Archives at Zinester: The Dot Com Woman Holiday Special. The Dot Com Woman. Women, Fashion & Beauty

1. Make a list of people for whom you want to buy gifts. Remember to include teachers and the paper boy.
2. Set a budget. Note beside each name how much you can spend.
3. Include gift ideas for each person. Consider gift certificates and edibles.
4. Look through mail order catalogs weekly. Mark gift ideas with sticky notes. Set a deadline of November 15 to make final decisions and place orders.
5. Set aside a little time each week to shop. When you find something you love, decide who on your list might like it. Buy the same gift for several people.
6. Gather shipping boxes and packing materials. Mail your gifts early this year to avoid long lines.
7. Buy wrapping paper, bows and tags this week. Set up a gift wrap center in your home. Stock it with tape, scissors and pens. Wrap as you buy.

HOLIDAY CRAFTS

'Candle in a Wreath' Ornament

Materials:

1 - 12" chenille stick (green or red)
25 - 6mm round red beads
24 - 18mm green starburst beads
10 - white tri-beads
1 - yellow rice bead
1 white ribbon bow (could be green or red)
1 - ornament hanger
low melt glue gun

How to proceed:

Take one round bead to the end of the chenille stick (leave about 1/2" on end) Follow round bead with a starburst. Alternate between round beads with the starbursts. When all of these are on, form chenille into a circle, twist ends together. Point the long end of leftover chenille into center of circle. Place the tribeads on this piece to form candle. Top with yellow rice bead to form flame. Glue white bow ribbon on with low-melt glue gun. Use ornament hanger to hang from tree.

CHRISTMAS RECIPES

Candied Tea Stirrers

Vegetable cooking spray
34 pieces fruit-flavored hard candy -- crushed
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
Heavyweight plastic spoons

Line a jellyroll pan with waxed paper; spray with cooking spray. In a small heavy saucepan, combine crushed candies and corn syrup over low heat. Stirring frequently, heat until candies melt. Spoon candy into bowl of each spoon. Place spoons on prepared pan with handles on rim and spoons level. Allow candy to harden. Store in airtight container. You can make each batch with a different fruit-flavored candy.

Cheese Pine Cones

8 oz Shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 c Butter or margarine; soften
3 tbsp Milk
2 tbsp Dry sherry or milk
1/8 tsp Ground red pepper
1 c Blanched almonds; finely chopped
3/4 c Sliced unblanched almonds
1/2 c Whole unblanched almonds
Fresh rosemary sprigs

Beat cheese, butter, milk, sherry and red pepper in medium bowl until mixture is smooth; stir in chopped almonds.

Divide mixture into 3 equal portions; shape each into tapered ovals to resemble pine cones. Insert slivered, sliced and whole almonds into cones. Cover; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

Garnish tops with rosemary.

Yield: 3 Pinecones

ELKE'S WEEKLY BEAUTY TIP

A model told me this trick....she runs a Gold Shimmer stick through her blonde hair for instant shimmer and highlights, especially around the face.

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