After an amazing run of 18 years, we are sad to inform you that Whats’ UP Magazine will not be published in 2013. It has been a wonderful, fulfilling journey and we’ve loved growing up with our readers. To each of you, all the best and here’s to a year of new and exciting things!

Having family spread out across the world, my children often spend Christmas far from home. To help make each expedience extra special over the years, we’ve followed advice from countless travelling families and here are the tips we’ve found most successful:

1)    Pack a home tradition:
Each Christmas Eve, our family opens a present containing a new pair of pyjamas. This is an easy tradition for us to transport, as we can buy jammies to suit any climate and if we’re staying with family or friends, we’re sure to include them in the tradition as well!

2)    Adopt a local tradition:
The first time our children had Christmas in Australia, they thought it was pretty bizarre that Christmas Day could be around 40 degrees Celsius and that many families headed to the beach. That said, they had a blast playing in the waves; something they could never do in Edmonton. So we decided that for future Christmases, wherever we were in the world, we’d find a beach and hang out there for a few hours. This year, we’re hosting Christmas at our home in Edmonton, so a trip to the West Edmonton Mall’s water park is in the plans!

3)    Cut back on your stuff:
It can be a struggle to provide the “wow” factor that many families strive for on Christmas morning, when you realize that anything you pack needs to be lugged around on the trip and then brought home again. To save packing one year, we had a mini-Christmas at home before we left for our holiday (happily, Santa was willing to make an extra trip). Another time, we told the children that Santa had likely come to our home while we were away, but filled the stockings at our holiday destination. And once the kids were a bit older (and knew where their presents were originating) they calmly accepted the reality that we were cutting back on “stuff” whenever we travelled.

4)    Feast on new foods:
Having enjoyed a Christmas Carp with our Czech friends, Pinnekjøtt (salted lamb ribs) on Christmas Eve with Norwegian family, and a “shrimp on the barby” in Australia, we’ve learned that Christmas meals vary across the world. To keep our kids happy, we arrange to share our version of a traditional Christmas meal with our hosts on one day of the holidays, and then look forward to trying new tastes when they invite us to their feast.

5)    Swap an ornament:
We let the kids each choose one Christmas tree ornament to bring with them on the trip, so that they can make a contribution to the decorating and feel at home. We’ll also choose a decoration that is made locally to give to our hosts, and then have the fun of shopping for a new decoration while on holiday. Today, we have loads of special ornaments to help us remember previous Christmas travels.

Wreck-it Ralph - In theatres: Nov 2 

Wreck-It Ralph longs to be as loved as his video game’s perfect good guy, Fix-It Felix. Problem is, nobody loves a bad guy. But they do love heroes… So when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun, Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan to win a medal, but instead he wrecks everything, and accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade. Ralph’s only hope? Vanellope von Schweetz, a young troublemaking “glitch” from a candy-coated cart racing game who might just be the one to teach Ralph what it means to be a Good Guy.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - In theatres: Dec 14

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows the epic adventures of Bilbo Baggins to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdon of Erebor. When Bilbo is approched out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, he finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield on a journey through treacherous lands. From Goblins and Orcs to Giant Spiders and Shapeshifters the team must fight against all odds to survive. Then Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever… Gollum. Alone with Gollum on the shores of an underground lake, Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring.

Monsters Inc. - In theatres: Dec 19 

Back for its second time in theatres, Monsters, Inc. is now in stunning 3D. The Oscar-winning classic is set in Monstropolis, a thriving company town where monsters of all shapes and sizes reside. Lovable Sulley and his wisecracking best friend Mike Wazowski are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory where the main power source collected comes from human children screaming. Believed by monsters to be toxic, children are strictly forbidden from entering Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo accidentally follows Sulley back into his world, he finds his career in jeopardy and his life in utter chaos. So pals Mike and Sulley plot to rectify the mistake and return Boo to her home. But when the trio encounters an unexpected series of complications, they become embroiled in a cover-up catapulting them into a mystery beyond their wildest dreams.

The King of Elves - In theatres: December 

The King of Elves is a story about an everyday man living in the Mississippi Delta whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.

Written by: Jennifer Basa

No…it’s not Rudolph, it’s Canada’s Woodland Caribou.

Woodland Caribou are herd animals that live in the boreal forests of Canada. They migrate in massive herds, moving across thousands of kilometres every year. But, due to forest harvesting, the caribou’s habitat is shrinking. Some experts say that by 2100 the animals will be extinct in Ontario and possibly other parts of Canada, too.

Earth Rangers is the kids’ conservation organization focused on helping spread messages about the importance of protecting biodiversity. This December they are launching their second annual Bring Back the Wild ‘Save the Real Reindeer’ campaign. The main goals of this exciting project are to educate Canadian families about the plight facing woodland caribou and the role of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement in woodland caribou conservation.

For a limited time, children are invited to choose the woodland caribou as the animal they want to help protect by going to www.earthrangers.com.

Check it out, and help save a reindeer today!

Why not try and fashion this lovely homemade ornament (that doubles as a gift card holder!).

Supplies:

• Felt, in different colours
• Pencil (chalk or graphite)
• Scissors
• Fabric glue and/or glue gun
• Ribbon, buttons, yarn etc. for embellishment

However, one thing to be said for Canadians…if we’re booking a vacation to take place during the winter, it’s probably to somewhere warm and sans snowflakes! Interestingly, while we are heading south to our sunny escapes, crowds of sun-weary tourists flock north to Canada, Europe, and other winter wonderlands to experience the frosty magic of the season they’ve been missing.

The travesty is that many Canadians never experience half of the wonders that visitors to our country experience. So this Christmas let’s explore some of the snowy escapes we may be missing! And for those who want to head further afield in search of the ultimate foreign white Christmas, we’ve searched out some tempting options to consider.

Here are some snowy holiday ideas to get you started:

Hoar frost:
One of the most magical sights of the holiday season can be the spectacular hoar frost. Like the ugly duckling turning into an elegant swan, every exposed tree and plant—including those noxious weeds that we curse all summer long—become coated in fine, white, icy frost. If you’d like to seek it out, the best places to find it are near unfrozen lakes and streams on particularly cold days.

Dogsledding in the Rockies:
If you ever wondered what it would be like to be pulled along in a sleigh by eight reindeer, consider trying a dogsledding experience! Sure they can’t really fly, but sometimes when you race along the snow and go over bumps, you’ll find yourself airborne for a fraction of a second. There are plenty of amazing places to try this in Canada, but you can’t beat the Rocky Mountains for incredible scenery and plenty of snow. And you’ll likely see lots of deer while you’re there too!

Northern Lights throughout northern Canada:
One thing we associate with Christmas festivities is often brightly coloured lights and decorations. Take your family up north and treat them to Mother Nature’s winter carnival of colour high up in the sky! Head up as far north as you can, and check out websites like Aurora Watch for details about when you can expect the next breathtaking displays.

Polar bears in Churchill:
If you’re seeking out the northern lights, you might want to consider an excursion to Churchill, Manitoba to watch some polar bears at the same time! There are so many of these mighty animals to see that tour companies specialising solely with safely taking tourists out to experience them in the wild are thriving in this tiny northern town.

Victoria:
Mild weather and pretty decorations make Victoria, BC, a special Christmas holiday destination. The world-renowned Butchart Gardens is adorned with tens of thousands of colourful lights, a 12 Days of Christmas display, and provides an outdoor rink to allow visitors a chance to skate while enjoying the ambiance. Picturesque harbour views, along with a range of festivities throughout the city make this a winter holiday your family would never forget.

Rideau Canal, Ottawa:
When frozen, the Rideau Canal is the ultimate place to enjoy the holiday season.  With the backdrop of a beautiful city decorated with snow and lights, the canal provides the world’s longest skating rink. It is common to see people zipping along with their briefcases on the way to work. Most skaters though, are happy to simply glide around, fall, giggle, and joyfully race the seemingly endless rink with family and friends.

Quebec City:
Famous for its Winter Carnival each January, this city is also a special place to visit in December. Stunning decorations adorn the many quaint buildings within this old walled city, giving an ambiance you’d normally need to travel to Europe to experience. Carols, pastries, craft markets and of course, plenty of snow, make this a delightful place to experience a white Christmas.

Overseas Destinations:
If you want to save up for a special overseas Christmas holiday, here are a few worth considering!

Austria, Germany and Czech Republic:
These three countries, although quite different from each other, have two things in common: truly gorgeous Christmas markets and ornately decorated churches. The spirit of Christmas comes alive in the evenings as you walk the streets—snowy without being very cold—and browse the brightly lit Christmas markets. Hand-crafted marionettes are a specialty of the Czech markets, cuckoo clocks and wooden Christmas ornaments are widespread throughout the German and Austrian markets. If you visit Prague, don’t forget to take the kids to see the Nutcracker performed by some of the best ballet dancers in the world.

Antarctica:
The ultimate expedition for adventurers in search of snow, ice, and penguins! Although it can be a costly and lengthy trip, many people put Antarctica on their bucket lists. The easiest way for Canadians to get there is via Chile, where you can catch one of several ships to this unique and special southern destination. Note: Despite what soda pop manufacturers might have you believe, you will never see polar bears and penguins celebrating Christmas together! Polar bears live strictly in the northern hemisphere; penguins in the southern hemisphere.

And for those who want a white Christmas without the cold…
If you’re not convinced that travelling to experience more snow is how you want to spend your vacation dollars, consider the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean! Dreaming of a white Christmas is lovely while lazing on a beach…

Today I am standing in a courtroom at the North Pole, repeatedly wiping sweat from my brow, even though the room is incredibly cold. Several elves serve as clerks and reporters; Santa himself is presiding. I am here to plead the case of my four-year-old son, Charlie, and, in a way, of myself.

“This is highly unusual,” declares Santa, elevated on the judge’s bench, looking down at me in the witness stand. “But I will hear you out.Explain. Why are you here?”

“Well, sir, you see… I’d like to get my son’s name removed from the Naughty List.”

Santa’s eyes narrow with disdain. It’s a look that has been perfected by high-school principals the world over. “He’s a good boy, a very good boy, most of the time,” I argue. “But we all have our bad days. One night last week he was being disobedient, refusing to get ready for bed, refusing to brush his teeth, talking back to me, and so on.”

“I see,” Santa responds, “but we make allowances for the occasional outburst. Just one night wouldn’t put him on the Naughty List.”

“That’s my fault,” I say, swallowing hard. “I told him if he didn’t start being good he would go on Santa’s Naughty List and not get any presents.

That just made him slam his bedroom door in my face, so I told him that was it, no presents for him.”

“In other words, you used Christmas as a threat,” Santa said. His voice was colder than the room.

“Yes.”

“Which put him on the Naughty List. But now you’ve made the threat, you don’t want to follow through on it, because it was too extreme?”

“Exactly.”

“But,” and here Santa carefully considered his words, “won’t that mean Charlie will come to believe he doesn’t need to listen to you? That any threat you make is idle?”

“That’s the problem. I think so too. I’ve done it before, to be honest, like when I told him I would throw all his toys in the fire, or sell the dog for a dollar. But this is different. I really regret saying that to him, but at the same time I feel like I can’t just pretend I never said it. Most of all I can’t follow through. He can’t really wake up on Christmas morning and not have any presents, can he? He’s got to get something.”

Leaning back in his chair, with a loud creak echoing across the room, Santa asked if there was some sort of middle road I could find.

“I don’t know… Well, he really wants this Transformer called Bulkhead… I suppose I could get him that, but… I don’t know… smash it a little? Maybe break all the wheels off?”

Santa shot up straight in his chair. “You can’t give a child a broken toy for Christmas! What’s wrong with you? No, you need to do something, but you can’t just ignore that threat. He’ll lose respect for you.”

“Not a big deal. He doesn’t have any anyway,” I offer with a smile, but Santa does not return it. Instead, he shakes his head in disappointment.

“You’ve put yourself in a tough situation, haven’t you?” Santa asks. I nod. “And the real reason you’re here is that you want me to think of some way out of it.” Again I nod. “Which is why you’re imagining this ludicrous situation instead of thinking it through yourself.” I nod for a third and, I desperately hope, final time. It’s a sad day when you realize figments of your imagination are wiser than you.

“All right, I’ll cross him off the Naughty List,” Santa says, and to my boundless relief he takes a quill and scratches on a piece of paper laying on the desk in front of him. “But in return you must make some promises.”

Uh oh. I feel like I’m six years old again.

“You must stop using Christmas as a threat. And you must stop making idle threats. In fact, it’s probably best not to make any threats at all.”

I agree.

“You must explain to Charlie why you’re relenting, so he understands what’s happened.”

“Thank you. I will, sir, I will.” I begin to leave the witness stand.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Santa stops me. “You look terrible. Clean yourself up a bit. It’s Christmas, for goodness sake.”

Written by: Ken Carriere

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup salted butter

• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

• ½ Tsp. chili powder

Steps:

1. Combine the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture forms a ball and rides the blade.

2. Remove it from the processor and shape it into a log that is approximately 8” long and 1-2” in diameter. Wrap the log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours.

3. To serve, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the shortbread into 1/4” thick slices and bake for 8 – 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

4. To package for a gift, cover the plastic-wrapped dough with parchment, tie the ends with ribbon and add a label with the cooking instructions.

Supplies:

• Eraser
• Utility knife
• Pen
• Ink pad
• Set of blank stationery

Instructions: 

STEP 1: Decide what image or letter you want to use for your stamp. Sketch out a few variations (remember the final stamped image will be the reverse of what you draw!) on paper, and once you’ve decided what you want to use, draw it onto one side of your eraser.

STEP 2: Using your knife, carefully cut away the drawn-on lines on your eraser.

STEP 3: Test your stamp on a piece of scrap paper to ensure everything is cut away properly, then stamp it onto your cards and envelopes, stamping each in the same spot.

STEP 4: Once the ink is dry, bundle the cards and envelopes together and wrap them up with a pretty ribbon.