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Our Favorite Things... Gracie's Emporium

One gift we don't want to get for the holidays are the extra pounds that come with over indulgence in all sorts of seasonal goodies.  Here are a few tips for Healthy Holiday Eating:

1.    Be realistic. Don't try to lose pounds during the holidays, instead try to maintain your current weight

2.    Plan time for exercise. Exercise helps relieve holiday stress and prevent weight gain. A moderate and daily increase in exercise can help partially offset increased holiday eating. Try 10- or 15-minute brisk walks twice a day.

3.    Don't skip meals. Before leaving for a party, eat a light snack like raw vegetables or a piece of fruit to curb your appetite. You will be less tempted to over-indulge.

4.    Survey party buffets before filling your plate. Choose your favorite foods and skip your least favorite. Include vegetables and fruits to keep your plate balanced.

5.    Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. Savor your favorite holiday treats while eating small portions. Sit down, get comfortable, and enjoy.

6.    Be careful with beverages. Alcohol can lessen inhibitions and induce overeating; non-alcoholic beverages can be full of calories and sugar.

7.    If you overeat at one meal go light on the next. It takes 500 calories per day (or 3,500 calories per week) above your normal/maintenance consumption to gain one pound. It is impossible to gain weight from one piece of pie!

8.    Take the focus off food. Turn candy and cookie making time into non-edible projects like making wreaths, dough art decorations or a gingerbread house.

9.    Plan group activities with family and friends that aren't all about food. Try serving a holiday meal to the community, playing games or going on a walking tour of decorated homes.

10.Bring your own healthy dish to a holiday gathering. Practice healthy holiday cooking. Preparing favorite dishes lower in fat and calories will help promote healthy holiday eating.

Take pleasure in the holidays, plan a time for activity, incorporate healthy recipes into your holiday meals, and don't restrict yourself from enjoying your favorite holiday foods. In the long run, your mind and body will thank you - and that's a gift you can truly enjoy!

760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com 

Executive Errands network of Service Providers have an excellent reputation for quality and dependability.  

If you like the idea of gift certificates and someone in your life could really use one for a home or luxury service, Executive Errands can provide you with a gift certificate to our exclusive network of services. 

Some of these include:

• Housekeeping
• Window Cleaning
• Upholstery and Carpet cleaning
• Tile cleaning
• Catering
• Car service
• Pet Sitting
• In Home Massage or Facials
• Blind and Shutter repair and cleaning
• Carpet stretching
• Painting
• Handyman services

Executive Errands is available for all your home gifting needs.  For more information or to purchase a gift certificate for home or luxury services*, please contact us at 760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com

*Service Provider gift certificates purchased by credit card are subject to a 7% service charge.

While you're making your list of tasks for this holiday season, be sure to include at least a few for the local charities.  Take time for those less fortunate than yourself who need warm clothes, a warm meal, or just a warm hug.

It's the perfect time to teach your children and grandchildren about charitable giving.  Have them help shop for an underprivileged child.  Have them help collect clothes or blankets for a local shelter.  Have them go with you to donate food to the local food bank.  Explain to the children why the people you're helping are in need.  Kids are never too young to learn to give of themselves in a charitable way.

Another easy way to include charitable giving is to add an aspect to your company holiday party.  In lieu of (or in addition to) your holiday gift exchange, consider asking each party attendee to bring food, school supplies, a blanket or any other item needed by your favorite charity. And don't forget our furry friends!  The local animal shelters always need kibble and blankets.

The warm feeling you'll get from helping others far outweighs any other gift you'll receive this holiday season and we encourage you to do whatever you can to help those less fortunate than yourselves.

If you have items to donate, Executive Errands will pick up (or facilitate pickup) and deliver your items, free of charge, throughout the month of December. 

For more information or to schedule a pickup, please call us at 760.898.9604

Do you still need to do a 'secret Santa' gift exchange?  The best and easiest way to do it is by using Elfster (www.elfster.com)  This free online application allows the party coordinator (you) to enter all your gift exchange participants and their email addresses. 

Once everyone is in, you select the date for your party, the price point for your exchange and hit 'go'!  The program shuffles everyone then pairs up for Secret Santa giving and sends an email to each person notifying them of their gift recipient. 

Participants can enter wish lists if they'd like so their Secret Santa has an idea of what to give.  One extra nice feature of Elfster is this: if you have the same participants year to year, Elfster tracks prior Secret Santa assignments and doesn't repeat pairings.  That is especially nice when your family does yearly gift exchanges.

Go electronic. Go elf.  Go Elfster for gift exchanges!

Some holiday services book up really quickly.  If you think you will need pet sitting or limousine/car services over Christmas or New Year's, please call for a referral.

If you're going to need housekeeping or windows or carpet cleaning before your family arrives - please call as soon as possible to get on the schedule.

As always, referrals to our network of professional, insured, customer service-focused Service Providers are always free.