
The holidays are officially here and I’ve been enjoying some of my favorite festivities this time of year, which include indulging in copious amounts of hot cocoa, listening to holiday albums while wrapping presents, and driving around the neighborhood to admire homes decked out in all their Christmas glory.
If you’re still in the midst of your holiday shopping (or haven’t started yet), our holiday guide has something to offer everyone on your list from the pet lover to the savory snacker. Some of my favorite highlights include Bonne et Filou’s line of French luxury dog macarons made from human-grade ingredients; Bath & Body Works’ beautifully packaged gift sets and holiday scents; Mami Wata’s brand-new coffee table book “AFROSURF” that features 320 pages of stunning photos, essays and profiles that explore the unique surf culture of 18 coastal countries in Africa; and SAINT Candles, which are named after different patron saints and manifest positive energy for specific purposes from health and travel to real estate.
For our cover story I had the pleasure of interviewing Playa Vista resident Casey Kasprzyk, an Emmy Award-winning television producer for the popular long-running CBS soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Fun fact: I interned for the show back when I was a student at the University of Southern California, and to this day it remains one of my favorite experiences because of the incredible people I met there who made me feel like a part of the family.
We also profile Don Collins, a senior powerlifter in his 60s who is breaking records in competitions with his impressive strength (he can leg press 2,000 pounds!) Strong and smart, he also has a degree in mechanical engineering and previously worked on improving nuclear and new submarines.
Other highlights from our December issue include Urbanic Paper Boutique, a local store founded by Audrey Woollen that offers a curated selection of unique and creative gifts; Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams’ limited-edition Holiday Collection that features innovative flavors such as Sugar Plum and Cognac with Gingerbread; as well as adorable, adoptable pets from Annenberg PetSpace, including a sweet kitten named Venus who loves to play, relax and be around new people. Adopting a pet not only saves a life but also makes more room at the shelter for another animal in need, especially after holiday season when shelters are filled with ‘present’ animals that have been given as gifts and are then returned when the recipient can’t care for them.
Wishing you and your families a safe and wonderful holiday season. See you in 2022!
Kamala Kirk
Editor • kkirk@timespublications.com
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