This issue: (Y How to meal: scrumptious salmon (Y Diary of a starter novelist (¥Y Not your typical Starbucks cookie And more! How to imbue your life with the holiday spirit... » .... without being totally annoying! Sophie Isbister Life & Style Editor Mlifeandstyle = @theotherpress.ca alloween is over, which means one of two things: either youre one of the people taking to social of Christmas decorations cropping up in stores so early, or, like me, you're overjoyed that we can finally drop all that spooky black and orange in favour of some festive and cheerful red and green. The first week of November has typically been the jumping-off point for the big consumerist Christmas push, and understandably this annoys many. But a distinct camp of people exist who live for this time of year. Seasonal baked goods, the giving spirit, and reminders of the joys of the season (both religious and secular) are all things that some people look forward to even in sunny July. If you fall in the latter group, how do you go about being a Christmas keener to your more Grinch-like : friends and loved ones? Well, : there are myriad ways to imbue : : your life with the holiday spirit : without breaking out the Mrs. : Claus costume and blow-up : lawn reindeers. You can always start small, : and start with yourself. When , . : it comes to the Christmas media to bemoan the existence spirit, actions speak louder : than tacky decorations and : way-too-soon nativity displays. : Start giving your time to : charitable organizations, or if : you're short on time and long : on Money, you can pass some : paper along to groups like the : Food Bank. Ona smaller scale, : you can just start showing good : : will and kindness to others— : but hey, you’re probably doing : this all year long anyway. Baking is a great way to : give to others in a low-key way, : and with so many awesome : seasonal recipes available you : can bake the month away. : Your house will always smell : delicious and your friends : will love the assortment of : sugar cookies, brownies, and : tarts that you throw their way. : And speaking of houses, save : the lights and garlands for without being totally annoying! December; start small with : your home décor and slowly incorporate holiday elements : like any festive-themed dishes : or towels you might have. Personal style is a great : way to show off your love of : Christmas. I’m personally a : fan of sparkly nail polish and : outlandish holiday earrings— : but in November, I try to keep : ita bit more subtle. I begin : incorporating small amounts : of shimmer in my eye makeup, : and I start tending towards : the darker colours of the : seasons in my clothes. Think : rich colours like burgundy and : emerald, or luxe accessories like pearl earrings. If you ramp : up the volume on your holiday : look too soon, nobody will be : paying attention when you : start wearing your cute antler : ear headbands at work. If you're like me and you : love the holiday season but : don’t want your friends to : think you’re some kind of : Christmas freak (even though : you are!), these tips will : definitely help you ease your : loved ones into the full-blown : holiday mode that’s waiting : just around the corner. Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Sophie Isbister, Life & Style Editor Mlifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca www.theotherpress.ca L&S Listed: Five amazing DIY Christmas gifts to get started on immediately Sophie Isbister Life & Style Editor M lifeandstyle @theotherpress.ca omemade gifts are beautiful and thoughtful, and always an excellent option for a cash-strapped student. It’s win-win: you get to save money on lovely gifts, and during the countless hours that you spend creating your crafts, you're not out there spending your student loan on Jagerbombs and shoes you don’t need. But crafty presents are definitely not the kind of thing you can start thinking about on December 23—so here are five ideas that you should get started on almost immediately if you want to get to those holiday parties. 1. Handmade soaps and bath salts. These are a great gift idea, and you can add personalized touches for people depending on the type of product you want to make and the scents you want to use. They can be super time-consuming though, especially when it comes to packaging all your soaps. You may also want to leave some time for inevitable mistakes and test batches. Check the Internet for tutorials and sources for the raw materials you may need. 2. Knitted things. I can’t knit, and you probably can't either—but since it’s only November, you have plenty of time to learn and then create adorable wonky dishcloths for all your loved ones! 3. Baked goods. | used to think this was a quick DIY option for holiday gifting—after all, the baking part of the equation should take place pretty close to when you plan to give them away. But start early collecting packaging materials. You don’t want to Just give someone a Tupperware of cookies to place under their tree. Getting creative with your baked goods’ boxes takes time and energy—try junk/ craft stores like Vancouver’s Urban Source on Main and 15th for unique and thrifty decorations, and don't be afraid to get the crafty portion out of the way early to save yourself some headaches. 4. Personalized picture frames. Maybe these won't work for everyone on your list, but upcycling an old picture frame from a thrift or junk store can be a really inexpensive and thoughtful present. Try personalizing the frame to match the person’s interests. If your bestie recently got married, decorate a frame with memories from the wedding, or in their wedding colours, and include a nice print of you and your friend at the wedding. Sourcing frames can be challenging for this project, so give yourself lots of time. 5. Homemade candy. A step up from baking, this requires a bit more prep work and supply gathering, making it maybe not the cheapest option on this list. But, once you invest in candy moulds and other assorted supplies, you'll have them for a lifetime of personalized Christmas yumminess.