"Are we there yet???" Christmas Style

As  many of you know, Christmas is getting closer! It is now 80 days and some change away. Some people are saying they don't want to know that yet because that means winter is almost upon us. Very true, and if you hate winter, that's a problem. But I love winter and the snowfall, so I say bring it on!! 

My sister's NOEL blocks: naturally they're named after her.

Lately I've been wanting to put up my Christmas decorations and start celebrating the holiday more than ever!! So as to not be considered totally weird, I've been playing even more Christmas music and watching more Christmas movies. I've watched "Christmas with the Kranks" at least 4-5 times in the last two or three months, "White Christmas" at least once, and "A Muppets Christmas Carol" once. There's nothing like a good Christmas movie to get you in the spirit of Christmas!!! 

These are only a few of my grandpa's Christmas Carolers.

As many people know, I am not a fan of Halloween. Never really was, but hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get candy right??? Ever since I grew out of Trick-Or-Treating I can probably count on one hand how many times I've dressed up for Halloween. Maybe part of the reason I dislike the holiday so much is that I am really not creative when it comes to putting a costume together. There's probably more reasons I can think of to dislike the holiday. However this year, me and my friends will be going to a Halloween church dance on October 31st, in costume. Can you say not my forte? and at first I really wasn't too excited to go. I mean, it's all the same, I still lack costume creativity. That just does not change overnight.

This Grinch sits under our tree every year. When it sings
the legs move back and forth, and actually shake the whole
tree when it is placed right.

So...how to fix this problem? Easy. I decided to put Christmas into Halloween!! If I have to suffer through it, I might as well enjoy it. Now I will leave you hanging because I don't want to spoil my costume. Plus it's not ready yet so there aren't any pictures. Yes, I know, that's so nice of me to leave this with a cliff hanger. It'll just keep you looking out for future posts!

Another solution to my lack of patience for Christmas to get here is this: decorate early. So the eta for Christmas going up in my apartment is Nov. 1. Some people may think that it's a bit early for that, but I have a good reason. One of my friends is leaving for a church mission to Mexico at the end of November. My friends and I all want to have a Christmas party with her before she leaves. I instantly volunteered to host! How could I not? Give up a chance to decorate wayyyyy early? I think not. Do we have a date set for the party? Nope, so decorating the first Saturday in November it is. After all, it's only 15 days ahead of the traditional date anyway, so not too far ahead.

Bubble lights: My absolute favorite Christmas light!

Does anyone have any ways that help prepare them for Christmas or favorite Christmas activities that I should try to help me celebrate Christmas now without people thinking I'm too crazy??? I've been looking into several Pinterest projects that would be fun to try. Now I just need to sit down and actually pick out one or two to accomplish this month.

Well, gotta run. Until next time!

Merry Christmas!!!

The Stockings Were Hung...

The stockings were all hung on the bookshelf with care...

As I was thinking about what to write my next blog post on, I happened to ponder on my family's Christmas traditions on Christmas morning. I don't know about you, but traditions are big in my family, and we've had one that has stood in place for my entire life. This one will not be changed...ever! It has been hated and cursed but also loved (it all depended on your point of view). As kids we did all the hatin' and Mom and Dad did all the lovin'.


The tradition: We couldn't open any presents (nor touch them) before we were dressed and had eaten breakfast together as a familiy.

What. A. Bummer.

Now that I'm all grown up it's not so bad, but as a kid it was pure torture. It wasn't that I wanted to do nothing but open presents, but I was always so excited about Christmas I couldn't eat!! I was literally gagging on my food I had worked myself up so much with excitement. 

Okay, confession time. Last Christmas was the first Christmas that I remember where I didn't have any trouble eating breakfast! I was so happy. Breakfast was actually enjoyable.

But it's not like breakfast is small either. Mom or someone else now that we're older, will usually make a big breakfast, like a casserole or some other fancy thing. And there's always Orange Julius and hot chocolate...mmm, yummy.

Gunney's stocking at my home.

To be fair, Mom and Dad did allow us to open our stockings before breakfast. Every Christmas Eve "Santa" would take our stockings from where they hung on our bookshelf (they have never been anywhere else) and would fill them and place them on the dining room table for us to find in the morning. Before breakfast would be served, we'd all meet at the table and open our stockings together.

When we were little it was just us opening our stockings. Once we were old enough, we surprised Mom and Dad by filling their stockings. Now it's a yearly thing. We set alarms to wake up in the middle of the night to go look at the presents and fill their stockings. Looking at the presents is another blog post entirely. Anyway, we'd fill the stockings with small treats that we'd picked up and then head off to bed- and not before taking a look at the candy, but never eating. Yes, it was very hard to look and not sample.

Mommy and Daddy Pomeranian...

...And the three puppies.

We always fill the dogs' stockings with raw hides for them to chew on while we open presents. It keeps them busy. However, Toby is totally terrified of things Christmas so he tries to avoid the whole living room. Point: they get to open their stockings as well!

Although I was never a fan of this tradition growing up, now that I'm an adult and mature, I actually like it. I may even start this tradition in my own family in the future.

                        Merry Christmas!!!

The Christmas Bible

Well, it has been quite a while since I wrote anything! Don't worry though, I have not lost my love of all things Christmas! I have been pretty busy and haven't made time to write anything. In fact, I was just shopping this weekend with a friend for some Christmas records for her to play on her record player and I ended up getting a few Christmas CDs of my own! I'm even listening to one right now. It's a country Christmas collection. 

We had a little fun in the "hand-off" of the book!

Back in April I was given a gift from my brother-in-law, Brian. It was a book entitled "The Christmas Bible". He had seen it at work and instantly thought of me (really who wouldn't?). It has everything in it from Christmas menu ideas, to a variety of Christmas treats, and a lot of decorating ideas. It even has a few ways to decorate and make your own wrapping paper! How cool is that??? Will I do that? Who knows but it may just be worth a try!

Some of the food is a little too elegant for my cooking abilities, but it sure is fun to look at different foods that people make for Christmas. My goal is to pick a recipe from the book and try and make it this upcoming Christmas season. What an adventure that will be! Maybe I should try one of the homemade wrapping paper or wreath ideas? The possibilities are endless. I'll keep you updated on my decision!

Since moving I have been given a large bookcase. Can you guess what's on it? Of course, The Christmas Bible! Actually I have a complete Christmas section! It's not very big as many of my Christmas books are still in Michigan (moving really does take forever!).

It didn't take me long to open it and start reading...

I have been looking through The Christmas Bible a lot lately, and I still go to Good Will a lot...and yes I'm still just as bad as ever with how much Christmas stuff I buy! But when it's cheap and in good condition, how can anyone say no?????? I'll have to post more of my finds in another post. They really are awesome! Special thanks to Tasha for helping me find some nice goodies while she and the family were down to visit me last month! That truly made a Christmas in July!

Oh, and going back to my listening to Christmas music...yes it has begun (if it ever ended). Some of my coworkers are no longer surprised when they walk into my office and hear Christmas music playing.

Well, here's to wishing the Christmas Spirit was around more than once a year...

Merry Christmas!!!

My Newest Obsession

The fact that I love Christmas is nothing new to my family, or to my friends who have known me a while. However, I believe this fact is becoming known to some of my new West Virginia friends. Honestly, did I ever think that I could try to hide it, because that's just crazy! My newest obsession has thrown it out in the open.

Does this not just scream cuteness!!!

One of my new favorite stores (there are many) is the local GoodWill. Oh my goodness do they have some cool Christmas stuff! I've taken a trip there twice in the last few weeks, and I've found some pretty neat stuff. It's not your typical, everyday, modern Christmas decorations and knick knacks. It's the older stuff, the stuff that screams Christmas!

While all Christmas decorations are wonderful, I love the older decorations. They are less about trying to "Wow" you with their newly installed gadgets that make them talk, sing or move. They just seem to hold the simplicity of Christmas without being too flashy. Now don't get me wrong, I love the new stuff too. I have a lot of it. I'm just also extremely fond of the old stuff that people would rather throw away because of its age.

That little snowman could possibly be my favorite find.

Not everything I bought was "old style". However, I just loved the fact that I could go to the GoodWill and find so many cute Christmas items! Each has a unique story behind it. Each has seen Christmases old, and Christmases new. If they could talk, what kinds of Christmas traditions and events have they seen that they would tell me? Why are they at the store? Were they given away to make room for new decorations or were their previous owners sorting out their Christmas decorations for various reasons?

The world may never know (okay, really we will never know), but it's fun to think about. Not everything I bought was a Christmas decoration, but it was so fun to see what cute stuff was there. One of the items was a glass sled candy dish. When I saw it, I about squealed with joy! Why??? My mom has one just like it, and I've always loved it! Almost every Christmas that I can remember, it has been filled with M&Ms on Christmas morning. Yes, I do intake too much chocolate and have chocolate way too much on the brain if I remember what candy one specific dish holds on Christmas, but seriously that's beyond the point right now. I was just happy to have found a dish like my mom's dish! At GoodWill of all places!

I was so happy with my finds the night that I bought them, that I had to Skype with my family to show them what I had gotten. My sister, Melanie, loves gingerbread houses and people...well just anything gingerbread. So as I was pulling out, one by one, all of my gingerbread houses, she was dying on the other end of the computer. I was laughing! Each one is different. The one on the left holds a tea light candle inside. The middle one used to have an actual light that went inside (there is a place underneath for the light's cord to fit so the house sits flat), and the one on the right holds candy canes (it has holes in the roof where they sit).  I can't wait to buy some candy canes for it! I think I'll just buy fake so I can use them every year. The gingerbread house with the little snowman is either a salt or pepper shaker.

They say "May All Your Christmases Be White"

 

These are only some of my new treasures. I'll keep you informed on my new Christmas adventures and finds as I try not to go broke looking for them! Until then, it shall be an adventure wondering what it is that I will find next!

Merry Christmas!!!
 

My Christmas Wonderland

Yes my dear friends, I am alive!!! Life has been so busy since my move to West Virginia 2 1/2 months ago that I've barely found time to update my blog. I would promise that I will do better, but I don't want to disappoint you by breaking that promise, but I will try to keep things updated on my Christmas adventures! And there have been some!

 

A few weeks ago, Christmas came knocking at my door! Or more like mailed to my door. I got a catalog from my favorite Christmas store ever: Bronner's! It was like Christmas morning all over again in my apartment as I squealed like a little girl and showed Gunney our newest edition to the family...ok, a little over dramatic and exaggerated, but still, I was excited. It was like a small piece of home in West Virginia.

 

In the tree section (btw nice photo bomb-perfect timing)

Now some of you are probably asking yourselves, what is Bronner's and is this girl ok or is she crazy??? I will leave you to answer those questions yourself. Now those of you who know what Bronner's is, I know that you are just as excited as I am!

 

Bronner's is the biggest Christmas store in the United States and is located in Frankenmuth, MI. My family tries to make a trip there every year just to look around. There's so much to see that you can't possibly see it all: ever. Unless of course you work there, which I don't obviously, but I would love to!!

 

My nephew, James, with the polar bear in the Christmas tree section.

This November, my family took a trip to Frankenmuth and stopped at Bronner's for a few things that my grandparent's needed to pick up (and also because we all wanted to look around). It was so much fun, and as you can see, my nephew even got into the spirit of it! Unfortunately for him, he slept through the entire store, but it was his first stroller ride.

 

 

Normally I just like to look around, but this time I was determined to buy something. I found a beautiful nightlight in the form of a candle, with the flame actually being a bubble light with glitter inside. They are my absolute favorite Christmas lights! However, because of moving and only putting  up a few decorations, I wasn't able to use it at Christmas time. I can't wait to use it this Christmas!

 

One of the most important things to do while in the store, is to look up. There are so many large and unique Christmas decorations all around on shelving around the store. If you go to Bronner's website, you can take a little look around with some pictures that they have. Their site is: www.bronners.com

 

When going to Frankenmuth, you must also stop by one of their famous restaurants to eat! The two most famous are Zhender's and the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. Our favorite restaurant happens to be Sullivan's Black Forest Brew Haus & Grill. They have amazing food! We always go for lunch, and it's nice if you can beat the crowd. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

 

One helpful tip for planning your vacation or day in Frankenmuth and you want to stop at Bronner's: don't give yourself a time limit! Take your time and enjoy looking around. There's so much to see, and it's amazing! Also, go in January or February. It's so less busy than in November and December.

 

Start planning your trip today! And don't forget to take me with you!

 

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Cookies To The Rescue!!!

So this week I decided that I would make dinner for two of my new friends, and just as I was finishing dinner, I realized: I FORGOT DESSERT!!! Now that is just a complete crime and how I ever forgot that is beyond me! It's just criminal! I thought quick and hard about what to bring, what I had made, what was in the fridge or what was in my cupboards that could pass off as dessert without them thinking that I had forgotten the best part of any meal. Then it hit me: I still had some Christmas goodies left that my family and I had made.

 

Now, traditionally in my family growing up, we always made our treats and cookies before Christmas just like everyone else. Here's the catch: Mom wouldn't let us snack on them until Christmas and after Christmas. We'd make a cookie tray for family events and to snack on at home. We'd eat them long into January as we kept them cold and frozen until they were ready to be placed on the cookie tray. Her reasoning behind this was that there was so much candy being given and bought before Christmas, that we would save the cookies until afterward so that we could enjoy them throughout January when the inflow of other goodies ended. Now that I'm all grown up, I see her point. As a kid though, it was rather difficult to wait.

 

Back to my horror story of forgetting the best part of the meal. Quickly I grabbed two kinds of goodies and threw them into a Tupperware dish and went on my way. They were a hit!! And yes, one of my friends did go for dessert first, so I was glad I'd remembered before I got to my destination (which is a half hour from my apartment, so no turning around!). Here's what I brought: We call them Haystacks or Chocolate Drops. I know other people call them different things, but whatever they're called, they're amazing! Don't they just look good???

 

Chocolate Drops:

1 c. (6 ounces) semi sweet or milk chocolate chocolate chips
1 c. (6 ounces) butterscotch chips
1 c. shoestring potato sticks
1 c. salted peanuts
Waxed paper
Vegetable oil (if needed)
That's really easy to remember, right? One cup of everything!
 
 
 

 
 

Start off by measuring your one cup of butterscotch chips. Then add them to a microwavable bowl. Since this is going into a microwave, please make it a microwave safe bowl. Trust me from experience: It's not good to put a dish in the microwave if it's not supposed to go in there!

 
 
 
 

 

 

Then measure out your chocolate chips and put them in the same bowl as the butterscotch chips.

 
 
 

 

I find it easiest to mix the two chips together as the butterscotch melt slower than the chocolate chips. If they are separate, it's harder to mix them when the chocolate starts to melt. If you need to add some vegetable oil to help the chips melt so that it is creamy rather than chunky and sticky, add as much as is needed, but not too much.

 

 

As you can see, when it's creamy, it looks divine! I could almost eat it just like that.

Then you can add your 1 cup of peanuts and 1 cup of shoe string potato sticks. I find it easier to put the peanuts in first, as the potato sticks are much harder to stir in. The potato sticks will crunch a bit and break into shorter pieces, but if you fold them in and not stir, less seem to break and it's easier to get them all coated.

Once it is all mixed together, it should look a bit like the below picture. It might be a bit messy, but it sure tastes good!

So now it's all mixed together. Now you use a teaspoon, and place teaspoon size drops onto waxed paper, like this:

I like to make them smaller so they are more bite size. The smaller the piece, the more you have to go around. Although bigger pieces are pretty good too. Now let them cool for at least 15 minutes. I like to put mine in the fridge if I'm in a hurry. They also seem to harden better that way.

Aren't they just looking so yummy!

 

Now that they are complete, they are ready to be enjoyed by all! What I like about this recipe is that it is so easy, even kids can help with it. It may be messy, but letting them stir in the peanuts and potato sticks wouldn't be too bad. Maybe they could dip out the pieces when it's mixed. It's also a nice treat for any time of the year. My family just makes them at Christmas because it became a tradition.

 

I hope you enjoy!

Merry Christmas!!! 

 

So, Christmas Is Over?...Maybe Not!

Gunney as a puppy playing in the snow.

WELCOME TO JANUARY!!! Aka the most non-Christmas month of the year. Christmas is over, the decorations are put away, and winter has sunk in...quite possibly to stay for the duration of time, at least it feels like it. This winter especially seems to be going into a deep freeze.

The snow was almost as deep as he is tall! There's a lot more this year.

January is a lot like Monday to the Mon-Fri working people. You wish you could skip it to get on to the rest of the week, or the year in this case. Nothing is happening and for most of us in North America, you won't go outside unless you have to for fear of freezing to death. OK, a little overboard, but it's cold. And very uncomfortable. Unless you're a furry Pomeranian who was built for the snow.

If someone has a no-fail way to keep the Christmas spirit going throughout January, I would love to hear it. The Christmas carols are no longer played, which is a sure way to get into the spirit of things. The tree is gone. And the gift giving is over. How else can we keep in the spirit of Christmas, without Christmas stuff???

One way for me, is the pictures. I'm not talking about those embarrassing pictures that you wish to burn that your family will one day use against you as blackmail (you know which one!). I'm talking about the memories, the cherished pictures that showed what Christmas was all about, the things that you forget from year to year and from Christmas to Christmas.

 This is one of those memories. Christmas 2009, the Christmas after Melanie got Toby. The poor dog is afraid of his shadow! But he looked so cute with those jingle bells on. He wouldn't move an inch while they were on him. Needless to say, they didn't stay on long.

 Then, there's me and my daddy on Christmas morning of 2009. This is one of my favorite pictures with him. It's so festive! This was the year that Christmas "Threw Up" and "Blew Up" in Mom and Dad's house! It was the year we graduated from college and put all of our Christmas decor up...my poor mother! There wasn't room to put up one more thing! Needless to say, it was awesome!

 

And the last memory from Christmas Past I'd like to share, is how Toby got his "House". From the very first time he saw it and stepped in, Toby was in love. In '09 Tasha made Toby his own house. It is utterly adorable, and crafted with love. That is one of the most memorable gifts from that Christmas, and Toby says, "Thank you, Aunt Tasha!"

Christmas pictures and their memories sure do have a way of bringing back the Christmas spirit. They make the feelings you felt come alive again, and though January may seem drab, boring, and many times like it takes forever, trying to keep that same spirit in your life can make all the difference.

Merry Christmas!!!