SATURDAY SCOOPS
November: Plan early, avoid holiday stress

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Illustration by Jon Orque • The Honolulu Advertiser

Before you run for cover you might recall last year's mantra, "Next year I'll be better organized." Most holiday stress comes from leaving things to the third week of December, right around the time you're thinking the Mir space station might be a cozy retreat for the holidays. But take heart, for the family member who organizes Christmas Day (and you know who you are), we offer these words: Use November to Plan Wisely. And, of course, these tips ...

1. Think where you will spend Christmas Day and who will be part of your celebration. You may want to do something different this year. If you're expecting out-of-town guests, think through their visit and if you need to make reservations for that special dinner, concert, family outing ... do it today.

2. Make an appointment for a haircut, massage, or schedule lunch with a close friend, in the third week of December; whatever makes YOU feel better and good about the season.

3. If you plan to plant bulbs of the holidays, now is the time. Look for paperwhites in Chinatown or order from www.bloomingbulb.com.

4. Buy wrapping paper, tags and ribbons this month. Haul out your decorations and make an inventory of what needs replacing. Do the tree lights work? Do ornaments need freshening up? Do you know where you put them?

5. Take your family photograph this month. Thanksgiving, when the family gets together, might be a good day.

6. Tape mailing deadlines to your fridge i Nov. 26 for packages, Dec. 20 for Hawai'i mail. Search out your Christmas card list and make any additions. Write your cards. If you send a Christmas letter, put pen to paper this weekend (tips on writing holiday newsletters are at www.hallmark.com).'

7. Buy a bottle or two of your favorite wine each week to help build up a case by Christmas.

8. Shop for holiday gifts online. The choice, efficiency and ease of it beats any day in the mall during December (going online now will avoid those express shipping costs).

9. Spend a morning stocking your kitchen cupboard with basic nonperishable supplies: flour, pasta, nuts, oils. It's easier to whip up a last-minute dinner or potluck dish if your cupboards are stocked. Cook double portions of basic casserole dishes, sauces, soups and breads and put in the freezer for quick easy evening dinners. If you're giving preserves, such as guava jam or apple butter, as gifts, these can be made (if not already), wrapped and labeled gift-ready. Plan a Christmas Day menu. Some supermarkets are restocking spices for the holiday season so you may find good spice sales.

10. Ask family members to make a holiday gift wish list and submit by Thanksgiving (or before). Figure out a gift-giving policy to help keep costs and anxiety down. One suggestion if you have a big gathering: Have each family member draw names from a hat and buy one special gift for that person; or suggest each person buy one small gift and two stocking stuffers for each family member or friend at your celebration.

Fifty artisans will be selling off their best

In the mood to shop? Temari hosts its 21st annual Trash and Treasure sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. tomorrow at the McKinley High School cafeteria. Fifty artisans will offer everything from one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry to food and gifts and works of art. There's the Trash Tent, too, where remnants and seconds can be had at bargain prices.

Admission is free. If you're a Temari member, entry is an hour earlier.

Temari is a nonprofit organization that strives to perpetuate traditional Asian-Pacific arts and crafts of many kinds.

'The Ride' perfect for viewing on a beach at sunset

Sunset begins at 4 p.m. at Queen's Surf Beach with entertainment and food booths. The films will screen at about 7:10 p.m. Admission is free.

State Art Museum throwing a party

It's party time downtown as the Hawai'i State Art Museum celebrates its first birthday on the front lawn of its 1 Capitol District building.

The museum will be open for free self-guided tours, and there's entertainment and interactive art booths.

Everyone's invited. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. today. For a map of free parking areas, see www.hawaii.gov/sfca.

Every house needs a good caulking once in a while

Caulking the exterior of the home usually is performed just before painting. But it's a good idea to check the outside of your home at least once a year to make sure that all the joints and connections are well sealed.

When shopping, you will probably discover that there are caulks made specifically for use with glass, wood, concrete or stone. Name the surface — there is a specialty caulk for it.

If you're unsure about which one to buy, try polyurethane caulk; it sticks to everything, remains soft and pliable and, best of all, can be painted. Exterior latex caulk with silicone is also universal, but it isn't as durable or as flexible as polyurethane caulk. Polyurethane costs more, but lasts three to four times as long as latex.

Musical kokua coming to Kualoa

JOHNSON

Mark your calendars: The festival is 10 a.m.-sunset Jan. 3 at Kualoa Ranch. Jack Johnson hosts and performs, along with Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Willie K and others.

Tickets are $25 for kama'aina for one week only at Ticketmaster outlets; $30 beginning Nov. 8; $35 the day of the show. www.kokuafestival.com.

Ever seen a nanometer? Check out cool physics at this UH-Manoa open house

Technology has some explaining to do. For example, what is nanotechnology? You can find out about this new field of science (which brings together science, engineering and technology to manipulate individuals atoms and molecules) at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Physics and Astronomy Open House 8:30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. today.

"Science and technology on the scale of a nanometer is revolutionary. It could change almost everything — from medicines to computers, automobiles, and objects not yet imagined," said professor Klaus Sattler.

There's lots of other cool stuff, too, such as rotation platforms demonstrating angular momentum, observations of magnetic fields, lenses to view optical effects and lectures on cosmic rays, anti-matter and what's going on in UH physics research. The open house is designed primarily for high school students and teachers, but everyone is welcome.

Information: www.phys.hawaii.edu.

Wooden blocks aren't just for the boys

Classic wooden blocks help preschoolers build a surprising number of skills. But research shows that boys play with blocks more than girls do — and they usually have more advanced spatial skills than girls the same age.

Parents magazine offers these suggestions for encouraging girls to be builders, too:

• Store blocks within easy reach in a clear container rather than in the original box, which is likely to have a picture of a boy on it.
• Provide accessories, such as small figures, animals and dollhouse furniture.
• Consider buying blocks that come in a variety of colors.
• If she shows no interest in using her blocks, just start building a tower in front of her. Chances are, she'll join you.