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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-12-02, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987. & How to smooth the holiday rush: take time for you Every season has its treasures, and winter brings special occa­ sions for pleasant times and thoughtful moments. With gift-giving a big part of this season, here are some ideas to ease the load on your pocketbook while keeping your calendar as free as possible for the fun times to come. •Plan - Write things down and carry the list with you everywhere. Each day, check your list, chart your errands and co-ordinate trips to avoid retracing steps. After the holidays, don’t stop. Keep a running list of gift ideas, and shop too. By nextyearatthis time, you’ll have part of your gift shopping completed. ful, but don’t let them overcome the true meaning of the season. •Be flexible Don’t forget what friends are for. A hectic, busy day may make you feel as if you can’t handle interruptions. Be willing to take the time and savor the real value of people. Gifts are wonder- •Take time for you - Feeling fatigued? Try these ideas to pep you up or wake you up. Take an early morning walk; give yourself a facial; keep a pitcher of juice or cold water in the refrigerator and don’t forgetto take vitamins daily. A quick refresher: Spritz yourself with cologne. Or lie back, put your feet up and think of all the things Ideas for less hectic shopping If you are one of those people who loves Christmas shopping but hates department store crowds, and if just the thought of piling into an overloaded elevator with your arms overloaded with packages makes you cringe, then the advice that is usually given is to shop way ahead of time. Butfor many, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas unless they shop during the true holiday season, when shops are filled with garlands and bows, and Santa seems to be everywhere. For those who want to enjoy findingthose “justright” gifts without losing their Christmas spirit, the following shopping tips will be helpful: • Museum gift shops are a wonderful place to find beautiful, unusual gifts. Especially if you visit the museum in the morning, you’llfindbooksgalore, along with everything from reproductions of Egyptian jewelry, to scarves, glassware, and beautiful prints of some of your favorite works of art. You’ll find all of this and more convenience of shopping without without having to battle the crowds leaving the comfort of your own that you’ll find in the department home, store. • Try hu nting for gifts in small local shops, such as the pipe and tobacco shop for dad, or the liquor store for Uncle Harry. The nearby lingerie store may have the perfectfcsilk camisole for mom and, for the gourmet cook on your gift list, the housewares store arou nd the corner will have al 1 sorts of kitchen gadgets. • While you are doing your day to day shopping, you can pick up small gifts as you go. You’ll find perfume for grandma at the drug store, and perhaps a potted poinsettia at the grocery store for your son’s teacher. • Another alternative is to pur­ chase your gifts through mail order catalogues, where you’ll find everythingfromclothing tobed quilts to kitchen gadgets. With some catalogues, you can even order by phone - all you need is a credit card and you’ll have the you have done. •Try these gift ideas - Tie kitchen gadgets with a bow for a quick gift or stocking stuffer. (Don’t forget the old favorite - a wooden-handled spatula!). A pretty book (blank inside) with pfen or colored markers will please a poet friend. Start a picture album for some­ one (with their picture in it). Kids love ugly rubber insects, practical joke toys and educational onestoo. Besuretolookfortoys that are safe for the age of the child. A see-through food container filled with goodies will warm anyone’s heart. Give a teenager a portable utility file with blank tape cassettes inside. Or buy a cassette of music you know they’ll like. Consider the hobbies and inter­ ests of those on your list... the guitar player would love a gift certificate at a music store. An artist will appreciate one good brush. The fanatical contest devo­ tee? Collect sweepstakes entry forms and wrap them up with envelopes and stamps; add a horseshoe paperweight for kicks. Dried Indian corn with a bow makes a simple and fun gift for kids to present to grandmother and granddad. Or give themabundleof wheatandoatsforthebirds tied with a big bow. This type of gift can be tacked to a front door or mail box, or hung from a tree. People look for cards that reflect values We at Fincher’s are devoted to our customer’s needs. As a result we have expanded our Goderich store to accommodate more for your shopping pleasure. By adding convenience and better selection, we are able to serve you ... our valued friends & customers. / FlSHER-PRICE TOYS & BOARD GAMES (Tr-npl those already on epeelel) TILLEY LEATHER WALLETS SS, J / PLAYDOH SETS ✓ TIMEX WATCHE PAINT BY NUMBER SETS / PLAYSKOOL TOYS s PLUSH TOYS v JIGSAW PUZZLES / LEGO TOYS EE / NERF TOYS / MODEL KITS ’ /CHILDREN’S BOOKS Continued from page 25 mas activity last April. Founded in Toronto in 1933, Carlton Cards produces more than 110 million Christmas cards a year along with gift wrap, ribbons, bows, candles and decorations. Instead of Santa’s elves, there are nearly 1,000 employees to work in three shifts a day to produce the Christmas line. “Our planning starts about 18 months in advance when we design the line and the content. Christmas really is a co-ordinated team effort here,” explains Ms. Huard, whose days include frequent trips to the plant floor checking on the pro­ gress of the products. Between April and J une, Carlton’s five giant presses are running continuously, printing Christmas cards. “ People are looking for cards that reflect their values and sentiments,’’ says Ms. Huard, noting the trend towards more diversified designs and messages which reflect changing family situations. Today, most boxed cards contain one design that captures the mood of the sender rath r than an assortment of different cards. Many of the card designs are insp ed by typical Canadian activ­ ities or scenes. Carlton’s newly created “Canadian Artist Series” was established as part of the com any’s ongoing commitment to the future of Canadian art. It features the work of eight Cana­ dian artists; some like Glen Loates and ’ ick Reid are well known while othe s are more familiar to local art circ! s. All the cards depict scenes of Canadian winters geared to strike a responsive chord with consumers across the country. “There’s a wealth of artistic talent out there which we can draw upon. We visit art galleries and meet with art agents to track down the work of up-and-coming local artists. For our Canadian Artist Series we either commission de­ signs or transfer limited edition prints onto greeting cards. The cards give artists exposure to large audiences and a chance to become better know,’’ Ms. Huard ex­ plains. According to Ms. Huard, the other trend in Christmas cards is a return to old-fashioned values. “We’ve discovered that greeting cards must reach out and touch or trigger people’s memories and emotions. In order to satisfyThose needs, we developed a line called Olde Fashioned Christmas which highlights family-based activities and celebrations.’’ Huard says Carlton’s research shows that younger consumers also value traditions, and that despite age differences, certain memories appear to be forever associated with Christmas time. Not surprisingly, these include every child’s dream of catching Santa delivering presents, the sharing of the festive holiday with friends and bringing home the tree. “We set all our Olde Fashioned Christmas cards at the turn of the century, a time when life was simpler and the pleasures of the season enjoyed to the fullest,’’ she says. One can only wonder what Sir Henry would make of it all. ALL •Fa •M BA f SUPER SPECIAL! CANADIAN AUTHORS rtey Mowat •Margaret Lawrence argaret Atwood «W.O. Mitchell NTAM BOOKS Buy 2 and Gat 1 :REE LIGHTERS CG SAVE 40* a ^a ^a 175 G. BOX, FLAVOURED POPCORN — __ __CRUNCH & 4 29 MUNCH 1 save 40* SUPER SPECIAL! CHRISTMAS GIFT WRAP 8 ROLL PKG , 400 TOTAL INCHES 999 BB PRICEI PLUS ...EXPANDED GIFT DEPT. 100 GIFTWARE OTHER TOYS, GAMES, GIFTS, PUZZLES & BOOKS PRICED ESPECIALLY FOR OUR 3 DAY GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION OFF INCLUDING: Brass. Crystal, Figurines (Area's Best Selection), Kitchen Accessories, Glassware, Wine Sets, Decorative Plates, Anniversary Gifts, Wall Plaques, Wall Clocks, Baby's Gift Items SHOP OUR R CLEARANCE I ,U GIFT ISLAND WV FOR SAVINGS SUPER SPECIALI CHRISTMAS GIFT BOWS PKG OF 25 SAVE 70' PEPSI-COLA 1.5 WHITE SWAN PAPER TOWELS • OR • KLEENEX 200’S FACIAL TISSUES YOUR CHOICE FOR ALL CARLTON CARDS BOXED CHRISTMAS CARDS FEATURING SPECIAL ENVELOPES FOR THE 31' STAMPS. i LITRE BOTTLE89 -89 You’ll Find It At ... HOSTESS POTATO CHIPS 200 G. ASS’T. VARIETIES MM* 235-2202 own w>v. - ram, MT ________________ ★ Som* spacial* not avallabla In Kincardine SAVE 90c SHOPPER'S SQUARE GOQERKH, 524-6901 swpars wam - ♦ om twmr AMCW* mrwuo/w ........................I.......................... BOOKS • GIFTS smce 1956 TOYS • GAMES