December 1999

Holiday Cooking

Kitchen Planning Guide

Christmas-Tree Buyer's Guide

Keep Kids Busy on the Road

Decorative Painting Guide

Other Top Clicks

Every Month

Holiday Shopping: As Easy as 1-2-3

What's on BH&G TV

Get right into the jolly spirit of St. Nick by watching Better Homes and Gardens Television during the month of December. Our gift to you will be an array of merry, fun, and festive ideas.

Between friends

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Once you've selected the perfect gift, let your well-wishes continue with the packaging. These easy-to-make seasonal tags and cards are sure to warm hearts with messages of health, hope, and love.

SPECIAL OFFER

Tabletop trees

Little things do count, so reconsider decking your halls this year and adorn your tabletops instead. Think entryways, breakfast nooks, dining rooms, living rooms, even cozy corners by the hearth. So many surfaces, so little time. These downsized versions of the big Christmas tree-- utterly adorable and surprisingly doable-- bring cheer to every tablescape.

Candlelight traditions

Lighting candles is a sure way to cast any event in a more intriguing light. But during the holiday season, candlelight captivates us even more. It kindles a mood of ritual and spirituality, and it is steeped in traditions we hand down to our children, who will pass the torch on to future generations. Here are some ideas to light the way.

Personalized Gifts

With all the time and money you spend picking holiday presents for friends and loved ones, you want your gifts to be special. Here are eight surprises you can assemble yourself that are guaranteed not to end up in the back of the closet. Plus, a bonus: The container is part of the present.

The Roots of Christmas

While our lives may be hurtling forward at warp speed the rest of the year, the holidays are a time to slow down and reconnect with where we've been. We rejoice in repeating even the simplest traditions-- baking cookies "the way mom did it," unwrapping favorite tree ornaments, or watching "It's a Wonderful Life" for the one-hundredth time. This year we've gone back to explore the origins of some familiar-- and maybe not so familiar-- Christmas customs. From these roots, we've drawn inspiration for holiday decorations that can make the season even more meaningful for you and yours.

PINEAPPLE COOKIE CUTTER

COPPER PINEAPPLE VOTIVE COVER KIT

COLONIAL DOLL KIT

COLONIAL SAMPLER KIT

ROSETTE IRONS

FLORAL TUBES

Snowflake Stockings

The simple but beautiful stockings with snowflake appliqués on our cover are made from celadon green and white felt for a holiday look that's fresh as springtime.

Textured Trees

Scents of Christmas

Merry Kris Mouse

Hydrogen: Fuel of the Future?

The Ford P2000 HFC

A Christmas Present for the Environment

Despite drivers' infatuation with gas-gulping, emission-spewing sport/utility vehicles, Honda is cruising the high road to clean air. Starting in December, the Japanese automaker will sell a two-seat gas sipper called Insight, the first gasoline-electric hybrid car available in the United States.

Get Smart

Like a child who goes from crawling to running, the computer software and toy industry continues to grow at an amazing rate in terms of power and sophistication. There are thousands of terrific new tides to choose from, and smart toys-- embedded with microchips-- have more memory than the first generation of home computers.

A Time of Compassion

At the Clark family home in Pittsburgh, Christmas morning begins with breakfast and a gift exchange. But the typical celebration ends there. For the past eight years, G. Reynolds "Renny" and Linda Clark, along with their two adult children, Sara, 24, and Paul, 27, have gone downtown about noon to serve dinner to 300 low-income and homeless men, women, and children.

Silver Shines Bright for 2000

Silver bells mean Christmas time in the city, but what do all these silver cars mean? Silver outshines perennial favorite white as the most popular color for 2000 model-year cars, according to research by J.D. Power and Associates. Buyers are splashing it on luxury cars, sport utility vehicles, even mainstream midsize cars.

Plants Against Cancer

The good news about eating your fruits and veggies keeps getting better. For years, scientists have agreed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains decreases the risk for cancer and other diseases, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. But new research is showing how some of the compounds in foods, called "phytochemicals" (meaning plant chemicals), may go to work even after cancer has begun.

Oh, Those Golden Grasses

On This We Can Agree

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Orchids in the Window

To Plant a Pawpaw Perfectly

Gourds made gorgeous

Plant a seed and harvest some artwork. You can fashion your gourds into planters, presents, and crafts for kids.

Fresh Fruit Gift

Ho Ho Ho Holidays

Hey, kids! Santa is looking for a few good boys and girls to help him out. He thinks it would be a great idea for you to pitch in and help make gifts for your family and special friends. The following assortment of easy-to-do handmade gifts will get you started.

The Shopper Mart

Discover the ease and pleasure of ... mail. Order with comfort and convenience ... your own home.

The man next door

Dear Friends, One of my Dad's admonitions was always "Pay attention to the little decisions. They often grow deep roots." I'm learning just how true that is.