May Angel Star

Posts Tagged ‘Twelve Weeks of Christmas’

If you want to check out the Twelve Weeks of Christmas blog carnival, click on the above link! It has all the info there at Keely’s blog, plus you can link up your post for others to see too

Christmas shopping is something I am not a fan of, I usually end up procrastinating on getting gifts for everyone except the kids.

I do three kinds of shopping!

Number 1: Black Friday!

• I have braved the crazy crowds on Black Friday for the last two years, thanks to the help of my MIL Debbie. Christmas shopping for the kids and getting big things for me, like my pink Dyson! I’m sort of sad about it this year because we won’t be going to PA for Thanksgiving this year. So no Black Friday madness for Debbie and I together, I’ll miss the tradition. But if I see some good deals I will definitely be going out this year alone!

Number 2: Online Shopping!

• This is my favorite kind! I get to wear pj’s and sit in front of the computer, adding things to my cart, paying with a click of the mouse and waiting like an excited child for the UPS man to show up on my doorstep with all my wonderful goodies! Last year I spent a lot of time on Amazon and American Girl.

Number 3: Christmas Eve Shopping…

• Why do I do this? Seriously, this is the point of desperation! When I have procrastinated so badly, I run out to the store along with all the other procrastinators and just grab anything I can!  There are a few family members that I have the hardest time shopping for, these are the ones that usually get shopped for on Christmas Eve. I’m hoping that I can avoid going this route this year..

This is why I love making presents! But even that usually ends up last minute, getting supplies and rushing trying to get cute things churned out by the kids, things that are extremely messy and take forever long to dry!

Procrastinators unite…….tomorrow!

How about you, how do you Christmas shop?

If you want to check out the Twelve Weeks of Christmas blog carnival, click on the above link! It has all the info there at Keely’s blog, plus you can link up your post for others to see too

I love to give. Whenever we do a “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” at church giving is usually at the very top of my list. Christmas is just another time when my gift giving skills come into play.

I love putting love and care into the gifts I pick out, but more importantly, my absolute favorite thing to give are gifts that I have made personally.

There is just something special about pouring your heart into something you create to give to someone else!

Scrapbooks have been big on my list in years past. One year I was locked away in my room on Christmas Eve and then up until almost 3am finishing scrapbooks! It was so exhausting, but the look of happiness on the recipients face make it all worthwhile.

Crocheted items were my big ticket item last year. Scarves and hats, all different colors and in some cases themes (like Flyers hockey!)

This year I think I’m going to go back to the hat and scarf route, or maybe a blanket, or maybe sock monkeys. It’s always so hard for me to stick to one idea!

If anything, the biggest downfall to my homemade gifts, is not preparing enough time for me to get them done. I usually wait until the last minute before thinking about things and then lack the time to get everything accomplished. I thought I would be ahead of the game this year, but today is Nov. 1st people!

Where did 2009 go??? I was supposed to start thinking about this stuff back in July!

Leaving you with some pictures of presents past and presents future.

My Aunt Freda trying on her hat and scarf last Christmas. My brother Dwight in the background wearing his!

Traditional and non-traditional different colored sock monkeys! My Mom ordered 5 of these from me to give away as gifts this year, I’m working on a pink one right now. The girls both want a pink one as well for Christmas.

What are you making to give away this year?

So I just decided to jump right in with this little blog carnival that Keelie at Red Writing thought up. Check it out, link up and don’t forget that every week there is a giveaway!

I love the reason for the season, Jesus Christ! I love giving presents, especially ones that I make by hand. I love the sheer joy etched on the faces of my children. I love the Christmas tree (white non-blinking lights only please!) and it’s beauty at night! I love spending time with family and friends. And I love the treats that only come along during that time of year.

Yes, I love cookies, candy and pie! Lots and lots of sugary goodness! I love breakfast casserole, stromboli, and our newest tradition Christmas day lasagna! I love sneaking choconut dainties when my Dad isn’t looking! Those tasty little things are so darn addictive!

Here are the recipes to my fave Christmas foods starting with breakfast and ending with dessert!

Breakfast Casserole

• We have this every Christmas morning at my parents house!

Stromboli

• 1 loaf frozen bread dough thawed
• 1/2 lb. swiss cheese sliced thin
• 1/2 lb. cooked ham sliced thin
• 1/2 lb. salami sliced thin
• 1/2 lb. pepperoni slices

Preheat oven 350°. Roll out bread dough 1/4 inch thick. Layer ingredients in order. Start at one end, tightly rolling dough and ingredients, tucking in ends as you roll. Place seam side down on edged, foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake 1 hour. Cut loaf into 1 inch slices.

Kelly’s Traditonal Lasagna Recipe

• Yeah, lasagna is my favorite Italian food! You must make this recipe, you will love it forever!

Choconut Dainties

• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 bags semi-sweet chocolate morsels (6 oz bags)
• 2 cups finely chopped walnuts

Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, beating until blended. Add flour and salt, beating well. Stir in 1 bag chocolate morsels. Shape dough into 2- x 1/2-inch logs (about 1 heaping teaspoon each). Place logs on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for about 6 minutes or until lightly browned; remove to wire racks to cool. Microwave chocolate morsels at HIGH 4 minutes or until melted, stirring once. Dip ends of cookies in melted chocolate. Roll ends in chopped walnuts. Place on wax paper until set.

My mouth is watering just thinking about all this good food!

Christmas can’t come soon enough!

Well, let me think about this. I can wait. I have so much to accomplish before Christmas, it can’t come too soon!

Enjoy!