Let There Be Holiday Baking #ChristmasCookies

What are your favorite cookies? Are they different from your favorite holiday cookie?

My sister and I love to bake. We started doing it at a young age with our mom. We got to bake side by side with her, our kid-sized bread loaves and pies going in with her grown up sized… Yes, she had mini bread loaf pans and tart tins to match her full sized ones, and that’s what we got to use. Then there were cookies and muffins and cupcakes…

As adults, we now find that baking relaxes us and brings on the nostalgia….

Which is why I love baking with the holidays.

In fact, so far, here’s what I’ve made this new recipe…

White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Pecan

Some spicy orange bark, and some chocolate peanut butter balls round out the candy side (though I’m thinking to also make peppermint bark).

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

And these Swedish Oatmeal cookies whose recipe was shared with me by a former 92 year old volunteer back in the day.

Anne’s Swedish Oatmeal cookies

Next up will be hubby’s favorite, Candy Cane Cloud.

Candy Cane Clouds

My favorite… Pumpkin Cookies…

Pumpkin cookies

Or maybe the universal favorite… Peanut Butter Blossoms.

Peanut butter blossom

Tomorrow I’ll be baking a few of these cookies with my sister and nephew…. and prepping trays to give out to my day job peeps.

All of this?

Screams that Christmas is coming soon and gets me super exited.

So if you haven’t told me yet, what is your favorite kind cookie?

What makes it feel like the holidays for you?

Do you bake or are you on the receiving end from someone/somewhere else?

Obviously, Legendary George Strait agrees with me on this subject…

Christmas Magic Through a Child’s Eyes

I’m fortunate. Although my family has lived miles away for years, one of my sisters has managed to make it into town during the holidays.

Part of my joy has been watching that little boy’s eyes light up with excitement and wonder. Children can find laughter and fun in practically everything. A couple years ago I got a sweater with reversible sequins that can spell out naughty or nice depending on which way you rub… The kid had a blast. His laughter was infectious. That joy….innocent.

Nephew figuring out the sequins flip

He loves helping bake in the kitchen and was thrilled to share his Gingerbread ninjas that he’d made… In fact, he’s super excited about helping me bake my Christmas cookies this weekend.

Decorating his Ninjas

When they went to a little group of boutique shops near their house for dinner one night and discovered the whole place had been decked out for the holidays, he was ecstatic.

A whole Christmas town!

His eyes wide, voice filled with wonder, he looked around and said to my sis in a hushed voice, “Mama, it’s Christmas town!”

Seeing the holidays through a Child’s eyes reminds you of the magic and how you felt before cynicism and life wore us down. Being around him reminds me constantly of all the things I love about this holiday. I think that’s why this Lady A song drew me in.

If you love this holiday, what is your favorite memory? What do you love most about this time of year?

When Christmas Feels Un-Christmaslike… #ChristmasAlwaysFindsMe

Let’s be real.

This year has been HARD. For EVERYONE.

We’re all struggling to find joy, peace, and silver linings.

Some turn inward to find that peace.

And while I definitely search internally for comfort and calm, my Christmas Joy comes with bringing it to others.

Yesterday I did a little thing. It wasn’t much, but it made a difference. I went to the Dollar Tree yesterday after work and picked up a bunch of garland, window clings, and little Santas and Elves. Today I brought them to work and we used them to decorate all of our work station cubicles, spreading a little cheer.

In my alternate universe I’m an alarm dispatcher for security companies. Not exactly a “no stress” job. We need a little Christmas there.

To watch the faces of my work peeps brighten and to see them getting excited about decorating their stations made my whole day!

And it seems I’m not the only one feeling the need to give…

Hubby called me at work to see how I felt about adopting a family in need and making Christmas special for them. We picked a single mom with 5 children between the ages of 10-2. No child should have to miss out on the magic of Christmas.

As many of my long term readers know, I’m a military brat.

Christmas in the Phillipines (I’m Mary)

We moved. A lot.

Somehow, Christmas still found it’s way into my heart and soul….so this song by the incredibly talented new(ish) artist, Ingrid Andress, really spoke to me on a deep level.

Wherever you are…

Whatever you’re doing….

My greatest wish for you this holiday season?

That Christmas finds you.

*hugs*

Heartfelt Holidays #MyChristmasPlaylist

Confession time… Although I love Christmas, I hate being cold. Thus, I hate winter. With a passion.

The taller little one is me… Surviving Winter (in Germany)

It was actually a big considering factor for me when I decided to move to Florida in 1999. Yes, I’ve been in cold climates. Lived in both Germany and Chicago. I’ve lived in warm ones, too… Hello Philippines.

Now, I don’t know if that particular opinion is an unpopular one or not, but we can always take a poll…

What’s your favorite season? What about holiday?

And is there anything about the holiday you love that may be considered an unpopular opinion?

*psst* My secret is that I can’t stand Love, Actually (the movie).

I know.

I know…

It makes me a heathen.

Still DON’T LIKE IT!

My most favorite thing of all? Christmas Music! One of my all time favorites is Amy Grant‘s Tender Tennessee Christmas.

Isn’t it awesome that my newest favorite group, Home Free, covered it with they talented Rachel Wammack? Take a listen and see if you don’t understand a little bit of why I’m now a dedicated Home Fry (what they call Home Free aficionados).

Does this not help to make your season bright?

These guys are AWESOME!

Have you heard of these guys? Are you a fan? What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Merry Christmas, Gift is #FREE

  
Merry, merry Christmas, my fun, fabulous friends! For this holiday season I’m giving away my first book, Three For All, away! It will be FREE for the next 5 days and I’d appreciate the help spreading the word about my little gift.

Also, starting tomorrow, the sequel, Four One Night, will be available for $.99.

It isn’t much, but it’s my way of sharing the love… Also, for those of you who are all about sharing the message of empowerment and embracing your sexuality, please don’t forget to grab and/or share Embraceable! It’s a fabulous book with contributions from som absolutely amazing activists and authors. I’m still in awe that I was invited to contribute. 

 

Merry Mercenary Christmas?

I’ll be honest… I love this song. I think it’s fun and flirty and playful. 

But, I don’t really take this particular song past that because the words are a bit mercenary. It’s really all “me, me, me” and places a ton of value in things that don’t really matter. I’m sure, by the earlier songs, you’ve already figured out where my values are….

Are there songs you enjoy, but don’t embrace the concepts?

The Winter Chill Brushes the Air…

…reminding us to snuggle up with some wonderful company. This particular holiday song reminds is that there’s a joyful sense of fun with letting our inner children to come out and play, keeping our hearts warm. What holiday song brings out your fun, silly side?

The Heart….

I adore this song… It’s a great reminder that what makes this holiday great is the little things:

• Time Spent With the People Who Matter
• Hope (for the future, ourselves, our loved ones….both inspiring it and clinging to it)
• Love (the kind you give freely, and the kind you accept)
• Cherishing Special Moments
• Taking a Second to Stop and Appreciate the Little Things

It’s not the monetary gifts that make the season special. It’s the things that money can’t buy.

And So, It Begins….

December is officially here! The holiday season is upon us. It’s now okay for folks to pull out their colorful decorations, wreaths, and bows to decorate their homes in brightly lit welcome.

Yes, I love this time of year, and as is my tradition on this blog… The daily sharing of holiday music begins.

Do you love or hate this time of year? What drives your feelings? I know this time of year isn’t easy for many, and that’s okay… I’m sending virtual hugs to all of you who struggle. Heck, I’ve got hugs for everyone.

Today I’m also thankful that hubby is okay after getting in a car accident on his way home from work yesterday. Some might focus on the accident, but I’m choosing to focus on the guardian angel that made sure he and the person who hit him were okay.

Fortunately Not in Florida

I may not love the cold! but I adore this song and the many duets I’ve had the opportunity to hear. I thought I’d share one of the old school ones…