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…

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*

Lost Christmas? This May Help Find It…

Ever feel like you’ve lost the spirit of Christmas? I have. As joyful as the holidays can be for most, circumstance, loneliness and various other things can make it difficult to see past your own pain to the beauty and joy of the season.

There’s something so pure and sweet about this performance of “Where Are You Christmas?” Maybe it’s the fact that this young girl hasn’t been overly coached and trained and that the music is allowed to speak for itself, but it definitely reminds me that the spirit of Christmas is found in allowing love to fill your heart.

So if you see someone struggling this holiday season, take a moment. Do something kind for no other reason than it may help someone else feel better. Spread the Christmas cheer… You’d be amazed at the difference a smile can make to a stranger. Or the generosity of letting someone through in the midst of the holiday traffic. And if someone does something fantastic for you, pay it forward! The most valuable holiday gifts rarely have anything to do with money, but with the thoughtful kindness with which the gifts are bestowed.

Has someone done something kind to you recently? Are you one of those folks struggling this holiday season? Good or bad, share! You may be spreading holiday cheer…or maybe you need some. Regardless of which side you fall on, I’d love to be there for you.

Liquid Libations to Kick Off Winter Celebrations

With the Holiday season comes snowy weather… Of course this is also a time for Snow Angels, Christmas caroling, building Snowmen, putting up outdoor Holiday lighting…all which require tromping into the house to warm up! If you’re not quite at drinking age, that usually means hot apple cider or cocoa…with marshmallows, of course. If you’re a smidge older, it includes adding some liquid enhancements.

So, because my fabulous gal pal at Cowboys and Crossbones got me inspired by our good friend alcohol, I thought I’d share a recipe and the matching song… 😉

First, the recipe…. And please feel free to share your favorite seasonal alcoholic (or non) liquid treat in the comments below…I’m always looking for new additions to my repertoire.

Wassail

6 c. Apple juice or cider

2 c. Cranberry juice

2 c. Orange juice

1/4 c. Sugar

1 Tbsp Bitters

3 Tbsp Lemon juice

In a cheesecloth:

6 Cinnamon sticks cut into thirds

16 whole Cloves

1 tsp whole Allspice

Tie up cheesecloth. Place all liquid ingredients into a pot, then drop in the cheesecloth spice ball. Simmer until ready to serve. Add 1 c. of light/spiced rum if preferred…but please, if you’re going to drink, assign a designated driver. Don’t Drink And Drive!