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Webkinz Valentine’s

February 4, 2009 By 7 Comments
Valentine
Image by Cayusa via Flickr

Come on come all…

Webkinz has done it again.  On valentine’s Day this year be sure to log in to your Webkinz account.  I know what you are wondering.  “Is there something in it for me?”  The answer my friends is yes there sure is something in it for you.  If you log on to Webkinz on Febuary 14, 2009 you will be sure to recieve a free gift for your Webkin pet.  I am so excited to see what it is.

Becca

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6 Days Until Christmas

December 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Snow Job
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White Christmas this year?

So there are only 6 days left and I can not believe it but I hear that we may have a white Christmas here in NY.  I am so excited about the possible magic.  This snow will be on top of the now we are suposed to get today and the snow that is to come on Sunday night as well.

I wish that I had thought to buy a sled of two for the kids.  I think that we are going to have fun all snug in our beds.  I know that I have been dreaming of w White Christmas and all of our dreams may just come true.  I guess we will see as it gets closer.

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7 Days Until Christmas

December 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Monkey Christmas and a Happy New Year
Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr

Wow!  This season has gone so quickly.  I would love to say that my planned went as planned and that I was able to get to everything.  I would say that this year has been a challenge.  Perhaps it wa the short season.  Perhaps it was my unhealed broken foot.  Perhaps I procrastinated.  Either way it is here!

One week until Christmas means that there are many things that I have to do in little time.  These things are vital to assuring that I am not stressed on Christmas Eve.

  • I need to complete my shopping.  It has been difficult because I can only shop for an hour or so with my foot.  I think that I have gone out everyday this season.
  • I need to Wrap.  This is something that is vital.  I think that while this is obvious I need to keep in mind that it is important.
  • I need to do my cards.  Although they may be New Years cards I still want to send them out to all of the people who I do not get to see or talk to often.
  • I need to be an elf to my mother-in-law who broke her thumb and cannot wrap this year.  This is important to me.  She would do it for me so how could I not make it a priority.

Well 7 days is enough time.  I just want to assure that I have a reduced stress Christmas.  We are now counting down.  Get ready Christmas will be here soon.

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44 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By 1 Comment
Collage of various Christmas images, made from...

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Holiday Survey

Today I would love to do a few quick surveys:

  1. What is your favorite Holiday Movie? Mine is Miracle on 34th Street. I just love how it makes me feel by the end. There are some others that come in a close second but that is the winner.
  2. What is your best holiday memory? Mine is the first Christmas I was married. We were married on week before Christmas. We lived with my Mother-in-Law. Both she and Rob were sick. I had hurt my wrist and was in a sling. By 9 at night we had not opened presents. I was in bed crying when my mother-in-law opened the door and said are we going to do this. She then dumped bags of unwrapped gifts in the center of the room and we looked through them. This Christmas was not a good Christmas but it was my favorite. It made me realize for the first time in my life that it would all be alright if Christmas was not perfect. It certainly had not been that year and by the end of the night it was alright again. I was happy at the end of the night and that was what was important.
  3. What is your most loved holiday song? I love “Baby it’s Cold Outside” It is not about Christmas but is so nice and makes me want to belt it out. There are many many others because music is so vital to a holiday season.
  4. What Tradition does your family have that is closest to your heart? I think that the best tradition to me is Elmer the Elf. As I discussed a week or so ago he is special because not only is he magical but he also is an heirloom which has been passed from generation to generation.
  5. How do you stay sane during the holidays? I cannot answer this one because I so do not stay sane. I am a nut time and time again. But it is all a great time in the end which is all that matters.

I would love to hear where everyone stands with each of these. I find it fun to share where I have been and how I have been impacted and why things are so special. I hope you will take a moment to do the same.

Becca

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45 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Christmas Santa 2006 - 044F

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Santa Clause

We all know him and love him. Some of us know him as Saint Nick, some know him as Father Christmas and some know him as Santa Clause. The point is that we all know him. Young or old, Jewish or Christian we all know who he is and what he is about. He is about giving.

Santa was always a special part of Christmas for me. He is where all of the magic of Christmas starts. He is Christmas to so many kids. I know he is in our house. We make sure to give him his cookies and eggnog. We watch out our windows as we fall asleep. I know that I have seen Rudolph the red nosed reindeer out my window many times in the past. It was what always made fall asleep quicker because that meant that Santa was just a few houses away. I remember laying in bed feeling the magic as a child.

The truth of the matter is that I still lay in bed and feel the magic. As a child Santa came and visited me one year. I was quite sick with pneumonia and was feeling down. On Christmas Eve. Santa walked right into my house and told me to feel better and with a blink he was gone. I am not sure if it was really him or a helper but that night I was convinced that it was him. It was one of the times as a child I felt special and felt the magic that Christmas has to offer. Perhaps that is what I feel such a love for Santa.

Santa will be checking his list soon. I am trying to be extra good this year. You never know what Santa will place under the tree for you this year! Be sure that you make it onto the nice list this year!

Becca

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46 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Sugar Plum Snowflake

Image by CaptPiper via Flickr

White Christmas

I am dreaming of a white Christmas. Aren’t we all though? We look at pictures of snow men, movies with that magical snow falling just as you are falling asleep, and Santa Clause needing a sleigh. I can hear the song in my head right now as I am typing this. These things are what keep the magic around. For many people though a white Christmas in unlikely. I think that the portion of the country that can expect a white Christmas is far less then those who have no chance. Here in New York it has been known to happen from time to time. I remember one year, and I can not tell you which year it was, that it snowed. It was not too many years ago. Here in NY it was a very white Christmas. I think that there but it had its downfalls.

  1. We were stuck at home. While this could have been nice we had plans for the evening and afternoon that were to be quite enjoyable.
  2. We could not get all dressed up to go trudging through the snow. It would have been too wet and messy.
  3. We had not planned on cooking a special Christmas dinner ourselves so we had no food in the house.
  4. It was not what I had planned for. I like to plan, as we all know, and I HATE when things ruin my plans.

I guess that what I am saying is that we have to be careful what we wish for. Sometimes we get more then we bargain for. A nice blanket of snow can be beautiful and magical. Anything more can be a downright bummer. Trust me I know. So when you are all dreaming of a white Christmas this year remember to dream small!

Becca

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47 Days Until Christmas

November 13, 2008 By 1 Comment

Christmas Tree

What would Christmas be without a Christmas Tree? This is a question that some people do not even understand. Of course you have a Christmas Tree. It is what symbolizes Christmas in our homes, our malls, Rockafeller Center and even the White House. There is even a whole Christmas Carol dedicated to it. “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree”. We all sing its praise year after year. It is what you first learn to color and decorate as a child and what you dream that there will be presents under. So where did this Christmas tree come from is an important question to be answered.

  • The Christmas tree has been said to have first brought about in Germany. A monk had traveled to Germany to teach the people there the word of the lord. This monk used a fir tree, a triangular shape, as an example of the holy trinity. This the became a German tradition at Christmas time. People would even hang their trees upside down. As trade evolved so did the Christmas tree. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who was German, are said to have made the Christmas tree what it is today. Queen Victoria was well liked and people did whatever she did in order to keep up with the times. When people had seen that she had decorated her tree people followed. Ornaments at the time were all home made. From there the Christmas tree has evolved into what we know it as today. Thank goodness we do not put candles on our trees. I would be far to nervous!
  • Real Or Fake? This has been a debate that I have struggled with for years. Do I want a real tree or a fake one? Each year we go for the real one. There is nothing like smelling a fresh cut Christmas tree when you walk into your house. It is magical. For those who are happy getting that scent from a candle they may be just as happy with a fake tree. I will say this for a real tree, it is magical. Look at your child’s face when they come on a Christmas tree hunt with you. The joy hand magic they have at that moment becomes contagous. It is not lugging a big box out of the basement and assembling a tree. It is real. Part of what God gave us on this earth. It is magical.
  • Going Green: I know that many people out there are into a going green kick. It is the new cool thing to do. I know that cutting down trees is not good for the o-zone and who knows what else. There is something to consider though. These trees would not have been here if it were not for Christmas. They are all so perfect now because they come off of tree farms. So please put the green aside and just decide to recycle or reuse your tree when you are done. It will still be used as wood chips, fire wood to cut down on heat or to carve something special out of.

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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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

Image by house_n_baby via Flickr

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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