December Wednesday HodgePodge

I forgot it was Wednesday Hodgepodge until I opened up my blog today to catch up with others. . .so before I dig into theirs, I thought I would see how quickly I could get something out :). I've had kind of a weird work-week - "regular" things either being rescheduled or canceled - so I think that's where my confusion comes from.  That and the weekend finally caught up with me - last night I was in bed at 9 p.m. and was woken up at 6:30 this morning when Tom left for work.  For context, I'm always the last one to sleep and most of the time first one up in our house!!

Let's dig in - thank you, Joyce, for hosting!!

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over? 

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping
• baking or decorating
• eggnog or wassail
• real tree or artificial
• turkey or ham
• white lights or colored lights 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Commercialization of the Season:  This one is a bit difficult because of the strong feelings surrounding it, right?  I mean, many Gen X'ers (like myself) grew up with fond memories around the holiday, many of which revolved around gifts that could only have come from Santa because our parents weren't purchasing "wants" for us all year long - lack of money, convenience, space - I'm not sure but I think we can mostly agree that the majority of us have "more" now than our parents did at this same age, as well as our children.  Opening a box on Christmas day was a "big deal" - now we are all opening and discarding boxes pretty much on a weekly, if not daily, basis.  So. . .I've always wanted to keep the spirit of gift-giving alive BUT our kids have asked to not do as much and so now they draw names, we still do something "big" for each of them, and our extended Ohio family does Foster Family Favorites (our last name was "Foster") which means we each bring 2 gifts with a value around $50 each and we're "done".  Everyone walks away with two new "favorites" from someone else and we can go on to enjoy food, games, and time together.  I love it.  

I still think the meaning of Christmas lives bright in our family - but I'd like to figure out how to bring more CHRIST into Christmas at some point.  This was not the year, obviously.

Small thing to savor: Thanks for asking this question.  I have not given it any thought - I will read everyone else's comments and get some ideas there.  Last year Tom indulged me in a few Hallmark movies (we have never done that together) and I'd like to do that again.  I'm sure the rest of the bloggers have many great ideas, and then I'll take a page from Amy's blog and make a bucket list :)

Christmas Cards: I LOVE THEM!!!  I have been so, so sad to see this tradition fade away.  I'm hoping still to get 30-40 out - way down from my days of 60-75!!  We've already received three - one with a newsletter I anticipate all year, one the yearly family photos, and one just a store-bought card with a personal message.  I like to do the photo cards and include a note - and for the past two years I have turned the photo card into a magnet for those pictured on the card so they can keep it if they want to.  Stay tuned. . .there's still lots to personalize for Christmas and it might not all get done!!

Least-favorite holiday task:  Decorating, hands down.  I LOVE the result, just don't enjoy the task.  But the ornaments are on the tree and the lights outside (the latter thanks to Tom):

Most favorite: Anything else - truly.  Planning, cooking, shopping, wrapping, parties. . .ALL of it!!  

Holiday this-and-that:

• shopping or wrapping
• baking or decorating
• eggnog or wassail
• real tree or artificial
• turkey or ham - neither - BEEF TENDERLOIN!!
• white lights or colored lights - although I like them both
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon - but just for this season; otherwise cinnamon
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day

Random Thought:  I'm so glad I did this today!!  Sometimes I feel like we just "add" this season to everything else going on instead of kicking other things out to make room for this time of the year.  I'm going to keep this in mind and to quit trying to live my life and "squeeze this in" and, instead, take out what I can do the rest of the year and make more time for this!!

Second random thought:  I sometimes comment on FB groups I'm a part of if I have something I think would be "useful" to say.  Last week someone was looking for a good, easy, make-ahead appetizer to take and I mentioned my Rosemary Nuts and to "DM if you'd like the recipe".  Two people have taken me up on the offer (!!!) so I thought I'd post it here too:

I have been making this for years and years.  People ask for it.  I gift it.  This was in the wedding gift baskets for traveling family and one person texted me and said she was "so excited" that these nuts were a part of the package :). Anyway, if you are looking for something easy, here you go :). 

A few notes - I use the deluxe mixed nuts from Costco or Sam's and double everything else.  Also, use a really good non-stick baking sheet (this is my favorite favorite - I've gifted 4 times this year!) or parchment paper when you bake the nuts.

Enjoy!

Love,

Jenni