Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We have a lot of great stuff to chat about this week. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and put up your feet for a moment.
Did you see that we’re going to help some families this Christmas? We’re doing our best to spread some Christmas cheer this holiday season with (3) $500 giveaways for families in need. And I need your help finding the families!
If you know a family in need, please nominate them. The nomination form must be filled out to be considered. Email entries and FB messages will not count as nominations. Get all the details HERE.
Today, for the eighth week of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Giveaways, I’m mixing it up a bit. Last week’s Cedar & Thread Instagram giveaway (for local followers) was a popular one! So, I decided to do a bonus giveaway for another $100 gift card, so that everyone can participate in this one.
I really enjoy shopping at Cedar and Thread and the owners are terrific people. I highly recommend checking them out in person or online for your Christmas shopping and holiday decorating! (Not sponsored at all, I just really like the shop!) If you happen to be local, you’ll be able to pick up your gift card in the store, but if you’re anywhere else – you’ll be able to shop online or over the phone.
To be entered, leave a comment on THIS BLOG POST telling me when (or if) you decorate for Christmas. The winner will be selected on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 11:59pm EST.
Here’s the lucky winner’s comment:
ON THE BLOG this week: My entire family gives this Hearty Pepper Chili two thumbs up. I’ve made this chili countless times over the past five years, and we especially love to have this stashed in the freezer for easy lunches.
Tangy, flavorful Ranch Dip that you can make from scratch in just 5 minutes! Whether we are snacking on fresh vegetables, dipping roasted potatoes and Southwest Chicken Bites into this ranch, or tossing it with a salad, this quick and easy homemade ranch dip is a staple in our lives year round.
White Chocolate Caramel Fudge filled with pecans and swirled with caramel might be the ultimate treat for a holiday tray. This is another quick and easy 5 Minute Fudge Recipe that is perfect for any occasion.
What I’m CRAVING: Christmas Sugar Cookies! My friend Katrina has the best recipe for cut out cookies that I have ever made – or ever tasted. These buttery, lightly sweet, tender (yet sturdy) cookies are almost ridiculously easy to make and I just plain love them. We’ve been making these cookies for at least 5 years now, probably longer… and they always turn out perfectly.
I’m repeating My FAVORITE THING this week because I messed up the link to my robe! Several of you emailed me for that link and I don’t want any of you to miss out. This robe is not fancy at all, but I truly love it.
It is awesomely lightweight with a great hem length and sleeve length. And it gets bonus points for a wide tie that is stitched down on the back of the robe, so it always lays flat and is flattering.
What I’m WATCHING: Christmas Contract. I am a sucker for the Hallmark-style Christmas movies – even the cheesiest of them. Knowing that it all is going to work out in the end, that everyone will get their Merry Christmas love story? That’s my kind of holiday fun. I’m super happy to see these movies popping up on Amazon already. Please send me all of your favorite cheesy Christmas movie recommendations!
What I’m READING: The 20th Victim by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. I’ve read all of the Women’s Murder Club books and enjoyed them all. This wasn’t my favorite of the series, it was a little slower than usual, but it was a good read and I still wholeheartedly recommend these books. If you haven’t yet started this awesome series yet, you’ll want to start with the first book.
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Theresa
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
Pat Clark says
When my kids were small we always waited until after Thanksgiving as to delay the Santa craziness. There was a year or two when they grew up I think I didn’t even put a tree up. But the last few years I have done the decorating for myself. I want to try to capture a bit of the excitement and happiness. But it was usually after Thanksgiving. This year I have mish-mash of Thanksgiving oranges and golds mixed with the red, silver, gold, green of Christmas. I need it! I need to feel as if I am also inspiring some happiness for others hence the outside decorations! I am creating a scene on my leaning, hole on one end front porch. I have the 3 foot Barbie found in garage with one leg missing (have since found leg and duct taped it back in place) serving as the child in a Christmas eve snapshot! I plan on a cardboard fireplace with red fairy lights, a fully decorated tree and a Santa! I light up when planning and putting the pieces together and that’s the best feeling of all.
Sara Jimenez says
We put up our tree and decorate for Christmas every Thanksgiving night, that’s our tradition with our kids💛
Rexanne Foti says
Hi Mary, Ever since you first shared your friend Katrina’s recipe for sugar cookie it has been my go to cut out recipe. Each December I always had our nieces and nephews here for a fun day of decorating. I fill the long table with every type of sprinkle, colored sugars and frostings I can find. The little ones have tiny aprons I found because they end up covered in everything with sugar rimmed smiley faces. The cookies are already cut and baked waiting for fun. I am always surprised at how creative they all get.
We always decorate on December 11. We lost our beautiful 34 year old daughter on that day 8 years ago. It’s the way we get through that day.
Sending wishes for a Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family.
Kathy E. says
Yes, we do decorate for Christmas! It always happens in December and usually the second week. The decorations stay up til the weekend of the new year. This year, it will just be the two of us here, so I may pare down on the amount of holiday “stuff” that gets put out. Happy Holidays! duchick at gmail dot com
Monica Archer says
We don’t have a specific day, just whenever I can get my husband and kids around at the same time.
Gretchen McQuown says
I usually decorate after Thanksgiving but anxious to get started – going to start decorating this weekend! Yay!
Henriette Hall says
Since my health has not been so great, this year I am going to
ask a friend to get me a Charlie Brown tree or an over-looked
small tree this coming week…stringing popcorn and cranberries should give it an
old fashioned, festive well-loved touch ! Happy Holidays All !!
Theresa Simpson Hale says
I wait until the weekend after Thanksgiving to put my tree up and decorate.
Jean Marie Lebbon says
Greetings,
I decorate very traditional Tree, garland, lights, stockings hanging on the fireplace mantle. Always love decorating for the holidays. Although it is especially hard this season knowing that we might not have our loved ones home for the holiday.
Cheryl Juhl says
We usually decorate after thanksgiving although we will do less this year since we aren’t having company.
Chris Fields says
Looking forward to lights and a tree and getting out homemade decorations.
Cara says
Right after Thanksgiving! It helps with the rainy days of the Northwest, to brighten the early evening gloom.
Renee says
I’m decorating this weekend! Can’t wait to get the tree up!
Lorrie Carey says
I decorate the two days after Thanksgiving, removing all of my fall decor Thanksgiving night, if I have time. The first year we were married (1993), I started decorating then and my husband asked me why so early? Growing up, his family didn’t decorate until after his birthday (December 10). I told him, sorry, you’re married now. (You’re not in Kansas anymore! )
One year, early on, we traveled to family on Thanksgiving, making my decorating have to wait until the next week. I vowed never again! I said then, if we ever travel again for Thanksgiving, I will decorate the week before so when we come home, it’s all done!
I really have enjoyed all of your recipes and anecdotes. Thank you!
Lilly says
I normally decorate on the Friday following Thanksgiving but will have family staying overnight at my house. So this year it will be probably the Monday following Thanksgiving!
Sharyl Wolter says
I normally decorate. This is year it’s just the 2 of us. Not feeling festive yet. Hopefully after Thanksgiving.
aketch says
I usually decorate right after Thanksgiving. I like to keep things natural with pine boughs, berries, nuts. I also have a few vintage glass ornaments from childhood. One blue bird ornament is older than me. Merry Christmas!
Your cranberry cake is fantastic!
Ruby Sutterfield says
After my husband passed I did not do a tree for twelve years. last Christmas my daughter brought me a live tree my great grandson eleven years old decorated it with light and all they brought with them. brought Christmas back into my home again. I loved it. can’t wait until I get one this year to look at. cant look at pretty tree and not remember the true meaning of Christmas a special time of the year.
Laurie M says
It seems I start after Halloween and shoot to have everything up before December 1st when possible.
Beth B says
We are empty nesters now. When are kids come for Thanksgiving, I make sure the house is decorated by then. But when they don’t, I take my time! I try to have it done by Dec. 1 if schedule allows. I don’t want the business of the season to detract from celebrating the birth of Jesus!