HOLIDAY 2012 | 1

HOLIDAY | 2012

copy 2012 The Violet

Cover photo and this photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 3

Contentsopen Camillarsquos Letter 5 Powered by Bloggers 9live Do Something 12 All I Want for Christmas is Less Stuff 14create Wrap It Up 18 Make a Paper Star 22 Blossom Mistletoe 24nurture We Recommend 27

The Juicy Details 28explore Winter in Munich 34 Winter in the City 38nourish Four Pizzas Fit for a Party 41 From Scratch 48 In Season Tangerines 50play Dumpings of the World Party 53muse For Elyse 59 An Interview with Hannah Brencher 60embellish Flirty amp Festive Winter 65 Holiday Nails 72love Life as an Army Wife 78 All We Need is Love 80close

Back Story 84

Openverb

remove the covers or wrapping from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 5

Every year around the holidays I make a big list of things that I

want to do It usually goes something like this send out handmade

holiday cards make a wreath string popcorn and cranberries

make peppermint bark from scratch to give to friends and family

chop down a tree and decorate it in a fun and unique way that

has never been done before and so on Man I feel stressed and

overwhelmed just writing that list And frankly stress has no

business in this happy time of year

So for our first holiday issue ever (wow) we want to do away with

that stress and focus on what we think really matters At the heart

of everything this time of year is all about sharing experiences

Families are reunited friends throw sweet get-togethers and

strangers exchange more smiles on the street How great is that

Life should be like this all year long Wersquore offering up some sug-

gestions for the season revolving around that theme of ldquoA Shared

Experiencerdquo including ways to wrap gifts simply and creatively as

well as how to host an international dumpling party Wersquove also got

some heartfelt personal stories from some great women to share

and pizza recipes for a night of delicious fun Wersquore even sharing

our own experience of Winter in Munich with you

We hope this issue warms you up from the inside out and helps

you get even more excited about the holidays Because the truth is

we absolutely love sharing the experience of putting together this

magazine for you

Happiest of holidays to you Violet readers

Camillarsquos Letter

Camilla Salem

Founder amp Creative Director

Blog Champagne Bubbles

a shared experience

copy 2012 The Violet

Cover photo and this photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 3

Contentsopen Camillarsquos Letter 5 Powered by Bloggers 9live Do Something 12 All I Want for Christmas is Less Stuff 14create Wrap It Up 18 Make a Paper Star 22 Blossom Mistletoe 24nurture We Recommend 27

The Juicy Details 28explore Winter in Munich 34 Winter in the City 38nourish Four Pizzas Fit for a Party 41 From Scratch 48 In Season Tangerines 50play Dumpings of the World Party 53muse For Elyse 59 An Interview with Hannah Brencher 60embellish Flirty amp Festive Winter 65 Holiday Nails 72love Life as an Army Wife 78 All We Need is Love 80close

Back Story 84

Openverb

remove the covers or wrapping from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 5

Every year around the holidays I make a big list of things that I

want to do It usually goes something like this send out handmade

holiday cards make a wreath string popcorn and cranberries

make peppermint bark from scratch to give to friends and family

chop down a tree and decorate it in a fun and unique way that

has never been done before and so on Man I feel stressed and

overwhelmed just writing that list And frankly stress has no

business in this happy time of year

So for our first holiday issue ever (wow) we want to do away with

that stress and focus on what we think really matters At the heart

of everything this time of year is all about sharing experiences

Families are reunited friends throw sweet get-togethers and

strangers exchange more smiles on the street How great is that

Life should be like this all year long Wersquore offering up some sug-

gestions for the season revolving around that theme of ldquoA Shared

Experiencerdquo including ways to wrap gifts simply and creatively as

well as how to host an international dumpling party Wersquove also got

some heartfelt personal stories from some great women to share

and pizza recipes for a night of delicious fun Wersquore even sharing

our own experience of Winter in Munich with you

We hope this issue warms you up from the inside out and helps

you get even more excited about the holidays Because the truth is

we absolutely love sharing the experience of putting together this

magazine for you

Happiest of holidays to you Violet readers

Camillarsquos Letter

Camilla Salem

Founder amp Creative Director

Blog Champagne Bubbles

a shared experience

HOLIDAY 2012 | 3

Contentsopen Camillarsquos Letter 5 Powered by Bloggers 9live Do Something 12 All I Want for Christmas is Less Stuff 14create Wrap It Up 18 Make a Paper Star 22 Blossom Mistletoe 24nurture We Recommend 27

The Juicy Details 28explore Winter in Munich 34 Winter in the City 38nourish Four Pizzas Fit for a Party 41 From Scratch 48 In Season Tangerines 50play Dumpings of the World Party 53muse For Elyse 59 An Interview with Hannah Brencher 60embellish Flirty amp Festive Winter 65 Holiday Nails 72love Life as an Army Wife 78 All We Need is Love 80close

Back Story 84

Openverb

remove the covers or wrapping from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 5

Every year around the holidays I make a big list of things that I

want to do It usually goes something like this send out handmade

holiday cards make a wreath string popcorn and cranberries

make peppermint bark from scratch to give to friends and family

chop down a tree and decorate it in a fun and unique way that

has never been done before and so on Man I feel stressed and

overwhelmed just writing that list And frankly stress has no

business in this happy time of year

So for our first holiday issue ever (wow) we want to do away with

that stress and focus on what we think really matters At the heart

of everything this time of year is all about sharing experiences

Families are reunited friends throw sweet get-togethers and

strangers exchange more smiles on the street How great is that

Life should be like this all year long Wersquore offering up some sug-

gestions for the season revolving around that theme of ldquoA Shared

Experiencerdquo including ways to wrap gifts simply and creatively as

well as how to host an international dumpling party Wersquove also got

some heartfelt personal stories from some great women to share

and pizza recipes for a night of delicious fun Wersquore even sharing

our own experience of Winter in Munich with you

We hope this issue warms you up from the inside out and helps

you get even more excited about the holidays Because the truth is

we absolutely love sharing the experience of putting together this

magazine for you

Happiest of holidays to you Violet readers

Camillarsquos Letter

Camilla Salem

Founder amp Creative Director

Blog Champagne Bubbles

a shared experience

Openverb

remove the covers or wrapping from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 5

Every year around the holidays I make a big list of things that I

want to do It usually goes something like this send out handmade

holiday cards make a wreath string popcorn and cranberries

make peppermint bark from scratch to give to friends and family

chop down a tree and decorate it in a fun and unique way that

has never been done before and so on Man I feel stressed and

overwhelmed just writing that list And frankly stress has no

business in this happy time of year

So for our first holiday issue ever (wow) we want to do away with

that stress and focus on what we think really matters At the heart

of everything this time of year is all about sharing experiences

Families are reunited friends throw sweet get-togethers and

strangers exchange more smiles on the street How great is that

Life should be like this all year long Wersquore offering up some sug-

gestions for the season revolving around that theme of ldquoA Shared

Experiencerdquo including ways to wrap gifts simply and creatively as

well as how to host an international dumpling party Wersquove also got

some heartfelt personal stories from some great women to share

and pizza recipes for a night of delicious fun Wersquore even sharing

our own experience of Winter in Munich with you

We hope this issue warms you up from the inside out and helps

you get even more excited about the holidays Because the truth is

we absolutely love sharing the experience of putting together this

magazine for you

Happiest of holidays to you Violet readers

Camillarsquos Letter

Camilla Salem

Founder amp Creative Director

Blog Champagne Bubbles

a shared experience

HOLIDAY 2012 | 5

Every year around the holidays I make a big list of things that I

want to do It usually goes something like this send out handmade

holiday cards make a wreath string popcorn and cranberries

make peppermint bark from scratch to give to friends and family

chop down a tree and decorate it in a fun and unique way that

has never been done before and so on Man I feel stressed and

overwhelmed just writing that list And frankly stress has no

business in this happy time of year

So for our first holiday issue ever (wow) we want to do away with

that stress and focus on what we think really matters At the heart

of everything this time of year is all about sharing experiences

Families are reunited friends throw sweet get-togethers and

strangers exchange more smiles on the street How great is that

Life should be like this all year long Wersquore offering up some sug-

gestions for the season revolving around that theme of ldquoA Shared

Experiencerdquo including ways to wrap gifts simply and creatively as

well as how to host an international dumpling party Wersquove also got

some heartfelt personal stories from some great women to share

and pizza recipes for a night of delicious fun Wersquore even sharing

our own experience of Winter in Munich with you

We hope this issue warms you up from the inside out and helps

you get even more excited about the holidays Because the truth is

we absolutely love sharing the experience of putting together this

magazine for you

Happiest of holidays to you Violet readers

Camillarsquos Letter

Camilla Salem

Founder amp Creative Director

Blog Champagne Bubbles

a shared experience

The Team Behind This Issuehappy holidays from all of us at the violet

CELESTE NOCHE

CONTRIBUTING

EDITOR

Celeste is a Bay

Area native whose

life dream is to

travel the world

A recent Stanford

graduate in English

and Classics she

loves her ukulele

film photography

stargazing and Mr

Darcy She splits

her daydreaming

equally between

food Europe and

what to be when she

grows up

Blog Wanderlust

MOLLY YEH

CONTRIBUTING

EDITOR

Molly is a Brook-

lyn-based food

writer classical

percussionist and

mustard collec-

tor Originally

from the suburbs

of Chicago she

moved to New York

to attend the Juil-

liard School Her

favorite things to

do include riding

her bike eating

making dump-

lings tap dancing

and changing the

subject

Blog My Name is

Yeh

EMILY RACK

CONTRIBUTING

EDITOR

A curly-haired

library-loving girl

split between

Ottawa (journal-

ism school) and

London (home)

An apple lover

dinner party en-

thusiast amp bedroom

ballerina Emily

enjoys picnics

baking 80rsquos post-

punk and read-

ing Hemingway

She loves boys

with glasses John

Hughes movies

and listening to

other peoplersquos sto-

ries Idols include

Anne Shirley and

Tina Fey

JACKIE PFEFFER

CONTRIBUTING

EDITOR

Jackie lives in New

Yorkrsquos Hudson

Valley with her two

dogs Rocco and

Suzette Known as

ldquothe resident pa-

parazzirdquo it was no

surprise that shersquos

ended up making

her living as a pho-

tographer Jackie

likes hiking sushi

and she is among

the small percent-

age of people in the

world who actually

enjoys hanging out

in airports

Blog JacPfef

JASMINE L H

MYER S

CONTENT EDITOR

Jasmine is a

southern Cali-

fornia

native living in

Long Beach CA

with her super-

hot hair stylist

husband Levi and

their kitties Gretel

and Lily True to

her Gemini na-

ture she values

independence and

likes to dabble

in anything that

strikes her fancy

She appreciates

good food good

coffee and good

people

Blog An

Experiment in

Poverty

ASHLEE GADD

MANAGING

EDITOR

Ashlee is a writer

photographer and

brand new momma

residing in Sacra-

mento California

When shersquos not

making lists and

guzzling Go Girl

energy drinks you

can find her at your

local thrift store

yoga studio or

most likely frozen

yogurt shop Shersquos

a self-proclaimed

joy-chooser and

loves to make

people smile

Blog Where My

Heart Resides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 7

CARMYN JOY EFFA

CONTRIBUTOR

Carmyn is a 25

year-old artist

from Edmon-

ton Alberta She

became interested

in photography

after receiving

her grandfatherrsquos

camera a

trustworthy Pentax

K1000 Sev-

eral years later she

couldnrsquot imagine

her life without

this means to

express herself In

addition she loves

creating zines with

her friends writ-

ing music reading

graphic novels

and hanging out

with her cat named

Gatsby

BlogCarmyn Joy

CHRISTINE

AMOROSE

CONTRIBUTOR

Californian by

birth traveler at

heart Since earn-

ing a degree in

journalism

Christine has

worked in PR in

Silicon Valley

bartended on the

French Rivi-

era backpacked

through Europe

worked in market-

ing in Australia

and explored

Southeast Asia

Shersquos currently

managing the

brand marketing

and social media

for ONA Bags in

New York City

Blog Crsquoest

Christine

ANNA JORDAN

CONTRIBUTOR

Anna Jordan is

a writerreader

foster momma

living and loving

in Santa Barbara

California with

her husband Kiah

[foster] son Ma-

son and fluffy dog

Lily Anna loves

to run without a

jogging stroller

practice yoga

and drink lots of

freshly ground

coffee

Blog Plan A

KINGSLEY FRAZIER

CONTRIBUTOR

Kingsley is a Bay

Area native mak-

ing her home in

Tennessee with her

husband Grant

who is an Officer

in the US Army

Shersquos a special edu-

cation consultant

and teacher cur-

rently playing the

role of Army Wife

When Kingsleyrsquos

not teaching she

can be found cook-

ing working out

and blogging about

being married and

life with POTS

Blog Life as Griki

ORLI KADOCH

CONTRIBUTOR

Orli is a bay area

native who studied

Cell Biology at UC

Davis and hopes to

apply her knowl-

edge creativity

and enjoyment of

working with peo-

ple to the health

sciences Always

eager to explore

new things she

enjoys research-

ing new concepts

and planning

adventures Her

positive energetic

spirit often finds

her laughing with

family and friends

and searching for

inspiring treasures

of life to incorpo-

rate into her own

KELLEE VOPELAK

CONTRIBUTOR

Kellee is a Los

Angeles transplant

from the Chi-

cago suburbs and

couldnrsquot be happier

with her new home

She has a penchant

for guilty pleasures

(90s pop) and

enjoys Instagram-

ming food and

Instagramming her

food Shersquos a lover

of nail art coffee

anything soft and

all things cute

Blog Irsquom Stuck at

Age 19

HOLIDAY 2012 | 9

pow er ed by blog ger s

Thank you for your support

ADVERTISEMENT

Check out these great blogs from some of our readers

Liveverb

remain alive

HOLIDAY 2012 | 11

HOLIDAY 2012 | 13

Do Something

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Carmyn Joy Effa

get down with moisturizing Letrsquos talk about

winter dryness Chapped lips cracked

fingers crocodile legshellip all this

delightful territory comes with the

winter climate Make it your per-

sonal mission to buff away every flaky

bit and slather on body butter until

yoursquore as smooth as a Victoriarsquos Secret

model Wersquore crazy for cactus-bristle

body brushes homemade brown sugar

scrub and coconut oil as a moisturizer

(put it all over your bod in your hair

and even use it as an overnight scalp

treatment)

create the best hot chocolate ever Buy a few bars

of high-quality chocolate and melt it

down slowly adding in your milk of

choice and any extras you can think

of for the ultimate decadence Go

traditional with marshmallows or up

the ante with some Baileys a squeeze

of orange juice and a little zest some

peppermint extract a spoonful of

Nutella or some chai tea Curl up with

your creation and watch Home Alone

for some major holiday cheer and a

sugar high Hey you gotta misbehave

sometimes

turn your bedroom into a zen sanctuary All it takes is a

smattering of tea light candles some

new throw pillows and a hefty dose of

de-cluttering to update your bedroom

Get your laptop out of there (what did

we say about zen) spray some lavender

oil onto your pillowcase and get ready

for some seriously peaceful slumbers

do something for someone else Whether you make

up a package for the homeless help

serve Christmas dinner at a shelter or

write a love letter to someone in need

this is the season for giving Think

outside of what you can do financially

or what you can buy for someone else

and give some of your time Find a

worthy cause one you truly believe

in and spare a few of your watching-

reality-tv or blog-perusing hours to

help out Trust us yoursquoll feel so much

luckier for your own blessings

six ideas to make the most of the winter season

connect with someone from your past Not someone

who should stay in your past (ex-

boyfriends wersquore looking at you) but

the holiday season lends a lovely sort of

nostalgia that can be the perfect excuse

to email an old friend to say hello and

catch up You might read dozens of

Facebook updates a day but how often

do you genuinely connect with your

ldquosocial networkrdquo Think about how

glad yoursquod be if you got a little note just

to say ldquoI was thinking about yourdquo

make your house smell like a winter wonderland Fill

a pot with water a chopped orange

a cup of cranberries four cinnamon

sticks and a pinch of cloves Let it

simmer gently on the stove all day

Sometimes we let our olfactory senses

fall by the wayside but scent can be

one of the most powerful mood en-

hancers In no time your home will

smell like a magical delicious holiday

kingdom Pop a little Bing Crosby

onto the record player and yoursquoll be

buzzing to smooch someone under the

mistletoe in no time

I have a lovehate relationship with ldquostuffrdquo which tends to make me

a gift-giverrsquos worst nightmare at Christmastime While Irsquove never

been one to hoard things I went through an intense de-cluttering

phase last year after reading a book called The Joy Of Less The

premise of the book is simple own less stuff be happier

The book inspired me to de-clutter my entire house from the

bathroom to the kitchen and everything in between I began clear-

ing out cabinets and drawers room by room and making regular

trips to Goodwill with bags of unwanted stuff clothes rarely worn

appliances rarely used DVDs rarely watched etc If it wasnrsquot prac-

tical or being used on a semi-regular basis out it went I watched

my drawers dwindle down to necessities and my shelves become

bare and yet I felt no regret or remorse I found freedom in the

empty space - a happy lightness that I hadnrsquot realized I needed in

my life

A few months later Christmas came along and suddenly I was

back to square one Stuff was everywhere begging to be bought

and begging to be had I spent the majority of December mak-

ing lists pinning ideas fighting crowds at Target hunting for

online coupon codes and wrapping gifts with a perfect mixture

of craft paper ribbons and doilies It was stressful expensive

overwhelming and not exactly the cheerful holiday season I was

expecting

Even more stressful was unloading all of the gifts from our car

after Christmas was over I had become so protective of my half-

empty drawers and bare shelves that I couldnrsquot fathom filling

them up with clutter again even if that clutter was straight off my

Pinterest wish list Even though I knew the gifts had been given in

love it was just too much

So lesson learned This year wersquore approaching Christmas a bit

differently Wersquove established a 4-gift rule in our household wersquoll

each receive something we want something we need something

to wear and something to read Wersquore asking our families for more

experiences and less stuff - swapping new boots and shiny gadgets

for zoo memberships and art classes The hope is that wersquoll be able

to use most of our Christmas gifts to create memories in 2013 and

avoid cluttering our home with tons of things we donrsquot need

If you also find yourself unwillingly wrapped up (no pun intend-

ed) in too much ldquostuffrdquo this holiday season here are a few experi-

ences you can add to your wish list or give to others

For Him

Concert tickets

Tickets to a lecture

Brewery Tour

Round of golf at his favorite course

For Her

Local yoga passes

Drybar bartabs

A photography class

For the Couple

Weekend away

Cooking classes

Wine tasting

Food tour

For Kiddos

Local zoo membership

Local art studio membership

Tickets to the train museum aquarium etc

Movie tickets

All I Want for Christmas is Less StuffWords by Ashlee GaddPhoto by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 11

HOLIDAY 2012 | 13

Do Something

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Carmyn Joy Effa

get down with moisturizing Letrsquos talk about

winter dryness Chapped lips cracked

fingers crocodile legshellip all this

delightful territory comes with the

winter climate Make it your per-

sonal mission to buff away every flaky

bit and slather on body butter until

yoursquore as smooth as a Victoriarsquos Secret

model Wersquore crazy for cactus-bristle

body brushes homemade brown sugar

scrub and coconut oil as a moisturizer

(put it all over your bod in your hair

and even use it as an overnight scalp

treatment)

create the best hot chocolate ever Buy a few bars

of high-quality chocolate and melt it

down slowly adding in your milk of

choice and any extras you can think

of for the ultimate decadence Go

traditional with marshmallows or up

the ante with some Baileys a squeeze

of orange juice and a little zest some

peppermint extract a spoonful of

Nutella or some chai tea Curl up with

your creation and watch Home Alone

for some major holiday cheer and a

sugar high Hey you gotta misbehave

sometimes

turn your bedroom into a zen sanctuary All it takes is a

smattering of tea light candles some

new throw pillows and a hefty dose of

de-cluttering to update your bedroom

Get your laptop out of there (what did

we say about zen) spray some lavender

oil onto your pillowcase and get ready

for some seriously peaceful slumbers

do something for someone else Whether you make

up a package for the homeless help

serve Christmas dinner at a shelter or

write a love letter to someone in need

this is the season for giving Think

outside of what you can do financially

or what you can buy for someone else

and give some of your time Find a

worthy cause one you truly believe

in and spare a few of your watching-

reality-tv or blog-perusing hours to

help out Trust us yoursquoll feel so much

luckier for your own blessings

six ideas to make the most of the winter season

connect with someone from your past Not someone

who should stay in your past (ex-

boyfriends wersquore looking at you) but

the holiday season lends a lovely sort of

nostalgia that can be the perfect excuse

to email an old friend to say hello and

catch up You might read dozens of

Facebook updates a day but how often

do you genuinely connect with your

ldquosocial networkrdquo Think about how

glad yoursquod be if you got a little note just

to say ldquoI was thinking about yourdquo

make your house smell like a winter wonderland Fill

a pot with water a chopped orange

a cup of cranberries four cinnamon

sticks and a pinch of cloves Let it

simmer gently on the stove all day

Sometimes we let our olfactory senses

fall by the wayside but scent can be

one of the most powerful mood en-

hancers In no time your home will

smell like a magical delicious holiday

kingdom Pop a little Bing Crosby

onto the record player and yoursquoll be

buzzing to smooch someone under the

mistletoe in no time

I have a lovehate relationship with ldquostuffrdquo which tends to make me

a gift-giverrsquos worst nightmare at Christmastime While Irsquove never

been one to hoard things I went through an intense de-cluttering

phase last year after reading a book called The Joy Of Less The

premise of the book is simple own less stuff be happier

The book inspired me to de-clutter my entire house from the

bathroom to the kitchen and everything in between I began clear-

ing out cabinets and drawers room by room and making regular

trips to Goodwill with bags of unwanted stuff clothes rarely worn

appliances rarely used DVDs rarely watched etc If it wasnrsquot prac-

tical or being used on a semi-regular basis out it went I watched

my drawers dwindle down to necessities and my shelves become

bare and yet I felt no regret or remorse I found freedom in the

empty space - a happy lightness that I hadnrsquot realized I needed in

my life

A few months later Christmas came along and suddenly I was

back to square one Stuff was everywhere begging to be bought

and begging to be had I spent the majority of December mak-

ing lists pinning ideas fighting crowds at Target hunting for

online coupon codes and wrapping gifts with a perfect mixture

of craft paper ribbons and doilies It was stressful expensive

overwhelming and not exactly the cheerful holiday season I was

expecting

Even more stressful was unloading all of the gifts from our car

after Christmas was over I had become so protective of my half-

empty drawers and bare shelves that I couldnrsquot fathom filling

them up with clutter again even if that clutter was straight off my

Pinterest wish list Even though I knew the gifts had been given in

love it was just too much

So lesson learned This year wersquore approaching Christmas a bit

differently Wersquove established a 4-gift rule in our household wersquoll

each receive something we want something we need something

to wear and something to read Wersquore asking our families for more

experiences and less stuff - swapping new boots and shiny gadgets

for zoo memberships and art classes The hope is that wersquoll be able

to use most of our Christmas gifts to create memories in 2013 and

avoid cluttering our home with tons of things we donrsquot need

If you also find yourself unwillingly wrapped up (no pun intend-

ed) in too much ldquostuffrdquo this holiday season here are a few experi-

ences you can add to your wish list or give to others

For Him

Concert tickets

Tickets to a lecture

Brewery Tour

Round of golf at his favorite course

For Her

Local yoga passes

Drybar bartabs

A photography class

For the Couple

Weekend away

Cooking classes

Wine tasting

Food tour

For Kiddos

Local zoo membership

Local art studio membership

Tickets to the train museum aquarium etc

Movie tickets

All I Want for Christmas is Less StuffWords by Ashlee GaddPhoto by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 13

Do Something

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Carmyn Joy Effa

get down with moisturizing Letrsquos talk about

winter dryness Chapped lips cracked

fingers crocodile legshellip all this

delightful territory comes with the

winter climate Make it your per-

sonal mission to buff away every flaky

bit and slather on body butter until

yoursquore as smooth as a Victoriarsquos Secret

model Wersquore crazy for cactus-bristle

body brushes homemade brown sugar

scrub and coconut oil as a moisturizer

(put it all over your bod in your hair

and even use it as an overnight scalp

treatment)

create the best hot chocolate ever Buy a few bars

of high-quality chocolate and melt it

down slowly adding in your milk of

choice and any extras you can think

of for the ultimate decadence Go

traditional with marshmallows or up

the ante with some Baileys a squeeze

of orange juice and a little zest some

peppermint extract a spoonful of

Nutella or some chai tea Curl up with

your creation and watch Home Alone

for some major holiday cheer and a

sugar high Hey you gotta misbehave

sometimes

turn your bedroom into a zen sanctuary All it takes is a

smattering of tea light candles some

new throw pillows and a hefty dose of

de-cluttering to update your bedroom

Get your laptop out of there (what did

we say about zen) spray some lavender

oil onto your pillowcase and get ready

for some seriously peaceful slumbers

do something for someone else Whether you make

up a package for the homeless help

serve Christmas dinner at a shelter or

write a love letter to someone in need

this is the season for giving Think

outside of what you can do financially

or what you can buy for someone else

and give some of your time Find a

worthy cause one you truly believe

in and spare a few of your watching-

reality-tv or blog-perusing hours to

help out Trust us yoursquoll feel so much

luckier for your own blessings

six ideas to make the most of the winter season

connect with someone from your past Not someone

who should stay in your past (ex-

boyfriends wersquore looking at you) but

the holiday season lends a lovely sort of

nostalgia that can be the perfect excuse

to email an old friend to say hello and

catch up You might read dozens of

Facebook updates a day but how often

do you genuinely connect with your

ldquosocial networkrdquo Think about how

glad yoursquod be if you got a little note just

to say ldquoI was thinking about yourdquo

make your house smell like a winter wonderland Fill

a pot with water a chopped orange

a cup of cranberries four cinnamon

sticks and a pinch of cloves Let it

simmer gently on the stove all day

Sometimes we let our olfactory senses

fall by the wayside but scent can be

one of the most powerful mood en-

hancers In no time your home will

smell like a magical delicious holiday

kingdom Pop a little Bing Crosby

onto the record player and yoursquoll be

buzzing to smooch someone under the

mistletoe in no time

I have a lovehate relationship with ldquostuffrdquo which tends to make me

a gift-giverrsquos worst nightmare at Christmastime While Irsquove never

been one to hoard things I went through an intense de-cluttering

phase last year after reading a book called The Joy Of Less The

premise of the book is simple own less stuff be happier

The book inspired me to de-clutter my entire house from the

bathroom to the kitchen and everything in between I began clear-

ing out cabinets and drawers room by room and making regular

trips to Goodwill with bags of unwanted stuff clothes rarely worn

appliances rarely used DVDs rarely watched etc If it wasnrsquot prac-

tical or being used on a semi-regular basis out it went I watched

my drawers dwindle down to necessities and my shelves become

bare and yet I felt no regret or remorse I found freedom in the

empty space - a happy lightness that I hadnrsquot realized I needed in

my life

A few months later Christmas came along and suddenly I was

back to square one Stuff was everywhere begging to be bought

and begging to be had I spent the majority of December mak-

ing lists pinning ideas fighting crowds at Target hunting for

online coupon codes and wrapping gifts with a perfect mixture

of craft paper ribbons and doilies It was stressful expensive

overwhelming and not exactly the cheerful holiday season I was

expecting

Even more stressful was unloading all of the gifts from our car

after Christmas was over I had become so protective of my half-

empty drawers and bare shelves that I couldnrsquot fathom filling

them up with clutter again even if that clutter was straight off my

Pinterest wish list Even though I knew the gifts had been given in

love it was just too much

So lesson learned This year wersquore approaching Christmas a bit

differently Wersquove established a 4-gift rule in our household wersquoll

each receive something we want something we need something

to wear and something to read Wersquore asking our families for more

experiences and less stuff - swapping new boots and shiny gadgets

for zoo memberships and art classes The hope is that wersquoll be able

to use most of our Christmas gifts to create memories in 2013 and

avoid cluttering our home with tons of things we donrsquot need

If you also find yourself unwillingly wrapped up (no pun intend-

ed) in too much ldquostuffrdquo this holiday season here are a few experi-

ences you can add to your wish list or give to others

For Him

Concert tickets

Tickets to a lecture

Brewery Tour

Round of golf at his favorite course

For Her

Local yoga passes

Drybar bartabs

A photography class

For the Couple

Weekend away

Cooking classes

Wine tasting

Food tour

For Kiddos

Local zoo membership

Local art studio membership

Tickets to the train museum aquarium etc

Movie tickets

All I Want for Christmas is Less StuffWords by Ashlee GaddPhoto by Carmyn Joy Effa

I have a lovehate relationship with ldquostuffrdquo which tends to make me

a gift-giverrsquos worst nightmare at Christmastime While Irsquove never

been one to hoard things I went through an intense de-cluttering

phase last year after reading a book called The Joy Of Less The

premise of the book is simple own less stuff be happier

The book inspired me to de-clutter my entire house from the

bathroom to the kitchen and everything in between I began clear-

ing out cabinets and drawers room by room and making regular

trips to Goodwill with bags of unwanted stuff clothes rarely worn

appliances rarely used DVDs rarely watched etc If it wasnrsquot prac-

tical or being used on a semi-regular basis out it went I watched

my drawers dwindle down to necessities and my shelves become

bare and yet I felt no regret or remorse I found freedom in the

empty space - a happy lightness that I hadnrsquot realized I needed in

my life

A few months later Christmas came along and suddenly I was

back to square one Stuff was everywhere begging to be bought

and begging to be had I spent the majority of December mak-

ing lists pinning ideas fighting crowds at Target hunting for

online coupon codes and wrapping gifts with a perfect mixture

of craft paper ribbons and doilies It was stressful expensive

overwhelming and not exactly the cheerful holiday season I was

expecting

Even more stressful was unloading all of the gifts from our car

after Christmas was over I had become so protective of my half-

empty drawers and bare shelves that I couldnrsquot fathom filling

them up with clutter again even if that clutter was straight off my

Pinterest wish list Even though I knew the gifts had been given in

love it was just too much

So lesson learned This year wersquore approaching Christmas a bit

differently Wersquove established a 4-gift rule in our household wersquoll

each receive something we want something we need something

to wear and something to read Wersquore asking our families for more

experiences and less stuff - swapping new boots and shiny gadgets

for zoo memberships and art classes The hope is that wersquoll be able

to use most of our Christmas gifts to create memories in 2013 and

avoid cluttering our home with tons of things we donrsquot need

If you also find yourself unwillingly wrapped up (no pun intend-

ed) in too much ldquostuffrdquo this holiday season here are a few experi-

ences you can add to your wish list or give to others

For Him

Concert tickets

Tickets to a lecture

Brewery Tour

Round of golf at his favorite course

For Her

Local yoga passes

Drybar bartabs

A photography class

For the Couple

Weekend away

Cooking classes

Wine tasting

Food tour

For Kiddos

Local zoo membership

Local art studio membership

Tickets to the train museum aquarium etc

Movie tickets

All I Want for Christmas is Less StuffWords by Ashlee GaddPhoto by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 15

Createverb

bring (something) into existence

HOLIDAY 2012 | 17

Wrap ItUpfour creative ways to wrap gifts

By Camilla Salem

One of the best parts of the season is turn-

ing on your favorite holiday music and

sitting down to wrap gifts for all of your fa-

vorite people You could go the traditional

route and purchase lovely wrapping paper

or you could do what I did and make use

of all the extra paper bags you have lying

around the house Itrsquos simple really Take

a paper grocery bag Cut it apart along the

seams cut off the handles and wrap your

gifts Decorate with unique and inexpen-

sive items for an extra special touch

add an ornamentTie an ornament to your wrapping with a

piece of twine Itrsquos like getting two presents

in one

HOLIDAY 2012 | 19

go naturalFind pretty leaves (I used eucalyptus leaves

and pods) and tie them down with some

raffia for an earthy feel I suggest bay leaf

holly berries or pine needles

stampedMake your own pretty printed wrapping

paper by creating a pattern with stamps

Go crazy here and have fun mixing colors

and shapes

HOLIDAY 2012 | 21

jingle bellsYour friends will hear their presents

coming if you tie on some festive bells

(available at any craft store) It adds so

much to the joy of the holidays

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

Createverb

bring (something) into existence

HOLIDAY 2012 | 17

Wrap ItUpfour creative ways to wrap gifts

By Camilla Salem

One of the best parts of the season is turn-

ing on your favorite holiday music and

sitting down to wrap gifts for all of your fa-

vorite people You could go the traditional

route and purchase lovely wrapping paper

or you could do what I did and make use

of all the extra paper bags you have lying

around the house Itrsquos simple really Take

a paper grocery bag Cut it apart along the

seams cut off the handles and wrap your

gifts Decorate with unique and inexpen-

sive items for an extra special touch

add an ornamentTie an ornament to your wrapping with a

piece of twine Itrsquos like getting two presents

in one

HOLIDAY 2012 | 19

go naturalFind pretty leaves (I used eucalyptus leaves

and pods) and tie them down with some

raffia for an earthy feel I suggest bay leaf

holly berries or pine needles

stampedMake your own pretty printed wrapping

paper by creating a pattern with stamps

Go crazy here and have fun mixing colors

and shapes

HOLIDAY 2012 | 21

jingle bellsYour friends will hear their presents

coming if you tie on some festive bells

(available at any craft store) It adds so

much to the joy of the holidays

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 17

Wrap ItUpfour creative ways to wrap gifts

By Camilla Salem

One of the best parts of the season is turn-

ing on your favorite holiday music and

sitting down to wrap gifts for all of your fa-

vorite people You could go the traditional

route and purchase lovely wrapping paper

or you could do what I did and make use

of all the extra paper bags you have lying

around the house Itrsquos simple really Take

a paper grocery bag Cut it apart along the

seams cut off the handles and wrap your

gifts Decorate with unique and inexpen-

sive items for an extra special touch

add an ornamentTie an ornament to your wrapping with a

piece of twine Itrsquos like getting two presents

in one

HOLIDAY 2012 | 19

go naturalFind pretty leaves (I used eucalyptus leaves

and pods) and tie them down with some

raffia for an earthy feel I suggest bay leaf

holly berries or pine needles

stampedMake your own pretty printed wrapping

paper by creating a pattern with stamps

Go crazy here and have fun mixing colors

and shapes

HOLIDAY 2012 | 21

jingle bellsYour friends will hear their presents

coming if you tie on some festive bells

(available at any craft store) It adds so

much to the joy of the holidays

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

Wrap ItUpfour creative ways to wrap gifts

By Camilla Salem

One of the best parts of the season is turn-

ing on your favorite holiday music and

sitting down to wrap gifts for all of your fa-

vorite people You could go the traditional

route and purchase lovely wrapping paper

or you could do what I did and make use

of all the extra paper bags you have lying

around the house Itrsquos simple really Take

a paper grocery bag Cut it apart along the

seams cut off the handles and wrap your

gifts Decorate with unique and inexpen-

sive items for an extra special touch

add an ornamentTie an ornament to your wrapping with a

piece of twine Itrsquos like getting two presents

in one

HOLIDAY 2012 | 19

go naturalFind pretty leaves (I used eucalyptus leaves

and pods) and tie them down with some

raffia for an earthy feel I suggest bay leaf

holly berries or pine needles

stampedMake your own pretty printed wrapping

paper by creating a pattern with stamps

Go crazy here and have fun mixing colors

and shapes

HOLIDAY 2012 | 21

jingle bellsYour friends will hear their presents

coming if you tie on some festive bells

(available at any craft store) It adds so

much to the joy of the holidays

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 19

go naturalFind pretty leaves (I used eucalyptus leaves

and pods) and tie them down with some

raffia for an earthy feel I suggest bay leaf

holly berries or pine needles

stampedMake your own pretty printed wrapping

paper by creating a pattern with stamps

Go crazy here and have fun mixing colors

and shapes

HOLIDAY 2012 | 21

jingle bellsYour friends will hear their presents

coming if you tie on some festive bells

(available at any craft store) It adds so

much to the joy of the holidays

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

stampedMake your own pretty printed wrapping

paper by creating a pattern with stamps

Go crazy here and have fun mixing colors

and shapes

HOLIDAY 2012 | 21

jingle bellsYour friends will hear their presents

coming if you tie on some festive bells

(available at any craft store) It adds so

much to the joy of the holidays

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 21

jingle bellsYour friends will hear their presents

coming if you tie on some festive bells

(available at any craft store) It adds so

much to the joy of the holidays

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

Step-by-Step Make A Paper StarBy Emily Rack

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 23

what you need

Kite paper (in a pinch wax paper or baking parchment will do)ScissorsGlue

My sisters and I have made kite paper

stars ever since we were little and itrsquos a

tradition we have continued and passed

on with great delight These simple stars

encapsulate everything I love about the

holiday season and make a beautiful mini-

malist addition to plain wrapping paper

a white card or even windows When

the light shines through them you see all

sorts of beautiful patterns

Cut eight identical small rectangles

out of your paper

Fold each piece vertically down the

middle

Fold in both corners of the top like

yoursquore making a paper airplane

Do the same with the bottom corners

Fold the top corners in again so that

one end is very thin

Line up the bottom left edge of one

piece with the center line of another and

glue in place

Continue like this with all eight

pieces making sure to layer each piece on

top of the last

Allow to dry and voila You can make

them in any size as long as your pieces are

all equal

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 25

Blossommeet me under the mistletoe

By Camilla Salem

Each year December rolls around the streets fill with Christmas

trees wreaths and garlands Stores glitter with gorgeous ornaments

hanging in windows Pretty wrapping paper and peppermint every-

thing peak our interests But therersquos one little bunch of foliage that

tends to get looked over

A hanging bunch of mistletoe immediately brings kissing to mind

Actually this plant has a rich history which makes it even cooler

The plant itself is a parasitic plant (ironic isnrsquot it) It has no roots

and instead digs into the bark of a tree to survive But itrsquos not all

bad Some animals use the plant as food and there are even studies

of Junipers that concluded that more berries sprout where mistletoe

is present

The plant has been seen as a representation of romance and vital-

ity for centuries It is even said that the Greek goddess Artemis wore

a crown of mistletoe as a symbol of fertility It was even used as a

remedy for barrenness in animals Not too long ago mistletoe was

hung in homes to ward off witches and evil spirits but these days we

mostly hear of the plant in holiday songs or we lure our crushes under

a hanging bunch to sneak a kiss

While the history of the plant is vast and impressive (seriously we

have only barely scratched the surface here) we like to think that it

serves as a reminder to take pause as you stand under it and show a lit-

tle affection to those you love and cherish no matter what holiday you

celebrate this time of year

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

Nurtureverb

care for and encourage the growth or development of

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 27

We Recommend

BOOK ndash The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by

Deb Perlman

The long-awaited Smitten Kitchen

cookbook is here and filled with

recipes we might never have dreamed

of without Deb Perelman Perhaps

Irsquom biased - Smitten Kitchen was the

first blog I ever started ldquofollowingrdquo

so my thoughts on her book might

be tainted with the pride of a long-

time reader Even still itrsquos not often

you find a cookbook with recipes like

ldquoButterscotch Banana Tarte Tatinrdquo

and ldquoSrsquomore Layer Cakerdquo all from a

woman self-taught and self-made in a

tiny New York City kitchen Fandom

aside we recommend Debrsquos cookbook

because it serves as inspiration of what

our passions can become

ALBUM ndash A Charlie Brown Christmas

mdash Vince Guaraldi Trio

I unfailingly reach for this album

around this time every year With

holiday songs on repeat almost

everywhere you go itrsquos refreshing to

listen to something so subtle yet so

seasonal ldquoJoyrdquo is the first word that

comes to mind when I put this record

on Maybe itrsquos because I always picture

Snoopy and the gang dancing their

little hearts out To me this album

evokes the purest sense of holiday

goodness Itrsquos simple melodic and

doesnrsquot get stuck in your head

MOVIE ndash Safety Not Guaranteed

ldquoThree magazine employees head out

on an assignment to interview a guy

who placed a classified ad seeking a

companion for time travelrdquo (IMDB)

When my boyfriend hit ldquoplayrdquo and

began explaining this premise I

told him it had 30 minutes to ldquoget

interestingrdquo An hour later I was

unreasonably attached to Darius

(Aubrey Plaza) and had forgotten

about my 30-minute ultimatum

Yes in a way itrsquos a movie about time

travel but itrsquos less about actual travel

and more about the possibility and

personal motives behind it Beyond

the seemingly sci-fi storyline the

characters are both written and

portrayed with excellence They

breathe life and witty humor into the

film making it a very different yet

very pleasant kind of surprise

three things wersquore loving this season

By Celeste Noche

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

The Juicy Details

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Celeste Noche

no chewing allowed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 29

I am a person who likes to chew

This isnrsquot something I ever thought I would

have to stipulate not even something I ever

thought about until I was two days into a

juice cleanse and realized ldquoAh chewing

Thatrsquos whatrsquos missing hererdquo

Juicing The idea caught my attention a few

years ago when these all-liquid tickets to

bodily happiness were being championed

across every health outlet and womenrsquos

magazine in the western world

I thought it was utter nonsense How

grumpy and tired would you be after only

drinking juice for days on end Nope it

wasnrsquot for me Irsquom a food girl through and

through and didnrsquot have time to wilt over

my desk wearily sipping juice and snap-

ping at anyone who dared take a bite of a

sandwich near me

To my surprise the trend stuck around

and I decided ldquoDonrsquot knock it lsquotil yoursquove

tried itrdquo was a better approach Irsquom an avid

green smoothie drinker and veggie fanatic

and eat fruit like itrsquos going out of style

so this seemed like it would be a natural

progression just one step further into the

world of clean eating

I also had wicked desire to see what all the

fuss was about and maybe even (gasp) ex-

pose juice cleanses as merely a fad You see

the tabloid shots of celebrities and Califor-

nia it-girls walking out of the gym glow-

ing and holding telltale bottles of green

juice I figured if anyone was going to

prove them wrong it would be me (namely

a non-celebrity non-Californian)

It turns out that although I set out to do

some serious investigative reporting I dis-

covered that while juicing isnrsquot necessarily

all that it has some enormous benefits and

is not to be sniffed at

Juicing 101

Essentially juicing is a way to recharge

and reset your insides You drink only

juice (and water and herbal teas) for a set

number of days in the hopes that your body

can clear itself of toxins get rid of the

processed junk itrsquos polluted with and soak

up all the goodness it needs while getting

set on the right track

You can juice cleanse at home but I chose

to try delivery services Theyrsquore easy con-

venient and most importantly save the

mess and time of at-home juicing I tried

two cleanses - one from Total Cleanse and

one from BluePrintCleanse both of which

were fundamentally the same process

Depending on your level of juicing-savvy

you can increase the cleanse intensity to

best suit your lifestyle In mine there were

six juices per day a mixture of green veg-

etable juices cayenne-lemonades some-

thing fruity and a rich creamy cashew

milk to end the day with

What cleansing promised clearer skin

more energy boosted immune system

better sleep clarity of mind less bloated

clearing your body of old toxins Not bad

hey

Calorically the cleanses sit between 900

and 1200 calories per day which is lower

than Irsquod like (typically I wonrsquot go under

1200) but they claim that with digestion

removed from the equation you donrsquot need

as many calories to function

You should ease into juicing by eliminat-

ing meat sugar caffeine dairy and wheat

products from your diet for a few days You

should also ease back into regular foods

afterwards The packages are all highly

comprehensive and customizable And if

you use a juicing service there is always

someone on hand to field your questions

Juice Diaries

What I want out of the cleanse is to help

kick some bad habits Irsquom gluten- and

dairy-intolerant so juicing holds a huge

appeal to me in this respect Everything is

fresh natural and raw and I wonrsquot have

to worry about putting anything reactive

into my body Irsquom also completely addicted

to processed sugar something Irsquove been

trying to cut but am miserably failing at

If juicing could help me oust that habit it

would be a winner in my book

The juices show up at my door in the mid-

dle of the night and are completely intimi-

dating One girl three days 18 bottles of

juice I unpack them and they sit like an

army on my counter ldquoOkay juicesrdquo I tell

them ldquoItrsquos just you and merdquo

Day one is breeze I have the momentum

from preparing for the juice cleanse and

am on a single-minded mission to do my

body some good The juices are large and

while most of the varieties are absolutely

dreamy the green juice is sour and a little

too grassy for my liking By the middle of

the second day I am choking the green

ones down with my nose plugged

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

I drink the juices about two hours apart

with lots of water and herbal tea in be-

tween and although Irsquom not hungry it

feels strange to not be full By bedtime my

stomach is growling so I sip on the last

bottle of the day a cinnamon-agave cashew

milk which adds the only fats you get

throughout the cleanse My stomach pipes

down and I have one of the best sleeps of

my life I feel clear-headed light and airy

The second day goes by fairly easily I have

a huge caffeine withdrawal headache in

the morning that is remedied by drinking

extra water I have found that drinking

the greens through a straw makes them

more palatable At dinner I have a bowl of

organic low-sodium vegetable broth along

with my juice but Irsquove done 90-minute hot

yoga classes both days without feeling un-

characteristically exhausted so I consider

it a success vegetable broth and all

The third day I am an old pro and actually

starting to crave the (previously feared)

green juices The lemon-cayenne drinks

are my favorite - spicy and refreshing

I am amazingly still not hungry By the

last evening however things start to go

downhill I shake so violently during yoga

that I collapse I break the cleanse that

night with a bit of steamed sweet potatoes

and some vegetable broth and feel better

immediately

The Verdict

Okay so my skin wasnrsquot necessarily glow-

ing and my energy levels werenrsquot exactly

through the roof but juicing was a fantas-

tic way to reset my eating habits and put my

mind in a healthful spot

If I had done a longer cleanse maybe five

days (albeit with less exercise) Irsquom sure I

would have experienced more of the adver-

tised benefits but this is what I did find

Awareness Juicing is an exercise in

knowing exactly what yoursquore eating and

in self-control Pre-cleanse I thought I

would be starving and tired but I wasnrsquot at

all The sheer volume of liquids keeps you

full all day and yoursquore being packed full of

nutrients

Au revoir junk food I kicked out

processed sugars completely Even after the

cleanse I had zero cravings for processed

sugars and weeks later my sugar con-

sumption is extremely reduced Hurrah

Flat stomach Oh let me tell you about

the flat stomach It made me want to call

Sports Illustrated and strip down to my

skivvies and make a calendar right then

and there I wanted to take photos of it

I wanted to star in a music video This is

rare for me because even as a relatively

healthy active girl having allergies and

food sensitivities has made me chronically

inflamed puffy and uncomfortable I

would juice cleanse again any day of the

week for the flat stomach alone

Listen to your body You are cutting

out a lot of important elements when you

cleanse things like iron and most impor-

tantly fiber Make sure you drink tons of

water to keep everything moving through

your system and pay attention to what your

body is telling you

Chew your juice The lack of chewing

makes your teeth feel fuzzy In fact I am

told after the cleanse that juices should be

chewed to stimulate digestive enzymes so I

would keep that in mind for next time

Steady on Really and truly ease off the

cleanse with only fruit veggies and soups

Maybe introduce a little fish I didnrsquot

do this properly the first time and was

extremely uncomfortable the rest of the

week

The Skinny I imagine juicing is a good

way to start a weight-loss kick (although I

didnrsquot lose a single pound) because of the

level of awareness brought to your diet But

it shouldnrsquot be used as a weight loss tool

Remember any weight loss you see on the

scale during your cleanse will all come

back as soon as you start eating again

Expert Opinion

ldquoJuice cleanses are not a quick fix If yoursquore

interested in eating healthily going on a

cleanse for a few days is not the answer If

yoursquore feeling toxic from what yoursquore eat-

ing itrsquos best to address whatrsquos making you

feel that way in the first place A lot of peo-

ple say they feel good after a juice cleanse

but a long-term real balanced diet with

lots of fresh fruit and whole grains will

have the same effects It kind of sounds like

cotton underwear - kind of boring and not

very sexy - but itrsquos the right thing to do for

your bodyrdquo Krystle Hall MSc RD direc-

tor of Health Castle Calgary

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

HOLIDAY 2012 | 31

Exploreverb

travel in or through (an unfamiliar country or area) in order to learn

about or familiarize oneself with it

HOLIDAY 2012 | 33

As the year comes to a close and the weather grows colder

we think of cozying up preparing hearty meals and staying

inside to escape the winter This isnrsquot quite the case in Munich

The southeastern German city experiences winters below 23deg F

(-5deg C) yet during these months the city center is just as lively as

the middle of the summer From seasonal food to their outdoor

markets Muumlncheners show us that although winter is here we

donrsquot have to stay inside

Christkindlmarkts and Wintermarkts are the primary tradition

that keeps Muumlncheners outdoors late in the year Throughout

the city wooden shops pop up in clusters to sell winter goods

and warm food to enjoy in the chilly weather Although the

seasonal ldquovillagesrdquo often appear to be childlike in decorations

and carnival fare winter market patrons of all ages can be found

enjoying Heiszlige Schokolade andLebkuchen (hot chocolate and

gingerbread) The outdoor markets are the perfect setting to enjoy

the heartiness of other typical German food like goulash and

bratwursts And although Germans have Gluumlhwein (hot wine) to

get their buzzes while keeping warm itrsquos not uncommon to see

beers on hand as well

While these Christkindlmarkts can be found all over Germany

this fearlessness of the wintery outdoors became most evident one

Sunday in the Englischer Garten On this particular November

day it was 32deg F (0deg C) at most yet the park was filled with tourists

families and dog-walkers alike The Englischer Garten--

famed for its biergartens and its picturesque setting for summer

picnics-- was filled with visitors at the cusp of winter The sun was

barely visible behind the sheet of overcast gray but every picnic

table at the Chinesischer Turm and Kleinhesseloher Lake was

taken

Being the homebody that I am I rarely turn down the opportunity

to stay inside with hot tea and a good book-- especially in the

winter And while this lifestyle might be comfortable itrsquos kept me

from fully enjoying a time of year thatrsquos most often referred to as

ldquomagicalrdquo The soft sting of crisp air on your nose Warm bellies

filled with soup and hot chocolate Our breaths transformed

into wisps of air spouting in puffs and reminding us wersquore alive

Although small and fleeting they are nevertheless reminders to

embrace the season

winterin munich

By Celeste Noche

HOLIDAY 2012 | 35

HOLIDAY 2012 | 37

how does a california girl survive a new york city winter

Thatrsquos the question Irsquom trying to answer as

I prepare for my first ldquorealrdquo Winter in the

big city Irsquom buying snow boots scarves

and sweaters Irsquom trying to figure out how

to work my ancient noisy wall heater Irsquom

stocking up on my emergency supplies

namely extra jars of peanut butter hot

chocolate mix marshmallows and a life-

time supply of Clif Bars

The reality is Irsquove worn flip-flops and

hoodies through most Winters of my life

Growing up in the suburbs of Sacramento

we certainly have a seasonal change itrsquos

blistering hot in the Summer gray and

rainy in the Winter and beautiful blue

skies and bright colors in the Fall and

Spring But I never spent much time in the

unsavory elements The run to and from

my car was usually the longest I had to

endure a bite of cold or a drench of rain

usually needing my sunglasses more often

than I needed an umbrella

My fear of Winter in New York City is

multifaceted Therersquos the extremity and

unfamiliarity of it hurricanes and bliz-

zards snow and sleet Then itrsquos the length

the gray freeze of Winter can drag from the

first festive snowfall in November until the

supposed Springtime in April And the

third is the actual interaction reliant on

public transportation I spend much of my

day walking to and from the subway or to

and from my home to my actual destina-

tion

Winter In The CityBy Christine Amorose

HOLIDAY 2012 | 39

And herersquos my biggest fear that with-

out those bursts of sunshine that quite

literally brighten my mood Irsquoll slip into

a funk Seasonal affective disorder a

form of depression that manifests in cold

weather runs in my family For many of

my post-adolescent Winters I had an un-

healthy obsession with the tanning bed I

tanned 3-4 times a week to light up my day

as much as to darken my skin

Since I made the conscious decision to quit

tanning in June 2009 Irsquove chased mild

weather and sandy beaches around the

world Irsquove been a beach bum in the French

Riviera Australia and Southeast Asia as

Winter swept through North America

New York City is a drastic change from

my usual MO of laid-back vibes and

year-round sunshine Therersquos something

alluring in the frenzied energy the hustle

of pressed suits and clicking heels on the

sidewalk and the subway that never shuts

down in the city that never sleeps Itrsquos so

far out of my comfort zone that making it

here is a personal challenge and part of

that is making it through the Winter

So far Irsquove weathered Hurricane Sandy

and Snowstorm Athena while my friends

and family regale me with tales of the In-

dian summer in California that just wonrsquot

cease

Irsquom learning how to layer fashionably and

effectively wool headband to keep my ears

warm without ruining my hair fingerless

gloves to warm my fingers while still letting

me text thick scarves socks and sweaters

Irsquom discovering which bars have fireplaces

and mulled wine and planning museum

and movie weekends Irsquom bonding with the

other Californians in the city - exchang-

ing tips on what to keep in the pantries for

emergency-snowstorm-movie-days and the

warmest socks to buy We know that if wersquore

going to survive itrsquos going to be together

huddled over hot apple cider as we experi-

ence our first (or second or third) white

Christmas season

But herersquos what really makes the thought of

Winter in New York City bearable itrsquos New

York City And I know that even when itrsquos

freezing cold itrsquos never boring

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 33

As the year comes to a close and the weather grows colder

we think of cozying up preparing hearty meals and staying

inside to escape the winter This isnrsquot quite the case in Munich

The southeastern German city experiences winters below 23deg F

(-5deg C) yet during these months the city center is just as lively as

the middle of the summer From seasonal food to their outdoor

markets Muumlncheners show us that although winter is here we

donrsquot have to stay inside

Christkindlmarkts and Wintermarkts are the primary tradition

that keeps Muumlncheners outdoors late in the year Throughout

the city wooden shops pop up in clusters to sell winter goods

and warm food to enjoy in the chilly weather Although the

seasonal ldquovillagesrdquo often appear to be childlike in decorations

and carnival fare winter market patrons of all ages can be found

enjoying Heiszlige Schokolade andLebkuchen (hot chocolate and

gingerbread) The outdoor markets are the perfect setting to enjoy

the heartiness of other typical German food like goulash and

bratwursts And although Germans have Gluumlhwein (hot wine) to

get their buzzes while keeping warm itrsquos not uncommon to see

beers on hand as well

While these Christkindlmarkts can be found all over Germany

this fearlessness of the wintery outdoors became most evident one

Sunday in the Englischer Garten On this particular November

day it was 32deg F (0deg C) at most yet the park was filled with tourists

families and dog-walkers alike The Englischer Garten--

famed for its biergartens and its picturesque setting for summer

picnics-- was filled with visitors at the cusp of winter The sun was

barely visible behind the sheet of overcast gray but every picnic

table at the Chinesischer Turm and Kleinhesseloher Lake was

taken

Being the homebody that I am I rarely turn down the opportunity

to stay inside with hot tea and a good book-- especially in the

winter And while this lifestyle might be comfortable itrsquos kept me

from fully enjoying a time of year thatrsquos most often referred to as

ldquomagicalrdquo The soft sting of crisp air on your nose Warm bellies

filled with soup and hot chocolate Our breaths transformed

into wisps of air spouting in puffs and reminding us wersquore alive

Although small and fleeting they are nevertheless reminders to

embrace the season

winterin munich

By Celeste Noche

HOLIDAY 2012 | 35

HOLIDAY 2012 | 37

how does a california girl survive a new york city winter

Thatrsquos the question Irsquom trying to answer as

I prepare for my first ldquorealrdquo Winter in the

big city Irsquom buying snow boots scarves

and sweaters Irsquom trying to figure out how

to work my ancient noisy wall heater Irsquom

stocking up on my emergency supplies

namely extra jars of peanut butter hot

chocolate mix marshmallows and a life-

time supply of Clif Bars

The reality is Irsquove worn flip-flops and

hoodies through most Winters of my life

Growing up in the suburbs of Sacramento

we certainly have a seasonal change itrsquos

blistering hot in the Summer gray and

rainy in the Winter and beautiful blue

skies and bright colors in the Fall and

Spring But I never spent much time in the

unsavory elements The run to and from

my car was usually the longest I had to

endure a bite of cold or a drench of rain

usually needing my sunglasses more often

than I needed an umbrella

My fear of Winter in New York City is

multifaceted Therersquos the extremity and

unfamiliarity of it hurricanes and bliz-

zards snow and sleet Then itrsquos the length

the gray freeze of Winter can drag from the

first festive snowfall in November until the

supposed Springtime in April And the

third is the actual interaction reliant on

public transportation I spend much of my

day walking to and from the subway or to

and from my home to my actual destina-

tion

Winter In The CityBy Christine Amorose

HOLIDAY 2012 | 39

And herersquos my biggest fear that with-

out those bursts of sunshine that quite

literally brighten my mood Irsquoll slip into

a funk Seasonal affective disorder a

form of depression that manifests in cold

weather runs in my family For many of

my post-adolescent Winters I had an un-

healthy obsession with the tanning bed I

tanned 3-4 times a week to light up my day

as much as to darken my skin

Since I made the conscious decision to quit

tanning in June 2009 Irsquove chased mild

weather and sandy beaches around the

world Irsquove been a beach bum in the French

Riviera Australia and Southeast Asia as

Winter swept through North America

New York City is a drastic change from

my usual MO of laid-back vibes and

year-round sunshine Therersquos something

alluring in the frenzied energy the hustle

of pressed suits and clicking heels on the

sidewalk and the subway that never shuts

down in the city that never sleeps Itrsquos so

far out of my comfort zone that making it

here is a personal challenge and part of

that is making it through the Winter

So far Irsquove weathered Hurricane Sandy

and Snowstorm Athena while my friends

and family regale me with tales of the In-

dian summer in California that just wonrsquot

cease

Irsquom learning how to layer fashionably and

effectively wool headband to keep my ears

warm without ruining my hair fingerless

gloves to warm my fingers while still letting

me text thick scarves socks and sweaters

Irsquom discovering which bars have fireplaces

and mulled wine and planning museum

and movie weekends Irsquom bonding with the

other Californians in the city - exchang-

ing tips on what to keep in the pantries for

emergency-snowstorm-movie-days and the

warmest socks to buy We know that if wersquore

going to survive itrsquos going to be together

huddled over hot apple cider as we experi-

ence our first (or second or third) white

Christmas season

But herersquos what really makes the thought of

Winter in New York City bearable itrsquos New

York City And I know that even when itrsquos

freezing cold itrsquos never boring

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

As the year comes to a close and the weather grows colder

we think of cozying up preparing hearty meals and staying

inside to escape the winter This isnrsquot quite the case in Munich

The southeastern German city experiences winters below 23deg F

(-5deg C) yet during these months the city center is just as lively as

the middle of the summer From seasonal food to their outdoor

markets Muumlncheners show us that although winter is here we

donrsquot have to stay inside

Christkindlmarkts and Wintermarkts are the primary tradition

that keeps Muumlncheners outdoors late in the year Throughout

the city wooden shops pop up in clusters to sell winter goods

and warm food to enjoy in the chilly weather Although the

seasonal ldquovillagesrdquo often appear to be childlike in decorations

and carnival fare winter market patrons of all ages can be found

enjoying Heiszlige Schokolade andLebkuchen (hot chocolate and

gingerbread) The outdoor markets are the perfect setting to enjoy

the heartiness of other typical German food like goulash and

bratwursts And although Germans have Gluumlhwein (hot wine) to

get their buzzes while keeping warm itrsquos not uncommon to see

beers on hand as well

While these Christkindlmarkts can be found all over Germany

this fearlessness of the wintery outdoors became most evident one

Sunday in the Englischer Garten On this particular November

day it was 32deg F (0deg C) at most yet the park was filled with tourists

families and dog-walkers alike The Englischer Garten--

famed for its biergartens and its picturesque setting for summer

picnics-- was filled with visitors at the cusp of winter The sun was

barely visible behind the sheet of overcast gray but every picnic

table at the Chinesischer Turm and Kleinhesseloher Lake was

taken

Being the homebody that I am I rarely turn down the opportunity

to stay inside with hot tea and a good book-- especially in the

winter And while this lifestyle might be comfortable itrsquos kept me

from fully enjoying a time of year thatrsquos most often referred to as

ldquomagicalrdquo The soft sting of crisp air on your nose Warm bellies

filled with soup and hot chocolate Our breaths transformed

into wisps of air spouting in puffs and reminding us wersquore alive

Although small and fleeting they are nevertheless reminders to

embrace the season

winterin munich

By Celeste Noche

HOLIDAY 2012 | 35

HOLIDAY 2012 | 37

how does a california girl survive a new york city winter

Thatrsquos the question Irsquom trying to answer as

I prepare for my first ldquorealrdquo Winter in the

big city Irsquom buying snow boots scarves

and sweaters Irsquom trying to figure out how

to work my ancient noisy wall heater Irsquom

stocking up on my emergency supplies

namely extra jars of peanut butter hot

chocolate mix marshmallows and a life-

time supply of Clif Bars

The reality is Irsquove worn flip-flops and

hoodies through most Winters of my life

Growing up in the suburbs of Sacramento

we certainly have a seasonal change itrsquos

blistering hot in the Summer gray and

rainy in the Winter and beautiful blue

skies and bright colors in the Fall and

Spring But I never spent much time in the

unsavory elements The run to and from

my car was usually the longest I had to

endure a bite of cold or a drench of rain

usually needing my sunglasses more often

than I needed an umbrella

My fear of Winter in New York City is

multifaceted Therersquos the extremity and

unfamiliarity of it hurricanes and bliz-

zards snow and sleet Then itrsquos the length

the gray freeze of Winter can drag from the

first festive snowfall in November until the

supposed Springtime in April And the

third is the actual interaction reliant on

public transportation I spend much of my

day walking to and from the subway or to

and from my home to my actual destina-

tion

Winter In The CityBy Christine Amorose

HOLIDAY 2012 | 39

And herersquos my biggest fear that with-

out those bursts of sunshine that quite

literally brighten my mood Irsquoll slip into

a funk Seasonal affective disorder a

form of depression that manifests in cold

weather runs in my family For many of

my post-adolescent Winters I had an un-

healthy obsession with the tanning bed I

tanned 3-4 times a week to light up my day

as much as to darken my skin

Since I made the conscious decision to quit

tanning in June 2009 Irsquove chased mild

weather and sandy beaches around the

world Irsquove been a beach bum in the French

Riviera Australia and Southeast Asia as

Winter swept through North America

New York City is a drastic change from

my usual MO of laid-back vibes and

year-round sunshine Therersquos something

alluring in the frenzied energy the hustle

of pressed suits and clicking heels on the

sidewalk and the subway that never shuts

down in the city that never sleeps Itrsquos so

far out of my comfort zone that making it

here is a personal challenge and part of

that is making it through the Winter

So far Irsquove weathered Hurricane Sandy

and Snowstorm Athena while my friends

and family regale me with tales of the In-

dian summer in California that just wonrsquot

cease

Irsquom learning how to layer fashionably and

effectively wool headband to keep my ears

warm without ruining my hair fingerless

gloves to warm my fingers while still letting

me text thick scarves socks and sweaters

Irsquom discovering which bars have fireplaces

and mulled wine and planning museum

and movie weekends Irsquom bonding with the

other Californians in the city - exchang-

ing tips on what to keep in the pantries for

emergency-snowstorm-movie-days and the

warmest socks to buy We know that if wersquore

going to survive itrsquos going to be together

huddled over hot apple cider as we experi-

ence our first (or second or third) white

Christmas season

But herersquos what really makes the thought of

Winter in New York City bearable itrsquos New

York City And I know that even when itrsquos

freezing cold itrsquos never boring

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 35

HOLIDAY 2012 | 37

how does a california girl survive a new york city winter

Thatrsquos the question Irsquom trying to answer as

I prepare for my first ldquorealrdquo Winter in the

big city Irsquom buying snow boots scarves

and sweaters Irsquom trying to figure out how

to work my ancient noisy wall heater Irsquom

stocking up on my emergency supplies

namely extra jars of peanut butter hot

chocolate mix marshmallows and a life-

time supply of Clif Bars

The reality is Irsquove worn flip-flops and

hoodies through most Winters of my life

Growing up in the suburbs of Sacramento

we certainly have a seasonal change itrsquos

blistering hot in the Summer gray and

rainy in the Winter and beautiful blue

skies and bright colors in the Fall and

Spring But I never spent much time in the

unsavory elements The run to and from

my car was usually the longest I had to

endure a bite of cold or a drench of rain

usually needing my sunglasses more often

than I needed an umbrella

My fear of Winter in New York City is

multifaceted Therersquos the extremity and

unfamiliarity of it hurricanes and bliz-

zards snow and sleet Then itrsquos the length

the gray freeze of Winter can drag from the

first festive snowfall in November until the

supposed Springtime in April And the

third is the actual interaction reliant on

public transportation I spend much of my

day walking to and from the subway or to

and from my home to my actual destina-

tion

Winter In The CityBy Christine Amorose

HOLIDAY 2012 | 39

And herersquos my biggest fear that with-

out those bursts of sunshine that quite

literally brighten my mood Irsquoll slip into

a funk Seasonal affective disorder a

form of depression that manifests in cold

weather runs in my family For many of

my post-adolescent Winters I had an un-

healthy obsession with the tanning bed I

tanned 3-4 times a week to light up my day

as much as to darken my skin

Since I made the conscious decision to quit

tanning in June 2009 Irsquove chased mild

weather and sandy beaches around the

world Irsquove been a beach bum in the French

Riviera Australia and Southeast Asia as

Winter swept through North America

New York City is a drastic change from

my usual MO of laid-back vibes and

year-round sunshine Therersquos something

alluring in the frenzied energy the hustle

of pressed suits and clicking heels on the

sidewalk and the subway that never shuts

down in the city that never sleeps Itrsquos so

far out of my comfort zone that making it

here is a personal challenge and part of

that is making it through the Winter

So far Irsquove weathered Hurricane Sandy

and Snowstorm Athena while my friends

and family regale me with tales of the In-

dian summer in California that just wonrsquot

cease

Irsquom learning how to layer fashionably and

effectively wool headband to keep my ears

warm without ruining my hair fingerless

gloves to warm my fingers while still letting

me text thick scarves socks and sweaters

Irsquom discovering which bars have fireplaces

and mulled wine and planning museum

and movie weekends Irsquom bonding with the

other Californians in the city - exchang-

ing tips on what to keep in the pantries for

emergency-snowstorm-movie-days and the

warmest socks to buy We know that if wersquore

going to survive itrsquos going to be together

huddled over hot apple cider as we experi-

ence our first (or second or third) white

Christmas season

But herersquos what really makes the thought of

Winter in New York City bearable itrsquos New

York City And I know that even when itrsquos

freezing cold itrsquos never boring

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 37

how does a california girl survive a new york city winter

Thatrsquos the question Irsquom trying to answer as

I prepare for my first ldquorealrdquo Winter in the

big city Irsquom buying snow boots scarves

and sweaters Irsquom trying to figure out how

to work my ancient noisy wall heater Irsquom

stocking up on my emergency supplies

namely extra jars of peanut butter hot

chocolate mix marshmallows and a life-

time supply of Clif Bars

The reality is Irsquove worn flip-flops and

hoodies through most Winters of my life

Growing up in the suburbs of Sacramento

we certainly have a seasonal change itrsquos

blistering hot in the Summer gray and

rainy in the Winter and beautiful blue

skies and bright colors in the Fall and

Spring But I never spent much time in the

unsavory elements The run to and from

my car was usually the longest I had to

endure a bite of cold or a drench of rain

usually needing my sunglasses more often

than I needed an umbrella

My fear of Winter in New York City is

multifaceted Therersquos the extremity and

unfamiliarity of it hurricanes and bliz-

zards snow and sleet Then itrsquos the length

the gray freeze of Winter can drag from the

first festive snowfall in November until the

supposed Springtime in April And the

third is the actual interaction reliant on

public transportation I spend much of my

day walking to and from the subway or to

and from my home to my actual destina-

tion

Winter In The CityBy Christine Amorose

HOLIDAY 2012 | 39

And herersquos my biggest fear that with-

out those bursts of sunshine that quite

literally brighten my mood Irsquoll slip into

a funk Seasonal affective disorder a

form of depression that manifests in cold

weather runs in my family For many of

my post-adolescent Winters I had an un-

healthy obsession with the tanning bed I

tanned 3-4 times a week to light up my day

as much as to darken my skin

Since I made the conscious decision to quit

tanning in June 2009 Irsquove chased mild

weather and sandy beaches around the

world Irsquove been a beach bum in the French

Riviera Australia and Southeast Asia as

Winter swept through North America

New York City is a drastic change from

my usual MO of laid-back vibes and

year-round sunshine Therersquos something

alluring in the frenzied energy the hustle

of pressed suits and clicking heels on the

sidewalk and the subway that never shuts

down in the city that never sleeps Itrsquos so

far out of my comfort zone that making it

here is a personal challenge and part of

that is making it through the Winter

So far Irsquove weathered Hurricane Sandy

and Snowstorm Athena while my friends

and family regale me with tales of the In-

dian summer in California that just wonrsquot

cease

Irsquom learning how to layer fashionably and

effectively wool headband to keep my ears

warm without ruining my hair fingerless

gloves to warm my fingers while still letting

me text thick scarves socks and sweaters

Irsquom discovering which bars have fireplaces

and mulled wine and planning museum

and movie weekends Irsquom bonding with the

other Californians in the city - exchang-

ing tips on what to keep in the pantries for

emergency-snowstorm-movie-days and the

warmest socks to buy We know that if wersquore

going to survive itrsquos going to be together

huddled over hot apple cider as we experi-

ence our first (or second or third) white

Christmas season

But herersquos what really makes the thought of

Winter in New York City bearable itrsquos New

York City And I know that even when itrsquos

freezing cold itrsquos never boring

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

how does a california girl survive a new york city winter

Thatrsquos the question Irsquom trying to answer as

I prepare for my first ldquorealrdquo Winter in the

big city Irsquom buying snow boots scarves

and sweaters Irsquom trying to figure out how

to work my ancient noisy wall heater Irsquom

stocking up on my emergency supplies

namely extra jars of peanut butter hot

chocolate mix marshmallows and a life-

time supply of Clif Bars

The reality is Irsquove worn flip-flops and

hoodies through most Winters of my life

Growing up in the suburbs of Sacramento

we certainly have a seasonal change itrsquos

blistering hot in the Summer gray and

rainy in the Winter and beautiful blue

skies and bright colors in the Fall and

Spring But I never spent much time in the

unsavory elements The run to and from

my car was usually the longest I had to

endure a bite of cold or a drench of rain

usually needing my sunglasses more often

than I needed an umbrella

My fear of Winter in New York City is

multifaceted Therersquos the extremity and

unfamiliarity of it hurricanes and bliz-

zards snow and sleet Then itrsquos the length

the gray freeze of Winter can drag from the

first festive snowfall in November until the

supposed Springtime in April And the

third is the actual interaction reliant on

public transportation I spend much of my

day walking to and from the subway or to

and from my home to my actual destina-

tion

Winter In The CityBy Christine Amorose

HOLIDAY 2012 | 39

And herersquos my biggest fear that with-

out those bursts of sunshine that quite

literally brighten my mood Irsquoll slip into

a funk Seasonal affective disorder a

form of depression that manifests in cold

weather runs in my family For many of

my post-adolescent Winters I had an un-

healthy obsession with the tanning bed I

tanned 3-4 times a week to light up my day

as much as to darken my skin

Since I made the conscious decision to quit

tanning in June 2009 Irsquove chased mild

weather and sandy beaches around the

world Irsquove been a beach bum in the French

Riviera Australia and Southeast Asia as

Winter swept through North America

New York City is a drastic change from

my usual MO of laid-back vibes and

year-round sunshine Therersquos something

alluring in the frenzied energy the hustle

of pressed suits and clicking heels on the

sidewalk and the subway that never shuts

down in the city that never sleeps Itrsquos so

far out of my comfort zone that making it

here is a personal challenge and part of

that is making it through the Winter

So far Irsquove weathered Hurricane Sandy

and Snowstorm Athena while my friends

and family regale me with tales of the In-

dian summer in California that just wonrsquot

cease

Irsquom learning how to layer fashionably and

effectively wool headband to keep my ears

warm without ruining my hair fingerless

gloves to warm my fingers while still letting

me text thick scarves socks and sweaters

Irsquom discovering which bars have fireplaces

and mulled wine and planning museum

and movie weekends Irsquom bonding with the

other Californians in the city - exchang-

ing tips on what to keep in the pantries for

emergency-snowstorm-movie-days and the

warmest socks to buy We know that if wersquore

going to survive itrsquos going to be together

huddled over hot apple cider as we experi-

ence our first (or second or third) white

Christmas season

But herersquos what really makes the thought of

Winter in New York City bearable itrsquos New

York City And I know that even when itrsquos

freezing cold itrsquos never boring

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 39

And herersquos my biggest fear that with-

out those bursts of sunshine that quite

literally brighten my mood Irsquoll slip into

a funk Seasonal affective disorder a

form of depression that manifests in cold

weather runs in my family For many of

my post-adolescent Winters I had an un-

healthy obsession with the tanning bed I

tanned 3-4 times a week to light up my day

as much as to darken my skin

Since I made the conscious decision to quit

tanning in June 2009 Irsquove chased mild

weather and sandy beaches around the

world Irsquove been a beach bum in the French

Riviera Australia and Southeast Asia as

Winter swept through North America

New York City is a drastic change from

my usual MO of laid-back vibes and

year-round sunshine Therersquos something

alluring in the frenzied energy the hustle

of pressed suits and clicking heels on the

sidewalk and the subway that never shuts

down in the city that never sleeps Itrsquos so

far out of my comfort zone that making it

here is a personal challenge and part of

that is making it through the Winter

So far Irsquove weathered Hurricane Sandy

and Snowstorm Athena while my friends

and family regale me with tales of the In-

dian summer in California that just wonrsquot

cease

Irsquom learning how to layer fashionably and

effectively wool headband to keep my ears

warm without ruining my hair fingerless

gloves to warm my fingers while still letting

me text thick scarves socks and sweaters

Irsquom discovering which bars have fireplaces

and mulled wine and planning museum

and movie weekends Irsquom bonding with the

other Californians in the city - exchang-

ing tips on what to keep in the pantries for

emergency-snowstorm-movie-days and the

warmest socks to buy We know that if wersquore

going to survive itrsquos going to be together

huddled over hot apple cider as we experi-

ence our first (or second or third) white

Christmas season

But herersquos what really makes the thought of

Winter in New York City bearable itrsquos New

York City And I know that even when itrsquos

freezing cold itrsquos never boring

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

Nourishverb

provide with food or other substances necessary for growth

health and good condition

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 41

Four Piz zas Fit for a Part yBy Camilla Salem

eat lots of pizza and be merry

Pizza night is always a good night This

holiday season try something

different from your usual party fare by

serving delicious homemade pizzas They

can be served as meals or cut into small

slices and passed around as

appetizers Your family and friends will

love you forever guaranteed Wersquove got

four savory ideas for your next

homemade pizza party

You can opt to buy pre-made dough from

almost any store but if you set aside a little

bit of time earlier in the day yoursquoll have

homemade dough that you can brag about

all night long The technique is simple

and once you have it down yoursquoll never

rely on store-bought dough again

Homemade Dough Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 12 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for bowl

1 tablespoon yeast

about 12 cup of water (or more if you need

it)

In a large bowl mix flour olive oil and

yeast Add water and mix everything

together until itrsquos evenly distributed Work

the dough for about 5 minutes on a floured

cutting board Shape it into a ball Coat

the bowl with a thin layer of oil and roll

the ball of dough in the oil so the surfaces

are covered Cover with a towel or a piece

of plastic wrap and let the dough rise for 2

hours After two hours work the dough for

a couple minutes on your floured cutting

board Let it sit again for 5 minutes under

a towel or piece of plastic wrap Then use

your fingers or a rolling pin to stretch and

roll the dough into a thin pizza skin Oil a

baking tray or a pizza pan and stretch the

skin to fit With a fork poke holes in the

skin evenly Top with your favorite top-

pings bake at 450deg Fahrenheit and pull

it out when the crust is golden brown and

cheese is melted and bubbly

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

Pizza Margherita with Lemony Arugula ToppingWant to fancy up your favorite classic pizza Top it with

some spicy arugula and watch the slices disappear

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano

tomatoes

1 clove of garlic minced or grated

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

fresh mozzarella slices

2 cups fresh arugula

juice of half a lemon

In a large saucepan heat tomatoes plus all

of the juice in the can Add garlic 1 table-

spoon of olive oil and salt Cook down for

30-40 minutes pressing tomatoes into

the side of the pan every so often Take off

the heat and mash with a potato masher

to make the sauce smoother Add water if

necessary

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread sauce evenly over the dough Ar-

range mozzarella slices on top of the sauce

Bake at 450deg Fahrenheit until crust is

golden brown and cheese is bubbly Set

aside

In a separate bowl toss arugula with 1

teaspoon of olive oil and the juice of half a

lemon Once the pizza has cooled slightly

top with arugula and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 43

Potato Basil and Roasted Garlic PizzaIf yoursquore looking for a lighter pizza thatrsquos loaded with all

kinds of flavor this is your winner

1 head of garlic

2 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil plus more for

brushing

12 cup basil leaves chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

Pinch of salt

14 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or

white cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400deg Fahrenheit Cut

the head of garlic in half (so that you cut

through the garlic cloves themselves)

Brush exposed garlic with olive oil Wrap

both heads in aluminum foil and roast for

30 minutes or until the cloves are soft

Thinly slice potatoes with a mandolin or a

sharp knife Soak in cold water until yoursquore

ready to work with them Set aside

With a mortar and pestle or in a food

processor blend together 3 tablespoons of

olive oil basil leaves chopped fresh garlic

and salt Add more olive oil if you need it

You can also use a store-bought pesto if

yoursquod prefer

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with olive oil Arrange one

layer of potato slices evenly over the dough

Sprinkle with cheese lightly Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until potatoes are cooked

through cheese is bubbly and crust is

golden brown Take the pizza out of the

oven top with roasted garlic cloves and

drizzle with basil mixture

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 45

Mushroom Onion and White Wine PizzaThis pie is seriously savory The wine adds great flavor to

the mushroom mixture

1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brush-

ing

12 yellow onion thinly sliced

34 pound of crimini mushrooms thinly

sliced

2 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves removed

a pinch of salt and pepper

12 cup dry white wine

1 cup grated fontina cheese

chopped flat leaf parsley for serving

Heat olive oil in a sauteacute pan over medium-

high heat Cook onions mushroom

thyme salt and pepper together until

everything begins to soften and brown

Add the wine and cook down until the

wine evaporates

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Spread mushroom and onion mixture

evenly over the dough Top with fontina

cheese Brush crust with olive oil Bake at

450deg Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly

and the crust is golden brown Sprinkle

with parsley and serve hot

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

Spicy Shrimp and Garlic PizzaGet ready for a rich slice of pizza The garlic-butter

mixture is key to this indulgent recipe But hey itrsquos the

holidays so enjoy

12 pound of raw shrimp peeled and

deveined

1 tablespoon olive oil

14 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

pinch of salt and pepper

12 stick of salted butter

2 large cloves of garlic minced

2 teaspoons chopped flat leaf parsley plus

more for sprinkling

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a bowl coat shrimp with olive oil pep-

per flakes salt and pepper Set aside In

a saucepan melt butter Add garlic and

parsley and let it all cook together for 2

minutes or so Remove from heat

Prepare the pizza dough for toppings

Brush dough with butter and garlic mix-

ture making sure to get garlic chunks all

over the pizza Top with shredded cheese

and shrimp and brush with more but-

ter mixture if you have it Bake at 450deg

Fahrenheit until the cheese is bubbly the

crust is golden brown and the shrimp

are cooked through Sprinkle with more

freshly chopped parsley and serve

HOLIDAY 2012 | 47

From Scratchglazed over

zesty lemon glaze2 cups powdered sugar

juice and zest of 1 lemon

Over low heat dissolve the icing sugar into

the lemon juice Grate the zest into your

mixture Pour over a plain or lemon pound

cake after baking

salted caramel glaze1 cup white sugar

6 tablespoons butter

frac12 cup whipping cream

frac12 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Melt the sugar over high heat in a large pot

(constantly stirring) until it has reached a

liquid consistency Quickly add the butter

and continue to stir as the mixture foams

Take everything off the heat pour in the

cream and continue to stir until the sauce

is smooth Mix in the vanilla and sea salt

and refrigerate for up to a week Use on

everything

Words by Emily RackPhotos by Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 49

chocolate raspberry ganache1 cup dark chocolate broken into small

pieces

1 tablespoon raspberry jam

1 cup whipping cream (coconut milk would

work for a dairy-free alternative)

fresh raspberries for garnish

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or

over low heat When smooth remove from

heat and whip in the jam and cream Allow

it to cool in the fridge for about an hour

before whipping the mixture again and

layering it between sponge cakes or on top

of cupcakes

cream cheese icing1 package (250 grams or 8-9 ounces) of

cream cheese

frac14 cup butter

frac34 cup icing sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

frac12 teaspoon cinnamon

Beat the cream cheese and butter together

until smooth then gradually whip in icing

sugar cinnamon and vanilla This will

keep in the refrigerator for a day or so Add

in the zest of half an orange for some extra

pizzazz

HOLIDAY 2012 | 51

In Season TangerinesBy Camilla Salem

Itrsquos that time of year

The piles of little orange citrus fruits are showing up in grocery

stores and that means wersquoll all be getting our daily doses of delicious

vitamin C But whatrsquos the story behind this popular fruit

The word ldquotangerinerdquo is derived from Tangier Morocco which is the

port where the first tangerines were shipped to Europe back in 1841

Prior to that the fruit was grown exclusively in the Far East where

they were once offered as tokens of honor to royals Different varieties

today include the honey tangerine and the sunburst tangerine

Tangerines are loaded with vitamins and minerals but more impor-

tantly theyrsquore fun to eat Theyrsquore not as sour as oranges and theyrsquove

got a distinct flavor Tangerine juice is delicious (mimosas on Christ-

mas morning anyone) and the segments are a perfect addition to

salads but mostly people just peel and eat on the spot

In stores you can often find clementines which are a seedless variety

of tangerine The freshest fruit will still have its green leaves and stem

attached They should be firm and have an even orange color

So this year enjoy the rich food of the holiday season and on days

when you need something a little lighter pack a couple of tangerines

in your purse and enjoy

Things we want to try tangerine cocktails tangerine sorbet and

tangerine marmalade

Playverb

engage in activity for enjoyment

HOLIDAY 2012 | 53

By Molly Yeh

Dumplings of the World Party

Because therersquos nothing not to love about a plump little

dumpling you should definitely throw a party about it Invite your

closest friends dig your hands into some dough and work up an

appetite with this edible party activity Whether your guests are

cooking experts or cooking newbies dumpling making is a simple

and fun way to bring out inner chefs So get the rolling pins out

and prepare for your kitchen to take a beating because it is about to

see a bazillion dumplings

prepTwo or three days in advance

Buy ingredients This will give you enough time to hunt down all

of your ingredients but it wonrsquot be so much time that the veggies

and meat will spoil

One day in advance

Make all of the dough the potsticker filling and any other fill-

ings Keep in mind though that if you wait to make the pierogi

samosa or empanada filling until right before guests arrive your

house will smell amazing

Day of

Set up (see below) preheat the oven to 375deg boil water for the

pierogi and potstickers (itrsquos okay to use the same water for both)

make remaining fillings and pour sauces into serving bowls

set upCreate four stations one for each type of dumpling Stations can

be all at the same table or you can set up little tables around your

house Cover all surfaces with parchment or wax paper so that

guests can work with the dough (this will also allow for a super

quick and easy clean up while the dumplings are cooking) Each

station should have a bowl of dough a bowl of filling spoons for

the filling a little bowl of flour a rolling pin and a pan covered

with parchment for the formed dumplings

You may also want to set out some veggies or crackers to snack on

in case guests get hungry before the dumplings are ready to eat

decorKeep it simple and functional Use colorful and fun bowls for

fillings dough and sauces Handwritten signs with directions will

add charm Blast a fun playlist to keep the energy high

drinksPair your dumplings of the world with beers of the world Have

a Tsingtao with a potsticker a Kingfisher with a samosa a San

Miguel with an empanada and a Zywiec with a pierogi

Making the dumplings

Once guests have washed their hands and cracked open a beer

allow them to choose which dumplings theyrsquod like to make Some

will pick a station and stay there until all of the dumplings are

made some will want to rotate through all of the stations and

some will just drink all of your beer and keep good company

As the host be available to float around and help those who are

dumpling-challenged (even if itrsquos just to provide moral support in

the form of ldquoItrsquos okay that your dumplings look like a 6-year-old

made them [insert guestrsquos name here] They will still be deli-

ciousrdquo)

As pans get filled up with finished dumplings start cooking them

Clear the stations of the empty bowls and parchment paper and

give them a quick wipe down so that guests can have a place to eat

Itrsquos really important to make sure that any guests that work with

the potsticker filling which contains raw meat know to wash

their hands really well before eating anything Also pay special

attention to this station to make sure that the table gets cleaned

thoroughly

HOLIDAY 2012 | 55

more ideas Donrsquot feel the need to stick to our dumpling recipes Bring in

other dumplings to the mix like ravioli kreplach or spaetzle

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the prep Make it a potluck

and have each guest bring a different dough or filling

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 49

chocolate raspberry ganache1 cup dark chocolate broken into small

pieces

1 tablespoon raspberry jam

1 cup whipping cream (coconut milk would

work for a dairy-free alternative)

fresh raspberries for garnish

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or

over low heat When smooth remove from

heat and whip in the jam and cream Allow

it to cool in the fridge for about an hour

before whipping the mixture again and

layering it between sponge cakes or on top

of cupcakes

cream cheese icing1 package (250 grams or 8-9 ounces) of

cream cheese

frac14 cup butter

frac34 cup icing sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

frac12 teaspoon cinnamon

Beat the cream cheese and butter together

until smooth then gradually whip in icing

sugar cinnamon and vanilla This will

keep in the refrigerator for a day or so Add

in the zest of half an orange for some extra

pizzazz

HOLIDAY 2012 | 51

In Season TangerinesBy Camilla Salem

Itrsquos that time of year

The piles of little orange citrus fruits are showing up in grocery

stores and that means wersquoll all be getting our daily doses of delicious

vitamin C But whatrsquos the story behind this popular fruit

The word ldquotangerinerdquo is derived from Tangier Morocco which is the

port where the first tangerines were shipped to Europe back in 1841

Prior to that the fruit was grown exclusively in the Far East where

they were once offered as tokens of honor to royals Different varieties

today include the honey tangerine and the sunburst tangerine

Tangerines are loaded with vitamins and minerals but more impor-

tantly theyrsquore fun to eat Theyrsquore not as sour as oranges and theyrsquove

got a distinct flavor Tangerine juice is delicious (mimosas on Christ-

mas morning anyone) and the segments are a perfect addition to

salads but mostly people just peel and eat on the spot

In stores you can often find clementines which are a seedless variety

of tangerine The freshest fruit will still have its green leaves and stem

attached They should be firm and have an even orange color

So this year enjoy the rich food of the holiday season and on days

when you need something a little lighter pack a couple of tangerines

in your purse and enjoy

Things we want to try tangerine cocktails tangerine sorbet and

tangerine marmalade

Playverb

engage in activity for enjoyment

HOLIDAY 2012 | 53

By Molly Yeh

Dumplings of the World Party

Because therersquos nothing not to love about a plump little

dumpling you should definitely throw a party about it Invite your

closest friends dig your hands into some dough and work up an

appetite with this edible party activity Whether your guests are

cooking experts or cooking newbies dumpling making is a simple

and fun way to bring out inner chefs So get the rolling pins out

and prepare for your kitchen to take a beating because it is about to

see a bazillion dumplings

prepTwo or three days in advance

Buy ingredients This will give you enough time to hunt down all

of your ingredients but it wonrsquot be so much time that the veggies

and meat will spoil

One day in advance

Make all of the dough the potsticker filling and any other fill-

ings Keep in mind though that if you wait to make the pierogi

samosa or empanada filling until right before guests arrive your

house will smell amazing

Day of

Set up (see below) preheat the oven to 375deg boil water for the

pierogi and potstickers (itrsquos okay to use the same water for both)

make remaining fillings and pour sauces into serving bowls

set upCreate four stations one for each type of dumpling Stations can

be all at the same table or you can set up little tables around your

house Cover all surfaces with parchment or wax paper so that

guests can work with the dough (this will also allow for a super

quick and easy clean up while the dumplings are cooking) Each

station should have a bowl of dough a bowl of filling spoons for

the filling a little bowl of flour a rolling pin and a pan covered

with parchment for the formed dumplings

You may also want to set out some veggies or crackers to snack on

in case guests get hungry before the dumplings are ready to eat

decorKeep it simple and functional Use colorful and fun bowls for

fillings dough and sauces Handwritten signs with directions will

add charm Blast a fun playlist to keep the energy high

drinksPair your dumplings of the world with beers of the world Have

a Tsingtao with a potsticker a Kingfisher with a samosa a San

Miguel with an empanada and a Zywiec with a pierogi

Making the dumplings

Once guests have washed their hands and cracked open a beer

allow them to choose which dumplings theyrsquod like to make Some

will pick a station and stay there until all of the dumplings are

made some will want to rotate through all of the stations and

some will just drink all of your beer and keep good company

As the host be available to float around and help those who are

dumpling-challenged (even if itrsquos just to provide moral support in

the form of ldquoItrsquos okay that your dumplings look like a 6-year-old

made them [insert guestrsquos name here] They will still be deli-

ciousrdquo)

As pans get filled up with finished dumplings start cooking them

Clear the stations of the empty bowls and parchment paper and

give them a quick wipe down so that guests can have a place to eat

Itrsquos really important to make sure that any guests that work with

the potsticker filling which contains raw meat know to wash

their hands really well before eating anything Also pay special

attention to this station to make sure that the table gets cleaned

thoroughly

HOLIDAY 2012 | 55

more ideas Donrsquot feel the need to stick to our dumpling recipes Bring in

other dumplings to the mix like ravioli kreplach or spaetzle

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the prep Make it a potluck

and have each guest bring a different dough or filling

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 51

In Season TangerinesBy Camilla Salem

Itrsquos that time of year

The piles of little orange citrus fruits are showing up in grocery

stores and that means wersquoll all be getting our daily doses of delicious

vitamin C But whatrsquos the story behind this popular fruit

The word ldquotangerinerdquo is derived from Tangier Morocco which is the

port where the first tangerines were shipped to Europe back in 1841

Prior to that the fruit was grown exclusively in the Far East where

they were once offered as tokens of honor to royals Different varieties

today include the honey tangerine and the sunburst tangerine

Tangerines are loaded with vitamins and minerals but more impor-

tantly theyrsquore fun to eat Theyrsquore not as sour as oranges and theyrsquove

got a distinct flavor Tangerine juice is delicious (mimosas on Christ-

mas morning anyone) and the segments are a perfect addition to

salads but mostly people just peel and eat on the spot

In stores you can often find clementines which are a seedless variety

of tangerine The freshest fruit will still have its green leaves and stem

attached They should be firm and have an even orange color

So this year enjoy the rich food of the holiday season and on days

when you need something a little lighter pack a couple of tangerines

in your purse and enjoy

Things we want to try tangerine cocktails tangerine sorbet and

tangerine marmalade

Playverb

engage in activity for enjoyment

HOLIDAY 2012 | 53

By Molly Yeh

Dumplings of the World Party

Because therersquos nothing not to love about a plump little

dumpling you should definitely throw a party about it Invite your

closest friends dig your hands into some dough and work up an

appetite with this edible party activity Whether your guests are

cooking experts or cooking newbies dumpling making is a simple

and fun way to bring out inner chefs So get the rolling pins out

and prepare for your kitchen to take a beating because it is about to

see a bazillion dumplings

prepTwo or three days in advance

Buy ingredients This will give you enough time to hunt down all

of your ingredients but it wonrsquot be so much time that the veggies

and meat will spoil

One day in advance

Make all of the dough the potsticker filling and any other fill-

ings Keep in mind though that if you wait to make the pierogi

samosa or empanada filling until right before guests arrive your

house will smell amazing

Day of

Set up (see below) preheat the oven to 375deg boil water for the

pierogi and potstickers (itrsquos okay to use the same water for both)

make remaining fillings and pour sauces into serving bowls

set upCreate four stations one for each type of dumpling Stations can

be all at the same table or you can set up little tables around your

house Cover all surfaces with parchment or wax paper so that

guests can work with the dough (this will also allow for a super

quick and easy clean up while the dumplings are cooking) Each

station should have a bowl of dough a bowl of filling spoons for

the filling a little bowl of flour a rolling pin and a pan covered

with parchment for the formed dumplings

You may also want to set out some veggies or crackers to snack on

in case guests get hungry before the dumplings are ready to eat

decorKeep it simple and functional Use colorful and fun bowls for

fillings dough and sauces Handwritten signs with directions will

add charm Blast a fun playlist to keep the energy high

drinksPair your dumplings of the world with beers of the world Have

a Tsingtao with a potsticker a Kingfisher with a samosa a San

Miguel with an empanada and a Zywiec with a pierogi

Making the dumplings

Once guests have washed their hands and cracked open a beer

allow them to choose which dumplings theyrsquod like to make Some

will pick a station and stay there until all of the dumplings are

made some will want to rotate through all of the stations and

some will just drink all of your beer and keep good company

As the host be available to float around and help those who are

dumpling-challenged (even if itrsquos just to provide moral support in

the form of ldquoItrsquos okay that your dumplings look like a 6-year-old

made them [insert guestrsquos name here] They will still be deli-

ciousrdquo)

As pans get filled up with finished dumplings start cooking them

Clear the stations of the empty bowls and parchment paper and

give them a quick wipe down so that guests can have a place to eat

Itrsquos really important to make sure that any guests that work with

the potsticker filling which contains raw meat know to wash

their hands really well before eating anything Also pay special

attention to this station to make sure that the table gets cleaned

thoroughly

HOLIDAY 2012 | 55

more ideas Donrsquot feel the need to stick to our dumpling recipes Bring in

other dumplings to the mix like ravioli kreplach or spaetzle

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the prep Make it a potluck

and have each guest bring a different dough or filling

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

Playverb

engage in activity for enjoyment

HOLIDAY 2012 | 53

By Molly Yeh

Dumplings of the World Party

Because therersquos nothing not to love about a plump little

dumpling you should definitely throw a party about it Invite your

closest friends dig your hands into some dough and work up an

appetite with this edible party activity Whether your guests are

cooking experts or cooking newbies dumpling making is a simple

and fun way to bring out inner chefs So get the rolling pins out

and prepare for your kitchen to take a beating because it is about to

see a bazillion dumplings

prepTwo or three days in advance

Buy ingredients This will give you enough time to hunt down all

of your ingredients but it wonrsquot be so much time that the veggies

and meat will spoil

One day in advance

Make all of the dough the potsticker filling and any other fill-

ings Keep in mind though that if you wait to make the pierogi

samosa or empanada filling until right before guests arrive your

house will smell amazing

Day of

Set up (see below) preheat the oven to 375deg boil water for the

pierogi and potstickers (itrsquos okay to use the same water for both)

make remaining fillings and pour sauces into serving bowls

set upCreate four stations one for each type of dumpling Stations can

be all at the same table or you can set up little tables around your

house Cover all surfaces with parchment or wax paper so that

guests can work with the dough (this will also allow for a super

quick and easy clean up while the dumplings are cooking) Each

station should have a bowl of dough a bowl of filling spoons for

the filling a little bowl of flour a rolling pin and a pan covered

with parchment for the formed dumplings

You may also want to set out some veggies or crackers to snack on

in case guests get hungry before the dumplings are ready to eat

decorKeep it simple and functional Use colorful and fun bowls for

fillings dough and sauces Handwritten signs with directions will

add charm Blast a fun playlist to keep the energy high

drinksPair your dumplings of the world with beers of the world Have

a Tsingtao with a potsticker a Kingfisher with a samosa a San

Miguel with an empanada and a Zywiec with a pierogi

Making the dumplings

Once guests have washed their hands and cracked open a beer

allow them to choose which dumplings theyrsquod like to make Some

will pick a station and stay there until all of the dumplings are

made some will want to rotate through all of the stations and

some will just drink all of your beer and keep good company

As the host be available to float around and help those who are

dumpling-challenged (even if itrsquos just to provide moral support in

the form of ldquoItrsquos okay that your dumplings look like a 6-year-old

made them [insert guestrsquos name here] They will still be deli-

ciousrdquo)

As pans get filled up with finished dumplings start cooking them

Clear the stations of the empty bowls and parchment paper and

give them a quick wipe down so that guests can have a place to eat

Itrsquos really important to make sure that any guests that work with

the potsticker filling which contains raw meat know to wash

their hands really well before eating anything Also pay special

attention to this station to make sure that the table gets cleaned

thoroughly

HOLIDAY 2012 | 55

more ideas Donrsquot feel the need to stick to our dumpling recipes Bring in

other dumplings to the mix like ravioli kreplach or spaetzle

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the prep Make it a potluck

and have each guest bring a different dough or filling

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 53

By Molly Yeh

Dumplings of the World Party

Because therersquos nothing not to love about a plump little

dumpling you should definitely throw a party about it Invite your

closest friends dig your hands into some dough and work up an

appetite with this edible party activity Whether your guests are

cooking experts or cooking newbies dumpling making is a simple

and fun way to bring out inner chefs So get the rolling pins out

and prepare for your kitchen to take a beating because it is about to

see a bazillion dumplings

prepTwo or three days in advance

Buy ingredients This will give you enough time to hunt down all

of your ingredients but it wonrsquot be so much time that the veggies

and meat will spoil

One day in advance

Make all of the dough the potsticker filling and any other fill-

ings Keep in mind though that if you wait to make the pierogi

samosa or empanada filling until right before guests arrive your

house will smell amazing

Day of

Set up (see below) preheat the oven to 375deg boil water for the

pierogi and potstickers (itrsquos okay to use the same water for both)

make remaining fillings and pour sauces into serving bowls

set upCreate four stations one for each type of dumpling Stations can

be all at the same table or you can set up little tables around your

house Cover all surfaces with parchment or wax paper so that

guests can work with the dough (this will also allow for a super

quick and easy clean up while the dumplings are cooking) Each

station should have a bowl of dough a bowl of filling spoons for

the filling a little bowl of flour a rolling pin and a pan covered

with parchment for the formed dumplings

You may also want to set out some veggies or crackers to snack on

in case guests get hungry before the dumplings are ready to eat

decorKeep it simple and functional Use colorful and fun bowls for

fillings dough and sauces Handwritten signs with directions will

add charm Blast a fun playlist to keep the energy high

drinksPair your dumplings of the world with beers of the world Have

a Tsingtao with a potsticker a Kingfisher with a samosa a San

Miguel with an empanada and a Zywiec with a pierogi

Making the dumplings

Once guests have washed their hands and cracked open a beer

allow them to choose which dumplings theyrsquod like to make Some

will pick a station and stay there until all of the dumplings are

made some will want to rotate through all of the stations and

some will just drink all of your beer and keep good company

As the host be available to float around and help those who are

dumpling-challenged (even if itrsquos just to provide moral support in

the form of ldquoItrsquos okay that your dumplings look like a 6-year-old

made them [insert guestrsquos name here] They will still be deli-

ciousrdquo)

As pans get filled up with finished dumplings start cooking them

Clear the stations of the empty bowls and parchment paper and

give them a quick wipe down so that guests can have a place to eat

Itrsquos really important to make sure that any guests that work with

the potsticker filling which contains raw meat know to wash

their hands really well before eating anything Also pay special

attention to this station to make sure that the table gets cleaned

thoroughly

HOLIDAY 2012 | 55

more ideas Donrsquot feel the need to stick to our dumpling recipes Bring in

other dumplings to the mix like ravioli kreplach or spaetzle

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the prep Make it a potluck

and have each guest bring a different dough or filling

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

Because therersquos nothing not to love about a plump little

dumpling you should definitely throw a party about it Invite your

closest friends dig your hands into some dough and work up an

appetite with this edible party activity Whether your guests are

cooking experts or cooking newbies dumpling making is a simple

and fun way to bring out inner chefs So get the rolling pins out

and prepare for your kitchen to take a beating because it is about to

see a bazillion dumplings

prepTwo or three days in advance

Buy ingredients This will give you enough time to hunt down all

of your ingredients but it wonrsquot be so much time that the veggies

and meat will spoil

One day in advance

Make all of the dough the potsticker filling and any other fill-

ings Keep in mind though that if you wait to make the pierogi

samosa or empanada filling until right before guests arrive your

house will smell amazing

Day of

Set up (see below) preheat the oven to 375deg boil water for the

pierogi and potstickers (itrsquos okay to use the same water for both)

make remaining fillings and pour sauces into serving bowls

set upCreate four stations one for each type of dumpling Stations can

be all at the same table or you can set up little tables around your

house Cover all surfaces with parchment or wax paper so that

guests can work with the dough (this will also allow for a super

quick and easy clean up while the dumplings are cooking) Each

station should have a bowl of dough a bowl of filling spoons for

the filling a little bowl of flour a rolling pin and a pan covered

with parchment for the formed dumplings

You may also want to set out some veggies or crackers to snack on

in case guests get hungry before the dumplings are ready to eat

decorKeep it simple and functional Use colorful and fun bowls for

fillings dough and sauces Handwritten signs with directions will

add charm Blast a fun playlist to keep the energy high

drinksPair your dumplings of the world with beers of the world Have

a Tsingtao with a potsticker a Kingfisher with a samosa a San

Miguel with an empanada and a Zywiec with a pierogi

Making the dumplings

Once guests have washed their hands and cracked open a beer

allow them to choose which dumplings theyrsquod like to make Some

will pick a station and stay there until all of the dumplings are

made some will want to rotate through all of the stations and

some will just drink all of your beer and keep good company

As the host be available to float around and help those who are

dumpling-challenged (even if itrsquos just to provide moral support in

the form of ldquoItrsquos okay that your dumplings look like a 6-year-old

made them [insert guestrsquos name here] They will still be deli-

ciousrdquo)

As pans get filled up with finished dumplings start cooking them

Clear the stations of the empty bowls and parchment paper and

give them a quick wipe down so that guests can have a place to eat

Itrsquos really important to make sure that any guests that work with

the potsticker filling which contains raw meat know to wash

their hands really well before eating anything Also pay special

attention to this station to make sure that the table gets cleaned

thoroughly

HOLIDAY 2012 | 55

more ideas Donrsquot feel the need to stick to our dumpling recipes Bring in

other dumplings to the mix like ravioli kreplach or spaetzle

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the prep Make it a potluck

and have each guest bring a different dough or filling

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 55

more ideas Donrsquot feel the need to stick to our dumpling recipes Bring in

other dumplings to the mix like ravioli kreplach or spaetzle

Feeling overwhelmed with all of the prep Make it a potluck

and have each guest bring a different dough or filling

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

soy chorizo empanadas Dough2 12 cups all-purpose flour2 cups cornmeal2 teaspoons baking powder2 teaspoons salt2 tablespoons sugar2 sticks of butter melted 1 cup water

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients add butter and combine to create a coarse meal mixture Add water to form a dough Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons butter1 medium onion chopped1 red pepper chopped12 ounces soy chorizo chopped1 teaspoon cumin12 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon pepper12 teaspoon paprika34 cup vegetable broth2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar works well)

In a large pan over medium heat melt butter then add the onions Sweat the onions for 7 minutes Add pepper soy chorizo and seasonings Cook for 8 minutes stirring occasionally Add broth and simmer for 5 min-utes Remove from heat and stir in cheese

Additional Ingredients1 egg + 2 tablespoons water for egg wash Sour cream for serving

To form roll out golf-ball-sized pieces of dough and fill with 1 table-spoon of filling Pinch to seal shut and place on a greased baking sheet Brush with egg wash and bake at 375deg for 15-20 minutes until edges become slightly browned

samosasDough2 cups all-purpose flour 14 cup vegetable oil 12 cup water

In a large bowl combine flour and oil to form a coarse meal mixture Gradually add water to form a dough Knead for 5‐10 minutes until dough becomes smooth Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons + a pinch salt2 large baking potatoes diced into centimeter cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped1 tablespoon crushed garlic23 cup frozen peas1 teaspoon garam masala12 teaspoon turmeric14 teaspoon paprika12 teaspoon ground coriander seeds14 teaspoon ground ginger14 teaspoon cayennethe juice of 1 lemon

Add 2 tablespoons salt to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat Add potatoes and cook for 15 minutes While the potatoes are cooking heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat add onions and pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes Add garlic peas and seasonings and stir to combine Add potatoes and stir to combine cook for 15 minutes Remove from heat and add lemon juice

Additional IngredientsOil for fryingChutney and plain yogurt for serving

To form roll out a ping pong-sized piece of dough fill with 2 tablespoons filling Seal the edges to make a half-moon shape and then fold in half joining the outer corners and pinching the edges to make a pyramid shape Fry in a thin layer of oil over medium heat turning to brown all sides

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 57

chicken potstickers Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 12 teaspoons salt12 cup boiling water12 cup cold water

Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl Add hot water 13 at a time stirring constantly until you have a coarse meal mixture Add cold water 13 at a time gathering mixture until it forms a ball Knead dough on a floured board for 20 minutes (adding more flour is necessary to prevent sticking) until dough is smooth Cover with a damp towel and let sit for at least 20 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling34 pound ground chicken 14 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons soy sauce2 teaspoons rice vinegar2 teaspoons sugar12 teaspoon black pepper1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger14 cup finely minced scallions 13 cup chicken broth

Combine all ingredients

Additional ingredients Blanched cabbage for steaming Soy sauce for serving

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough and fill with 1 tablespoon filling Pinch to seat shut Steam in a steamer lined with blanched cabbage over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes

honey + ricotta + caramelized onion pierogies Dough2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper14 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 egg12 cup + 2 tablespoons milk

Combine dry ingredients Add egg and milk Turn onto floured surface and knead for 5 minutes Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use

Filling2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium onion chopped 15 ounces ricotta (part skim) 1 teaspoon salt12 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons honey1 egg

Heat oil in a pan over medium-low heat Add onions and caramelize While onions are caramelizing combine the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl When onions are ready add them to the mixture stirring constantly

Additional ingredientsButter for frying

To form roll out a ping-pong-ball-sized piece of dough fill with 1 table-spoon filling Pinch edges to seal Boil in salted water over high heat until dumplings float to the top (about 5 minutes) then transfer to a frying pan over medium heat Fry with butter until slightly browned

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

Museverb

be absorbed in thought

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 59

Wersquod driven between Edmonton and Calgaryso many times the road became a well-wornpaperback You in that over-sized blueVolvo the patchwork quilts of farmerrsquosfields enclosing your ribbon of asphalt

That night we left Highway 2 Irsquove committedto memory how we left your stationwagon stranded just to feel what itrsquod be like torace through the prairies in a January darknessOur shoes sliced into cregraveme brucircleacuteesnow while the soft black sky sought me out layingme quietly bare reminding me of the exhilarated speckI am We ran Ran as though nothing in the future couldhurt as though even oceans and grief and the absenceof God were surmountable

Do you know what itrsquos like to look out on oneof those unending planes To view an expanse of land sowide and so precious you fold open creased in the faceof future possibilities In that space yes even Icould start over

for e ly sePoem and photo by Carmyn Joy Effa

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

Hannah Brencher is a heroine among women a Christmas angel in

her own right Or at the very least living proof that the pen is

(much) mightier than the proverbial sword

Maybe yoursquove heard of this 24-year-old do-gooder from Connect-

icut and her organization The World Needs More Love Letters If

you havenrsquot yoursquore in for a treat What started out for Hannah as

a project in self-healing two years ago has exploded into a global

love letter extravaganza Today the initiative has inspired thou-

sands of hand-scripted sentiments to be stamped and sent out into

the world to help lift up strangers and brush off their sadness

Brencher champions a back-to-basics approach something oft

overlooked and yet powerful enough to bridge the undeniable

person-to-person gap technology leaves behind As she puts it

what we really need is ldquopure old-fashioned never-goes-out-of-

style Love Ridiculous oozing cannot-pack-this-thang-into-

140-characters kind of loverdquo

We sat down with Hannah to talk about making change the power

of kindness and of course putting pen to paper

Hannah we are so excited to be speaking with you we love the

project For our readers who might be less familiar can you tell

us a bit about who these love letters are going to

People come to our website and request love letters for someone

anyone who might need them This idea is very close to my heart

because we typically associate letter writing with occasions like

birthdays or Christmas or we designate them for specific causes

like cancer patients I wanted More Love Letters to exist so that

whoever you were and whatever yoursquod gone through you could

come onto the site and ask for letters for yourself or for somebody

else We give those requests to our letter writers to our subscrib-

An Interview with Hannah Brencherthe world needs more love letters

As told to Emily Rack

ers and to people who come onto the site looking to help We

make sure every single person gets a love letter or a bundle of love

letters

So how many letters have you facilitated

We just hit the 5000 mark

Wow Are you having a party

Oh my gosh no But we should start doing that

You definitely should That is a major cause for celebration

What inspired you to start the organization in the first place

I never intended to start it It wasnrsquot something on my radar or

something that I planned to do but when I was living in New York

City about two years ago I became enveloped with depression

At that time in my life I was fresh out of college and didnrsquot truly

know that depression was something you couldnrsquot help I figured it

was up to me to be strong enough to get over it and so to get myself

out of it I started writing love letters and leaving them all over

New York City

I wrote dozens of letters and then I started blogging about it and

said I would send a handwritten note to anybody who gave me their

address I wrote about 400 of them before I thought I could move

this out into the world to have a big impact Other people wanted

to do it too and wanted to know how to get involved

And there has been a massive response so far

Itrsquos been pretty crazy I think I thought it was going to die out after

a couple months or it might be a little side project I never thought

it would grow to be this massive Wersquore in 47 countries now and

growing every single day My favorite thing is getting emails from

HOLIDAY 2012 | 61

people who want to sign on to this cause and hear about the stories

and fall in love with the site and the raw organic-ness of it I donrsquot

want it to become commercial or a cool club to join I want it to

resonate with people

Now that itrsquos become so much bigger than just you are you

working towards an ultimate goal

I had to step back and realize I canrsquot steer it as much as Irsquod like

People take it into their own hands and I fully acknowledge the

fact that More Love Letters has grown into something of its own

Irsquom there to nudge it in the right direction and there is a lot of

opportunity coming down the pipeline There is a lot I can do

with it but I donrsquot want to say what the end goal is because ulti-

mately it keeps changing

Can you tell us about a love letter request that made a huge

impact on you

One that really impacted me personally was a young woman called

Eilis whose mother requested love letters for her She had just

graduated high school and was about to go to college and her

father had recently passed away I felt a really strong attachment to

her so I adopted Eilisrsquos love letter bundle For my birthday I asked

people to send in a love letter for Eilis instead of writing a card for

me Her mother got in touch and told me they would read a letter

to each other every night and even after Eilis went to college she

found herself reading the letters That to me is really inspiring

and reminds me of why I do what I do

Do you have a personal history of letter writing Do they mean

something special to you

I actually do Irsquove always had a really strong hate in my heart for

not digital communication the fact that as we move forward with

digital communications we stop talking to each other

My mom has never really believed in technology Her main way

of communicating with me through college and when I lived in

New York was through letter writing I donrsquot think I fully under-

stood how a lot of people didnrsquot have these kinds of letters to their

names

And you wanted to bring that back

I was sitting in class in college after reading Beloved by Toni Morri-

son and my professor was talking about letter writing She said she

and her husband had met at a time when distance really kept them

apart and they fell in love through writing letters She said ldquoYour

generation is never going to have thatrdquo

And I realized that letters play an important role when it comes

to learning about one another fully You shovel all your thoughts

into a letter you mail it off and then you have to wait for some-

onersquos reaction In the world we live in today we donrsquot have that

waiting process Itrsquos so much easier to get to know a person quickly

and I donrsquot know that wersquore being thorough enough with it

So you think itrsquos important to unplug from technology

I do Irsquom a strong advocate for technology and I think that this is

why More Love Letters is better than any other letter-writing or-

ganization out there - because we fully acknowledge that we arenrsquot

going to be anything without Twitter and social networks

But I want people to know the importance of unplugging Irsquom 24

years old and I feel like my message should be ldquobe plugged in

and be familiar with social mediardquo but itrsquos not I think itrsquos really

important that we spend time with one another that wersquore present

with one another that wersquore not bringing our phones to the table

that wersquore not always Instagramming our every move

Our time here is very limited and we donrsquot know how much we

have of it I think of how plugged in we are and how much wersquore

living our lives on Facebook and Twitter and how that interrupts

living a full life and our relationships with one another

Oh you are right up our alley What else do you think is impor-

tant in living fully

I feel like I live my life on a mission I donrsquot feel my life is my own

so much as I feel like it is for helping others I feel like everything

I do should be done with somebody else in mind If Irsquom waking up

and not doing things for someone else Irsquom doing it wrong

I am so fortunate and blessed and so lucky every single day and I

should see every interaction and every person I come across as an

opportunity to be a light for them and a blessing in their day

Thank you so much Hannah We love what yoursquore doing and we

canrsquot wait to see whatrsquos next

Get out your best stationery and get involved with The World

Needs More Love Letters by checking out their website and make

sure to follow them on Twitter Last yearrsquos 12 Days of Love Letter

Writing project may be coming around again just in time for you

to start changing the world and spreading the holiday cheer one

stamped envelope at a time

I actually do Irsquove always had a really strong hate in my heart for

not digital communication the fact that as we move forward with

digital communications we stop talking to each other

My mom has never really believed in technology Her main way

of communicating with me through college and when I lived in

New York was through letter writing I donrsquot think I fully under-

stood how a lot of people didnrsquot have these kinds of letters to their

names

And you wanted to bring that back

I was sitting in class in college after reading Beloved by Toni Morri-

son and my professor was talking about letter writing She said she

and her husband had met at a time when distance really kept them

apart and they fell in love through writing letters She said ldquoYour

generation is never going to have thatrdquo

And I realized that letters play an important role when it comes

to learning about one another fully You shovel all your thoughts

into a letter you mail it off and then you have to wait for some-

onersquos reaction In the world we live in today we donrsquot have that

waiting process Itrsquos so much easier to get to know a person quickly

and I donrsquot know that wersquore being thorough enough with it

So you think itrsquos important to unplug from technology

I do Irsquom a strong advocate for technology and I think that this is

why More Love Letters is better than any other letter-writing or-

ganization out there - because we fully acknowledge that we arenrsquot

going to be anything without Twitter and social networks

But I want people to know the importance of unplugging Irsquom 24

years old and I feel like my message should be ldquobe plugged in

and be familiar with social mediardquo but itrsquos not I think itrsquos really

important that we spend time with one another that wersquore present

with one another that wersquore not bringing our phones to the table

that wersquore not always Instagramming our every move

Our time here is very limited and we donrsquot know how much we

have of it I think of how plugged in we are and how much wersquore

living our lives on Facebook and Twitter and how that interrupts

living a full life and our relationships with one another

Oh you are right up our alley What else do you think is impor-

tant in living fully

I feel like I live my life on a mission I donrsquot feel my life is my own

so much as I feel like it is for helping others I feel like everything

I do should be done with somebody else in mind If Irsquom waking up

and not doing things for someone else Irsquom doing it wrong

I am so fortunate and blessed and so lucky every single day and I

should see every interaction and every person I come across as an

opportunity to be a light for them and a blessing in their day

Thank you so much Hannah We love what yoursquore doing and we

canrsquot wait to see whatrsquos next

Get out your best stationery and get involved with The World

Needs More Love Letters by checking out their website and make

sure to follow them on Twitter Last yearrsquos 12 Days of Love Letter

Writing project may be coming around again just in time for you

to start changing the world and spreading the holiday cheer one

stamped envelope at a time

HOLIDAY 2012 | 63

hannahrsquos favorites

Season Fall

Cocktail Margarita

Drink Sweet tea (ldquoIrsquove just come back

from Georgiardquo)

Cookie Oreo

Beauty product Bare Minerals

makeup

Song Gangnam Style

Book Gone Girl

Vacation spot Georgia

Way to relax (what makes her a

TOTAL Violet girl) ldquoI like to listen to

Christmas music Year-round Irsquom

not kidding you Irsquove been listening to

Christmas music since last Christmas

Like tonight Irsquom going to plug in my

Christmas lights and listen to music

and probably drink hot chocolaterdquo

Flower Sunflower

Way to end a letter With crossed Ts

and dotted Is

Embellishverb

make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative

details or features

HOLIDAY 2012 | 65

Flirty amp Festive WinterPhotos by Ashlee GaddWords by Camilla SalemModeled by Orli Kadoch

HOLIDAY 2012 | 67

lsquoTis the season to get dolled up and feel good So curl your lashes put on your favorite shade of lipstick and wear things that make you feel as special as this time of year Wersquod like to thank the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento for providing a lovely backdrop for this shoot

a flirty frock

Get yourself a short flirty dress for holiday parties

Wear tights if yoursquore not comfortable showing so much

leg but remember - if you opt for a short number

keep the neckline high (or vice versa)

Embellishverb

make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative

details or features

HOLIDAY 2012 | 65

Flirty amp Festive WinterPhotos by Ashlee GaddWords by Camilla SalemModeled by Orli Kadoch

HOLIDAY 2012 | 67

lsquoTis the season to get dolled up and feel good So curl your lashes put on your favorite shade of lipstick and wear things that make you feel as special as this time of year Wersquod like to thank the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento for providing a lovely backdrop for this shoot

a flirty frock

Get yourself a short flirty dress for holiday parties

Wear tights if yoursquore not comfortable showing so much

leg but remember - if you opt for a short number

keep the neckline high (or vice versa)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 65

Flirty amp Festive WinterPhotos by Ashlee GaddWords by Camilla SalemModeled by Orli Kadoch

HOLIDAY 2012 | 67

lsquoTis the season to get dolled up and feel good So curl your lashes put on your favorite shade of lipstick and wear things that make you feel as special as this time of year Wersquod like to thank the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento for providing a lovely backdrop for this shoot

a flirty frock

Get yourself a short flirty dress for holiday parties

Wear tights if yoursquore not comfortable showing so much

leg but remember - if you opt for a short number

keep the neckline high (or vice versa)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 67

lsquoTis the season to get dolled up and feel good So curl your lashes put on your favorite shade of lipstick and wear things that make you feel as special as this time of year Wersquod like to thank the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento for providing a lovely backdrop for this shoot

a flirty frock

Get yourself a short flirty dress for holiday parties

Wear tights if yoursquore not comfortable showing so much

leg but remember - if you opt for a short number

keep the neckline high (or vice versa)

romantic knits Heavy knitted sweaters beg for cups of hot

cocoa and cuddling (ideally with snow falling

outside) Bundle up but keep your hair loose

and relaxed

HOLIDAY 2012 | 69

color frame

Stand out in a sea of neutral Winter colors

All the heavy food and champagne may have

you leaning on your black clothing a little bit

more but simply wrap a colored pashmina

around your neck to feel lighter and brighter

HOLIDAY 2012 | 71

a touch of sparkle

It can be tempting to go overboard with

the sparkle during the holidays but most

of the time a little bit goes a long way A

sweet sparkly belt over a sweater is per-

fectly special for the season

Holiday Nailsthree hairstyles yoursquove got to try

Words by Kellee Vopelak Photos by Celeste Noche

Who doesnt like a little sparkle during

the holiday season (or year-round for

that matter) When it comes to my nails

I love when the holidays are around the

corner because it gives me an excuse to go

a little crazier with the glitter than I nor-

mally would Read on for several simple

ways to add a little shine to your Winter

manicures

Look 1

Colors

OPI - Keys to My Karma

American Apparel - Galaxy

I canrsquot stay away from this beautiful multi

An accent nail is very on-trend and eye-

catching right now and my favorite thing

about OPIrsquos ldquoKeys to my Karmardquo is that

it isnrsquot overwhelmingly ldquoChristmas redrdquo

You wonrsquot have to take your polish off im-

mediately after the holidays with this look

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Apply the necessary two coats of

this base color - itrsquos a thin polish so take

extra care to make sure all spots are cov-

ered and your nails arenrsquot left with streaks

Make sure you leave your ring finger (or

whichever finger you choose) with just the

clear coat

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoGalaxyrdquo

on your designated accent nail Once

finished dab a generous amount of the

polish onto tin foil Using a dotting tool

or a toothpick pick up each piece of glitter

one by one and place it in the empty spots

on your accent nail Repeat this until your

nail is completely covered You wonrsquot want

to stop looking at the finished product

Trust me

step 4 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 73

Look 2

Colors

Essie - Good as Gold

American Apparel - Meteor Shower

Gold glitter on gold nails may sound

outrageous but the best thing about

Essies Good as Gold is that its muted

- almost vintage-looking American

Apparels Meteor Shower is unique

(and one of my favorite glitters) because

the flecks are anything but consistent

Inside youll find tinsel-riffic bits and

pieces of different-sized gold foil Its a

great break from the predictable sparkle

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Youll want to make sure to

apply two coats of Good as Gold Its

necessary

step 3 My preference is just one

subtle coat of the glitter This way your

nails look more holiday fun and less

Ke$ha is coming to town

step 4 Finish with your favorite top

coat

Look 3

Colors

Essie - Steel-ing the Scene

American Apparel - Light Year

Therersquos nothing better than holographic

glitter This style is absolutely perfect for a

New Years Eve soireacutee Your nails will shine

like a disco ball

step 1 You guessed it - base coat

step 2 Yoursquoll need two coats of Essiersquos

ldquoSteel-ing the Scenerdquo Itrsquos such a unique

color - applying it is half the fun

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoLight Yearrdquo

to each of your nails after letting the silver

dry for a bit

step 4 After the glitter has slightly

dried apply another coat starting midway

up your nail Again let it dry

step 5 Apply glitter to just the tips of

your nails ndash think unique glittery French

manicure Feel free to get creative with the

gradient

step 6 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 69

color frame

Stand out in a sea of neutral Winter colors

All the heavy food and champagne may have

you leaning on your black clothing a little bit

more but simply wrap a colored pashmina

around your neck to feel lighter and brighter

HOLIDAY 2012 | 71

a touch of sparkle

It can be tempting to go overboard with

the sparkle during the holidays but most

of the time a little bit goes a long way A

sweet sparkly belt over a sweater is per-

fectly special for the season

Holiday Nailsthree hairstyles yoursquove got to try

Words by Kellee Vopelak Photos by Celeste Noche

Who doesnt like a little sparkle during

the holiday season (or year-round for

that matter) When it comes to my nails

I love when the holidays are around the

corner because it gives me an excuse to go

a little crazier with the glitter than I nor-

mally would Read on for several simple

ways to add a little shine to your Winter

manicures

Look 1

Colors

OPI - Keys to My Karma

American Apparel - Galaxy

I canrsquot stay away from this beautiful multi

An accent nail is very on-trend and eye-

catching right now and my favorite thing

about OPIrsquos ldquoKeys to my Karmardquo is that

it isnrsquot overwhelmingly ldquoChristmas redrdquo

You wonrsquot have to take your polish off im-

mediately after the holidays with this look

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Apply the necessary two coats of

this base color - itrsquos a thin polish so take

extra care to make sure all spots are cov-

ered and your nails arenrsquot left with streaks

Make sure you leave your ring finger (or

whichever finger you choose) with just the

clear coat

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoGalaxyrdquo

on your designated accent nail Once

finished dab a generous amount of the

polish onto tin foil Using a dotting tool

or a toothpick pick up each piece of glitter

one by one and place it in the empty spots

on your accent nail Repeat this until your

nail is completely covered You wonrsquot want

to stop looking at the finished product

Trust me

step 4 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 73

Look 2

Colors

Essie - Good as Gold

American Apparel - Meteor Shower

Gold glitter on gold nails may sound

outrageous but the best thing about

Essies Good as Gold is that its muted

- almost vintage-looking American

Apparels Meteor Shower is unique

(and one of my favorite glitters) because

the flecks are anything but consistent

Inside youll find tinsel-riffic bits and

pieces of different-sized gold foil Its a

great break from the predictable sparkle

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Youll want to make sure to

apply two coats of Good as Gold Its

necessary

step 3 My preference is just one

subtle coat of the glitter This way your

nails look more holiday fun and less

Ke$ha is coming to town

step 4 Finish with your favorite top

coat

Look 3

Colors

Essie - Steel-ing the Scene

American Apparel - Light Year

Therersquos nothing better than holographic

glitter This style is absolutely perfect for a

New Years Eve soireacutee Your nails will shine

like a disco ball

step 1 You guessed it - base coat

step 2 Yoursquoll need two coats of Essiersquos

ldquoSteel-ing the Scenerdquo Itrsquos such a unique

color - applying it is half the fun

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoLight Yearrdquo

to each of your nails after letting the silver

dry for a bit

step 4 After the glitter has slightly

dried apply another coat starting midway

up your nail Again let it dry

step 5 Apply glitter to just the tips of

your nails ndash think unique glittery French

manicure Feel free to get creative with the

gradient

step 6 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

color frame

Stand out in a sea of neutral Winter colors

All the heavy food and champagne may have

you leaning on your black clothing a little bit

more but simply wrap a colored pashmina

around your neck to feel lighter and brighter

HOLIDAY 2012 | 71

a touch of sparkle

It can be tempting to go overboard with

the sparkle during the holidays but most

of the time a little bit goes a long way A

sweet sparkly belt over a sweater is per-

fectly special for the season

Holiday Nailsthree hairstyles yoursquove got to try

Words by Kellee Vopelak Photos by Celeste Noche

Who doesnt like a little sparkle during

the holiday season (or year-round for

that matter) When it comes to my nails

I love when the holidays are around the

corner because it gives me an excuse to go

a little crazier with the glitter than I nor-

mally would Read on for several simple

ways to add a little shine to your Winter

manicures

Look 1

Colors

OPI - Keys to My Karma

American Apparel - Galaxy

I canrsquot stay away from this beautiful multi

An accent nail is very on-trend and eye-

catching right now and my favorite thing

about OPIrsquos ldquoKeys to my Karmardquo is that

it isnrsquot overwhelmingly ldquoChristmas redrdquo

You wonrsquot have to take your polish off im-

mediately after the holidays with this look

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Apply the necessary two coats of

this base color - itrsquos a thin polish so take

extra care to make sure all spots are cov-

ered and your nails arenrsquot left with streaks

Make sure you leave your ring finger (or

whichever finger you choose) with just the

clear coat

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoGalaxyrdquo

on your designated accent nail Once

finished dab a generous amount of the

polish onto tin foil Using a dotting tool

or a toothpick pick up each piece of glitter

one by one and place it in the empty spots

on your accent nail Repeat this until your

nail is completely covered You wonrsquot want

to stop looking at the finished product

Trust me

step 4 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 73

Look 2

Colors

Essie - Good as Gold

American Apparel - Meteor Shower

Gold glitter on gold nails may sound

outrageous but the best thing about

Essies Good as Gold is that its muted

- almost vintage-looking American

Apparels Meteor Shower is unique

(and one of my favorite glitters) because

the flecks are anything but consistent

Inside youll find tinsel-riffic bits and

pieces of different-sized gold foil Its a

great break from the predictable sparkle

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Youll want to make sure to

apply two coats of Good as Gold Its

necessary

step 3 My preference is just one

subtle coat of the glitter This way your

nails look more holiday fun and less

Ke$ha is coming to town

step 4 Finish with your favorite top

coat

Look 3

Colors

Essie - Steel-ing the Scene

American Apparel - Light Year

Therersquos nothing better than holographic

glitter This style is absolutely perfect for a

New Years Eve soireacutee Your nails will shine

like a disco ball

step 1 You guessed it - base coat

step 2 Yoursquoll need two coats of Essiersquos

ldquoSteel-ing the Scenerdquo Itrsquos such a unique

color - applying it is half the fun

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoLight Yearrdquo

to each of your nails after letting the silver

dry for a bit

step 4 After the glitter has slightly

dried apply another coat starting midway

up your nail Again let it dry

step 5 Apply glitter to just the tips of

your nails ndash think unique glittery French

manicure Feel free to get creative with the

gradient

step 6 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 71

a touch of sparkle

It can be tempting to go overboard with

the sparkle during the holidays but most

of the time a little bit goes a long way A

sweet sparkly belt over a sweater is per-

fectly special for the season

Holiday Nailsthree hairstyles yoursquove got to try

Words by Kellee Vopelak Photos by Celeste Noche

Who doesnt like a little sparkle during

the holiday season (or year-round for

that matter) When it comes to my nails

I love when the holidays are around the

corner because it gives me an excuse to go

a little crazier with the glitter than I nor-

mally would Read on for several simple

ways to add a little shine to your Winter

manicures

Look 1

Colors

OPI - Keys to My Karma

American Apparel - Galaxy

I canrsquot stay away from this beautiful multi

An accent nail is very on-trend and eye-

catching right now and my favorite thing

about OPIrsquos ldquoKeys to my Karmardquo is that

it isnrsquot overwhelmingly ldquoChristmas redrdquo

You wonrsquot have to take your polish off im-

mediately after the holidays with this look

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Apply the necessary two coats of

this base color - itrsquos a thin polish so take

extra care to make sure all spots are cov-

ered and your nails arenrsquot left with streaks

Make sure you leave your ring finger (or

whichever finger you choose) with just the

clear coat

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoGalaxyrdquo

on your designated accent nail Once

finished dab a generous amount of the

polish onto tin foil Using a dotting tool

or a toothpick pick up each piece of glitter

one by one and place it in the empty spots

on your accent nail Repeat this until your

nail is completely covered You wonrsquot want

to stop looking at the finished product

Trust me

step 4 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 73

Look 2

Colors

Essie - Good as Gold

American Apparel - Meteor Shower

Gold glitter on gold nails may sound

outrageous but the best thing about

Essies Good as Gold is that its muted

- almost vintage-looking American

Apparels Meteor Shower is unique

(and one of my favorite glitters) because

the flecks are anything but consistent

Inside youll find tinsel-riffic bits and

pieces of different-sized gold foil Its a

great break from the predictable sparkle

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Youll want to make sure to

apply two coats of Good as Gold Its

necessary

step 3 My preference is just one

subtle coat of the glitter This way your

nails look more holiday fun and less

Ke$ha is coming to town

step 4 Finish with your favorite top

coat

Look 3

Colors

Essie - Steel-ing the Scene

American Apparel - Light Year

Therersquos nothing better than holographic

glitter This style is absolutely perfect for a

New Years Eve soireacutee Your nails will shine

like a disco ball

step 1 You guessed it - base coat

step 2 Yoursquoll need two coats of Essiersquos

ldquoSteel-ing the Scenerdquo Itrsquos such a unique

color - applying it is half the fun

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoLight Yearrdquo

to each of your nails after letting the silver

dry for a bit

step 4 After the glitter has slightly

dried apply another coat starting midway

up your nail Again let it dry

step 5 Apply glitter to just the tips of

your nails ndash think unique glittery French

manicure Feel free to get creative with the

gradient

step 6 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

Holiday Nailsthree hairstyles yoursquove got to try

Words by Kellee Vopelak Photos by Celeste Noche

Who doesnt like a little sparkle during

the holiday season (or year-round for

that matter) When it comes to my nails

I love when the holidays are around the

corner because it gives me an excuse to go

a little crazier with the glitter than I nor-

mally would Read on for several simple

ways to add a little shine to your Winter

manicures

Look 1

Colors

OPI - Keys to My Karma

American Apparel - Galaxy

I canrsquot stay away from this beautiful multi

An accent nail is very on-trend and eye-

catching right now and my favorite thing

about OPIrsquos ldquoKeys to my Karmardquo is that

it isnrsquot overwhelmingly ldquoChristmas redrdquo

You wonrsquot have to take your polish off im-

mediately after the holidays with this look

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Apply the necessary two coats of

this base color - itrsquos a thin polish so take

extra care to make sure all spots are cov-

ered and your nails arenrsquot left with streaks

Make sure you leave your ring finger (or

whichever finger you choose) with just the

clear coat

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoGalaxyrdquo

on your designated accent nail Once

finished dab a generous amount of the

polish onto tin foil Using a dotting tool

or a toothpick pick up each piece of glitter

one by one and place it in the empty spots

on your accent nail Repeat this until your

nail is completely covered You wonrsquot want

to stop looking at the finished product

Trust me

step 4 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 73

Look 2

Colors

Essie - Good as Gold

American Apparel - Meteor Shower

Gold glitter on gold nails may sound

outrageous but the best thing about

Essies Good as Gold is that its muted

- almost vintage-looking American

Apparels Meteor Shower is unique

(and one of my favorite glitters) because

the flecks are anything but consistent

Inside youll find tinsel-riffic bits and

pieces of different-sized gold foil Its a

great break from the predictable sparkle

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Youll want to make sure to

apply two coats of Good as Gold Its

necessary

step 3 My preference is just one

subtle coat of the glitter This way your

nails look more holiday fun and less

Ke$ha is coming to town

step 4 Finish with your favorite top

coat

Look 3

Colors

Essie - Steel-ing the Scene

American Apparel - Light Year

Therersquos nothing better than holographic

glitter This style is absolutely perfect for a

New Years Eve soireacutee Your nails will shine

like a disco ball

step 1 You guessed it - base coat

step 2 Yoursquoll need two coats of Essiersquos

ldquoSteel-ing the Scenerdquo Itrsquos such a unique

color - applying it is half the fun

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoLight Yearrdquo

to each of your nails after letting the silver

dry for a bit

step 4 After the glitter has slightly

dried apply another coat starting midway

up your nail Again let it dry

step 5 Apply glitter to just the tips of

your nails ndash think unique glittery French

manicure Feel free to get creative with the

gradient

step 6 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 73

Look 2

Colors

Essie - Good as Gold

American Apparel - Meteor Shower

Gold glitter on gold nails may sound

outrageous but the best thing about

Essies Good as Gold is that its muted

- almost vintage-looking American

Apparels Meteor Shower is unique

(and one of my favorite glitters) because

the flecks are anything but consistent

Inside youll find tinsel-riffic bits and

pieces of different-sized gold foil Its a

great break from the predictable sparkle

step 1 Base coat

step 2 Youll want to make sure to

apply two coats of Good as Gold Its

necessary

step 3 My preference is just one

subtle coat of the glitter This way your

nails look more holiday fun and less

Ke$ha is coming to town

step 4 Finish with your favorite top

coat

Look 3

Colors

Essie - Steel-ing the Scene

American Apparel - Light Year

Therersquos nothing better than holographic

glitter This style is absolutely perfect for a

New Years Eve soireacutee Your nails will shine

like a disco ball

step 1 You guessed it - base coat

step 2 Yoursquoll need two coats of Essiersquos

ldquoSteel-ing the Scenerdquo Itrsquos such a unique

color - applying it is half the fun

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoLight Yearrdquo

to each of your nails after letting the silver

dry for a bit

step 4 After the glitter has slightly

dried apply another coat starting midway

up your nail Again let it dry

step 5 Apply glitter to just the tips of

your nails ndash think unique glittery French

manicure Feel free to get creative with the

gradient

step 6 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

Look 3

Colors

Essie - Steel-ing the Scene

American Apparel - Light Year

Therersquos nothing better than holographic

glitter This style is absolutely perfect for a

New Years Eve soireacutee Your nails will shine

like a disco ball

step 1 You guessed it - base coat

step 2 Yoursquoll need two coats of Essiersquos

ldquoSteel-ing the Scenerdquo Itrsquos such a unique

color - applying it is half the fun

step 3 Apply one coat of ldquoLight Yearrdquo

to each of your nails after letting the silver

dry for a bit

step 4 After the glitter has slightly

dried apply another coat starting midway

up your nail Again let it dry

step 5 Apply glitter to just the tips of

your nails ndash think unique glittery French

manicure Feel free to get creative with the

gradient

step 6 Top coat

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 75

Look 4

Colors

American Apparel - Malibu Green

American Apparel - Galaxy

Something about this look just screams

Christmas Lights The unexpected teal

under the shiny multicolor glitter is per-

fect for the holidays but can also be worn

well into the Spring

step 1 To discourage staining evenly

apply your favorite base coat and let it dry

step 2 Apply one or two coats of

American Apparels Malibu Green De-

pending on your technique one coat may

be all you need

step 3 Let the teal dry mostly then

apply one coat of Galaxy If youre feeling

extra sparkly feel free to apply extra coats

to achieve your desired look

Step 4 Finally apply a top coat My fa-

vorite happens to be Seche Vite Ive never

used anything like it

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

Loveverb

have a profoundly tender passionate affection for (another person)

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 77

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

As women we tend to identify ourselves by labels Irsquom a wife a

daughter and a sister Irsquom a teacher and a consultant Irsquom a Junior

Leaguer and Kappa Alpha Theta Irsquom a blonde-haired blue-eyed

California girl who is currently playing Southern lady My list is

long like everyone elsersquos and depending on what kind of mood Irsquom

in and what the situation is certain labels are more prominent

than others Last December I added wife to my list of labels when

I married the cute athletic boy from high school who is now an

Infantry Officer in the United States Army

We spent the first year of our relationship on opposite coasts

I was a high school special education teacher at our alma mater

in Northern California and he was going through the Infantry

Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning Georgia With over

50000 miles flown that year it became quite clear that the word

ARMY was going to be attached to me too When Grant and I

started dating we knew that there would be lots of unpredictable

moments and things we would not be able to control Weve always

called them ldquoexternal factorsrdquo Thatrsquos just the way the Army works

The day we were married was the most special day of my life and

ldquowiferdquo was a welcome addition to my list of labels We were sur-

rounded by family and friends We exchanged vows at the church

my parents were married in We ate cake And we dancedhellip a lot

But that day I became not only a wife but also an Army wife

From my experience the public perception is that the Army wife

life is a lot like the television show Army Wives on Lifetime And

while some people may have that experience that has not been

ours We donrsquot live on post And while I am friends with the wives

in the battalion Grant serves with they arenrsquot my go-to people

when Army life gets tough For me the people I turn to will always

be my friends and family back home The people in California

Life As An Army WifeWords by Kingsley FrazierPhoto on opening page by Carmyn Joy Effa

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 79

have known Grant and me since before we embarked on this crazy

rollercoaster called the Army They know all the good bad and

ugly in our lives They know us without any labels at all And while

the Army wives I know may not be my best friends and we do not

all meet at the local bar every chance we get to vent (no matter what

Lifetime would lead you to believehellip) there are several common

experiences we share

Being an Army wife means lots of things

1 Loving your husband unconditionally

2 Building a relationship based on communication and love -

because sometimes when yoursquore far apart those are the only two

things you have And even then communication can be spotty if it

is available at all

3 Understanding that the Army comes first even though you know

your husband loves your more than his job

4 Leaning a whole new vocabulary filled with mostly acronyms

FRG (Family Readiness Group) SDO (Staff Duty Officer) PCS

(Permanent Change of Station)hellip

5 Remembering that he cannot control his work schedule So yes

sometimes he will have leave in the middle of the night to go take

care of a problem created by someone else even if this means miss-

ing the end of your favorite romantic comedy that yoursquove finally

convinced him to watch

6 Learning to love hogging his side of the bed when he is training

in the field for two weekshellip or five weeks at a timehellip or even longer

when hersquos deployed

7 Fully embracing being THAT girl sobbing her way through the

airport after a tearful goodbye

8 Leaning on family and friends when times are tough and yoursquore

missing home more than usual

9 Having those beginning of relationship butterflies come back

every time you get to see your husband after too much time apart

10 And most of all remembering that God has a greater plan for

us all

Irsquom not a spokesperson for all Army wives All I know is my experi-

ence and the experiences others have shared with me We may all

be Army Wives but in many cases that is where the similarities

end My husband has permanent nerve damage to his foot that

will not allow him to make the Army a career like he thought And

although I wonrsquot have the Army wife label forever this experience

will stay with us always The Army has forced Grant and me to

build a relationship from two sides of the country We fell in love

through text messages phone calls and weekend trips The depth

of love that this experience has created is what allows me to deal

with all the external factors the Army brings into our lives Irsquod be

lying if I pretended not to be thrilled that my life wonrsquot be spent

dreading deployments and time apart Irsquom thankful for those that

are protecting our country and for my husbandrsquos dedication to his

job But Irsquom a California girl at heart and canrsquot wait for us to be

home

Photo credit White Haute Photography

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

My journey to foster care began nearly ten

years ago when I spent several weeks work-

ing in an orphanage in Brazil It was there

that I met a tiny 2-year-old girl who called

me Tia (aunt) All she wanted to do was

cuddle her head buried in my chest one

of her hands stroking my face Her family

had dropped her off at the orphanage when

she was an infant and the need she had for

love was so clear I so desperately wanted to

give her the love she needed and the rem-

nants of that desire have stayed with me

About two years ago my husband and I

came to the conclusion that our first child

should be adopted As we tried to decide

how we would go about adopting we kept

circling back to adoption through foster

care

As of July 2011 our plan was to finish our

certification provide short-term respite

care for a couple of months and then

accept a long-termadoptive placement

in possibly December or January 2012

Well on a rainy Friday in September we

got a phone call that put our plan in fast-

forward We were two steps away from com-

pleting our certification when our social

worker called to see if we were interested in

taking a 2-month old baby boy Despite the

fact that this was five months earlier than

expected I said yes () without hesitation

The social worker told me we could meet

the baby that same afternoon

Let me back up a moment and clarify that

when I received the phone call about this

baby boy I was coming out of a yoga class

I was sweaty hungry and unprepared

We didnrsquot really have anything for a baby

and by that I mean we had only a second-

hand crib and one blanket I was worried

about bonding and attachment and I was

concerned that he would feel too much like

someone elsersquos child for me to feel like a

mother at all

Two hours after I received ldquothe callrdquo my

husband and I walked into the short-term

home where our sweet boy was staying and

saw him sitting in his car seat

ldquoWe just arrivedrdquo the social worker said ldquoI

thought you could take him outrdquo

I walked over to where he was placed care-

fully lifted him up and as I looked down

at his darling little face we locked eyes In

that moment I felt flooded with a love that

I cannot describe but Irsquod venture to say

that itrsquos the love all mothers feel for their

children It was and still is all encom-

passing

As I reflect back on those first moments I

can see how that hour served as a preview

into what has become our year in foster

care totally crazy There we were with

three social workers an intern and a

brand new baby who was as unprepared

for his transition as we were He had an

ill-fitting onesie the too-big outfit he

was wearing and thatrsquos it We filled out

paperwork while Mason screamed his head

off and I desperately tried to look like the

worldrsquos most competent first-time mom

In the midst of the chaos of that first hour

we fell in love This love had nothing to

do with his big brown eyes or his soft baby

curls Actually his adorableness didnrsquot

register with me until we took him home I

didnrsquot even know if we could keep him but

I was his mother then and nothing else

mattered

I used to hate the saying ldquoall you need is

loverdquo because it seemed cheesy and too

simplistic to be accurate However lately

Irsquove been thinking that it might actually be

a little bit true Because Masonrsquos perma-

nence in our home is uncertain people

often ask if this attachment is too hard or

too scary and the answer is yes This last

year has been the most overwhelming ex-

hausting heart-wrenching year of my life

but I would do it over again in an instant

As I think about that cheesy phrase and

how sometimes it might not be true I ac-

knowledge that this year it was That sweet

screaming baby boy ndash who has since grown

into a joyful yelling toddler - needed love

and I found that I had an abundance Even

though our house is now fully stocked with

baby gear and toddler toys we always had

the one thing we needed most

All We Need Is LoveWords by Anna JordanPhoto by Ashlee Gadd

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 81

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

Closeverb

bring or come to an end

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 83

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

Back Story

Irsquove never made a dumpling of any kind in

my life Irsquom not sure why but the thought of

making some kind of dough and filling it

with some kind of filling totally intimi-

dated me for the longest time But as is

always the case when I put together these

issues I find myself faced with the tasks of

doing things I never thought Irsquod be able to

do I surprised myself in Fall 2011 when I

successfully whipped up a batch of peanut

brittle (yum) then again in Summer 2012

when I learned how to make a bouquet

And now this issue I successfuly con-

quered the potsticker

And boy am I glad I did

Clearly dumplings are a metaphor for

bigger obstacles When I first started this

magazine I had no idea what I was doing

I simply had something in front of me that

I wanted to try out And I went for it guns

blazing Irsquove learned a lot about myself and

a lot about life from this experience and

while failures are inevitable often you

learn the most from them So I guess what

it comes down to is that whatever you have

in front of you that yoursquod like to try maybe

you should just go for it Yoursquoll never know

what you might gain along the way if you

donrsquot try

And boy yoursquoll be so glad you did

By Camilla Salem

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

HOLIDAY 2012 | 85

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right

Oprah Winfrey

and a happy new year

and a happy new year