gwinnett holiday gift guide #2

20112011HolidayGift GuideHolidayGift Guide

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Gwinnett Daily Postgwinnettdailypost.com

Sunday, December 4, 2011

2 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • Sunday, December 4, 2011

The WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER GIFT CARD gives you the chance to give the gift of the arts! This campus-wide gift card can be used to purchase tickets and program-ming for all of the venues on the WOOD-RUFF ARTS CENTER campus including the Alliance Theatre, offering Tony Award Win-ning Theatre on three stages, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing over 200 concerts each year at the Woodruff Center, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre and Chas-tain Amphitheatre, High Museum of Art currently featuring the exhibit From Picasso to Warhol, and Young Audiences that offers programming and opportunities to “trans-form the lives and learning of young people through the arts”. There truly is something special for every person of every age at Woodruff Arts Center.

The WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER GIFT CARD can also be used for parking, dining and shopping at The Woodruff.

Gift cards can be purchased online at www.woodruffcenter.org/events-tickets/gift-cards.aspx or in person at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Offi ce, 14th Street Play-house, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra gift shop or the High Museum of Arts gift shops.

Gift cards are redeemable on campus or

online. Balances can be checked online as well and there are no fees applied.

Give the gift of arts – THE WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER GIFT CARD.

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season?

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, currently in its 67th season, is known for the excellence of its live performances, renowned

choruses and 27 Grammy Award winning recordings.

Atlanta’s High Museum of Art is one of the Southeast’s leading art museums.

Chinai Hardy (left) starred as Marie Dunbar, and Naima Carter Russell played her daughter, Gracie, in Pearl Cleage’s “The Nacirema Society,” which came to the Alliance in Atlanta in 2010.

Sunday, December 4, 2011 • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE • 3


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Atlanta-area Simon malls prepare for the busiest shopping days of the year. All Simon area malls, including Mall of Georgia announce special hours, events and more!

Mall of Georgia (3333 Buford Dr. / 678-482-8788)

There are many holiday festivities hap-pening at Mall of Georgia including:

Photos with Santa Now through December 24. Visit Santa at his

holiday home in the lower level Nordstrom Wing. Santa will be available daily, with the

exception of Thanksgiving Day; hours and photo package pricing available at mallofgeorgia.com

or facebook.com/MallofGeorgia.Pet Night with Santa

December 4 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. Bring out your furry friends to have their holiday photo taken with Santa! Please enter through the mall entrance between Nordstrom and Belk adjacent to Woodward Crossing Boulevard *No exotic animals permitted.

Sounds of the Season Dec. 9 and 16 from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm in the Food Court. Enjoy local Elementary, Middle and

High School Choral Performances.North Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

Now through December 24. GardenWright Nurseries is selling Fresh North

Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas Trees and Wreaths at the Village Amphitheatre.

Design your very own Christmas Wreath! Sizes vary, starting at only $12.50.

For every Christmas Tree sold, $2.00 will be donated to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Simon Giftcards® Make Gift-giving Easy And you’ll find more choices than ever at Simon Guest Services. Give them the gift they’ll never re-gift again. Visit Guest Services located on the lower level near the food Court for a full line up of

Simon Giftcards® and holiday packaging.Salvation Army Angle Tree

Now through December 10. Located on the lower level by JCPenney.

United Hospice FoundationTree of Memories

Now through December 24.Located on the upper level by Coach.

Parking on Demand Looking to take the hassle out of parking when

doing your holiday shopping? Visit www.mallofgeorgia.com to sign up for Parking on Demand, great program that allows shoppers to call ahead or go online to make parking reservations

for some of the best spaces at the center – just in time for the holiday season! Sign up for this

program now- only $10/month!American Red Cross Blood Drive

(upper level between Belk and Nordstrom)January 1 & 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information about Simon malls, including holiday hours and events, visit www.simon.com

For blood donation facts, visit the Amer-ican Red Cross online at www.givelife.org.

Catch the Holiday Spirit at Mall of Georgia


With the spirit of the holidays in the air, the Gwinnett Braves have teamed up with Venture Sport Shows to host their 13th annual Toys for Tots drive. The event, spanning across three days in December, will bring together athletes and celebrities from the local area in support of a toy drive to benefit the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

Highlighting the growing roster of athletes who will ap-pear at some point during the event are Hall of Famer, Phil Niekro, and former Atlanta Brave, Otis Nixon. Fans will have an opportunity to receive an autograph from the athletes by donating a new, unwrapped toy to the drive. Those looking to donate can bring their toys to the event and will be given one ticket per toy. Most athletes will require one ticket per autograph but some will require two. Fans can also elect to donate directly to the Toys for Tots fund with the Marines who will be on hand. Those fans will receive one ticket for every $10 given.

Sports stars and celebrities outside of baseball will also be present during the event. A schedule of who will be appearing and at what times will be released closer to the event, but other confirmed stars include former Atlanta Falcon William Andrews, former Harlem Globe-

trotter Harold Hubbard, and WCW Professional Wrestler Rocky King. Those athletes attending the event will be available at various times throughout the weekend and will be posted at a later time. Daily hours of the event will be from 10 AM to 6 PM.

In conjunction with the toy drive, the Gwinnett Braves will also host their annual Winter Fest event on Saturday the 10th. Ballpark tours and inflatables will be featured along with a one-day-only sale of 50% off in the G-Braves Team Store. All regularly priced merchandise will be available at half off from 12 to 6 PM on Saturday, with an advanced opening at 11 AM for Season Ticket Holders.

For a limited time, as a holiday special, fans can pur-chase a 4-pack of Anytime Tickets for any 2012 home game for $30. These stocking stuffer specials are available in a vari-ety of seating options and offer the lowest price available for such a quantity. Holiday Packs can be bought at the Coolray Field Box Office, over the phone at 678-277-0340, or online at GwinnettBraves.com/holiday. This offer will only be available until 5 PM on Friday, December 23rd.

For more information visit www.gwinnettbraves.com or call the Coolray Field Box Office at 678-277-0340.

Coolray Field to host Toys for Tots event and Open HouseWeekend events set for December 9, 10 and 11


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A Christmas Carol, Alliance Theatre’s annual holiday gift to Atlanta, returned for its 22nd season.

The most heartwarming story of the season comes to life with holiday carols, stunning stage magic and your favorite Atlanta actors. Directed by Rosemary Newcott, Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth, A Christmas Carol has become a tradition for many families around the southeast. In a new-this-season surprise, audiences are forewarned to warm up their singing voices before arriving.

In this tale of redemption, Ebenezer Scrooge goes to sleep on Christmas Eve as a miserly, stone-hearted man and awakens on Christmas Day with a compassionate and benevolent heart after his encounter with three ghosts. Chris Kayser returns as Scrooge for his 19th appearance in this Broadway-scale production.

The Alliance will host five Family Days for performances of A Christmas Carol – 12/8, 7:00pm; 12/15, 7:00pm; 12/16, 8:00pm; 12/21, 2:30pm; and 12/22, 2:30pm. Details below. Choirs will sing holiday favorites and families will have the opportunity to take a commemora-tive family photograph.

Performances are Thursdays at 7 pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2:30 pm and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, now – Dec. 20, 2011. Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 2:30 pm and 7pm and Saturday at 2:30 pm, Dec. 21 – Dec. 24, 2011. There will be no eve-ning performances December 4, 2011. In addition, no performances will be held on December 9, 2011.

Tickets start at $17.50 and are avail-able at The Woodruff Arts Center Box Office or by calling 404.733.5000 or vis-iting online at www.alliancetheatre.org/achristmascarol. Discount rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 404.733.4690. Discount rates are

also available for members of the mili-tary, seniors and students. The Alliance Theatre is located at The Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlan-ta, GA 30309 – at the corner of Peachtree and 15th Street, in Midtown Atlanta.

Another great option for this year is our Family Four Pack for only $109. This package includes four tickets, pre-paid parking, a family photo and a holiday keepsake! Or how about the 2-Play Fam-ily Package, which includes tickets to A Christmas Carol and Wizard of Oz. Only $50 for adults and $45 for children.

A Christmas Carol is part of the Delta Families Series on the Alliance Stage.

Additional Sponsors: A Christmas Carol is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines – Official Air-line of the Alliance Theatre; Marriott Res-idence Inn – Official Hotel of the Alliance Theatre; The Home Depot – Set Construc-tion Sponsor of the Alliance Theatre; and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Production of A Christmas Carol is made possible with grants from the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, the Fulton County Arts Council, the Georgia Council for the Arts and the National En-dowment for the Arts.

For tickets visit www.alliancetheatre.org/carol or call 404.733.5000.

A Christmas Carol returns for its 22nd year at the Alliance Theatre now-Dec 24, 2011

A Christmas Carol introduces a surprise this season. All we can say is – you might want to warm your singing voice before you arrive…


The symptoms of football withdrawal will have taken hold for the fans in your life by March. Fortunately, the electricity of Georgia Force football at The Arena at Gwin-nett Center will just be getting started. The Arena Football League squad returned to Gwinnett County last year, and came within one game of reaching the ArenaBowl. With an even stronger team returning this year, this holiday season is the time to get on board as the Force embark on a quest to bring Georgia its first professional football championship.

The best way to get involved is by re-serving a season ticket. For as little as $65, fans can lock in their seats for all nine home games at the best individual ticket prices available. This enables fans to avoid ticket lines and extra service charges on tickets while reserving the same great seat for each game. When the Force make it back to the

playoffs, a first round ticket will also be pro-vided as part of the package, as well as the first option to purchase tickets to any addi-tional games.

Additional season ticket holder perks include an invitation to the Meet the 2012 Georgia Force Party, a 20% discount at the team store, and guaranteed premium items on giveaway nights. Also, season tickets come with two complimentary tickets to give to a friend, as well as the opportunity to trade in tickets to home games you can not attend. When coupled with free park-ing and a personal account representative, Force season tickets are the best value in pro sports in the Atlanta area.

Call (770) 609-1300 or head to Georgia-Force.com for more details. The Force will be announcing details on flex and holiday ticket plans, as well as their complete pro-motional schedule, in the coming weeks.

Georgia Force: Rx for Football Withdrawal


Fernbank Museum of Natural History will celebrate holidays, traditions and cultures with Winter Wonder-land: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World, the Museum’s 2nd Annual holiday-inspired exhibition and programming series. On view through January 8, 2012, Winter Wonderland features trees and other displays decorated by local cultural partners that recognize cel-ebrations including Christmas, Hanukkah and the Fes-tival of Lights, as well as traditions and practices like origami, indigenous art and national symbols.

The exhibition will twinkle with lights, glimmer with color, and shine with a variety of cultural ornaments and emblems that recognize the diversity of celebrations, holidays, traditions and events around the world. Fes-tive programming will accompany Fernbank’s Winter Wonderland on select days as cultural groups entertain visitors with performances, dancing, music, demonstra-tions, storytelling and more.

Winter Wonderland trees, displays and perfor-mances will showcase traditional celebrations from cultures across five continents, representing the Arab World, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hun-gary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Mexico, Nor-way, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Switzer-land and Turkey. Decorations include origami cranes from Japan, natural objects symbolic of Switzerland’s ecological lifestyle, iconic columns and friezes repre-senting the Parthenon in Greece, folkloric figurines symbolic to the Arab World, and many other beauti-ful displays of cultures around the world.

Fernbank also will feature a variety of special opportunities, sponsored in part by Publix Super Markets Charities, in collaboration with many of the Winter Wonderland cultural partners at no additional cost, including:

Evening HoursDecember 16 from 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.See Winter Wonderland after dark during Fridays

during Martinis & IMAX®. (Standard Martinis & IMAX® ticket prices apply).

Winter Wonderland Celebration Weekend Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and

Sunday, December 11 from noon – 4 p.m.Join us for performances by Salsa Belles, storytell-

ing and crafts from Israel, crafts from Japan and France, a variety of cultural games, Turkish dancers and more.**

Winter Wonderland Celebration Weekend Saturday, December 17 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and

Sunday, December 18 from noon – 4 p.m.Enjoy an appearance by Fernbank’s Santa-saurus,

storytelling from Italy, Liberian singers, Peruvian music, Philippine dancing, Indian arts and more.**

Admission to Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World is included with Museum admission at $17.50 for adults, $16.50 for students and seniors, $15.50 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for Museum members and children ages two and younger. Events offered during Martinis & IMAX® are included with the $7 cover charge or with the purchase of an IMAX® ticket for one of the evening’s film screenings at $12. Tickets can be purchased online at fernbankmu-seum.org/winter or by phone at 404.929.6400.

A special joint ticket package is available, which includes admission to Fernbank Museum, including the Winter Wonderland exhibition, and to Christmas at Callanwolde, a historic mansion featuring Period furniture, designer treasures, fine art and dazzling Christmas trees that reflect a glorious era from the 1920s to the 1950s, when the prominent Candler family lived in the home. The joint ticket package is offered at a savings for $32 for adults, $27 for stu-dents and seniors, and $24 for children and can be purchased by calling 404.929.6400. The tickets can be redeemed for admission to Callanwolde from December 5-18 and to Fernbank from November 16-January 8.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road, NE in Atlanta. The museum is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from Noon-5 p.m. For visitor information, call 404.929.6300 or visit fernbankmuseum.org/winter.

**Not all activities will be offered both days.

Fernbank Museum Transforms into a Winter Wonderland

During 2nd Annual Cultural Exhibition, Programming and Holiday Series


Forget the naughty or nice list, parents and other caregivers can celebrate well-be-haved children with a different sort of rewards system -- a good behavior calendar that can be used to mark days of minded manners, ex-emplary acts or help around the house.

Children often respond well to positive reinforcement. Instead of just reprimanding children when they have done something bad, reward good behavior by focusing on all the things that they do well. A calen-dar that showcases the days that children were on their best behavior can be a way to showcase all the good things kids do.

Here’s how to make a countdown calendar:

1. Purchase and gather supplies for the calendar.

Posterboard • MarkersConstruction paper • Glue • Ruler • Pencil

Glitter • Christmas-themed stickers or pictures2. Lay the posterboard on the table and

use the ruler and pencil to draw the boxes of the December calendar. Outline the cal-endar grid with markers, if desired.

3. Inside of the boxes, write different “prizes,” such as a night out for dinner, a trip to the toy store, staying up an extra hour, etc. You can repeat ideas if you cannot come

up with one for every day of December.4. Cut out construction paper squares

the same size as the calendar date boxes. Place a bead of glue at the top of the squares and attach them over the calendar grid so that you cover up the “prizes” but can flip up the construction paper to reveal the prizes when necessary.

5. Mark the calendar dates, 1 through 31, on each piece of glued-down construction paper.

6. Use the rest of the craft supplies to decorate the posterboard so that it is hol-iday-inspired.

7. Explain to your child that if he or she behaves well on a particular day, the prize beneath that day can be revealed. Then the following day that prize can be redeemed. As the parent you can use your discretion when determining which behaviors warrant a prize. This way you won’t have to have all 31 days’ worth redeemed.

The calendar will help encourage chil-dren to act responsibly and behave during a stressful month when it can be easy to mis-behave. It will also serve as a countdown calendar for Christmas and New Year’s. Vary the rules according to your household.

If the calendar works well for December, consider making one a few times a year.

Create a Christmas countdown calendar that rewards good behavior


With the Holiday Season upon us, now’s the time when we find ourselves searching for that perfect, unique gift for family and friends alike. This year, you can gift the gift of Braves baseball with the Atlanta Braves Holiday Ticket Pack.

For a great price, you’ll get two tickets to five premiere Braves games – including Opening Day and 4th of July. Plus, games against the NL East rival Phillies, World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, and even the New York Yankees, who will make their re-turn to Turner Field in 2012 as part of Major League baseball’s inter-league schedule. As a bonus, every Atlanta Braves Holiday Ticket Pack comes with a 2012 Braves calendar, featuring the Braves schedule, key dates and amazing color photography by the Braves official staff photographer.

The Atlanta Braves Holiday Ticket Pack is on sale from November 14th through De-cember 15th so don’t miss out on this great gift idea for the sports fan in your life. For de-tails about the Atlanta Braves Holiday Ticket Pack, visit www.braves.com/holidays or call (404) 577-9100.

Another great gift idea from the Braves is the Atlanta Braves Kid’s Club Holiday Pack. For only $20 your little Braves fan will get an official membership to the Atlanta Braves Kid’s Club. Included in the Kid’s Club Holiday pack are two free tickets to an Atlanta Braves game of your choice, a Braves hat, foam tomahawk and other special items reserved exclusively for Kid’s Club members. For details on the Atlanta Braves Kid’s Club Holiday Pack visit www.braves.com/kids

Give Them a Gift they’ll Cheer For with the Atlanta Braves Holiday Ticket Pack


With more than 180 incredible re-tailers, Discover Mills is sure to delight holiday shoppers this season with its unique brand of shopping, dining and entertainment. As Atlanta’s largest out-let and value retail shopping destina-tion, Discover Mills continues to pro-vide shoppers with more stores, more brands, more savings and more fun.

Discover Mills features an impressive roster of popular stores perfect for finding the ideal gift for everyone on your list this holiday season, including Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, BCBG Maxazria Final Cut, Forever 21, Kenneth Cole Outlet, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Nike Factory Store, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, The Disney Store Outlet, The LEGO Store, Toys “R” Us Express and more. Plus, the fun continues with a variety of entertainment venues and dining choices, such as Atlanta’s largest Dave & Buster’s, Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, popular frozen yogurt eatery Tutti Frutti, AMC 18-Screen Theatre, Slingshot Speedway and Lunar Golf.

With the holidays quickly approaching, Discover Mills is gearing up for the most important shopping days of the year. The festivities throughout the season will in-clude pictures with Santa, holiday enter-tainment, gift wrap, prizes and more!

Discover Mills is located at I-85 and Sug-arloaf Parkway, just 30 minutes from down-town Atlanta. Regular hours are 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. or a complete list of

special holiday shopping hours and events please call (678) 847-5000, visit www.dis-covermills.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DiscoverMills.

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Many people worry about the expenses of the holidays. Individuals who are already pinching pennies and putting as much to-ward gifts as possible may want to keep holiday entertaining costs low. It’s possible to do so without sacrificing quality.

Christmas dinner is something families look forward to each year. Some enjoy a roasted turkey; others turn to cultural foods. Others may eat a big meal both on Christ-mas Eve and Christmas Day. The hosts and hostesses who serve Christmas dinner often open their homes up to a number of guests to enjoy the meal. It’s not uncommon to find 10 to 12 friends or family members gathered around the dining table -- and feeding all those people can get expensive.

One can expect to spend a hundred dol-lars or more on holiday foods depending on the menu items chosen; a large turkey alone can cost $25. If cocktails are part of the holi-day equation, premium alcohol can run $20

to $30 per bottle. If finances are tight, a big Christmas dinner can certainly put a strain on the budget. To cut costs, consider these frugal tips.

Shop the sales. Plan the menu in ad-vance and comparison shop the non-perishable items. Stock up on the foods needed that can be stored in the pantry until preparation time. The closer a per-son shops to Christmas, the higher the prices on certain items may be.

Choose lower-priced foods. Who says filet mignon has to be served on Christmas? As long as the food is tasty, guests will enjoy it. Consider menu items that can be bought in bulk (less expensive) and turned into deli-cious meals. A platter of chicken with lem-on-butter sauce could win rave reviews over the tired turkey anyway.

Don’t overdo it. Party hosts often over-buy food thinking there will not be enough. After crackers and cheese, salad, appetiz-

ers, and some other courses, guests may be stuffed to the gills and only pick at the main meal. Scale back the courses and focus on one or two things.

Fill guests up with vegetables. Starch-es, such as potatoes and rice, and many vegetables are inexpensive and filling. Serve a higher ratio of these foods to meats and poultry.

Have a holiday pot luck. Hosts can ask guests to bring one food item with them to lessen the financial burden. Friends and family will be more than happy to pitch in.

Consider store brands. Many store brand foods are equal in taste and quality to the brand name items ... but at lower costs. This is because store brands are not advertised and don’t have to pay for publicity. This can help budget-conscious shoppers save a lit-tle at the check-out.

Avoid pre-made foods. Convenience foods, like frozen appetizers or dips, of-

ten cost more per serving than if they are made at home from scratch. Scratch-cooking takes a little more time, but it is often more economical.

Skip the meal, altogether. If conversa-tion and mingling are more the speed of the gathering, host a cocktail party instead. Serve finger foods and one or two signature drinks. Less time around the table means more moments for merrymaking anyway.

Don’t Let Christmas Dinner Be a Budget-Buster


Christmas is a holiday full of joy and cel-ebration. It can also be a time of consumption and stress on the environment. However, holi-day shoppers and celebrants can easily reduce their carbon footprint this holiday season.

During a season in which more is often more, it can be a challenge to cut back in an ef-fort to protect the planet. But scaling back gifts, food consumption and travel can be effective ways to go green this holiday season.

Organize a “Secret Santa.” An easy way to cut down on gifts purchased is to organize a Se-cret Santa or holiday grab bag. This means that each participating person only has to purchase one gift.

Be smart about wrapping. Chances are there are plenty of items around the house that can be recycled into gift wrapping for presents. Foil, newspaper, comics, magazines, and even brown mailing paper are all good ideas. For those in-terested in really going green, skip the wrapping all together.

It’s okay to make gifts. Handmade gifts are thoughtful and can be cherished for years. In-dividuals who know how to knit or crochet can handcraft scarves or hats. Make a photo album with scrapbooking supplies. Individuals who are handy in the kitchen may want to give baked goods.

Choose battery-free gifts. Discarded batteries are a plague on the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holi-day season. If batteries can’t be avoided, choose ones that can be recharged.

Use LED holiday lights. Keeping lights on for hours on end certainly uses a lot of elec-tricity. Limit the drain on energy by selecting lights that have the least impact. LEDs use less power and last longer than traditional bulbs. When possible, consider the use of solar-powered holiday lights. Plus, don’t leave the lights on when no one is home or the household has gone to sleep.

Decorate a live tree. Christmas tree farms are in the business of regularly planting and harvesting evergreen trees. That makes live trees a renewable resource instead of plastic trees made from petroleum. What’s more, af-ter the season Christmas trees can be turned into mulch.

Send recycled cards or e-cards. The amount of cards sold in the United States during the holiday season would fi ll a football fi eld 10 sto-ries high and requires the harvesting of nearly 300,000 trees. Don’t send so many cards and choose materials around the house that can be turned into Christmas cards for those that you do send. Also, recycle last year’s cards into tags for gifts.

Recycle leftover materials. Chances are large gifts will have enough wrapping paper remain-ing to wrap other gifts next year. Avoid metallic paper, which is more diffi cult to recycle. Be sure to break down all cardboard and paper so that it can be put out for recycling.

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Donating is a popular way to show ap-preciation during the holiday season, but not every household has the funds to donate this year. In lieu of making a financial donation, a gift of time and service is just as valuable.

Research indicates that 50 percent of charitable donations are made between Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the sea-son of hospitality and togetherness, making charitable donations is ever-present in many people’s minds. However, financial insecurity due to the sluggish job market and economy will likely result in more people hoping to volunteer their time instead of their finances this holiday season.

Volunteering one’s time is a way to give back without expending funds. Just as chari-ties and other organizations are in need of money to operate their causes, they also need manpower to put plans in action.

Busy people may think they don’t have the time to volunteer, but this is not the case. Accord-

ing to Charity Guide, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting flexible volunteerism by inspiring and facilitating acts of kindness, volun-teer work can take as little as 15 minutes per week and be based on a flexible schedule.

When considering volunteerism, indi-viduals can pick a cause that is dear to their hearts. Organizations that raise awareness about medical conditions to animal rights groups are all charities that can use assis-tance. Here are some ways the average per-son can volunteer service.

Business owners who provide a particular product or service can donate such items to the charity. For example, a printing company can offer to print letterhead or envelopes for an organization. A baker can offer food for luncheons or fundraisers. Donation of time doesn’t necessarily have to mean manning the phones.

Schools are often understaffed and can use the help of parents and other community

members. Volunteering beyond the typical call of duty can help school programs flourish. Vol-unteering time as a coach or as a librarian can ensure children have the resources and pro-grams for a well-rounded education.

Consider spending time with the elderly at a nearby assisted-living facility or as part of a home-visitor program. Individuals who don’t have family nearby may appreciate a visit from someone, even if it’s just to sit and chat. This is something the entire family can

do, even children.Something as simple as carpooling or

offering to shop for busy people is another form of volunteer work that doesn’t require being part of a particular organization. Why not babysit for a person who has to catch up on some holiday shopping?

There are plenty of ways to contribute without writing a check. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to join with others in a giving way.

The Gift of Volunteerism for the Holidays

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Although prime wedding season runs from May through October, many brides- and grooms-to-be choose to tie the knot during the winter, with the holidays providing a popular backdrop to the wedding festivities.

Holiday weddings are often joyous affairs. People are jolly, decorations abound, and there’s a chance that some snowfall can make your picturesque photo dreams come true. And considering most churches and reception sites are already trimmed in season-al decor to accommodate various holiday parties, chances are you can save a little money on floral ar-rangements and extra accessories.

Having a wedding during the holidays also makes it easier to plan out themes and color schemes. For those who have difficulty deciding on bubblegum pink bridesmaids gowns or teal table linens, working with the colors of the winter season makes planning simple. Choose among burgundy, berry red, forest green, gold, silver, cream, and light blue to set the mood of the event. Deep red gowns complement any skin tone, and bouquets full of green and white fill call to mind a light snow dust-ing evergreen boughs.

When selecting wedding invitations, be sure to choose a design that will set the invitation apart from the holiday greetings already being delivered to wedding guests. You may want to forgo a folded card or any holiday inspired embellishments on the invi-tations altogether. Instead, go with a classic white or off-white card. A border of snowflakes or a mention of a holiday theme in the invitation wording will clue in guests to the wedding’s holiday theme.

Because the holidays are already a busy time of the year, there are a few other considerations cou-ples should heed when planning their weddings.

Push up the dates you do all of your meetings with vendors. The season is awash in parties and other festive events; therefore, reception sites, ca-terers, florists, limousine services, and disc jockeys may book quickly. Try to secure as many vendors as possible as soon as you set your wedding date.

Consult with a clergy member to discuss hav-ing a religious wedding during the holiday season. Certain dates may be restricted due to liturgical requirements or simply because of special church-related events.

When invitations are mailed, do so about 3 months before the wedding. Wedding guests are likely to be busy themselves during the holiday season, so be sure to send out save-the-date cards to advertise your wedding well in advance of send-ing out the actual invitations.

Flowers may be more expensive this time of the year, so spread a tight budget by including candles, greenery (like evergreen branches or holly) or simple poinsettia plants with other more traditional flowers.

Be sure to factor weather into the planning. If gowns will not have sleeves, be sure to select shrugs or capes that can be worn for warmth. Muffs or full-arm gloves can be elegant and warming as well.

Get creative with wedding cakes to tie into the theme. An all-white cake can look like it’s covered in snow. A cake can be shaped into a wrapped gift or a giant ornament.

Also keep in mind that this is a busy travel season. Therefore you may want to wait until well after New Year’s before embarking on your honeymoon. Other-wise you could pay a premium for airline tickets.

A wedding during the holiday season can be magical and something that adds even more senti-mental value to an already joyous time of year.

Getting married during the holidays

Celebrate the Season in a Festively-Named Locale


While people are ho-ho-ho-ing and hustling and bustling, pets may not be as enamored with the holiday season as their human counterparts. That’s because, amid the blur of activities that fill the season, there are potential sources of stress and dangers to pets.

What can be so dangerous about holiday fes-tivities and decorations? A lot, according to vet-erinarians and pet advocacy experts. The ASPCA, among other groups, warns of the toxic items and unhealthy treats that abound this time of year.

Approximately 1,300 people are treated each year in emergency rooms for injuries related to holiday lights. Another 6,200 are treated for in-juries related to holiday decorations and Christ-mas trees. These injuries are occurring to people who know better. Just think about the pets that do not understand the dangers around them. Pet parents have to be responsible for their animals’ safety, too.

Know What’s ToxicEverything from snow globes to tinsel can

wreak havoc on pets’ delicate intestinal systems. Many holiday plants, like holly and poinsettia, contain oils that can be fatal to pets if consumed. Snow globes often contain antifreeze, which is well known as toxic to pets. Snow sprays and snow flock contain chemicals that can be ir-ritants if inhaled or consumed. Tinsel and pine needles can cause choking and intestinal ob-struction if consumed by smaller animals, like cats and rodents.

Decorating DangersDecorative glassware, trinkets and other break-

ables can prove hazardous to animals. Inquisitive dogs and cats may break glass ornaments and be cut by shards of glass. It’s easy for lit candles to be knocked over and even Christmas trees to be pulled down by boisterous pets. Water kept in Christmas tree stands and other decor may harbor

harmful microorganisms or chemicals that become dangerous if lapped up. Cords and lights may look like chew toys to rodents, dogs and cats, who can be-come electrocuted or strangled while investigating.

Goodie GluttonyMany pets have stolen a piece of people food

from here or there or have been offered some table scraps. There are some items that can be dangerous during the holidays and year round. Beware of feeding pets fatty meats, gravies, poul-try skin, poultry bones, chocolate, and alcohol. These items can cause illnesses from vomiting and diarrhea to highly serious pancreatitis and other toxic reactions. Remove trash from the house regularly while entertaining to ensure pets don’t get inside of garbage cans and trash bags to steal scraps. When eating, keep pets out of the dining area and maintain a close eye on scaven-gers who might leap for dishes at the edges of tables. Gifts, like food baskets and boxes of choc-olates, should be kept out of reach of pets. Buy pet-safe treats this time of year to reward animals so they will not be inclined to steal snacks.

Holiday StressHaving a houseful of people can be stressful

on pets who are not used to the company. Talk with a veterinarian to see if a mild sedative or anti-anxiety medication might be helpful. Other-wise, keep pets contained in a quiet room away from guests if they are prone to skittishness. Try to keep feeding and watering schedules consis-tent so the pets will have the comfort of their rou-tines. Be sure to spend time with the animals so they are not feeling neglected while you’re run-ning here and there.

The holidays can be a wonderful time of year to share with your pets, but safety should never be too

far out of mind when preparing for the

season.

Holiday safety for pets

Winter afficionados who are planning to relocate can consider one of the many winter- and holi-day-related places to live across the United States. Here are just some of the places to call home.

Santa, Idaho • Santa Claus, Georgia • Saint Nicholas, Minnesota

North Pole, Alaska • Evergreen, Virginia • Garland, Texas • Holly, Colorado

Angel City, Florida • Angels Camp, California • Angeltown, Tennessee

Bethlehem, Georgia • Nazareth, Texas • Noel, Missouri

Snowflake, Arizona • Snowflake, West Virginia


Much of what makes the holiday sea-son so special is the traditions that people hold dear. While families have traditions that stretch back decades, there is plenty of opportunity to embrace new means of cel-ebration to breathe new life into Christmas, Chanukkah or the season’s other holidays.

Chances are you’re already hanging stockings or going caroling this year. You can add some of these and modify as they fi t for your family.

1. Feed the wildlife. During the cold days of winter, birds and small animals that don’t hibernate may fi nd it diffi cult to forage for food. By trimming an outdoor pine tree in edible snacks you’ll have a beautiful tree and one that benefi ts the wildlife as well. String peanuts and other nuts for the squir-rels. Make little ornaments out of suet and string for the birds. Berries and corn can be enjoyed by all. Be sure to choose a tree that is far enough away from the home, so you don’t have too many scavengers hunting and pecking around the house.

2. Create a photo Advent calendar. Make your own Advent calendar that has small doors that open up to photos of different family members. Or use a collection of chil-dren’s pictures that showcase how they’ve changed as they’ve grown older.

3. “Adopt” a child for holiday gifts. Each year you can bring a smile to a child in need by purchasing a present for an underprivi-leged kid. Some post offi ces sponsor “Let-ters from Santa” events where participants can respond to one of the thousands of let-ters mailed to The North Pole. Or work with a local charity that organizes events to bring gifts to children in hospitals or in foster care.

4. Holiday story countdown. Every night in December watch a movie or read a story that tells an uplifting holiday tale. Use this as a method of counting down until Christ-mas. On the night prior, reading “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” should suffi ce.

5. Remember someone who has passed on. The holiday season is one made beautiful by lit candles and twinkling lights. Remember a loved one or a friend who has passed away by lighting a remembrance candle in his or her honor. It’s a way this person can still be part of the festivities.

6. Have a holiday sing-a-long. Sure it may be tradition to go around the neighborhood

singing carols, but it’s just as fun indoors. Have a singing party where guests are given lyrics to popular tunes they can sing around the piano or karaoke machine.

7. Bring some joy to a public servant. Po-lice offi cers, fi refi ghters, military personnel ... many of these workers do not get off for the holidays. There are a certain number of public servants who must remain on call in the event of an emergency. Treat these peo-ple to something enjoyable when they may be missing their own festivities. Cook or ca-ter a meal for a fi re house, deliver cookies to the police station or put together care pack-ages for people living on a military base.

8. Banish the holiday blues. When the holidays are set to go for another year, many people fi nd they become a little down. After all, a home that was once fi lled with merry trinkets may now go back to the bare es-sentials. Create a tradition where everyone in the family receives one more gift -- a personalized ornament that can be packed away for use next year -- that’s given in Janu-ary before the decorations are packed away. It’s another opportunity to open a present, and it symbolizes looking forward to the joy of next year.

8 ways to create new holiday traditions

Feeding wild birds doesn’t have to be expensive but once you start you should not stop feeding during the winter, once the birds become used to your feeding stations.

Feelings of sadness and depression are common during the holidays, but not inevitable. Concerts, fi lms and plays can do wonders for your mental health.


The holidays are the most festive time of the year, and no holiday season is com-plete without a party or two with family and friends. Be it to celebrate a religious holiday or to ring in the New Year, a holiday party is an essential element to the holiday season.

While it’s always great to be a guest, hosting a holiday party is a great way to show friends and family how much they mean to you. This holiday season, consider the following tips to ensure your holiday party is as memorable as the season is merry.

Make it a themed party. The holiday season is fi lled with festivities, from of-fi ce parties to neighborhood gatherings to gatherings with family. For more casual af-fairs, set your party apart with a theme. For example, a Christmas sweater party, where each guest wears a Christmas sweater, can be a fun way to excite guests and inspire a few laughs. Give a prize to the guest with the most ornate sweater. If sweaters aren’t your thing, then encourage guests to dress up like some favorite holiday characters, in-cluding Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman or even Rudolph.

Don’t forget the holiday fare. Just like parties are a staple of the holiday season, so, too, are certain foods and types of mu-sic. Few people indulge in some eggnog outside of the holiday season, so make sure there’s plenty of eggnog on hand. And don’t forget the gingerbread cookies, either. As people enjoy holiday goodies, make sure they do so with holiday music playing in the background. Choose songs that guests

know and to which they can sing along. Such sing-alongs might become especially memorable once guests have a glass or two of eggnog in them.

Host a holiday giveaway. Though it can be fun to do a Secret Santa, chances are guests already have enough gifts to buy. But hosts can spice things up with a holi-day giveaway that rewards guests. Host a holiday-themed round of Trivial Pursuit or a holiday movie trivia game that encourages guests to compete for prizes. Prizes can be small and inexpensive, but guests will be sure to enjoy some friendly competition for holiday-themed prizes.

Don’t be afraid to take it outside. For those who live in regions with signifi cant snowfall, consider inviting guests outside to have some fun in the snow. While fun in the snow is often left to the kids, don’t assume adults won’t enjoy building some snowmen or a good old fashioned snowball fi ght in the backyard. If outdoor fun is going to be on the docket, be sure to remind guests to dress appropriately. And make sure there’s plenty of hot chocolate ready once everyone goes back inside to warm up.

Prearrange transportation home for guests. A successful holiday party is one that is safe, so be sure to prearrange travel home for guests just in case anyone over-indulges in holiday cheer. When sending out invitations, seek volunteers to be des-ignated drivers, and avoid drinking alcohol yourself. For larger parties, call a local taxi service and arrange for a couple of cabs to be on call when the party ends.

Host a merry, memorable holiday partyA relatively recent component of

holiday shopping -- or any shopping for that matter -- is the gift receipt. Keeping gift receipts organized can take a little effort on the part of the shopper to en-sure each gift recipient is in possession of their respective receipts.

Gift receipts are advantageous to people who are receiving presents. Should the item not fi t or be a duplicate of something they already have, a gift receipt enables them to return the item effortlessly. It also clearly indicates where the gift was purchased so one is not driv-ing around trying to fi nd the store for a return. Plus, should the item have been recently reduced in price, a gift receipt will allow the full value of the gift to be received.

Returning an item without a receipt could result in lost value and the sale price being rescinded. Although hav-ing a gift receipt will not entitle one to a cash refund, it will equate to a store credit in the amount of the original price purchased.

Keeping gift receipts organized may take a little trial and error. One idea is to keep two envelopes and a pen handy when shopping. Write the names of the gift recipients on the master receipt or put their initials beside their purchased items. Place those receipts in one enve-lope where you’ll keep your copies of the receipts. On the gift receipts, write the names for whom the gifts are in-tended. Place those receipts in the other envelope that will hold all gift receipts.

When it comes time to wrap gifts, refer to your gift receipt envelope and match up the receipts to the correct gift. Remember, the gift receipt will not display the price or sometimes even a product description. It will usually only have a bar code that will refer to a UPC, or product number. You may be able to match the receipt to the number on the product tag. But again, this is why writing the name of the person on the receipt at the time of purchase can make the process easier. Attach the receipt to the gift in some way and wrap.

Keep gift receipts organized

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gwinnett holiday gift guide #2

Documents

gift of arts

woodruff arts center

gift cards

holiday gift guide

perfect gift

woodruff center

high museum of arts

campuswide gift card