I am blessed to have most of my family living in close proximity to me. Which is a huge bonus, I am a last minute shopper. Oh, I have all the gifts planned well in advance I just like the rush of shopping in the final weeks before the big day.  Still I have a couple people in which there are just a few too many miles between us…….this of course means shipping gifts.

I always felt that the gifts I was sending far away lost some of the personal touch I was able to add to gifts I handed out in person.  Presentation is half of the fun in giving gifts! After a lot of creative juices working overtime, I came up with some fun ways to make the experience of receiving my gifts from afar a little more fun!

By using unique packing material for your shipping boxes ……..

~Use evergreens. Place your wrapped gift inside a shipping box full of greens. This is especially special for someone who lives in an area with out evergreens! Plus they smell wonderful!

~Use hard candies. I stole this one from a Paula Dean story.  Fill the shipping box with gift recipients favorite hard candy!

~How about peanuts? Not those awful Styrofoam peanuts that have wicked static and stick to everything under the sun, nope the real deal!  This is a great gift for a sports fanatic!

~Wood shavings make a great introduction to old fashion toys! Fill the shipping box with shavings and your gift recipient will surly feel like the gift is right from Santa’s work shop!

~White batting or pillow stuffing dusted with silver glitter will give the illusion your gift is packed in snow! Cotton balls will mimic snowballs!

Yes, I need to head to the post office early next week to get my few packages shipped out, I don’t want to brave those December 21st lines…….I’ll be shopping that day!

“Stress is when you wake up screaming, and then realize that you haven’t fallen asleep yet.”
~Author Unknown

December 11th……. Whoa! December is half over, and my ‘to do list’ barely has a dent in it.  How can I possibly get everything done in the remaining days?  Let me divulge a little secret………some years I become overwhelmed and everything on my list doesn’t get done.  To be quite honest this is gearing up to be one of those years.  My daughter is applying, touring and interviewing with various Art Schools,  my son’s homework load seems to be double what it was last year and I was elected to public office this November.  I just thank God, my Prince doesn’t have anything major happening right now!  So between hours of homework with Joey, learning the Planning & Zoning Regulations for my town and the portfolio reviews, essays & trips to New York City, its a miracle I can get a Christmas Tree up! So, I scale back, prioritize and ……..breathe………

It’s not easy to decide what traditions, decorations or events might need to take a back seat this year, but the sooner you make the decision, the lighter you holiday spirit will be.

My decorations this year are still beautiful, just a few less.  My porches have simple garlands & the doors have sprays, but the garden shed & carriage house aren’t dressed this year.  We cut our tree last weekend, it will get decorated this weekend …….baby steps.  I’ll reduce the cookie platters to have less variety, they’re all delicious so I’m sure they’ll still be loved.

Once I made the decision on what to scale back on ……….. I embraced the holiday once again.  With the list less long, I took the opportunity to spend a quite dinner with my Prince tonight.  We dined at a lovely local restaurant Noodles.   I ordered comfort food, Penne & Cheese and Joe ordered Hanger Steak au Poiver. To say the meal was incredible would be an understatement.  Heading out to dinner tonight I never expected to receive a gift, but I did.  The gift I recieved was contentment.  As I looked across the table, I smiled at my Prince.  Life is good.  So, the garden shed isn’t decorated this year………but Ashley knows I’m here if she needs a critique.  I’ll miss the extra garlands along the mudroom windows……….but Joey will continue to succeed in school with my help.  So maybe I won’t get the truffles made this year, they are my fav………but I will have a good handle on those P&Z regulations and hopefully represent my town well.  Nope the entire Christmas village will not make it out this year…….but I’ll make time to enjoy a Christmas movie with my Prince, he does so much for me its the least I can do!

I’ll probably sleep a little less in the next few weeks, but it feels good to have some of the holiday pressure taken off myshoulders. Now I need to finish up that shopping list…………

Auugh! I’ve been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs!

Get some hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some iodine!

~Lucy ……Peanuts

I had writers block this morning. I tried everything, stirring my coffee with a candy cane, I skipped the gym and took a walk in the snow (it was dark maybe that’s why I wasn’t inspired).  I even starting designing my Christmas stocking (yep, I’ll be sharing that one soon!).  No matter what I tried I was just stuck.  So instead of wasting time, I started getting ready for my day.  I took Joey to the bus stop, poured a fresh cup of coffee and hopped in the car to drive to the showroom.   It was an enjoyable ride with WRCH Lite 100 FM pumping out of the speakers, of course it was they play holiday music 24/7 through Christmas!  As I finished up singing ‘Merry Christmas Darling’ along with Karen Carpenter, the hosts Allan & Mike introduced a guest named Holly.  Holly a rescue dog was in need of a home.  Little did they know they also introduced me to today’s blog!

If you are a long time reader of my blog you know I am married to ‘Dr Doolittle’. The unfortunate thing for my husband is he’s married to Cruella De Ville.  Well, maybe I’m not that bad!  Still, if I had it my way our pets would all be Webkinz, no mess in my house, no vet bills and no barking at 2 am! Sorry folks, they’re just not my thing.  Although I do have a soft spot, we do have a beautiful German Sheppard named Annabell.  She is a rescue dog, who became a part of our family Christmas week about 4 years ago.   Of course because Annabell lives with ‘Dr Doolittle’, she is treated like a princess.  A Christmas doesn’t pass without some fine gifts under the tree for our pooch!

Here are some of the wonderful gifts our pets have enjoyed over the years……..

~the Kong! This beauty keeps our dog occupied for hours, just fill it with a little peanut butter and they’ll be out of your hair all night! My kinda gift!

~Naughty & Nice biscuits.  I love these! Annabell has to be nice to get one! ‘Dr. Doolittle’ on the other hand, doles them out if she simple tilts her head.

~A plush dog bed. I have to say the 2 am barking to go out did subside quite a bit after the comfy bed arrived

~24″ rawhide bone.  This is important don’t purchase bones with dye. The holiday green & red ones stain carpets when the pooch starts to enjoy them!

~a personalized collar.  Annabell also has a harness, ‘Dr. Doolittle’ says she is  more comfortable in it.  I wonder, did he actually ask her……did she answer? (*smile*)

I hope Holly receives the best Holiday gift ever and  is adopted this week.  I’m sure she will bring great joy to a family!  If you’re considering a pet for your family this holiday season, don’t over look your Humane Society or local rescue organization.  If  you run into  ’Dr. Doolittle’,  please don’t mention that I’ve already purchased the stocking stuffers for Annabells stocking.  I don’t want him thinking that I actually might like Annabell!

Snowflakes are kisses from heaven.  ~Author Unknown

I’m a little jealous, my kids have a snow day today. At 5:40 this morning I gently kissed my 17 year old daughter.  She groggily said ‘yeah, I’m getting up’, I smiled and whispered ’snow day’, with a sigh of relief she pulled the covers over her head and rolled back over returning to a blissful slumber.  In a short while I’ll, brush my lips across his check and make the announcement to my son also.  At 11 he’ll bounce out of bed, run to the window and start planning his day of sledding, snowball fights and building snow forts.  It doesn’t matter if there is 2″ or 10″ snow, he starts the planning.  I wish I could bottle that enthusiasm, and add it to my morning coffee!

Mother Nature truly is a Diva when it comes to decorating, but her decorations sometimes need just a little help to kick it up a notch!  Geeze! I hope I haven’t offended Mother Nature! I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of her wrath! Yikes!

How can the Diva’s decorations be enhanced?  Well, snow reflects light beautifully, so why not add a little more light. Luminaries. Line your walk way, highlight a stone wall, place around an everygreen tree like presents  or place them among your snowmen!

Luminaries can be made from many materials.

Paper bag Luminaries are very popular, these are simple and easy to make. Simply take a brown lunch bag place sand or a few stones in the bottom and add your tea light candle.  Add a interest by cutting designs into the bags!  Paper bag Luminaries are quick to create, but they tend not to last long, the bags get wet and start to wilt or just break down.

Tin Can Luminaries are sturdy and fun to make. Collect soup cans or coffee cans depending on the size luminaries you choose to make.  Remove labels, and use a nail and a hammer to create designs in the can.   I personally love the natural ‘tin’ coloration but if you are looking for a more contemporary look, spray paint the cans.  The added bonus of these luminaries is they can be used indoors too!

My favorite  to create are Ice Luminaries. There is nothing more beautiful than the pale,golden glow that the candles create as they shine through the ice.  These do take some planning, at least 2 days.

Here’s what you will need……

• Large round plastic storage containers (I use the disposable ones if they crack or break its ok!)
• Small soup or tomato paste cans
• Stones for weights
• Lots of freezer space or just use your back yard if its cold enough!

Fill the large plastic storage container with 1″-2″ of water and freeze

On top of your frozen layer place can filled with rocks and fill remaining plastic container with water and freeze

Once frozen solid, place containers in hot water, this will soften the ice just enough to loosen it from the plastic.  Then to remove can, fill the can with hot water and gently turn left to right until it breaks free.  Your ice luminaries are ready to receive you candles!

For a  fun spin on these ice luminaries try adding some of these festive elements to the water before you freeze…..

• cranberries (these will float to the top)
• glitter
• holy, or other holiday greens
• food coloring if you want color………..

Mother Nature has done a spectacular job once again! Ashley and Joey will enjoy their day off, they’ll soak their snow pants playing in the snow, drink too much hot cocoa, and have checks as rosy as Santa’s.

Snow days……..even as an adult they make me smile.  I’ll take it slow as I brave the New England highways today. Instead of cursing the snow I’ll take a minute to appreciate the original Snow Diva’s work……..she really is amazing!

“It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone’s fingers have been all over it.” ~Julia Child

The baking started last week with my Moms granola.  Tonight I’ll be adding another favorite to my Holiday baking. This one is a breeze! My Mom calls them ‘Walnut Sandies’, my mother-in law calls them ‘Russian Tea Cakes’.  I adore my mother-in law.  Yes, I am one of those few women that is blessed!   We have a wonderful relationship, so much so I can tell you ‘Russian Tea Cakes’ are the only thing I have ever ate from her kitchen that was tasty.   So in honor of her one success I share with you this classic that I have be making every year, smiling thinking of her.

Russian Tea Cakes
~1 cup butter softened 
~1/2 cup powdered sugar
~1 teaspoon vanilla
~2 1/4 cups flour
~3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
~1/4 teaspoon salt
~extra powdered sugar set aside

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar & vanilla in large bowl
Mix flour, salt & nuts in separate bowl and add to mixture, until well blended
Shape batter into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 10-12 minutes until set and not brown, bottoms should be a touch golden
Remove from cookie sheet slightly on cooling rack
Roll in powdered sugar
Roll again in powdered sugar

Done…………see I promised easy! If Mama Rosemary can do it anyone can! To store, keep in air tight containers and these scrumptious treats should last 3 weeks!

OK here’s another great fool proof cookie!  I don’t know who gave me this recipe, it was in the “Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook” I received as a bridal shower gift.  Whoever gave me the book, also gave me a gift that keeps giving. Literally, the book taught me to cook, and I have yet to have a unsuccessful experience from it!  Today this book is still on my cook book shelf.  Its falling apart and held together with a large rubber band, still I can’t imagine my kitchen with out it!  Here’s one of my holiday favorites enjoy!

Soft Molasses Cookies

~2 cups flour

~ ½ cup sugar & extra set aside*

~ ½ cup shortening

~ ½ cup molasses

~1 egg

~2 teaspoons baking soda

~1 teaspoon ground ginger

~1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

~ ¼ teaspoon salt

~ 1/3 cup cold water

Preheat oven 400 degrees & Grease cookie sheets

In a large bowl beat all ingredients (except the extra sugar) until well mixed

Form 1″ balls of dough and roll in extra sugar.

Place on cookie sheet at least 2″ apart

Bake 8 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly pressed with finger.

Using a flat spatula remove cookies and place on wire rack to cool. Store in air tight container.

*Good Housekeeping suggests garnishing with raisins, I prefer rolling in sugar for a ’sparkly’ cookie!

These two recipes should get your cookie platters off to a great start!  For an additional original recipe, try my peanut butter bars from last years blog!  I know you’ll be a hit with these recipes.  I wonder if I have enough molasses to make a double batch of cookies tonight…………

“Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don’t you see? It’s not just Kris that’s on trial, it’s everything he stands for. It’s kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles.” ~ Doris~Miracle on 34th Street 1947

By now you know how much I love this holiday season.  When I was a child I would wait all year long to see Miracle on 34th Street to be broad casted on television! I’d wrap myself up in Grandma’s afghan and string popcorn and cranberries for the birds with my sisters, while we watched the classic movie.  As I got older and realized the miracle of Santa was Mom & Dad, the movie became even more special……..for 96 minutes Edmund Gwenn had me I believing there really was a Santa Clause.  Now as an adult, Santa Clause has a completely different meaning, I love watching Santa come alive in numerous different ways in various people though out this beloved season!

One of my favorite stories of Santa is a childhood memory of my partner Ed’s wife, Susan………..

Susan’s Mom and Dad were always a bit more busy during the Christmas season than the rest of us. You see Susan’s dad is a Minister.  The Christmas season starting with Advent would literally consume the family’s time and ability to have special moments together. A minister’s family came second to all the other parishioner’s families.  Services, pageants, chorale sings, church suppers, caroling, paying calls to the sick, and philanthropic events all needing to be orchestrated, left little time for the minister’s kids.

But, when Susan and her brother Bill laid their heads on their pillows on Christmas Eve, they knew that a Christmas miracle would happen during the night.

Santa would come and transform the Doughty household into a Christmas story, just for them.  Reverend Bill with wife Shirley at his side would burn the mid night oil, in a mad rush to put up the Christmas tree, bring out the Christmas village, decorate the fireplace, wrap the gifts, and leave the milk and cookies on the table for Santa to snack upon during his hard night’s work. It seems that little Susan and Bill never saw the red and tired eyes of their parents on Christmas morning.

What a beautiful little Christmas miracle happened in their family every year.

I guess nobody really needs to know that this was the last possible bit of time left, for the Doughty’s to make a Christmas happen for their own kids.

Maybe the fact that they got it done every year truly was the miracle!  Rev. & Mrs. Doughty created wonderful memories for their kids………….I haven’t finished all the holiday decorations in the house, maybe I’ll save a few key items for my own Christmas Morning surprise…….hhhhmmm I wonder if the kids would see anything other than the gifts under the tree!

“Nature gives to every time and season a beauty of its own.”
~ Charles Dickens

Sometimes when life gets a little too hectic, I remember ‘Little House on the Prairie’.  Days were long and hard but life was simple then, especially the holiday decorations.  So after a very hectic day (yes, I am 12 hours behind in posting todays blog!) I decided to honor the Ingalls family with simple and natural holiday decorations.  All of these decorations have graced my house at one point or another, not to mention they are fun to create!

Clove oranges.

• wash and dry oranges
• create a design on your orange by poking holes in the orange with an awl.
• fill newly made holes with whole cloves
• add a second layer, and create an additional design by scoring and peeling away a section of the orange peel
• Display these in a large bowl as a center piece, wrap with thin ribbon in two different directions and hang them from your chandelier, window locks or in your Christmas tree.

Pinecones

• Using brown embroidery thread create a garland with pine cones. Drape these along stair railings, over door casings, around mirrors or over drapery rods
• Fill a large glass hurricane
• Using thin satin ribbon (color of your choice) hang pine cones as ornaments on a tree, on a door handle, or drape over a lamp as a natural tassel.

Popcorn

• Popcorn balls.  Use these as ornaments, create a wreath, or stack and create a ‘tree center piece’
• String popcorn into garlands for the tree or for the birds.

Fresh Holy and Other greens

• Fill a large basket with holy and greens, slide this under a sofa table or table for a terrific punch of color and great aroma

Apples, limes and lemmons

• Fill a large bowl with the fresh fruit and highlight with greens for a easy center piece
• Using a foam form covered with Spanish Moss, stack  fruits into a tree shape.

You will be so pleased with the wonderful aroma these natural decoration will fill your home with.   Pa Ingalls is an awesome character! He reminds me of my own dad, gentle, kind and stern only when he really needed to be……..but Pa also enjoyed the simple things in life, just like my own dad.

So as I wind up the intense day, I think of my own dad reminding me to get back to the basics and slow down just a little bit………. I wonder if I can find a re-run of ‘Little House on the Prairie running tonight.

When it snows you have two choices:  shovel or make snow angels!

It’s supposed to snow tonight here in Connecticut.  The child in me is excited! Have you ever noticed how quite it is as the snow falls?  I love the way light reflects off the fresh snow making it look like a sea of crystals jumping alive.  Yeah, then I realize I have to drive in this beautiful blanket, shovel the front walk or worst of all deal with the mess of wet boots, hats and mittens in my mudroom.

I really do love snow, and all the creative different interpretations of snow.  I arrived home from the showroom Thursday of this week to a wonderful surprise, my daughter had hand cut 25 beautiful snowflakes and scattered them across our 9 foot French doors.  I loved them so much I asked for more to adorn the other French doors in the house.

Now, making snowflakes is an art, its important to make sure you are using sharp scissors, thin paper and make your fold crisp and sharp.  Fold, snip and let your creativity shine! Some of us may need patterns to follow here’s one pattern I found, although use it only as a guide. Once you’ve used a pattern a couple times try mixing it up for some really unique flakes!

Besides the doors of our house, paper snowflakes have beautified many other spaces and had other uses!  Try some of these inventive ways to use snowflakes!

• Mini snowflakes to dress a powder room mirror.
• String snowflakes into garlands and draped them over artwork or door frames.
• Paper snowflakes make great gift tags when they are mounted on a solid colored piece of paper.
• Gifting a frame? Use a snowflake in the center mounted on black paper
• Use them as ‘doilies’ on your cookie platters
• Wrap colorful paper napkins for a holiday buffet

Making snowflakes is a great way to celebrate this season.  Pop in your favorite holiday movie classic and make some Hot Chocolate. Grab a stack of white paper, scissors along with the kids and let the clipping begin!  ……….Ashley is brewing the cocoa, Joey is setting up ‘Elf’ and I’ve got the supplies in hand.  Wonder if we will get that snow storm tonight, if not the Davenport house will have its own winter wonderland started inside!

Avoid Fruit & Nuts, You are what you eat!~ Jim Davis

I guess I’m in trouble.  I love fruit & nuts!  I am a little nutty when it comes to holiday granola.  As a child growing up my mother would begin mixing up batches of her homemade granola the first weeks of December.  It is a tradition I have continued in my own holiday kitchen! Not only is the granola scrumptious, it makes a wonderful homemade gift!   Friends and family look forward to receiving a jar each year!  I’ve added a little fun to this years Granola making fest, my partner Ed’s Holiday Hot Chocolate! Read on and see how his tradition is the perfect addition to my Holiday Kitchen!

Mom’s Granola

• 2 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Nuts
• 1/2 cup Honey
• 1/3 cup Margarine melted
• 1/4 cup Wheat Germ
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup raisins

In a large mixing bowl mix until well blended all ingredients except raisins.  Bake at 350 on a greased cookie sheet, 20-25 minutes.  Use a spatula to turn granola once or twice during the baking. Remove from oven, place back in large mixing bowl and add raisins.  Cool and fill decorative jars.

This recipe can take on your own personality, use various different nuts, consider dates or dried cranberries instead of raisins.  When the granola is completely cooled add M&M’s, chocolate chips or peanut butter chips  for a really festive batch! I fill mason jars with the granola then tie off the middle with a festive ribbon.  Another option is fill clear cellophane bags and tie the tops off with ribbon.

Now while the Granola is doing its baking, I’ve added a little of Ed’s holiday tradition to my kitchen.  Ed used to make this wonderful Hot Chocolate for kids during the holiday season. I belly laugh when he tells the story of how he would labor over the stove working hard to make the perfect cup of Hot Chocolate for the twins, only to hear in the end “Daddy I like Swiss Miss better!” Kids! Well, I’m here to say Swiss Miss doesn’t hold a candle to Ed’s Cocoa!

So while your Granola is baking treat yourself to some Hot Chocolate, and maybe work on your holiday card list!

Ed’s Holiday Hot Chocolate

• 2-3 ounces of your favorite milk chocolate- Ed’s kids liked Dove
  
• 2 ounces heavy cream
• 4 ounces milk
• ¼ tsp vanilla
• Pinch of cinnamon or stick
• Small handful of mini-marshmallows or whipped cream

Pour milk and cream in saucepan over low to medium low heat (depends how impatient kids are). Pour in chocolate stirring constantly until melted well. Be careful not to scald the milk. Add & Stir in vanilla

Pour into mug adding mini-marshmallows or whipped cream and cinnamon pinch or stick. Delicious for all!!

Ed’s advice………”Keep the Swiss Miss on hand though for the youngest ones!!”

My Red Book of Holiday Traditions is filling up………As I think about this book being handed down to my children, I wonder….. will my grandchildren be Ed Hot Chocolate fans or Swiss Miss?…………..For the record, my kids love Ed’s!

“I’m glad he took our presents. You can’t hurt Christmas, Mr. Mayor, beacuse it isn’t about the… the gifts or the contest or the fancy lights. That’s what Cindy’s been trying to tell everyone… and me. I don’t need anything more for Christmas than this right here: my family.” ~ Lou Lou Who How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I’m a fan of the Grinch, but I am a bigger fan of Cindy Lou Who.  Cindy my dear child, with your Fabulous Hair Do, you are wise beyond your years.   A few years ago my sister Debbie let her wisdom shine also.  She suggested we stop buying gifts for each one of our nieces & nephews, rather  have the children make gifts for their cousins.  ’Great!’ I thought, ‘Like I don’t have enough to do!’.  Of course I smiled and said ‘That is a wonderful idea’……………I wondered, how the heck was I going to get through making 14 additional gifts!?

I sat my kids down and told them what Auntie Debbie suggested, fully expecting it to go over like a lead balloon.  Instead it was received with excitement and great enthusiasm! They started listing ideas and asking when we were heading out to the store for supplies!

So what do kids give kids for gifts? Obviously the gifts were age appropriate, but here are some of the really successful gifts they have exchanged over the last few years!

• Marshmallow shooters!, the boys were busy all afternoon on Christmas!
• Personalized Library book bags
• Personalized Piggy banks
• Popcorn balls, perfect gift for a three year old to make!
• Personalized T-shirts, this one my daughter did kinda as a joke they each said ‘my cousin made me this silly shirt so I HAVE to wear it’ It was a huge hit!
• Mini Catapult, this was another huge hit keeping the boys occupied  for hours!

It was a huge success!  I will admit, I was a little worried if the kids would be disappointed. My children are considerable older than their cousins, I wondered how they would receive a homemade gift from a 2 year old?  Wow, they were great.  My daughter sat on the floor with her little cousin Lily, pouring over the book she made her, asking for her to explain the ‘pictures’ all while munching on the popcorn balls her bother had made.  My son was more excited about giving than receiving he sat on the edge of his seat as his cousin opened the mini catapult. When Andrew opened it and yelled ‘COOL!’ the look on Joey’s face was priceless! My kids were really experiencing Christmas.

Credit  should be given where credit is do.  Debbie has created a tradition that is teaching our kids priceless lessons and the true meaning of the holidays.   I am the oldest of four girls, do you know how tough that previous statement was to type?! I like to be the one coming up with all the great ideas! Don’t worry I got to recycle the idea with my husbands family the following year, and yes it is a continued success.

The kids are making their shopping lists this week. The building, painting, drawing, sewing frenzy will begin Saturday…….. I love watching them.  It’s times like these I am so proud of my kids!  I’m equally as proud of my sister, she has taught all of us a precious holiday lesson.  Thanks Debbie………Love you!