2011 Holiday Wishbook - Issue 4

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Kids Coloring Contest Gift Ideas Holiday Events Festivities Recipes And More Holidays 20 1 1 Gifts & Traditions Home for the December 7, 2011 • www.brainerddispatch.com

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Lakes Area Holiday Event Guide • Gifts for Auto Afficionados • Green Alternatives for Gift Packaging • Christmas - Did Yoou Know? • Toys For Tots Drop Off Locations • In This Season of Giving • Music to Music Lovers' Ears • Coloring Contest • Gift Cards - Not Always the Best Option • Holiday Movies Crossword • Holiday Recipe Guide • Kid's Corner

Transcript of 2011 Holiday Wishbook - Issue 4

Page 1: 2011 Holiday Wishbook - Issue 4

Kids Coloring ContestGift IdeasHoliday EventsFestivitiesRecipesAnd More

HolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidaysHolidays2011 Gifts & Traditions

Homefor the

InsideInsideKids Coloring Contest

Holiday Events

InsideInside

December 7, 2011 • www.brainerddispatch.com

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2 Home for the Holidays Brainerd dispatchThe Week of December 7 - December 13, 2011

HOLIDAY EVENT GUIDE

Lakes Area

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Brainerd dispatch Home for the Holidays 3The Week of December 7 - December 13, 2011

paul Bunyan Land enchanted VillageDate: Nov. 25 Ð De c. 17, 2011 Time: 6 Ð 9p m Fridays & SaturdaysEvent Description: Paul Bunyan Land will be lighting up their pioneer village again this year. The village will have holiday themes inside the buildings and several displays set up along the streets. It is a great way for a family to spend a winter evening. Bonfi res and hot chocolate will be available. A stroll thru the village is the best way to expe-rience the Enchanted Village or the trolly will be giving rides. Admission is FREE.

christmas in the parkDate: December 7, 2011Sponsored by: Cuyuna Lakes Cham-ber. For more details visit: www.cuyunalakes.com

downtown holli-WalkDate: December 8, 2011 Time: 10am Ð 8p m Event Location: Downtown Brainerd

the steele Family christmasDate: December 9, 2011 Time: 7:30-10pm Event Description Central Lakes College, Chalberg Theatre. Contact 218-855-8199 or visit www.clctickets.com

annual holiday BazaarDate: December 9, 2011 Time: 9am Ð 4p m Event Description: Essentia Health-St. JosephÕ s Medical Center Auxiliary wel-comes the community to their annual Hol-iday Bazaar. Located in the River Room Cafeteria on the lower level of Essentia Health Ð St. JosephÕ s Medical Center.

the steele Family christmasDate: December 10, 2011 Time: 2-5pmEvent Description Central Lakes College, Chalberg Theatre. Contact 218-855-8199 or visit www.clctickets.com

parade of Lights & christmas programDate: December 10, 2011 Time: 2:30pm Event Description: Pine River, Free horse drawn rides downtown 2:30-4pm. Parade of Lights will start at 5pm. Fireworks and Yuletide bonfi re.

cookies with santaDate: December 10, 2011 Time: 9am-1pm Event Description: West Side Skating Rink, Little Falls. Children visit with Santa and decorate cookies. Pictures

also available. Contact 320-632-6349

annual soup WalkDate: December 10, 2011 Sponsored by: Cuyuna Lakes Cham-ber. For more details visit: www.cuyunalakes.com

cookie saleDate: December 10, 2011 Event Location: St. JosephÕ s Church in Deerwood

Just for Kix showDate: December 10, 2011Time: 7pmEvent Location: C-I High School

all You care to eat dadÕ s Belgian Waffl esDate: December 11, 2011 Time: 9am-1pm Event Location: Ironton LegionSponsored by: Cuyuna Range LionsAdmission: $7 adults, kids 6-12 $5, children under 5 eat free. Carry out available, advance tickets available.

tonic sol Fa holiday concertDate: December 11, 2011 Time: 7pmEvent Description: Tornstrom Audito-rium, Brainerd. Tickets available at Cub Foods (Brainerd & Baxter), www.tonic-solfa.com or by calling 320-259-4071

rock-n-roll Xmas spectacularDate: December 14, 2011 Time: 7:30-10pm Event Description: Central Lakes Col-lege, Chalberg Theatre. Contact 218-855-8199 or visit www.clctickets.com

Winnie the poohÕ s christmas tailDate: December 16, 2011 Time: 7:30-9:30pm Date: December 17, 2011 Time: 2pm & 7:30pmEvent Description Central Lakes College, Chalberg Theatre. Contact 218-855-8199 or visit www.clctickets.com

Visit santa and shop for Mom & dadDate: December 17 2011 Time: 10am-2pmEvent Location: Hwy 210 East, Brain-erd The Old Ben Franklin Building

christmas holiday choir concertDate: December 18 2011 Time: 1pm & 3pmEvent Location: C-I High School

annual Wild & Free Wine tasting & silent auctionDate: December 26, 2011 Time: 3 Ð 5p m

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IN THIS SEASON OF GIVING...

YOUr GiFt FOr a LOcaL chiLd 0-15 Years OF aGe MaY Be LeFt at anY OF these LOcatiOns BetWeen nOV. 25 Ð dec.14.

BaXterBrainerd Lakes Area Board of Realtors Ð Brainerd Savings and Loan Ð Crosby Eye Clinic Ð C row Wing Power Ð C ulvers Ð Dondelinger Chevrolet Ð Frandsen Bank & Trust Ð G ander Mountain Ð Gull Lake Glass Ð Hiwayan Club (MNDOT) Ð In-Fisher-man Communications- Integra TeleCom Ð Menards Ð Mid-Minnesota Fed. Credit Union Ð M id-State Heating and Air Cond. Ð Mills Fleet Farm Ð Mills Ford Ð Mills GMC Ð M N Pollution Control Agency Ð Norson Builders Ð Riddles Jewelry Ð River-wood Bank – Westgate Mall Offi ce – Widseth, Smith, Nolting – WJJY Radio

Brainerd3WI Radio – AFCME Crow Wing Co. Auditor’s Offi ce – Brainerd American Legion Ð Bra inerd Fire Department Ð Brainerd Savings and Loan Ð Brainerd VFW Club Ð Br emer Bank Ð C row Wing Co. Jail Ð Crow Wing Co. Law Enforcement Center Ð Edgewood Vista Ð G iovanniÕ s Pizza Ð Mid-Minnesota Fed. Credit Union Ð PeopleÕ s Bank – Salvation Army Offi ce - Senior Center – U. S. Marine Corps Recruiting Of-fi ce – Walgreen’s – Wendy’s – Westwood Professional Services

crOsBY/irOntOnCrosby Eye Clinic Ð M id-Minnesota Fed.Credit Union ÐI ronton American Legion - Papa JohnÕ s Pizza Ð T rue Value Hardware

MerriFieLd/nissWaGrandview Lodge Ð N ortech Systems

(Toys For Kids is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization)

30th annUaL tOYs FOr KidsdOnatiOn drOp OFF LOcatiOns

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Brainerd dispatch Home for the Holidays 5The Week of December 7 - December 13, 2011

The Brainerd Salvation Army has announced the locations of its Angel Trees, where interested community members may pick a tag and purchase a gift for a child.

The Angel Trees are at the Westgate Mall, Bremer Banks, Wells Fargo Bank, Mid-Minnesota Credit Unions, Deerwood Bank, Big Stone Therapies and the BN Credit Union, Sawmill Inn, GiovanniÕ s of Brainerd.

After they pick up a tag and buy a gift participating donors should deliver the gift to the Salvation Army at 208 S. Fifth Street by December 5th.

The 30th annual ÒT oys for KidsÓ c ampaign sponsored by Heartland Detach-ment, Marine Corps League is scheduled for now through December 15, 2011. This local community service program is supported entirely by local businesses, organizations, and individuals. Applications can be made for the Toys for Kids program during the month of November at the Brainerd Salvation Army offi ce. Donations of new toys may be deposited between November 22nd and De-cember 15th at toy drops located at many businesses throughout the area. Tax deductible cash donations may be sent at any time to Toys For Kids, PO Box 2811, Baxter, Minnesota 56425. Gifts will be distributed at the Brainerd National Guard Armory on December 15th. For additional information please contact Steve Amerud at 218.764.3170 or 218.838.1640

Other local charitable organizations:

Bridges of hope Ð www .bridgesofhopemn.orgCamp Confi dence – www.campconfi dence.com - 218-828-2344Family safety network of cass county, inc - 218-829-2619habitat for humanity Ð www .lakesareahabitat.org or 218-828-8517heartland animal rescue Ð www .hartpets.org or 218-829-4141Kinship partners Ð www .kinshippartners.orgMid-Minnesota WomenÕ s shelter - www.womenscenteronline.org or 218-828-1216northland arboretum Ð www .northlandarb.com or 218-829-8770salvation army - www.thesalarmy.orgUnited Way Ð www.unitedwaynow.org

If your charitable non-profi t organization would like to be listed please contact Kristine at 218-855-5829.

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MOMÕs Best peanUt BrittLe ingredients

1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup water 1 cup peanuts 2 tablespoons butter, softened 1 teaspoon baking soda

directionsGrease a large cookie sheet. Set aside.

In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Set candy thermom-eter in place, and continue cooking. Stir frequently until temperature reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), or until a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard and brittle threads.

Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter or margarine and baking soda; pour at once onto cookie sheet. With 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into rectangle about 14x12 inches; cool. Snap candy into pieces.

chiLLed christMas pUnch ingredients

2 cups water 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 (46 fl uid ounce) can pineapple juice, chilled 4 cups cranberry-apple juice, chilled 1 liter ginger ale, chilled

directionsIn a saucepan, bring the water, sugar and cinnamon to a boil;

stir until sugar is dissolved. Chill. Just before serving, combine the syrup mixture, juices and ginger ale in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Serve

over ice.

santa capsMake the egg white cookies ahead so they have time to set. Decorate the the next day for a fun Christmas dessert.servings: 8 dozen

ingredients4 large egg whites 1 cup sugar Red icing color (gel coloring) 1 cup white-chocolate chips 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening white nonpareil sprinkles

directionsMake cookies at least a day before serving, since they must set overnight. Heat oven to 200 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with foil; set aside. In large metal bowl, whisk together egg whites and sugar. Place bowl over pan of gently simmering water, and whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm, about 5 minutes.

Remove bowl from pan, and with mixer on high, beat in icing color. Continue beat-ing until very stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Spoon mixture into large, reseal-able bag, and snip 1/2 inch off corner of bag. Pipe 1-1/2 inch mounds that bend to one side like Santa caps about 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 1 hour, switching sheets halfway through. Turn off oven, and let caps stand over-night.

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If your holiday halls are decked with stacks of paper bags, mounds of crumpled wrapping paper, an array of random ribbons, and a gaggle of gift tags that are destined for the local landfi ll, it’s time to add a little “green” to your gift-wrapping regimen.

Given that the average householdÕ s waste jumps by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New YearÕ s Day and that holiday debris adds an additional one million tons per week to landfi lls, there is a lot that everyone can do to recycle, reuse and reduce during the holidays. According to Eco-Chick.com, ÒI f every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet. If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fi elds. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fi ll a football fi eld 10 stories high. If we each sent one card less, weÕd save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.Ó

Here are some ways to go green and even save green on gift packaging this year:

recycleConventional wrapping paper typi-cally cannot be recycled since it is often coated in metal foil or is plastic laminated. But if the paper rips and doesnÕ t glitter or shine, it can -- and should -- be placed in the recycle bin along with other paper products.

Check with your local recycling provid-er to fi nd out which types of wrapping paper they accept. The good news is that recyclable wrapping paper is increasingly available from both online and brick-and-mortar retailers such as Amazon.com, Offi ce Depot and UncommonGoods.com.

reuse:Before the opening of the gifts begins, set aside a box for collecting reus-able boxes, wrapping paper, gift bags, bows, ribbons, and other decorative items. Even if wrapping paper is torn, it can be used for craft projects, pack-aging fi ller or to enclose smaller gifts the following year. Gift bags are also great candidates for reuse. If the sur-face of the bag is marred from remov-ing ribbon or a bow, the spot can be covered with other decorative items or scraps of used wrapping paper.

reduceRecycling and reusing boxes, wrap-ping paper, ribbon and gift bags is a big step in the right direction. But the best way to avoid waste is to reduce the use of these items in the fi rst place. Rather than wrapping gifts in paper, consider using scarves, old tea towels, cloth napkins, or leftover fab-ric. If youÕr e crafty, consider creating your own simple fabric sacks that can be easily sewn by hand or machine. If youÕr e not, try painting an old pillow-case and tying it up with fabric ribbon, string or even shoelaces. And donÕ t forget newspaper! The comics make colorful giftwrap any time of year, par-ticularly for kids.

GREEN ALTERNATIVES FOR GIFT PACKAGING

It’s a Wrap

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As people gear up to do their holiday shopping this year, gift cards fi gure to remain a popular choice for gifting. But the hidden pitfalls of gift cards may make giving cash or a check a better bet.

Eight out of 10 people include gift cards in their holiday purchases, off ers infor-mation from Statistics Canada. About $65 billion is spent in the U.S. annually on gift card purchases, many around the holiday season. Convenience and ease of use is what lures many shoppers to the gift card rack. Just about every ma-jor retailer out there has its own gift card for sale, which can make it even more enticing to pick one up. Furthermore, many supermarkets and big box retailers sell gift cards for other merchants right at the check-out line. So if youÕr e shop-ping for supper you can also get a gift card to a restaurant or home improve-ment store.

Despite the convenience of gift cards and their presumed utility, fi nancial

experts estimate that about $7 million in gift cards go unused each year. The Wall Street Journal has reported that

states are supposed to track down gift card purchasers and try to get them their money back on unclaimed cards. But many cannot be found because they paid in cash and that money just goes to the state as unclaimed funds/aban-doned property, which sets in after two years of non use. New York collected $9.6 million in unused gift cards in 2008.Another thing to note about gift cards is that some retailers impose fees on the cards if they are not used in a timely manner. Penalties are placed on the card that reduce the value for a time period they are not used. Expiration dates on the gift cards can render them useless if they are not used by a particular time as well.

Another lesser-known problem is gift cards activated by third-party retail-ers, such as those restaurant cards purchased at the supermarket. In some instances, the activation does not work correctly and the issued gift card does not have the paid value when the gift re-cipient goes to use it to dine out. Third-party sellers are often not responsible for issuing a refund on malfunctioning gift cards, even if you have the receipt; you must call the service line on the back of the card.

As an alternative to gift cards, plain old cash or check might be a more viable option. Gift recipients are less likely to be lax in cashing a check or spending cash -- and it can be put to use for the same purchases as a gift card. Cash is also a greener option, as it doesnÕ t require the production and use of a plastic gift card. Should a check go uncashed, thereÕ s little chance you spent your money for naught, as it simply wonÕ t be deducted from your account and you can cancel or write-off that check number.

Individuals who are crafty can make their own cash or check holders so that the monetary gift is presented in a creative way. Checks are safer than cash if mailing the gift because cash canÕ t be cancelled if itÕ s lost in the mail.Although the lure of gift cards can be very enticing, they do have some dis-advantages, including expiration dates, fees for failing to use the card promptly, and even lost or buried cards that are never used. Cold hard cash never goes out of style and is seldom overlooked.

NOT ALWAYS THE BEST OPTIONGift Cards

Gift cards are convenient, but millions of dollars worth of them go unused every year.

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acrOss1. Happens in back6. *ÓSa nta Claus is Coming to TownÓ originally aired on this network9. Popular white fish12. Before Part II13. Follows soh14. ÒPut your thinking ___ __Ó16. Madama Butterfly’s soli, e.g.17. a.k.a. Tokyo18. Not together19. *Boy whoÕ s told, ÒY ouÕ ll shoot your eye out, kidÓ21. *Misfit ungulate23. Actor ___ Holbrook24. ____ in captivity25. Western European Union28. 100 centavos in Mexico30. Start of basketball game35. Chunk or lump37. Rounded protuberance39. Young eel40. Ayatollah KhameneiÕ s home41. ÒW orldÓ i n Italian43. Troubled currency44. Drinker46. Thick, messy substances47. ____ Alda48. Attitude of admiration50. Place for mutinous sailor, e.g.

52. Old age, archaic53. Kids often say this to claim something55. ÒBut I heard him exclaim, ____ he drove out of sight, Merry Christmas to all ...Ó57. *This happened on 34th Street61. Koko or Sampson, e.g.65. Lobe at back of palate66. ÒT o Kill a MockingbirdÓ author68. *ÓT he _____mare Before ChristmasÓ69. Lively dance70. Not in good health71. Ò_____ a s a whistleÓ72. Maiden name indicator73. Newt in terrestrial stage74. Laughing predator

dOWn1. Boxer training2. ÒF orÓ i n Spanish3. Seed cover4. Type of infection5. Unfortunate outcome6. Toward the lee7. *Like Billy BobÕ s Santa8. Laundry, e.g.9. Chief or top dog10. October stone11. Village or hamlet in South Africa

14. Attendant to Tiger, e.g.15. ___ degree20. Part of small intestine22. Last month24. Rubs elbows with25. *Like Bing CrosbyÕ s Christmas26. Plural of #43 Across27. Unfit or inappropriate29. Smoke plus fog31. Type of bargain32. Immature ovum33. Like domesticated cat gone wild34. Compound leaf of a fern36. Location of MCL38. O in B.O.42. Twig of a willow tree45. Member of military police in Britain49. One thousandth of an inch51. *His heart was two sizes too small54. Misrepresent56. Poet Dickinson57. Type of shot to criminal58. Director Reitman59. ____ of thumb60. Medicinal plant61. Pepper or bombard62. Ò A Death in the FamilyÓ author63. Conjunction used in comparatives64. Sicilian volcano67. *Will Ferrell character in 2003solution on pg 13.

Holiday MoviesCROSSWORD

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Few passions are as strong as the pas-sion a car lover has for automobiles. Auto affi cionados are often walking encyclope-dias about all things automotive. When it comes to the holiday season, buying a gift for the car guy or gal in your family might seem easy. After all, any gift related to cars is sure to leave your loved one head over heels.

However, for those holiday shoppers who don’t know the diff erence between an air fi lter and an air conditioner, perhaps the following suggestions might fare better under the tree this holiday season.

driving lessonsAuto racing is one of North AmericaÕ s most popular sports, and many car guys and gals would love to know what it feels like to get behind the wheel of a race car and put the pedal to the metal. That dream can become a reality, and holiday

AUTO AFFICIONADOSGifts for

Some new tools might make the per-fect holiday gift for the auto affi cionado in your family.

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Brainerd dispatch Home for the Holidays 11The Week of December 7 - December 13, 2011

shoppers can help make that happen for a loved one. Racing schools exist for all sorts of racing, be it stock car racing, Formula 1 racing, Indy Cars, and even Kart racing. (Note: Kart racing does not refer to amusement park style go-karts.) Be it novice car affi cionados or veterans who spend weekends at work in their garages, racing lessons can make an ideal gift for auto lovers.

Gift certifi cate for a wash and a detailingAs much as car guys and gals care about whatÕ s under the hood, they also care about how their carsÕ exteriors looks. Winter weather can wreak havoc on a vehicleÕ s exterior, so help your fa-vorite auto lover take care of his or her baby this winter with a gift certifi cate to a nearby car wash and/or auto de-tailing center. This will ensure the car remains a sight for sore eyes through the winter. Just be sure to include mul-tiple trips to the car wash and detailing center, as a car often needs a few trips each winter to keep up appearances.

Magazine subscriptionLike most industries, the auto industry is constantly changing. WhatÕ s popular today might be obsolete tomorrow. Help your favorite auto enthusiast stay abreast of the auto industryÕ s many innovations and updates with a sub-

scription to a favorite auto magazine. Such magazines inspire car lovers to improve their own vehicles while letting them know the latest trends in the auto industry.

accessoriesNo car lover can do without his or her accessories, which can range from practical gifts like a new GPS unit to more specialized items like a paint gun accessory kit. Shoppers who arenÕ t very familiar with cars might not know which accessories to buy. In such instances, a gift certifi cate to a nearby auto parts store should suffi ce. This guarantees your loved one will get something for his or her car and elimi-nate the need to return the gift if he or she already has it.

toolsAuto affi cionados love working on their vehicles, and that work canÕ t be done without the right tools. If possible, visit his or her garage or shop and peruse the tool collection. If anything looks es-pecially aged or ragged, replace it with a newer version. Auto lovers are often particular about their tools, so if youÕ re reticent about buying new ones, take your gift recipient to the store and let him or her choose a gift or buy a gift certifi cate that covers the cost of the tools that look like they need replacing.

innovations and updates with a sub-

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Name_________________________________________________________Age ________ Address___________________________________________________________________City_________________________________State________________ Zip______________Phone # ( ) ________________________ Drop off or mail this picture to the Brainerd Dispatch, 506 James Street, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401, by Friday, December 16, 2011, to enter the coloring contest. The Dispatch will judge and award first, second, third and honorable mention prizes in each category of ages 1-4, ages 5-8, and ages 9-13. Winners will be announced on Christmas Day.

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Brainerd dispatch Home for the Holidays 13The Week of December 7 - December 13, 2011

KIDS’ CORNER

answers for pg 9.

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14 Home for the Holidays Brainerd dispatchThe Week of December 7 - December 13, 2011

PLEASE

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

DID YOU KNOW?Christmas

Many Christmas traditions are older than some celebrants might think. The tradition of lighting up a Christmas tree, for example, dates back to the days before Christmas lights. Before electric-powered twinkle lights were invented and even before electricity was discovered, people used actual candles to adorn the Christmas tree. As one can imagine, having an open fl ame next to a dried-out tree made for some fast fi res. That’s why it was customary to keep a bucket of wa-ter next to the tree as well. As if fi re wasnÕ t enough, the tinsel used to decorate trees was made from strips of silver and even lead -- something that is now known to be a health hazard to adults and children alike. Although weÕve come a long way from candles and lead, trees that are overly dry paired with lights that have frayed wires can just as easily lead to fi res. Plus, plastic tinsel can be a chok-ing hazard for children and pets. One Christmas staple that has lost its sta-

tus as a safety hazard is the poinsettia plant. Poinsettias are a tropical plant that have become a fi xture during the Christmas season. It has long been thought that poinsettias are poisonous to people and animals. While there is some toxicity to the plant, it would require the ingestion of hundreds of leaves to get a toxic dose of a plantÕ s poison. Ingestion may simply cause a case of vomiting or diarrhea instead. But poinsettia leaves are said to have an unpleasant taste, so one bite and most children and animals will prob-ably turn away. Perhaps one of the biggest hazards come Christmas -- both then and now -- is not having enough turkey or eggnog to go around for holiday guests!

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Brainerd dispatch Home for the Holidays 15The Week of December 7 - December 13, 2011

TO MUSIC LOVERS’ EARS

These Gifts Are Music

Taste in music is a topic of eternal debate. Whether a personÕ s interests lean toward the Beatles or the Beastie Boys, thereÕ s no denying most people love listening to music. Music can lift our moods and help us through dif-fi cult times, and it can also make the good times that much more enjoyable.

Come the holiday season, many peo-ple look to music when gifting friends and family. Though itÕ s wise to avoid getting too specifi c with a musical gift for fear of off ending personal taste, there are more general gifts shoppers can give that are sure to please.

Gift certifi cate to an online music store Most of todayÕ s music fans purchase their music digitally via a handful of online music retailers, be it iTunes, Amazon, etc. Find out which digital music retailer your loved one prefers and purchase a gift certifi cate to that retailer. This ensures loved ones will get the music they like, and all but guarantees the gift wonÕ t be returned.

protective headphonesThe popularity of digital music has increased the popularity of personal digital music players that are often listened to via headphones. One sig-nifi cant disadvantage to such players is the longterm side eff ects they can have on hearing. Over time, if music lovers spend lots of time listening to players with poorly designed head-

phones, they can do substantial and possibly irreparable damage to their ears. Protect your loved oneÕ s hear-ing with headphones that promise great sound quality without putting a personÕ s hearing at risk. Protective headphones can reduce the risk of hearing loss and often provide superi-or sound quality than the headphones that come standard with some of the most popular digital music players.

Music lessonsYounger music fans might want to try their hand at a favorite musical instrument or join a choir. For such youngsters, music lessons might be the ideal gift to encourage a hobby thatÕ s both healthy and educational. Those considering such lessons for nieces or nephews should consult the youngster’s parents fi rst, as Mom and Dad will ultimately have to deal with the consequences of having a young rocker around the house. For especial-ly young kids, consider musical toys that are fun and educational.

concert ticketsMusic lovers almost universally agree seeing a favorite band or performer live in concert is even better than lis-tening in the car or at home. This holi-day season, consider going the extra mile and buying a loved one concert tickets to see a favorite performer. When doing so, include a little extra money so they can purchase a T-shirt to commemorate the night.

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