Welcome to “Beamer’s Holiday Beat,” Bronner’s e-newsletter for everyone who shares Wally Bronner’s and my passion for Christmas. (Wally asked me to tell you there are only 293 days until Christmas.)

The Bronner buyers are placing orders for hot, new product they discovered recently at the winter trade shows. Our own ornament design team has finalized artwork for Bronner’s new, exclusive ornament designs and sent the artwork off to ornament manufacturers. It is a time for us to look forward with great anticipation to the 2006 Christmas season.

We are looking forward to the change of seasons here in Michigan and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection on Easter, April 16.

Thank you for inviting me into your home. You’re welcome at my home, www.bronners.com or 25 Christmas Lane in Frankenmuth, all year long!

Bring the beauty of your garden inside your home with our spring display. Choosing a garden tea party as our theme, we used a light green teapot, matching cup, and polka-dot votive holder as our display’s focal point. Paying homage to April showers, we created a flowing water effect by dangling blue, beaded-drop ornaments from each container. We wrapped several packages with bright, pastel paper to serve as pretty platforms for our teapot, resin bird, lavender finial ornament, votive holder and teacup.
The resin garden statue of a hedgehog, a European symbol of spring, sits sweetly beside one of our favorite butterfly ornaments. Two other matching butterfly ornaments are artfully displayed atop two glass votives filled with faux flowers. Faux pink berry sprigs and purple agapanthus blooms fill our glass votive lamps and add to our garden’s appeal.

View the featured items.

Luck of the Irish Sale at Bronner's
Make a purchase from Bronner’s now through March 17 and receive 17% OFF your purchase of $17 or more.*

Simply enter COUPON CODE P317 at checkout, or mention the offer when you call 800-361-6736 to order or when you shop Bronner’s in person. Offer expires 3/17/06.

Plan ahead for spring decorating and occasions such as Easter, upcoming bridal showers, weddings, and graduations. If you’re one of those really on-the-ball people, you can get your Christmas shopping done early with these great savings that even apply to Bronner’s sale items!

Shop Bronner's online.

• Must reference coupon at time of online, in-store or phone purchase. Commercial displays, special orders, club kits/pieces, gift cards, snack area, and shipping excluded. Discount applicable on purchases of in-stock merchandise. Not valid with any other offer or on previous purchases.

Annual Landmark Photo Contest Winner Announced Joyce Ziemba of Streetsboro, Ohio, is the winner of Bronner’s 2005 Landmark Photo Contest. The winning photo features Donna and Joyce Ziemba holding Bronner’s bags in front of the tall ship Constellation, docked in Baltimore, Maryland. Joyce will receive a $100 Bronner’s gift certificate for her winning entry. Entries must capture a person enjoying a visit to a famous landmark while holding a Bronner’s bag or brochure. One annual winner is randomly drawn from all entries. Enter Bronner’s Landmark Photo Contest.

Bi-annual Family Fun Photo Contest Winner Announced Danielle Hughes of London, Ontario, recently won Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland’s® Family Fun Photo Contest. Hughes received a $100 Bronner’s gift certificate for her winning photo of her son and mother enjoying a visit to Bronner’s. The biannual photo contest runs January through June and July through December. Three finalists are selected by the Bronner staff and posted at www.bronners.com where guests to the site vote to select the winner. Enter Bronner’s Family Fun Photo Contest.

Book Tells History of Bronner's
Over 2 million guests a year have discovered that at Bronner’s, Christmas isn’t just a holiday – it’s a way of life! But have you ever wondered how the store began? Related by originator Wally Bronner, the “Picturesque Story of Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland” chronicles the story of the World’s Largest Christmas Store with over 550 photos and detailed narrative. Read about the store from its humble beginnings as a sign painting business in Wally’s parents’ basement to the sprawling 320,000-square-foot store that it is today. Purchase the “Picturesque Story of Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland” for $18.95.

Enjoy a Birthday Dinner in Frankenmuth
As a friend of Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, you can receive a FREE family-style chicken dinner or 3-piece luncheon during the month of your birthday from our friend, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth. In addition, you can receive a free ornament from Bronner’s when your birthday card coupon is redeemed.

Bronner's Flavorful Favorites
We thought you might like to try one of the recipes from Bronner’s staff cookbook, “Bronner’s Flavorful Favorites.” The cookbook features over 400 recipes submitted by Bronner’s staff and is available online or in-store for $13.99.

Texas Cowgirl Lasagna
submitted by Bob Taylor

¼ c. margarine
1 lg. onion chopped
1 (4.5-oz.) can green chilies, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup (low fat if desired)
1 can cream of chicken soup (low fat if desired)
1 t. beef bouillon
1 (14.5-oz.) can chicken broth
1 (12-oz.) bag tortilla chips (round ones work best)
4 c. cooked chicken (cut into bite-size pieces)
3 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
3 c. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

In large pan, melt margarine. Add onion and green chilies. Simmer 10 minutes. Add soups, bouillon and chicken broth. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Lower heat and simmer 10 minutes. Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Place a layer of chips on bottom of dish. Top with half of the chicken pieces and half of the cheese. Pour half of the sauce over top. Add another layer of chips. Top with the rest of the chicken, pour on remaining sauce and top off with the rest of the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serves 8-10.