Merry Christmas

Finding a moment for yourself is the best gift you can give yourself for the holidays,

I look forward to everything about the holiday season all year long.  The sounds of Christmas music, the smell of cookies being baked, the roast and ham in the oven, the pine scent of freshly cut trees.  It's difficult to enjoy it all when you're in a constant state of frenzy.  

One way is waking up before everyone in the morning and brewing yourself a hot cup of tea or your favorite coffee. Serve it in your favorite mug. Turn on the tree and let yourself take in the gentle beautiful colors. Give yourself permission to breathe. Breathe in slowly, breathe out and have faith that everything will get done.  

And if it doesn't get done, will anyone really notice? 

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy holiday season. Holiday hugs from me to you💚

Gathering Safely for the Holidays

The holidays will look different this year. Our family gatherings have grown to 40 of us. Sadly, because of virus restrictions, it will be the first time in our family history we will not be able to safely gather for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Christmas at Dad's in the house we grew up in is something we look forward to all year long. The dining room table fills up with delicious dishes made from our family recipes, Santa comes in to pass out gifts to all of the children, and we laugh and tell stories. 

Whatever your holidays look like, you can still make it festive and special. 

 Bring out your best tablecloth, decorate with candles, tea lights and pumpkins. 

This might be the year to set tradition aside and try another dish for Thanksgiving. Instead of turkey you always share with family and friends. consider a pan of lasagna or pumpkin stuffed shells.  Both are recipes you can make ahead of time and keep refrigerated until ready to bake.  

Serve your Thanksgiving meal outdoors.  I admit, living in the Midwest this may be tricky as temperatures drop but you can be creative.  Outdoor heaters and fire pits are helpful. Place baskets of blankets outside for a cozy touch.  Serve your meal earlier in the day when the temperatures are at their warmest.  Why not have Thanksgiving brunch or lunch instead of dinner?

This Thanksgiving no matter how we celebrate, let's count our blessings and be grateful for what we have. 

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours, may you have a joyous holiday season and peace and blessings in 2020.

Gift of Christmas

What do you remember about the holidays when you were younger? Was it expensive gifts and extravagant meals?  Or was it spending time with the ones you love?  More and more each year, I realize it's the experiences leading up to the holiday that I will remember. I remember driving with my family in the evening looking at houses decorated with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Each year we attended Christmas morning mass, then rush home to open our gifts before going to my Grandma and Grandpa's for our Christmas meal and to share my Grandma's birthday who was born on Christmas. My Dad taking each of his children (5 of us) on our own to buy Mom her Christmas gift from us.  One year I still remember he let me pick out bath oil beads for Mom at Walgreen's and at the time, our store had a small restaurant in it with red leather booths.  My Dad and I each had a hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. 

 My favorite ornament on our Christmas tree growing up was the church pictured above, though it used to have a small dome over it.  Each year after my husband and I were married, my Mom would show me where my favorite church was on she and Dad's tree.  My Mom passed away nearly 10 years ago, and my Dad still has all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to celebrate Christmas.  My husband and I now have my favorite little church on our tree where I pack it away safely each year until the next Christmas.  It warms my heart seeing it and fills me with memories of Christmas's past.  

We have a beautiful artificial tree now, but growing up until nearly 10 years ago, we enjoyed the ritual of finding the most perfect Christmas tree.  I consider my memories a true gift and remember them more vividly than anything else.  Spending time with your family and friends and visiting those who have lost a loved one or spending the holidays alone will be the true gifts of Christmas.  

Here Come the Families for the Holidays

It can be very stressful hosting extra people in your home.  Hospitality is the name of the game during the holiday season so here are a few simple tips I found on Motivation Magazine to help you go the extra mile.

Tips When Having Family for the Holidays

The hustle and bustle of the holidays are hectic and stressful.  Factor in family and friends arriving to spend time with you.  Here are a few tips to make the holidays run smoothly and relaxed for everyone.  

The Christmas Tree - Find a tree locally and bring your saw to cut your own down or find a tree lot where they are already cut down for you.  Incorporate the help of the family to choose the best tree.  Decorating the tree is a fun activity that includes everyone.  Ask each family member or friend to bring an ornament to share on the tree.  

A fun group activity- gather around the fireplace and make large bowls of popcorn.  Hand out needles and thread and have everyone make popcorn garland to string on the Christmas tree.

Make your own ornaments with the kids - Construction paper, scissors, glue and glitter provide materials for making paper snowflakes or other ornament shapes of your choice. If space allows, set up an art and craft table in an area away from crowds so children can have their own space to create. It's a win for everyone. 

Premade freezer friendly foods -  make up ahead of time minestrone soup, cinnamon coffee cake, egg, and cheese and ham casserole so you can grab and heat for time saving meals. 

Pajama Day - Designate a day for spending the entire day in pajamas for utter relaxation. This one is my favorite!

Treats for your guests - offer your guests slippers, hot chocolate packets, mugs,  chocolates

Outdoor entertainment - one of the best parts of being at the lake house is the great outdoors.  Cold climate like the Midwest provides entertainment of sledding, skiing, ice skating, snowshoe hiking, not to mention snowball fights, making snow angels and taking nature walks together.

Don't forget the ambience - Candles in all shapes and forms!  Votives or tapers, the scents of the holidays are inviting.  Cranberry, pine, holly berry or cinnamon.

Holiday music - After Thanksgiving each year, out comes my Johnny Mathis and Bing Crosby Christmas music.  We are enjoying VINYL again in our home, so we enjoy playing many of our favorites on the turn table. 

Be prepared for emergencies - Always keep on hand jumper cables for car batteries that won't start, shovels, melting salt or sand to deice the walkway, driveway and porch.