Tea... my favorite drink of all time... cold sweet tea in summer, steamy hot tea in winter... any time, day or night, any type of weather... a cup/glass of tea always comforts and soothes my soul.
I'm a southerner, therefore I grew up drinking sweet tea my whole life.... probably even in my baby bottles! And no one makes better sweet tea than my Aunt Edie! Until very recently I never would order or purchase tea in restaurants because the taste was horrible and the tea was never fresh brewed.... in fact, to this very day I usually have a stash of my own tea bags in my purse with me at all times because restaurants don't carry the tea I prefer... but thankfully several restaurants have started to fresh brew their ice tea and what a difference!!! Last summer I was seriously addicted to McDonald's sweet tea... I had to have a cup every single day. McDonalds serve their sweet tea in large styrofoam cups... and if ordered 'with extra ice'.... that cup of tea will last all day long!
Now that it is cold and in the winter season, I drink several pots of hot tea made from infused fresh tea leaves. I drink hot tea all year round, but in the wintertime I have more than just my daily pot of hot tea each morning, and find myself drinking several pots of this delish tea all day long. My preference is white and/or green tea's... but an occasional cup of chia, peach, orange blossom, vanilla pear or other flavored tea is enjoyable too.
There is this wonderful company "Tevana" who sells every sort of tea imaginable, tea accessories, honey and any possible tea related item you can think of. They have adorable stores located in malls where you can browse, sample, and learn about different teas, and methods of tea making for hours on end. I love the name "Tevana" because when in these stores, you really feel like you are in Tea Nirvana!!!! Tevana is also available for on-line shopping... not near as much fun.... but if you live in a remote area like I do, and don't have access to one of their stores... this is definitely the next best thing.... website address is "teavana.com". Their sales associates are very friendly, well trained and knowledgable of all their products and always have plenty of time for their customers no matter how many tasting samples they have to prepare.
Funny story tho about my first visit to a Teavana store..... and.... I'm glad to know I am not the only person who has this same story.... I have heard this same story from 3 other very close dear tea loving friends as well.... so I will share and hopefully prevent other tea lovers from this same tea shopping fate!
Teavana purchases their teas from all over the world... some teas are only harvested 5 days a year.... some teas are made from hand rolled individual tea leaves, and some teas are easily harvested and transported.... sooo the price of the teas vary greatly. In Teavana, the teas are sold per oz.... NOT by the tin. But not knowing this on my first trip into the store to purchase tea... all I see is the prices of the tea... which vary by blend. They also sell these tea tins that keep the teas sealed tightly and guarantee their freshness and shelf life. There are fancy tins, small tins, tall tins, plain tins and of course the sealed foil bags that most tea purchases are packaged in. The tea tins really do keep the teas fresh, and are a one time purchase since they can be reused over and over. So.... I decide right away to purchase a tin with each tea blend so I can store this expensive tea properly.... thinking that the price of the tea is the price of the tea in the tin. But Oh no no no!!!! The price of the tea is per oz and the tins hold 6 - 12 oz of tea!!! The one tea I selected was $15, the other was $23.... and I'm already thinking.... WOW!!!! That is really pricey tea.... but.... I know this particular tea is a good tea with very healthy benefits and worth the extra cost over the grocery store. And I'm also thinking that the tin of tea will last a good 6 months, thus.... the tea doesn't seem quite so expensive when you break it down per cup instead of per tin. So as I'm fishing out my wallet and adding up my purchases.... thinking I just spent $50 on tea and how the heck am I gonna explain this to my husband... the sales clerk announces my purchase total is $249..... I seriously.... dropped my jaw and said..... WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!! And then I start laughing at how ridiculous that total was and how funny it will be when I hear what mistake the sales clerk made to bring my total that high! But OH NO..... no mistake was made..... $15 X 6 oz = $90!!!!! YIKES!!!!! But now...... it's too late to change my mind because they have already pre-mixed my tea selections into these tins and I am now thinking.... Well.... don't I look like a big idiot with egg on my face and how the heck do I get myself out of this mess? So...... I did the only thing I could think of..... I paid the cashier and drove home uber carefully with these two tins of 'golden' tea in my car.
My husband did indeed give me 'one of those' looks.... but when I explained that my extravagant tea purchase breaks down to just $1.50 a day AND it is a healthy product that I immensely enjoy.... how could he complain when he himself drives to starbucks for a daily cup of 3.00 coffee?? The tea really did last 6 months and really did stay fresh in those tins. I have since refilled my tins a couple of times since then... and I enjoy each and every cup of this pricey expensive healthy tea everyday!!! My husband in a wine connoisseur and enjoys shopping and drinking wines from all over the world.... I'm a tea connoisseur and I enjoy shopping and drinking teas from all over the world.... to me it's a wash... tit for tat kinda of thing. Fortunately my husband gets it and understands my love of tea.
Do go browse Teavana online and see all the tea related products available. I will also say the white honey and the natural sugar they sell are AWESOME too. I love the honey on my toast and the raw sugar is delish in tea. I usually drink my hot teas unsweetened.... but at night as a sweet treat I put a few nuggets of the raw sugar in the tea... yum! I have one of the cast iron tea pots they sell and love it!
All this tea typing has made me thirsty for a pot of tea..... I'm going to go put the kettle on the boil and brew a pot of Jasmine Dragon Pearl tea and relax... why don't you put your tea pot on too and lets enjoy a cup-o-tea together cause it's TEA TIME!!!!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Baby Shower
This weekend my very dear cousins held a dual baby shower for my two daughters who are expecting their babies in the next few weeks... and I want to give a HUGE shout out THANK YOU to everyone who participated in putting this event together for us. You would think my cousins (all sisters... Debbie, Sherry, Connie, Nancy) did this kind of thing professionally because it was sooooo well done! They worked together like a well oiled machine! The food was amazing and DELISH, the decorations were adorable and just too cute for words!!!! THANK YOU also to my Mom and my Aunt Edie for all their help and contributions too! My girls and I are truly soooo blessed to have such a wonderful loving family!
Wedding Showers and Baby Showers are always such wonderful events because there is just sooo much love in the room at each event.... however.... I gotta say.... I think Baby Showers are lots more fun because everything is so darn cute, cuddly, and soft! The games played at such events are of the 'much giggling' kind, and definitely not for the timid or shy. The games are meant to be silly and evoke lots of laughter.... this shower definitely hit the mark on this!
I have been the hostess of several showers in my lifetime, so I know how much work and thought is involved in putting on such a great party. You start with a theme... then you decide on the menu, games, prizes and decorations that are needed. Just gathering and purchasing the items needed for a shower is exhausting... much less the work of all the cooking and putting up of the decorations!
At the shower event this weekend all you saw when you looked around the room were smiling happy faces having a wonderful time! There were four VERY pregnant young women in attendance (two of which were the guests of honor) and all four young ladies looked completely normal from the back view, but when they turned around all you saw was HUGE bellies of baby.... hilarious!!! Also in attendance were an 18 month old toddler, a 5 month old infant, and a week old newborn.... there were Momma hormones all over that room!!!! All the baby bellies got rubbed, patted, kissed and talked to.... a couple of times the bellies responded with kicks and movement to the joys of those whose hands were caressing the bellies at the moment! The toddler, infant and newborn all got lots of attention as well.... there were plenty of arms, laps and bosoms in the room that wanted to hold, comfort and cuddle the wee ones!
Time is drawing quite near when the babies will start arriving.... in fact... I'm 20 days away from flying to Akron to await the arrival of our first Grandson Henry! The countdown has officially begun... and it's less than a month away!!! YIKES!!! And only 48 days from when I fly to Cincinnati for our second Grandson Liam's arrival! The time will fly by and it won't be long until my blog posts are full of funny, cute and sweet stories of what these babies have done, or are doing. YES!!!! Beware!!! You have been warned!!! I AM going to be one of those Grandma's that think everything these babies do is just too precious not to share!! : )
Again.... THANK YOU BUNCHES to all who gave their time and effort to show my girls and I how much we are loved and how much these new additions will be loved too! You are the BESTEST!!!!!
Wedding Showers and Baby Showers are always such wonderful events because there is just sooo much love in the room at each event.... however.... I gotta say.... I think Baby Showers are lots more fun because everything is so darn cute, cuddly, and soft! The games played at such events are of the 'much giggling' kind, and definitely not for the timid or shy. The games are meant to be silly and evoke lots of laughter.... this shower definitely hit the mark on this!
I have been the hostess of several showers in my lifetime, so I know how much work and thought is involved in putting on such a great party. You start with a theme... then you decide on the menu, games, prizes and decorations that are needed. Just gathering and purchasing the items needed for a shower is exhausting... much less the work of all the cooking and putting up of the decorations!
At the shower event this weekend all you saw when you looked around the room were smiling happy faces having a wonderful time! There were four VERY pregnant young women in attendance (two of which were the guests of honor) and all four young ladies looked completely normal from the back view, but when they turned around all you saw was HUGE bellies of baby.... hilarious!!! Also in attendance were an 18 month old toddler, a 5 month old infant, and a week old newborn.... there were Momma hormones all over that room!!!! All the baby bellies got rubbed, patted, kissed and talked to.... a couple of times the bellies responded with kicks and movement to the joys of those whose hands were caressing the bellies at the moment! The toddler, infant and newborn all got lots of attention as well.... there were plenty of arms, laps and bosoms in the room that wanted to hold, comfort and cuddle the wee ones!
Time is drawing quite near when the babies will start arriving.... in fact... I'm 20 days away from flying to Akron to await the arrival of our first Grandson Henry! The countdown has officially begun... and it's less than a month away!!! YIKES!!! And only 48 days from when I fly to Cincinnati for our second Grandson Liam's arrival! The time will fly by and it won't be long until my blog posts are full of funny, cute and sweet stories of what these babies have done, or are doing. YES!!!! Beware!!! You have been warned!!! I AM going to be one of those Grandma's that think everything these babies do is just too precious not to share!! : )
Again.... THANK YOU BUNCHES to all who gave their time and effort to show my girls and I how much we are loved and how much these new additions will be loved too! You are the BESTEST!!!!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Years Eve
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! May everyone have a FUN and SAFE evening of celebration tonight!
As one year ends and another begins most of us can't help but to reflect back on the year and remember all the fun times, sad times, changes, and accomplishments... then we find ourselves looking forward to the new year and all the things we would like to change, improve on, and/or begin.
New Year's resolutions are a common subject in conversations this time of the year. The top of the list are always things like.... I'm going to lose weight/get in shape... I'm going to quit smoking.... I'm going to be a better Mom/Dad/Daughter/Son/Sister/Brother/Friend.... I'm going to make more efforts to stay in touch with friends/family... I'm going to........ yada yada yada. Now I don't know the actual statistics of what the odds are of 'sticking to' all these plans to improve ourselves.... but I LOVE the fact that many of us want to improve ourselves and have the hope that on this one day we really have the power to do it.
New Year's Day is a fresh start.... you can smell the freshness of it... like fresh smelling laundry.... take a big whiff...... uuummmmm..... The key word is FRESH!!! Anyone can set a new goal for themselves, and have the hope of believing improvements can and will be made. It's a clean slate with fresh chalk. Some of us take only a day to go back to our 'old ways'.... some of us keep to it for a couple of weeks before returning to the norm.... but some of us actually try all year long to continue on our quest of reaching our goals. Whatever your resolutions are for this year... you should always make them... just so you can start off a new year with a new plan, a new smile, a new hope, and a new sense of accomplishment when you reach your goal... even if it is just one day.
I have a few goals I hope to accomplish this year and while I may not finish them all.... I love the challenges they will give me this year and something good to look forward to.
1) I would like to learn to speak french.... I have the Rosetta Stone program and have begun working with it already... this year I would like to really learn it.
2) I would like to begin taking flying lessons and working on getting my pilots license... in fact Joe and I both would like to do this together.
3) I have met several ladies in our new community who like to play and putz around with golf... some quite serious golfers, some just hit and giggle like me... I would like to get involved in a hit and giggle group of lady golfers and just maybe actually improve my golf game... but if not... I would just like to enjoy golfing with these ladies on a regular basis.
4) I currently exercise regularly and eat fairly healthy on a daily basis.... this year I would like to continue with my fitness and good health practices... I exercise regularly 3 days a week now... I would like to up it to a consistent 5 times a week.
5) I would like to continue exploring in my cookbooks and finding new recipes to make... making a resolution to cook at least one new recipe a week... but.... our schedules get really crazy so while I would like to make this a firm New Year's resolution... this is one that has to be tweaked to fit our schedules.
So as you can see, I have several new resolutions and/or current resolutions to continue working on for 2011... not a bad start! These are a few of the things I would like to work on to improve myself and to make life better for those around me... but... I also know (especially after the last 6 months) that life changes on a whim, and you can be set on a firm path plodding along doing your thing when it all suddenly changes and you need to find a new path and begin again. Don't let life discourage you from reaching your goals... reaching goals is about keeping your eye on it, but also keeping your peripheral vision in focus too. If a life event prevents you from moving forward with a particular goal, think about how you can change the focus on your goal and keep moving toward it, while dealing with the wild cards life throws us all.
Always striding for a goal is what keeps us improving ourselves... some goals can't be reached in one short year and may take several years to finally accomplish... some goals are a lifetime of work in progress... and some goals require the help of others... but no matter what kind of goal or how high the goal needing to be reached... have one in mind to focus and work on... then when reached... begin a new goal to reach for. Having goals makes us stronger, always gives us hope, and the best sense of self empowerment when we reach them.
Wishing you all much success in 2011 as you aim for, focus on, and attempt to reach your New Year's resolutions. Don't give up.... start over when necessary.... tweak the goal when needed.... but keep striving! GOOD LUCK to all!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
As one year ends and another begins most of us can't help but to reflect back on the year and remember all the fun times, sad times, changes, and accomplishments... then we find ourselves looking forward to the new year and all the things we would like to change, improve on, and/or begin.
New Year's resolutions are a common subject in conversations this time of the year. The top of the list are always things like.... I'm going to lose weight/get in shape... I'm going to quit smoking.... I'm going to be a better Mom/Dad/Daughter/Son/Sister/Brother/Friend.... I'm going to make more efforts to stay in touch with friends/family... I'm going to........ yada yada yada. Now I don't know the actual statistics of what the odds are of 'sticking to' all these plans to improve ourselves.... but I LOVE the fact that many of us want to improve ourselves and have the hope that on this one day we really have the power to do it.
New Year's Day is a fresh start.... you can smell the freshness of it... like fresh smelling laundry.... take a big whiff...... uuummmmm..... The key word is FRESH!!! Anyone can set a new goal for themselves, and have the hope of believing improvements can and will be made. It's a clean slate with fresh chalk. Some of us take only a day to go back to our 'old ways'.... some of us keep to it for a couple of weeks before returning to the norm.... but some of us actually try all year long to continue on our quest of reaching our goals. Whatever your resolutions are for this year... you should always make them... just so you can start off a new year with a new plan, a new smile, a new hope, and a new sense of accomplishment when you reach your goal... even if it is just one day.
I have a few goals I hope to accomplish this year and while I may not finish them all.... I love the challenges they will give me this year and something good to look forward to.
1) I would like to learn to speak french.... I have the Rosetta Stone program and have begun working with it already... this year I would like to really learn it.
2) I would like to begin taking flying lessons and working on getting my pilots license... in fact Joe and I both would like to do this together.
3) I have met several ladies in our new community who like to play and putz around with golf... some quite serious golfers, some just hit and giggle like me... I would like to get involved in a hit and giggle group of lady golfers and just maybe actually improve my golf game... but if not... I would just like to enjoy golfing with these ladies on a regular basis.
4) I currently exercise regularly and eat fairly healthy on a daily basis.... this year I would like to continue with my fitness and good health practices... I exercise regularly 3 days a week now... I would like to up it to a consistent 5 times a week.
5) I would like to continue exploring in my cookbooks and finding new recipes to make... making a resolution to cook at least one new recipe a week... but.... our schedules get really crazy so while I would like to make this a firm New Year's resolution... this is one that has to be tweaked to fit our schedules.
So as you can see, I have several new resolutions and/or current resolutions to continue working on for 2011... not a bad start! These are a few of the things I would like to work on to improve myself and to make life better for those around me... but... I also know (especially after the last 6 months) that life changes on a whim, and you can be set on a firm path plodding along doing your thing when it all suddenly changes and you need to find a new path and begin again. Don't let life discourage you from reaching your goals... reaching goals is about keeping your eye on it, but also keeping your peripheral vision in focus too. If a life event prevents you from moving forward with a particular goal, think about how you can change the focus on your goal and keep moving toward it, while dealing with the wild cards life throws us all.
Always striding for a goal is what keeps us improving ourselves... some goals can't be reached in one short year and may take several years to finally accomplish... some goals are a lifetime of work in progress... and some goals require the help of others... but no matter what kind of goal or how high the goal needing to be reached... have one in mind to focus and work on... then when reached... begin a new goal to reach for. Having goals makes us stronger, always gives us hope, and the best sense of self empowerment when we reach them.
Wishing you all much success in 2011 as you aim for, focus on, and attempt to reach your New Year's resolutions. Don't give up.... start over when necessary.... tweak the goal when needed.... but keep striving! GOOD LUCK to all!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Reason For The Season
As we decorate the tree, have fond memories over the ornaments placed on the tree, bake cookies, hang our twinkle lights, go Christmas shopping, wrap our gifts, and gather with our family and friends... let us not forget the real reason for the season, which is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
I have enjoyed every single Sunday attending services in my new church this advent season... and today was especially poignant as the pastor spoke about Mary and Joseph's shame as they awaited the birth of Christ Jesus... and the shame that Jesus carried with him all through his life and even to the event of his death. It wasn't until after Jesus's death that christians really understood the whole story... Mary DID NOT commit adultry, she WAS visited by the Holy Ghost... Joseph did love Mary and honored GOD by marrying her even though the town felt they had 'lain together' prior to their wedding vows.... and GOD did send his only begotten son to earth to forgive us for our sins.
I love singing all the Christmas hymns and carols each Christmas season... making it hard to find a favorite. Is it O Come O Come Emmanuel... Ave Maria... Hark The Herald Angels Sing... Away In The Manger... It Came Upon A Midnight Clear... O Come All Ye Faithful... The First Noel... We Three Kings??? Each time I hear and/or sing any of these carols I think..... OOOOHHH That's my favorite.... that is... until I hear and/or sing the next carol. Even though I can't carry a tune with a bucket AND a lid.... I sing my heart out ever so joyously anyway!!! Today in church we sang Joy To The World.... and if this is, or is not my favorite, it's hard to say.... but I feel that this song hit a true chord today with it's lyrics... this carols lyrics kind of say it all in one song! Just in case you don't know the lyrics to this song.... here they are.... enjoy... sing proud and loud and remember as you sing... Tis the season to rejoice and celebrate the birth of our LORD Jesus Christ!
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
I have enjoyed every single Sunday attending services in my new church this advent season... and today was especially poignant as the pastor spoke about Mary and Joseph's shame as they awaited the birth of Christ Jesus... and the shame that Jesus carried with him all through his life and even to the event of his death. It wasn't until after Jesus's death that christians really understood the whole story... Mary DID NOT commit adultry, she WAS visited by the Holy Ghost... Joseph did love Mary and honored GOD by marrying her even though the town felt they had 'lain together' prior to their wedding vows.... and GOD did send his only begotten son to earth to forgive us for our sins.
I love singing all the Christmas hymns and carols each Christmas season... making it hard to find a favorite. Is it O Come O Come Emmanuel... Ave Maria... Hark The Herald Angels Sing... Away In The Manger... It Came Upon A Midnight Clear... O Come All Ye Faithful... The First Noel... We Three Kings??? Each time I hear and/or sing any of these carols I think..... OOOOHHH That's my favorite.... that is... until I hear and/or sing the next carol. Even though I can't carry a tune with a bucket AND a lid.... I sing my heart out ever so joyously anyway!!! Today in church we sang Joy To The World.... and if this is, or is not my favorite, it's hard to say.... but I feel that this song hit a true chord today with it's lyrics... this carols lyrics kind of say it all in one song! Just in case you don't know the lyrics to this song.... here they are.... enjoy... sing proud and loud and remember as you sing... Tis the season to rejoice and celebrate the birth of our LORD Jesus Christ!
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Classic Christmas Traditions
I'm sure everyone has their own version of "Classic Christmas Traditions"... I know I do... and whether I want to or not... I just can't help myself... these precious traditions MUST be kept up each and every year. Here are a few of what my family and I consider to be our "Classic Christmas Traditions".
Wrapping gifts while watching old classic christmas movies... but adding new classics when new movies are deemed worthy. The movies my girls and I HAVE to watch every year are.... "It's a Wonderful Life" (DUH on that one!... in both black and white and color)... "A Christmas Story"... "White Christmas"... "Miracle on 34th Street" (both the old and new version)... "Home Alone" (usually 2 and 3 as well)... and last but not least ..."Christmas Vacation". The movies recently added to the MUST watch list over the past few years are... "Love Actually"... "The Holiday", and "The Family Man". Have you not watched any or all of these movies... try putting one on and watching as you wrap. Somehow wrapping gifts while the classics are on just gives the task a more Christmasy feel. Since I have watched these movies so many times... now I basically wrap while I listen, but I can see each scene clearly in my head.... but... sometimes I must admit I do get distracted and get caught up in the movie while one gift sits in front of me for... umm... up to an hour or so! : ) But... that's just part of the tradition too.
Christmas cookie baking... I make the same sugar cookie dough recipe each year... after the dough has rested in the refrigerator for a bit... I divide up the dough amongst the girls and we each cut out our own shapes and decorate "our batch" anyway we choose. We don't icing our cookies, we just use colored sugar to decorate our tasty treats with. And of course making sugar cookies is always a messy affair... but sooooo worth it! Since my husband and I recently moved several states away, and have to travel to be with our girls for our Christmas gathering, I will be making my sugar cookies solo and taking them to our family gathering. I will miss the comradery of us girls doing them together... but in the end... they will still taste the same and we will all remember the years of when we did them together. And of course we always made the standard famous chocolate chip cookies... Christmas just isn't Christmas without several batches of chocolate chip cookies! I just use the basic/standard tollhouse recipe on the package of chocolate chip morsels... it's just one of those 'classic' recipes that can be tweaked if you want... but it is so good as is, and can stand alone on it's own without a single tweak. Over the years the girls and I did experiment with, and bake various other cookie recipes... but these two are the 'traditional' ones!
Chex mix... again... Christmas isn't Christmas without several batches of homemade chex mix. A very simple munchy crunchy treat to make... yet again... it can be a bit messy. I start off by using the standard/classic recipe I found on a chex cereal box years ago.... but I have tweaked it into my own version. I use crispex cereal that is a mix of corn and rice cereal, wheat chex, cheerio's, pretzel sticks (broken into bits), gold fish and pecans... then I add a tad more butter and worchestire sauce and top it off with a good dash or two of tabasco sauce. The tabasco sauce adds just a hint of a back note to the palate, the cereals I use make it easier to nibble and get a good mix of the different flavors, I use gold fish instead of cheez-it's because they are easier to eat mixed in with the other ingredients, and I use pecans instead of peanuts because I like the buttery soft texture of pecans over the stronger peanut flavor. My husband HATES, HATES, HATES chex mix because of how crunchy it sounds when people eat it and the smell of their breath afterwards... but us girls never cared... we make it, we eat it, and enjoy it all the same. It's one of those times when he was outnumbered and had no control over the issue... and we took full advantage of that power! Sorry honey.... it's not personal... we just LOVE chex mix! My favorite part is when you get to the bottom of the bowl, and all the salty seasoned crumbs await to be scooped up and eaten! YUM!!!
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service/Christmas Light Tour... this has been a tradition in our family that started before the girls were born... but it has recently had to be put aside due to the fact that the girls have grown up and have responsible jobs that require them to work Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day and/or have families to visit from their significant others side. For the past couple of years our family has had to have our gathering on Christmas Eve because of someone or several having to be up and out early on Christmas morning to work or to be at the in-laws. I must admit I have missed this tradition dearly... but I understand that for us all to be together, and juggle all the schedules, some things must be sacrificed... and that in time it will come back again. I have found the most amazing church in our new community and am quite bummed I will miss their candle light service... but Joe and I will be the ones who will be traveling this year and won't be able to attend... so I just enjoy the advent season all the sundays before candle light service. For me, the candle light service truly is what gives me the Christmas spirit the most... although during these years of change and compromise, I have many, many, many years of candle light services from my past to keep the Christmas spirit alive in my heart. And I still look forward to when this tradition can be resumed again.
Christmas day jammies!... Each year I buy all of us girls a set of matching jammies (the ONLY time EVER that we are allowed to dress alike!)... we wear them to bed Christmas eve and then spend the entire day on Christmas lounging in them. First rule is.... they have to be COMFY!... second rule is... they have to be somewhat stylish so that they can be worn and enjoyed for years to come during the winter months. I don't know about the girls... but I have quite a collection in my drawer and I DO wear them all winter long. Any one is invited to join us on Christmas Day... but we stay home all day long... hunkered in as we watch movies, play games, enjoy wine, and nibble on food the whole day and night. Since Joe and I recently moved, this will be the first time our family will all be together since September... I'm really looking forward to our Christmas Day lounge fest!
As Joe and I become Grandparents this coming year... I'm sure we will add many more new traditions to the long standing ones we have now... and we will be passing on all the old traditions to the new members of the family for years to come. There is nothing like traditions, and the memories of them to keep you warm at heart through this holiday season!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Wrapping gifts while watching old classic christmas movies... but adding new classics when new movies are deemed worthy. The movies my girls and I HAVE to watch every year are.... "It's a Wonderful Life" (DUH on that one!... in both black and white and color)... "A Christmas Story"... "White Christmas"... "Miracle on 34th Street" (both the old and new version)... "Home Alone" (usually 2 and 3 as well)... and last but not least ..."Christmas Vacation". The movies recently added to the MUST watch list over the past few years are... "Love Actually"... "The Holiday", and "The Family Man". Have you not watched any or all of these movies... try putting one on and watching as you wrap. Somehow wrapping gifts while the classics are on just gives the task a more Christmasy feel. Since I have watched these movies so many times... now I basically wrap while I listen, but I can see each scene clearly in my head.... but... sometimes I must admit I do get distracted and get caught up in the movie while one gift sits in front of me for... umm... up to an hour or so! : ) But... that's just part of the tradition too.
Christmas cookie baking... I make the same sugar cookie dough recipe each year... after the dough has rested in the refrigerator for a bit... I divide up the dough amongst the girls and we each cut out our own shapes and decorate "our batch" anyway we choose. We don't icing our cookies, we just use colored sugar to decorate our tasty treats with. And of course making sugar cookies is always a messy affair... but sooooo worth it! Since my husband and I recently moved several states away, and have to travel to be with our girls for our Christmas gathering, I will be making my sugar cookies solo and taking them to our family gathering. I will miss the comradery of us girls doing them together... but in the end... they will still taste the same and we will all remember the years of when we did them together. And of course we always made the standard famous chocolate chip cookies... Christmas just isn't Christmas without several batches of chocolate chip cookies! I just use the basic/standard tollhouse recipe on the package of chocolate chip morsels... it's just one of those 'classic' recipes that can be tweaked if you want... but it is so good as is, and can stand alone on it's own without a single tweak. Over the years the girls and I did experiment with, and bake various other cookie recipes... but these two are the 'traditional' ones!
Chex mix... again... Christmas isn't Christmas without several batches of homemade chex mix. A very simple munchy crunchy treat to make... yet again... it can be a bit messy. I start off by using the standard/classic recipe I found on a chex cereal box years ago.... but I have tweaked it into my own version. I use crispex cereal that is a mix of corn and rice cereal, wheat chex, cheerio's, pretzel sticks (broken into bits), gold fish and pecans... then I add a tad more butter and worchestire sauce and top it off with a good dash or two of tabasco sauce. The tabasco sauce adds just a hint of a back note to the palate, the cereals I use make it easier to nibble and get a good mix of the different flavors, I use gold fish instead of cheez-it's because they are easier to eat mixed in with the other ingredients, and I use pecans instead of peanuts because I like the buttery soft texture of pecans over the stronger peanut flavor. My husband HATES, HATES, HATES chex mix because of how crunchy it sounds when people eat it and the smell of their breath afterwards... but us girls never cared... we make it, we eat it, and enjoy it all the same. It's one of those times when he was outnumbered and had no control over the issue... and we took full advantage of that power! Sorry honey.... it's not personal... we just LOVE chex mix! My favorite part is when you get to the bottom of the bowl, and all the salty seasoned crumbs await to be scooped up and eaten! YUM!!!
Christmas Eve Candle Light Service/Christmas Light Tour... this has been a tradition in our family that started before the girls were born... but it has recently had to be put aside due to the fact that the girls have grown up and have responsible jobs that require them to work Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day and/or have families to visit from their significant others side. For the past couple of years our family has had to have our gathering on Christmas Eve because of someone or several having to be up and out early on Christmas morning to work or to be at the in-laws. I must admit I have missed this tradition dearly... but I understand that for us all to be together, and juggle all the schedules, some things must be sacrificed... and that in time it will come back again. I have found the most amazing church in our new community and am quite bummed I will miss their candle light service... but Joe and I will be the ones who will be traveling this year and won't be able to attend... so I just enjoy the advent season all the sundays before candle light service. For me, the candle light service truly is what gives me the Christmas spirit the most... although during these years of change and compromise, I have many, many, many years of candle light services from my past to keep the Christmas spirit alive in my heart. And I still look forward to when this tradition can be resumed again.
Christmas day jammies!... Each year I buy all of us girls a set of matching jammies (the ONLY time EVER that we are allowed to dress alike!)... we wear them to bed Christmas eve and then spend the entire day on Christmas lounging in them. First rule is.... they have to be COMFY!... second rule is... they have to be somewhat stylish so that they can be worn and enjoyed for years to come during the winter months. I don't know about the girls... but I have quite a collection in my drawer and I DO wear them all winter long. Any one is invited to join us on Christmas Day... but we stay home all day long... hunkered in as we watch movies, play games, enjoy wine, and nibble on food the whole day and night. Since Joe and I recently moved, this will be the first time our family will all be together since September... I'm really looking forward to our Christmas Day lounge fest!
As Joe and I become Grandparents this coming year... I'm sure we will add many more new traditions to the long standing ones we have now... and we will be passing on all the old traditions to the new members of the family for years to come. There is nothing like traditions, and the memories of them to keep you warm at heart through this holiday season!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...
The other night I was watching a program on Christmas traditions and how they began. I especially enjoyed the story behind how the Christmas Tree became a tradition, and thought I would share it with you.
It all began before Christianity, when Ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians brought evergreens into their homes during the winter... observing some kind of celebration in the darkness of winter. In 1605 a traveler in Germany brought home for his family a small evergreen to sit on the table... and for the next 200 years these small table top Christmas Trees were seldom seen outside of Germany.
In the 1840's a Prince brought his tradition of his German homeland to the Royal Family. Prince Albert was a German who married Queen Victoria. In England in 1847, Prince Albert gave his wife a small Christmas Tree, and invited the London Illustrated News to sketch his family enjoying this new custom. The picture was published in 1848 and by the next Christmas, trees were popping up all over English parlors.
Two years later in America, a magazine editor, named Sarah Josepha Hale published the same picture... but first she removed the Royal couple's jewels and medals, and presented the picture as a 'typical American family' enjoying their Christmas Tree. After the magazines publication in 1850, nearly everyone in the country wanted one. Each December after saw Americans visiting Christmas Tree lots, or jogging out to the forests to chop down their own. It wasn't until forty years later a new option became available with the first artificial trees. Advertisements for artificial Christmas Trees cropped up in magazines in the 1890's.
The first "Family Christmas Tree" to appear in the White House (which were real evergreens... not artificial) was during Franklin Pierce's presidency in the 1850's. This new tradition was interrupted in 1901 during Teddy Roosevelt's administration, due to an outcry against waste of pine trees for consumption at Christmas time. Roosevelt decided that was the end of Christmas Trees, and he would have no Christmas Tree at the White House... but... he didn't expect the reaction from his own children. His own young son managed to sneak 10 cents out of the White House and buy himself a little bitty Christmas Tree and set it up in a closet. Roosevelt had a change of heart when he found out about his son's tree, and he learned about a conservation option... "Tree Farming". Tree Farming meant not cutting down virgin forests to create domestic size Christmas Trees. Throughout the 20th century, Christmas Tree farming grew into a major industry... today it employees over 100,000 people. Today Christmas Trees have become bigger... some even going floor to ceiling... than the small table top version from the 1800's.
Which brings us to the decorations of the Christmas Tree. The first ornaments were cookies and candies that were hung on the tree during 16th century Germany. For 200 years a decorated tree was a child's delight, because most of the ornaments were edible... these evergreens were known as "Sugar Trees"... and were joyfully shaken down for their so called fruit. In the 19th century, when industrialization catches on... the tree began to have small toys and gifts (such as small musical instruments for boys and needle books for girls) added to it's branches... making the gifts themselves the ornaments. By the 2nd half of the 19th century, gifts became too large to hang on the tree, and instead were laid under the tree. New ornaments needed to be created to decorate the tree... this is when the first glass ornaments were made and used for decorations. Woolworth's was the first American company to import, and sell the glass ornaments... these ornaments actually were responsible for making Woolworth stores the most profit.
And what about the twinkle lights on the Christmas Tree (which I've already said in a previous blog, are my FAVORITE!)... how did they get started? Before electric lights, small wax candles were lit and placed on the Christmas tree... but... because the risk of fire was so great... buckets of water were concealed behind the tree, or behind the drapes to be ready in a moments notice to douse the tree in case of a fire. In 1879, Thomas Edison produced the invention that would light up, and change the world... the electric light bulb. One of the first uses of his new electric light bulbs were to be used on Christmas Trees. The electric light bulb was only 3 years old in 1882, when the Vice President of Edison's Electric Company (Edward Johnson) had 80 red, white, and blue lights wired to a revolving Christmas Tree in his parlor... but it wasn't until the 1920's that Christmas Tree lights became popular, when electricity in homes became common place in America... which was a much safer way to illuminate the Christmas Tree than wax candles.
Now you too know the story and history of the Christmas Tree we enjoy today! I found the history quite fascinating, especially how a simple small evergreen tree became the huge decorated Christmas Trees we now have in our homes all through the Christmas Season present day.
O Christmas Tree... O Christmas Tree... how lovely are thy branches!
It all began before Christianity, when Ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians brought evergreens into their homes during the winter... observing some kind of celebration in the darkness of winter. In 1605 a traveler in Germany brought home for his family a small evergreen to sit on the table... and for the next 200 years these small table top Christmas Trees were seldom seen outside of Germany.
In the 1840's a Prince brought his tradition of his German homeland to the Royal Family. Prince Albert was a German who married Queen Victoria. In England in 1847, Prince Albert gave his wife a small Christmas Tree, and invited the London Illustrated News to sketch his family enjoying this new custom. The picture was published in 1848 and by the next Christmas, trees were popping up all over English parlors.
Two years later in America, a magazine editor, named Sarah Josepha Hale published the same picture... but first she removed the Royal couple's jewels and medals, and presented the picture as a 'typical American family' enjoying their Christmas Tree. After the magazines publication in 1850, nearly everyone in the country wanted one. Each December after saw Americans visiting Christmas Tree lots, or jogging out to the forests to chop down their own. It wasn't until forty years later a new option became available with the first artificial trees. Advertisements for artificial Christmas Trees cropped up in magazines in the 1890's.
The first "Family Christmas Tree" to appear in the White House (which were real evergreens... not artificial) was during Franklin Pierce's presidency in the 1850's. This new tradition was interrupted in 1901 during Teddy Roosevelt's administration, due to an outcry against waste of pine trees for consumption at Christmas time. Roosevelt decided that was the end of Christmas Trees, and he would have no Christmas Tree at the White House... but... he didn't expect the reaction from his own children. His own young son managed to sneak 10 cents out of the White House and buy himself a little bitty Christmas Tree and set it up in a closet. Roosevelt had a change of heart when he found out about his son's tree, and he learned about a conservation option... "Tree Farming". Tree Farming meant not cutting down virgin forests to create domestic size Christmas Trees. Throughout the 20th century, Christmas Tree farming grew into a major industry... today it employees over 100,000 people. Today Christmas Trees have become bigger... some even going floor to ceiling... than the small table top version from the 1800's.
Which brings us to the decorations of the Christmas Tree. The first ornaments were cookies and candies that were hung on the tree during 16th century Germany. For 200 years a decorated tree was a child's delight, because most of the ornaments were edible... these evergreens were known as "Sugar Trees"... and were joyfully shaken down for their so called fruit. In the 19th century, when industrialization catches on... the tree began to have small toys and gifts (such as small musical instruments for boys and needle books for girls) added to it's branches... making the gifts themselves the ornaments. By the 2nd half of the 19th century, gifts became too large to hang on the tree, and instead were laid under the tree. New ornaments needed to be created to decorate the tree... this is when the first glass ornaments were made and used for decorations. Woolworth's was the first American company to import, and sell the glass ornaments... these ornaments actually were responsible for making Woolworth stores the most profit.
And what about the twinkle lights on the Christmas Tree (which I've already said in a previous blog, are my FAVORITE!)... how did they get started? Before electric lights, small wax candles were lit and placed on the Christmas tree... but... because the risk of fire was so great... buckets of water were concealed behind the tree, or behind the drapes to be ready in a moments notice to douse the tree in case of a fire. In 1879, Thomas Edison produced the invention that would light up, and change the world... the electric light bulb. One of the first uses of his new electric light bulbs were to be used on Christmas Trees. The electric light bulb was only 3 years old in 1882, when the Vice President of Edison's Electric Company (Edward Johnson) had 80 red, white, and blue lights wired to a revolving Christmas Tree in his parlor... but it wasn't until the 1920's that Christmas Tree lights became popular, when electricity in homes became common place in America... which was a much safer way to illuminate the Christmas Tree than wax candles.
Now you too know the story and history of the Christmas Tree we enjoy today! I found the history quite fascinating, especially how a simple small evergreen tree became the huge decorated Christmas Trees we now have in our homes all through the Christmas Season present day.
O Christmas Tree... O Christmas Tree... how lovely are thy branches!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Twinkle Lights
I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas twinkle lights!! I especially appreciate those neighbors who put their lights up Thanksgiving weekend... since we ourselves are never quite that ambiguous... in fact... while my husband also enjoys twinkle lights... he just isn't too keen on putting them up... but I eventually am able to sweet talk him in to the task... but... only if it isn't miserably cold outside. This year tho... I'm cheating and having our lights put up by professionals, because bless his heart... he doesn't have the time, even if he was keen on putting them up.
I love all twinkle lights... whether they are clear, multi-colored, or all one color... they make me smile whenever I see them. The good thing about the days getting shorter and shorter up until Dec. 21st is that the twinkle lights come on sooner and are visible earlier in the day/evening. Whenever our family is out and about after dark during the Christmas season... we just have to drive around the neighborhood admiring all the twinkle lights.
Since I'm quite short, it is my husband's job to string the lights and garland around our Christmas tree. Then when it comes to placing all the ornaments on the tree he is the ornament passer outer... which he would rather do than actually hang the ornaments on the tree. He first switches the tv to a sports channel (aka... a football game), then he sits with his box of wire hangers and the boxes of ornaments all around him and inspects each ornament, checking to be sure they each have a hanger before handing them off to the girls and I to hang on the tree. Big ones go on first... little ones go on last... and ALL of the handmade and childhood ornaments get hung.... room MUST be made for every single one!
The best part about hanging the ornaments on the tree is how each ornament has it's own history and story, and these stories are told and retold every single year as each one gets hung on the tree. We have ornaments that my husband and I have had since childhood, ornaments that our children have had since their birth, ornaments that our children have made in school, ornaments that family have made for us, ornaments from places we have traveled to, and ornaments we have inherited from those who have passed on. As you can imagine... over the years of gathering ornaments, our Christmas tree isn't able to hold them all... so it was a good thing when our children grew up and took their ornaments with them to their new homes to continue the memories and stories each year. And of course... the ornaments look much better out of their packing boxes and hung on the tree with the twinkle lights shining behind them to add to their sparkle.
Another of our many family Christmas traditions is the "Tour of Lights" we would take the girls on each Christmas Eve after the candlelight service at church. We would drive around several neighborhoods oohhhing and ahhing at all the twinkle lights before it was time to finally drive home, put out the cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer, and then shooing the girls off to bed, so that Santa could come and do his work uninterrupted.
As soon as the Christmas tree goes up with all it's twinkle lights aglow... the tree stays lit all day and all night so that whenever you go to bed, and whenever you get up... the first thing you see is the Christmas twinkle lights!
These little lights of mine... I'm gonna let them shine... let them shine, let them shine, let them shine! So string up those twinkle lights, plug them in and let them shine, let them shine, let them shine!
I love all twinkle lights... whether they are clear, multi-colored, or all one color... they make me smile whenever I see them. The good thing about the days getting shorter and shorter up until Dec. 21st is that the twinkle lights come on sooner and are visible earlier in the day/evening. Whenever our family is out and about after dark during the Christmas season... we just have to drive around the neighborhood admiring all the twinkle lights.
Since I'm quite short, it is my husband's job to string the lights and garland around our Christmas tree. Then when it comes to placing all the ornaments on the tree he is the ornament passer outer... which he would rather do than actually hang the ornaments on the tree. He first switches the tv to a sports channel (aka... a football game), then he sits with his box of wire hangers and the boxes of ornaments all around him and inspects each ornament, checking to be sure they each have a hanger before handing them off to the girls and I to hang on the tree. Big ones go on first... little ones go on last... and ALL of the handmade and childhood ornaments get hung.... room MUST be made for every single one!
The best part about hanging the ornaments on the tree is how each ornament has it's own history and story, and these stories are told and retold every single year as each one gets hung on the tree. We have ornaments that my husband and I have had since childhood, ornaments that our children have had since their birth, ornaments that our children have made in school, ornaments that family have made for us, ornaments from places we have traveled to, and ornaments we have inherited from those who have passed on. As you can imagine... over the years of gathering ornaments, our Christmas tree isn't able to hold them all... so it was a good thing when our children grew up and took their ornaments with them to their new homes to continue the memories and stories each year. And of course... the ornaments look much better out of their packing boxes and hung on the tree with the twinkle lights shining behind them to add to their sparkle.
Another of our many family Christmas traditions is the "Tour of Lights" we would take the girls on each Christmas Eve after the candlelight service at church. We would drive around several neighborhoods oohhhing and ahhing at all the twinkle lights before it was time to finally drive home, put out the cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for his reindeer, and then shooing the girls off to bed, so that Santa could come and do his work uninterrupted.
As soon as the Christmas tree goes up with all it's twinkle lights aglow... the tree stays lit all day and all night so that whenever you go to bed, and whenever you get up... the first thing you see is the Christmas twinkle lights!
These little lights of mine... I'm gonna let them shine... let them shine, let them shine, let them shine! So string up those twinkle lights, plug them in and let them shine, let them shine, let them shine!
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About Me
- Vickie G
- I am a short little lady with a passion for cooking and pilates. I have been married for 31 years to my high school sweetheart (my soulmate and love of my life!!!) and we have 3 amazing daughters. I am 50 years old and love living life with as much zest as possible.