Another day closer to unwrapping!

I have been having more fun, unfortunately not much housework is getting done! The tree is up, my collection of Santa's and snowmen are on the mantle. I found the perfect lights they are not a string but a collection of lights-they are just the touch needed to make the mantle sparkle with the snowmen. I love opening each little package and being surprised at the ornaments it holds. I love them, each one carrying memories for me. I seem to like snowmen the best, I happen to have quite a few of them. I have been busy baking and finishing up the last little details, wrapping and making tags. I still need to get a few more stocking stuffers. My goal was to make everything, but so far I have not perfected making lip balms! I love the holidays. I think though what I love the best is the excitement of finding or making the perfect gift. Sometimes it is really hard to do. More like a challenge I guess. I love the lights, the decorations, laughter and games around the table after dinner. I am so blessed to have family and friends near to make the holidays merry! I hope that you have established your own merry traditions, what ever they may be. I was talking to one friend who looks forward to take out and a movie fest! Sounds relaxing and fun to me. No matter what your situation the holidays can bring peace. The more we give and love the more we receive. I am so grateful for the blessing of home, and happiness. Grateful to create (usually a big mess) grateful for a roof over my head, food on the table, warm socks for my feet and good hot chocolate! I can't believe how cold it is out there! We may have a white Christmas this year after all.

Do you ever find yourself glued to the TV watching those sappy Christmas movies? Sometimes I catch myself and think I've got to turn this off! One of my favorite holiday movies is the Sound of Music. For some reason it always just reminds me of Christmas. It is a tradition to snuggle up and watch it. I think that is mostly what the holidays are about, traditions. Traditions we share with our families or traditions we started ourselves! That is really what the holidays are about. Traditions that make us feel merry! Well, its back to work, there is no rest for this "elf" if I am going to get my things done on time. Have a wonderful day. Stay warm!

We have shared your lives for the last eight years and have missed seeing your holiday greeting cards! We want to continue our friendship on line so please join us is posting your holiday greetings here.

My Wish for you, warm socks for cold feet, happy hearts and good food to eat. That the New Year will bring blessings of peace and happiness.

The snow is falling and it is lovely. The tree is finally up and it is starting to look like Christmas! Hot cocoa and a stack of holiday gift ideas and I am settled in for the afternoon with my "list". You know the "list" of friends and family, that we want to create something magical for-I think the reality this year for all of us is budget, using our resources wisely and yet still giving a thoughtful gift to those we love. I have my stash of paper, embellishments and various other tools of the trade along with my trusty rubber stamps and copic markers. I like to collect ideas, I just tear them out of the magazines, or print them off as I find them and store them in an idea folder. There were so many fun things to choose from. Even when you find ideas, your own creativity, style and supplies make each project original! envelopes! I also decided to make this Christmas 100% homemade. I have been making mixes of things like, mint brownies, cherry pie oatmeal, and pumpkin spice muffins. They look so cute in the jar and with the handmade tag and instructions ( I wrote them on the back of the tag) they are ready to give. I have sewed some table runners and aprons, and made some truffles.

Here is a recipe I enjoy putting in a jar-

Candy Cookie Mix
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar, firmly packed
1t. Powdered vanilla
1t. Baking Powder
2 C Flour

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until they are evenly distributed, making sure all brown sugar lumps are crushed. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe:
Candy Cookies
Makes 3 doz. Cookies
1C unsalted butter or margarine, softened
1 large egg
1 package Candy Cookies Mix
1 C chopped cookie chunks, Reese's peanut butter cups, Butterfinger bars, white or milk chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350*

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter until it is smooth. Add the egg, and continue beating until the egg is combined. Add the mix and candy bar chunks and blend on low just until the cookie mix is mixed in well. Form cookies into 1 1/2 " balls and place them 2 " apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden on the edges. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

We had our annual NYOBC gift exchange, and I received even more great gifts and ideas. Even on a very limited budget you can make some great teachers gifts, simple, heartfelt gifts. I am getting geared up to have a baking day with the nieces and nephew. Making sure I have all the sprinkles, and icing tools needed to make this a fun event. I think mostly, they just like to decorate their cookie, take a bite and then lick the icing off their cookie. I suppose we should make sure they have a substantial breakfast prior to this event?

I have had the opportunity to visit a few of the ladies in our neighborhood, older ladies who don't get out much. I just brought a simple little gift and a holiday wish for them. I was reminded so forcefully, to think about those around us, people, we might not even notice. It is such a little thing to take a small greeting to your elderly, or families in your neighborhood. If your family sings, pick an evening and a few people in your neighborhood and carol, the effort is well worth the smile on the face of the receiver. Christmas really is a magical season, a tender hearted season. Time to reflect on all that we have been given and are blessed with, time to share of our great bounty with those around us who may be alone, no family near. No one to take just a moment to make their season a little brighter. We can be that someone. We are all busy. I visited 2 people a day for a week. One hour tops. It has been wonderful. I learned a lot about these fun ladies. They have shared stories about Christmas's in their past and traditions that make the holiday merry for them. We are not so different. Our ages may be, but our thoughts and hearts are not. Think about someone, maybe in your office, your Dr, or Dentist, your neighborhood, someone who could use a little of your holiday cheer. You will feel the difference in your own preparations, giving always expands the heart. Especially when we make the effort to make it personal. It is even more fun to involve children in this process, they see others in a way that sometimes gets overlooked. They can come up with names of people who could use a litte "merry" in their Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!
What a wonderful time of year! This year we took a journey to Missouri to catch up with parts of my family. I love catching up with the kids who just keep growing! The weather was beautiful and we were able to travel without any incident. That is always something to be grateful for! It is fun to just get together with family. My sisters and I like to share recipes and spend time making fun craft things. I was sewing some table runners while I was there and enjoyed the flurry of activity in the house as we prepared dinner. Lots of coming and going, game playing, laughter. Childhood has changed quite a bit since I was a child. We were all busy with our various jobs making sure that dinner would be ready. I was peeling and chopping green apples for some wonderful dressing. Trying to stay out of the way mostly. I love the process of setting the table, getting out the dishes, the table cloth. Fancy china and silverware just add to the festivity of the holidays. When I was setting the table I reflected on the fact that our lives can be such a blur. Sometimes it feels like we go from event to event. We spend all day preparing this fabulous meal just to eat it! Looking back at past photos I tried to remember the feelings I had when taking the photograph. Why was this important to me? Why was I documenting this event? I love the fact that we keep photos. That we can be magically transported back to the day or event and feel those same feelings when we see those photos. Don't you keep some of your favorite photos out? I know I have some on my french letter board. One in particular is my first niece who was probably two at the time the picture was taken and who is 9 now. I was reflecting on how I felt about life at 9. I think it was pretty uncomplicated compared to the lives my nieces and nephews lead currently. I was wishing I lived closer and that we could all spend more time together. It sure is nice to have extra hands when trying to get things done. (like big dinners and running kids) I enjoyed playing crazy eight with my nephews, we have always as a family really enjoyed games. What are some of your favorite traditions? Everyone has some, even those who say they don't! Trying to out cook each other and out do each other in various recipes etc is what we like to do-kind of like "oh yeah, I can top that". Take some photos this holiday season of your favorite parts-make yourself your own private little album that when you look at the pictures you get that fun little sparkle in your eye as you remember why you love the traditions you do. Next we are on the tree and house decorating. Lots of work but lots of fun! I like to have homemade eggnog and decorate the tree! This year I actually get to have a baking day! I have wanted to do one for several years now. I have carefully chosen the recipes that I want to make and have started to purchase all the supplies I will need! I can't wait!