Stress-free Tips for Indulgent Entertaining with Premium Chocolate

Master Chocolatier Provides Stress-free Tips for Indulgent Entertaining with Premium Chocolate

Master Chocolatier Demonstrates the Art of Customizing and Personalizing Premium Chocolate Truffles at Home

December 2008 (Medialink) - The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration. While the season may mean a lot of time spent perfecting dinner parties and buying gifts for relatives, it's easy to forget to take time out for yourself, even if it's just a momentary break from the ever-growing to-do list. According to a recent survey, two out of three women admit they are stressed during the holidays. The survey also found that women were able to melt away their anxieties by taking a little "me-time' through indulging in small pleasures like a spa service or a piece of premium chocolate.

Master Chocolatier Ann Czaja demonstrates how you can host a stress-free event to remember without going over-the-top by creating quick and easy personalized chocolate truffles at home for your guests. Additional tips for easily impressing guests by incorporating fine chocolate into your celebration are also provided.

Talent/Guest: Ann Cjaza, Master Swiss Chocolatier
Master Chocolatier Ann Czaja (pronounced Chai-ya) is a chocolate and confectionary expert. Bringing the passion for gourmet chocolate to life, the Master Chocolatier utilizes years of experience and extensive training to perfect iconic chocolate selections and educate consumers on all things chocolate. Czaja has embarked on a U.S. tour, hosted in-store events, shared the Five Senses Tasting Process with consumers. She has hosted chocolate pairing events and discussions on the history of chocolate. In collaboration with Master Chocolatiers around the world, the company recently introduced Lindt Chocolate Passion, a new book on the history of chocolate and chocolate-making including delicious recipes.

Mighty Fine Peanuts Holiday Tees

Mighty Fine Peanuts Holiday Tees

Show your affection for the holidays with these Snoopy-centric soft cotton tees for women. Made by Doe for Mighty Fine, each style comes in sizes XS through XL, and is available for $26.50 at delias.com.







Source: Peanuts publicist - used with permission

Santa Snoopy Porch Greeter

Santa Snoopy Porch Greeter from the Peanuts Gang

Season’s Beagles! The Santa Snoopy Porch Greeter welcomes guests to your home for the holidays. 26 inches high, it’s available at Sears and K-Mart for $24.99 – 29.99.




A Charlie Brown Christmas Linen Picture Book

Start the season off with joy by celebrating with the Peanuts gang in the timeless classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. Read along with Charlie Brown in his heartwarming quest to uncover the true meaning of Christmas with Snoopy, Linus and friends. This cloth-bound deluxe collector’s edition is faithful to the original television special that airs every Christmas season and makes the perfect gift for young and old Peanuts fans. 48 pages; ages 4–8. A Charlie Brown Christmas is available from Running Press Books for $19.95 wherever books are sold.

Source: Peanuts publicist - used with permission

Bring Home Peanuts For The Holidays PEANUTS Holiday DVD Collector Set

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus And The Gang Star In A Variety Of Entertainment-Themed Holiday Gifts

PEANUTS Holiday DVD Collector Set


Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Linus, Snoopy, Woodstock and the rest of the Peanuts gang are back to celebrate your favorite holidays in the Peanuts Holiday Collection, a 3-DVD collector set from Warner Home Video. The set includes all-new re-mastered Deluxe Editions of three Peanuts TV classics, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” along with a CD of songs from the original soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Deluxe Edition also features these special bonus materials:

· A new featurette: A Christmas Miracle: The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas – An in-depth look at how the producers brought a newspaper comic strip to animated life in a new medium. Under tense pressure and with many doubters, the show creators were able to create Peanuts in a new medium and make the show a smash success.

· Digital downloads of 2 songs from the popular soundtrack

· A bonus episode: It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

Source: Peanuts publicist - used with permission

Linus Learns to Share Book and Blanket

Linus Learns to Share Book and Blanket

Let Linus and Snoopy show little ones how sharing can strengthen bonds of friendship in this heartwarming tale of compromise. This snuggly kids kit includes a story and Linus’s special blue blanket. Cuddling up to storytime has never been so much fun! 16 pages. The book and blanket kit is available from Running Press Books for $12.95 and is available wherever books are sold.

Holiday Gifts with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus And The Peanuts Gang

Bring Home Peanuts For The Holidays:

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus And The Gang Star In A Variety Of Entertainment-Themed Holiday Gifts

Everyone wants to celebrate the holidays surrounded by the ones they love—so surround yourself, your friends and your family with the Peanuts gang! This season, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Sally and the crew star in a wide variety of home entertainment-themed gifts, all available online or at retailers nationwide:

The PEANUTS Edition Chess Set



Packaged in an all-new collectible tin, the PEANUTS Edition chess set is the only chess game that features the most beloved and popular PEANUTS characters, in 32 custom, hand-sculpted and hand-painted chess pieces: The Kings are represented by Charlie Brown with a baseball cap & mitt; the Queens are Lucy (of course!); the Bishops are Linus, holding his cherished blanket; the Rooks are represented by Sally (holding a valentine for her “Sweet Babboo”); the Knights are Woodstock in his bird bath; and the Pawns are Snoopy as “Joe Cool.” The PEANUTS Edition chess set retails for $39.95, and is available at Barnes & Noble, Knott's Berry Farm, Hallmark, Amazon.com; Homestead Gardens, Johnson Smith and What On Earth Catalogues, Gameville USA, and other independent and specialty toy retailers.

Sister’s Christmas Catechism

Help Sister Solve a Crime

SISTER'S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM: THE MYSTERY OF THE MAGI'S GOLD
By Maripat Donovan with Jane Morris and Marc Silvia
Starring Patti Hannon
November 28–December 21, 2008
Thursday @ 7:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday @ 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday matinees @ 2 p.m.
Theater 4301, Galleria Corporate Centre, Scottsdale

It’s "Forensic Files goes to Bethlehem" in this holiday mystery extravaganza by the creator of the Late Nite Catechism comedies. This time, Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages: whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? ("We know that Mary used the frankincense and myrrh as a sort of potpourri – they were in a barn after all," she explains.) Assisted by a local choir and a gaggle of audience members, Sister directs an unforgettable living nativity and employs her own CSI-inspired tools to find the culprit. With gifts galore and bundles of laughs, Sister’s Christmas Catechism is sure to become the newest addition to your holiday traditions.

99.9 KEZ is the media sponsor of Sister’s Christmas Catechism.

Buy Tickets Now

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Box Office: (480) 994-ARTS (2787)
TDD: (480) 874-4694
Web: www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org
E-mail: info@sccarts.org
Fax: (480) 874-4699

Santa Claus

Santa Claus

One of the reasons that Santa is so jolly is that he knows where all of the bad girls live.

A DOG'S RULES FOR CHRISTMAS

A DOG'S RULES FOR CHRISTMAS
- Christmas is for humans, and I will not ruin the surprises by
opening all their presents.
- Christmas light bulbs, Christmas ornaments, Christmas stockings, and
tinsel from the Christmas tree are not food.
- I am the alpha dog, therefore I do not need to protect my new
Christmas rawhide from the omega dog by taking it outside to eat when
the wind chill is -10 F.
- I will not demolish the Christmas tree and drag the string of lights
out into the backyard through the doggy door.
- I will not dive into the Christmas tree to get the candy canes
(which I would eat -- paper and all, then puke on the presents).
- I will not eat my Christmas doggie treats until after they're out of
the stocking!
- I will not even THINK about going underneath the Christmas tree or
piddling on the dining room rug.
- I will not get into a fight with the bigger dog next door, making my
human have to call the vet's at Christmas.
- I will not get tangled up in the Christmas tree lights and pull the
tree down while trying to get at a cat through the conservatory window.
- I will not pee on Grandma's Christmas presents that are under her
tree as soon as we enter her house.
- I will not pee on the Christmas tree.
- I will not steal the neighbor's Christmas light bulbs.
- The bowl underneath the Christmas tree is not a dog dish. I will not
drink from it. It will make me sick.

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Christmas Recipes Carnival of the Recipes

Welcome to the November 9, 2008 edition of carnival of the recipes.

Christmas Recipes

Amanda presents Chicken Fajitas posted at Sleeping in Sydney.

vw bug presents What to do with leftover Stuffing posted at One Happy Dog.

Christmas Recipes presents Magic Reindeer Food posted at Christmas Recipes.

Michele presents Cranberry Jello Salad posted at Meanderings.

Famous Recipes presents FROSTED APPLE RAISIN PIE posted at Famous Recipes.

GrrlScientist presents The Hungry Scientist Handbook: Electric Birthday Cakes, Edible Origami, and Other DIY Projects for Techies, Tinkerers, and Foodies posted at Living the Scientific Life.

Stephanie presents Amish Date Pudding posted at Stop the Ride!.

Chicken Recipe presents Teriyaki Chicken posted at Chicken Recipe.

Jennie presents Winter Savory Soup posted at Adam's Brag Book.

Editor presents CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN MUFFINS posted at Phoenix Blog.

Matthew Paulson presents How to Host a Holiday Cookie Swap posted at American Consumer News.

Recipes presents Rich Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles posted at Recipes.

DebbieDragon presents The Serving Size of Pickles posted at Empowering Mom.

Famous Recipes presents Chocolate Eclair Dessert posted at Famous Recipes.

nichole halsey presents Sort of Bubble and Squeak posted at Bad Human! Don't take chemicals from strangers!.

World Famous Recipes presents COCOA STICKS posted at World Famous Recipes.

Lisa K presents Blackberry Pie - TNT posted at Lisa's Cookbook.

Slow Cooker Recipes and Crockpot Recipes presents Crock Pot Chipotle-Fruited Pot Roast posted at Slow Cooker Recipes and Crockpot Recipes.

Elisson presents NANNER PUDDIN’ posted at Blog d'Elisson.

Diabetic Meals Recipes presents Baked Fish With Chunky Creole Vegetable Topping posted at Diabetic Meals Recipes.

Jennie W presents Bread Pudding posted at Adam's Brag Book.

Thai Cooking - The Taste of Thailand presents Barbecued Thai Chicken Salad posted at Thai Food.

That concludes this edition of the Carnival of the Recipes. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of the recipes using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Cookie Recipes and Dessert Recipes

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Christmas Family Fun - APS Electric Light Parade

APS Electric Light Parade

The APS Electric Light Parade returns to the streets of central Phoenix Dec. 6 for its 22nd straight year. The 2008 parade, themed Preserving a Family Holiday Tradition, kicks off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 on Central Avenue just south of Bethany Home Road. The parade is a rain or shine event. Comprehensive parade information is available online in the APS Electric Light Parade link at phoenix.gov/parks. General information is available by phone at 602-534-FEST.

Recipes for Christmas

Jokes for Christmas

Quotes for Christmas