betty’s holiday survival guide

betty’s holiday survival guide

Deck the halls, cook the turkey, throw a fabulous party and find the perfect
gift. The busy woman’s holiday to-do list can get pretty long. This special
section will help you keep your cool and check off your “have-to’s” so that you
can have fun!
Recipe: p. 8 Party Checklist: p. 6
Stress Relievers: p. 5 Kids Holiday Ideas: p. 10
Gift Guide: p. 4 Holiday Decorations: p. 9
Exclusive content is provided on our Web site, so be sure to sign up for The
Black Book Buzz eNewsletter to stay in the know: EveryBusyWoman.com.
Enjoy!
Betty

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betty’s holiday survival guide
betty’s holiday survival guide
betty buzz: Holiday Gift Guide
Make your list, and check it twice!
Keepsake ornaments with
Charleston historic sites &
cityscapes at The Gibbes
Museum of Art (p. 14)
A creative way to entertain with
Story Club Games
Amazingly-soft towels, washcloths
and hand towels at Sweet 185
(p. 30)
Save the date with fabulous
calendars at Mac & Murphy
(p. 14)
Lovely patterned blinders by
Chris Notti at Flight 001
Precious stockings with
personalized embroidery at
Southern Belles (p. 21)
Original artwork by Charles Ailstock
at Artizom Frame and Gallery
(p. 39)
For details on these
items and more, visit
Authentic German nutcrackers at
EveryBusyWoman.com and The Christmas Sleigh
sign up for The Black Book
Buzz eNewsletter to stay
in the know!
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 betty’s holiday survival guide
betty buzz: Holiday Pampering
The holidays can take their toll on the busy woman. This season, commit to
slowing down so that you can enjoy it!

• Have a “stay in your PJ’s day” with the family; make hot chocolate and watch holiday movies.

• Smell the calm with holiday aromatherapy. (see page 40)

• Schedule a massage and/or a mani/pedi as a gift

to yourself. (page 30, 35) You deserve it!

• Take a book or magazine with you shopping, and

have a quiet lunch at your favorite restaurant in
between store hopping. (page 23)

• Change up your schedule to ease the bustle by

taking a long walk in the park instead of rushing
to the gym or drawing a hot bath instead
of a quick shower.

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betty’s holiday survival guide

BETTY’S HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE

BETTY BUZZ: PARTY CHECKLIST
If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of hosting a party, get organized with
the following checklist and never worry about whether you forgot to buy ice
before your next big shindig.

❍ Select a date
❍ Choose & Send Invitations (whether to send by mail or email)
❍ Food ❍ Appetizers
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
❍ Main Course
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
❍ Sides
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
❍ Desserts
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
❍ The Caterer’s Number: see page 22
❍ Beverages ❍ Buy ice
❍ Beer
Type & Amount: _________________________________________
❍ Wine
Red: ________________________________________________
White: _______________________________________________
❍ Non-alcoholic beverages
Type & Amount: _________________________________________
❍ Bartender’s Number: ___________________
❍ Decorations ❍ Centerpieces
❍ Candles
❍ Wreaths/greenery: see page 9
❍ Florists: EveryBusyWoman.com
❍ Party Rentals: EveryBusyWoman.com
✃

❍ Music
❍ Cleaning Services: see page 39
❍ Cab Service Numbers

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betty’s holiday survival guide
betty’s holiday survival guide

betty buzz: HOLIDAY RECIPE

Butternut & Spaghetti Squash Fontina Gratin

(serves 4 - 6)
This can be made the day before & reheated when needed.

EQUIPMENT
11 x 7 x 1 1/2 Pyrex Pan
Cookie Sheet
Spoon
Sauté Pan
Mixing bowl (any size)
Mandoline, Slicer or Sharp Knife
Table Spoon

STEP ONE
1 large Spaghetti Squash
1 large Butternut Squash
1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
2 T Unsalted Butter

Pre-heat oven to 450°. Melt butter in sauté pan. Cut Spaghetti Squash & Butternut Squash in half. Remove seeds with
spoon & place squash on cookie sheet. Pour melted butter over squash & sprinkle with brown sugar to lightly cover. Place in
oven & cook for about 40-minutes, until squash is soft. Remove from oven & let cool. Turn oven down to 350°.

STEP TWO
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 cup Fontina Cheese (grated)
2 large Potatoes
1 T Unsalted Butter
✁
Salt & Pepper (to taste)
1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
1/2 t Cinnamon
1/4 t Nutmeg

Take squash & remove the meat from skin with a fork & place in bowl. Put aside. Rinse potatoes under cold water &, with
the skin still on, slice them as thin as you can. Butter bottom of Pyrex pan & layer squash on the bottom about 1/4 inch
thick. Sprinkle with some grated Fontina Cheese & a third of the cream then add some salt & pepper. Cover that layer with
½ of the sliced potatoes (thin layer). Repeat the process, sprinkling ½ of the brown sugar, ½ cinnamon & ½ nutmeg on
next layer. Press layer down with the back of a spoon to make even, then layer the rest of the potato on top. Repeat the last
layer again, adding cheese. Place in oven & cook until golden brown.

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betty buzz: DECORATIONS 101
Making a Wreath
1. Purchase a wire wreath form at a craft store, or take 2
coat hangers, and form them into the shape of a circle,
wrapping them with floral tape to secure them together.
2. Wrap your wreath form using grasses, branches or vines.
Overlap your chosen medium, using wire or hot glue to
secure it to your wreath form.
3. Add decoration using wire or hot glue to secure it. For
Halloween, try wrapped-candy. Thanksgiving wreaths
look great with acorns, leaves or small pumpkins. Use
pinecones, birds, berries or snowflakes for a Christmas
wreath. Silver bells and blue ribbon look beautiful in a
Hanukkah wreath.
4. Think outside the “ring”! Wreaths don’t have to be
circular, try square and rectangular shapes for a nice
change. Decorative items are all around you, like wine
corks, bottle caps or tiny framed pictures!

Garland Go-To’s
1. Pick your medium: cranberries, popcorn, beads, can
tabs, CD’s or decorative paper.
2. String it: for items like cranberries, use a needle and a
very-long, sturdy thread. For tabs or CD’s, you can use
twine or ribbon. For paper, make a chain by looping the
paper into rings and securing them together.
3. Go au natural using evergreen trimmings or dried fall
leaves secured together with floral wire.

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betty buzz: CHRISTMAS WITH THE KIDS

Mom’s Little Elves

Help your children be a part of preparing for the holidays by giving them easy tasks to complete. Some ideas:
1) Kids love to bake and are great at stirring, measuring and scooping.
2) Holiday decorations made by your children are the best of all. From making placemats to stringing garland, your kids’
handiwork makes the décor twice as fabulous! See page 21 for some ideas.
3) Setting the table is a great task for children. You can even print out a seating chart and a “table map” for them to follow.
4) Remember: letting your children be a part of preparing for the holidays means accepting imperfections as charming
testimonies to the little hands and hearts that helped create your masterpiece. Kids pick up on everything you do, and
your stress becomes their stress. Enjoy yourself while creating life-long memories with your children!

Fun Games for the Holidays

1) Bobbing for Apples
replace apples with different treats and the water with something “less-messy” like shredded paper if you’d prefer.
2) Musical Chairs
last one sitting gets a surprise!
3) Relay Race
make it thematic with the holiday, like a “mummy” relay on Halloween, or a Turkey walk on Thanksgiving.
4) Backyard Scavenger Hunt
use only natural items (leaves, moss, pinecones, etc.) and have the kids make a nature centerpiece that can go on the
table.

Traveling this Holiday Season?

See page 43 for tips on traveling with the kids.

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betty buzz: Holiday Keepsakes

These ideas are a nice way to commemorate the holidays and preserve family
traditions.
Have every family member bring a recipe card with the dish they prepare.
Compile the recipes into a family blog, recipe box or book.

Get a large piece of poster board and have the kids be in charge of decorating it with
the day’s memories. For Thanksgiving, write down what everyone is thankful for, add
stickers and draw pictures. For Christmas, write down their wish list, and memories of
that season. Display the boards proudly year after year for a fun way to look back!

Start this year by having an annual family picture taken in the same location, like on
the stairs of your front porch. You can look back as time passes and see all of the big
changes that take place!

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