Everytime a Bell Rings: My Perspective on Holiday Traditions

I don't know about you, but for some reason I haven't been able to warm up to the holiday season this year.

This time last year, I made sure that Bing Crosby was crooning the day after Thanksgiving, my Christmas shopping was done by the first week in December, and my fridge was well-stocked with eggnog at all times.

However, this year the only Christmas music I've heard has been blaring from the over-crowded stores at the mall. I am still trying to come up with budget-friendly gift ideas, and instead of eggnog, I just brew another pot of coffee.

Feeling more like Scrooge than Santa, I decided something had to change! So after much deliberation, I wanted to share with you a little trick that helped get me into the holiday mood.

There is something to be said for holiday traditions. While sometimes traditions can feel coerced, they can also become magical mechanisms which jump-start our hearts and transport us to a different time- and more importantly for me- an untrodden state of mind.

In the name of said-tradition, my family and I always watch It's A Wonderful Life around the holidays. This year was no different. I found that the simple act of slowing down, taking time to remember the meaning of the season, and being with the ones I love did wonders on banishing the gray cloud I had been under.

So in the spirit of the season and with Jimmy Stewart on the brain, I came across this wonderful book that I bought for all those remaining people on my list.

It's a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book ($18.95) takes you behind the scenes of Frank Capra's magical film and makes the story come alive in new way. It features a feast of stories from the original cast, and explores the extraordinary fascination we all have with Bedford Falls. I considered myself a pseudo-expert on the film until I read this book and discovered little known facts about the characters, thumbed through hundreds of rare images from the set, and even unearthed the film's "lost ending".

It's a Wonderful Life is so much more than a classic, it's a classic example of what I needed more of this year, perspective.

On Christmas Day, 1984 during an interview with Jimmy Stewart, (a.k.a George Bailey) I think he said it best when he reminded us, "That nobody is born to be a failure, and no man is poor if he has friends. You just enlarge those two things and there's not much more to say."

I agree.

Happy Holidays,
Ms. Bliss

Winterize Your Skin!

"I’m tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That’s deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?”—Jean Kerr

Winter is just around the corner. Is your skin ready? Mine’s not. Even the cooler fall temperatures have me reaching for the lotions and creams and slew of foamy exfoliates. It seems no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get a handle on winterizing my skin. Each year I encounter the same problem but this year I’m determined to fight my dry, brittle skin!

Join me on my four week journey, as culinary guru Jorj Morgan, plastic surgeon Dr. Harry Moon and Olympic Diver Mary Ellen Clark walk me through their lifestyle enhancement guide—Gorgeous, The Sum of All Your Glorious Parts—and help me tackle my winter skin issues.

WEEK 1:
So far I’ve learned that the care and treatment of your skin starts with a balanced, nutritious diet; without that, your skin, the body’s largest organ, can’t accomplish its primary functions, which are to (1) maintain a proper water and salt balance for your entire body, (2) cushion your delicate internal organs, and (3) serve as the first line of defense against germs that would otherwise invade your body. (Gross!)

Like many of you, I have a ton of questions about things like free-radicals, vitamin A, E and C and more, which will help me get started. For this week’s portion of the journey, here’s some insight from my chat with plastic surgeon Dr. Harry Moon.

[Q] How do free-radicals affect the skin? And how can we fight them?
[A] Free radicals are naturally occurring chemicals in our bodies; they attack and damage healthy cells. This damage is bad for the skin. Theoretically, free-radical damage can cause deterioration of the skin’s support structures, decreasing elasticity and resilience. The presence of antioxidants in the diet and possible, the topical application of antioxidants in skin-care products play a big part in slowing down free-radical damage.

[Q] When you say antioxidants, what does that mean?
[A] They’re food ingredients such as vitamins A, C, and E; superoxide dismutase, flavonoids; beta-carotene; glutathione; selenium; and zinc. Antioxidants are abundant in fresh herbs, nuts and brightly colored vegetables

[Q] Tell me more about vitamin A.
[A] Vitamin A helps you see normally in the dark and promotes the growth and health of all body cells and tissues. This is especially important in the winter because it also helps protect against infection by keeping healthy the skin and tissues in the mouth, stomach, intestines and respiratory and uro-genital tracts. You can find Vitamin A in dark orange (e.g. carrots, sweet potatoes and winter squash) and dark green (e.g. broccoli, spinach and kale) vegetables.

[Q] Well if Vitamin A does all of that, what do Vitamins E and C do?
[A] Vitamin E is found in nuts (think hazelnuts and almonds) and improves the quality of the skin and its ability to heal itself. Vitamin C rebuilds collagen. Tomatoes, oranges, mangoes and red peppers are great sources for Vitamin C.

[Q] How many antioxidants should be consumed per day?
[A] To obtain an ample supply of antioxidants for a standard 2000 calorie per day diet, you should consume 2 cups of fruit and 2 cups of vegetables daily. (WOW!!!)

[Q] So I may not be getting 2 cups of fruit and 2 cups of veggies a day but I drink a lot of water. What part does water play in healthy skin and how can I work more into my diet?
[A] Dehydration causes the skin to lose elasticity and look like leather…especially in the winter. Water is vital for cell regeneration all over your skin—especially in your face. So drink plenty of water! Dress it up with a wedge of lime or lemon and try to eat those fruits and veggies, which are bursting with H2O.

[Q] I seem to buy a million dollars worth of skin-care products every year, how do I choose the right one?
[A] First, develop a skin-care program that works with your schedule. Second determine your skin type. Lastly, choose a moisturizer supplemented with Vitamins A, C, and E to block pollutants, while staying conscientious of the fact that direct sunlight is best avoided.

[Q] Last question! Do sweet holiday treats and junk food really cause acne?
[A] Despite the myths, acne isn’t caused by junk food. Studies have found no connection between acne and chocolate, chips, or pizza; however, researchers are currently investigating whether there’s a link between acne and high glycemic index (GI) foods, such as white bread and potatoes.

Now that I’ve got the nitty gritty details down pat, stay tuned next week as I tackle skin-savvy kitchen tricks with the help of culinary genius Jorj Morgan.

Can’t wait? Get your own insight from Gorgeous at http://www.turnerpublishing.com/detail.aspx?ID=1667.

Cheers,

Laura M.
Marketing Manager
Turner Publishing

Rustic Tomato Soup Hits the Spot!

With cool crisp evenings, ushering in the comforts of Fall it's the perfect time of year to start making delicious soups and stews for your hungry crew!

Make the soup that noted chef and author, Camilla Saulsbury, turns to when she's craving something incredibly delicious for dinner, but doesn't feel like exerting much effort.

The ready-made marinara sauce and pesto make it taste like it's been cooking for hours! Your family will think you've been slaving away instead of propping up your feet. It's so easy it practically makes itself! Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 26-ounce jar good quality marinara sauce
3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 15-ounce can cannellini or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup orzo or other very small-shaped pasta
1/4 cup prepared refrigerated pesto

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook and stir 1 minute longer.

Stir the marinara sauce, broth, beans, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, until the pasta is al dente. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the soup drizzled with pesto. Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition Per Serving:
Calories 205, Fat 6.7g, Protein 11.4g, Cholesterol 8 mg, Sodium 578mg, Carbohydrate 27.1g

To get 134 more great soup recipes, pick up a copy of Camilla's Enlightened Soups at your local retailer, www.amazon.com or www.turnerpublishing.com.

Ms. Cheap Saves the Day With Budget Boosting Holiday Tips & Tricks

In these tough times, saving money for the holidays is important! Here are a few tips and tricks from Ms. Cheap, veteran frugal consumer columnist for The Tennessean newspaper and author of 99 Things to Save Money in Your Household Budget.

Money Saving Tricks Before the Holidays:

To Eat Out or Not to Eat Out:
Eating at home is great and will help you save a ton of money for the holidays but if still find yourself eating out, order smart! Consider splitting items or ordering off the appetizer menu or even ordering a combination of side dishes instead of a full entrée. If you know the restaurant’s portions are big, ask for a to-go box and put half in before you ever start eating. This will provide you with a free lunch or dinner for the next day.

Take Your Lunch:
If you go out to dinner and box half your meal, you’re already set. But if you’re starting from scratch, brown bag it. The average lunch costs $5 a day, and at five days a week that’s about $1000 a year. With 65 work days left till Christmas, that’s a whopping $325.

Do it Yourself:
Everything you can do yourself—whether it is gardening, yard work, painting, sewing, cleaning house, ironing, cooking, shopping, framing pictures, painting your own nails, washing your dog—do it yourself. This will save you tons of money from now until the holidays.

Use Store Brands:
For a couple of months, ditch your high-end quality products and use the store brand alternatives. Big savings are possible by using store brands, and in most cases you have nothing to lose since most come with a money-back guarantee for returning the product if you don’t like it. You might also be surprised to learn that many of the store brands are made right alongside the national brands but just packaged differently. And the store brands are almost universally cheaper because they don’t have the expense of national advertising.

Have a Garage Sale:
Everyone is looking for deals these days so capitalize off the need and earn a little extra money for holiday shopping. Plus it will help you get rid of the stuff you no longer need or want. Be sure to price things based on what you’d actually pay, not what you want people to pay and make it clear that you’re open to bargaining!

Money Saving Tricks During the Holidays:

Change the gift-giving rules for the holidays and other occasions:
There are lots of alternatives like drawing names, giving family gifts, trimming some names off your list altogether, just buying children’s presents, and focusing on alternative gifts, such as services like babysitting, doing yard work, driving an elderly person to a doctor, making a special meal. There are tons of personalized options that the recipient would appreciate.

Reevaluate your Christmas holiday traditions:
Decide what kind of Christmas or holiday you want to have and what kind you can realistically deliver. And then make a pact with your family to make next year heavy on the good things and avoid the bad ones. And then when next year comes, stick to your guns. You should also figure out how much you spent on the holidays so that you will have a realistic point of reference next year.

Let people know what you want:
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good surprise too, but you can’t always pull that off. Just think of the literally billions of dollars of well-intentioned but unwanted
gifts that are cluttering up people’s storage areas.

Go for regifting:
Regifting—the practice of giving a person something that you received from someone else—is perfectly fine in my book, if it is done in the right spirit. Even Miss Manners says it’s O.K. Doing it right means giving someone something you have that you truly think they’d like. You don’t give your best friend the ugly sweater or tacky earrings somebody gave you three years ago.

Sleep on it:
Postponing a purchase really can bring clarity. Impulse buying is what drives retail, and if you can just walk away, go home, and think about it, many
times you realize that you don’t need or want whatever it is all that much after all.

Take advantage of all the great Web sites for cheapos:
There are lots of good shopping and comparison sites, such as www.shopping.com, www.mysimon.com, www.shopping.yahoo.com, and www.pricegrabber.com. You can sort by price, and the sites let you search by products, retailers, or individual sellers.

We understand that the "doing more with less" mentality is easier said than done. For more great tips and strategies to help stretch hard earned dollars in creative ways check out Ms. Cheap's new book 99 Things to Save Money in Your Household Budget. Available at local retailers, www.amazon.com and direct from the publisher at www.turnerpublishing.com. Happy Saving!

Turner Giving Away Free Books for a Year

Times are tough all over. Everyone’s looking for a way to cut costs and reduce the amount of money spent on luxury items. When this happens, the cultural enrichment and “knowledge is power” that books make possible can become an afterthought. Turner Publishing wants to help keep readers reading by giving away free books for a year to one lucky participant.

All it takes to enter is a quick trip to Turner’s website, a click on the ad for free books, and then a name and email address. It’s that simple! Contestants are entered in the drawing and receive monthly updates, which include Turner’s forthcoming titles.

The contest ends October 31, 2009 at midnight, eastern time. The winner will be drawn at random and notified within seven days of the end of the contest. The prizewinner can select one free book a month to be shipped, free of charge, and Turner will throw in one extra book, carefully selected by the staff. No purchase is necessary to win - one need only be age 14 or older and a resident of the United States or Canada. No cash alternative is offered. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries.

Founded in 1985, Turner Publishing is an award-winning, independent publisher based in Nashville, Tennessee. Turner Publishing Company imprints include Turner, Trade Paper Press, and Iroquois Press. Recently Turner acquired over 400 titles from Cumberland House Press and continues to offer them to the reading public. More information is available at on the Turner Publishing website.

Sgt. Pepper Spices Up a Veggie Lover's True Delight

With all the buzz and resurgence in Beatles' trivia out there, did you know that most of the Beatles were vegetarians?

Noted Beatles scholar and humorist Martin Lewis said "it might be useful to discover the nutritional stimulants which helped the Beatles create the music which made them the most popular and most critically-acclaimed group in history." Ironically their music makes far more references to meat, poultry and fish than vegetables, grains or pasta! (http://www.martinlewis.com/beatles/pressrelease.html)

Since their music doesn't necessarily reflect the veggie-lover's true desires, we've dished up a lovely vegetable medley from the Beatles era to share with you--courtesy of The American Diner Cookbook. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 head of cabbage
3 celery stalks
1 small onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon sat
Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon shortening

Wash the cabbage under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels.
Remove the outer leaves. Shred the cabbage to make 3 cups.
Clean the celery the same as the cabbage.
Chop fine to make about 1 cup.
Dice the onion.
In a mixing bowl, toss the cabbage with the celery, green pepper and onion.
Season with Salt and Pepper.
In a skillet melt the shortening.
Add the tossed cabbage mixture.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp.

(serves 4)

Although, some argue that the golden era of music and the good eats of the diner days are gone. We say rediscover them! Kick back, put on your favorite Beatles Album and heat up the griddle!

Fall In Love with The Road to Eden's Ridge

The Road to Eden’s Ridge, written under the pseudonym M. L. Rose by Tennessee writing duo Myra McLarey and Linda Weeks was recently awarded a silver medal in the Romance Category for the 13th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards.

A Romantic Times Top Pick, The Road to Eden’s Ridge captures the heart-warming story of a young singer-songwriter, who calls off her wedding at the last minute to pursue her dream of becoming a country music star. Along the road, she uncovers a remarkable family tale and learns the importance of following her heart and the enduring power of love.

“Eden’s Ridge provided the biggest unexpected cry in years.”—Amy Grant

“The Road to Eden’s Ridge has the heart and soul of a good country song.”—Willie Nelson

Awarded annually, the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY’s) recognize the best independently published titles each year, and increase recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent, university and self-published titles. Conceived in 1996 and presented by Jenkins Group, the IPPY Awards are the largest and longest-running unaffiliated independent publishing awards contest in the world.

Myra McLarey and Linda Weeks are longtime friends and both work as writing teachers in Tennessee. Both are members of the Romance Writers of America. McLarey is a novelist and lives in Nashville. Her first novel Water from the Well was called “a lyrical first novel…prose both elegant and original” by Kirkus Reviews. Weeks is a freelance writer and lives in Ripley.

The Road to Eden’s Ridge is one of several titles released under Turner Publishing’s new fiction imprint, Iroquois Press. An award-winning, independent publisher based in Nashville, Tennessee, Turner produces a range of fine books in fiction and nonfiction categories, including its acclaimed Historic Photos series and Any Number of Things series. For more information, visit www.turnerpublishing.com.