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Check It Out

Library resources can help you plan for a more relaxed, enjoyable holiday

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(Editor's Note: Check It Out will be posted on the CityView website each Saturday.)

The demands of holiday preparations can turn even the most determined Santa into a confirmed Scrooge. But with a little planning, a more relaxed, joyful and meaningful holiday is possible. The Cumberland County Public Library has the resources to help you plan your best holiday ever.

Before buying the first gift or baking the first cake, it’s important to develop an overall strategy tailored to your needs. “Get Yourself Organized for Christmas” will show you how, with a system designed to cover every detail from cards to gifts to table settings. Learn how to plan and prioritize so you can stress less and celebrate more.

For creative ideas on handmade gifts and décor, check out our online video series, “Crafts Around the House.” Each video features a short demonstration, and instructions are available for download and printing. Episodes are accessible through the library’s YouTube channel.

When it comes to holiday cooking, the library’s cookbook collection has something to offer experts and novices alike. For a fresh take on traditional fare, be sure to check out “Festive Feasts.” Filled with mouth-watering photos, this book features delicious recipes for every course of your holiday dinner. You’ll even learn how to turn boring leftovers into unforgettable meals and find tasty recipes for edible gifts.

If, despite your best efforts, the season’s festivities sink into calamity, “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Holidays” will help you pick up the pieces. Advice here tackles everything from the slightly awkward to the truly catastrophic. Find out how to tactfully converse with difficult relatives, make a last-minute menorah and find alternative uses for fruitcake. This title is available in e-book format through NC Digital Library.

At this time of year, self-care equals sanity, so please remember to give yourself the gift of a much-deserved break. What better way to relax than to binge-watch or escape into a good story? The library’s DVD collection offers the best in classic and contemporary holiday films. Book lovers can check out new holiday-themed fiction or older favorites.

If you’re looking for a special title, the library staff is happy to help you with locating and checking out materials. Most online resources are accessible from home at www.cumberlandcountync.gov/library with your library card. Also, for assistance with these or any of our other services, feel free to give us a call at 910-483-7727.

Lisa Dean is an adult services librarian at Cliffdale Regional Library.

Fayetteville, library, books, Christmas

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