Tips for Holiday Accessorizing for $25 or Less

Tough economic times may mean your holiday budget is tight this year. But trimming your holiday spending doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. With some creativity, you can add extra icing to your holiday decor – for less than $25.

“We’re all more conscious of our spending right now, so that means it’s time to be imaginative and resourceful, especially when it comes to decorating for a specific season,” says Gary Babcock, a design expert with Arhaus Furniture (www.arhaus.com). “By using existing items in your home and purchasing just a few ‘key,’ but inexpensive elements, you can create a show-stopping holiday display within your budget.”

Babcock offers some festive and fresh ways to deck the halls:

The Green Scene:
Bring a taste of the outdoors in with a “green” theme -- straight from your back yard. Use foliage, like pine cones and holly, to create a lush centerpiece or dress up a mantle. Intertwine the natural flora with ribbons, ornaments or the hottest earthy trend of the season -- woodsy mushrooms. From Arhaus, look for hand carved wooden or recycled glass mushrooms in various sizes ($9 to $24).

Birds of a Feather:
Also nature-inspired, birds evoke the songs of the season. These cheerful feathered friends can make a special appearance or set the entire theme. The Arhaus recycled glass Chickadees or Finch Vases are adorable additions to any holiday decor ($14 each). Or consider hanging birdhouses with holiday-colored ribbons. Babcock suggests groups of three to five birdhouses hung from the ceiling above a dining table, or in front of a large picture window.

Bulbs and Baubles:
Group ornaments in similar colors or themes and either hang them throughout your home or place them in bowls or vases. For instance, the latest twist on traditional colors is updated with a palette of winter white, raspberry and mossy green. Look for bulbs in these colors or create your own holiday color scheme.

Flower Power:
Flowers are not only beautiful and fragrant, but they also add natural color to any holiday decor. Bring your flower pots indoors and plant bulbs that will bloom over the holidays, like amaryllis. Or, for those who don’t have a green thumb, get your floral fix by layering or hanging ceramic flowers, like Arhaus’ Magnolias or Peonies in shades of cream, blue and taupe ($12-22 each).

Retro Glam:
Go vintage with your holiday tree this year. Glam it up with a few Baroque-inspired Old World ornaments in bronze, brass and pewter/nickel finishes ($10-15 each) from Arhaus, then intersperse natural homemade accessories like strands of popcorn or cranberries.

Health Nut:
Another inexpensive burst of holiday hue comes straight from the grocery store with fruits, spices, seeds and berries. For example, gather bushels of apples or cranberries and place them in bowls and vases throughout the house. Coordinated with holiday patterned linens, this makes a stunning display. Add to the ambiance with a grouping of adorable Pear Vases from Arhaus ($6 each).

Light the Way:
Nothing creates a warm cozy holiday environment like candlelight. Group candles in holiday colors, or simply white, throughout your home to create a natural glow. To dress up your candles, consider placing them in glass candle holders; the Arhaus Broken Glass Candle Holder, made of recycled glass, reflects light beautifully.

Toys on Parade:
The holidays bring out the child in all of us, so why not decorate with toys? Stick to a “toy theme,” like wooden toys, to make an impact. Search flea markets or even grandma’s attic to find old wooden trains, nutcrackers and blocks. For a special touch of whimsy, start a collection of authentic wooden Italian Pinocchios, hand carved and painted, an Arhaus exclusive (starting at $9 each).

For more tips on accessorizing for the holidays, visit Arhaus Furniture at www.arhaus.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Gift Ideas for the Techie on Your List

If you have a techie in your life, you know it. Because they’re often on top of the cutting edge in technological advances, the techies on your list can be difficult and expensive to buy for. But there are affordable and creative gift options to delight even the most wired (or wireless) people on your list.

A splurge like a new laptop or a high-end MP3 player will almost certainly be appreciated, but true techies will want to customize their computers and electronic equipment to meet their needs. If you want to go with a big ticket item, a gift card to an electronics retailer is the gift that keeps on giving. But if you want something to wrap for under the tree, remember the accessories that always accompany the larger pieces of technology.

Upgraded Stocking Stuffers

* All that time at the computer can be harmful to wrists and arms, potentially even causing health problems like carpal tunnel syndrome. Designed by an orthopedic surgeon, IMAK ergonomic Wrist Cushions for the keyboard and mouse feature “ergoBeads” to massage wrists, providing comfort and promoting healthy hands and wrists for less than $20 (www.imakproducts.com/cushion). They can be put in the freezer for extra cooling relief and the beads inside make them squeezable for stress relief.

* A USB drive (also known as a flash drive) is a portable storage device that uses flash memory and is light enough to attach to a keychain. A flash drive is a convenient way to store data and make it portable between multiple computers. The drives are available with different data storage capacities and at different price points.  

* A Webcam is a great way to chat with far away friends and relatives over the Internet. You’re not only giving a piece of technology, you’re giving a connection.

Medium Frequency

* Prevent “hot lap syndrome” and give a lap desk or rolling desk for your techie’s laptop computer.

* A digital photo frame allows users to upload a number of digital photos into the device and plays through them like a slide show. These frames are a great way to meld technology and memories of everything from vacations to pets.

* Anyone working at a computer for long hours needs a break. Put together a coffee break gift basket with a mug, gourmet coffee, chocolate covered espresso beans and cookies.

Big Bytes

* Whether working on computers during the day or in the dark of night, an eye-strain reducing desk light will be appreciated. These lamps feature full-spectrum bulbs to enhance color perception and reduce the strain on technology tired eyes.

* An ergonomic desk chair can look sleek and modern while reducing fatigue and stress. If the techie on your list sits for hours-long stretches on an ordinary chair, this present can make all the difference.

Whether you’re looking for a big, blow out gift or several smaller surprises, with a little creativity, you can make the technology enthusiast in your life smile during the holidays.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Holiday Decorating With a Green Twist

When it comes to the holidays, nothing says welcome like a well-adorned home exterior. From wreaths to holiday lights to fresh greenery, even the simplest home designs can transform into magical settings with the addition of exterior decorating elements.

“Preparing for the arrival of holiday guests is a great reason to permanently warm up your home’s appearance and energy efficiency,” says Kathy Krafka Harkema, Pella Windows & Doors energy efficiency expert. “If your drafty old front door needs to go, replace it now to welcome guests and keep old man winter at bay. And to keep from throwing your hard-earned money out the window, replace cold, leaky windows with energy-efficient double- or triple-pane ENERGY STAR-qualified options to help lower your utility bills.”

Green on the inside

For a new twist on an old tradition, why not make the reason for this holiday season “green.” With some innovative thinking, there are dozens of ways to make your home, your celebrations, your decorations and even your gift wrap green. Here are a few green ideas from Pella Windows & Doors and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

* A fresh evergreen tree is eco-friendly, as long as you plan to recycle it. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, most cut holiday trees are grown on tree farms, so their stock is replenished regularly. And used trees can be ground into woodchips to mulch your garden, help prevent erosion at a local watershed or provide fish and wildlife habitat. Be sure to check with local officials on area recycling plans and pick up schedules.

* Wrap gifts in recycled or reused wrapping paper, or the comics from your local newspaper. Consider giving gifts that don't require much packaging, like concert tickets or gift certificates. Or choose gift bags that can be reused.

* Send recycled-content greeting cards to reduce the amount of virgin paper used. Recycle paper cards you receive by using them as gift tags. For the ultimate in paper-saving, send electronic greeting cards.

* About 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. Buy rechargeable batteries to accompany electronic gifts, and consider giving a battery charger as well. Rechargeable batteries reduce the amount of potentially harmful materials thrown away and can save money in the long run.

* Turn off or unplug holiday lights during the day. Doing so will save energy, and can also help your lights last longer.

* Give yourself or your loved ones a gift that can return many happy green returns for years to come. If you’ve been putting off replacing your windows, there’s no better time than a green holiday season to reward yourself.

Pella Designer Series windows are rated No. 1 for energy efficiency among top national brands and offer unique distinctive designs for decorative panels, blinds or shades which fit between panes of glass. For the season, choose a whole new look with window treatments available in classic holiday colors like garnet, bordeaux, sage and pewter.

For more information on holiday spruce-ups that include stylish, energy-efficient windows and doors, or to schedule an in-home consultation, contact a local Pella Window & Door Showroom expert by calling (888) 84-PELLA or logging on to www.pella.com. Pella Designer Series wood windows and patio doors with triple-pane glass have superior NFRC U-values and SHGC.

Courtesy of ARA Content

This Season’s Hot Tech Gift: Navigation

The holidays are fast approaching, and you’re probably starting to think about gift ideas for those near and dear to your heart. Whether you’re shopping for a teenager, a college student, a friend, spouse or parent, you can’t go wrong by giving the gift of technology.

In recent years, the hottest gifts have gone mobile. Digital devices such as iPod’s or mp3 players that offer the convenience of on-the-go entertainment. But industry experts are expecting portable navigation devices to be hot sellers this year.

PNDs are the fastest growing electronics category in North America, mainly because millions of consumers have discovered how effective they are at eliminating much of the stress of travel. Getting lost, asking for directions and reading maps are replaced with clear directions from a calm, friendly voice.

As the name implies, the main function of portable navigation is to apply global positioning system technology to help you navigate from where you are to where you want to be. Once a destination is selected, spoken directions accompany visual cues such as an icon that represents your location to turn as you drive your car, ride your bicycle or even if you travel by foot.

PND prices have declined over recent years so a device is an affordable gift for many budget sizes. As prices have dropped, product features have expanded and may include:

* Rich editorial content such as travel guides and restaurant reviews.

* Helpful points of interest such as key landmarks, hotels, ATMs and gas stations.

* The latest road network developments to help you choose the best route to suit your needs.

* Real-time traffic updates.

“Consumer demand for more accurate and intelligent routing is becoming a standard. So much so, in fact, that many navigation devices now utilize traffic services that deliver real-time information about traffic conditions,” explains Howard Hayes, vice president of NAVTEQ Traffic, a leading provider of real-time traffic services. “Today, consumers can count on their PNDs to help them avoid construction zones, to find the best way to get around rush hour traffic when they’re in a hurry, and even to avoid the backups caused by an accident.”

If your friend or loved one already has a PND or a navigation system in their car dashboard, don’t think they wouldn’t still appreciate some other type of travel gift. One idea would be to purchase some updated map content or software for them. NAVTEQ updates its maps regularly. Log on to http://www.navigation.com/ to find the software you need.

And here are other travel gift ideas that can double as stocking stuffers:

* Noise-reducing headphones, which not only eliminate traveling noise, but also play your favorite music group.

* Two-way radios to keep caravans together or individual members of your party together when on an excursion.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Creating a 1-800-FLOWERS Flower Snowman

Julie shows you how to build yet another exclusive 1-800-FLOWERS arrangement: The Flower Snowman™. This was an actual product we sold on 1-800-FLOWERS.COM two years ago, and it was a runaway sensation. Using flower foam and simple white carnations, you can create a flower creation that is as fun to build as it is to see, and will bring lots of smiles this Christmas. We usually keep our "recipes" top secret, but consider this our Christmas gift to you, and all in your life who love flower arrangement and craft projects.

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Simple Tips Add Sparkle to Holiday Entertaining

This holiday season make all your festive get-togethers sparkle by using simple and innovative ways to entertain friends and family. Being creative with items you already own and a few extras will make your parties shine.

Jennifer Sbranti, co-founder and editor-in-chief of HostessWithTheMostess.com offers a few easy and clever tips to make your holiday celebrations sparkle.

Set a Festive Table

* Fill oversized, clear glass vases with colorful elements like fresh cranberries or white feathers for a modern, monochromatic centerpiece. Large bowls of pomegranates or green apples embellished with a few flower blossoms also make quick and easy centerpieces.  

* White twinkle lights and candles are appropriate for any type of party theme and work wonders to put your guests in a festive mood. Use unscented candles, so they don’t compete with the aroma of the food.

* Choose serving dishes that coordinate well with each other for a consistent look. All-white serveware is a good choice because it ensures that the succulent food remains the center of attention.  

* When deciding on the menu, select seasonal items, such as root vegetables, that are easily found in stores and at farmers markets in the fall and winter months to make great-tasting dishes.

Dress up Drinks

* Set a trend by offering a signature drink. Pick one that matches your party theme or colors. For holiday festivities, try a sparkling and refreshing Rize (recipe below). For non-alcoholic options -- and to make an eye-catching centerpiece -- try lining up colorful bottles of all-natural IZZE Sparkling Juice.  

* Get creative with garnishes. Dip the rims of cocktail glasses in colorful sugars and complement the colors and flavors of a drink with fruit or holiday candy. Freeze fruits like strawberries or grapes and pop them into drinks before serving for unique and delicious “ice cubes.”

* For creative, simple and fun bar table decorations, think sweet and savory. Line up martini or margarita glasses and fill them with multi-colored candies, small fruits and nuts. For a more cohesive look, use snacks that are similar in color and coordinate with your food table decor.

In addition to coordinating your tables in a complementary manner, James Beard Award-winning chef Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson, chef and owner of Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colo. recommends paying attention to the beverages you’re pairing with the foods you’re serving.

“Food can be great-tasting as is, but you take it to another level when you enjoy it with an accompanying beverage,” says Patterson. “For a flavorful appetizer, buy smoked salmon. Slice it and serve it up on small toasts or crackers with a bit of cream cheese mixed with scallions. Salmon is delicious paired with citrus-based beverages, so serve it with IZZE Sparkling Grapefruit and your guests will enjoy the complementary flavors.”

Roasted Pork Loin and Root Vegetables

Courtesy of Lachlan Mackinnon Patterson, chef and owner of Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder, Colo.)

Ingredients:

3 pounds center-cut pork loin, trimmed and tied with butcher twine
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
8 large shallots, peeled and cut in half
2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 celery root peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 pound spinach
2 large rosemary sprigs
1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon finely chopped chives
1 teaspoon minced shallots
3 tablespoons grape seed oil
Sea salt and cracked pepper
1 lemon

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 325F and let pork stand for 30 minutes outside the refrigerator.

Heat a large saute pan over high heat and add grape seed oil. Season pork with sea salt and pepper and saute each side of the pork until golden brown.  This may take 10 to 15 minutes. Remove pork and add carrots, shallots cut in half, parsnips, celery root, Yukon potatoes and rosemary sprigs. Place the pork on top of the vegetables and place in the oven for approximately 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until the pork temperature is 120F in the center.  

Pull pan out of the oven and allow the pork to rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Stir raw spinach into the hot vegetables. Season the vegetables with sea salt and pepper and drain any excess fat. Add chopped herbs and minced shallots to the vegetables and pour onto a platter. Slice pork loin and lay over top. Finish the dish with a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice and serve.


The Rize
Courtesy of W Bar, W Hotel (Seattle)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces white rum
1/2 ounce orange-flavored triple sec
2 1/2 ounces IZZE Sparkling Pomegranate
Splash of lime juice
Garnish: Pomegranate puree and colored sugar trim

Directions:

Dip the rim of the glass into pomegranate puree and colored sugar trim. Combine above ingredients for a delicious signature cocktail and enjoy.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Decorating a Holiday Fireplace Mantel

Every Christmas, the fireplace mantel is transformed from a simple shelf to a center of tradition, beauty, and elegance. Watch Julie's tips on how to create an easy-yet-stunning mantel garland, complete with candles.

How To Gift Wrap A Bottle

WineGifts4U.co.uk has found a great and easy way to wrap a gift bottle! Perfect for any occasion, birthdays, christmas, weddings and everything else that you can think of. This simple video will make your gift look absolutely fantastic and you probably want it to get unwrapped!!


Throwing A Great Party:How To Gift Wrap A Bottle

Drinks to Warm Up Your Holidays

Hand off a hot beverage -- to dinner guests, neighbors who drop by or kids during story time -- and you instantly warm both tummies and hearts. Make sure you treat yourself too; wrapping your hands around a warm mug in the midst of a cold day can help you unwind!

Traditional favorites include hot cider, cocoa, teas and coffees -- all so good there's no need to look for replacements. But by adding just a few of the right spices, you can transform these everyday winter drinks into extraordinary festive fare.

Tips for Spicing Up a Variety of Hot Drinks

* Mull to be merry. Mulling a beverage simply means heating and spicing it. Sometimes sweeteners and/or other beverages are added, too. Mulled apple juice or cider is classic, but why not mull other favorites, like cherry, raspberry, white grape and cranberry juices, as well as red and white wines? Just be careful not to boil the wine or you'll ruin the taste and evaporate the alcohol. Good mulling spices include allspice, cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek, ginger, lemon peel, nutmeg, orange peel and star anise. Have fun experimenting -- or streamline your routine by stocking up on a mulling spice mix, like Simply Organic Mulling Spice or Frontier Cider Mate.

* Give the crock a workout. Fill your crock pot with an aromatic and warm spiced beverage and keep it on low throughout the day. You'll have a ready-to-serve treat at any time, and your home will be scented, too.

* Make an impression with homemade gifts. For simple but lovely homemade gifting, combine the dry ingredients for a special hot drink in a small jar or canister and tie with a festive ribbon. Punch a hole in a recipe card with mixing directions and attach to the ribbon. For even easier gifting, simply place a package of beverage mix -- like those mulling spices -- in a festive mug and tie with a ribbon. Or choose a special tea and deliver it in a pretty cup and saucer.

* Stock up on cinnamon sticks. Indispensable for mulling, cinnamon sticks also spruce up hot party drinks when used as swizzlers.

* Spruce up your black teas. Add cinnamon sticks, orange peel and/or lemon peel to any black tea. Sweeten, if you like, with honey or brown sugar. To richen the flavor even further, add a tablespoon or two of cognac.

* Enliven green teas with crystallized ginger and sliced fruit (like pears).

* Think ethnic. For Spanish flair, add black pepper and chilies or cinnamon to hot chocolate. For French influence, thicken cocoas with cornstarch or arrowroot and stir in some Grand Marnier and vanilla extract. Top with a pinch of freshly ground nutmeg.

* For a mocha drink, simply use strongly brewed coffee in place of some of the liquid in your favorite hot cocoa recipe.

* Add quality flavorings or extracts for an instant flavor boost. Frontier offers every option from almond to walnut for any hot beverage -- including milk, cocoa, tea and coffee.

Here’s the recipe for a deliciously rich toddy that adds delight to any gathering:

Visions of Sugarplums Toddy

Ingredients:

4 cups milk, divided in half (dairy, rice, or soy)
2 Tbsp. honey
1/8 tsp. cardamom powder
4 oz. white baking chocolate, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. nutmeg powder
4 6-inch cinnamon sticks

Directions: Warm 2 cups of the milk, honey, cardamom, and baking chocolate in a saucepan until chocolate is melted. Add remaining milk and heat until warm. Stir in vanilla. Pour into cups, sprinkle with nutmeg and add cinnamon stick stirrers. Substitute almond extract (or another flavoring, like peppermint extract) for the vanilla now and then. At a toddler's tuck-in time, serve without the chocolate to induce slumber. Makes about 4 servings.

For more tips and recipes for hot drinks -- and an online source of ingredients like mulling spices, cocoa, cinnamon sticks and spices -- visit www.frontiercoop.com/hotdrinks.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Christmas Flower Crafts and Decorating

In this video, Julie Mulligan shares ideas, tips, and tricks on creating your own beautiful flower arrangements this holiday season. Follow along with Julie as she teaches you how to decorate your fireplace mantel, create unique place card holders, and create the same kinds of fabulous arrangements you'll find in her Designer Flowers collection, such as a Julep Cup Arrangement, an evergreen arrangement, a holiday wreath, and the Amazing Flower Snowman.

Top Five Spices to Add Zing to Holiday Baking

It's hard to imagine a festive winter holiday without the aroma of baking wafting through our homes. Certain spices -- such as allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla -- claim the holidays as their own.

"Baking is an integral part of the holidays, and there are certain spices that are integral to the holiday baker," says Kendall McFarland, product development manager at Frontier Natural Products Co-op. "Many of the most popular recipes use the same types of spices, and these spices most certainly take the cake, so to speak."

* Allspice -- Many people believe allspice is a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, hence the name, but it is actually the dried fruit of a small evergreen plant. It is especially delicious in cakes, cookies and pies.

* Cinnamon -- One of the oldest and most widely used spices, cinnamon has a variety of uses and is a staple in most household spice racks. It is made from the bark of a cinnamon tree, which rolls up into what is commonly known as a cinnamon stick during the drying process. Easily recognized by its aroma, cinnamon adds warm sweetness to fruit pies -- it pairs especially well with apples.

* Cloves -- One of the earliest spices to be traded, cloves are native to Indonesia and are actually dried flower buds. Ground cloves are used in baking and are most often found in gingerbread, spice and fruit cakes, raisin or nut bars. Cloves add a kick to pumpkin pie, a traditional holiday favorite.

* Nutmeg -- Historically a prized spice, nutmegs are the dried seeds of the nutmeg tree. Nutmeg's sweet taste is excellent in puddings and custards, and it’s delicious mixed in with French toast batter. Try freshly grating a whole nutmeg for even more flavor.

* Vanilla -- Introduced to Europe by the Spanish conquistador, Hernando Cortes, vanilla has a rich history and a richer flavor. It comes in three forms: whole pod, powder, and extract. It is one of the most widely used ingredients in baked desserts and icings. 

These spices can be used independently, or as a complement to each other to produce rich and interesting flavors. The key is to buy high-quality spices that contain robust flavors and aromas. “Frontier Natural Products Co-op offers a complete selection of natural and organic spices and seasonings in bottles, or take just the amount you need from their bulk bins. The superior flavor of their spices is a direct result of their commitment to quality at every step -- growing, processing and packaging,” McFarland states.

Try this cake and fill your home with spicy holiday aromas:

Honey Spice Cake

1/2 cup butter
1 cup honey
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk or yogurt
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. Frontier baking soda
1 tsp. Frontier baking powder
1 tsp. Frontier ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Frontier ground cloves
1/4 tsp. Frontier ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins that have been softened by soaking, drained

Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat butter, honey and eggs together. Add buttermilk, mix well. Sift dry ingredients together, and add to the butter mixture. Mix well. Stir in the raisins. Bake for 30 minutes or until done. Frost with this delicious cream cheese recipe.

1/2 lb. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp. Frontier vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar

Make cream cheese frosting by combining ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar and continue beating until smooth. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake.

For more information on spices, holiday recipes, and cooking ideas, visit the Frontier Natural Products web site.



Courtesy of ARAcontent