CHRISTMAS 2023 Archives - SB Magazine

THIS CHRISTMAS Y’ALL, HAVE A BALL

SB Magazine — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:56:57 +0000

It bothers me that Santa sees me when I’m sleeping and knows when I’m awake.

Does he see me in the shower? Does he know when I have gas? Ifhe does and
I do, will that make him go away?

I guess it is a small price to pay, though, this constant surveillance, as long as the presents keep rolling in. It’s a Yuletide hazard. Like fruitcake.

Christmas commercialization does not come without its downside. For every plus, there is a minus. It’s almost like real life!

Consider that in sports they tell you to “keep your eye on the ball.” They coach you not to “drop the ball.”

Yet at the same time, we’re supposed to “have a ball.”

Hmmm … The holiday season is especially pressurized, ball-wise. Opportunities for disaster lurk in the form of festive balls nearly everywhere you turn. Lurkers. Lurking. Doing what lurkers do.

I hate lurking holiday disaster. But, in a fallen world with a lot of round things, it’s inevitable. We’ve got to be “on the ball!”

You’ve got your ball that involves dancing and dip and parties. Christmas Balls. Galas. Will I dress appropriately? Get caught in Yuletide chit-chat? (“I don’t mind ordinary conversation, but I hate chit-chat.” – Bernard P. Fife)

Will you have an olive stuck in your teeth? Ask the host when the baby is due, even though she’s not pregnant?

It happens.

You’ve got your holiday bowl games or ball games, and the potential for slips here is obvious. Drop the ball, lose the bowl. Balls. It all comes back to balls.

There are ornamental balls to drop when you trim the tree. One of those breaks and it’s like breaking a light bulb. They haven’t invented something harder to swee pup than broken light bulbs or broken Christmas balls.

There’s the bell ball that hangs on your door and drives you crazy when the festive tingling wears off, which is quickly. There’s the jelly and creme cheese ball that lures the unsuspecting in like mosquito bulbs lure moths.Zap!

And there’s the most beloved Christmas ball of all, the cheese ball, which I eat until I get my bloat on. Who thought to put cheese into a ball and sprinkle nuts on it? How much time did THAT guy have on his hands that day? Regardless, God bless him. Yet there are hazards even in the good things, so my cheese ball holiday limit is two. (“No officer, I had just a couple of cheese balls is all. I was at a party!”)

Shopping is another holiday hazard, though it’s not so bad if you enjoy human bumper cars. I try to avoid mixing it up with a few thousand people whenever I can. But at this time of year, I’ll cave. “Silver bells” and “city sidewalks busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style” and “peace on earth” and “buy one get one” and all like that. It’s fun to mix it up. People watch. Spread the love.

It’s much more fun than driving. Driving? During the holidays? Just because that person has a wreath tied above his bumper doesn’t mean he won’t pick you off in the parking lot.

There is the hazard of
light hanging. Lights are hazardous enough, but when you go to hanging them, you are asking to get “lit up.” Those old limber days were magical, but I have hung off my last house eve.

Hey, Santa knows the Christmas pathway can be dicey. But most woe comes through pilot error. So take it easy. Relax. You’re supposed to have a ball, not break one.

The post THIS CHRISTMAS Y’ALL, HAVE A BALL appeared first on SB Magazine.

Manology: 8 Items Not to Give a Woman for Christmas.

SB Magazine — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 19:07:36 +0000

Shopping for your significant others Christmas gift shouldn’t be treated like a chore to check off your to-do list. With just a bit of planning and consideration, you can impress the special woman in your life with a meaningful, memorable gift. So, this year when shopping for that special someone, get her something she’ll love. With that said, please avoid these Christmas gift-giving mistakes at all costs:

1. Lotions, Bath Oils, and Candles.

Lotions, bath oils, and candles are the classic cop-out gift. Nothing says it better than, “I couldn’t think of anything else to buy you.” Besides, chances are she already has a shelf full of these items she received from her girlfriends. If a woman really wants these items, she will get them for herself. Don’t give her another item that she’ll eventually re-gift.

2. Cheap Perfume.

If you’re purchasing a fragrance for a woman in a drug store or discount retailer, please don’t bother. Cheap perfume is even worse than lotions and bath oils. There is really no use for it, and you can’t even properly re-gift cheap perfume.

To avoid getting an unwanted gift for the special woman in your life, take her shopping and test out a few fragrances in the perfume department together. Then, when she opens her gift, she’ll be pleasantly surprised that you remembered the one(s) she liked best!

3. Fake Jewelry.

Do not, under any circumstances, try to pass off cubic zirconia as diamonds or silver-plated jewelry as sterling silver. Like the old adage—if it looks too good to be true, then it probably isn’t real. Fake, cheap jewelry may turn her ears or fingers green. Cubic zirconia will lose its sparkle and luster over time and end up looking like small chunks of glass. If the special woman in your life wants fine jewelry, then she must also know that she’s worth it for you to make the appropriate investment.

4. Knock-Off Designer Handbags.

Trying to pass off designer-inspired handbags as the real deal is just as insulting. If you aren’t going to purchase the actual Coach or Burberry bag she wants, don’t waste your money or time on a knock-off. Women know what to look for and will inevitably spot a fake. Even worse, what if her friends tell her it’s fake before she discovers it for herself?

5. Small Kitchen Appliances.

Like it or not, a mixer or a toaster oven often carries the implication that you’d like her to spend more time in the kitchen. Gifts like these send an unintended message that simply isn’t heartwarming. Even if it is the hottest, most amazing new appliance on the planet, a woman is likely not going to appreciate it as a gift.

6. Cleaning Products or Supplies.

Believe it or not, my father once gave my mother a vacuum for Christmas. What may be even more surprising is that they’re still married. Just as is the case with kitchen appliances, anything that purportedly makes cleaning the house or doing laundry easier is not a proper gift-giving item. It’s the kind of thing that you bring home from the hardware store on a random day just because. Even then, you should tread lightly.

7. Weight Loss Programs or Gym Memberships.

Like it or not, one of the worst gifts to give women is membership in a gym or weight loss program. This is the opposite of the message she wants to hear—that she is beautiful no matter her size or shape. She may drop hints all the time that she wants to lose weight or tone up, but, like many of the gifts on this list, this is something she will have to invest in herself, on her own time, when she is ready. The same can be said about home exercise equipment. Unless she has specifically asked for weights or a treadmill, don’t risk insulting her with these gifts.

8. Gift Cards.

A gift card specifically shows exactly how much money you spent on the recipient. The potential for insulting a woman is high, as it sends the message that you simply could not come up with anything to purchase. It also shows a lack of interest or laziness on your part. If you want to give a gift that cannot be wrapped or must be purchased in the future though, why not create your own gift certificate? For example, a night at her favorite restaurant or a weekend getaway (just make sure that the gift is about her taste, and not yours). A gift certificate to a football game or a weekend fishing trip would likely be additional gifts not to give a woman.

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CHRISTMAS SHOP: LES BOUTIQUES DE NOEL

SB Magazine — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:27:56 +0000

By Seva May

Shreveport’s Les Boutique de Noel is a highly anticipated annual event that attracts visitors from all over the region. This event, now in its 48th season, features an impressive array of vendors selling unique, high-quality products. But Les Boutique de Noel is much more than just a shopping experience. As a fundraiser for the Shreveport Opera, it has become an integral part of the community, with a rich history and a significant impact on the local economy.

This year, the event will be held at the Shreveport Convention Center from November 30 through December 2. The perfect kick-off to the holiday shopping season, you’ll marvel at how 95,000 square feet is transformed into a winter wonderland for the occasion. The layout of the event is carefully planned to create a festive and inviting atmosphere. Vendors sell a wide variety of products, including jewelry, clothing, home decor, and gourmet food items. The quality of the products sold at Les Boutique de Noel is exceptional. Vendors are accepted through a juried process and are curated based on the quality and uniqueness of merchandise as well as on the style of booth decoration. With vendors from all over the south offering one-of-a-kind items that cannot be found elsewhere, the event has become a destination for shoppers looking for exclusive, high-quality gifts.

New this year is the Santa Land Kids area. The Grinch will visit on Friday for the kids, and Santa himself will arrive on Saturday with his best Elf and her “naughty or nice” meter. Children can have their picture made with Santa from 12:00 to 2:30 on Saturday. Along with Santa, the little ones will enjoy art projects and have book signings and readings by local children’s authors.
Shoppers will enjoy pop-up demonstrations and classes throughout the day. Style shows, dance performances, and singing will be provided for the lunch crowd, who will be feasting on catered dishes by local restaurants. Les Boutique de Noel will sweep you away to a winter wonderland without the actual snow.

The impact of Les Boutique de Noel on the community is significant. The event boosts the local economy, with many small businesses and vendors benefiting from the increased exposure and sales. Proceeds from the event support the Shreveport Opera Guild, the single largest contributor to the Shreveport Opera, with over five million dollars in donations during its existence. These contributions are used to mount the Shreveport Opera’s performances featuring professionally trained opera singers. Also supported is the Shreveport Opera Resident Artist Program. Every year, emerging professional singers and pianists are selected from across the country to receive training within a professional opera company. These young artists perform leading, supporting, comprimario, and ensemble roles in the Opera’s mainstage productions. They also are members of the SOX (Shreveport Opera Xpress) Program. SOX brings the Opera to communities and schools in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. SOX features two children’s operas that expose (and often introduce) children to the art form. These outreach productions tackle themes such as diversity, acceptance, and bullying. Kids in over 100 schools benefit from not only the talent of this troupe but also the valuable moral lessons they teach. The SOX program also includes “Operatizers” (a concert of Opera Arias and Musical Theatre Pieces) at senior centers, community centers, and private functions. The Resident Artists receive housing, transportation to all company events, a weekly stipend, and a travel stipend. Les Boutique de Noel makes this possible.

Shreveport’s Les Boutique de Noel is much more than just a holiday shopping event. It has a rich history and has become an integral part of the community. The event provides a unique and high-quality shopping experience. Les Boutique de Noel is a shining example of how an annual event can positively impact the local economy, social fabric, and cultural experience of a community.

Date: Thursday, November 30, through Sunday, December 2, 2023

Location: Shreveport Convention Center

Free Parking

Free Valet

Shopping Tickets:

Thursday morning VIP – $40

Day pass – $10

Three-day pass – $20

Military and Seniors – $5

Children 12 and under – Free

Tickets can be purchased in advance at lesboutiquesdenoel.com or at the door.

Shopping Hours:

VIP First Access Shopping Hours:

Thursday, November 30: 9:00am-11:00am

Regular Shopping Hours:

Thursday, November 30: 11:00am-6:00pm Friday, December 1: 10:00am-6:00pm

Saturday, December 2: 10:00am-4:00pm

Daily Lunch

Buffet-style lunch provided by local restaurants is available for purchase every day between 11:00-1:00pm.

Thursday: Monjunis

Friday: Biscottis

Saturday: Bodacious Bar & Q

Pre-purchase lunch tickets online in advance (lesboutiquesdenoel.com): $18/person. $20/person at the door

The concession stand is also open throughout the shopping hours.

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