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
Mary Brown says
The best decoration is a handmade nativity creche that our 90 year old friend Jimmy made us this year, so very special. We have it up without baby Jesus for now.
Carolyn VandeWiele says
So we don’t decorate for Christmas…. the cats knock over the tree and eat things they shouldn’t, but the house is always full of the scent of holiday cookies which is a decoration in itself
Madeleine says
I start after Thanksgiving, but the tree waits until a week or two before Christmas.
Maurita Plouff says
I’m not Christian – but I love the beautiful lights in the dark time of the year. I decorate for the winter solstice with twinkly lights, candles, greenery, and a special set of red-and-white dishes. Happy holidays to everyone, no matter your beliefs.
Lauren Stock says
I like to put our tree up about two weeks before Christmas Day and then I leave it up until after Epiphany. Such a magical time of year!
Mandy Sieger says
We decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving or the following week. I leave it up until 1-2 weeks after New Year’s. This year will be challenging as we have a big 10 month old puppy that is still learning what he can and cannot chew/eat/play with. haha
Brenda Abbott says
I used to go all out decorating for Christmas. But as the years have passed and my health not what it used to be. I spend more time making gifts for people and for over 30 years I have made one of a kind ornaments that I hand out to not only family and friends, but doctors and their staff, mail carriers, random people I see or pass. I currently make from 70 to 120 ornaments of the same type but each different. It has become my hallmark snd many people expect them. I love creating them and putting a slight smile on someone’s face. I usually have a wire tree with some of tjose ornaments so people can see them, to choose one. Happy Thanksgiving!
Riko says
Brenda that is a beautiful way to decorate for Christmas. My mother made bells, stars, wreaths, angels and icicles out of beads and also gave them away. She poured love into each ornament as I’m sure you do as well. Mary, I don’t know how you choose winners for your giveaways but Brenda gets my vote. She creates decorations that decorate other peoples spaces. Life is all about doing what you can and when you can’t, adjusting. Happy thanksgiving, merry Christmas and God bless❣️