December 1996

Between Friends

Wraps

Introducing gift wraps that are as surprising as the presents inside. Decked with unusual package trims and treasures, this collection can wait to be opened.

The Miracle of Light

As shadows lengthen and days grow shorter, a beacon of hope transcends the dim pall of winter. It's the holiday of light, and it happens the same time each year among people of different faiths and ethnic origins. The candles, lanterns, and "stars" of both religious and secular tradition cast a new light across the land, brightening our emotional landscapes as well. In winter's darkest hour, light's shimmering power to renew is proven year after year-- warming hearts and restoring spirits.

Feel-Good Gifts

Some of the best Christmas gifts make people feel stronger, smarter, or more secure. Give a feel-good gift this year and spread some real joy.

Surviving Sinusitis

Getting relief for constant sinus pain can make everyone feel better.

Tai Chi Helps Prevent Falls in Elderly

Balance Blood Pressure with Exercise

Exercise May Lower Your Risk of Diabetes

Here's another great reason to start exercising regularly: A study in Hawaii shows that, in many cases, exercise reduces your odds of becoming diabetic.

FUSSBUDGETS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

Make Fitness Family Time

Chocolate Sanity Clause

Don't ho-ho-hold the chocolate just yet. With a little forethought even the most jovial of Kris Kringles can enjoy their fair share of chocolate this holiday season.

How to Handle The Holiday 'Gimmes'

"You cannot say to a child, 'This year you're not getting any gifts because we're giving to the rain forest.'"

Grandparents

Shortly after sunrise on New Year's Day, 1995, my wife and I became grandparents to John McHenry Rosemond, or Jack Henry, as he is called.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

The View from Above

LOOKING GOOD

SMART GARDENING

The floriferous Amaryllis

Few guarantees in life are as solid as the promise of an amaryllis: If you buy an amaryllis bulb, it will bloom-- and magnificently, of course. The exuberance of the amaryllis is so great you often see one performing in a box or bin before it has even touched soil. Should you treat an amaryllis as an annual, you might consider it pricey. So, for a real treat, make it behave as a perennial.

Christmas in a twinkling

This should be a time to switch to a slower track ... but for most of us, that notion gets lost in a swirl of holiday preparations. Not so for one busy family. Lisa and Peter Brown have found ways to compose a seasonal setting that's magical for their child and easy on them. Turn the page to see how they've blended Christmas past and present to create a joy for all.

Wreaths

Ring in the season with one of its most enduring symbols of hope and renewal. This unique selection of wreaths has fresh, fragrant, resounding appeal. All five are yours for the making.

The littlest angel

Tiny hands and hearts express Christmas in its purest form. Join our winged cherub in a celebration of the bright and joyful side of the holiday with gifts and decorations you and your child can create together.

From Windows To Wasabi

Hanukkah Merchandise Offer

Red Wine with Meat and Other Facts and Fables

In the days of straight-laced decorum, matching wine with food meant "white with fish and red with meat." Today, folks can take more personal liberties with this old rule because the best food and wine pairing is whatever combination you like. When making a food and wine match, think about the four basic taste components your tongue recognizes: salt, sweet, bitter, and sour (or astringent and acidic, in wine lingo).

Nutrition information

EVERY RECIPE ANALYZED With each recipe, we give important nutrition information. The calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, and protein will help you keep tabs on what you eat.

Baking with Margarine

Experienced bakers know that using the right ingredients can make the difference between a success and a failure. That has never been truer than with today's margarines and their lower-fat look-alikes.

Maximum Minivan

Insiders at General Motors admit that for years their minivans have been distant runners-up to models from Ford and Chrysler Corp., the minivan pioneer. That may be about to change. The redesigned 1997s from GM-- Oldsmobile Silhouette, Pontiac Trans Sport, and Chevrolet Venture-- have the ride, power, and comfort that will make them far more popular than the models they

Family-Made Ornaments

One of these nights, gather in the kitchen and make a tree full of paper ornaments. The fun part is making your own paper pulp! Here's what you'll need: paper (computer paper or construction paper works best); clay cookie molds (most specialty cook shops or crafts stores have them); blender; sponge; colander or strainer; paints.

READER SHOPPING

The Shopper's Mart

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence.

The man next door

Christine says the month of December is really a homemaker's holiday. You don't have to clean the house because you cover everything with Christmas decorations.