my holiday gift guide 2015

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My My HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Holiday Season 2015 INSIDE Pearls Colored Stone Top Giſt List Pg 4 Make Holiday Decorating Easier is Year Pg 6 And much more XNLV240405 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17 TH 5:30pm to 8pm MONTROSE PAVILION EVENT CENTER Free to the Public CATERED BY REMINGTON’S RESTAURANT PLUS CASH BAR Montrose businesses will be displaying holiday gift ideas for the upcoming season. Montrose Office of Business and Tourism Montrose Bucks Promotion While Supplies Last at the Preview Show $100 Cash Gets You $120 in Bucks! Starts at 5:30pm! COME AND GET GIFT IDEAS FOR THAT HARD-TO-BUY-FOR PERSON IN YOUR LIFE. Montrose Bucks are “Montrose currency” and an incentive to shop Montrose. Bucks are accepted like cash by most Montrose businesses. $100 limit per customer. Cash only. Bucks expire December 31, 2015 MONT R OS E D AI L Y PRES S

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Page 1: My Holiday Gift Guide 2015

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Page 2: My Holiday Gift Guide 2015

2 U My Holiday Gift Guide U

Publisher Vincent Laboy

vvvvvvvv

Managing editorPaul Wahl

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news editorRichard Reeder

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graPhic artistShaun Gibson

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advertising directorDennis Anderson

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advertising salesHeidi Gofforth Rebecca KellnCarrie Bales

Colorado Items Featured for Pet Giftsby RichaRd ReedeRdaily Press News Editor

vvv

It’s Christmas time and there are an abundance of gifts out there

for the pet lovers of the world. There are many great ideas for dog owners to outfit, feed and entertain their pooches.

Chow Down Pet Supplies on Main Street has a variety of items for the dog lover in us all.

“For Broncos fans, we have jerseys, hoodies, hats and cheer-leading outfits, in a variety of sizes,” said employee KJ Kauzlar-ich. “And then we also have beds, coats and sweaters to fit almost every dog.”

The store carries many tasty treats for dogs, and almost all of them are made in Colorado.

“The Tremenda Sticks are very chewy, and they come in a variety of sizes and weights,” Kauzlarich said. “Then we have Colorado Naturals Jerky, which is very popular.”

The store also has Papa Tatanka treats, which are made of baked bison.

Other popular gifts are things that light up. Kauzlarich said the store has light-up collars for those dogs that have to go outside at

night and then go hide in the corner of the yard. And they have a variety of light up toys to entertain the dog.

But the most innovative idea is the new iFetch.

“The dog can drop the ball into the hopper, and then the machine shoots it out, so they can play all day by themselves,” Kauzlarich said. “You can ad-just the machine to shoot the ball 10 feet, 20 feet or 30 feet depending on the size of your

yard.”The Chow Down has Soggy

Dog mats that are water absor-bent and work well by the door. Kauzlarich said dogs love to lay on them. They come in many sizes and basic colors.

And for mealtime, there is a unique gift idea. Chow Down has raised wooden feeders.

“They are handmade by a couple in Salida,” Kauzlarich said. “They come in a variety of sizes and finishes.”v

MONTROSE

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ILY

PRESS

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Broncos fans have a variety of items for their dogs to share the love of football.(Richard Reeder/Press News Editor)

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DOWNTOWN VISITOR CENTER • 107 S CASCADE AVE, MONTROSE • MON–SAT 10AM-4PM

NEED EXTRA CASHFOR THE HOLIDAYS?

For $100 in cash, get$120 in Bucks at the

Downtown Visitor Center!

Starting November 24-until we run out!

Rules: Limit $200 per person (cash only)Use by December 31

Expired Bucks will not be reissuedNot redeemable for cash

Must be present to purchase; 18 & older

NOVEMBER27 - TREE LIGHTING

S 1st St & S Townsend AveHistoric County Courthouse (5:30 - 6pm)

NOV. 27 - DEC. 20 - SANTA’S CABINUncompahgre Events Plaza

S 1st St & S Uncompahgre Ave(Hours and dates vary, check online for details)

28 - SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAYShop local all day!

DECEMBER5 - PARADE OF LIGHTS

E Main St (5pm start)

12 - MERRIMENT ON MAIN& SECOND SATURDAY EVENT

Historic Downtown (All Day)

11-13 & 18-20 - GARDEN OF LIGHTSBotanic Gardens, 1800 Pavilion Dr

(5:30-8:30pm)

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Pearls Colored Stone Top Gift List

by RichaRd ReedeRdaily Press News Editor

vvv

It’s Christmas and carols and mistletoe abound, but so does love. And fine jewelry is always a popular gift for those in love, especially those

contemplating marriage.David DeVinny of DeVinny Jewelers says there are many gifts for the

bride this Christmas.Pearls and white gold are the popular items.“Pearls are a timeless gift because the bride’s mother and grandmother

wore pearls,” he said. “Plus they are a neutral color, and you don’t have to worry about them clashing with anything. You can dress up or dress down, they go with a wedding dress or a pair of jeans.”

DeVinny said white gold has become more popular with the younger generation.

“The pendulum swings back and forth between white or yellow gold, right now white seems to be more popular,” he said. “The younger brides seem to be leaning more towards the white than in past years.”

DeVinny said diamonds are still the most popular gifts. He said dia-mond ear studs and the new shimmering diamonds continue to dazzle the ladies.

Sterling silver jewelry has also become very popular.“The sterling silver has really come on because it is less expensive than

gold,” DeVinny said. “There are some beautiful pieces out there.”Colored stone jewelry such as ruby and sapphire are very popular.“The colored stones look so good in earrings, pendants and bracelets,”

DeVinny said. “Watches are also popular, but they have become more of a fashion accessory than a time piece because everyone has a cell phone with a clock.” v

(TOP) Pearls are a time-honored gift that remains popular with all generations. (BOTTOM) Emeralds are a popular gift any time of the year.

(Richard Reeder/Press News Editor)

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Holiday shopping dominates many people’s free time between the day after Thanksgiving

and the final days before Christmas. While many people may shop ‘til they drop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, those days still account for a relatively small amount of the hundreds of billions of dollars that are spent each holiday season.

Shoppers now have a bevy of options at their dis-posal as they embark on holiday shopping season. Traditional in-store retailers are still around, and online shopping continues to grow in popularity with each holiday season. But many holiday shop-pers are looking to buy local this holiday season, and such a decision can pay a host of dividends for both shoppers and the communities they call home.

• Buying local benefits your local economy. Studies from Civic Economics, an econom-ics and strategics planning firm, found that independent, locally-owned retailers return a far greater percentage of their revenue into their local economies than national chain stores. One such study examined the dispar-ity between revenue recirculation among independent, locally-owned businesses in Raleigh, North Carolina, versus four major national chains in the city. The former recir-culated 51.1 percent of revenue into the local economy, while the latter recirculated less than 14 percent. Similar results were discov-ered in many cities, indicating that buying local not only benefits local business owners, but also the communities those owners and their customers call home.

• Buying local creates jobs in your community. One of the biggest ways local business owners in Raleigh recirculated their revenue in the local economy was job creation. While national chains also create jobs, such jobs only ben-efit your community if the chains are located within your community. If your local mall is a

considerable drive away, chances are the chains within that mall are not employing many of your fellow community members. Local busi-nesses in your community are more likely to employ residents of your town.

• Shopping local may provide access to more unique gifts. In addition to the economic benefits of buying local, shoppers may find merchandise made by local craftsmen is more unique than mass-produced items found on the shelves of national retailers. Recipients may cherish more unique items that they cannot find on their own, and that appreciation may even spur them to visit more local retailers after the holiday season has come and gone, benefit-ing their own communities in so doing.

• Local business may provide a more personal touch. Buying from national chains has its advantages, but customer service is not always one of them. Should your loved ones encounter problems with their gift that requires assistance, they might be forced to wait on the phone for extended periods of time as they and thousands of others wait for customer service representa-tives to answer their calls. Local businesses do not deal with nearly the volume of customers as national retailers and, therefore, are capable of addressing concerns more quickly and person-ally than large chains.

Buying local not only benefits small business own-ers, but it also pays dividends for their customers and the communities they call home. v

The benefits to buying local this holiday season

meet me downtown Holiday Happenings

Montrose

Montrose DowntownDowntown Montrose Holidays

FriNov27

Courthouse 5:30-6:30 PMRefreshments, Music, Candlelit Procession.Santa’s Cabin immediately following and open until 7:30 PM

SatDec12

Merriment on Main for Second SaturdayGirlfriend’s Day Out 10:00 AM – 6:30 PMFree Hay Rides – 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Shopping & Dining Specials

Demonstrations

Visit Santa's Cabin 11:00 AM - 2:00 PMPets with Santa 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Holiday Carolers and Music

FREE screening of the movie "Minions"at the Fox Theater at 11:00 AMPresented by Fox Theater & Alpine Bank

SatNov28

Small Business SaturdayHoliday Shopping Event

All DayGrow our economy by shopping local forthe holidays! Special events & sales all day.

SatDec

5

Parade of LightsMain Street • 5:00 PMTheme “Starry Nights, Holiday Delights”

Visit www.CityofMontrose.org/parade, call 970-497-8558, or email [email protected] to sign up.

Tree Lighting & Santa's Cabin

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Make Holiday Decorating Easier

This Year

It is not the holiday season until homes, stores and town centers are decorated in lights and

tinsel. When entire neighborhoods are enhanced by bows and animated figurines, the celebratory tone is set and decorations can trigger happy feel-ings associated with holiday gatherings.

Some people find holiday decorating enjoyable and eagerly anticipate taking out storage contain-ers and sorting through all of their memory-laden trinkets, while others are less enthusiastic about readying their homes for the season. No matter which group you fall into, the following are some simple tips to make holiday decorating easier.

• Plan to decorate on a day when you do not have any other responsibilities. Choose to decorate on a day when you can devote your full attention to decorating, avoiding a day when you might be distracted by other things. If you prefer to decorate alone, ask a friend to watch the kids or have a spouse take them out of the house for a few hours.

If decorating is a family event, find a day when everyone’s schedules are clear.

• Take out the decorations the day prior. Hauling boxes and containers from the attic or basement can take a while. Take some time to move all of the decorating items to a main floor of the house the day or night before your decorating marathon. This way you won’t get discouraged or tired by the task even before the real decorating has begun.

• Put the tree up first. The Christmas tree is the a focal point of holiday decorations, so set up the tree and decorate it before you get started on decorating the rest of the house. If you do not get to all of your other decorating, at least the tree will be ready and your home will still have some holiday appeal. Once the lights are on, decorating the tree is a great activity for keeping the

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Visit our booth at the Holiday Expo Nov. 17th at the Montrose Pavilion!

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For this holiday and wedding season, beautiful custom

cutting boards and coffee table/carts will

be available for purchase at the

Holiday Preview Show!

Dreaming of a new kitchen or bathroom?Stop by and turn your dream into a reality!

(970) 249-72001912 S Townsend Ave • Montrose, CO 81401 • KitchenandBathColorado.com

Where design really matters.

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Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio (970) 240-4300

16367 S. Townsend Ave • Montrose

Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios have been independently owned and operated since 1931.

GREAT GIFTS FOR

Special limited-edition sets that are fun to give or get.

Pucker Up Lip Set

The EyesHave It

everyonekids busy while you handle other jobs.

• Divide and conquer. Nothing makes holiday decorating go faster than delegating deco-rating tasks. Assign specific tasks to your helpers. Put one person in charge of decorat-ing the living room while another handles the outside lights, wreaths and inflatable items.

• Turn on the tunes. Working to music frequently takes your mind off of the work and will help pass the time more quickly. Have your favorite holiday playlist at the ready and turn up the vol-ume. Sing along to the carols

or contemporary songs while you are elbow-deep in deco-rations.

• Take some breaks. Working hungry or tired may lead to sloppy work or frustration. There’s little chance of un-tangling a knot in the lights with your patience in tact if you haven’t eaten for hours. Plan some time for lunch while you sit and rest. Survey the work you’ve done and make a list of the next steps.

After the hard work of decorat-ing, you’ll likely have a sense of accomplishment. Now it’s time to enjoy the holiday scene and prepare for the excitement of the weeks ahead. v

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25 N. Willerup Ave. | Located in downtown Montrose(970)249-0866 | www.DivineFishandMeat.com

Snake River Farm’s Wagyu And Prime Grade Beef,Creekstone Farms And Tender Belly Pork, Colorado’s Rosen Ranch Lamb, Gulf Wild Sustainably Sourced Fish, Colorado

Catch Striped Bass, Skuna Bay Salmon, East and West Coast Oysters, LIVE Maine Lobster And More!

The absolute best quality & most sustainable

Fish & Meat available on the market!

DIVINE holiday gift ideas include: •DIVINE Fish & Meat apparel: Jackets,

shirts & hats •Wok gift sets (prices range from $50 and up) •Gift certifi cates

Fresh Never Frozen Fish & Meat!

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Large selection of eggcessoriesand charcoal available!

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Sales970.249.9442

109 N. Townsend, Montrosetririverappliance.com

Hours: Monday - Friday 8-6

� e Best in Name Brand Appliances Since 1980

Representing Over 30 Brands

This holiday season,unwrap The UltimateCooking Experience.TM

Grilling, Baking, Roasting and Smoking...no other outdoor cooker can match the quality and versatility of a Big Green Egg!

Make Sure Gifts Arrive

on Time

Come the holiday season, shipping companies work around the clock

to ensure packages, merchandise and more make it to their destinations on time. What would December holidays be without gifts under the tree?

In 2013, overtaxed carriers failed to meet Christmas deadlines for many packages. Some analysts say big retailers and carriers may have underestimated consumers’ growing reliance on online shopping — especially for last-minute presents. Since those mishaps, both UPS and FedEx have spent millions on upgrades. More fuel-efficient planes, upgrades to air cargo networks and im-proved infrastructure and ground ship-ping operations have helped shipping companies better handle the increased volume.

As shipping companies work harder to ensure holiday packages arrive at their destinations on time, there also are things consumers can do to increase the chances that gifts make it under the tree before the big day.

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Visit us at the Holiday Preview Show!

Perfect GiftPerfect GiftFIND THE

FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS

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Perfect GiftWHO HASWHO HASWHO HASEverything

BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM FRAMED LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

• Shop as early as possible. If you plan to buy online or ship gifts to family and friends, shop early so the gifts have time to make it to their destinations. Make a list of all the people whose gifts you will need to mail, then shop for their gifts first so you will have ample time for them to arrive on time.

• Double-check all mailing ad-dresses. Make sure you have the correct addresses for all friends or family members you will be sending gifts to. An incorrect ad-dress can result in packages be-ing returned to sender or floating around in shipping limbo. All of this only decreases the likelihood that gifts will arrive on time.

• Consider a ship-to-store option. A number of big retailers now offer various options that allow customers to purchase items online and pick them up in a nearby store. In-stock items may be available the same day, while others may have to be shipped to the store for a later pickup.

• Enter shipping parameters. Sign-ing up for either My FedEx or MyUPS gives you a little extra control over how packages are sent to you. For example, you can request that packages be held at a delivery center or you

can presign for deliveries. These perks can help limit some lost or delayed packages.

• Use proper postage. Bulky enve-lopes or large packages are better off brought to the post office for shipping instead of mailing them from home. Inadequate postage could stall delivery of your items and have them returned to you.

• Research shipping cut-off dates. Shipping carriers often list the “last days to ship” for their ser-vices so that packages will arrive by the date you need them. This way you can plan around the cutoffs.

• Sign up for membership pro-grams. Online retailers, such as Amazon, offer expedited ship-ping on many products as part of their membership programs. For example, Amazon Prime-eligible products will generally arrive within two business days as part of your annual member-ship fee. The added cost may be well worth the peace of mind fast shipping provides.

An increase in online shopping as well as families living further apart has led to a high volume of gifts being shipped around the holidays. Plan accordingly so that gifts will ar-rive on time. v

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Buy a $100.00 gift card for family &

friends for only $10.00

PRE-BLACKFRIDAY SALE

NO EXCUSES

1544 Oxbow Drive, Suite #270 • Montrose, CO 81401 • (970) 249-5557

Stop by Anytime Fitness in Montrose to purchase your $10 card today!

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Exploring the Colors of Christmas

Decorations adorning homes and businesses in the familiar colors of red and green are popular come the holiday season. Even gift wrap, greet-

ing cards and clothing tend to lean toward red and green as the holiday season hits full swing. It is difficult to think of Christmas without envisioning everything awash in these popular colors, broken up only by the inclusion of gold, white or silver accents.

The colors of Christmas are often taken for granted, and many celebrants are unaware of how these colors became symbols of the holiday season and why they remain so to this day.

Several theories exist as to why red and green became the hallmarks of Christ-mas. One such theory is that the colors evolved from pagan celebrations similar to the evolution of Christmas traditions. Prior to the arrival of Christianity, many cultures viewed the color green as the symbol of life . It is believed that, during harsh winters, evergreen trees were cut down and brought indoors to symbolize that life still exists and thrives despite the

cold and darkness of winter. Other pagan holidays featured the use of green, red and gold, including the festival of Yule.

As Christianity spread across Europe and eventually other parts of the world, red and green were linked to Jesus

Christ. Green still represented life, but now this was the eternal life offered by Christ. Red was said to sym-

bolize sacrifice, namely the blood of Jesus when he died on the cross. Some Christians believe that Jesus wore a crown of holly thorns whose berries were originally white. As Jesus’ blood touched the berries, they turned red.

Some theorize that the red of the holiday season represents the apples on the tree of paradise in the Garden of Eden. Around the 14th century, the faithful would put on Paradise Plays on December 24 to share the story of creation with those who could not read. It is nearly impossible to find a fruit-bearing apple tree in the winter, so a pine tree adorned with red apples was used instead. Bishops also wore red robes, further tying the color red to religious masses and celebrations.

Gold is frequently used in holiday decorations as well. Gold can represent the sun and light, both

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When you don’t know what gift to give...

A little gray jay bird chirps in your ear...

Buy Camp Robber gift cards

everyone loves the gift of good food.

(907) 240-15901515 Ogden Rd. Montrose

432 E. Main St., Montrose | (970) 615-7280Winter Hours: Monday – Friday 10a-6p | Saturday 10a-5p

aqua-studio.co

• COMPLETE INTERIOR SOLUTIONS •HOME STYLING • FURNITURE • LIGHTING • ACCESSORIES

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important ways to ward off the dark winter. In addition, gold was one of the gifts brought to baby Jesus, making it a color of significance within the Christian faith.

Red and green poinsettias also are a symbol of the holiday season, but they didn’t start the color-ful tradition. Poinsettias are a relatively recent ad-dition to Christmas symbolism, as they were only first introduced to America in 1828, when they were brought back from Mexico by Joel Poinsett.

The holiday season is filled with many differ-ent colors that brighten up homes and businesses. Combined with the many twinkling lights used on displays, red and green decorations can add vital-ity to the dark days of December. v

“The colors of Christmas are often taken for granted, and many celebrants are unaware of how these colors became symbols of the holiday season and why they remain so to this day.”

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242 E. MAIN ST., MONTROSE (MAIN & TOWNSEND COWBOY CORNER) • (970) 240-8385

STORE HOURS:TUESDAY - SATURDAY

NOON - 5:00 PM

STOP IN AND CHECK OUT THE NEW DAZZLING JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES THAT HAVE JUST ARRIVED! THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO GIVE A GIFT OF LOVE THAN WITH JEWELRY, AND BEST OF ALL, YOU WILL BE HELPING A FAMILY IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. 100% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM YOUR PURCHASE WILL BENEFIT SHARING MINISTRIES FOOD BANK.

STOP IN AND CHECK OUT THE NEW DAZZLING

NOW YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING CAN BENEFIT OTHERS!

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Visit our booth at the Holiday Preview Show, Nov. 17th at the

Montrose Pavilion!

All Seasons...All For You

16612 S. Townsend Ave. • (970) 249-6109www.camelotgardens.com

• Holiday Shopping • Theme Christmas Trees• In Store Specials • Prizes & Gifts • Home Decor

• Holiday Shopping • • Theme Christmas TreesTheme Christmas Trees• In Store Specials In Store Specials • Prizes & Gifts

Saturday, November 14th - 5pm - 7pmMusic by Thin Air BandCheese & Wine by:Garrett Estate CellarsRockin’ W. Cheese

You are Cordia l ly Inv i ted toYou are Cordia l ly Inv i ted toYou are Cordia l ly Inv i ted to

Christmas O� n House!Christmas You are Cordia l ly Inv i ted to

Camelot Gardens 21st Annual

Saturday, November 14TH • 9AM - 7PMXNLV240470

Special Twilight Hours

Christmas Tree Varieties and CareAn evergreen tree decked out in lights and ornaments is one of the univer-sal symbols of the holiday season. The Christmas tree tradition is believed to have originated in Germany in the 15th or 16th centuries, when trees were decorated with edibles, such as nuts and fruits. They were later deco-rated with candles and eventually lights.

Through the centuries, people have trekked to forests, Christmas tree farms and commercial lots to pick the perfect trees for their holiday dis-plays. The National Christmas Tree Association says more than 33 million real trees are purchased each year, making the tree business a billion-dollar industry. While there are scores of evergreen varieties, certain tree types are more popular than others and thus more available for purchase. The follow-ing are some of the more popular trees come Christmastime.

• Eastern Redcedar: Branches of the tree are compact and form a pyramid-shaped crown. The trees should be a dark, shiny green color. The eastern redcedar is not a true cedar tree, but a member of the juniper family. This tree can make a great cut tree with a home-spun look and a pungent fragrance.

• Leyland Cypress: This cypress is one of the more popular Christ-mas trees in the southeastern United States. The tree will be very dark green to almost gray in color. It has little aroma. Some people choose the Leyland because it does not produce sap, which is great for those with sap allergies.

• Colorado Blue Spruce: An attractive blue-green foliage and a good symmetrical form is what attracts many people to the blue spruce. The Colorado Blue Spruce has an excellent natural shape and re-quires little pruning to look like the perfect Christmas tree. It’s not very fragrant, but the tree needles may give off an unpleasant odor when crushed.

• Scotch Pine: A classic conical shape and very good needle retention help make the Scotch pine a popular tree to cut for the holidays. Scotch pines also are quite prevalent thanks to the tree’s adaptability to a wide range of climates.

• Eastern White Pine: A delicate green color and long needles are found on this tree. Another popular pine, the rich fragrance of the white pine may make it preferable to those who like their homes to smell of evergreen.

• Douglas Fir: The Douglas fir is one of the foremost Christmas tree species in the United States. It has soft needles that are dark green in color. Those needles radiate in all directions from the branches to give the tree a full look. The needles, when crushed, have a sweet fragrance. Douglas firs tend to live long when cut.

• Fraser Fir: Another popular fir for Christmas is the Fraser fir. The needles are bicolored, with dark green on top and silver on the bottom. More fragrant than its cousin, the Douglas, the Fraser also boasts a slender profile, which makes it suitable for smaller rooms. CHRISTMAS TREE MAINTENANCE

• Nothing can guarantee the health and appearance of a tree after it is brought into a home. But choosing a recently cut tree that has good needle retention can help. Here are other tips for a long-lasting tree.

• Use a sharp saw to cut an inch off of the trunk base to remove the sappy covering that forms from cutting. This will improve water intake.

• Fill a tree stand reservoir with warm water. Expect the tree to drink heavily in the beginning.

• Keep the reservoir filled every day and check to see how much water the tree is using.

• Place the tree far from heaters or other drying sources. v

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Sending Greeting Cards

Greeting cards are a popular method of correspon-dence throughout the year. Cards are purchased

for birthdays, graduations and milestone events. One of the more popular times of the year to find cards purchased and sent in bulk is during the holiday season.The Greeting Card Association claims 1.6 billion

Christmas card units (including boxed cards) are pur-chased for Christmas. Many people consider sending cards essential to their holiday traditions.Here are some statistics on greeting cards and ways

to improve upon your Christmas card sending pro-cess.

• Women purchase an estimated 80 percent of all greeting cards and will spend more time choosing a card than men.

• The vast majority of individually purchased cards are between $2 and $4 in price. Christ-mas card economy is found by purchasing boxed cards in bulk.

• The visual design of a greeting card is the first to capture a person’s attention, but the saying within will have a greater impact. Consider purchasing cards that are blank inside so you can add your own personalized sentiments.

• For the perfect balance of imagery and verse, try a photo greeting card. This way you can customize both the image and the wording. They’re even effective for business correspon-dence. Simply use a picture of your office team or other workers in place of a family photo.

Personalized cards need to be purchased early to allow for production. Try to get your orders in by early November to leave you time to ad-dress and mail them.

• Buy extra cards than you think you need. This way you can send reciprocal greetings to a person who has mailed you a card this year.

• If you want your card to stand out from the masses, consider sending it separately from the big holidays. Thanksgiving or New Year’s cards can be unique.

• Try your hand at creating your own greeting cards from papercrafting materials. You also can embellish ready-made greeting cards with stamps, glitter, stickers, and other customized effects.

• Keep a database of addresses saved on your computer. Then you can print address labels and save much time hand-addressing Christ-mas cards. Your address list can later be cus-tomized for other friend or family events.

• Check the postage of your card. Oddly shaped envelopes or even square cards may require extra postage because they could be processed by hand at postal facilities.

The Greeting Card Association says that even though many people use digital means of commu-nication, greeting card traditions are still popular and even are being adopted by today’s youth. v

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The Advantages of Last-Minute Holiday Shopping

Tackling tasks well in advance has many advantages, and often it is in one’s best interest to be ahead of the game, including when the game at

hand is holiday shopping.But men and women who simply can’t get a head start on their holiday

shopping need not fear, as waiting until the eleventh hour to do the bulk of your shopping can have some distinct advantages, too.

Consumer Reports’ 2012 Holiday Poll found 9 percent of shoppers — an estimated 17 million people — planned to shop in stores on Christmas Eve in 2012. Many stores are still open on Christmas Eve, even if the doors are only unlocked for a limited number of hours. That gives shoppers one last chance to find the perfect presents. In addition to having more time to de-cide on gifts, here are some other benefits to shopping later in the season.

• Smaller crowds: As the holiday season winds down, many shoppers have already completed their shopping. Fewer people tend to be in stores in the final days before Christmas, as they are readying their homes for company or making travel plans. This can be a prime time for shopping and getting through malls or other retailers in less time.

• •Discountedprices:Anxioustoreduceinventory and make the most of end-of-the-year profits, stores may discount merchandise even further for fast sale. Shoppers anxious to save a little bit more or come in under budget may find waiting to shop is to their financial advan-tage.

• Lower chance of discovery: One dif-ficulty of shopping

early is keeping all of the gifts hidden for the duration of the month. Waiting until later to shop means only having to camouflage gifts for a few days. When you wait, curious kids are less likely to find their gifts before the big day.

• Last-minute specials: Some online retailers offer “doorbuster” sales at various times during the holiday shopping season. These sales may offer additional discounts or even free shipping. Just be sure to balance the benefits of the discount against the shipping price. If it means having to pay a premium for overnight shipping, it may not be worth the investment.

• More time to plan: By the end of the holiday season you may have a better idea of what you need to purchase. You also may have polled

others regarding what they are giving, re-ducing the chances of giving duplicate

gifts.

•Gift cards galore: Some people prefer to give gift cards, which

are available all season long. Consumer Reports says 62 percent of last-minute shoppers grab gift cards. If you fall into that cat-egory, waiting to buy the cards won’t be an issue so long as you make it to the stores before they close.

Last-minute shopping has its advantages. If time is ticking away, there are still deals to be had. v

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Transporting holiday gifts

As families spread out

across the country and even across the globe, the holi-days can become a little more difficult to navigate. Ac-cording to AAA, a federation of mo-tor clubs through-out the United States, roughly 90 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for year-end holidays.

Families that are spread out must decide where to spend the holidays together. But in some cases, families can’t all be together, so celebrations must be handled remotely and gifts shipped to waiting recipients.

Shopping for gifts may have taken some time, but now you will have to figure out how to get those gifts where they need to go. The following are some pointers for holiday celebrants who are driving, flying, taking a bus, or shipping gifts.

SHIPPING DATESIf the goal is to purchase and ship gifts near and far, starting early has its advantages. Thousands upon thousands of cards and packages are shipped each day during the holiday season. In 2013, shipping giant UPS projected 132 million deliveries during the last week before Christ-mas, and actual figures exceeded those expectations.

Many shipping services will get packages to recipients on time, but customers can help them along by sending them several weeks before the holidays. Shipping later in the season may incur additional fees for priority shipping. Always check sellers’ “purchase by” dates to ensure items will arrive on time.

Items that will be shipped internationally should include a detailed description as well as the value of the package. Presents under a certain value may be duty-free or tax-exempt. Check with customs to get a bet-ter idea of the shipping regulations.

PLANE RIDEAirlines have specific regulations in place regarding which items can and cannot be brought on planes, at least inside of the cabin. Thanks to increased security measures, restrictions are greater than they once were. Transportation Security Administration officers may have to inspect items for safety purposes. It may be better to leave gifts un-wrapped and then wrap them after the flight to avoid hassles during the screening process. Liquids, including foods, may need to be put in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces. Consider shipping delicate items ahead of time if you are concerned about breakage.

PACKING THE CARIf a holiday road trip is in your future, space constraints may require you to be a little creative when packing the car. Shop for smaller gifts, including gift cards, which are easier to transport. Advise family and friends that you will have limited space so they should not go overboard with regard to gifts given to you in return.

Heed safety precautions and do not obscure driver visibility in the car by stacking presents too high. Also, secure boxes and packages in the car so they do not slide or move around. Anything that is not secured can become airborne in the event of a collision, increasing the risk for injury. Items placed on roof racks should be tightly secured so they don’t fall off and present a hazard.

Those who will be traveling for the holidays should plan how to trans-port any gifts they will be bringing along long before the day comes to hit the road. v

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