Good Housekeeping articles from December 2004

Good Housekeeping archives from December 2004

"It's a girl!".(Editor's Letters)
December 1, 2004... Our family has much to be grateful for, and I this year we were further blessed. It has been 57 years since a girl was born in my immediate family. That spell was broken on July 15 when Talia was born to our son Peter and his wife, Naria. Talia...

Our own special heroes.(Editor's Letters)
December 1, 2004... This month, along with our partner GE, Good Housekeeping honors five extraordinary women--winners of the 2004 Heroes for Health Awards. They range from a teenage cancer survivor who wrote a book to help other teens diagnosed with the disease,...

Five things I learned in this issue.(Editor's Letters)
December 1, 2004... 1... that you can find sweets in the shape of pets--a great gift for friends besotted with their dogs. page 32 2... that tipping gets more confusing every year. But there are budget-wise guidelines about how much to give and to whom. page...

December idea of the month.(Trim Your Tree With Memories)
December 1, 2004... For a Christmas tree that's personal and nostalgic, deck a tabletop evergreen with photo ornaments. Start by gathering small snapshots or making color copies of your favorite pictures. Cut red, gold, and green paper into mini mats with slits in...

Make a menorah.(Candle Craft)
December 1, 2004... For your festival of lights celebration, try this modern take on the menorah. Use tealights in blue holders to represent each of the eight days and one larger holder to serve as the shamash candle. These holders ($1.50 and $3) are from Design...

A wreath of greetings.(Good ideas)
December 1, 2004... If you save holiday cards, why not recycle them into a festive wreath? Use a paper punch to cut out circles (you'll need about 40 of them). Glue the circles onto a styrofoam wreath until it's covered. Then add a second layer of cutouts to give...

Company's coming! Quick ways to whip your house into shape in time for holiday entertaining.(Good advice: Heloise to the rescue)
December 1, 2004... 'Tis the season to celebrate. And if you're inviting guests over, remember that your friends and family are there to enjoy themselves-not to do a white-glove inspection. Rather than work yourself into a lather to make the house spotless, focus...

Deck the halls, inside and out.(Good advice: Heloise to the rescue)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... 1. Speed-clean--and sparkle Before you start, put all your cleaning supplies (and a portable phone) into a basket and take it to the area you're going to clean. My mother liked to do what she called top cleaning: She'd tackle only the...

Warm spirits, no worries.(Fire-Safety Tips)
December 1, 2004... * Before you begin decorating with holiday lights, inspect and test the bulbs and wiring. If you notice cracked or frayed cords, discard the lights. Plug in the strings to see if all bulbs are working and replace those that aren't. Only buy...

Organizing lists.(Holiday Hint)
December 1, 2004... Buy a legal pad or a small spiral notebook for all your holiday lists. I like this system rather than a bunch of loose papers because I can cross off accomplished tasks then flip to a clean page or refer to other lists.

Holiday alert: is your pet a party animal?(Good advice: Heloise to the rescue)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Social gatherings mean extra opportunities for your pets to get into trouble. While you're entertaining, keep them in a separate room with soothing music. These are a few more hints to protect your furry friends during the festivities. ...

Too many leftovers.(Holiday Hint)
December 1, 2004... Here's an easy solution: After every party that I host, I give each of my guests a doggie bag filled with a portion of the leftovers. I collect sturdy plastic take-out containers for this purpose.

Best stain busters for tablecloth cleanup.(Good advice: Heloise to the rescue)
December 1, 2004... CANDLE WAX Rapid response Let wax harden, then scrape it off with a dull knife. (You can also place the tablecloth in the freezer to dry out the wax.) Later, put paper towels on both sides of the stain and iron at the coolest setting. You...

Simple party prep.(Good advice: Heloise to the rescue)
December 1, 2004... A MONTH BEFORE During the weeks leading up to the holidays, my to-do list includes: * Set up a family powwow to establish who's hosting which holiday event and to make assignments for food, table decorations, guest lodgings,...

You asked, Peggy answers.(Good advice: Peggy post on modern manners)
December 1, 2004... Q I've heard that mail carriers aren't allowed to accept tips. How can I thank mine? A According to the U.S. Postal Service, employees may receive gifts valued at $20 or less, per occasion. Since some people like to give throughout the...

The tipping season: confused about how much to give--and to whom? Keep these guidelines handy.(Good advice: Peggy post on modern manners)
December 1, 2004... Now's your chance to reward all those people who served you well this year. If you're having a tough time deciding on the right amount, these general recommendations should help. But when in doubt, let common sense, quality of service, and...

So what would you do?(Good advice: Peggy post on modern manners)
December 1, 2004... This winter, the person who plows your driveway has been arriving late and doing a shoddy job. Should you still tip as much as last year? SHE SAYS: "I'd still tip, but less than in the past. And I'd look for someone new for next...

Great gifts under $50.(Good deals)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2004... BEADED BEAUTY A 1950s-inspired sweater adds glamour to a holiday outfit. $49.99; newport-news.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COOL CUP Ice cream set, Uncommon Goods. $28; 888-365-0056 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HEAVEN SCENT we love the...

Presents under $10!(Good deals)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2004... SIMPLE SIDE DISH Use bowls from Uncommon Goods for lunch or loose change. $8 each; 888-365-0058 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BROOCH IN BLOOM The season's hot accessory at an affordable price. $9.99; at Target [ILLUSTRATION...

Fitting tributes.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... You don't need a mirror to size up your life--you're happy with where you find yourself. And would be happy to find the perfect pair of jeans. Comfortable. Versatile. Perfectly fitted to your personal body type. It's a fashion dilemma that...

Holiday Elf Help Guide.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Looking for a little holiday help? Now you can get "assistants" from Good Housekeeping's first annual Holiday Elf Help Guide. We're here to help you host with style-from cooking to cleaning--with time-saving ideas to make the season bright. ...

'Tis the season to ... slip on the stairs, get heartburn, and wake up with a hangover. How to avoid the most common holiday health hazards.(Good health)
December 1, 2004... You know some of the most obvious risks-falls on ice (or stairs, as you run down in bare feet), wobbly ladders, dried-out trees. But one common reason for a holiday trip to the ER may surprise you: gashes in the fingers. "People use a knife to...

2004 Heroes for Health Awards.
December 1, 2004... On these pages, you'll meet five amazing women. Their names may not be familiar, but each has made the world a better place. Good Housekeeping, in partnership with GE, honors these brave, compassionate women. They really are our heroes! ...

Decorating dangers: before you buy, check out the products that failed our tests. And consider a great (safe) tool for hanging lights.(Testing Testing! News For You From The Good Housekeeping Institute)
December 1, 2004... Choking problem Skip this tree trinket by Kurt Adler. The pom-pom pulls off easily, and though the ornament's not a toy, it still poses a choking hazard to small children. The company says it will pull the item from store shelves. ...

Best brownie mixes.(Taste Test)
December 1, 2004... We whipped up a batch of brownies from scratch and then asked our testers to compare them with those made from five different mixes. The big surprise? Homemade came in third. Pillsbury Fudge Supreme Chocolate Extreme ($2.21) won the most...

Doggie dream house.(Testing Testing! News For You From The Good Housekeeping Institute)
December 1, 2004... Your beloved Fido doesn't care if his shelter is cute--what matters to him is size. So take your dog house-hunting and see if there's room for him to stand, turn around, and stretch out in the pad you're considering buying. If he can't, find...

Carbon monoxide poisoning: is your alarm working?(Testing Testing! News For You From The Good Housekeeping Institute)
December 1, 2004... If this odorless, colorless gas builds up in your home or garage, it can be fatal (about 500 people die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning). The best protection is an alarm--but even if you've installed one, you may still be...

Cutting-edge coffeemakers: the latest breakthrough: pleasures of single serve.(Buyer's Guide)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Great news for java lovers: Now you can prepare one cup at a time, so you'll never have to drink the dregs. These new machines require a lot less work, too-when you're ready for a pick-me-up, pop in a pod (premeasured ground coffee that's...

Just for kids: recipe for a happy afternoon: simple crafts and cute cookies, basic enough for little hands.(Family time)
December 1, 2004... FURRY FRIENDS These two starlets are ready for their close-up, posing in colorful hand-knitted scarves (fuchsia and teal green), above. Now that's what we call merry an(I bright! TABLETOP TREE The "boughs" are blue and green craft foam,...

Q My husband has a female boss who has recently begun selling cosmetics from a catalog in her spare time.(Getting personal: Joy Behar solves your problems)
December 1, 2004... Q My husband has a female boss who has recently begun selling cosmetics from a catalog in her spare time. At various business gatherings where spouses are invited, this woman has approached me about purchasing her products, and she regularly...

A mother's load.(Getting personal: Joy Behar solves your problems)
December 1, 2004... A reader in Michigan recently wrote: "I am a stay-at-home mom who works very hard, but I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful and very helpful husband. There are many times when he gives me a few 'hours off' to go to the mall or relax in the...

Joy to the world.(Getting personal: Joy Behar solves your problems)
December 1, 2004... I AM SO OVER THIS LOW-CARB OBSESSION. I recently heard that someone is trying to create a low-carb potato! Enough! Does anyone really think it's a good idea to lose weight by eliminating an entire food group? Or that eating beef constantly is...

Does this sound familiar?(Getting personal: Joy Behar solves your problems)
December 1, 2004... A reader in Wisconsin wrote: "My sister recently got divorced and has begun spending a lot of time with my husband and me--a lot of time. Cindy doesn't seem to realize that she's become a third wheel, so she keeps coming over and staying until...

Together we can eliminate poverty housing. Join us. Whirlpool[R] donates a refrigerator and a range to every Habitat home.(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Building Lives Habitat for Humanity[R] does more than just build houses. Their real effort is about inspiring hope and building people's sense of self-worth, strengthening families and revitalizing neighborhoods. With the foundation of a...

Survivor: Christmas: ever want to vote your family off the island at holiday time? How one frazzled morn learned to tone down the craziness and pump up the fun.(Getting personal)
December 1, 2004... Before we know what's happening, the holidays will be upon us again. Ugh. No, wait--that wasn't how I was going to start this. I was going to be way more upbeat. All about how Christmas is over too soon, and how every January there's a...

'God moves in a mysterious way': the holidays remind me of my mother's spirit and her belief that loving each other is the greatest gift.(Proverb)
December 1, 2004... The holidays in our house were close to magic. In my memory, there was always snow--deep enough to build snowmen and snow forts. My sisters and I would go out to play, and when we came back inside--our cheeks hurting from the cold, mittens...

North Woods Noel: a crackling fire, fresh-cut pine, and dashes of red and green ignite the holiday spirit at this designer's log cabin home.
December 1, 2004... LOG CABIN LIVING RUNS IN REBECCA ELLSLEY'S FAMILY. After all, the 33-year-old interior designer grew up in one, just across town from the cabin she now owns in Westport, Connecticut. "My mother bought her first log cabin when she was my age,"...

Best in snow: take the season by storm with these brr-ight outdoor ideas.
December 1, 2004... To make it merry: Start with snow. Add charm. Branch out from the one wreath" look: Flank your front door with tree boughs and cut wood. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You'll love this spruced-up alternative to Santa's sleigh: a...

Animal instincts pets to the rescue! A lost child. A man taken ill. Two women under attack. How they were saved by their faithful--and courageous-four-legged friends.
December 1, 2004... Most of us get pets because we like having furry creatures around, companions that always seem to love us. (Have you ever heard of a dog slamming her bedroom door because you wouldn't drive her to the mall?) But the added bonus is that our...

All that glitters: put a twinkle in your home with sparkling decorations that add a glow to every room.
December 1, 2004... Are you dreaming of a bright Christmas? Take a design cue from Jack Frost and keep your holiday home cool with crystalline crafts and dazzling decorating ideas. Start your winter welcome by choosing glacial tones of white, silver, and blue....

Ready to wrap: think out of the box with these eight easy ways to make all your gifts gorgeous.
December 1, 2004... The quickest way to add "pow!" to your presents big or small: new materials and trims. (Ever tried buttons? See gift number four, bottom left.) One trick also uses up leftover paper (see gift number five, bottom left): Wrap a large box in...

Trimmed with tradition: in her new book, A Nantucket Christmas, Leslie Linsley shows how the simplest decorations can be the most stylish.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... December may be the off-season for Nantucket, Massachusetts, but Christmas is when the island's year-round residents kick it up--and uncork their creativity. "We really get into the spirit of the holiday," says Leslie Linsley, a crafts designer...

Angels watching over me: sometimes miracles happen when they're least expected--and most needed.
December 1, 2004... She almost lost $20,000 A few months after their father's death earlier this year, Jody Gardner, 55, and her sisters hosted a gathering at their family's lake house in Okoboji, Iowa. The sisters wanted to scatter their father's ashes in a...

O Christmas treats.
December 1, 2004... Piped dreams Flowers, trains, violins, polar bears! Amaze your guests with these artful, creative cutouts. Icing instructions on page 134 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nice ice Who can resist a tray of sugar and gingerbread...

William Yosses' holiday dessert party: brought to you by SPLENDA[R] Sugar Blend for Baking.(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Great food and sweet treats are part of every family gathering during the holiday season. Whether it's a lavish party with friends or simply sharing the holidays with family, great tasting food is the best part of the celebration--and dessert...

Keepers: fun new finds.(Promotional Announcement)(Advertisement)
December 1, 2004... Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats[R] Gift Tag Recipe INGREDIENTS: * 3 tablespoons margarine or butter * 1 package (10 ounces, about 40) marshmallows OR 4 cups miniature marshmallows * 6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies[R] cereal ...

Style keepers.(Promotional Announcement)
December 1, 2004... Escape with VO5! VO5[R] Nourishing Oasis[R], the steamy secret to beautiful hair, is offering you a chance to win a trip to NYC, plus treatments at the Oasis Day Spa. To enter, log on to www.AlbertoVO5.com/spasweeps. Share the secret with...

Best holiday recipes.(Recipes)
December 1, 2004... festive Creole shrimp pictured at right Prep 30 minutes Cook about 1 hour Makes 8 main-dish servings 6 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 3 garlic cloves, sliced 3 medium celery stalks, thinly sliced 3...

The perfect latkes.(Recipes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... potato & chive latkes Prep 20 minutes Cook about 8 minutes per batch Makes about 18 latkes 1 large egg 3 tablespoons chopped chives 2 tablespoons matzo meal or all- purpose flour 2 tablespoons...

Laughs.(your Goodhouse guide Comic)(Brief Article)(Cartoon)
December 1, 2004... 'I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph.' -Shirley Temple, actress "It's a steak, in case Santa's watching carbs." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Sorry...

Delicious dream houses: real estate never tasted so good! The winners of our 2003 gingerbread contest.(Contests)
December 1, 2004... FIRST PLACE Sandy Andrews of Harrisonville, Missouri, landscaped by creating trees out of cinnamon sticks and fresh rosemary. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SECOND PLACE The glass of the dessert case is gelatin and the mixer is...

Holiday heart-warmers! It's their first Christmas or Hanukkah--and these babies are the winners of our 2003 contest.(Contests)
December 1, 2004... WINNER Lauren Brooks of Birmingham, Alabama, caught her daughter, Caroline, in mid-yawn after a long, busy day. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RUNNER-UP Mallory Moore looks ready for a white Christmas as she mugs for her morn,...

Be a gingerbread winner! Are you a baker who loves being creative? Enter our contest and design a sweet house--you might bring home some cash!(Contests)
December 1, 2004... We're looking for your most original, most amazing masterpiece. You can do all the work yourself or recruit the help of family and friends to make it a party. The architecture is entirely up to you. Have fun re-creating your favorite building...

Ultimate cookie contest.(Contests)
December 1, 2004... First Prize: $500 Runners-up: $200 each Do you bake a special holiday cookie that earns raves every year? Send us the recipe and your story--a short paragraph all about your smash hit. (Did you accidentally invent it? Did your...

Alert: recalls.(your Goodhouse guide)(Illustration)
December 1, 2004... Are there unsafe products in your home? Check the recalls list below. These items were recalled by manufacturers in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. For more information, the CPSC at 800-638-2772, or visit...

Figgy pudding: a surprise guest brings a cup of good cheer, and a delicious twist, to one family's Christmas celebration.(Short Story)
December 1, 2004... At seven each morning, the breakfast carts rattle and jangle along the hallways of Sunrise Villas. Loudspeaker voices call out operatically, and Muzak floats overhead--Christmas songs, at this time of year, played too fast and jingly. This...

The baby who saved Hanukkah: Julie wants everyone in the family to be at her holiday party. But what to do about her feuding aunts, who haven't spoken in 20 years?(Short Story)
December 1, 2004... Aunt Janet and Aunt Carol hadn't talked to each other for so long, most people in the family could no longer remember what the original argument had been about. All that the relatives knew was that if you were inviting the two sisters to a big...

Amy Grant: the country star--and wife of a country star--talks about life with four kids (including three girls!) and her most cherished Christmas memories.(burning questions for ...)(Interview)
December 1, 2004... What's your favorite Christmas memory? "When I was in fifth grade, I got a chemistry set, and I was so thrilled. I was a little pyromaniac--I loved anything to do with chemicals and fire. I was the youngest of four girls, and when I compare...