Friday, December 18, 2015

Celebrating the Season

Linking up with Love Made My Home
Linking up with Love Made My Home
 ONE week??  How can that be?  I'm ready.  Just kidding, no I'm not.  These past few weeks have been a whirlwind.  Work is crazy... After Thanksgiving?  When that first tree goes up?  Yup, it's all over in kindergarten.  Ready or not, the celebration begins!  So, what have I been doing to celebrate the season... Let's see....

1)  I went to see Straight No Chaser.... I LOVED IT!!  If you haven't had the opportunity to check these guys out, you must!  What a great show.  I am a fool for a cappella and this show was so worth the time and money (7:30 show on a Tuesday night?  A school night?  Yikes, living on the edge!).  My favorite songs?  The 12 Days of Christmas.  Makes me smile Every. Single. Time.  And, Oh Holy Night?  Just beautiful. 
Love them!
Picture/Link brings you to 12 Days of Christmas... You're Welcome :)
2)  This year we bought a new tree.  It's smaller than any tree we've had in the past.  We've gone from a 9 foot tree down to a 6 and half foot tree.  The bigger tree was just getting to be too much.  With downsizing, there came a dilemma.  There was just no way to put all the ornaments that we have on a smaller tree.  Sorting through the ornaments to only use those most meaningful was somewhat bittersweet.  So many good memories.
Sentimental.  My bff is no longer with us.
Silly.  Makes me giggle.
From my childhood.  It will always remind me of "home".
3)  Paying it forward... Last year I started what I hope to be an annual tradition.  I am a little late posting this wrap up, but I was a little late starting it too.  November is considered a month to be thankful.  I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.  Over the last four weeks, I have donated to four charities that support goals that I believe wholeheartedly in.  It is my way of being thankful for what I have and hopefully helping someone else out during a time of year that is typically challenging for some both financially and emotionally. 

4)  I love the holiday glitz and glitter.  This is a picture of a house in my neighborhood.  The tree has been dubbed "The Tree to See".  I just love it.  It makes me smile :) 
That house is not small!  The 40' tree just dwarfs it in all its glory!
 5)  What would a post be without some kind of yummy treat?  This holiday season would certainly not be complete without cookies.  I often joke that I am "keeper of the flame" in my family.  Tradition is important; THINGS can be important when they evoke special memories.  Peanut butter and jelly cookies (my husband's declared favorite), peanut butter blossoms, spritz cookies, and Russian tea cakes (or snowballs, as they are also known as) are all an anticipated part of the festivities.  As of right now, I am the only one in my generation who makes the spritz cookies (which, in my opinion are the easiest!)  I hope that changes eventually; I'd like to be able to pass the recipe (and cookie press) on someday!  Anywho, here is my tribute to cookies....
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Peanut Butter Blossoms

Spritz
Yummy Snowballs
Hope everyone is finding a little bit of sanity with all the hustle and bustle the holidays bring! 

8 comments:

  1. Lovely Christmassy things! It is hard to decide about Christmas decorations with so many memories attached to them isn't it. As you will have seen from my post today we had to let one go, I know it sounds silly, but it was sad! Thank you for joining Five On Friday and making it a great thing this year. I so appreciate it! Happy Christmas! See you again in 2016! xx

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  2. Hi Deb, I loved seeing your festive photos. Sounds like you have had a fun time leading up to the holidays. Your cookies look fantastic; too bad I can't grab one from my computer screen! Merry Christmas, Pat

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  3. Lovely to see your seasonal photos. Difficult to decide about ornaments maybe alternate them each year. Great looking cookies. Have a wonderful Christmas.

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  4. That tree definitely looks worth a visit and your cookies look delicious. Hope you have a great Christmas. Barbara x

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  5. Love the "tree to see!" It's just gorgeous! I also understand the dilemma over your ornaments with the smaller tree. I have two metal trees that I can hang ornaments on if I want to display them, or could use a little fake tree for that purpose if I didn't have enough room on my real tree. We didn't have a tree the last two years because we spend Christmas with our kids and they have a tree, but I missed it so much, I decided to go with a little 5 ft. tabletop tree, and didn't use all my ornaments. But, didn't use the metal trees either...didn't wish to go that way this time, though it is a good idea.

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  6. A lovely round up, I have not put any of my sentimental ornaments on the tree this year and I am missing them. The tree in your neighbourhood looks enormous. Your baking looks delicious. Have a wonderful Christmas xx

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  7. Wonderful glimpses of Christmas. The snowball cookies look so delicious. I love things rolled in icing sugar. Merry Christmas!

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