december 2013 - south jersey mom magazine

DECEMBER 2013

FREE

HolidayGift

GuideSee page 14

Savvy Shopping Saver Tips

Oh What Fun it is to Shop Online

10

Multicultureas a Family

EmbracingA recipe

for delicious

chocolate- covered pretzels

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pg 14Holiday Gift

Guide

A fight precipitated recently when a holiday toy guide arrived in the mail. One kid insisted that he/she

had it first – a common refrain in most households of more than one child. Then my husband came home with the final proclamation that the toy catalog was addressed to him and therefore was HIS to look at first. His childlike excitement at poring over the catalog softened any sternness he used to reprimand the kids.I remember the excitement and antici-pation that built up when we’d receive the Sears catalog long ago, chockfull of beautifully displayed toys, ripe for adding to our Christmas Wish Lists. They always contained unique items that you nev-er saw in stores which may explain why the elaborate Barbie sets with arrays of exotic clothing and accessories never ap-peared under the tree. Could it be that Santa didn’t believe in mail-order himself or didn’t get the Sears catalog?! So many good memories from past holiday seasons swirl around like visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. I re-member making ornaments and ginger-bread houses, decorating the tree and joyfully singing Christmas carols with my mom and sister, counting down the days by adding presents to the Santa Claus advent calendar my mom made. And whenever the UPS truck (in Sanok sisters’ parlance, “big, brown truck service”) rolls around, I recall how we ran to the door when it appeared, eagerly awaiting pres-ents from our Minnesota relatives. Big or small, we savored the magic of the special surprises that brought smiles to our faces and fondly reminded us of our loved ones. What holiday rituals and cultur-al traditions do you savor and bestow upon your own children? We give our kids a new ornament each year that sig-

nifies something special to them. When we decorate our tree, we relive those special moments and reflect on our childhood stories and history just by tenderly handling those or-naments. It’s not only a Christmas tree but a family tree. All the holiday activities we engage in and stories we tell, whether they’re of a religious nature, part of our heritage or just Christmas cheer make for happy memories that I hope they’ll treasure and offer them clues about their background and the curiosity to learn more. Speaking of which…read Dr. Kelly N. Moore’s interview with Annie Anjum who discusses the challenges of a family acclimating to American customs while retaining their Pakistani and Muslim tra-ditions in “Embracing a Multicultural Household.” Holidays are more than just cele-brating and giving gifts. Christmas, Hanu-kah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or what-ever you celebrate – they’re a chance to make memories, carry on family traditions and instruct your children on what’s im-portant to you and your family. It’s also a time to express love to those who mean the most. Live in those happy moments and savor them. Happy Holidays and Hap-py New Year from our families to yours!

From Your Friend and Fellow MOM,MB✲

Table of Contents

December 2013

mom 2 mom 6 Baby’s First Christmas 8 Embracing a Multicultural Household

moms R women 2 10 What Fun It is to Shop Online! 13 Avoid Holiday Debt Hangover

features14 Holiday Gift Guide

know 2 grow16 5 Travel Tips for Stress”less” Holiday Travel18 Make Your Own Christmas Ornament

also in this issue21 things to do22 recipe corner

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letter from the editor


South Jersey

MOMSouth Jersey

December 2013

CEO/Publisher Christopher Ognibene • (609) 670-1794

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Chris Ognibene • (609) 670-1794 [email protected]

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Photographer Perfect Day Photography

www.perfectdayphotography.com (856) 241-3850

Contributing Writers Trish Adkins, Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio,

Sharla Feldscher, Jennifer Hague, Dolores Hoffman, Dr. Kelly N. Moore, Elizabeth Norton, Deanna Robinson

Submit Calendar Listing: [email protected]

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Nina, 7 years old, enjoys taking pictures, and doing art projects. She’s currently working on her Orange Belt in Tae Kwan Doe in Martial Arts. Erica is 5 years old and enjoys singing and reading. Erica is also currently working on her Orange Belt in Tae Kwan Doe in Martial Arts.

On the Cover

How can you give your child the gift of “giving” this holiday season? Try this.

First, talk to your child about how lucky he is and mention that many children are not as fortunate. What could he do to help them? Suggest he give away some of his toys he rarely uses. Provide a nicely decorated gift box for him to select a few practically new toys to fill in that box. Then go together to a nearby hospital or shelter. Seek out a place where there are

children who would smile at the idea of new toys and deliver them together. Take pictures of your child filling his gift box, carrying the gift box, even delivering the box to a hospital. Those photos will be some of the most meaningful in his life as he, hopefully, continues the tradition of “giving!”

A real kid-believer, Sharla Feldscher, a proud South Jersey Grandmom (Grammy) and owner of her own public re-lations business in Philadelphia, is the author of six books on creative ideas to do with young children including two KIDFUN Activity Books. Her blog at www.kidfunandmore.com has more easy-to-do KIDFUN ideas

The Gift of Giving


john davidsonAgent, New York Life Insurance Company, 1000 Atrium Way, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, 856-534-3049, [email protected] www.facebook.com/jonathandavidsonnYL


Your baby’s first Christmas is one of the most special and magical milestones in your family’s life! Whether planning

your very first holiday celebration with your first child or your third, incorporating fun, meaningful traditions each year will make memories that last through generations. Check out our list of fun traditions to incorporate into Christmas this year. Pick your favorites and be inspired to create traditions that are all your own.

Visit with SantaPick a place and a Santa you love for the traditional Santa picture. Each year, you can compare photos and see how much your little one has grown. Visit Santa at a special location like Storybook Village or Sesame Place and add some additional family fun (and photo ops!) to the mix.

begin an Ornament TraditionWhether you go the traditional route with a “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament or start collecting a series of ornaments from a

retailer like Hallmark, now’s the perfect time to begin the annual tradition of gifting a special ornament to your child each year. Then when your child is an adult, you can gift them all the ornaments from their childhood for their Christmas trees.

Photo MemoriesTaking annual family photos at Christmas are such a great way to mark the year -- and perfect for Christmas cards. This year and every year, make your photos extra special by having a photographer come to your home. Lauren Schwarz, owner of Lauren Schwarz Photography, loves to do home-based photo shoots at Christmas. At home, she says, you can capture memories and moments from your Christmas. It’s personalized and perfect (and it means Mom actually gets to be a perfect, instead of being the one behind the camera).

Make itIf you’re crafty, make some homemade handprint ornaments. You can find many handprint ornament kits online or simply stamp

your child’s hand on cardstock and hang on the tree. If you’re looking for fabulous Christmas gifts, try a local paint-your-own pottery place to make fun cookie plates decorated with your little one’s hand and foot prints.

New PJs on christmas eveOn Christmas Eve each year, have Santa leave new PJs for your little one. No matter if they are 1 or 21, your child will have adorable PJs for Christmas morning photos. Or overnight, leave a new bathrobe at the foot of their bed.

Take it All InThe Holiday season is a whirlwind, and it’s so easy to get caught up in making memories and that you can forget to enjoy them! So, pick your favorite traditions and if you don’t get everything done, there’s always next year (or Russian Christmas in January.)✲

Read Trish’s blog at http://2yoke.blogspot.com

mom

2 m

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Baby’s First ChristmasBy Trish Adkins

http://2yoke.blogspot.com/


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Kelly Moore: What are some of the challenges in raising a child to embrace two cultures?

Annie Anjum: One challenge in raising my daughter in a multicultural environment is to find a nice medium. For example, my 3-year old started speaking when she was around 2. At that time, I started to communicate with her in Urdu (our Pakistani language), but she would respond in English which she was picking up faster from TV and from preschool. It has been difficult to get her to speak in Urdu, but I try to find a balance, so that she embraces it. instead of finding it a form of distress. Another example is related to swimming attire. Dressing is more conservative in our culture, and even though my family is moderate in many ways, my husband and I feel that our daughter should be more covered than a swimming suit allows for. I put little spandex shorts under her suit or she wears the kind with longer shorts. Right now, she is not at an age where she notices a difference, but I am afraid of when she will realize she looks a little different than the other girls in her swim class. These are just a few examples of the challenges of raising a child to embrace two cultures and trying to find a balance. I rely on other moms from our same cultural background to get support on how to meet these challenges and get through them.

KM: What strategies do you have for helping your daughter embrace her Pakistani heritage?

AA: When she is little bit older, she will attend Islamic school where she will learn to read and write in Arabic and become more knowledgeable about the religion. My daughter also sees my husband and I pray several times each day. She comes over near us and is beginning to get the idea of what that time means. We want her to embrace the religion happily without forcing it on her. We have several Pakistani friends with children in the same age group as my daughter. We meet them almost weekly for informal play dates and a couple of times for family dinner parties. At these parties, the kids wear Pakistani clothes and see the parents interact with each other. We also watch some Pakistani television at home like Sesame Street and other shows that are dubbed over in the Urdu language. This helps with language-learning skills because she is seeing familiar characters that she loves speaking in Urdu. We took her to Pakistan a few months back and she picked up a lot of small things there.

And we also eat traditional Pakistani food which my daughter loves!

KM: What are some of the Muslim holidays your family celebrates?

AA: Eid – which simply means “celebration”, is celebrated every year. Ramadan is fasting month prior to Eid when we fast from sunrise to sundown for 30 days. On the 31st day, we get together in a mosque and pray; we dress up and exchange gifts with friends and family. The time of the year that Eid happens changes every year. This year, it was in August; next year it will be 10-15 days sooner.

KM: What are some things you want people to know about Pakistani-American culture that most may not be aware of?

AA: I hope people recognize that Pakistani-American culture is one in which most people work hard to keep their religion (Islam) and culture alive in a positive sense. We are not one-dimensional. There is such a negative portrayal of Pakistan from the media, and the recent media focus on the story of Malala [Yousafzai] has intensified that image. With the exception of a few that the media usually focuses on, Pakistani people have the same values as Americans do: family, a decent lifestyle, a good job, and living a life of honesty. I went to law school after I got married and was pregnant with my daughter by the time of my commencement. My husband has been very supportive of my education. While there are some that hold extreme views, they are more of the exception, and do not represent the full picture of what our culture is or what we value. That is an important message that I want to share with the readers. I embrace both cultures and want other moms that are raising their children in multicultural families to know that you can embrace both

your American and country of origin cultures.✲

Embracing a Multicultural HouseholdBy Dr. Kelly N. Moore

Annie Anjum is a Muslim, Pakistani-American wife, mom and attorney. Born in Pakistan, she moved to the US at the age of seven and is now the proud mother of a 3-year old daughter. Ms. Anjum shared some of the aspects of raising her child to embrace more than one culture and what she wants people to know

about her cultural heritage.


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Oh, what fun it is to shop online! Online shopping has become an easy and simple process over the last few years. It’s convenient, affordable and can be a time

saver for a lot of people. There are so many benefits of buying gifts online. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your internet shopping experience.

Compare PricesBefore purchasing an item, do a web search and see what oth-er prices are out there. Comparison shopping can save you a lot of money. Certain websites, such as www.amazon.com will show the prices of different competitors, so you can choose the best price. Clear your cookies before shopping, though. Tricking a retailer into thinking you’re a new shopper may get you lower prices.

Abandon Your CartIf you’re interested in an item, put it in your online “basket” or on your Wish List. Then walk away. In a couple days, you’ll al-most certainly get a coupon in your e-mail. Last month, I had a blouse in my cart but didn’t finish checking out. Two days later, I got a coupon code for 10% off in my e-mail!

Use the Wish ListThe Wish List has become an easy and convenient way to send gifts to those you love. My sister and I use it quite often. I can access her children’s Wish Lists, and she can do the same with mine. I can simply click and have it shipped directly to them. Also, when my daughter mentions something she likes or wants, I place it in her Wish List. It gives me some ideas when the holidays roll around.

Internet SafetyWhen shopping online and using a credit card, there are some measures online shoppers can take to minimize their risk. First and foremost is ensuring that all online shopping is carried out only on secure sites. To be certain the page you’re on is secure, look for an “s” in the URL address. While non-secure sites and pages begin with http://, secure sites begin with https://.

Don’t Forget the Shipping CostsTo cut down on shipping fees, try to order more than one item at a time from a single retailer. Many online retailers offer free shipping on purchases over a certain dollar amount, and online coupon sites regularly offer free shipping coupon codes.✲

what fun it is to Shop Online!

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Avoid the ease of using plastic at checkout. Plan a budget and stick to it – and you won’t need a credit card.

Organize a gift exchange with your family such as White Elephant, Pollyanna or Secret Santa; or for a smaller family, a treasure hunt with written clues leading to gifts. While the games are fun, they’re practical, too. Each member of the family will only need to give one gift, keeping costs at a minimum.

Start a Santa box. If you come across a killer Furbie sale early in the year, grab two for your critter-loving in-laws and store them in your Santa box. By the time December rolls around, you might notice that most of your shopping is already done.

Get crafty. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to create your own gifts. Make cookies, ornaments, recipes in a jar, candles, jam, a coupon book of favors or personalized photo albums. You can also try upcycling objects from around the house such as sewing mit-tens from an old sweater, framing the sleeve of your child’s favorite book or collecting broken crayons to melt into fun shapes. The possibilities are endless!

Why buy gift wrap if you can make it for free? Collect brown bags throughout the year to make your own parcel-style gift wrap and tie with red or green yarn. Skip the expensive gift tags and create your own from last year’s greeting cards.

Avoid Holiday Debt HangoverBy Jennifer Hague

The average holiday shopper paying by credit card won’t pay off this year’s Christmas debt until 2021 if she only pays minimum payments.* Don’t let the threat of a holiday debt hangover dampen your Christmas or Hanukah cheer. Here are 10 money-saving tips on how you can enjoy the holidays without being haunted by the ghost of Christmas past.

Split and repackage gift sets to create multiple gifts from one set.

If dinner is at your house this year, make it potluck. You cook the bird, and everyone else contributes side dishes and desserts. Check your local grocery stores for holiday promo-tions. Some stores offer free turkeys this time of year after spending a certain amount with a store coupon card.

Sign up for Groupon, Living Social and Amazon Local. These sites offer deeply discounted local goods and services to its members -- sometimes up to 90% off retail prices.

Harness the power of technology and use your smartphone to compare prices. Free price compar-ison applications such as Price Check by Amazon, RedLaser and ShopSavvy work by scanning the bar code on an item to search for lower prices.

Don’t forget your coupons! Before you buy online, search for a discount code at coupon websites such as Retail-Me-Not or www.BradsDeals.com. Watch for sales and coupons in newspapers, circulars and e-mails. When you sign up on a store’s mailing list, they’ll often send you exclusive coupons on a regular basis.

* Based on data obtained from 2013 Gallup, poll on consumer Christmas spending, and 2013 Federal Reserve, average credit card rates. Jennifer Hague is a freelance writer, mom of two kids and blogs at Mad Mom Diaries http://madmomdiaries.com

http://madmomdiaries.com/


broadwaY theater of pitman Don’t miss our family-friendly entertain-ment this month! Get in the holiday spirit with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer December 17-21. Then, see world-renowned magician and performer Richard Gustafson perform mystery and illusion December 27-30. For tickets, call 856-384-8381 or visit pitmanbroadwaytheatre.com.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Often it’s filled will yummy baked goods, wrapped gifts and travel. Before you go packing your suitcase, here are a few tips that I live by when traveling.

My family actually educates from the road. We’re always traveling. The holiday season is upon us, and for us, that means leaving the school books at home and traveling for fun. I’ve learned it’s essential to create a travel environment with limited stress before you get behind the wheel. These 5 tips will make family travel this holiday season more enjoyable, less stressful and most important safe.

book earlyThe earlier you book your travel plans, the higher your chances of getting what you really want. If you’re flying, try to book at least a month or two in advance to ensure that you get the seats you want. Confirm your seat-ing arrangements with the airline if you book your flight using a third-par-ty site. (Not all airlines honor assigned seating from other booking sites.) Booking your hotel and car rentals in advance will also usually save a family headaches and money. Check if the hotel offers additional perks

for families like in-room cribs or pull-out beds, free family breakfast or connected rooms.

Plan for Night TravelWhether you travel by plane or air, night travel is perfect for long trips. At night, children will be more likely to sleep during the journey. This will not only make travel less stressful for parents, but children will feel like the journey is shorter, since they’re asleep for a portion of travel and fewer meals on the road.

create a Game PlanThe more organized your travel plans, the smoother your trip will go. One of the most helpful things you can do to make travel go smoothly is to create a game plan for downtime during your trip. Do jumping jacks and races at rest stops. Make a game plan that’s fun for little travelers and efficient for the whole family. Plan for a break every 2-3 hours along the road. Providing assigned stops will break a long trip into manageable chunks for young children.

Rent Large baby ItemsHauling baby travel items is not only stressful, but it takes up lots of valuable packing space as well. Take advantage of rental services, such as Baby’s Away, to save money and effort on your trip. Why pack it when you can rent it?

Use Pre-check for Flights Did you know that frequent flyer families can pay to Pre-Check with many airports? Using Pre-Check can cut down on security check time significantly. Not everyone qualifies for Pre-Check. Your airline will notify you on your boarding pass if you’re eligible. Using Pre-Check will allow you to forego some of the normal security checks (like removing shoes) and place your family in a shorter line. Our family has spent hours in our car and on planes. We enjoy the time together, and even though traveling from point A to point B might have its challenges, I know I’m making memories for my kids that will last a lifetime. My children will only be traveling with me for a short time. I know, all too soon, I’ll be traveling to them wherever their final desti-nation may end up in life. May your travels take you to many happy and stress “less” memories this holiday season!✲Elizabeth Norton is a mom of 3 children: 10, 6, and 8 months. She’s always ready for an adventure. Elizabeth is founder of the NJDigitalmom Network and has been spokesmom for brands such as Hershey, Disney and Tide. Elizabeth works with Championsforkids.org, a national nonprofit that makes it simple to give kids in your community the resources they need to thrive.

holiday travelBy Elizabeth Norton

5 travel tips for

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Kid crafts don’t have to be complicated! This 2-step craft is fun to make and pretty enough to hang on your tree!

You Need:H A Clear Christmas Ornament.H Acrylic PaintH Holiday Stickers

Directions:H Pop the top off of the Christmas Ornament. H Squeeze ½ the bottle of paint inside the ornament. H Put the lid back on the ornament and have your little

one shake it until all of the sides are coated.H Have your little one apply the holiday stickers, and

you’re done!

Visit Deanna’s blog at From Wine to Whine http://fromwinetowhine.com

Make Your Own Christmas Ornament!By Deanna Robinson

http://fromwinetowhine.com


BURLINGTON COUNTY Holiday Festival - Victorian Holiday Celebration Sunday, Dec 8, Noon-6pm Historic Smithville Park 803 Smithville Rd., Eastampton (609) 265-5858 FREE! Join us to kick off the Holiday Season at Historic Smithville Park complete with a visit from St. Nick who will arrive at 1pm. Plans are in the making to provide visitors horse and carriage rides, ice carving demonstrations, tours of the holiday-decorated Smithville Mansion, entertainment, kids’ activities and a holiday market place where you can purchase that unique gift. Expect to see the NJ Renaissance Faire performers and vendors offering a Victorian Flair. Victorian performers, activities, re-enactors and vendors selling appropriate Victorian crafts are invited to apply. For an application, e-mail [email protected]. Rain or shine.

CAMDEN COUNTY Brunch with Santa Saturday, December 7, 14 & 21 Camden Children’s Garden 3 Riverside Drive on the Camden Waterfront Registered guests enjoy a delicious Tortilla Press buffet brunch with their jolly host Santa! Seatings are from 11-11:45am (all dates) and 12-12:45pm (7th and 21st only). Call (856) 365-8733.

Girl Power Tween Club Enrichment Workshop Saturday, December 21 12:30-5pm Monthly Enrichment Workshops and Summer Camps hosted by Yoga for Living, Inc., and Advanced Wellness Solutions, LLC, for preteens, aged 10-13, promoting self-awareness, self-esteem, nutrition, movement, art, relaxation, life skills, fun and more positive friends! To register,

www.yogaforliving.net or (856) 404-7287.

Mainstage Holiday Concert & Family Festival Saturday, December 21 - 7pm Sunday, December 22 – 2pm Lincoln Hall and the Dennis Flyer Theatre Camden County College Blackwood This treat for the entire family comes complete with hot chocolate, a visit with Santa, and a joyful holiday concert featuring Mainstage Center for the Arts’ show choirs, Harmony and Encore, its Dance Company & more! Doors will open for festival activities one hour before each show time. Tickets are $12-$15 for adults and $10 for children under 12/senior citizens. For nominal additional fees, those attending can participate in an ornament-making station and a cookie fundraiser to benefit Harmony’s summer performance tour. To purchase tickets, visit www.mainstage.org or call (855) 93-MAINSTAGE ((855) 936-2467). The Holiday Concert and all 2013-14 performances are sponsored by Comegno Law Group, PC.

Mommy Breastfeeding Support Groups Visit www.haddonbreastfeeding center.com for more details and programs that are being offered in Southern NJ.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY Bridgeton Historic Christmas Tour Sunday, December 1 Bridgeton Recreation (856) 453-1675

6th Annual Coats for Kids Friday, December 6 NJ Motorsports Park (856) 327-8000

Festival of Lights at the Cohanzick Zoo Fri, Dec 6 & Sat, Dec 7th Bridgeton Recreation

(856) 453-1675

Bridgeton Historic Christmas House Tour Bridgeton Recreation Saturday, December 7 (856) 453-1675

GLOUCESTER COUNTY PJ Storytime Thursday, Dec 5, 6:30-7:30pm The Franklin Township Library Join Miss Linda in the Children’s Library for the Franklin Township Library’s annual Pajama Storytime! Come in your favorite set of pajamas, wear your slippers and bring along your favorite storytime pal! We’ll be listening to stories about silly monsters and doing a craft. Open to ages 3-8 with a caregiver. NEW & EXCITING THIS YEAR: One of your storytime pals is invited to spend the night, and have a pajama party of their own! Pals may be picked up anytime during library hours beginning Saturday, December 7. It will be a fun time for all! Registration is required by Monday, December 2. Stop by or call the library to register at (856) 694-2833. The Franklin Township Library is located at 1584 Coles Mill Rd. in Franklinville.

Pancake Breakfast with Santa Claus Saturday, December 14 Two seatings 9am and 11am Sunshine Inn at Camp Sun ‘N Fun 1036 N. Tuckahoe Rd. Williamstown Come celebrate the Holiday Season with a yummy breakfast, visit with Santa, craft-making, and basket raffle -- all to help Camp Sun ‘N Fun! Don’t forget to bring your camera! Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Seating is limited, and you must RSVP to Maria at (856) 848-5941 x 22 or [email protected] For more info, please call Terri at (856) 629-4502. All proceeds go to benefit Camp Sun ‘N Fun, a day

and residential camp for individuals with special needs, owned and operated by the Arc Gloucester.

Journey of Youth (JOY) Rejuvenation Series Monday, Dec 16, 6:30-8pm Relax and unwind from the day’s stresses with a glass of wine, yoga and inspiring education! Hosted by Nancy’s Exercise Classes, LLC, and Advanced Wellness Solutions, LLC, the JOY monthly series celebrates women to experience true youth, vitality and JOY! Stretch your body and expand your mind with Gentle Candlelight Yoga, Tai & Craniosacral techniques and Featured Seminar: Boost Your Mood and Prevent the Winter Blues! December special guests include Cedarville Winery and Organogold Organic Tea and Coffee! Cash and carry available! Cost $15. Wine Tasting $5 for six deluxe tastings. First 5 bring friend free! To register, Nancy Finkle (609) 519-1898. Location: The Little Red Schoolhouse Mickleton

Jersey Sound Chorus Returns to Local Library Thursday, Dec 19, 7-8pm The Franklin Township Library The Jersey Sound Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, Inc., returns to the Franklin Township Library for a special performance of holiday favorites. The Jersey Sound Chorus is a non-profit all women’s barbershop chorus with more than 50 vocal musicians from all parts of the Delaware Valley. Join us for an old-fashioned evening of holiday music. Light refreshments will be served. No registration is required. The Franklin Township Library is located at 1584 Coles Mill Rd. in Franklinville. For more information, call (856) 694-2833.

December CalendarTo submit your event, send an e-mail to [email protected].

Entries are due six weeks prior to the event and are filled on a first-come first-served basis. Space is limited.

For a complete list of events, log onto www.southjerseymom.com

things 2 do

http://www.haddonbreastfeedingcenter.com

http://www.haddonbreastfeedingcenter.com

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio is the author of “Seasoned With Love, Treasured Recipes” & “Lisa Ann’s Seasoned With Love II”, and the children’s book, “Snicker Learns An Important Lesson.” Visit her blog http://lisaanndinunzio.blogspot.com/ or Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001935347501

chocolate-covered Pretzels• 2 (12 oz.) bags milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips • 1 bag pretzel logs • Chopped nuts, for garnish, optional• Coconut, for garnish, optional• Chopped dried fruit, for garnish, optional• Favorite festive toppings

Melt chocolate in double boiler over medium heat on stovetop. Using tongs, or your fingers, quickly dip pretzels in chocolate allowing the excess to run off. Place dipped pretzels on waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle with favorite toppings. Allow chocolate to harden. You may refrigerate pretzels for a while to help chocolate set. Once hard-ened, remove from sheets and store in a cool location with waxed paper between layers or package pretzels in clear cellophane bags for festive gift giving.

Pistachio cranberry chocolate bark• 2 (12 oz.) bags milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips• 3/4 cup chopped pistachios • 3/4 cup dried cranberries

Line a baking sheet with foil, shiny side up. Melt chocolate in a double boiler over medium heat on stovetop. Pour the chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet, using a rubber spatula to spread it into a 10- to 12-inch circle, about 1/4 inches thick. Sprinkle the pistachios and cranberries over the chocolate, arranging them so each bite has some pistachios and cranberries. Let the bark harden completely at room temperature for about 1 hour. (If room’s warm, you may freeze the bark for a few minutes.) Break bark into pieces and store in an airtight container or package bark in clear cellophane bags or jars for festive gift giving.

Honey Roasted Nuts • 2 cups roasted unsalted almonds, cashews or peanuts • 1/3 cup honey • 1/2 cup raw sugar or natural sugar substitute • Sea salt or Himalayan Pink salt, to taste

Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a baking sheet with non-stick cook-ing spray. Add honey to a saucepot over medium heat on stovetop. Stir just until honey’s warmed through, turn off heat and remove pan to a cool burner. Add nuts, sugar and salt. Spread out nuts onto the baking sheet. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, making sure to toss the nuts at least once during baking, so they don’t burn. When slightly brown, remove nuts from oven. Let cool completely, then break up any chunks and store in an airtight container or package in clear jars for festive gift giving.

As always, Bon Appetit!✲

Homemade for the Holidays!By Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio

The recipes in this month’s column are easy to prepare homemade edible gifts. Children can have fun by helping add the festive toppings to the chocolate treats and decorating homemade gift tags to go on the bags or jars. Simply tie gift tag onto each packaged goody with ribbon, attach a small ornament, cookie cutter or a copy of the recipe, and you’ll have wonderful homemade gifts that are sure to please, perfect to give out to family, friends, co-workers, teachers and neighbors. From my home to yours, may you have a very Merry Christmas!!!

http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/pretzel/index.html

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december 2013 - south jersey mom magazine

Documents

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holiday rituals

holiday activities

toy catalog

sears catalog

family tree

holiday toy guide

christmas cheer