December 2019 Issue

A Story of Caring | 15 Gifts of Christmas

Facebook Memory popped onto my Newsfeed today — a picture of an expansive spread of games, socks, and laundry soap purchased by my co-worker Marcus for our annual holiday charity drive. I told him I was thrilled at his generous donation. He told me his motivation stemmed from vivid memories of being on the receiving end of donated toys as a young child. As a successful adult, he said he appreciates the chance to pay it forward on the other side of a Christmas gesture. Marcus works at the right place to be around such charitable opportunities. While most businesses hold toy drives for their employees and customers, ours is

The Story of the Other Wise Man

from the original narrative by Henry van Dyke First © 1887 Rewritten in poetic format for a new generation of readers. A story too precious to be lost or forgotten. Appropriate for Christmas and Easter Well known are the three wise men, the Magi, Sages of the Far East, Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior So named in biblical lore. Little is known of this fourth prince of the East A wise and holy man named Artaban. Eastern princes from afar followed the Luminous Star Studying and acknowledging this celestial sign To announce the birth of a king benign. Artaban’s gifts—a sapphire as blue as the night skies A ruby as red

A Story of Sharing | Aiken Blessing Boxes

“Take what you need — Leave what you can” is a very simple proposition that turned into an amazing mission for two local realtors. Melanie Inabinent, Realtor with Coldwell Banker and member of Aiken Board of Realtors, saw a mini food pantry box in the parking lot at First Baptist Church in Barnwell several years ago. She thought “Well that would be a cool thing to do in Aiken.” Not wanting to let the idea go, she mentioned it to fellow realtor, Jane Page Thompson, Carolina Real Estate Company, and after one post on Facebook, the two realtors had teamed up with volunteers to build boxes and with a financial

At Home

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” Edith Sitwell Home: A four-letter word, with multiple meanings, like the word Love. Home and Love have always been synonymous for me. I love the ones that I invite into my home and I am at home with the ones I love. This holiday season I have truly found myself “At Home” in so many ways. I am a new owner of a home in downtown Aiken. I have had the pleasure of living in Aiken for 18 years

A Story of Community | My Aiken Christmas

I LOVE Christmas in Aiken! This may seem a little strange as I have rarely spent Christmas Day here. During a typical year, my husband and I travel to several states to celebrate Christmas with our adult children and their families. Nonetheless, our holiday spirit starts by enjoying the best of Aiken during the days and nights leading up to the big day. When I see our hardworking city workers putting up the seasonal decorations, I get excited. Walking on Laurens Street and through the Alley during the holiday season makes me feel like I am on the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Our town is truly beautiful. As

A Tasteful Story | A Sweet Holiday Treat from Our S’moreologist

Christian Carlisle, chef and owner at Blue Collard, shares with us his take on this season’s favorite treat. Try this ultimate s’mores update for yourself. You’ll be glad you did. Blue Collard S’mores Pie 1 Chocolate Oreo Pie Crust In a mixing bowl, blend together; >> 4 Oz. Softened Cream Cheese >> 2 Cups Powder Sugar >> 4 Oz. Frozen Whipped Cream On a stovetop, over low heat mix together; >> 1 Tablespoon Vanilla >> 2 Oz. Melted Butter >> 1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder Blend the mixture in the bowl and stovetop together, pour into Oreo pie crust, and freeze. For Buttercream Marshmallow Icing: >> 7 Oz. Pack Marshmallow Fluff

An Enchanting Story | A Beginners Guide to The Nutcracker Ballet

It’s Nutcracker season, but what is a “Nutcracker”? Don’t ask a ballerina or you are likely to get a look of shock. The Nutcracker is to the ballet world what the Super Bowl is to professional football — a tradition. So when our publisher, Ladonna, asked me to write about the ballet, I decided to write a cheat sheet for the novice theater goer or ballet newbie. The Nutcracker, a classic Christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on the Stahlbaum family’s Christmas Eve celebration. The story centers around a young girl’s Christmas Eve and her awakening to the wider world and womanhood as her nutcracker

A Story of Whimsy | Christmas Story Origins

It is that time of the year, when bell ringers ring and shop hoppers hop, and little book elves dance down old Laurens Street, bringing their latest wares to the expectant townsfolk. What is a book elf, you ask? A book elf is the greatest of scholarly elf, toting an advanced degree from the most prestigious of Elf Universities, who, after his or her book elf skills in a number of remote libraries across North Pole, is tasked with the important job of bringing to us the vintage, leather-bound, gilt decorated, finely illustrated, and all around special editions of your favorite stories. Now in this expose we focus on perhaps

One Hundred and Five Christmases

Once upon a time, Christmas sparkled. It glittered like new snow and winter stars. It whispered with secrets, and sang out with joy to the world, and smelled of pinecones and wood fires. It was as brilliant as red ribbons curling around unopened paper-wrapped packages. And it was filled with grace and truth, vulnerability and hope. When I was perhaps eight or nine years old, I was lying in bed on Christmas Eve, with too many sweets and sweet anticipation tossing me about, and I began to calculate the Christmases that I would be able to celebrate in my lifetime. I must have only recently come to the conscious understanding