Make Your Own Marbleized Ornaments

A step-by-step guide on how to make your own elegant additions to the Christmas tree, and avoid expensive manufactured ornaments.

This past holiday season, I set out to look for new decorations for my Christmas tree. My livingroom was newly decorated with items from Thailand, accented with warm blues, greens, and browns. I hoped to find ornaments that would complement the color additions to my home. Unfortunately, most of the holiday decorations were bright green, red, and white, and none of them matched my decor. I eventually discovered a glass ornament stand on the upper-level of the mall filled with a spectrum of swirling tones in warm rich colors. I selected a few that I loved the most and checked the price tags — $35 each! Disappointed but not defeated, I sought out a less expensive way to decorate my tree and still keep a sophisticated look. Using a little bit …

• Photos (14)

YouTube Video: Roby Sets Record for World's Longest Candy Kane

The All Chocolate Kitchen's Alain Roby has done it again, setting the Guinness World Record for "World's Longest Sugar Cane."

Chef Alain Roby of Geneva's All Chocolate Kitchen set the Guinness World Record for "World's Longest Sugar Cane" Saturday in downtown Geneva, IL. Roby's sugar cane creation stretched 51 feet when all was said and done, shattering the previous world record of 38 feet, according to an article in the Kane County Chronicle. Roby's 51-foot feat is his third Guinness record, the previous being his 12-foot-10 "World's Tallest Cooked Sugar Building" and 20-foot-8 "World's Tallest Chocolate Sculpture," according to the All Chocolate Kitchen website. The Daily Herald said Roby was shooting for a 45-foot candy cane on Saturday night, but eclipsed that by the height of a good-sized man. News of the achievement has been spread around the world in …

• Videos (1)

Geneva's Spectacular Christmas Walk Weekend Friday Through Sunday!

If you've never attended a Christmas Walk in downtown Geneva, you've got to go. It is the best way to get into the holiday spirit—from chestnuts roasting on an open fire to crazy deals to wonderful friends. Here's the schedule!

It's a cliche, yes, but Christmas Walk in Geneva has never been better, and it tips off a 6 p.m. Friday in downtown Geneva. This truly is the must-see holiday event of the season. Great deals, stores full of clever, unique gifts, there are literally chestnuts roasting on open fires, the lighting of the Christmas tree, crowning of Santa Lucia, an attempt at the world's largest candy cane, carolers galore, actual live mannequins in the store window, carriage rides—wow. It's awesome. Then there's the House Tour and Steeple Walk on top of all that. We live in the town that is right out of a storybook. Historic buildings and architecture, a scenic river, stores you just don't see anywhere else because they're one-of-a-kind, from the All …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (5)
• Videos (6)

Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon Turn Up the Christmas Spirit: What's Your Favorite Song for the Holidays?

We've put together a list of our top 10, now we want to know what puts you in the spirit.

You're not a true superstar in the world of music until you've made it big with a holiday classic.  Who can forget Bing Crosby and David Bowie's Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy. Dean Martin had a hit with Let it Snow. And more recently, Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You seems like it's everywhere.  We've put together a list of our Top 10 favorites this holiday season, but what we really want to know is what's yours.

• Videos (10)

Geneva's Popular Steeple Walk Caps Great Dec. 7-9 Weekend

Enjoy superb holiday music and see some beautiful Geneva architecture Sunday, Dec. 9.

As part of the always popular Christmas Walk and House Tour weekend in Geneva, the Steeple Walk returns from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. Now in its fourth year sponsored by the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, it features a variety of seasonal music concerts at four Geneva churches, all within easy walking distance. The well-known Geneva High School Viking Ensemble Jazz Choir, led by Roxane Curtis, will perform at the United Methodist Church at Second and Hamilton Streets. The accomplished Hanson String Quartet, from the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, will appear at the Lutheran Church on South Third Street. Singing at the Unitarian Universalist Society on Second Street will be the women’s chorus from DeKalb, Bread and Roses. Opposite …

• Photos (1)

Cougars to Host Meet-and-Greet With Santa, Ozzie

Dec. 15 event at the ballpark includes ornament and cookie decorating stations. Bring a coat or sweatshirt and get four free Cougars ticket vouchers.

The Kane County Cougars will host a Christmas Meet and Greet event, featuring Santa Claus and Ozzie T. Cougar, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 15, inside the upper deck level at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Children can meet Santa and Ozzie, pose for photos, as well as take part in numerous holiday activities inside the upper deck level. Those activities include a coloring station, ornament decorating station and a cookie decorating station. The event is free, although there is a nominal cost for participating in the ornament and cookie decorating activities. A portion of proceeds will benefit Ozzie’s Outreach, the Cougars’ charitable foundation. Fans are also asked to bring a gently used coat or sweatshirt. All collected items will be …

• Photos (1)

TODAY: River St. Ribbon Cutting, Celebration of Lights Festival in Batavia

Go to the 4 p.m. ribbon cutting, eat downtown and then get ready for Santa at 6 p.m. It's a great day to be in downtown Batavia.

Stay Heathy While Cooking for Thanksgiving

ATI Physical Therapy offers tips to stay healthy while cooking that big meal.

This week, it's time to cook the turkey and all the fixins that go with a Thanksgiving feast. All that cooking is hard work. Chefs, even those working in a home kitchen, need to take steps to make sure that all that cooking does not take its toll on his or her body. ATI Physical Therapy has some tips that can help keep you pain-free. “Activities such as standing too long while cooking, meal preparation, and lifting heavy objects like turkeys and boxes can cause back, shoulder and neck pain,” says Tara Smith, physical therapist at ATI. “There are simple things that can be done to help decrease the effects of the added stress on our bodies.” In addition to muscle aches and pains, injuries to the hand are all too common during the holidays. …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Lazarus House Invites All to Thanksgiving Feast

The feast has become a tradition in the community, a chance to share food, fellowship and goodwill. Bring a dish, volunteer some time, or simply come and enjoy a wonderful meal.

Lazarus House invites the community to join its staff, guests and many supporters at its annual Thanksgiving Feast. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the Tri-Cities Salvation Army, 1710 S. 7th Ave., St. Charles. Dining will begin at noon. The feast has become a tradition within the community. It is a chance to sit alongside our guests and clients to share fellowship and a meal. The feast was established for folks who are homeless or alone for Thanksgiving, as well as those who simply want to add more meaning to their holiday. For those able to cook, a dish to pass is most appreciated. Food should arrive between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. in a disposable container and ready to serve. Needed dishes (stuffing, …

• Photos (3)