December 2009

BETWEEN FRIENDS

every year, as we put the finishing touches on our December issue, I know that my in-box will soon be overflowing with messages letting me know what you think about it.

Holiday Ideas Daily

Q: How do you keep your holidays fresh?

Choose this, not that

Win $5,000 Last Chance

Our Best-Ever Cookies

Deck Your Halls

Quick and Easy Dinners

Be an Angel

INDISPENSABLE: TIERED TRAY

Qa: What should I keep in my car for safety?

Things to do this month...

5 Gifts that give back to charity

Blogged...

ORNAMENT-INSPIRED COOKIES

Pop!

Good fun

Good read

Good deed

$8 Glass Globes

10 High Performers

No need to call tech support. From the gotta-have-it to the just plain fun, these gadget gifts and add-ons are easy to use.

Making Merry

Entertaining expert Matthew Mead shows how to set a table that dials down the fuss but not the festivity.

Snow Days

A winter-loving family finds holiday spirit in nature, indoors and out.

Enchanted Night

Birdbaths and holiday lighting set winter landscapes aglow.

Joyful & Bright

This family's fresh take on Christmas proves that holiday fun doesn't have to be red and green.

Wrap This, Top That

Jazz up your packages by mixing one patterned paper and two solids in different ways-- then add a thoughtful topper that goes beyond the bow.

Dressed for Guests

Simple, long-lasting touches keep casual spaces guest-ready. Stylist Alexandra Hedin shows you how.

Lavender--A Gift of Scent

Winter Greens

This holiday, deck the walls-- and the porch and patio-- with the woodsy beauty of conifers.

Special Delivery

WHEN PACKING AND SENDING HOLIDAY GIFTS, A FEW SIMPLE PRACTICES WILL HELP YOU REDUCE WASTE AND SAVE MONEY.

Second-chance garlands

NEW GREEN TRADITIONS

Give gifts you don't have to wrap or ship, such as music and movies from iTunes, club memberships, charitable contributions, concert tickets purchased online, and virtual gift cards...

Comeback cards

TAKE YOUR BOUGH

Hung With Care

Make your mantel festive with these easy decorating ideas.

Sweet Tradition

A young mom shares how she brings family and friends together for sugarcoated fun.

Joy of Giving

The best gift brings happiness to those you love-- and finding the just-right present can make you feel pretty good, too. Our holiday gift guide will help you spread the joy.

By special arrangement

SNIPPED FROM THE PLANT, POINSETTIA BLOOMS MAKE SIMPLE YET BOLD HOLIDAY DISPLAYS.

Past and presents

DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM TREASURED OLD-WORLD CUSTOMS, THIS FAMILY FILLS THE HOLIDAY WITH FROLIC, FLOURISH, AND UNFORGETTABLE TIME TOGETHER.

Fresh-picked brussels sprouts

Better tool

SWEET TRICK

TIME-SAVER

LEFTOVERS

New ways with... tomato paste

Site-seeing...

IN A PINCH

Better finds

Meet the mixer

59% of BHG readers host casual sit-down meals during the Holidays...

TRIED THIS?

Warm Hearts, Hands

There's no good reason you can have only one or the other this winter.

A Return to Meaning

BHG Editor Christian Millman stumbles upon a holiday tradition for his family--then finds that many others have also sought to recapture the spirit of the season in simple yet profound ways.

Delicious Fruit Gift

Guests sleeping softly

THE HEALTHY GUIDE TO WALT DISNEY WORLD 2009

Testing 1, 2... me holiday cleanse

Year after year, I promise not to overindulge at the holidays and year after year, I do. If that sounds like you, too, consider a post-holiday mini-cleanse. To see how one might work, I tried The Quantum Wellness Cleanse by Kathy Freston. She calls for a 21-day commitment, but I only followed it for seven. The idea is to eliminate what Freston calls the "Big Five"-- alcohol, caffeine, gluten, animal products, and sugar.

Peppermint tonic for your tummy

Delicious, nutritious crackers

Freebie

TIME TO CONVERT TO A ROTH IRA?

Going rate $35-$45

WORLDLY WRAPS

HOUSE OF CARDS

I Did It!