Category: CHRISTMAS

BLOGMAS 2020 ~ DAY 4 ~ CHRISTMAS CARDS & BONUS WRAPPING IDEAS

I try to make my own Christmas cards every year, and I PLANNED to do homemade again this year, but years like this last year full of COVID and the years before full of health issues, surgeries and issues from the HOUSE FROM HELL sometimes finds me sending out box cards. They are pretty cute and I’m glad to be using them up!  I WILL do homemade again next year 😀 I did try an annual letter a few times, but ended up in just doing a few paragraphs eventually hitting the highlights from throughout the year since. I do still send Christmas cards out, but I fear they are becoming a thing of the past unfortunately as I get fewer and fewer each year it seems.

Because I didn’t make homemade cards this year I’m offering up some cute wrapping ideas.  I have been wrapping presents as I go this year and able to spend a little more time decorating.

BLOGMAS 2020 ~ DAY 3 ~ FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES

Today’s category is an easy one for me. It’s also one that really doesn’t change much from year to year.  I start taping Christmas movies on Lifetime, Hallmark and INSP as soon as they air so I can watch them ALL year long. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and let’s face it, Christmas movies have happy endings.

So this list could be reallllllllllly long, but I will just keep it to the top 5 MUST watch each and every year movies.

It’s a toss up for me about whether White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen and Danny Kaye or It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed is my absolute favorite, but I think I’m leaning towards It’s a Wonderful life!
Which Miracle on 34th street version (the original with Natalie Wood or the remake with Richard Attenborough) is the best? BOTH versions of course!
The Santa Clause with Tim Allen quickly became a favorite – who could resist visiting the North Pole every year?
Now Home Alone is just silly, as is Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase but, they never fail to make me laugh! A new favorite is the Christmas Chronicles with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

BLOGMAS 2020 DAY 2 ~ CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST & FAVORITE SONGS

What are your favorite Christmas songs? Do you have a regular playlist?

I’m all over the place with Christmas music – it really depends on the day, the occasion, my mood, what food we’re eating – there are just sooooooooo many factors! BUT, I do like to wait until at least the day after Thanksgiving!

I love so many of the old standards, but I also love country Christmas and Mannheim Steamroller. I love Christmas carolers, not that you see many these days. I was even part of the hand bell choir at church for Christmas programs many years ago.

As for some of MY favorite songs I have a few that top the list:

  • Silent Night
  • White Christmas
  • Jingle Bell Rock
  • Winter Wonderland
  • Frosty the Snowman
  • Little Drummer Boy
  • The twelve days of Christmas
  • Deck the Halls
  • Come All Ye Faithful
  • It Came upon a Midnight Clear
  • We three Kings of Orient
  • Joy to the World
  • Rudolph the Reindeer
  • Do You Hear What I Hear
  • The Most Wonderful Time of Year
  • It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

BLOGMAS 2020 ~ DAY 1 ~ ELF ON THE SHELF OR JULENISSER?

This is day 1 of BLOGMAS 2020. We’ve all had a stressful year and need some fun. I want this year especially to be relaxing and stress free. I’m not even doing a linky. Just comment on my post and let me know you’re playing along and I’ll be sure to visit and comment on your post. At the bottom of this post is a list of the prompts.

I know some people begin the day after Thanksgiving, but for us December 1st is the beginning. For several years we’ve done an Elf on the Shelf for the munchkins. Each year we did a “cousin” elf so it wasn’t the same elf every year. I know many parents are dreading that darned elf every year and having to come up with 24 DIFFERENT scenarios that are different from the previous year!

But I’ve discovered Julenisser, a Nordic tradition, this year to replace the previous Elf on a Shelf.   We’re calling him Bailey. I can’t find that a Julenisser is actually given a name, but I’m winging it here. 😀 The nisse is one of the most familiar creatures of Scandinavian folklore.

In Solvang, a Danish community, they actually do a Nisse Adventure like a scavenger hunt and Danish style JuleFest celebration throughout the month.

In Denmark there is a serious subculture regarding the Christmas elves and gnomes known as Julenisser. They live in forests and eat fruits and berries throughout the year before they come spend the month of Christmas with your family. They have BIG hearts and ARE magical! They love to play tricks on you and your family.

So when do you begin? Do you have unique names for your elf? Or do you have a Julenisser?

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 49 of 2020

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

GOOD MORNING I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving and weekend. Ours, like many of yours I’m sure was VERY quiet.  I did prepare a pretty traditional meal with leftovers for a couple days.  I even did a little “Black Friday” shopping 😀 LOCALLY and by appointment with a couple mom and pop shops on Friday – the beauty of small town living and by appointment was NOT getting up at the crack of dawn being able to support local merchants as well as completing my Christmas shopping.

Saturday and Sunday were quite chilly and lazy for me.  I did manage to get Christmas gifts wrapped as well as the Christmas cards addressed and ready for mailing while I watched a couple Christmas movies.

And don’t forget tomorrow is day 1 of BLOGMAS 2020. We’ve all had a stressful year and need some fun. I want this year especially to be relaxing and stress free. I’m not even doing a linky. Just comment on my post and we’ll you’re playing along. I’ll be sure to visit and comment on your post. Here is my list of this year’s prompts.

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & THE WEATHER OUTSIDE, WHAT I’M WEARING & HOW I’M FEELING THIS MORNING It is supposed to be pretty clear all week with highs in the 40’s and low 50’s which will make for colder nights with lows in the low 30’s. I have on Levis, a favorite plush hoodie and my favorite red UGG’s.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE I’m back to hot water regularly and peach yogurt.

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING just a couple loads of laundry to be done
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I have a pedicure appointment Tuesday so will pick up the few groceries we need as well as run the errands in town I need to accomplish.
  • FINISH HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS GIFTS & CHRISTMAS ORDERS
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING
WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX – We just finished the Travelers series and were sorry to hear there won’t be a 4th season, but were glad to hear season 2 of Virgin River has been released which we will start tonight.  We also watched Christmas Chronicles 2 with Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn
  • PRIME – Mrs. Maisel should be released later this week
  • HULU – Just finished REBA and are looking for another late night comedy
  • CABLE – Young Sheldon, American Housewife, Unicorn, MOM which just isn’t the same without Anna Faris, Chicago series (MED, FIRE & PD), L&O SVU, BULL, All Rise, Blue Bloods, Magnum PI, MacGyver, FBI & FBI Most Wanted, SWAT, NCIS, NCIS LA and NCIS New Orleans AND of course there are the obligatory Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies to watch 😀

I’M READING

  • A Home for Unloved Orphans by Rachel Wesson – I’m about half through and am enjoying it, despite its sad topic, as it chronicles the differences and clashes between the cultural classes as well as men and women’s rights post WWI, Spanish flue and the depression of the early 1900’s.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA This is a silly photo this week. Years ago I was so tired of wasting the last of any shampoo in the bottle or just couldn’t talk myself into not finishing a bottle even though I didn’t care for the shampoo.  That’s when it occurred to me that I didn’t need to buy shower gel or even hand soap, but just make my own by funneling it all into my favorite pump bottles.  Now I don’t waste anything and it’s even kind of pretty looking! As for conditioner, it makes a great vehicle for shaving your legs while also moisturizing them 😀

INSPIRATIONAL

LIFE TIP

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
MEATLOAF, DRESSING and SALAD
PORK CHOPS and SCALLOPED CORN
C.O.R.N.  clean out refrigerator night
CHICKEN & PEANUT STEW
ITALIAN PIZZA CASSEROLE
ANCHO HONEY GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN & SALAD
C.O.R.N.
clean out refrigerator night
DESSERT
strawberry lemonade bars

SUCCESSFUL RECIPE LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

FEATURED PARTY LINKS FOR THIS WEEK

RECIPES TO LOOK FOR THIS NEXT WEEK OR SO

  • APPLE LEMON HARVEST BUNDT CAKE
  • CITRUS BRINED ROAST TURKEY
  • BRUSSELS SPROUTS CASSEROLE

CIDER BRINED BAKED HAM

When I was a kid, Honey Baked Spiral Hams were all the rage and are still quite popular. BUT, in my opinion they have lost a little something over the years. I don’t know if they have changed the recipe or downgraded the ingredients to make them more profitable, but I find them a bit dry and flavorless anymore. So I make my own these days. I start with a whole ham that has the fat cap still attached to keep all the juices in. Scoring the fat cap and roasting the ham with the brown sugar pepper rub results in a sticky, crispy sweet and peppery crusted juicy ham.

CIDER BRINED BAKED HAM
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
10 whole cloves
2 star anise stars
9 cups apple cider, divided 4 cups + 1 cup + 4 cups
8 cups ice cubes
7-10 pound shank end , bone-in cured ham (I used an 8 1/2 pound)
1 large oven baking bag
¼ cup molasses
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (optional)*

  • In a large sauce pan toast cinnamon, cloves and star anise about 3 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add 4 cups of apple cider and bring to a boil.
  • Pour into a large stockpot (that the ham will fit into), add 1 cup apple cider and 4 cups of ice and stir until melted.
  • Trim ham to ¼ inch thickness of fat and score with a cross hatch pattern. CAUTION: Cut down into fat, but NOT into the meat!
  • Add ham to the stock pot apple cider mixture, cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours. The liquid should just about cover the ham.

 

  • Remove ham from marinade and add to baking bag already placed in roasting pan.
  • Add 1 cup of marinade to baking bag, tie securely and cut 4 slits in top of bag.
  • Let stand at room temperature for 1 ½ hours.

Preheat oven to 300°.
Bake 1 ½-2 ½ hours until ham registers 100°.

  • While ham is roasting, add remaining 4 cups of apple cider, molasses and mustard or horseradish to a medium saucepan, whisking until well blended.
  • On a medium low heat, stir often, cooking for about 2 hours until mixture is very thick and reduced to about ¹⁄³ cup. WATCH towards the end of the 2 hours, it will burn easily!

1 cup PACKED dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon FRESH ground pepper

  • Combine sugar and pepper in small bowl.
  • Remove roasting pan from oven and let ham rest 5 minutes.
  • Increase oven temperature to 400°.
  • Open oven bag and fold back to expose the ham.
  • Brush with the reduced cider mixture and carefully press the sugar and pepper mixture into the fat cap.
  • Return to oven without resealing the bag and bake 20 minutes until browned and caramelized.
  • Transfer to cutting board and tent with foil. Let rest 15 minutes.
  • Carve and serve.

NOTE: I’m deathly allergic to mustard so I substitute creamy horseradish.

BLOGMAS 2019 – DAY 25 – MERRY CHRISTMAS

Just a little trivia: From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote the 12 days of Christmas carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.  Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

  • The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
  • Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
  • Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
  • The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
  • The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
  • The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
  • Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven fold gifts of the Holy Spirit–Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
  • The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
  • Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit–Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
  • The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
  • The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
  • The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone – and, remember, the Twelve Days of Christmas are the 12 days following December 25th. The Christmas Season runs until Epiphany, January 6.

BLOGMAS 2019 – DAY 24 – CHRISTMAS EVE

THE HOLIDAY SEASON & CHRISTMAS EVE…
Usually the holiday season is an endless list of tasks and errands.  Christmas Eve is usually at our house and then Christmas Day many times too.  The last several years though the holiday season has been quiet, many times too quiet.  This year will also be quiet.  With having been under the weather the past week, I didn’t get my baking for the neighbor plates done until yesterday, but by last night I had everything cleaned up and the plates covered ready for delivery Christmas Eve afternoon. This year our selection is Cider Glazed Christmas Cakes, Golden Gate Brownies, Cinnamon Bun Cupcakes, Rolo Pretzel Turtles, Chocolate Pretzel PB Bars and Salted Caramels.

Personally, I love the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  I’m a list writer and as a Virgo usually have my presents bought early and the Christmas cards ready to mail by Thanksgiving, many times they are even hand made.  Having all this done and ready made it possible for me to go to the malls, get a nice cup of coffee and just watch other people hustle and bustle.  Then I would go home and cook and bake and then bake some more!

I learned much of this from my folks.  My folks would have the majority of their shopping done before Thanksgiving and then because of their hectic schedules dad would sit me down with all the gifts, a card table, wrapping paper, tape, bows and tags on the day after Thanksgiving and that was where I would spend the Thanksgiving weekend watching Christmas movies, eating leftover turkey sandwiches and wrapping gifts.  When the gifts were done, I would start on the Christmas cards.  LOL this wasn’t an abuse of the child labor laws, it was how I earned a chunk of money for my own Christmas shopping.  Dad was a generous employer.

Christmas Eve was spent at our house with the immediate extended family (grams and gramps, aunts, uncles and cousins and many times neighbors too). We would do a big buffet and then open all our gifts to each other and have a party.  We’d go to sleep happy and sated while waiting for Santa.

Christmas day began with stockings and brunch.  By afternoon the turkey and ham were smelling great and we were ready to start all over.  Oh, it was the same bunch of people, but we would add a great aunt and uncle. Looney Louise, (okay we didn’t call her looney to her face, but it is what made her such fun) made us cornflake wreaths with red hots and fudge too!  All us cousins would sit on the front porch waiting for them and for our wreaths!  It wouldn’t have been Christmas without them!

Looney Louise many, many  years before she made us our wreaths!

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa Claus is coming to town tonight. If you have kids, or are just a big kid at heart, you can track Santa’s progress as he travels around the world on NORAD.
Merry Christmas everyone!

May the Christmas season bring you a bounty of joy,
happiness, health and everything else you desire!

BLOGMAS 2019 – DAY 22 – WEATHER

It’s been a whirlwind of weather changes around here.  Back at Thanksgiving I would have told you we were definitely in for a white Christmas, but sadly I think that chance has passed. 🙁  Last Friday we had a fluke warm up (65°) that only lasted the one day and then Friday night brought an unpredicted wind storm that had us scrambling to save the blow up from scurrying away despite his guide weights, but seems to have also influenced this next week.  ALL the predictions from before Friday have now warmed up a bit and even the rain amounts have decreased.  That said, I really don’t put much stock in the predictions anymore and take each day as it happens 😀

 

BLOGMAS 2019 – DAY 21 – PRESENTS

When does your family open their presents?

This category has changed a lot over the years for me as I got older. 

My family traditions as a kid were of a BIG Christmas eve open and that carried on through college, but as we (cousins) all got older and began getting married with families of our own, our grandparents passed on, blended families (with their own traditions) were formed, etc… getting together for both Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day became harder and harder to do. 

Eventually Christmas eve became a much smaller event for immediate family for a small dinner and to open our gifts to each other.  Christmas morning was for being at our respective home with our kids opening presents and then the larger family get together much later on Christmas day for dinner at just one place, usually my mom and dad’s house which became our house after my dad passed away.

BLOGMAS 2019 – DAY 20 – TREE REVEAL

I mentioned yesterday that I LOVE our tree this year.  We bought all new LED lights this year so I worry a lot less about the lights getting too hot. and it’s full of all our favorite ornaments.  I would still like to find a lighted star or angel that I really like. 😀

In reality how I decorate each year changes based on my mood, weather, where we are living, etc… so it will never be the same twice! But, it will at least be the same components.

This is my Snowman Family arranged from 2 different years.
We made candle yule logs for Advent craft night at church one year and they were a HUGE success and soooooooo easy to do.  The decorations below are a few of my all time favorites.
The ornaments below are some of our homemade bulbs.  Several years ago I made quite a few and then did them with my girl scout troop also.  Hubby liked them so well that we have now donated all our store bought bulbs and made enough of these for the entire tree.

My cousin that passed away in 2014 made the ornament below for me.  It will always be hung by my shooting stars in her honor even though I’m still mad at her for leaving the mess called A HOUSE FROM HELL for me to deal with.
And our handmade ornament by Design Chick Creations.