Merry CHRISTmas to everyone! With Christmas being only a few days away, even during the hustle and bustle, let’s not forget to celebrate the “Real Reason For The Season”, that being that Jesus was born, sent down from his Father above to save our world. I always want to be thankful and grateful for my salvation and that I have a hope and a future of what is planned for me!

Christmas is not all about Santa, Elves, Gifts, Trees, etc. It is about the Birth of a Savior sent to save us all. It’s about a Savior who is called the Christ, and without Christ, there would be no Christmas! And to think, we all can know Him personally! All you have to do is Believe asking Him into your heart.

Again, as you finish out your shopping and wrap gifts, have fun with weekend Christmas events, entertain family and friends, it is the CHRIST in Christmas that makes this season bright!

Have a wonderfully Blessed Christmas and Holiday Season!

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This Weekend at Regal Cinema…

Now Showing:

• Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked NEW! G
• Hugo PG

• We Bought a Zoo PG

• The Adventures of Tintin 3D NEW! PG

• The Adventures of Tintin NEW! PG

• Hugo 3D PG

Visit www.regmovies.com for more info or call 828-262-3330.

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Ongoing…

Need something for the kids to do while school is out for Christmas Break? Look no further, here is the Winter Workshop for Kids going on now, and all the way through January 3rd on weekdays from 7:30am – 5:30pm held at the Boone Optimist Club on State Farm Road. This 9-day Workshop, sponsored by Watauga County Parks and Rec, will have the kids ages 5-13 or grades 1-7 making Crafts, baking Cookies, playing Games, going on Field Trips such as to a Christmas Tree Farm, and an Ice Skating Rink and much more! There is only room for 20 children, so get registered quick, and the cost is $170. For more info call 828-264-9511 or visit www.wataugacounty.org.

Add some Ooh’s and Awe’s to your Christmas season at Chetola Resort’s Festival of Lights happening now through Jan. 29th. Over 50 thousand lights adorn Chetola Lake, Lodge, and some homes through January turning the resort into a virtual winter wonderland. For more info visit www.chetola.com or call 828-295-5500.

On Friday…

The kids will have a blast having a free Breakfast with Mrs. Claus this Friday, Dec. 23rd starting at 9am. Sponsored by the Buckeye Recreation Center in Beech Mountain, kids will enjoy Pancakes, Eggs, Pastries, Juice, and Coffee while Mrs. Claus reads exciting stories by the fireplace. And, don’t forget, it’s not too late to “write a letter to Santa”! For more info call 828-38-3003.

On Saturday and Sunday…

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Church Services and Celebrations are happening all around the county. They would love for you to join them. Please contact your choice of church and attend. You will be blessed! For more info check out the local newspaper for Churches, locations, phone numbers, etc.

Have a Fun and Safe Weekend and a blessed Christmas!

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***Make sure to visit our Online Stores at www.timespasttoys.etsy.com , our NEWEST website www.timespastwoodentoys.com, and www.dailycrossdesigns.etsy.com for our Wooden Toys and Home, Business, and Garden Decor.

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter under http://www.facebook.com/TimesPastToys; and as a follower @TimesPastToys; and at http://www.facebook.com/dailycrossdesigns and as a follower @dlycrossdesigns.

Hope to see you soon!

*****Do you need help with Decorating for Guests? Throwing a Party and don’t know where to begin?

~ Decorate  for the upcoming Christmas Holiday Season!!! If you need help with Decorating for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or Party Planning, please call us at 828-719-6615 or email terrykerihamrick@bellsouth.net.

We offer Room Decorating for Parties, the Winter and Christmas Season, TableScapes, Christmas Tree Decor, Christmas Tree Themes and more.

Here is a current item being offered: From our Daily Cross Designs Online Store, here is one of our new Christmas Angels. Christmas Angel Home Decor in Gold Poinsettias and White – Christmas Angel Home Decor will bring a glow to any room. This beautiful and serene Angel can be placed on a Fireplace Mantle or a Table top, or wherever you would like.

Available in different colors and styles, the Christmas Angel comes with a Halo, and White Tulle Fabric over a basic white color or other color with coordinating Bow Wings and adornments. The Christmas Angel will make a wonderful addition to your home decor for the Holiday Season. Can also be Custom Made to your colors or theme!

Lovingly hand-crafted with exquisite detail. Stands approximately 11″ High and base is 6″ Wide. $16.99

We are now offering our Toys and products packaged for your convenience.

This is National Influenza Vaccination Week, December 4th – 11th, and with the Colds, Sinus, and plain old yucky nasty Infections and Flu going around already, even in my house, it is great to gather some info to get a head start and know what to do!

Dr. Chris McCracken of Appalachian Regional Adult & Family Medicine, shares some insights on how to prepare for the upcoming Flu season.

If you are considering getting the Flu shot, Dr. McCracken states that the Flu usually doesn’t make it’s official entrance until January or February. However, it takes your body at least 2-3 weeks for a Flu Shot to get in your system and let those Flu germs know whose “Boss”! So, it is recommended to get the shot as soon as possible when it becomes available.

If you or your kids begin to feel out of sorts, check these symptoms for the Flu. Flu symptoms are: Fever, Chills, Sweats, Aches, and Cough.

You can call the doctor right away to see if there is anything to help like Tamiflu, but also make sure to stay home so that whatever germs or bacteria you might be carrying doesn’t spread to friends, family, classmates, and co-workers, etc. If you do have to go out for any reason, because the Flu can be very contagious, wear a Face Mask, wash your hands OFTEN, and make sure to stay away from Babies, the Elderly, and anyone else that is already sick or with a weakened condition.

Now, this week just happens to coincide with the opening of Boone’s newest Appalachian Regional Healthcare System’s AppUrgent Care Center on December 14th, 2011. Temporarily set up at the former Appalachian Regional Rheumatology building, they will be moving to their new home in 2012 at the old Black Bear Books next to Walgreens.

Great things that AppUrgent Care has to offer are that they are convenient and easy for Walk-In-Care. If you live here but can’t get an appointment with your regular physician, or if it’s in the evening or weekend hours, they are an alternative ready for you. For the visitors to the area, the Walk-In center is an available resource to be treated and still get back to all of the fun activities that brought you here to begin with.

The AppUrgent Care Center is also a going to keep down your costs of going to the Emergency Room, one that can be counted on to be there, and they have the Tests and Vaccinations available for you if needed.

Dr’s. Amor and Zimmerman, will be your friendly doctors for any and all illnesses and injuries that aren’t life or death situations such as Sore Throats, Strains on Muscles, Sprains, Fever, Flu, and much more. Make sure to stop by and have a chat with the Dr’s and the staff, they are eager to get to know you too!

Welcome to The Crafting Corner with Keri.Come on in and learn something new, or share an idea or craft that you’ve had on your mind. This week we are talking about last minute decor for the Holidays.

Have you been searching for something easy, yet elegant to spruce up your Thanksgiving Dinner Table? Well, here is an easy fix that won’t put a dent in your wallet. This is so easy, and the great part about it is that much of the needed supplies can be gotten at any number of Dollar Stores. I remember seeing this craft a long time ago, and was recently reminded of these beautiful Thanksgiving Votive or Pillar Candles that add warmth and beauty to any table or setting.

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Supplies needed are:

White or Cream colored Votive or Pillar Candle

(Use another color candle for more drama if you like!)

Twine, Raffia, or Ribbon of your Choice

Silk or Faux Fall Leaves and/or Flowers

Cinnamon Sticks  and Dried Orange Slices (Optional)

Scissors

Dab of Glue, or Hot Glue Gun with Glue Sticks

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To make your Thanksgiving Votive Candles:

1) Pick out some nice and colorful Leaves and/or Flowers to go around your votive candle. Since it is near the end of the Autumn and Fall Season, you can find lots of Fall decorations 50% or more off. Look for Floral Stems, Floral Picks, Fall Leaf Garland, etc. for some great choices. You can also use Cinnamon Sticks and Dried Orange Slices to decorate your candle.

2) Place around the candle the way you would like them, but make sure to leave some of the candle showing in between the Leaves or Flowers. Use small, medium, or large Leaves and Flowers, depending upon your preference and candle size. If you are using a smaller Votive Candle, you can place the candle in a small glass and glue your Flowers and Leaves onto the glass.

3) Place a dab of Glue or use your Hot Glue Gun and put a little bit of hot glue on the back of your Leaf or Flower.

4) Arrange the Leaves, Cinnamon Sticks, Dried Orange Slices, and Flowers on the sides of your candle. Make sure that they are not hanging over the top of the candle to where they would catch on fire. It is your design, make it with as little or as much as you like!

5) Finally, tie a string of Twine, Raffia, or Ribbon around the candle. If you are using Flowers, you may need to glue them on after the Ribbon, or wind around the Flowers. Finish it with a Bow if you choose and place on a candle holder or plate.

Voila! You have a colorful, soothing and warm decoration for your Thanksgiving Dinner Table.

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Do you want a Wreath, Centerpiece, or other Holiday Decor and don’t have the time or know-how? Let me help you’”Decorate for the Holidays”! Contact me at terrykerihamrick@bellsouth.net for more information and let’s get together!

I can’t believe it.  The end of October is approaching very quickly and Halloween is almost here.    How did that happen?  I just found out today that my son needs to wear his costume to           preschool on Thursday.  They are going to have all the preschoolers line up and parade down    the hall.  How cute is that going to be?

I would kind of like to see statistics on how many children are at home sick after the Halloween holiday.  Processed sugars can suppress the immune system for up to seven hours so who knows how many hours of immune system suppression many kids are going to face after they Halloween treat gathering.  Not to mention all the high fructose corn syrup and artificial preservatives that will wreak havoc on the body as well.  Plus, little plastic toys, candy wrappers, and plastic decorations that are just going to get thrown out after the day of festivities ends.

Fortunately, it is not impossible to green your Halloween in the coming week.  Here are some tips on encouraging a safe, green, and healthy Halloween this season.

Green Your Treats

Consider giving out organic apples or miniature pumpkins from a local far or farmer’s market.  Or, if it is acceptable in your neighborhood (like you know most of the children that are coming to your door) try giving out homemade treats that are made only from natural minimally processed ingredients.   You could also consider giving out  quarters, nickles, or even pennies to the little guys.  That’s right empty your change jar.  If you want to give out chocolate look into to purchasing fair trade chocolate.

Green Your Costume

Consider renting, purchasing a costume used, or being creative by making up your own.  It would be super easy to create a cowboy costume with a bandanna, a hat, and some boots.  Keep in mind that many store bought costumes include cheap materials, and non- earth friendly plastics.  Not to mention that many of them come in from possible sweat shops over seas.   Also, keep your eye out for Halloween make-up that contains many toxins that can easily be absorbed in to the skin when applied to the sweet faces of your children.   Instead choose organic products that are non-toxic.

Green Your Decorations

Instead of buying cheap decorations that are just going to sit in a land fill consider decorating with nature that is easily found in your yard or at a farmer’s market.  The best decorations are pumpkins, gourds, and fall leaves to spice up your decor.  There is no need for all that spooky stuff found at local party stores.  By using nature you will be saving your wallet, the earth, and not scaring the pee out of those sweet little toddlers that are going to visit you at your door.

Choose to Be Green With Your Pumpkin

If you are going to eat your pumpkin you may want to choose an organic pumpkin or purchasing it from a local farmer.  Just like other produce pumpkins can carry lots of pesticides and toxins.  After carving you can then toast the seeds for a healthy and festive treat.

After the holiday is over consider composting your pumpkin instead of throwing it in the trash to rot.

Here’s to a green, safe, happy, healthy Halloween!

Welcome to

The Crafting Corner

with Keri,

Come on in and join me for a while. To those of you who have always wanted to explore your “crafty” side, or have never thought that you could have a “crafty” side...here is some help!

You don’t have to be afraid any longer, it really is not that hard, and I will show you step-by-step how to put ideas together and come out with a finished product. One, you can be proud of and want to display.

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For the Autumn and Fall Season, let’s learn:

How to Make a Wreath with Fall Decor.

Supplies Needed:

Wreath form (Grapevine, Straw, Metal form, Styrofoam, Wood, etc.)

Bow, or Wire-Edged Ribbon, Raffia, etc. (Optional)

Fall Flowers

Filler Flowers

Paper Mache or Plastic Fruit (Pumpkins, Gourds, Apples, etc. – Optional)

Pine Cones (Optional)

Fall Potpourri (Optional)

Cinnamon Sticks (Optional)

Needle Nose Pliers

Wire Cutters

Floral Wire

Hot Glue Gun

Hot Glue Sticks

Twine (Optional)

Scissors

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Our 1st step is to find a wreath to decorate. Now, most often you will find Grapevine Wreaths are used, however, wreaths can be made of Straw, a Metal Frame, Styrofoam, dried Vines, etc.

As long as you have a form in which to decorate, that is what matters. Here shown is a Grapevine Wreath that I am using.

The 2nd step is to make your Bow, if you desire a Bow. Many Wreaths do not have Bows and are beautiful without them. If you want one, there are several ways to make a Bow, (and I will create a post to show how to make a Bow in another article) or you can buy one already made.

You will usually need to have ribbon with a wire edge, or a stiff material so as to “shape” or bend your Bow. Place one end between your right fingers, create a loop to the left and wrap ribbon back to the middle, then if you have the same color ribbon on each side, do the same on the right side always coming back in the middle. You may have to twist the ribbon in the middle each time as you make loops if there is a difference in the front and back sides.You will want 2 to 4 loops on each side.

Then cut a piece of ribbon the length you desire for your streamers, around 12″-15″, and partner the middle of the ribbon with your loops. Hold onto your loops and ribbon, and take thin Floral Wire and wrap it around the middle of your loops and ribbon piece, tightening with Needle Nose Pliers. Clip any long excess wire with Wire Cutters and bend down the center into the back of the bow.

Next, attach the Bow with another piece of Floral Wire, Hot Glue, or Twine, for a secure hold. Your Bow can be placed in the Bottom Center, the Top Center, or either Side. It is your choice as to where you think looks best. Here is shown my Bow with an accent from my Potpourri in the middle.

The 3rd step is to pick out your main Fall Flowers. These will be your bigger stemmed flowers in whatever colors you choose. You will want a variety in different colors, sizes and varieties such as Mums, Daisies, Sunflowers, Roses, etc.

4th, you will want to have some Filler Flowers. These are your smaller Flowers, Buds, Berries, Leaves, etc. Pick a few that will go well with your bigger flowers.

5th, you may want to use some natural elements here to bring in some of the outdoors. Fun things to use are Pine Cones, Acorns, Twigs, little River Rocks, dried Berries and so on.

The 6th step is to add some unique accents through ideas such as Potpourri and Cinnamon Sticks. These always add some depth to your floral project.

The number 7 means completion…so it is fitting that this is the step where you will put things together for your Wreath. What you will want to do is to place your items around your Wreath to see what fits best and where. It is called “Staging” and this way you can see multiple ways to decorate. You might even want to take some pictures to see what the Wreath will look like.

Once you have made your decision and gotten all of the kinks worked out, plug in your Hot Glue Gun and begin to place your Bow where you want it if you are having one. Then place a big flower around the Bow, either on Top, to the Side, or Bottom. Then place some smaller flowers of contrasting colors around those. Using the stem, insert into the Wreath, and then glue for more support.

If you are not using a Bow, find your biggest flowers or flower and make them the focal point. They will act just like a Bow, and you will build other flowers around them. Continue until you are satisfied with the positioning of your bigger flowers and focal points. Use your Filler flowers to enhance the bigger ones and this is a good place to add some green leaves and Fall leaves as well, especially to cover areas where you might see glue from the Hot Glue Gun.

Place Pine Cones or Paper Mache Fruits around to add character, and use some Potpourri and Cinnamon Sticks too! Fill it as much or as little as you like ~ It’s your creation!

Add some Twine or Ribbon to make a hanger for your door, over a mirror, china cabinet or wherever you wish to place your Fall Wreath and Enjoy!

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Do you want a Wreath, Centerpiece, or other Holiday Decor and don’t have the time or know-how? Let me help you’”Decorate for the Holidays”! Contact me at terrykerihamrick@bellsouth.net for more information and let’s get together!

My husband and I (with some awesome parent helpers), tie-dyed shirts with over 100 Middle School Band members last week. It was… an experience.  We had some left over, and finished the t-shirts with the family. We’ve gotten so many compliments on the brightness of the colors and generally how good they looked. So we just had to show you how we did it!

Here are 10 easy steps to a perfect Tie Dye! You can watch the video, with my cute children and adorable husband!  Or you can skip to the bare-bones tips below!

If you’re reading this in a RSS reader, click here to view the video.

1. Add 1 TBSP Organic Nitrogen (Urea) to one cup of warm water in a squeeze bottle. This makes the colors as bright as possible for a long period of time.

2. Add about 1 oz of fiber reactive dye to the bottle, and fill with water.  Shake well.

3.  Use 100% cotton garments for the fullest color.

4. Soak in a mixture of 1 cup of Soda Ash Fixer to one gallon of water.This helps the dye adhere to the fabric and soak in well.

5. Fold or crumple your garment into the desired pattern. The video above shows you how to make a swirl or starburst.

6. Place rubber bands to hold it together.

7. Add colors! Apply the dye to the garment with squeeze bottles in your desired pattern.

8. Leave in a plastic bag for 24 hours.

9. Rinse garment in cold water.  Un-band, then rinse again until water runs clear.

10. Wash separately in hot water, and dry in the dryer.

And that’s it folks!! There you have it! Have you ever Tie-Dyed? How did you do it?

PS: These links are not affiliate links, nor sponsored. We got our supplies from Dharma Trading Company, and they were awesome!

Want a fast, fun way to save on your electric bill, help the environment, and win prizes all at the same time? All you have to do is join the Watauga County Home Energy Savings Competition by May 6!

Sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, the competition is the brain child of Janet Miller, long-time Watauga County resident and a graduate student at Appalachian State University majoring in Building Science. She developed the project as part of her degree requirements.

There are no losers in this competition! There will be lots of prizes awarded along the way, including t-shirts and shower timers for the first 100 Blue Ridge members to sign up. Those active and participating on the competition’s Facebook page will also be eligible for weekly gift cards to Lowes Home Improvement store. The top 10 members who reduce their kilowatt hour (kWh) consumption the most (based on percentage) for May (as compared to their April consumption) will receive gift cards and the grand prize winner will receive a free home energy audit compliments of High Country Energy Solutions, along with a restaurant gift card.

Participants will sign a pledge and be sent tips and information on how to start saving energy right away. Key steps include taking Blue Ridge Electric’s online home energy audit and signing up at www.BlueRidgeEMC.com to start monitoring their electricity usage through the cooperative’s monitoring tools: www.MyUsage.com or Google Power Meter.

The competition will run for the month of May. Winners will be selected based on comparisons of their April bill to their May bill to see who can save the most on their kilowatt hour (kWh) consumption (based on percentage) for May as compared to their April consumption. Residents who live in Watauga County and have Blue Ridge Electric as their electric provider are eligible to participate in the competition. To sign up, simply email your name, Blue Ridge account number, and telephone number to ReduceHomeEnergy@gmail.com.

With all the crazy weather we’ve been having around here, it’s hard for any one forecaster to stay on top of all the twists and turns, and variations by region. We are on Snow Day number 13 (I think? Someone correct me if I’m wrong). My kids are getting very creative with their time at home.  We are doing some enrichment work, My 5yo is teaching “Fitness Classes” including stretches, exercising, and practicing splits. We have a really good Lego house in the making, and my 7yo is designing her first shirt with the my scrap fabric and the dressform bust she got for Christmas.

The least amount of Snow Days we’ve had for Watauga County Schools is 4 in 1990-91.The top three years for the most Snow-Days were:

• 1977-78: 39 Snow Days
• 1976-77: 33 Snow Days
• 2009-10: 26 Snow Days

Living on the East side of Boone, sometimes I am completely taken by surprise when my sunny drive up 421 turns into a blizzard while cresting the hill.  Because of our fluctuation in regional weather in the High Country, it helps to have a network across the area who share information before venturing out.

This is where social media comes in! With sites like Facebook and Twitter, we can get real-time Road and Weather updates (like, 2 seconds ago) from real people across the county. I find that regular people are pretty reliable for honest information.  Could someone lie? Well, yes, but on public social media, others will usually call them out on that!

Citizen Reports on Facebook

There are a few Facebook pages that are specifically set up for citizens to share Road and Weather conditions. These are reports from people who are actually driving on these roads. (Please don’t text and drive, though.  Wait till you’re stopped!) You can post a report, or ask a question about the road you have to drive.

• Watauga County Road conditions and Weather Updates (moderated by Kenneth Reece)
• Ashe County Road and Weather Conditions
• Avery County Road and Weather Conditions Reports

Experts on Facebook

Metorologists on Facebook also use the platform to provide up-to date reports, field questions, and share photos.

• John L’heureux, a meteorology grad student, runs L’Heureux’s Weather on Facebook. He is on the Northwest Flow Snowfall research team, conducting research on Poga Mountain to analyze snow density, snow water equivalent, and snow depth.  He actively engages in discussion there and updates often.
• Brad Panovich is chief metorologist for WCNC-TV in Charlotte. He forecasts weather as far as Northwestern NC, and is surprisingly accurate for a flatlander! (I couldn’t resist) Connect with him on his Facebook Page here.

Twitter-casting

If you are on Twitter, you will want to follow Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) or Kenneth Reese (@radiomediaguy) for up-to the minute reports.

Do you have any other sources for weather and road information?  Share them in the comments!

“Wait,” you say. “You don’t have a front loading washer!”

Why yes, you are correct! But one of my best friends Amber does!  And she doesn’t have a blog, so I will be her surrogate blogger for the day! I was hanging out at her house the other day, doing laundry.  Well, she was doing laundry, while we both cooked dinner and the kids were playing. The guys were watching football, if you must know. It’s nice to have a friend that you can do laundry and cook dinner with, and have fun at the same time.

But I digress…

Anyway, as she was unloading the washer, I asked her if she had problems with smelliness or mold, since I had heard lots of stories about this particular problem.  She said, “Nope.”  I’m not sure if that’s exactly what she said, but you get the gist.

Anyway, she gave me a couple of easy tricks to keep the mold growth down, should I ever be able to afford get front loading washer/dryer:

Leave the door to the washer open after you are done washing your loads. If you leave it open, the seal area can dry out, discouraging mold growth and odor.

Save your bleach load as your last load. When you dry the bleached clothes, some of the bleach will sort of clean out any bacteria in the machine. Amber washes her towels with a little bleach and saves that for the last load.

Wipe underneath the seal after if ever you’re done with the laundry. Amber says she doesn’t even need to do this, as the previous two tips keep her washer nice and clean and good-smelling.

Do you have a front loading washer? Do you wish you did? (raises hand) Have you had mold or odor problems? Got any tips?

Reading in email or RSS reader? Click to visit the site and leave a comment.

PS. This is not my laundry room.  Hint: You can see the floor

photo credit: unfoldedorigami

BabyCenter.com officially re-launched their blog, Momformation, in September with a new look, new content, and new writers! Momformation has a great collection of voices, with over 30 bloggers contributing regularly

I’ve recently joined BabyCenter.com’s Momformation Blog Network, a handpicked group of 50 to 100 mom and dad bloggers from all stages of parenthood. In addition to serving as guest bloggers on Momformation, we’ll be eligible to participate in interactive marketing programs with BabyCenter.

I’m really excited for the opportunity to support and partner with a site that is such an extraordinary resource for moms. I’m also excited to see my first guest blog published today!

Click here to read “7 Droid Apps for Kids”