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49 Days Until Christmas

November 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Christmas Elves 2006 - 020F

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The Christmas elf

Does your family have an elf?

Elmer the Elf has been around for quite some time. I know that he was there for my grandfather, he was there for my father, he was there for me and now he is there for my children. I can only begin to imagine how old he must be. I am not sure if it goes back to my great grandfather or even further. What I know is that Elmer has been the family elf for at least four generations now. It is such a magical addition to the holidays and a great incentive for all to be good. So what does an elf do for you? I know that this is a question that many have asked me over the years. So here is the secret of Elmer for you. It is not something to take lightly. Disrespecting Elmer is an automatic naughty list violation. Keep this information safe and secure and have fun with it.

  1. Elmer is an Elf who watches over you from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Now my sister-in-law says he is already watching. This is unfounded information. He ONLY watches from Thanksgiving until Christmas. He spends the rest of his time busy making toys.
  2. Elmer is there to make sure that children are behaving all season long.
  3. If you are caught by Elmer being good he will leave a little something in your room for you. These are not big toys. I have heard rumors of Elmer buying Movies and other such things. This is very atypical elmer behavior. He usually buys neat toys such as a Chinese yo-yo or a holiday bubble necklace that can be warn all season long. It is just a little something to let you know that you are still on Santa’s “nice” list.
  4. Elmer has been spotted. My older brother still to this day remembers seeing Elmer in his room sitting on his tuba while he was sleeping. You never know who will spot Elmer and it is always great to hear what he looks like.
  5. Elmer is a magic that can not be abused. The kids are so receptive to him and love that he comes around year after year.

As you can see this simple little elf really helps to add to the holiday spirit. Perhaps your family should write to Santa and get an elf. You will be glad you did. Just a side not… Elmer is taken!

Becca

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50 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By 5 Comments
DVD cover for the famous 1964 Christmas specia...

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Holiday Movies

Being that I am person who loved the holidays at some point you can imagine that I love the movies as well. There are the classics like “Miracle on 34th Street” which has a magic to it that even as an adult I can not understand and “It’s a Wonderful Life” which reminds us that there is always a community out there who lob=ves someone who give of themselves. These movies will live on forever and will always be the classics people remember.

Each year there is a nice mixture of new and old movies for us to see. I know that ABC family is a place that you can go all season long to see great movies. They have their 25 days of Christmas and this year they are off to an early start. In just 11 days ABC Family will be kicking off their holiday season. It, like so many other things this year, is early. I am kind of looking forward to this one though.

How can you use ABC Family Countdown to 25 days of Christmas to your favor?

  1. You can bribe the kids that once their homework is done you can all watch a movie. A lot of them are 30 minutes long.
  2. You can tell your husband that he is right.;.. There is no need to hang the holiday lights outside you would much rather watch a mushy holiday movie with him.
  3. You can have a girls night. Some of the movies are a bit much for the guys so invite a few friends over and enjoy a holiday get together.
  4. Use it as your me time. As I said in yesterday’s post it is important to have some me time.
  5. Let the kids invite a friend over to watch a movie. Perhaps have a cookie decorating addition would top off the day.

Click on the link to view the whole schedule:

Countdown to the 25 Days of Christmas

25 days of Christmas

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51 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By 3 Comments
Bah, Humbug!

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Holiday Cheer

I think that for many of us it is important to be cheery for the holidays. Last year I just could not do it. It was all I could do not to have a nervous breakdown. Everything was just far too stressful to be in anyway fun. I HATED it. I wanted to just run away and cancel Christmas and very much wanted to say Bah Humbug! I tried my hardest for the kids and although they remember some of the bad such as the tree falling and every memory I had on it breaking they also remember the fun things. The few giggles we shared, the crafts we made and the memories we created. As I said at the start of 75 days of Christmas I want this year to be different. I want this to be the year they remember only the good and not the bad. The year that dreams come true and we bond like never before. I know there go these high expectations again but we will see.

How can we assure that there will be some holiday cheer? Here are a few tips I am taking to heart:

  1. Make sure that we are all getting enough sleep. This will help to keep the crankies out!
  2. Keep in mind that nothing is going to be perfect. I have issues with this part but will be working with it time and time again.
  3. Do not take on too much. This is something that I think we all do this time of year. It is ok to cut back, skip a party or two or stay in a few nights and vedge out to a movie.
  4. Remember me time. I think that this is important to do everyday. I never do it but in theory it is true. Even if your me time is reading a story or listening to your favorite Christmas movie without kids nagging you. Just take out a few minutes out just for you.
  5. Spike the eggnog. While this is a joke, in some ways it is not. Remember to have FUN and LAUGH!!! This will make you more full of cheer then most other things.
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52 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Christmas lights

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When is the right time to decorate?

Year after year people start decorating earlier and earlier. It is something that continues to anoy me. I think that it actually annoys me more then the thought of retailer trying to cram Christmas down our throats. This is because it is the proof I need to see that it is working.

At what point in history was it acceptable to decorate the outside of your home for Christmas November 1st? Hey, I am an understanding person. I know that it is cold in another month. I know that perhaps hanging the lights now while it is still in the 50 degree mark is nice then waiting a month. This does not, I repeat NOT give you the right to light those lights. I know that this is a free country and we can do what we want but get real. By lighting the lights now you are takking away the holiday cheer the rest of us feel after Thanksgiving.

In my mind you decorate outside the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The are has a certain holiday chill to it. It is crisp and cold. While I know that no one likes to be cold, EVERYONE likes to come in to some hot cocoa and snuggle down to their first Christmas movie together.

So please, this season, just wait. It is three more weeks. That is it. Yes it may be a little colder but the memories that you are making for your kids is worth it all. Not to mention that, as I drive around, I do not want to see your lights! I will be checking!

Becca

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53 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By 7 Comments
Father Christmas // Santa Claus // Père Noël

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Holiday Commercials

Well here we are again. The day after Halloween and the Christmas Ads began. It really is amazing how this all works. What happened to Turkey Day? Where is Thanksgiving? If we left it all up to the retailers in the United States they would start advertising for Christmas in July. They create such a sense of urgency that I have to wonder who really falls for it.

Before Halloween had arrived Kmart had advertisments out to go do your holiday layaway. While I was thinking that this was a little early I could understand it. By laying away you pay a little as you go and you are assured the items that you picked. You can add to it at any time or take away from it. It is a great way to spend this year without using plastic. I know that Wal-Mart did away with their layaway a few years back so it is an advantage Kmart has this year. The question comes with the timing. Was it too early for people to start thinking about it or did they think that Kmart was right and they rushed out and shopped? I would love to know.

So, where the possibility of understanding was there for Kmart, I am hard pressed to know why there are now so many other commercials out there already for the holidays? Do the advertisers really think that people are that stupid? Do they really think that we are going to feel rushed into shopping for some reason? We have 53 days left until Christmas Day, so what is the rush?

I will tell you what I think that the rush is. People have not been spending. Third quarter profits were downs and all of these companies need to do something QUICK. Between the stock market, political uncertainty and a whole host of other social issues the holiday season may very well be the one thing that could save the commercialised way of life we all know and love.

So what is a person to do? I say go out and shop for what you need. Save the holiday shopping for a few weeks and do not feel pressured. Until Santa Clause comes rolling down the 34th Street, in his float, in the Macy’s Day Parade; it is not time to think about Christmas! I am not denying that it is coming at us quickly. I am simply saying do not forget to enjoy Fall, the harvest and all that Thanksgiving has to offer for you and your family!

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54 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Gingerbread

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The Art of The Gingerbread House

As a child the thing that has always amazed me was my Grandmother’s gingerbread houses. I always thought that it was so awesome that there was a little house that you could eat. I remember being young and just staring at all of the figures and candy and Santa on the roof. Still to this day Grandma, now in her 80′s, makes her Gingerbread house each and every year. You know what? Still to this day it aamazes me.

Being that I have always been so interested in gingerbread houses I figured it was something I would like to do for my kids. I quickly learned that it was not just a simple throwing together of some big ginger cookies. It was REALLY hard. Now when I tell you it was hard here is what I tried. A few years ago Rob, the husband, and I bought one of those little gingerbread house kits and went to work. I was so frusterated about 10 minutes into it that I had to walk away. Of course Rob, being a chef, had to finish and make it look just wonderful. I sat there thinking that my Grandmother was the most amazing person ever because she did this each and every year for as long as I can remeber and as long as my father could remember.

So here I am thinking about this ideal Christmas that I wish to have and in it I think I want another Gingerbread house. Now this year I will not be going out and buying a kit. I think that they are harder then one may think when they put their $9.99 down on the counter. I was to bake the gingerbread and make the glue that holds it all together. Perhaps I will call Grandma up and ask for her help. She would be so honored that someone was willing to keep up her tradition. Since it has been about 5 years since my last attempt perhaps I will find it easier this time. The one thing that I did learn was that it is alright to mess up. All you have to do is put a little sugar glue and it will all be better. It reminds me of the AT&T commercial from last years with the gingerbread dad who is just trying to fix his roof. In the end someone rips off the whole roof and the wife is in the bathtub screaming… It was so cute.

The point is that I think that I can do it and that I am certainly willing to give it a good effort. I will certainly let you know how it goes closer to the time. If anyone would like to send on some tips that would be great!

Becca

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55 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Christmas Ham

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Christmas Menu

With only 55 days until Christmas it is important to sit back and think about what you will be eating this Christmas. It is a hard question. My grandmother used to serve cow’s tongue and I know that that will not be featured on my Christmas Menu. Figuring out what will is always a challenge. I think that it is important not to fall into a food rut. The last 10 years or more we have had a Christmas Ham and I have loved it. Rob, the husband, on the other hand has not loved it quite as much. He HATES ham. Perhaps this is why I enjoy it on Christmas, it is the only time of the year I can eat it! Either way things need to be spiced up a bit. I thought that for this post it would be nice to see what other people are serving this holiday season. So what do you love to eat for Christmas? What is the featured item on your Christmas Menu? Perhaps I will borrow an idea or two!

Becca

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57 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By 2 Comments
German painting, 1457

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Christmas City:

Tucked away in Pennsylvania is a small town know as “Christmas City”. Bethlehem Pa. is know to most as Christmas City and is supposed to be a great place to go and enjoy the holiday season. We have heard people talking about it for a few years now and have decided that this year we will go to see what all of the hype is about.

To plan my trip I went to Christmas City’s web site and explored all of the great things we could do there. It is only about 2 hours away but spending the night may just be worth it. The site has a calender of events, show to go see, shopping to shop and even a holiday lights tour. I am excited to see just what Christmas City is all about. I will let you know and will certainly come back from my trip with some pictures to share with all of you! I am so excited to go to Christmas City. A whole city devoted to Christmas what could be better?

Becca

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58 Days Until Christmas

November 4, 2008 By Leave a Comment
An early official promotional photo from the T...

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A Time Of Giving – Toys for TOTS:

One of the first thing that I think about when I think about the holidays are all of the people who are really struggling through the holidays.  There are people who are ill, people who do not have any money and children who have no coat to get them through.  For decades the holidays have been a time when people have given to others without judgment.  The holidays have been a time when we all come together and are a little nicer then usual.

In high school I worked in a retail store that had a tree of giving.  You were to take a name off of the tree and make one child’s christmas wish come true.  Since I was 17 I have made it a point to adopt at least one child off of a tree each year.  Christmas is after all a time of giving.

I remember the first tag that I had taken off of the tree like it was yesterday!  I felt so sad for this child.  Although my parents did not have tons of money when I was growing up I really did not want for much.  The child who had filled out this tag asked for a coat to keep warm.  I am sure that mom was the one asking but it broke my heart.  In New York winter gets cold.  I bought this girl a coat, hat, two pairs of gloves, a scarf, a warm outfit and felt good about it.  Then I stopped and looked at what I had gotten and was disapointed.  All of these things were things that a child needs.  There are no dreams and desires in a list like that.  So I went back out shopping and bought her a Barbie, a matching Barbie car, a few coloring books, crayons, a baby doll, an outfit for the baby doll, some hair clips, chap stick, Monopoly and a beautiful dress that she could feel like a princess in for Christmas.  I think that I ended up spending about $150 on a child that I did not know.  I had it then and felt really good about it.  It was worth every dollar.

I still make sure to take a name off of a tree although I can not afford to spend nearly what I did that year but I can help make another child’s Christmas wishes come true.  Giving is what Christmas is all about.  It is a huge part of the season.  There are so many things that you can do to give back this Holiday season.  You could grab a name off of a tree, donate a holiday meal to the food pantry, work in a soup kitchen, help out a friend who may be having a hard time making ends meet in the current economy.  There are so many ways that you can give this Christmas.  Even if you just drop one toy in the Toys for Tots collection box it makes a huge difference in someone’s life and someone’s Christmas.

This holiday season please put a little extra time or money aside for someone who needs it.  Not only will they be forever grateful but you will forever feel good about it.   Fifteen years ago I gave Christmas to a little girl who wanted nothing but a warm coat.  I still feel great about it to this day.  So come on and just do it!  It will warm your heart and is a great thing to teach your children!

Becca

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59 Days Until Christmas

November 4, 2008 By 6 Comments
Thanks to everyone who pitched in! It was awes...

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Christmas Gift Baskets:

Gift baskets can be a great way to show people how much you appreciate them.  They can be a great gift for distant relatives, teachers, bosses and just about anyone else you can think of.  The great thing about gift baskets is that they can either be bought or made at home.  I personally think that if you have the time and it will be easy to ship you should give it a try on your own.  It is like the homemade ornament that the kids make in school.  It may look like less then a Lenox ornament but it is so much better because someone made it for you.  There are many places that you can buy gift baskets if you do not have the time and energy to make your own gift basket.  They include Harry & David, GiftBaskets.com, and even 1-800 Flowers.  These companies and many others offer a greta option to the person with no time and some extra money.

If you are like I am you are not one of those people and you will be making your own gift baskets.  There are many themes that you can follow while making your Christmas gift basket.  Here are some that I have done in the past.  I think that the possibilities are endless.

  1. A wine and cheese basket.  This is a great thing to bring to a holiday get together.  Once you find a nice basket, box, or ice bucket you will add 2 bottles of wine, a few different types of cheese and some crackers.  I think that crackers such as Carrs crackers look better in the basket.  I have even added in a half a dozen chocolate covered strawberries from time to time.  People love it when you walk in with this great gift
  2. A movie night Basket.  This type of basket could include someone’s favorite DVD, a year of Netflix or two tickets to get out and go to the movies.  I have used a red and white stripped popcorn box for this one.  In it I add candy, popcorn a gift certificate to buy a drink before the movie and even some movie related memoribelia.
  3. Christmas Ornament Basket:  This is a nice idea for a young couple who is spending their first Christmas together.  In a basket or box type Christmas decoration put a bunch of Christmas Ornaments.  Do not forget to include the “First Christmas Together” ornament.  This will be a memory  that they will cherish for years to come.
  4. It’s A Wonderful Life Gift Basket:  In the movie George and Mary give a gift basket to the Martini family.  This would be a nice gift for someone who is spending their first Christmas in their new home.  Include a loaf of bread with a tag attached saying “so that you might never know hunger”, a bottle of wine with a tag reading, “so that prosperity may reign in your home forever” and a box of salt with a tag attached saying, “So life will always have flavor”.  You may also want to add a copy of the movie to be enjoyed again and again.

As you can see there are many things that you can do with a little gift basket idea.  These are just a few of the many many ideas running through my head.  A gift basket could be remembered for years to come.

Becca

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