. Health screenings and immunization shots will also be available. For more information, call 979-764-3779.

Dec. 2Jingle Bell Fun Run - The College Station Parks and

Recreation Department will hold its 23rd annual Jingle Bell Fun Run on Dec. 2. The two-mile run starts at 1:45 p.m. at the intersection of University Drive and South College Avenue, and ends at the intersection of Texas Avenue and Villa Maria Road. The cost is $15, which includes a T-shirt. All proceeds go to the United Way of the Brazos Valley. Pre-event registration ends Nov. 29; register at the Parks and Recreation Office, at 1000 Krenek Tap Road or at rectrac.cstx.gov. Registration on race day will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., near the starting line.Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade - The 86th annual Bryan-College Station Parade will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 2, starting on University Drive at the intersection with Polo Road. The route will turn north on Texas Avenue to Sulphur Springs Road in Bryan. For more information, visit http://bcsparade.com or call 979-695-9595.

Dec. 6Navasota’s Lighted Christmas Parade - Navasota’s Lighted Christmas Parade will be held at 6 p.m. in Downtown Navasota.

Dec. 7First Friday - The Downtown Bryan Association will host its monthly First Friday event from 5 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 7, just in time for holiday shopping. The event includes live music, food and art exhibitions. Businesses will also stay open late.

Dec. 12 Southwood Community Center Holiday Open House - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, will hold its Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is open for seniors to enjoy cookies, door prizes, photos with Santa and entertainment.

Dec. 14Downtown Bryan Christmas Parade - The Downtown Bryan Association will host its second annual Christmas Parade at 6:30 on Dec. 14 in Downtown Bryan. Anyone can enter to be a part of

the parade; the deadline to enter is Dec. 5. To enter, visit downtownbryan.com. For more information, call 979-822-0496 or email executivedirector@downtownbryan.com.

Dec. 18 MSC OPAS - MSC OPAS at Texas A&M University will feature “Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at Rudder Auditorium. For more details on the show and more events, visit http://opas.tamu.edu.

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Give The Gift of Time!

Molly Maid GiftCertificates Available!

Molly Maid of BCSCall 979-693-7700 or visit

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The city of Bryan’s 14th annual Holiday Magic event on Nov. 29 will include several games and events, but the most popular is usually sledding down a snow-covered hill, an organizer said.The city of Bryan will

hold its annual Holiday Magic event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Sue Haswell Memorial Park, at 1142 East William Joel Bryan Parkway. Admission, all activities, parking and a shuttle are all free.Santa will kick of

festivities by arriving on a fire truck at 5:30 p.m. He will be available for photos with children throughout the event; those who would like photos need to bring their own camera. Gwynne Shillings, the

city’s event coordinator, said the biggest attraction is always a hill covered

with snow that a company out of Colorado makes from ice. People of all ages sled down the hill.“Adults do it, too,”

Shillings said. “It’s actually a lot of fun.”An area called Frosty’s

Funland will include a place for children to color a holiday mural, write a letter to Santa, ride the Polar Express train, climb a rock wall or make tree ornaments. There will also be games, such as a bucket toss, beanbag toss and inflatable bouncers.Local schools and

organizations will provide singing and dancing entertainment, including a performance by Brazos Valley Performing Arts. Movies will also be played on a large screen outside, and there will be prize giveaways throughout the event.

The Walmart Supercenter in Bryan will provide free cookies and hot chocolate. Parking is available at the park, but it’s limited, Shillings said. Attendees are encouraged to catch a free shuttle bus from the Blinn College parking lot, 2423 Blinn Boulevard in Bryan. Shuttle rides will be available from 5 to 9 p.m.For more information, call

979-209-5528.

LEFT) Photo contributed by the city of Bryan. Attendees sled down a snow-covered hill at last year’s Holiday Magic event at Sue Haswell Memorial Park in Bryan. This year’s event will be held Nov. 29. RIGHT) Photo contributed by the city of Bryan. A child visits with Santa at last year’s Holiday Magic event in Bryan.

Fun in the SnowAT HOLIDAY MAGIc By SHAUNA LEWIS

The Eagle

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are a girl’s best friendsO MY daddY sHOPs WitH

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Lions Club holding annual Christmas tree saleThe College Station Noon Lions Club’s

annual Christmas Tree Sale begins Nov. 23, and will continue while supplies last.The sale is being held at 2605 South

Texas Ave., across from the College Station Police Department, from 5 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.Prices range from $35 to $65 for Frasier

Firs from North Carolina.Proceeds will go to the Lions Club and

local charities.The College Station Noon Lions Club is

affiliated with Lions Clubs International, and provides voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.

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Nov. 16 - Dec. 30Open nightly (including all holidays)

6 p.m. - 11 p.m. Sun-Thurs6 p.m. - Midnight Fri-Sat

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Christmas tree

reCyCLingin College Station ends Jan. 7The City of College Station encourages

residents to recycle their Christmas trees after Christmas by leaving them at their curb on scheduled collection days through Jan. 7. Recycled trees are either composted or

chipped and spread through city parks. Trees should be placed at the curb by 8 a.m. on the scheduled neighborhood brush day. All accessories must be removed. For more information, visit cstx.gov/

sanitation.

No holiday party is complete without festive music, but come turkey time, guests might be burned out. Grandma plays them in the kitchen, department stores blare them from window displays and no car ride is safe from a holiday-themed radio station. But how can you have

a holiday party without them? Easy. Seek out something off-the-beaten track.Ronald Clancy,

author and product developer of the “Millennia Collection: Glorious Christmas Music, Songs and Carols” – a Christmas music package that chronicles the history of holiday music from the early centuries of Christianity to today – suggests classical pieces that may be unfamiliar to the modern ear, and that don’t make it to the radio airwaves too often.On his suggested

classical playlist: “Gloria” from “Le Messe” by Camille Saint-Saens, “Hort Zu Ihr Lieben Leute” by

Michael Praetorius, “Anima Nostra” by Michael Haydn, “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel, “Down in Yon Forest” – an anonymously written 15th century English folk song – and “Panis Angelicus” by Cesar Franck (recently popularized by Josh Groban). The songs aren’t

glaringly Christmas-sounding but have roots in the meaning of the holiday and lend a similar ambiance.Clancy also suggests

covers of uncommon holiday songs, like John Jacob Niles unique take on “I Wonder as I Wander” or “Morning Has Broken” by Cat Stevens, which was originally the Gaelic Christmas hymn “Leanabh An Aigh.” Some entirely non-Christmas songs that he says can still evoke a Christmas-esque mood: “What a Wonderful World,” “Wind Beneath My Wings,” “Yesterday When I Was Young,” “My Favorite Things,” “The Sounds of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “As Time Goes By.”

Jim Blum, who hosted “Ornaments & Icing,” a nationally distributed Christmas show for NPR, suggests “reinvented” Christmas music. “The clichés are ousted and the religion is underplayed,” he says of his favorites, like Mindy Smith’s “My Holiday,” Martin Sexton’s “Camp Holiday,” Bela Fleck & The Fleckstones’ “Jingle All the Way” and Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “Come Darkness, Come Light.” And while they may

be more outright familiar than his other suggestions, Blum also recommends Christmas albums played on unique instruments to give them an edge – albums like Gregg Miner’s “A Christmas Collection Vol. 1 and 2” (“Gregg has a museum of unusual instruments in California,” Blum says) and Carpenter Woody Phillips’s “A Toolbox Christmas,” with holiday melodies played on or with tools like power drills and hammers.

PLay it Safechristmas music is everywhere, all the time. here’s how to create a festive mood without putting the overplayed on repeat

By LINdSEy RomAINCTW Features

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Those who would like to get some exercise for a charitable cause can run with bells on their shoes at the Jingle Bell Fun Run Dec. 2, just before the Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade begins.

Jingle Bell Fun Run

The College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s 23rd annual Jingle Bell Fun

Run is two miles and starts at 1:45 p.m. at the intersection of University Drive and South College Avenue. It ends at the intersection of Texas Avenue and Villa Maria Road.The entry fee is $15

and includes a T-shirt. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of the Brazos Valley.Kelli Nesbitt,

marketing coordinator with the College

Station Parks and Recreation Department, said participants aren’t timed, and no prizes are given. But the event is a fun way to benefit the community. Participants will be given jingle bells to place on their shoes before the run.“The Jingle Bell

Fun Run is a way to get your family and friends together to

stay active while benefitting the Brazos Valley United Way,” Nesbitt said. “While you are at it, you will be able to bring the sounds of Christmas to the streets as you precede the Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade by strapping jingle bells to your shoe laces.”Those participating

can bring their dog to walk or run with them.Pre-event registration

runs through Nov.

29. Participants can

register online at

rectrac.cstx.gov or in

person at the Parks

and Recreation Office,

at 1000 Krenek Tap

Road. Registration on

race day will be held

from 12:30 to 1:30

p.m. near the starting

line.

For more information,

visit www.cstx.gov/

Christmas or call 979-

764-3486.

JingLe BeLL fun run, BCS ChriStmaS Parade deC. 2run raiSeS fundS for united Way of the BrazoS VaLLey By SHAUNA LEWIS

The Eagle

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BRyan-cOllege StatiOn chRiStmaS PaRaDeThe 86th annual Bryan-College Station Parade will be held at 2 p.m. on Dec. 2, starting on University Drive at the

intersection with Polo Road. The route will turn north on Texas Avenue to Sulphur Springs Road in Bryan.

Thousands typically gather to watch the parade, which includes bands, floats, tractors, antique cars and low riders.

For more information, visit http://bcsparade.com or call 979-695-9595.

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The city of College Station’s second annual Christmas at the Creek event that starts on Nov. 30 and lasts two weekends will feature food, a chance for holiday shopping, hayrides, photos with Santa and entertainment.The event will be held

at Wolf Pen Creek, 1015 Colgate Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. Admission is free. Kelli Nesbitt, marketing coordinator for the College Station Parks and Recreation Department, said the first Christmas at the Creek event last year attracted an estimated 20,000 visitors over four nights.“Christmas at the Creek

offers a free place to bring your family, friends and loved ones to celebrate a one-of-a-kind Christmas celebration,” she said.Activities each night of

the event will include a live nativity, hayrides, dance performances and vendors and eateries selling items. Local vendors’ fares will include arts, crafts, jewelry and candles. Chef Tai, Southern Comfort Road Trip and Cake Junkie will also sell food and drinks.

On Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, Christmas at the Creek will feature performances by local churches and choirs. On Dec. 1, “Santa’s Texas Vacation Celebration,” a Christmas musical by local playwright Mark Taylor will

be performed every hour starting at 6 p.m. The event on Dec. 8 will

feature the opportunity for guests to bring their pets and the showing of movies, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (animated version) and “Polar Express” on the amphitheater stage. The Arts Council of

Brazos Valley, housed in the Arts Center at 2275 Dartmouth St., will stay open late and have art exhibits each day of Christmas at the Creek, along with a gift shop with locally made items, such as jewelry, scarves, pottery and paintings.During the first two

days of Christmas at the Creek, the Arts Council

Starts November 30th

By SHAUNA LEWISThe Eagle

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will feature “The Game,” a Brazos Valley Art League show. The last two days of the event, its exhibit will be “Monica Pate Watercolors and Fine Art Glass,” featuring watercolors by Pate, a local artist, and fine glass made by notable artisans.A professional

photographer will also be at the Arts Center throughout the event to take photos of Santa with people, and if they want, with their furry pets, too. The cost to have a photo emailed is $5. Visitors can also take photos with Santa with their own camera for free, but a $2 donation is suggested.Parking for Christmas at

the Creek will be available across the street from Wolf Pen Creek at Post Oak Mall. There will be a hayride drop-off and pick-up at Post Oak Mall, The Arts Center and the Colgate Street entrance of Wolf Pen Creek Park.Tentative schedule:• Nov. 30 –Christmas

music by local choirs, Kids Klub Dancers• Dec. 1 - A Christmas

play by Mark Taylor, Gentri Gandy’s, Expressions Dance• Dec. 7 - Christmas music

by local gospel choirs and Creekview Elementary, Shelly Kruger’s School of Dance, On Our Toes Dance Studio, Dance Factory• Dec. 8 - Movie and Bring

your Pet Night, featuring “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (animated version) and “Polar Express”For updated Christmas at

the Creek information, visit cstx.gov/Christmas.

Photos contributed by the city of College Station.

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HolidayHolidayRECIPES

FROM YOUR LOCAL REALTORS®

Our REALTOR®

recipes for holidayentertaining: Goodfriends, good food,and a happy home!

From our familyto yours.

THIS RECIPE BROUGHT TO YOU BYM.F.“Trey”ThurmondBCR Realtors979-229-8465

Trey’s Venison Chili

Shred a small brick of sharp cheddar cheese. Cook beans separately until they are done butNOTmushy. Set aside. SimmerTomatoes in a separate pan for 5minutes. Add onion andbell pepper stirring frequently and then add garlic and cilantro. Keep stirring 5minutes.Sauté venison and pork in a separate skillet in butter. Addmeat and chili powder totomatoes and onionmix and cook 10minutes. Stir in cumin, paprika, oil, pepper and salt,garlic, cilantro, lime juice and simmer 30minutes. Add beans and simmer 5minutesmoreand don’t let beans get toomushy. Addwater if needed but only sparingly. Last: Add finely

chopped jalapeño or cilantro to taste.Youmust decidewhen it is hotenough! Simmer for 5moreminutes. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

2 lbs chopped or groundvenison½ lb lean ground pork1 lb Pinto beans2 bell peppers diced2 cloves garlic finelygrated2 tbs cumin2 large white onionchopped coarse5 medium large toma-toes or 5 cans tomatoes,8 0z ea.1 ½ tbs salad oil

¾ cup fresh choppedcilantro1 tbs black pepper½ cup chili powder1 tbs salt1 tsp paprika½ cup butter2 limes squeezedSeveral jalapeño orserrano peppersSmall block of sharpcheddar cheese,shredded

THIS RECIPE BROUGHT TO YOU BYCindy DavisRE/MAX Select979-255-2817

1 lb. sweet butter4 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar1 egg yolk1/2 shot whiskey1/2 tsp. baking powder2 lb. plus 1 c. Gold Medal Flour

Melt butter and beat in mixer. Addconfectioners’ sugar and egg yolk and beatwell. Add whiskey and beat for 1/2 hour untilcreamy. Add baking powder with 1 cup flour.Remove frommixer and pour in 2 poundsflour and with hands well.

Shape into party cakes (small crescents). Place on aluminum foil in 2 pans (12 x 18) 15pieces in each pan. Leave enough space between each.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Cool, place on wax paper, then roll inconfectioners’ sugar. Yield 30. MMM, mmm good!!

Cindy’s Snowball Cookies

THIS RECIPE BROUGHT TO YOU BYMonica Palasota, GRIRE/MAX Select979-571-6109

1 lb. ground beef1 tbsp. grated onion1 tbsp. water1 tsp. salt2 tbsp. salad oil1 sm. green pepper, cut into pieces1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce3 tbsp. brown sugar2 tbsp. lemon juice

1. In medium bowl mix ground beef, onion, water and salt. Shape mixture into 3/4 inchmeatballs.

2. In 10 inch skillet over medium high heat in hot oil cook meatballs until browned onall sides. With slotted spoon remove to bowl.

3. Pour off all but 1 tbsp. drippings from pan. Over medium heat cook green pepperuntil tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, 1/4cup water and 1/2 tsp. salt. Over medium heat bring to boiling. Return meatballs toskillet - heat through.

Sweet & Sour Mini Meatballs

THIS RECIPE BROUGHT TO YOU BYChandler ArdenBCR Realtors979-575-4019

1 (18 pound) whole turkey, neck and gibletsremoved2 cups kosher salt1/2 cup butter, melted2 large onions, peeled and chopped4 carrots, peeled and chopped4 stalks celery, chopped2 sprigs fresh thyme1 bay leaf1 cup dry white wine

1. Rub the turkey inside and out with the kosher salt. Place the bird in a large stockpot, and cover with cold water. Place in the refrigerator, and allow the turkey to soak inthe salt and water mixture 12 hours, or overnight. 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Thoroughly rinse the turkey, and discard the brine mixture.3. Brushthe turkey with 1/2 the melted butter. Place breast side down on a roasting rack ina shallow roasting pan. Stuff the turkey cavity with 1 onion, 1/2 the carrots, 1/2 thecelery, 1 sprig of thyme, and the bay leaf. Scatter the remaining vegetables and thymearound the bottom of the roasting pan, and cover with the white wine. 4. Roastuncovered 3 1/2 to 4 hours in the preheated oven, until the internal temperature ofthe thigh reaches 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Carefully turn the turkey breast side upabout 2/3 through the roasting time, and brush with the remaining butter. Allow the

bird to stand about 30 minutes before carving.

The Perfect Holiday Turkey

THIS RECIPE BROUGHT TO YOU BYTom PattersonUnited Country979-571-2125

THIS RECIPE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

1 (3 pound) whole chicken, bonedsalt and pepper to tasteCreole seasoning to taste1 (4 pound) duck, boned1 (16 pound) turkey, boned3 cups prepared sausage and oyster dressing

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lay the1.boned chicken skin-side down on a platterand season liberally with salt, pepper andCreole seasoning. Lay the boned duckskin-side down on top of the chicken andseason liberally with salt, pepper and Creoleseasoning. Cover and refrigerate.

Lay the boned turkey skin-side down on a2.flat surface. Cover with a layer of cold Sausage and Oyster Dressing and push the dressing into theleg and wing cavities so they will look as if they still have bones in them.

Lay the duck on top of the turkey skin-side down and cover it with a layer of cold dressing. Lay3.the chicken on top of the duck skin-side down and cover it with a layer of cold dressing.

With the help of an assistant, bring the edges of the turkey skin up and fasten them together4.with toothpicks. Use the kitchen string to lace around the toothpicks to help hold the stuffed turkeytogether. Carefully place the turducken, breast up in a large roasting pan.

Roast covered for 4 hours or until the turducken is golden brown. Continue to roast uncovered5.for 1 hour or until a meat thermometer inserted through the thigh registers 180 degrees F. and athermometer inserted through the stuffing registers 165 degrees F. Check the turducken every few

hours to baste and remove excess liquid. There will be enough pan juices for agallon of gravy. Carve and serve.

Turducken

THIS RECIPE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The Eagle

Ingredients:1 (9 inch) pie shell1 cup white sugar1 cup light corn syrup1/2 cup butter4 eggs, beaten1/4 cup bourbon1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/4 teaspoon salt6 ounces semisweetchocolate chips1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.In small saucepan combinesugar, corn syrup, and butter or margarine. Cook over mediumheat, stirring constantly, until butter or margarine melts andsugar dissolves. Cool slightly. In large bowl combine eggs,bourbon, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Slowly pour sugar mixtureinto egg mixture, whisking constantly. Stir in chocolate chipsand pecans. Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake for 50 to 55minutes, or until set and golden. May be served warm orchilled.

ChocolateBourbonPecanPie

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Gather up your friends and family for these fun decorating projects that will get everyone in the holiday spirit

dayS 12Crystal clear: Clear glass

ornaments are ripe for experimentation – fill them

with holiday confetti, ribbon and/or glitter.of deCorating

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ... plenty of holiday decorating ideas to make the home beautiful and festive for the season.

From new crafts to updates on traditional staples, holiday decorating doesn’t have to be a chore.

Take this advice from Linnea Johansson, a chef and event planner for the stars who originally is from Sweden, or as she calls it: the “home of Christmas.” She says, “The thing about the whole process of Christmas is not to be stressed out. Make it a fun thing that goes throughout the month. That’s something my family has always done.”

Getting others involved means that decorating becomes a part of the holiday celebration. Homemade projects also can alleviate stress and inject some fun back into the planning process. Crafty projects get the kids involved and the creative juices flowing.

So gather your friends and family and prepare some extra holiday treats to get an early start on holiday decorating.

1wrapped framesKara Allen, party planning expert and author of “Kara’s Party Ideas” (Cedar Fort

Publishing, 2012), has a fun idea for sprucing up a standard item: Wrap it!

“We wrap picture frames in gift wrap and make them look like gifts and then hang them back on the wall,” says Allen of one of her favorite family tricks. It’s perfect for leftover gift wrap that isn’t big enough to contain a whole gift.

2celebration BulbsClear glass ornament bulbs are versatile for lots of different projects. Here’s an idea for tree ornaments that double as birthday decorations.

Victoria Hudgins, blogger at “A Subtle Revelry” and contributing writer for “Handmade Wedding” (Chronicle Books, 2010), came up with the craft when she was looking for a way to incorporate seasonal décor with a festive birthday party. To make the ornaments, start with clear bulbs, which can be purchased at craft stores, and stuff them with confetti or textured ribbon. “A stack of small candles would be a great inclusion, as well,” Hudgins says.

But they don’t have to be birthday-specific – Allen does a similar Christmas version. She fills the inside of the bulb with liquid glue and then pours glitter inside, so it sticks to the sides. Hudgins has also

done a version where she fills the bulbs with hot chocolate ingredients.

“The clear ornaments are perfect because you can design them for any style or party you’d like,” Hudgins says.

3 a tisket, a tasketA fun spin on tradition is to use baskets instead of regular ornaments for the tree, says Johansson, who is releasing a new book, “Perfect Parties” (Skyhorse Publishing, 2012), this year. They fill the baskets with candy, and when the holidays are over, they invite friends to the house to socialize and eat the candy from the tree. “We call it tree-plundering,” she says.

“People will sneak some pieces during Christmas,” she admits, “but the

plundering is a good way to keep the celebration going. We are pretty Christmas-obsessed.”

4 get your crochet onAnyone comfortable with crochet should try incorporating the handy

activity into their holiday decorations. Alice Merlino, who writes the craft blog Futuregirl, has plenty of Christmas-related crochet ideas. In addition to wrapping presents in crochet – which she suggests for oddly-shaped gifts and as a way to personalize the item – Merlino also suggests

Crochet critters: This whimsical octopus ornament is embellished with sequins and stands out from traditional ornaments.

By Lindsey RomainCTW Features

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crocheting candy cane-colored bunting to hang over the fireplace, stockings for everyone in the family, tree skirts, ornaments in fun shapes (like octopuses!), door wreaths and even homemade Advent calendars. “The great thing about crocheted decorations is that you can wash them to keep them looking fresh year after year,” Merlino says.

5 homemade advent calendarsMerlino isn’t the only fan of Advent calendars. Tamara Maynes, an Australian craft designer and author of “82 Modern Style Ideas to Create at Home” (Murdoch, 2012) also is an advocate. An Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count or celebrate the days of Advent in the days leading up to Christmas. To create your own, Maynes suggests removing the backs from 25 graphic Christmas cards and stamping the numbers one through 25 over the images on the front. “Write a message applicable to Christmas on the back of

each and tack [them] on the wall in an organic, clustered style.”

Or add a chocolate or treat to each day so kids will look forward to counting down the days to Christmas – if they aren’t already.

6 cake stands and Pastry dishesSometimes, new holiday decorations can come from repurposed household items. Allen suggests using cake stands and pastry dishes to display Christmas objects. “Stack three cake plates in a tier and throw ornaments and Christmas trinkets and gifts on them,” she says. If you have a cake stand with a lid, she says to turn the lid upside down and fill it with ornaments.

7stocking stand-ins Apart from the tree, the most standard Christmas decoration is the stocking. But if you want to branch out from the traditional thumb-tacked sock on the chimney ledge, Maynes suggests, “Line objects like gumboots

or tin buckets beside the fireplace, and stencil names on them to personalize.” Other items that work for stocking stand-ins: hats, vases, gift bags, empty paint cans or vintage jars.

8 mason Jar centerpiecesThe rustic decorator’s darling, Mason jars, can wear many hats in Christmas decorating plans. One idea, from Maynes, is to fill them with candles and group them together as table centerpieces.

Allen suggests filling them with white sand or other white and silver decorations – like garland or lights – and to group them together in different shapes and sizes.

9 decorating with foodDon’t want to stock up on paper or cloth decorations? Try making decorations out of something everyone loves: food.

Johansson says that one of her favorite decorating projects is hanging gingerbread hearts, since it’s a multi-step process that allows everyone to contribute.

“You make the dough, have to wait a bit, then bake them,” she says.Then others can help with decorating them and writing holiday messages with icing. Afterwards, “we put little holes in the middle and hang them in the windows,” she says.

She also decorates with cloved oranges. “Leave the orange whole, and stick cloves into the orange in different patterns,” she says. The orange will dry out and stay good for a few months. “Put them in a bowl on your table or hang them around

the house. It smells amazing.”

The biggest benefit of decorating with food? You can eat the leftovers.

10sparkling silverwareIf decorating with food isn’t up your alley, maybe

Edible ornaments: Gingerbread

cookies are great family projects

that can be displayed as ornaments.

Count it down: Advent calendars are easy to make and to personalize, and they last the entire holiday season.

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Breaking with tradition is always a test of the home cook’s mettle, especially around the holidays. Loved ones have expectations and when they aren’t met, disappointment causes upset even Tums can’t relieve. For those looking to make the leap from the oven to the outdoors this year, there are a few general guidelines to make sure that the holiday turkey turns out well done – and not charred or dry.The USDA Food Safety

and Inspection Service recommends the following pointers for successfully smoking a turkey:Whole turkeys that

weigh 12 pounds or less are the recommended size for safe grilling or smoking. A larger turkey remains in the

“Danger Zone” – between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F – too long. If a larger turkey has been mistakenly purchased, detach the dark meat sections (leg and thigh portions) from the breast and smoke/grill the turkey parts separately. This procedure should result in the best possible results.When purchasing a

whole turkey or turkey breast, the structure is as important as the weight. Generally, a turkey that is broad and flat will fit better under the covered smoker or grill than one that protrudes too high in the breast area. Remember there should be at least one inch of space between the turkey and the lid.Do not stuff the smoked

turkey. Because smoking is at a low temperature,

it can take too long for the temperature of the stuffing to reach the required temperature of 165 degrees F. Also, smoked stuffing has an undesirable flavor.

By mATTHEW m. F. mILLERCTW Features

Where there’s Smoke.…decorating with silverware will be. Allen likes to dip the end – the end that doesn’t go in your mouth, that is – of inexpensive cutlery in glitter and use them during parties or to dress tables throughout the season.

11 light it upWhile not exactly a craft, one non-traditional way to inject some color for the holidays is to use different colored lights around the house – not just the string lights.

Rather than spending money on lights that might not be used again, Johansson recommends buying inexpensive spot lights and covering them with heat-resistant color film. “You can place those spot lights on a bookcase or whatever you want people to look at,” she says.

For the general ambiance, “I use a lot of pink light bulbs,” Johansson says. Contrary to people’s beliefs, she says, “it does not create a girly hue, but actually everyone looks 15 years younger!”

The “soft pink” light bulbs are available at most hardware stores.

12 christmas tree, minus the treeOne of the easiest ways to free up some decorating time in a creative way is to ditch the tree altogether and look for simple, trendy alternatives.

Maynes suggests a hand-drawn tree. “Paint a large sheet of lightweight plywood with blackboard paint and draw on a stylized tree, including decorations, in white chalk,” she suggests. Or experiment with colorful chalks to add depth.

Prop up against the wall and arrange presents around the bottom for a simple, easygoing Christmas “tree.”

Oven? Not this year. Follow 2 of the most popular turkey trends to the great outdoors: grilling and smoking Mr. Gobbles

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