>> gift guide Tri ETr- rn - Fri Breathe Deep HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING Nov. 27, 6 p.m. • Shain Park I consider passing them on so their families can enjoy these treasures! SANTA HOUSE Weekends Nov. 29 — Dec. 22: Fri., 3-5 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 1-4 p.m. Extended Hours Dec. 6 — 8 for Winter Markt, Christmas Eve 10 a.m.-1 p.m. NEW LOCATION — ShaM Park Pavilion Santa is in a real house for the holidays! Children can give him their list and have a photo taken. Photo proceeds benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind. 3. GIFTS If you receive a gift you have no use for, consider selling, re-gifting or donating it. Don't hang onto some- thing just because you received it as a gift. Instead of buying every adult a gift, consider another approach. Each adult buys one nice gift for an agreed-upon value, and the group can exchange gifts on the big day. This is so much easier than shopping for several gifts —and easier on the credit card, too! 1. LISTS 4. BUDGET YOUR TIME The holidays are all about lists! The first is a grocery list. Put items in an Everyone knows how important order that follows the layout of the it is to budget your finances when it grocery store you frequent. Shopping comes to the holidays, but remember at a grocery store you know well saves to budget your time as well. We all time because you are not have the same 24 hours searching up and down the in a day; it's what you aisles of an unfamiliar store do with those hours that trying to find needed items. really matters! If you are Take it to the next level. entertaining this holiday "For the holidays, I gather season, create a calendar all of my recipes and put leading up to the event the ingredients needed on and work your way back- a spreadsheet organized by ward budgeting your time and tasks. For example, the headings: produce, pasta/ rice, condiments, baking, consider choosing recipes cereals/snacking, beverages, that can be made ahead Debi Wei nstein frozen, deli, dairy:' Weinstein of time. says. "Under these headings, 5. BE PLEASANT! I type in each item I need to purchase, At this time of year, good sense print out the list and take it with me to the store:' can go out the window. Follow these She saves this document on her simple rules to live by: computer under the heading of the • Stick to your good habits and holiday's name and year. "Each year I eliminate bad ones. am able to open the document back up • Don't overeat — the first taste is and review the recipes, make adjust- the same as the last one! You don't ments based on the number of guests have to clean your plate. and reprint the document for my • Don't sweat the small stuff — don't upcoming shopping trip:' she says. look for issues that really aren't there. • Don't criticize. 2. DECORATING • Smile and be a good guest and Martha Stewart may have paid help- host. • Relax. If you organize ahead of ers, but most of us don't. Don't try to be perfect. The holidays are truly time ... you can plan some down time about spending time with friends for relaxing, putting your feet up and and family. When we are gone, our enjoying the holidays with a smile. children won't remember how perfect every little detail was, but they will For more tips on how to get orga- remember how much time we spent nized for the new year, visit www. with them. ivegottagetorganized.com . Weinstein will be presenting at a HAP member- As you sort through the bins of only event called Organizing A-Z in holiday decorations you have accu- mulated over the years, remember to November; visit www.hap.org for info. purge. Some decorations might have To become a HAP member, visit www. sentimental value, which is fine; how- ChooseHAP.org. ever, if your children are now adults, ❑ Dec. 6 — 8, ShaM Park A charming old-world style market with local artisans, holiday decorations, home accessories, a kids area, live entertainment, plus traditional German food and drink! For details visit www.BirminghamWinterMarktorg. Help Santa and the Mayor light up the town for the holidays! Enjoy caroling, carriage rides and free hot cocoa as well! Santa House opens following the ceremony. Five ways to organize a stress-free holiday. t's what we all want — a joyful and stress-free holiday season, right? How can we achieve both? Health Alliance Plan (HAP) and local professional organizer Debi Weinstein of I've Gotta Get Organized Inc. have put together a handy list of tips for handling the upcoming season with a smile on your face while keeping your blood pressure in check! Weinstein lives with her husband, Lee, in Farmington Hills. They have three grown daughters and belong to Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield. BIRMINGHAM WINTER MARKT CARRIAGE RIDES Weekends through Dec. 21 Also During Tree Lighting & Birmingham Winter Markt Experience the beautiful downtown area aglow for the holidays. Carriages load at the corner of Henrietta & Merrill. For more info go to www.EnjoyBirmingham.com. BIRMINGHAM RESTAURANT WEEK SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Nov. 30 • Downtown Birmingham January 27-31 and February 3-7 Participating Birmingham Restaurants Birmingham's favorite dining event is back for two weeks in 2014! Delicious menu items will be offered for amazing prices. www.BirminghamRestaurantWeek.org Support small businesses by holiday shopping in Birmingham. Complimentary downtown parking, horse-drawn carriage rides, live carolers, a warming station with complimentary cookies & hot chocolate near Santa House in Shain Park. Always two hours free parking in the decks! Pay for parking using Parkmobile's mobile apps at all parking meters in Birmingham. f EnjoyBirminghamNOW www.EnjoyBirmingham.com Pack & Ship PLUS-ft FedEx ? UNITED STATES MI/ POSTAL SERVICE =mov Great e2K I Gifts V z • v • under Gifts for all ages! PENS Classic Collection CROSS and Special Finishes Ideal for Holiday Gift Giving FREE Huge Supply of wrapping and packing materials 2 sizes of wardrobe boxes available SAVE Holiday Themed Gifts, Unique 'Artsy' Handmade Gifts and More! ▪ Engraving Expires 12/20/13 Shipping Across Town or Across the Globe I • FedEx or DHL Shipping Charges minimum $25 One coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 11/30/13 (248) 712 4969 - 3630 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills NE Corner of Maple & Lahser • Next to Kroger www.Pack-ShipPlus.com "A" Rated on Angies List Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies and More All Major Brands - Professional Installation and Repairs! FREE In-Home Consultation* Lifetime Warrantee FREE WE DO REPAIRS!! Installation* Josel Blind Co. 248-320-6883 *on orders $499 and more 1 s. VIMMO WIND FRE top down/ bottom up cordless honeycomb shades* JN ISMS! 'WEN 75% OFF on horizontal & vertical blinds November 14 • 2013 33