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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
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I hope your Thanksgiving was as delightful as mine was. For me, the best part about our holidays is the warmth they bring into our hearts, the joy of being together --from the youngest to the oldest.
I watched as the six month old baby met his 12 year old cousin. His eyes lit up and he smiled and “cooed” as he responded to her talking to him. Cousins played enthusiastically with each other, even though they hadn’t seen each other for a year. The older ones shared their newest gadgets, *Shashibo Shape Shifting Fidget Cubes, and taught the younger ones how to use them. The house was cheerfully noisy with constant motion. The five year old was no longer shy but participating confidently with her older cousins.
I listened to discussions about finding good daycare, who’s in what grade, how math is being taught, adjustments to new schools, a favorite science teacher, how the year went with changes at work, catching up about relatives not with us. Phones came out to share photos of special events. I showed some photos of my paintings.
Our extended family is spread all over the country. Some were even busy moving across the country the very week of Thanksgiving! I really missed family not with us. Next time, or sooner! How about you?
With Christmas coming up, if you're without family near enough to visit, you're new to the area or new to adulthood and parenting, and feeling a bit lonely, "make" yourself reach out, even if you're an introvert. Believe me, the extroverts will be the first to say "Hi" and to welcome you. Go to a park where children and parents gather. One friendship I made at a children's park, led to several great friendships, each one with a unique history. When I took Katie the puppy to Ocean View Park I met neighbors who were from all over the world. Seeing them every day led to dog walking adventures and soon other gatherings with new friends. Following my interests, I met new friends in a painting class and volunteering in a library.
Friends shyer than you may be hoping for a new friend. Look at all the events on our calendar- homepage > calendar > holidays or any category that interests you.
Cheers, Parmalee
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How to Make Tamales
Light, Fluffy and Delicious
by Yourself or at a Tamalizas
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This will be my third year making tamales from scratch. I shall be trying to achieve a "light" or "fluffy dough," so I asked Anthony from Mijos Taqueria for advice. He graciously shared, "To make them fluffier; it’s best to whip the fat (lard) until fluffy and light; then incorporate masa and liquid. We always do the float test. A little ball of the mixture should float in a cup of water."
I don't have enough time to make my own lard by rendering the fat from pork, but I can buy lard at most grocery stores. To keep from being in the kitchen for hours, I make the sauces the first day. On the second day I make the dough mixture, fill the corn husks and steam the tamales. I make enough to freeze some, four to a bag. Choose what works for your size family.
Enlist the family in making them, i.e. "You want to eat them, help make them." Play music. Have fun! The kitchen may be messier but cleanup is part of the deal.
You may have friends who want to join you for a tamalizas, a party all about making and eating tamales, chatting with friends and dividing them up to take home. I've done this with one friend. If more, for me, three or four would work. This would take some planning: share the cost, who buys what, how much, does everyone make their own sauce at home, take them home to steam?
How to Make Tamales That Are Light, Fluffy, and Deeply Flavorful
Making the Dough for Tamales pdf
In case you would like to buy locally, we shall include our "Locals Recommend the Best Tamales in Town" in next week's newsletter.
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Christmas Trees 2024
Fresh cut Christmas trees smell wonderful. Make memories with a special outing! Always visit the sellers’ websites or their Facebook page, or call, before going. Be prepared with cash, check and/or credit card.
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Children will appreciate Grandma's annual gift of a book and a pair of mittens, but they really look forward to one special gift that will engage and enchant them. for hours.
At our Thanksgiving gathering the 5-12 year olds played for hours with Shape Shifting Fidget Toys. The parents of an 8 and 12 year old told me that these toys kept them happily occupied on their 5 hour trip for our gathering. Just search online for shape shifting fidget toys and they will come up. Suggestion: Get an extra one or two for sharing!
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Krampus Night at Holiday Lights, Thursday, December 5, 5:30-9pm, Gather your family and friends, step into your favorite Krampus attire and join us. Krampus will be on site for photos and antics. In addition, you can WALK through the Holiday Lights for an up-close experience. There will be a dark holiday market featuring chocolates, decorations, artwork, jewelry, and more. Food and hot beverages will also be available for purchase from Epoch Eats, Tacos el Jerry, and Fool Hardy Coffee. Details
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Shop local at The Art Factory and even better… Locally Made! Sat. Dec. 7, 10am-5pm, Hi local friends, Save the date! Enjoy a day with the artists and have a seat at the table to make your own ceramic or felted wool ornaments! See you at Art Factory Studios! Details
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Music for the Feast of Christmas, Friday & Saturday, 8pm, Dec 6 & 7; Sunday 4pm, Dec 8, Start your Holiday Season with a Gala Concert! This is Cheryl Anderson’s last Feast before retiring, so come and celebrate her and “The Feast” in Santa Cruz! The Great Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Orchestra, and the lovely experience of singing Carols in community with others. Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, Ticket Details
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Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade, Saturday, December 7, 10am – 12pm, A Santa Cruz Holiday Tradition, Join the fun at the annual Downtown Santa Cruz Holiday Parade. The traditional holiday parade is the official kickoff for the winter holidays celebration and the annual tradition of highlighting Santa Cruz County schools, youth based organizations and local nonprofits. Details
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History comes alive at Wilder Ranch State Park, December 7, Join us for a trip back in time at the fascinating historic complex at Wilder Ranch State Park. Play vintage games, go on tours, and explore cool things. As always, this event is free and open to all. If you're lucky, they might be baking cookies. Parking is $10 per car. Programs subject to change. Rain cancels. Details | | | |
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Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas, Friday, December 13, 7:30-9;30pm, A Celtic Christmas returns to Santa Cruz with its Irish musicians, dancers, and native Irish storyteller, Tomáseen Foley. A Celtic Christmas springs from the infinitely rich treasury of Ireland’s cultural heritage: a re-creation of a night before Christmas in the West of Ireland in the 1940s, before the advent of motorcar, the television, and the telephone. Details
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A Year with Frog and Toad, December 6-14, Scotts Valley Performing Arts (SVPA), invites you to spend A Year with Frog and Toad. Join us for a wonderful family musical theatre experience. The cast includes 15 adults and 10 young people. See Details for date/time options.
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Holiday Tree Walk, December 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, Get in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cocoa while greeting Santa Claus. In town, enjoy winter themed activities. Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Trains depart and return in front of Neptune’s Kingdom on the Boardwalk of Santa Cruz at 5:00pm, 6:30, and 8:00 pm for a 60-minute round-trip excursion. Details
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READ (Reading Equine Art Duo ) with Ziggy the mini horse and Lisa. One hour sessions Saturdays or Sundays available now. Ziggy is a gentle soul who loves listening to children read. Lisa is a reading specialist with 20 years experience helping children who may be struggling with reading. Lisa and Ziggy create a nurturing learning environment where students feel at ease & safe and soon begin flourishing. Learn more > > >
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Visit Santa, Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 20 – 22, 12pm-4pm, Childish Toy Shop, Santa is coming back to Santa Cruz and he can’t wait to visit with you and hear all about the adventures you’ve had this year. And of course, he wants to hear your Christmas wishlist. Stop by to say hello to him. Details
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Shop local at The Art Factory and even better… Locally Made! Sat. Dec. 7, 10am-5pm, Enjoy a day with the artists and have a seat at the table to make your own ceramic or felted wool ornaments! See you soon at Art Factory Studios! Details
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Holiday Production: A Christmas Carol by Santa Cruz Shakespeare, November 23 through December 24, Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS) debuts a new holiday tradition for the whole family with its production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, starring Mike Ryan as Ebeneezer Scrooge. Audiences can expect a theatrical and music-filled adaptation of this classic play. Details
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Santa Cruz Dance Theater Presents its First Production of The Nutcracker, Saturday, December 21, 1 & 4:30pm; Sunday, December 22, 1 & 4:30pm, The newly established Santa Cruz Dance Theater is set to bring holiday magic this December with its inaugural performance of The Nutcracker. The production promises to be a stunning display of talent, featuring special guest artist Lucien Postlewaite, principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet. Postlewaite, a Santa Cruz native, returns to his hometown stage. Details
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Farley’s Christmas Wonderland 2024, Friday, November 29 – December 31, 5:30 – 8:30pm’ish, Join us at Farley’s Christmas Wonderland. We are a walk-in Christmas display located in the midtown of Santa Cruz, CA. Our exhibit is very traditional: lots of Christmas trees, garlands, sleighs, an elf village, miniature village’s, and a log cabin that Santa uses for his rest stops. Being Irish, where you have elves you have fairies and we have a fairy grotto with 2 waterfalls and fairies that can be viewed on special nights. Also, on those special nights, it snows here. Details
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12 Days of Thriftmas with Grey Bears, December 1-12, Grey Bears will be offering special deals in different areas of our thrift store. Visit us Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and discover unique savings each day. Stay tuned for more holiday surprises! Details | |
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Put this classic on your calendar! Free Peanuts Special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Saturday & Sunday, December 14 and 15, In this beloved Peanuts special, feeling down about the commercialism of Christmas, Lucy recruits Charlie Brown to be the director of the gang’s holiday play. Can he overcome his friends’ preference for dancing over acting, find the “perfect” tree and discover the true meaning of Christmas? Details
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Valley Churches United Holiday Gift Shop 2024, Monday-Saturday, 11am – 4m, December, Details
Holiday Lights at the Fairgrounds, Friday, Saturday, Sundays, 5:30pm, November 29 – December 23 & 24, Details
Holiday Gifts at the UCSC Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 10am-4pm, Details
Ice Skating by the Bay, Nov 22 - Dec 31, 11am -to 10pm, Custom House Plaza, Monterey, Details
Ice Skate in Union Square! Daily, November 6 – January 25, 10am-11pm, Details
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train & New Year’s Train, November 29-30 & December 7-8, 14-23, AND 26-31, Details
Winter Super Tot Sports, Highlands Park, Thursdays, 3–3:45pm, Details; Simpkins Swim Center, Wednesdays, 4-4:45pm, Details
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Breakfast with Santa and Holiday Fun at Simpkins, Saturday, December 14, Join us for Breakfast with Santa 9-9:45am or 10:15-11am & Holiday Market and Free Swim 10am-12pm, Get into the festive spirit and support local artists at our Winter Wonderland and Holiday Market. Bring your family and friends for a day of holiday cheer, live music, and the perfect opportunity to enjoy time with your family and find one-of-a-kind gifts. Details
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Christmas Concert at St. Abraham’s Classical Christian Academy, Thursday, December 6, 6pm, Our annual Christmas concert is this Thursday! Invite friends and family to this special evening of songs and sweetness from our TK-12th graders! We are so excited for our students to share what they’ve been diligently working on! There will be treats, cider and caroling in the courtyard after the concert! O come let us adore Him!! Details
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Alice in Wonderland Jr., Friday & Saturday 6:30pm, December 6, 7, 13, 14 and Saturday, December 7 & 14, 1:30pm, In Alice in Wonderland, on a perfect summer day in the park, Alice sees a White Rabbit hurrying by. Curious to know where he is going, Alice follows the white rabbit into the dark tunnel, thus beginning her adventure. Details
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A Family Fun First Friday: Dino December! Friday, December 6, 5-8pm, Bring your whole family for a T-REXcellent night at the Museum! From dinosaur-themed arts and crafts to fossil displays and interactives, audiences of all ages are in for a DINOmite evening! Local children’s book author and professional storyteller, Nancy Lenz, will be unveiling her new dinosaur book, The Rapping Rocking Dinosaur Band. There will be a storytime featuring the new book for the kiddos, as well as a book signing. This will be a RAWRsome night for dinosaur fans of all ages! Details
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Miracle on 34th Street the Play, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2pm, November 22 – December 15, Mountain Community Theater, Set in modern-day New York City, the play is a heartwarming, holiday classic that follows the journey of Kris Kringle, an old man released from a retirement home, who gets a job working as Santa Claus for Macy’s holiday season. Kris unleashes waves of goodwill with Macy’s customers and the commercial world of New York City. When Kringle surprises customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus, it leads to a court case to determine the validity of his claim and, more importantly, his authenticity. At stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa and her mother’s willingness to take another shot at love. Details
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Music for the Feast of Christmas, Friday & Saturday, 8pm, Dec 6 & 7; Sunday 4pm, Dec 8, Start your Holiday Season with a Gala Concert! This is Cheryl Anderson’s last Feast before retiring, so come and celebrate her and “The Feast” in Santa Cruz! The Great Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Orchestra, and the lovely experience of singing Carols in community with others.
Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz. Details
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2024 Santa Cruz Holiday Parade, Saturday, Dec 7, 10am, The traditional holiday parade is the official kickoff for the winter holidays celebration and the annual tradition of highlighting Santa Cruz County schools, youth based organizations and local nonprofits. Details
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Three Park Stores Holiday Sales, Saturday & Sunday, December 8 & 9, 10am – 4pm, SHOP LOCALLY at three Park Store Holiday Sales this Saturday and Sunday. Proceeds benefit local state parks and beaches! Save 20% or 30% on most items! Details
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Museum Store Holiday Sale, Saturday and Sunday, December 7 & 8 | 10am – 5pm, Next weekend, join us for our annual Museum of Natural History Holiday Sale! Enjoy storewide discounts, complimentary cider and cookies as you shop in-store, or explore digital deals online. Come find the perfect gifts for the nature lovers in your life! 10%, 15% or 20%, Details
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Capitola Village Holiday Cookie Walk, Saturday and Sunday, December 7 & 8, 11am-4pm, Take a walk around historic Capitola Village and fill your box with delicious holiday cookies from participating stores! The Capitola Village Cookie Walk is a fun, family-centered activity. Tickets are $20 and are available onlline or at Capitola Candy Cafe up to the day of the event. Details
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Win a Golden Envelope Shopping Downtown, December 7, 8, 14 & 15, 12-4pm, You’ll be eligible to win one of 400 Golden Envelopes at participating Downtown businesses. An undercover Elf will surprise winning shoppers. Each envelope will contain special prizes, for example, gift cards valued at $10-100, vouchers for a free hot chocolate at your favorite coffee shop, Details
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Parenting Workshops, These parent workshops offer outstanding skills, tips and support in our parenting path. We are fortunate to have these resources. Even if everything is going well, it's good to know what's available! December
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