Dating Department: Who Will Be Seated Around Your Holiday Table This Year?

Each year my older sister, younger brother and yours truly come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas to rekindle our family roots, celebrate in our overly illuminated home, eat and drink too much, recount stories of our childhood and suffer uncontrollable laughing fits. Recently, my parents decided we would start a new “dining out” holiday tradition. Until...

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Rock of Ages Star Says, “Don’t Stop Believin’”

Rock of Ages Star Says, “Don’t Stop Believin’”

When Shannon Mullen’s best friend saw Rock of Ages for the first time he had one thought: Mullen was perfect for the part of Sherrie Christian. So, he phoned his friend and told her. Mullen wasn’t convinced. Her initial reaction? “No way.” Of course, now as Mullen takes the stage nightly as Sherrie Christian in the touring production of Rock of Ages,...

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With a Capital EM: Holiday Magic in the Form of an Air Hockey Table

I’ve always been a very determined (i.e. obsessive) person. When I want something, I get it. So, I’m sure the year that I asked Santa for an air hockey table, my parents were a bit worried about how Santa would pull that off. I was not. When Christmas morning arrived and I ran out to the living room expecting to see my brand new air hockey table and instead...

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Clothes For A Cause

Clothes For A Cause

Working as a first grade teacher, Lisa Jelenek noticed something about one of her students. The boy, walking to gym class, had ill-fitting shoes. When she asked the boy about it, he said his parents couldn’t afford shoes. And that’s when Lisa’s idea for opening the Clothesline in Laingsburg came to her. The Clothesline has a simple mission statement:...

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Edmund’s Pastime

Edmund’s Pastime

Ah … the holiday season is upon us. It is time to slow down and turn the focus toward celebrating family and friends. The best way to do that is in a festive, yet informal, environment. It is great to find a place where we can relax and enjoy each other. It’s even better when we don’t have to do any of the cooking or cleaning! One great establishment...

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A Happy Host and a Gracious Guest Make for Holiday Magic

Phew, where has the year gone? Time sure flies fast, and here we are, at the start of the busy holiday season once again. Like most people, my husband and I will either be hosting a party or attending one or two in the next few weeks. It is always a joyous occasion to be with friends, family and co-workers to mingle and enjoy the meaning of the season. This...

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Get a Jumpstart on Your 2012 Financial Resolutions

December always seems to fly by, and before we know it, 2012 will be upon us. The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to set goals and create a plan for the rest of the year, especially when it comes to your financial situation. Here are two of the most common financial resolutions and ways you can start working toward these goals this holiday season...

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For Pete’s Take: Happy Holi-daze

I was in a store and I heard Christmas music and saw the decorations overflowing the shelves. Only problem is, it was a week before Halloween… really? The recent blending of the Holidays can seem disconcerting. I was looking at Freddy Krueger masks on one shelf and could turn my head to see Frosty the Snowman smiling at me from another shelf. It’s creepy...

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Wrap Up the Magic

Wrap Up the Magic

I’m a master trinket, remnant and “I can use this someday” collector. I have an entire craft bin filled with randomness. Luckily, I’ve found a magical way to put these miscellaneous treasures to good use — holiday gift wrapping! Not to mention that creatively wrapping your gifts adds another whimsical dimension for its recipient to drool over. Now...

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Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy: A Theater Preview

When the holiday season nears a close, we embrace the opportunities of the New Year and look forward to the warmer days ahead. The Capital Area hosts a variety of community events to help get us through the final stretch of winter and celebrate the arrival of spring, including a wide array of theater entertainment. Listed below are the upcoming local productions...

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Local Women: Teresa Baltz

Local Women: Teresa Baltz

Occupation: Chef at Spartan Childhood Development Center Residence: East Lansing Family: Son, James; grandson, Zacky Hobbies: Jogging, cooking/baking Teresa Baltz is very detail-oriented when it comes to keeping her kitchen space organized at Spartan Childhood Development Center. She is passionate about providing quality, homemade meals for the children...

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Events for December 2011

Now until December 23 — Wonderland of Lights, Lansing. Thousands of lights create extraordinary animal exhibits and holiday displays at the 19th annual Wonderland of Lights. Enjoy strolling carolers and fabulous musical performances. Open Thursday through Sunday 5-8 p.m. Admission: $4/adult. $2 for kids ages 3-16 and free for kids under age 3. Visit www.potterparkzoo.org. December...

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