Last Minute Shopper, December 10, 2011

Saturday, December 10, 2011 ❋ Last Miunte Sh o p p er ❋ Page 2

Holiday shoppers know alltoo well about the endless andoften exhausting search forthe perfect holiday gift. Such asearch most often surroundsthat one stickler on everyone'sholiday shopping list, the per-son who seemingly has it alland annually proves puzzlingto shop for.

While the popularity ofonline retailers has helpedfrazzled shoppers avoid longlines at the mall and crowdedparking lots, it's still hard tofind the perfect gift for thatenigmatic friend or family

member. This holiday season,consider the following tips tomake even the most difficultperson on your list a cinch toshop for.

☛ Don't overlook coldhard cash. Money mightseem impersonal, but it carriesfar less of a stigma this yearthan it has in years past. As theeconomy continues to strug-gle, few people are in a posi-tion to scoff at a few extra dol-lars come the holiday season.For the person who has every-thing already, money mightjust make the perfect gift. If

you're reticent to give coldhard cash, consider a gift cardto a favorite retailer or even aprepaid gas card that offerssome relief at the increasinglypricey pump.

☛ Get creative. Creativity isoften at the core of the perfectand thoughtful gift. Such wasthe case when Jera Deal, amother of three and a schoolmother for her daughterJulianna's preschool class,found herself hunting for theideal gift to give Julianna'steacher for her wedding.Hoping to go beyond the gifts

listed in the registry, Dealdecided to turn a playful gameshe and her family enjoyedwhile walking in the park intoa creative gift idea.

To aid in their children'salphabet lessons, Jera, her hus-band, Brad, and their threegirls began "letter hunting" onwalks in the park, looking fordifferent "letters" in nature(sticks) and arc h i t e c t u r e(stones). For each letter theyfound, they would take a pho-tograph, soon collecting theentire alphabet.

While the game initially

started as a playful and cre-ative way to help her daugh-ters learn the alphabet, JeraDeal turned that game into anideal gift for her daughter'steacher, custom framing theletters from her now extensivel i b r a ry to spell out theteacher's new last name.

"It was a gift from the class,so I knew it had to be reallyspecial and really unique, andsomething that she wouldnever forget where it camefrom," says Jera.

The gift proved to be justthat, and the Deals soon dis-

Finding a perfect gift for the person who has everything


Using letters found in both nature and architecture, custom framed artwork from Sticks andStonesTM is a creative and thoughtful gift idea for that hard-to-please loved one this holiday season.

covered their idea that startedas a game with their kids wasalso a perfect means to givinga thoughtful, unique and cre-ative gift. In less than threeyears, Sticks and StonesT M

grew from a thoughtful ideafor a teacher's wedding giftinto a successful business, gar-nering nationwide recognitionon televisions shows such as

"The Rachael Ray Show" and"The Martha Stewart Show,"not to mention a personal rec-ommendation from one oftelevision's biggest stars.

"If you want to give some-one a totally original keepsake-- here it is," says OprahWinfrey, who gave one to TomCruise and Katie Holmes as awedding present. "This is the

perfect gift for the person whohas everything because noone has anything like this!"

Sticks and StonesTM offers anextensive gallery of letters inboth nature and architecture.Shoppers can choose whichletters to use, ensuring no twocreations will ever be thesame. To learn more, visitwww.CreateSticksAndStones.com

1. Where is the world's largest Christmas tree?2. Who was the star of the Christmas movie,

“Jingle All The Way”?3. What is the first name of Scrooge?4. How many reindeer drive Santa's sleigh

(counting Rudolph)?5. Who once stole Christmas?6. Who was the author of A Christmas Carol?7. Who was the star of the movie titled, “White Christmas”?8. Which Christmas carol did Jimmy Boyd

make famous when he was just 12 years old?9. Which country was the first to use the tradition of

Christmas trees?10. What did the American Ralph E. Morris invent?11. The Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean is fairly

popular. Where's the other Christmas Island?12. Which was the last US state to declare an official

holiday for Christmas?13. Which was the first country to issue a Christmas

postage stamp?14. When is Santa Claus's, i.e. St. Nicholas's, birthday?15. Which animal did the Wise Men use to bring the

gifts for Baby Jesus?

Christmastime Trivia

Answers to Christmastime Trivia on page 6

Deciding on and paying forholiday gifts can be a chal-lenge under the best circum-stances. But then there are theinevitable "sticky situations"that can leave even the mostexperienced gift-giversscratching their heads. In thehopes of dodging major giftgaffes this holiday season,here are eight tips for graciousgiving and receiving.✓ Review your gift list eachyear to determine if any rela-tionships have changed andrequire a shift in your gift-giv-ing plan.✓ Don't ask non-familymembers on your gift listwhat they would like. This notonly spoils the surprise, butputs pressure on recipients togauge how much you want to

spend and requires them toget you something in return.✓ Don't feel obligated t omatch what others spend.Buying gifts based on whatothers spend is both unneces-sary and can lead to excessiveexpenditures.✓ For workplace gifts, adhereto the company's policies andmake sure that gifts are givenout of appreciation, notexpectation.✓ Including a gift receipt is agood idea and avoids poten-tially awkward situations whenan item doesn't fit or doesn'twork.✓ Give holiday tips to thoseindividuals whose service youcount on throughout the year,such as hairstylists, babysit-ters, dog walkers, etc. An easy

rule of thumb for holiday sea-son tips is to double the usualtip. For household employees,give one week's pay.✓ If someone surprises youwith a gift, the best bet is torespond honestly. Let thegiver know that you are sur-prised, touched and apprecia-tive as well as a bit embar-rassed that you don't have agift in return. Then let it goand add his/her name to yourgift list for the following year.✓ Don't arrive at holidaygatherings empty-handed. Asmall gift, bottle of wine orcontribution to the evening'sedibles is the right way tothank your hosts for their invi-tation.✓ Acknowledging gift giversis a must, but formal, writtenthank you cards are optional.While handwritten notes arealways preferable and greatlyappreciated, e-mails areincreasingly acceptable --especially for young people. ✓ Regifting is now considereda (mostly) acceptable practice,as long as it's done thought-fully, tastefully and within thefollowing guidelines: ☛ The regifted item shouldnot be homemade or madeespecially for you.☛ The item should be new,unused and in its originalpackaging, along with instruc-tions.☛ Be sure to remove all previ-ous wrapping and gift tags.☛ Don't regift to friends orfamily members who have areputation for returning thingsthey don't like. You don't wantto be asked for a gift receipt.☛ Make certain that the origi-nal giver and the new recipi-ent will never cross paths.


A quick guide to gift-giving etiquette


Despite the many messagesfrom all corners promoting a"more is better" philosophywhen it comes to holiday gifts,the truth is far more complex -- especially for children. Whilemost parents work hard togive their kids everything theyneed and much of what theywant, it is often hard to drawthe line, prompting many wellintentioned moms and dadsto ask, "How much is toomuch?"In general, the answer lieswithin each family. Parentsshould purchase what makessense to them and what theybelieve their children will useand appreciate. However, inrecent years, child psycholo-gists and experts in childdevelopment have returned tothese questions as economic

conditions have forced manyfamilies to scale back, boththroughout the year and dur-ing the holiday season. Books such as "The PamperedChild Syndrome" (JessicaK i n g s l e y, 2006) by MaggieMamen and "Give Me, GetMe, Buy Me" (HCI, 2010) byDonna Corwin and severalothers on the same topic offersimilar conclusions: Whenchildren are given too muchover the course of their child-hoods, they can develop aserious case of entitlement,become unappreciative ofwhat they have and begin toequate love with "stuff." Andfor younger children, receiv-ing a huge pile of gifts in onesitting can be both over-whelming and overstimulat-ing.

If you have been wonderingabout these issues, here aresome general guidelines forhaving a fun-filled holidaywith just enough stuff.

MAKE A GIFT PLANBefore setting out on your firstshopping expedition, devise aplan that makes sense for yourfamily. If you have youngerchildren, decide on the num-ber of gifts for each. Wi t holder children, you mightwant to establish a dollaramount rather than a giftamount. Once you've madethe plan, stick to it -- no mat-ter what.

DRAW NAMES Particularly in bigger families,gift-giving can become afinancial and emotional bur-

den if everyone buys for every-one. Drawing names not onlyreduces those burdens, butoften results in more mean-ingful gifts all around.

OPT FOR A SHARED EXPERIENCEConsider pooling the moneyyou would have spent on indi-vidual gifts and putting ittoward a special outing, vaca-tion or shared item for yourhome. Long after the toyshave broken and the electron-ics have stopped working,your children will cherish theirmemories of a holiday thatfocused on sharing timetogether.

COMMUNICATE If Grandpa Mike or Aunt Emilyhas a reputation for heaping

on the presents at Christmasor Chanukah, let them knowahead of time that one will do,then offer a suggestion that issure to please your son ordaughter. If they insist thatthey want to do more, consid-er asking them to make adonation in your child's nameto a charitable organization orto purchase a gift for a localchild in need.

COLLABORATESometimes one big gift makesa lot more sense. If your childwould love a new bike or atrampoline or horseback rid-ing lessons, consider askingextended family members tocontribute to that item or toitems that go with it, such as ahelmet or other gear.

Kids and gifts: How many is too much?


A relatively recent componentof holiday shopping -- or anyshopping for that matter -- isthe gift receipt. Keeping giftreceipts organized can take alittle effort on the part of theshopper to ensure each giftrecipient is in possession oftheir respective receipts.Gift receipts are advantageousto people who are receivingpresents. Should the item notfit or be a duplicate of some-thing they already have, a giftreceipt enables them to returnthe item effortlessly. It alsoclearly indicates where the giftwas purchased so one is notdriving around trying to findthe store for a return. Plus,should the item have beenrecently reduced in price, agift receipt will allow the fullvalue of the gift to bereceived. Returning an item without areceipt could result in lostvalue and the sale price being

rescinded. Although having agift receipt will not entitle oneto a cash refund, it will equateto a store credit in the amountof the original price pur-chased.Keeping gift receipts organ-ized may take a little trial anderror. One idea is to keep twoenvelopes and a pen handywhen shopping. Write thenames of the gift recipients onthe master receipt or put theirinitials beside their purchaseditems. Place those receipts inone envelope where you'llkeep your copies of thereceipts. On the gift receipts,write the names for whom thegifts are intended. Place thosereceipts in the other envelopethat will hold all gift receipts.When it comes time to wrapgifts, refer to your gift receiptenvelope and match up thereceipts to the correct gift.Remember, the gift receipt willnot display the price or some-

times even a product descrip-tion. It will usually only have abar code that will refer to aUPC, or product number. Youmay be able to match thereceipt to the number on theproduct tag. But again, this iswhy writing the name of theperson on the receipt at thetime of purchase can make theprocess easier. Attach thereceipt to the gift in some wayand wrap.

Keep gift receipts organized


Cooking is a rewarding hobbyand meals, when shared withfriends and family, are a greatopportunity to sit down andstay abreast of all the goings-on in the lives of your lovedones. For some, however, foodis more than just a hobby, it'sa passion.Those especially passionateabout their food are affection-ately known as "foodies."Foodies can be meat lovers,vegetarians or even vegans. Allit really takes is a love of food.This holiday season, gift thefoodie in your life with any ofthe following food-orientedgift ideas.

Cooking classKnow a foodie who is justbeginning a love affair withfood? Or one who has recent-ly discovered a particular typeof cuisine, such as Thai orIndian? Help cultivate thisnewfound love by treatingthem to a cooking class thathelps them learn all about thecuisine and how to make cer-tain dishes for themselves.Such classes are not too diffi-cult to find, and you mighteven be treated to a delicious,homecooked meal once yourloved one has completed theclass.

Club membershipMonthly clubs, such as pastry-of-the-month or coffee-of-the-month, are wildly popularamong foodies. Membershipsare relatively inexpensive, andeach month your loved onewill receive a new item,whether it's an old favorite or anew one they have never tried

before. This is a great way forfoodies to try new things, andit truly is the gift that keeps ongiving, as most membershipslast a full year.

GadgetsNot all foodies love to cook,but those who do may love tounwrap some gadgets thatcan help around the kitchen. Adigital kitchen scale makesmeasuring ingredients a snap,while an electric wine openermakes it easier than everbefore to uncork a bottle ofwine to serve with dinner.Whatever a foodie's taste orpersonal preference, chancesare there's a correspondinggadget that can make a mealthat much easier to prepare.

A night outOf course, some foodies loveto eat but aren't so enamoredwith cooking. For those who

prefer the restaurant route,peruse the local Sunday news-paper to learn about thenewest culinary hotspots.Then purchase a gift certificatefor two so your loved one canindulge his or her love of foodwithout having to worry aboutwho's washing the dishes.

Get your hands dirtyPerhaps nothing will delight afoodie more than a home-cooked meal, especially afterthe hectic holiday seasonwhen most people want noth-ing more than to kick theirheels up and spend a night in.Once the holiday season hascome and gone, invite yourfavorite foodie over for ahomecooked meal of his orher choosing. Unless he or sheinsists, don't let the night'sguest of honor do any of thework.

Gifts to make foodies say, Mmmmm....."



It's December 22 and you'vejust barely made it throughhalf of your holiday shoppinglist. The panic may have set inthat you just don't haveenough time to get every-thing done.

This is a common scenario

around the holidays. Shoppershave the best intentions to gettheir gifts early, but whetherbecause of work obligations orsocial events, the task seemsto get pushed further and fur-ther into December. Soonmany are staring down the

calendar experiencing sweatypalms. Many others may beputting off holiday shoppingsimply because of the currentstate of the economy andaffordability.

According to a SteelhouseMarketing Consultants poll of

1,000 consumers, 62 percentpredict they will spend lessmoney on the 2011 holidayseason. Plus, 56 percent offamilies predict they will com-parison shop more than theyhave in the past. These factorsmay contribute to just howlong shoppers put off actuallygetting into stores or goingonline to shop.

For the scores of shopperswho consciously or subcon-sciously wait until the last pos-sible minute to shop, there areways to survive and surprisefriends and family with greatgifts.

◗ Gift cards: They may nothave sentimental meaningbehind them, but gift cardsare fast and easy. Chances are

you can run into a store andbe out with a handful of giftcards in less than 15 minutes,depending on lines at thecheckout counter. Also, manysupermarkets, bookstores andother retailers offer gift cardkiosks enabling you to shop


Last-minute shopping for the holidays

Saturday, December 10, 2011 ❋ Last Miunte Sh o p p er ❋ Page 11for different gift cards all inone place.

◗ Food and beverages:While everyone is heading tothe mall in droves, you can bestepping inside of a gourmetfood or spirits store. Splurgeon fine cheeses or that trendybottle of liquor that a giftrecipient has mentioned butnot yet purchased for him- orherself.

◗ Magazine subscription: Amagazine subscription is aneasy fix as a last-minute gift.P u rchase one copy of themagazine at the newsstand

and wrap it up nicely. Put anote that a year's worth of thisperiodical is on the way. Noone will suspect that the giftwas a last-minute thought.

◗ E-certificates: Retailers likemusic or book sellers will e-mail a gift certificate code tothe person of your choice on aselected date. For those whoare never without an e-readeror mp3 player, digital giftscould fit the bill.

◗ Gas card: It may soundfunny and tacky, but a gascard from a brand-name sta-tion is a universally acceptablegift for anyone who drives reg-u l a r l y. With fluctuating gasprices, filling up the tank can

be an expensive venture.Having a pre-paid gift cardcan help.

Online retailers are alsothere to help last-minuteshoppers. Many online retail-ers guarantee in-time-for-Christmas shipping even ongifts ordered as late asDecember 23. However,overnight shipping chargeswill cost more. But it's allworth it to get the item intime.

Waiting until the last minutefor shopping can induce somea n x i e t y. But knowing abouteasy gifts for procrastinatorscan take the stress out of thistype of shopping.

Many people wait until the last minute for Christmas shopping. But there are still

gifts and deals to be had.


According to DavidTutera(TM), wedding guruand party-planning expert,"Men should propose withp e r s o n a l i t y, making it echosomething meaningful to yourrelationship with one anotherand do it in a place that high-lights your love story." Thatcertainly sounds like goodadvice. But while women seemto have the knack for conjur-ing up perfect wedding-relat-ed ideas, men tend to be a bitclueless on the subject.

Naturally, the first elementinvolved with a proposal isbuying an engagement ring."This is not just any ring ... it is'the' ring that she'll cherish forthe rest of her life, and maypossibly pass down to her chil-

dren in the future," saysTutera. Jewelry expert, MichaelO'Connor offers, "There's avery good chance the bridehas a platinum engagementring in mind. It's possible thatshe's even offered hints aboutit, leaving magazine photos onthe table or admiring a ring ina jewelry store window."

Platinum is a great choice forengagement rings and wed-ding bands because it won'tchange color or fade. It sym-bolizes a relationship that willendure. Also, platinum's dura-bility means that your engage-ment ring can become a fam-ily heirloom, passed downfrom generation to genera-tion.

When selecting a setting,

Popping the question? Simple tips so she'll say,“Yes!”

Propose with style. In a recent contest on Glamour.com,nearly 60 percent of contest entrants leave little hints

about the platinum engagement ring they want.

Saturday, December 10, 2011 ❋ Last Miunte Sh o p p er ❋ Page 13experts including Tutera andO'Connor recommend puttingsome thought into a designthat is classic because this willbe a ring that she will cherishthrough the ages.

"Choose a setting that trulyreflects how you feel aboutyour partner," says Tu t e r a ."Platinum lasts forever."

Although the ring is a veryimportant component of theentire proposal, make it mem-orable. "How did he propose?"is often the first question hergirlfriends will ask once she hasgotten engaged.

Whether taking place at thebeach or a page right out of afairytale, many women dreamof a memorable proposal.

In a recent contest onGlamour.com, contest entrantBriana D. from New York offersthe following hint, "I havealways dreamt of a fairy-taleproposal and what better wayto drop the ball then to drawout the ring design that I havein mind, fold it up and stick itin an envelope with a lovenote and his name on it."

There are many other pro-posal ideas that can secure thisspecial moment. Considerthese tips, courtesy ofO'Connor.

❍ Make it personal.Propose at a place that hasgreat meaning for your rela-tionship -- where you first met,

or the place where you firstsaid "I love you." Think aboutthe romantic places you havevisited together that can serveas the perfect backdrop for aproposal.

❍ Think back to all of thosechick flicks you were persuad-ed into watching. Was there aproposal scene that shegushed about or anothermovie moment that stoodout? Consider recreating thatfeeling in the proposal. If needbe, man up and rewatch herfavorite movies for ideas.

❍ Consider spontaneity.Simply scratch "Will you marryme" in the sand while walkingon the beach and hand her thering in a seashell.

❍ Do it the old fashioned,and tried-and-true way. Benddown on one knee with a roseand ring in hand.

" R e m e m b e r, the proposaland engagement doesn't haveto be expensive to be memo-rable. Simply keep in mind thepersonality and likes of thebride-to-be and chances areshe'll jump to say,'yes,'" saysO'Connor. He adds, "Almostevery quality jewelry designercreates rings in platinum,some even starting at under$1,000, making it easy to findsomething that will work withher style and fit within almostevery budget."



DEAR SANTA,I want for Christmas a DS,a Pokeman game, a nerf gun,and a new Wii video game.My report card was good.Parker C.Age 6Painted Post

DEAR SANTA,I am always good. I’d like inmy stocking a Pokemonnamed Chimchar and a toywhale for the tub.Spencer C.Age 4Painted Post

DEAR SANTA,My sister says that I wantsocks! I love to play withbaby dolls and all kinds oftoys. I have been a good girlthis year! I will leave yousome cookies.DelaineyAge 1Woodhull

DEAR SANTA,Hi Santa!I would like a DragonoidDestroyer for Christmasthis year. I would also likeBakugan cards. I love you!Also take good care of myelf on the shelf friend Jing!DaneAge 6, Woodhull

DEAR SANTA,Could you bring me a babydoll? I love you dear Santa!I love my elf on the shelfthat you sent. I will begood. Thank you.DavvynAge 4, Woodhull

DEAR SANTA,Would you please save yourpull tabs from your Cokecans for me and RonaldMcDonald? You can leave

them under my tree. Youcan have your elves savethem too.Thank you!Ashleigh W.Age 8, Corning

DEAR SANTA,Would you please save yourbottle caps and pull tabs?Ask Mrs. Claus to save themtoo! Thanks a bunch.Love,Alexis W.Age 10, Corning

DEAR SANTA,I am all new to this andwondering how you can doall this in just one night? Ihave been a really goodbrother this past year. Canyou bring me some newtruck books and blocks? Ilike Elmo and Mickey Mousetoo! I always am nice to mysister! Please bring me aGeotrax table to put mytrain on. I love playing withit. Love, Joey Age 20 mos.



DEAR SANTA,Thank you for my family. Ireally like princesses, but Idon’t have a Mulan. Maybeyou could bring her? I liketo dance too. Can you bringme a new dance tutu to spinaround in? I also would likethe Disney Princess DreamCastle. My princes andprincesses would all like ahome too! I am learning myletters and how to read. Canyou bring me the newLeapfrog LeapPad too andsome games? At school, Ihave earned pennies to pickout of the prize box. I amgood at school. I’ll leavesome yummy cookies out foryou on Christmas Eve. TellRudolph that I said “Hi!”Please bring my brotherJoey some new toys too!Love, Jacqui Age 4

DEAR SANTA,I have been very good. Ihelp my mom around thehouse. I would like forChristmas. Baby doll a dsiiPod touch picture of JustinBieber and anything else youwant to make me.Love, Hannah D.Age 5, Campbell

DEAR SANTA,This is what I want forChristmas: a cellphone andsquinkies with hair on therehead. How do you get tohouse to house each year?Courtney B.Age 10, Campbell

DEAR SANTA,I want LaLaLoopsy Doll aBarbie with shoes and a pil-low pet. I’ve been reallygood this year.

Love, Hadleigh W.Age 4, Cameron Mills

DEAR SANTA,I want a big Tanker Truck,Mario game set, Lego ship,Lego airplane and a wall racetrack. I’ve been a good boyand I will keep my roomclean.Love, Kobe W.Age 6, Cameron Mills

DEAR SANTA,I would like a dummy-headthat would be in a hairdressers salon, hair pieces,and 3 cans of blue paint.Also the music of CodySimpson and Selena Gomez.And a shaving game for theIpod. Also some crafts ofany kind.Olivia T.Age 7, Bath

DEAR SANTA,I wish I could have asqueeky Barbie forChristmas.Love,NatalieAge 5, Jasper

DEAR SANTA,All I want for Christmas isWebkinz and clothes.Haleigh H.Age 10, Middlebury Center, Pa.

DEAR SANTA,The number one thing thatI want for Christmas is alaptop. Also I would like anew cage for my mouse. Iwould also like a rug for myroom and a new blanket.Thanks!Sladen C.Age 9, Corning

DEAR SANTA,I’ve been nice all year. I’dlove a purse, stamps, medi-um toothbrushes, toothpaste, Almond Breeze,Vitamin C. Skip-Bo, D-Batteries, hand sanitizerand gift certificates/cardsor money.JudithAge 54, Corning

DEAR SANTA,I have been good. Pleasebring football helmut.Jack F.Age 4, Elmira

DEAR SANTA,For Christmas I wont a susupet and the susu pet gro-cery shop set and a glitterypet shop but not the bunnyand a barbie doll.Emily P., Age 7, Corning



DEAR SANTA,I have been good this year.I don’t want much forChristmas just some HotWheels and a Jeff Gordoncar. My sister is 8 and shewants some make up. Hername is Rebekka. I have abrother, Robert, he is 15, hewants some CDs and a newphone.Love, Justin J. Age 4, Savona

Hollie’s Christmas listHI SANTA,I love you.I have been very good thisyear. I have been helping myparents around the house. Iwould like for Christmas.Ipod touch dsi american girldoll and baby doll.Love, Hollie D.Age 5, Campbell

P.S. - And anything else you wouldlike to make me.

DEAR SANTA,Santa I have been very goodthis year. I help my momwith the dishes and every-thing. I would like forChristmas a iPhone amaricangirl doll. And anything wlseyou would lik to make me.Love, Haylee D.Age 8, Campbell

DEAR SANTAI would like Tangled, Flynnand Pascal dolls, please.Also, a Barbie car I candrive. Thank you.KendyllAge 3Corning


We Wish you a Merry ChristmasReady to

Sing?!Here’s anothercarol for you

to enjoy!


Hummus

& Vegetable

Pita Toasts

Celebrate Hanukkah

Total Time: 10 Min

***

Makes: 4 Servings

What You Need:

1 pita bread, split horizontally into

2 rounds

1 tsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp. ATHENOS Original Hummus

1/4 cup shredded carrots

1 green onion, sliced

1 Tbsp. sliced black olives

Make It:

HEAT broiler.

PLACE pita rounds on baking sheet;

brush with oil.

BROIL 1 min. or until lightly browned.

Spread with hummus; top with

vegetables and olives.

CUT into wedges.

What You Need:

1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

3/4 cup canned sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup PLANTERS COCKTAIL Peanuts, chopped

1 pkg. (6 squares) BAKER'S White Chocolate

1/4 cup PLANTERS Creamy Peanut Butter

Make It:

MICROWAVE semi-sweet chocolate and milk in microwaveable

bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring

after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in nuts.

Spread onto bottom of foil-lined 8-inch square pan.

MICROWAVE white chocolate in separate microwaveable bowl

on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring

after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add peanut

butter; stir until melted. Spread over semi-sweet chocolate layer.

REFRIGERATE 2 hours or until firm. Cut into squares.

Layered Chocolate-

Peanut Butter Fudge

TOTAL TIME:

2 hr 10 min

PREP:

10 min

SERVINGS:

25 servings

It Came Upon a Midnight ClearSaturday, December 10, 2011 ❋ Last Miunte Sh o p p er ❋ Page 22


Zesty

Scalloped

Potatoes

Celebrate Christmas

Total Time: 50 Min • Prep Time: 20 Min.

Makes: 16 (1c.) Servings

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 pkg. (20 oz.) refrigerated sliced potatoes

1 container (16 oz.) BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN

Zesty Blends Roasted Garlic & Herb Sour Cream

1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1/2 lb. Italian sausage, crumbled, cooked

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed),

cut into strips

1/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Parmesan, Romano,

and Asiago Cheeses

MAKE IT:

HEAT oven to 350°F.

COMBINE all ingredients except Parmesan blend.

SPOON into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with

cooking spray; top with Parmesan blend.

BAKE 30 min. or until heated through.

WHAT YOU NEED

2 cups boiling water

1 pkg. (6 oz.) JELL-O Cherry Flavor Gelatin

1 cup cold water

1/2 cup cold pomegranate juice

1 can (15 oz.) mandarin orange segments,

drained

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP

Whipped Topping

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

MAKE IT

ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in 2-qt. bowl;

stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in

cold water and juice. Refrigerate 1 to 1-1/4

hours or until thickened.

STIR in oranges. Refrigerate 30 min. or until

gelatin is set but not firm. Combine COOL

WHIP and spices; spread over gelatin.

REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until firm.

Cherry-Pomegranate

JELL-O

Total Time: 6 hr. • Prep Time: 15 Min.

Makes: 14 (1/2c.) Servings


Hark! The Herald Angels Sing


Spicy Pepper

Cheese - "Pate of the South"

Celebrate Kwanza

Total Time: 15 Min

Makes: 25 (2 Tbsp) Servings

WHAT YOU NEED:

3 oz. VELVEETA®, cut up

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) KRAFT

Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 jar (4 oz.) diced pimientos,

undrained

3 oz. PHILADELPHIA

Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup milk

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 tsp. minced jalapeño pepper

MAKE IT

MICROWAVE VELVEETA in 2-quart

microwavable bowl on HIGH 45 sec-

onds or until melted, stirring after 30

seconds.

ADD all remaining ingredients. Beat

with electric mixer until well blended.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve with RITZ Crackers, if desired.

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 cup flour

2 tsp. CALUMET Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1/4 tsp. sugar

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine

1/3 cup milk

Make It

PREHEAT oven to 450°F. Sift flour, baking powder, salt, cream

of tartar and sugar in medium bowl. Cut in butter until mixture

resembles coarse crumbs.

Add milk; stir with fork or

spatula

until soft dough forms.

PLACE on lightly floured

surface; knead 8 to 10

times or until smooth. Pat

dough lightly into 1-inch

thick circle. Cut with floured

2-inch cookie cutter to

make 8 biscuits. Place on

ungreased baking sheet.

BAKE 10 to 12 minutes or

until golden brown.

Nana's

Butter BiscuitsTOTAL TIME:

22 min

PREP:

10 min

MAKES:

8 Biscuits


Few passions are as strongas the passion a car lover hasfor automobiles. Auto affi-cionados are often walkingencyclopedias about all thingsautomotive. When it comes tothe holiday season, buying agift for the car guy or gal inyour family might seem easy.After all, any gift related tocars is sure to leave your lovedone head over heels.

However, for those holidayshoppers who don’t know thedifference between an air filterand an air conditioner, per-haps the following sugges-tions might fare better underthe tree this holiday season.

DRIVING LESSONSAuto racing is one of North

America’s most popular sports,and many car guys and galswould love to know what itfeels like to get behind thewheel of a race car and put thepedal to the metal. Thatdream can become a reality,and holiday shoppers can helpmake that happen for a lovedone. Racing schools exist for

all sorts of racing, be it stockcar racing, Formula 1 racing,Indy Cars, and even Kart rac-ing. (Note: Kart racing doesnot refer to amusement parkstyle go-karts.) Be it novice carafficionados or veterans whospend weekends at work intheir garages, racing lessonscan make an ideal gift for autolovers.

GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR AWASH AND A DETAILING

As much as car guys andgals care about what’s underthe hood, they also care abouthow their cars’ exteriors looks.Winter weather can wreakhavoc on a vehicle’s exterior,so help your favorite autolover take care of his or herbaby this winter with a giftcertificate to a nearby carwash and/or auto detailingcenter. This will ensure the carremains a sight for sore eyesthrough the winter. Just besure to include multiple tripsto the car wash and detailingcenter, as a car often needs afew trips each winter to keep

up appearances.MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONLike most industries, the

auto industry is constantlychanging. What’s populartoday might be obsoletetomorrow. Help your favoriteauto enthusiast stay abreast ofthe auto industry’s many inno-vations and updates with asubscription to a favorite automagazine. Such magazinesinspire car lovers to improvetheir own vehicles while let-ting them know the latesttrends in the auto industry.

ACCESSORIESNo car lover can do without

his or her accessories, whichcan range from practical giftslike a new GPS unit to morespecialized items like a paintgun accessory kit. Shopperswho aren’t very familiar withcars might not know whichaccessories to buy. In suchinstances, a gift certificate to anearby auto parts store shouldsuffice. This guarantees yourloved one will get somethingfor his or her car and eliminatethe need to return the gift if heor she already has it.

TOOLSAuto afficionados love work-

ing on their vehicles, and thatwork can’t be done withoutthe right tools. If possible, visithis or her garage or shop andperuse the tool collection. Ifanything looks especially agedor ragged, replace it with anewer version. Auto lovers areoften particular about theirtools, so if you’re reticentabout buying new ones, takeyour gift recipient to the storeand let him or her choose agift or buy a gift certificatethat covers the cost of thetools that look like they needreplacing.

Gift Ideas for Auto Afficionados

Some new tools might makethe perfect holiday gift for the

auto afficionado in your family.


Great gifts are great for amultitude of reasons, but badgifts tend to have a lot in com-mon. The worst gifts are notonly a poor fit with the recipi-ent's personality, lifestyle orinterests, but also send a neg-ative or critical message. Justplain bad gifts tend to fall intothree categories: The useless,

the thoughtless and the taste-less. And while the lists ofawful items for men andwomen may be different, theynevertheless fall into one ofthese diagnostic categories.

If you're considering purchas -ing gifts in any of the followingfour categories for the man ormen in your life, think again.

Clothing: While this soundsinnocent enough, when theclothes don't match a man'sstyle, it can be construed as asuggestion that you don't likewhat he wears or want him toup his fashion game. If youdon't have a clue about whatthe men in your life actuallylike and will wear, makeanother choice.

Household bric-a-brac ordecorative elements: Items inthis category include every-thing from a new dish rack toartsy decor items. Such itemsmight send a negative mes-sage similar to new clothes,and many men are territorialabout their homes and resistoutside (i.e., female) advice ondecorating. So unless youknow exactly what he wantsor needs, go back to the draw-ing board.

Sentimental items: What a

woman might call "sweet," aman might want to store inthe trash can. If you're tempt-ed to get your husband orboyfriend that cute teddy bearthat reminds you of him, orflannel pajamas printed withthose same teddy bears, for-get it. And forget the book ofsyrupy love poetry, romanticmovies or T-shirts with sappysayings. He'll be glad you did.

Psychology or self-helpmaterials in any form or for-m a t : This is perhaps thebiggest no-no of them all andsends the biggest "You're notokay" message. So if you'retempted to buy your guy abook about improving com-munication skills, finding abetter job or making betteruse of time, don't. Enoughsaid.

When gifting women, meshould also avoid certain gifts.

A p p l i a n c e s : For mostwomen, household appliancesfall under the heading of"need" rather than "want,"unless it is a specialty item thatyou're certain she has beenyearning for.

Lingerie: The principle hereis similar to why clothes are abad idea for guys, but can lead

to far more disastrous out-comes. Many men don't real-ize that a gift of lingerie isoften accompanied by anunintended message. If it's toosmall, she needs to loseweight. If it's too big, youthink she's fat. If it's too racy,you don't think she's sexy. Andif it's too plain, you don't thinkshe's sexy.

Simply stated, unless youknow the exact size and typeof lingerie she favors or wantto ruin any chances of peaceon earth during your holidayseason, move on.

Jewelry: Here again, unlessyou know exactly what thewoman in your life wants, skipit. Not only is jewelry some-thing that women prefer tochoose for themselves, it cansend a message (i.e., overlyromantic or not romanticenough) that men don't real-ize they're sending.

Gym membership/fitnessequipment: The big no-no.Under no circumstances is itwise to present the woman inyour life with a gift whoseunderlying message is "Loseweight" or "Shape up." The all-time worst gift for women? Abathroom scale.


Gifts fromBad toWorse...


When among the masses

shopping for holiday gifts, con-

sumers might want to take a

close look at the expressions

on their fellow shoppers’ faces.

Note the ones whose eyes are

glazed over, who are anxious-

ly biting their bottom lips or

seem to be exhibiting recur-

ring facial twitches. These are

not individuals on the verge of

a nervous breakdown. In fact,

m a ny are otherwise we l l

adjusted people in the throes

of choosing holiday gifts for

their coworkers or bosses.

While there is nothing inher-

ently complicated about

choosing tokens of apprecia-

tion for one’s associates or

superiors, the challenge is not

just choosing the right token,

but in choosing something

without the potential to offend

or confuse the recipient.

To help make the process

go smoothly from purchase to

presentation, here are some

of the chief do’s and don’ts for

office gift-giving.

DO:

☛ Make sure that you know

your company’s policy on gift-

giving. For example, are there

specified or unstated spend-

ing limits?

☛ Be clear about who

should be on your gift list. Do

you get gifts for everyone in

your department or just those

individuals with whom yo u

interact most frequently?

☛ Choose thoughtful and

tasteful gifts, whether buying a

different item for each person

or the same item for all.

☛ Consider gifts that can be

used in the office, such as dis-

tinctive office supplies, a photo

f ra m e, gadget, calendar, or

pen.

☛ Go for gifts that can be

shared either at home or work,

such as gourmet food items,

books or plants.

☛ Find out if colleagues

have food or plant allergies

before selecting gifts in those

categories.

☛ Take the time to package

and wrap gifts with care.

DON’T:

☛ O verspend, especially

when purchasing a gift for your

boss.

☛ G i ve presents to col-

leagues outside of your “gift

circle” in order to make a good

impression or curry favor.

☛ Choose “joke” or “gag”

gifts, even for coworkers you

think you know well. While the

recipient might appreciate the

gesture, it could be misinter-

preted by others.

☛ Re-gift or give items that

are used or in anything but

pristine condition.

☛ Stray outside the limits of

“good taste.” In other words,

don’t even think about gifts

that could be considered too

personal (including clothing,

perfume or jewelry) or are in

a ny way political, religious,

racial, or sexual. And unless

you are absolutely certain of

the recipient’s tastes and

habits, steer clear of alcoholic

beverages of any kind.

☛ Give gifts that can be mis-

construed as having a hidden

meaning or agenda, such as

f l owers (especially roses),

cash, lingeri e, or personal

hygiene products.

☛ Leave anyone out. Hurt

feelings are hard to overcome

and can strain otherwise pro-

ductive working relationships.

Dos and don'ts for exchanging gifts with coworkers

When shipping holidaygifts, much of the focus ison getting those gifts in themail on time. While it'simportant to avoid procras-tinating when shipping hol-iday gifts, there's more toshipping gifts than just get-ting them sent out prompt-ly. When shipping holidaygifts this season, considerthe following tips.

☛ Ship through an onlineretailer. Billing address andthe shipping address aretwo different categorieswhen buying from anonline retailer, and holidayshoppers should takeadvantage of a retailer'swillingness to package and

ship gifts for you. Manyonline retailers will evengift-wrap items for you andinclude a personal note aswell.

☛ Protect the gift. F o rthose who won't be usingan online retailer, be sure toprotect the gift, especially ifit's fragile. Use bubble cush-ioning and packing peanutswhen sending fragile itemsthrough the mail. If sendingmultiple items, wrap eachitem tightly in bubble cush-ioning but leave somespace between the itemsfor peanuts.

☛ Carefully pack perish-ables. When sending per-

ishable items, always sendthem via next-day deliveryand never ship them nearthe end of the week, suchas a Friday or Saturday.Items shipped on Fridayand Saturday should beable to withstand a fewdays of being in transit. Butwhen sending cheeses,fruits or any other perish-able items, it's best to do soearly in the week andchoose next-day delivery.

☛ Insure more expensivegifts. Don't skimp on insur-ance when sending expen-sive gifts such as jewelrythrough the mail. Shippingcompanies typically onlyinsure items up to a certain

amount, so insure moreexpensive items throughyour own insurance compa-ny so their full value is cov-ered.

☛ Comparison shop whens h i p p i n g . C o m p a r i s o nshopping not only appliesto holiday gifts, but ship-ping as well. Shipping com-panies, including the postoffice, compete for businesscome the holidays, and youcan likely find a good dealto reduce the cost of ship-ping holiday gifts, coststhat can add up if shippingseveral gifts.


Shipping gifts more than just timing

Come the holiday season,most people find them-selves in a giving mood.Gifting friends, family andeven coworkers is common,but there are many otherpeople in our daily liveswho societal norms suggestdeserve a gift as well.

Holiday tipping is morecommon in certain areasthan others, but there are afew questions men andwomen can ask themselveswhen trying to decide if aperson in their livesdeserves a holiday tip orgift.

How often do you seethe person?

How frequently you see aperson can help determineif that person deserves aholiday gift or tip. Forexample, a child's babysit-ter or nanny deserves a lit-tle something extra comethe holidays because youlikely see that person on aregular basis. The samegoes for the postman or adog walker. Men andwomen you rarely see orrarely need do not warranta tip or gift.

Where do you live?Where a person lives also

goes a long way towarddetermining a holiday tipor gift. People who live inapartments should showtheir appreciation to thedoorman and buildingsuperintendent with a tipor gift. Homeowners neednot tip their local handy-man, however, even if heperforms the same tasks asa building superintendent.Homeowners tend to do

more of their own fix-upsaround the house, whileapartment dwellers oftenrely on the super to keeptheir apartment in tip-topshape.

Is the person a professional?Men and women who

provide professional servic-es, such as accountants,lawyers and doctors, do notwarrant a tip during theholidays. These profession-als are already paid hand-somely for their serv i c e s ,and many might even gifttheir customers. For thosewho have an especiallystrong relationship with

their accountant, lawyer,etc., perhaps a gift such asa bottle of wine might be anice gesture. But it's cer-tainly not mandatory.

Of course, there are noironclad rules when itcomes to tipping or giftingothers during the holidays.If your provided service thatis above and beyond whatyou have a right to expect,then perhaps a tip or athoughtful gift is nice.

When the holiday seasonarrives, generosity oftenreigns. But men andwomen should not feelobligated to tip or giftevery person in their lives.


Who to tip during the holidays


Documents

Last Minute Shopper, December 10, 2011