We posted this last month as our "Your Monthly Check-Up" column for November, in advance of Thanksgiving.
But we're not out of the woods yet! With five shopping days left and the goodie-consumption in full-swing (at least here at Hinda), we though it might behoove everyone to re-post our tips and tricks for tackling the holiday feeding frenzy!
So enjoy your favorites while being mindful, and have a safe and happy holiday season!
Pantone®’s color people announced last week that the official color for 2014 is Radiant Orchid. Not just any old orchid – radiant! Hailing from the purple family, radiant orchid is a bright pinky-purple that really pops. A Google Image search brings up everything from runway fashions to cosmetics to gemstones to photos of the flower itself.
As the color of creativity, innovation and originality, radiant orchid makes a strong impression in the marketplace. According to Pantone executive director Leatrice Eiseman, “It’s encouraging people to be a bit more creative and more inventive, and in today’s society that’s something that we are all striving for.”
In celebration of the New Year’s new color, here are a few appearances of radiant orchid among Hinda’s ever-growing merchandise assortment. Stay tuned for even more great new products of every color as we move into 2014!
Bialetti Trends 3-Pack Sauté Pan Set
The Trends line is sure to bring excitement and fashion appeal. This line is great for home cooks who want to express themselves and demand cookware with flare. Aluminum construction provides quick and even heating and non-stick interiors make for easy clean-up. These pans feature silicone lacquer exteriors and Bakelite handles. Express your style while you cook up your favorites!
Vince Camuto Alex Tote
Sturdy, versatile and stylish, the Alex Tote from Vince Camuto covers all categories! The Alex is constructed from 100 percent leather in a most timeless silhouette and topped it with contemporary hardware that works for any occasion. Features include a front slip pocket with metal turn lock closure, a back slip pocket with magnetic snap closure and a magnetic snap. Truly a statement bag!
David Yurman Amethyst Color Classics Bracelet
David Yurman’s iconic cable bracelet – a twisted helix adorned with gemstones on its finial ends – inspires the vibrant Color Classics collection. This bracelet features sterling silver and 14k yellow gold with an amethyst gemstone on either end. The 5mm cable bracelet fits a medium wrist. This classic style is perfect for everyday wear and transitions well into your after-hours wardrobe.
There are only 23 shopping days left this holiday season, but before you start stressing, Hinda is here to help you cross a few gifts off your list – and add a couple finishing touches to your own wish list, as well! We’ve added quite a few new items this month – as we do every month – that would make great gifts for anyone on your list!
adidas® Stretch Climaproof Wind Men's Jacket
Stay warm and dry all season long! The Stretch Climaproof Men's Wind Jacket features a self-mock with contrast zipper welt, front and back yoke and front panel for shaping, side panels for shaping and contrast adidas brandmark on back neck. It’s made of 95 percent polyester / 5 percent elastane with hydrophilic finish.
Apple® 13” MacBook Pro with Retina Display 2.4GHz, 4GB
Get ready for the Mac experience you’ve been waiting for – released just in time for the holidays! When you pack over 4 million pixels into a display the results are positively stunning – your eyes can’t discern individual pixels. A spectacular 2560x1600 resolution lets you see more of your high-resolution images and text is so sharp, you’ll feel like you’re reading a printed page!
Calvin Klein, Coach®, Gucci Assorted Fragrances
Don’t feel “Guilty” for keeping these fine fragrances for yourself! The Calvin Klein Women’s Mini Set includes .5-ounces each of Eternity, Euphoria, Obsession and Eternity Aqua. Also recently added to Hinda’s fragrance assortment are the Coach Signature Women’s 1.7-ounce and Gucci Guilty 1.6-ounce for men and women.
Gran Turismo 6, Mario Party: Island Tour and Pac-Man™ and the Ghostly Adventures
Stock up on classic games for the holidays! Hinda just added the latest installation of Gran Turismo for PS3®, the hot new Mario Party release for 3DS™ and a remake of the video game favorite, Pac-Man, for 3DS, Xbox® 360 and PS3. Surprise the gamer in your life with one of these great titles!
Polar® Loop
The Loop from Polar® accurately tracks and distinguishes between activities such as gentle walking and running. It's the first waterproof activity tracker that can be worn during swimming. The Loop sends friendly messages through the user’s phone when he or she has been sitting for too long and offers the option of adding heart rate monitoring to workouts, providing a complete view of daily activity.
TaylorMade® SLDR Fairway Wood
The PGA Golf Show next month means new clubs are out now – including this new addition from TaylorMade! The new cut-through Speed Pocket flexes with more efficiency – a design that promotes increased ball speed, lower spin and allows further-forward CG. Features Fujikura Speeder 77 graphite shaft and FCT Lite Grip .600.
The statistics are all over the board: one study says the average American gains seven to 10 pounds over the holidays; another claims five to seven. A third assures that these are exaggerated; that people only gain an average of one pound after the merriment is over. But we can be sure of this – the amount of salt, fat, sweets and food in general that we consume between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve is totally ramped up.
Well, fear not. Hinda is here to put your every holiday consumption worry and woe to rest in this month’s installment of “Your Monthly Check-Up.” Here we will outline a few tips and tricks to stay on track and avoid overdoing it come November 28. From planning ahead to portion control to post-pig-out exercise, consider this your cheat sheet to maintaining your weight and your health this holiday season.
In this month’s issue of Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication by Sam’s Club®, registered dietitian and nutritionist Jennifer McDaniel, MS, RDN, shares a variety of healthy baking substitutes, low-cal libations and portion control tips in her article “Holiday Eating Made Easy.”
As with most tough situations, the best defense is a good offense. “It’s all about being prepared,” says McDaniel, who is also a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Prepare prior to the party, at the event and during the day after.”
Do this by eating extra-healthy breakfasts and lunches on days before you plan to attend an evening holiday gathering. Load up on fiber-rich fruit and protein-packed snacks like string cheese, almonds, yogurt or edamame. At about 100 calories for a snack portion, one of these healthy choices will tide you over until you get to your party. Once you arrive, McDaniel says to “survey the scene” before hitting the buffet and only choose the items you like the best. This way you can enjoy your favorite indulgences without overstuffing yourself with less-delicious options!
We are obviously kidding ourselves when we say that calories consumed during a holiday meal don’t count – when holiday season stretches for over a month, those calories sure add up! “One of the reasons it’s so easy to overeat at a party is because we have no clue how many calories we’ve consumed,” McDaniel says. Be proactive about your calorie intake by mindfully taking smaller portions – about 20 percent less than you think you might want – watching beverage calories and even sitting next to a slow eater. Also, staying hydrated throughout the season (and always) is never a bad idea.
Speaking of beverage calories, keep in mind that five ounces of wine, 12 ounces of light beer or 1.5 ounces of liquor all contain about 120 calories – and that’s before you start adding mixers. McDaniel offers some tips that let you enjoy your favorite holiday cocktails without consuming all the calories. Do you love wine? Why not try a wine spritzer by mixing half a glass of your favorite grape with club soda! Looking for something non-alcoholic? Make a cranberry crush by adding a splash of cranberry cocktail and frozen grapes to your club soda. Or make healthier hot chocolate by combining cocoa powder, skim milk, low-calorie sweetener and a dash of cinnamon and vanilla extract. All of the decadence, none of the guilt!
For those of you who have a sweet tooth, the holidays – when cookies, candy and chocolate abound – can be particularly challenging. McDaniel suggests making some swaps while baking to ensure that your treats turn out just as yummy sans unwanted calories.
For example, white flour can be swapped or cut with whole wheat flour, ground oats or almond meal for a dose of healthy. Replace sugar with honey or stevia. Get rid of that butter and oil and use applesauce, mashed banana or coconut oil. Use applesauce or flax meal to replace eggs. Carob chips or dark chocolate chunks stand in for chocolate chips and plain Greek yogurt tastes just like sour cream. Try a few of these swaps and we bet you – and your guests – won’t even notice the difference. (Editorial note: This blogger can attest to the validity of the applesauce and Greek yogurt swaps!)
Finally, as all good things must come to an end, so must your holiday revelry. After all, the holidays wouldn’t be so special if we ate and celebrated like that every month! “Avoid the ‘all or nothing’ philosophy,” says McDaniel. “Even if you overeat one night, the whole weekend doesn’t have to be a diet bust.” She suggests getting up the next morning, going for a walk and eating a healthy breakfast to start getting yourself back on track.
“Don’t beat yourself up over one overindulgent event,” she says. You’ll ruin all the memories of the delicious food and fun with friends and family if you’re down on yourself the next day. It’s the holidays! We all overdo it! The point is it doesn’t have to derail all the dieting good you’ve done for yourself earlier in the year.
Enjoy yourself, take care of your health and have a happy holiday season!
Part III: Lifestyle, Housewares and Fashion
Although we could go on and on, all good things must come to an end. The third and final installment of our Holiday Trends Preview focuses on home and housewares, lifestyle and fashion trends. From jewelry and handbags to home entertaining and DIY, you’ll get great ideas for the fashionista, entertainer or outdoorsy in your life!
Ladies first! Jewelry, handbags and other accessories are always hot for the holidays. Hinda has a wide selection of Pandora® charms and bracelets to suit every taste and interest, including some season- and holiday specific charms. These make great stocking stuffers and are a beautiful addition to any woman’s wardrobe. And you can’t mention jewelry without talking about handbags! We’ve got a great variety of bags from clutches to crossbody and everything in between. Hot lines this holiday season include BCBGMAXAZRIA, Kate Spade, Vince Camuto and LAUREN by Ralph Lauren.
But looking great isn’t just for the ladies. We’ve got fashionable items for men, too, including watches, luggage and apparel! Fossil®, TAG Heuer and Bulova® are all big names in the watch world that make great gifts at the holidays and any time of year. On the travel front, hardside luggage and lighter pieces are making a splash. Check out pieces from carry-on to large wheeled luggage from popular brands like Samsonite® and Delsey® available at Hinda! The North Face® Thermoball™ Full Zip Jacket is also new on the scene this holiday season. Available for men and women, Thermoball is constructed with low-weight, high-loft clusters that retain heat even when wet. Stay warm and dry all winter long!
Moving on to housewares, home entertaining is still big in 2013. People are going for aesthetically pleasing table-top appliances featuring stainless steel, bamboo wood or crystal, wine and beer accoutrements to accessorize their home bars – like electric wine openers, beverage coolers and interesting drinkware – and retro kitchenware that makes a statement as well as serves a purpose. Celebrity-licensed cookware is hot due to the popularity of cooking shows – check out our lines from Rachael Ray, Emeril and Top Chef. Finally, single-serve coffeemakers, espresso makers and coffee accessories are still top sellers. Consumers seem to be getting used to not having to wait in line or pay upwards of $4 for their morning fix!
Last but not least, several great outdoor items have come through the merchandise pipeline just in time for the holidays. Are you a golf-lover or do you have a golf-lover in your life? Check out the latest and greatest additions to Hinda’s already wide selection of golf gear, including the Sony® Action Cam Golf Training Pack, the Garmin® Approach S1 Golf Watch and the TaylorMade® Spider Mallet Putter – among many others. Too cold for golf? Not to worry – Hinda is here with plenty of new cold-weather toys as well! The Reebok® SicKick Junior Hockey Stick, Active Sports Burton Blunt Wide Snowboard and the Flexible Flyer® Aurora 36” Foam Sled will cure all of your wintertime blues! Get out there and enjoy the snow and ice!
And there you have it – Hinda’s 2013 Holiday Trend Preview! Of course, this is just a small sample of the many, many items we have available, and as you know if you keep up with the blog, we’re always adding new stuff monthly! But we hope this guide will help you to pick out the hottest and most in-demand gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. After all, if we don’t help you become the coolest, most fun and most stylish gift-giver out there, then we’re doing something wrong!
Happy shopping, and happy holiday season from Hinda Incentives!
Part II: Home Entertainment and Technology
Another big trend we see for the coming holiday season is in the home entertainment and technology realm. Surprised? With so many great blockbuster films, engaging video games and evolving gadgets out there, neither are we. And we bet we’ll find more than one of these items on your holiday list!
DVD/Blu-ray™ and video games make great stocking stuffers for the movie buff or gamer in your life. Recent blockbusters such as “Life of Pi” and “Iron Man 3,” classics like “The Wizard of Oz” and kids’ movies including “Barbie® in The Pink Shoes” are all anticipated to be hot redeemers this season. New video games such as “Madden 25,” “NBA2K14” and “Disney® Infinity” are all expected to sell well, especially given the popularity of sports video games.
Smart gadgets are becoming more popular as functionality increases and price points decrease. TVs are working more like computers, with internet connectivity, streaming TV, 4K and combo TV/DVD units. Sound bars and wireless speakers are all the rage as people long to bring that big-screen experience to their own living rooms. 3D TV is also hot right now, as it supports the many 3D movies that are being shown recently – like the aforementioned “Life of Pi.” Some models even let you control how and what you watch from your tablet or smart phone.
Speaking of smart phones, accessorizing your favorite device is becoming quite popular, especially since people love using the camera. LG’s Pocket Photo Printer is a great way to get your fave shots off of your phone and into the real world. The Sony® Smartphone Attachable Lens is the first-ever zoom lens and sensor combo that clips right to your smartphone. Mophie® and Datexx have both introduced external batteries to power your device on-the-go.
Finally, what kind of tech round-up would this be if we didn’t mention the latest headphones? Bose® is big this year as the company has started to advertise on-air. The QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones let you hear as much or as little of the outside world as you want while enjoying your music. Sony®’s NFC Bluetooth® Wireless Headphones let you stream music from your smart phone or take a call mid-playlist. And Monster®’s Diamond Tears™ On Ear Headphones offer a fashionable, feminine answer to the popular on-ear headphones of today. Never be without your favorite tunes – the way you want to enjoy them!
As we mentioned at the conclusion of Part I, this is just a sample of the variety of different entertainment and electronic items available here at Hinda. Stay tuned Part III where we will cover trends in housewares, outdoor and lifestyle merchandise!
Part I: Toys
It might still be early in the season, but now that Halloween is over and Thanksgiving in on the horizon, there’s no denying that the holidays are upon us! Whether or not you’ve finalized your shopping lists, we’re here to tell you all about the trends we’re seeing for this year’s gift-giving season. Get ready to make that special someone’s holiday extra merry!
Let’s start by keeping the kids happy and talk about toys. LEGO®, Barbie®, nabi® - a new brand at Hinda – and Power Wheels are all forecasted to be big hits this shopping season. Our wide selection of LEGO building sets includes Legends of Chima™, Star Wars™, Marvel Super Heroes and LEGO City. We’ve also got an assortment of LEGO Friends, geared toward girls and LEGO Duplo® - larger blocks for smaller hands!
Your favorite girl will love the new Barbie Color Chalk Hair doll. Barbie’s never looked better than when the young stylist in your life uses the included chalk pods to dream up the trendiest, most cutting-edge ideas in hair color. The blue, pink and purple pods contain enough chalk for 100 applications and the chalk washes out easily with soap and water. Let your kids’ imaginations run wild with this fun new Barbie toy.
Hinda is proud to introduce its new partnership with nabi®. The 16 GB Nick Jr.® Edition features the Wings™ Education System, which tailors courseware to the strengths and weaknesses of the child's skill set level in math, reading and writing. Your kids will have fun with the apps, games, books and videos featuring favorite Nick Jr. characters like Dora the Explorer™, Ni Hao Kai-lan™ and Go Diego Go™.
Staying within the more educational vein, Hinda’s got a Vivitar® 30mm refractor telescope and 3-objective compound microscope set that will keep your favorite budding scientist busy for hours! This kit's telescope includes a tripod as well as 20x, 30x and 40x eyepieces. The microscope is capable of 300x, 600x and 1200x magnification. The set includes specimen slide, blank slides, slide covers, specimen collection vials and tweezers.
When it’s time to get outside and burn off some of that seemingly endless energy, the Ford F-150 from Power Wheels® is just what your little one needs. With realistic side-view mirrors, built-in windshield and roomy truck bed, kids will feel like they’re driving a real truck! They can even lift up the hood to find a realistic-looking truck engine. With big, rugged tires, kids can take their adventures off-road, too!
This is just a small sampling of the wide range of toys and children’s merchandise we have here at Hinda, but these are some of the items we predict will be popular this coming holiday season. Stay tuned for the next installments of our 2013 holiday trends preview, where we’ll cover entertainment/technology, outdoor recreation, home and housewares and more!
