NOVEMBER 27, 2013
PAGE 11
make gifts rather than buy them this year.
So, although Pintrest is a great resource
for finding ideas and instructions, below
are a handful of ideas that seem to be
most popular this season.
Personalized anything
Personalized mugs are especially
popular. They are both cheap and easy to
make. Simply buy a mug, the cheaper
ones actually work better because the
glaze melts better under heat. Decorate the
mug and bake for 20 minutes at 350
degrees. DIYopolis has great instructions.
Find them at
www.diyopolis.com
.
Jar kits
These are a classic. They typically
consist of brownie mix, hot chocolate or
cookies. But Mason jars have become a
cult item and now include ideas for
terrariums, manicure kits, candles and
cupcakes in a jar. Just search “Mason jar
gifts” on Pintrest and pick something to fit
everyone on your list.
Chalk boards
With a few easy steps, almost anything
can have a chalk board surface. Most
popular are customized chalk boards, but
the simple-to-make paint can be used for a
serving tray, kitchen pantry, or perhaps on
a mug. While Martha Stewart has a great
tutorial, A Beautiful Mess has a simpler
version. Check it out here:
bit.ly/17GDcMz.
Phone cases
These are especially popular with any
teens who may be hard to shop for, but
personalized phone cases can be a great
gift for anyone. All that is needed is either
a clear case or one that can be built upon.
Clear ones are perfect for making a photo
lining, while colored cases are great for
studs, jewels, lace or anything else you
can think of. A Beautiful Mess again has
some great ideas at bit.ly/1bKnM9l, but
with this gift’s popularity, browsing
Pintrest is a simple place for ideas.
Others
Some other great ideas include:
Infused vodka — Made easily by
soaking an item in vodka. Vanilla or
jalapenos are popular choices.
Bacon salt — Blend overcooked bacon
until finely chopped, then add sea salt.
Animal bookends — Take two plastic
animal toys, glue to blocks of wood and
paint.
Custom jewelry dish — Any item can
become the centerpiece, glue to center of a
bowl, paint or leave unfinished.
Wire-clip photo display — A basic
picture frame, with wire or string strung
vertically and clips down the line,
becomes an interchangeable frame perfect
for small photos.
Mini succulent garden — Small pots,
or any container really, filled with a little
soil and a few succulents quickly becomes
an adorable garden.
Monogram letter — Wrap an initial in
hemp, yarn or burlap, attach ribbon or
wire to hang.
on asking yourself if you’re enjoying
your food. To help you answer this
question, use the fork trick. Once you
take a bite of food, place your fork down
on the plate. Chew your food, swallow
and then pick it up again. The key to this
trick is letting go of the fork. This will
remind you to slow down, enjoy your
food and converse with friends and
family.
Avoid the clean plate club
Growing up, many of us were always
told, “You can’t leave the table until you
finish everything on your plate” and
inevitably, we spent many nights sitting
alone at the dinner table. These days,
Rodriguez advises her clients to eat until
they are full and, if their plate is not
clean, it’s OK. Focus on one plate of
food, slow down and be careful not to
overeat. Overfeeding is never really a
healthy thing to do.
Share your dessert with a loved one
After a satisfying meal, it is hard to
avoid the sweet smells of pumpkin or
warm apple pie. If you choose not to
skip dessert, share a small slice with a
loved one or new friend. If you are
hosting, designate one family member to
bring dessert to limit the endless
selection of pies and reduce the urge to
over indulge.
Make like a turkey and trot out the door
Start your holiday with a new
tradition this year and gather the family
to do something active. Take a walk to a
local park, put together a family friendly
flag football game, rake the leaves up in
the yard (and jump into them) or
encourage the family to sign up for a
run/walk event.
Holidays are a time to be thankful for
family, friends and everything in
between. Savor the moment, really take
time to taste your food, get out and have
some fun, and avoid holiday weight gain.
Weight gain:
Avoid the ‘clean plate club’ and share your dessert with a loved one
Continued from page ten
Trend gifts:
Personalize to make special
Continued from page nine
W
hen seasons change, moods can
change with them. The long, dark,
cold months can give people a
serious case of cabin fever. Some people
may even suffer from seasonal
depression.
Those who face this type of
depression, known as Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD), feel a physiological
response by the body to decreases in light
exposure associated with the fall and
winter months, according to Dr. Gary
Bruss, program dean of the American
School of Professional Psychology at
Argosy University.
“This is one of the more biologically
based forms of depression,” Bruss said.
“SAD can be characterized by
moodiness, heightened irritability, lack of
interest in those things you usually take
pleasure in, changes in eating and
sleeping patterns, and difficulty
concentrating that take place during those
fall and winter months every year.”
Simply put, you may not feel as peppy
as you normally do or have the same
energy level or you may not want to be
around people or follow your regular
routine. Students may see their grades
decline; workers may see their
performance slipping.
Being proactive about your mental
health and taking care of yourself can
help address depression and mood
swings. Bruss recommends engaging in
exercise, going for a walk or meeting
friends or family for coffee or some fun
activity. He also adds it is important to
eat a balanced diet, get enough rest at
night, do nice things for yourself or find
a hobby to help occupy your time.
“In the fall and winter, we tend to see
an increase in seasonal affective disorder
and in overall stress,” said Dr. Devin
Byrd. “Becoming more acutely aware of
your habits, stress levels and social
activities can help assess and counter-
balance the onset of seasonal sadness or
depression.”
If you sense that the season may be
negatively affecting your well-being,
Byrd recommends initiating a new hobby,
exercise more, eat well and take an active
role in social activities.
Light exposure therapy can combat the
signs and symptoms of SAD. During this
type of therapy, you sit near a device
called a light therapy box. This box gives
off a specific kind of light that mimics
the natural light from the outdoors and
can ease SAD symptoms.
If signs of depression appear in a
family member, friend or co-worker,
Bruss recommends encouraging them to
seek help if depression persists or
worsens. He adds that the holiday season
can have a major impact on depression if
a person has experienced the death of a
family member, close friend or a pet. If
the severity of the depression interferes
with a person’s ability to function
socially and/or professionally, then it’s
time to seek help from a mental health
professional.
Mental health and the holidays
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