Shopping already?
I have a friend who has been finished Christmas shopping since SEPTEMBER! But I'm gathering a few things herer and there.
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Facebook memories are often a real treat and I enjoy seeing the things that were important at the time, reliving memories, and smiling knowing we survived it all - so far. Several years ago I post about my joy in nailing the classroom Valentine. My kids -especially my sons - has rules about what they could bring for the class. Nothing mushy. Nothing that sounded ANYTHING like converation hearts. Had to be cool ... you get the idea I found these nose pencil sharpners and they were a hit! I giggle the entire time that I was putting these gems together - and laughed again today at the thought of it all! I added a tag that read, "You BLOW me away, Valentine" It checked all the boxes and I think I got bonus Mom Points for being gross. Get your own pencil sharpners Valentine supplies here Amazon Link for Nose Sharpeners Amazon Link for Self Seal Bags for gifting FREE Gift Tag Printable Link   The Idea A friend posted a recipe online and I was intreagued. Immediatly I asked when we were going to do this together - then I couldn't wait and jumped in a few days later. Once I took inventory and gathered up the supplies on hand, and added the others to the list, I started out. It is a relatively cost effective recipe, considering what you probably already have on hand. All spice, frozen strawberries and fresh cranberries were all I really needed to add. With all my ingredients out and ready, I prepared my jars and lids. Then it was jam time. Since I'm not great at following directions or measuring things out, I made my own plan. I like to improvise. If you see a recipe and think, I'd like that sweeter or how can I cut the calories or make it a bit healthier, try it! Here's the results of my little experiment so you can try it too. CanningCanning isn't hard, but the first time I did it, I was terrified. To be perfectly honest, that hissing, steaming pressure canner can be quite scary. I get it! Luckily, this recipe is completely safe to use the water bath canning method. Water bath processing is a processing method used in home canning for high acid or sweet foods. The jars are filled and sealed. The jars are boiled completely covered in water for a specific amount of time. High-acid or sugary foods are items such as jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, salsas, and tomato products. So, water bath canning is perfect for this Spice Christmas Jam.
Getting Everything REadySTEP 1: GATHER THE INDEGDIENTS
Eliminate any risk whatsoever by always sterilizing your jars and lids. Just wash the jars in hot, soapy water. Rinse the jars well under running water to get rid of any soap residue. Then boil the jars and lids (not the rings). The Recipie
Instructions
Nutrition (if using real sugar) Calories: 59kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.004g | Sodium: 0.3mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg WAys to Use Spiced Christmas Jam
Give as a Gift
December 1st is National Christma Light Day!
Let's Celebrate! Turn up the music and the fun!
Every year we load up, crank up the Christmas music and ohh and ahh together over all the fabulous Christmas light displays in our area. Every one in a while, we take it up a notch. It always brings a smile when we give out our Christmas Light Awards.
We liketo look at the lights so much that we even went to The Lights in Arlington, Texas this year. It's a drive through light display - and it was amazing!
It’s one of our favorite Christmas family traditions we enjoy each year. One year we even gave it a Polar Express theme! We make an evening of it by making popcorn and hot chocolate, piling in the car in our jammies (just the kids when they were little) and our blankets, and getting the playlist ready. To ramp up our yearly Christmas light family night (and help the kids pay a little more attention) I came up with a way to celebrate the hard work neighbors put into their homes for the holidays. It added in an extra element of excitement for the kids too. CHRISTMAS LIGHT AWARDS
To be recognized and awarded for all their efforts to bring holiday cheer to the town, I created some certificates to hand out during our drive looking at Christmas lights. These certificates each have a theme.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
Print out the certificates and date and sign them. You can put your family’s last name or the person who gives the award can sign their name.
Some years we took turns giving the awards and personally signed the certificate. This year I'm printing a set for every single one of us! An additional fun twist to these awards is you can knock on the receivers door and give it to them personally or you can be sneaky and tape it to there door. One year we gave the gand prize winner a pie from United! Either way it’s super fun to give these awards to the best lit homes in your town. AWARD CATEGORIES
THE MINIMALIST
This home will have a simple and clean light display. They will have the windows and home trimmed and lights carefully placed. Or possibly they may only have one tree decorated or one window decorated. THE WHITE LIGHTS HOUSE This home will be decorated will all white lights! No multi colors to be found on this house. THE INFLATABLES HOUSE Every inch of this homes front yard is filled with inflatable decorations. Maybe they even skipped putting up Christmas lights at all. THE REASON FOR THE SEASON A nativity scene will be the focus of this person’s yard. Possibly a wooden stable with lifelike figures or a beautifully lit manger scene. THE GRISWOLD HOUSE Lights covered every inch of this persons home and yard. The roof, the grass and the trees are all lit with lights! THE DISCO FEVER HOUSE Projection lights or lights timed with music would fit this award perfectly. BLANK Create your own award for a home. This one is just for you and your family. Judging
GIVING THE AWARD
When you go back to each home try to get a picture of the house and have someone hold the certificate up in the picture. This will be a fun memory to look back at and as the years go by you can compare the award winners!
You can give a little gift with the award like a candy cane, chocolate bar or Christmas ornament. Or just give the award itself. We can't wait to hear how your Christmas Light Tour goes this year. Bonus: a playlist to enjoy on your tour
Size: 8 1/2 x 11
Total Pages:22 Print: in Color, one-sided Guide Book includes:
Get organized and make some memories this holiday season with this Christmas Planner! Make the holiday season less stressful so you can focus on what matters most.
Keep track of your budget, to do's, gifts, stocking stuffers, and addresses for cards. Plan out holiday activities, menus, and the schedule for Christmas day
 Being snowed in for the last few days have offered an opportunity to read a little bit (and watch one Hallmark movie after another). One of my favorite resources for free books is Spirit Filled Kindle. I found them on facebook about a year ago and each day they post links to free Kindle books.
Typically there are Christian Romance and Bible Studies or Devotionals. It's nice to have something new to read - daily, if I wanted to. |
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AuthorReally, I never thought that I'd say, "... table for 6, please." going to dinner with my family. I had plans to be a professor and travel the world. I moved from Missouri to West Texas for graduate school and was just passing through, when I met a man that captivated my heart and held my hand. Archives
July 2024
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