Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Just a few more days and counting until Christmas. I promised my youngest son that we’d find some lights to drive by this weekend and I’m looking forward to that. It’s also time to bake some of our favorite cut out cookies and enjoy some downtime now that school is done until January. YAY!
Just a reminder that I take time off work the weeks before and after Christmas. I do continue to check the blog comments first thing each morning though, so if you have recipe questions leave them on the posts in question and I’ll answer them there.
Today, for the final week of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Giveaways, I’m looking ahead to the new year and giving away (5) $50 Amazon gift cards so that 5 lucky readers can order themselves a new planner, calendar, or whatever else might still be on your wishlist after Santa visits.
To be entered, leave a comment on THIS BLOG POST telling me how many months of the year you actually used in your 2020 calendar or planner. (I’ll go first – mine is pretty much blank after March – and I’m guessing that I’m not alone in that. Here’s to actually making some fun plans in 2021!) The winners will be selected on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at 11:59 pm EST.
Here are the lucky winner’s comments:
ON THE BLOG this week: Sea Salt Pecan Toffee is the answer to your snacking and sweet tooth dreams. The end. Do I exaggerate? Sometimes, yes. But right now? Not really. There aren’t a whole lot of foods that I label as “The Best Ever” or “crazy insane amazingly delicious” but this toffee recipe is exactly that. All of those things.
Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Polvorones, Snowball Cookies …these melt-in-your-mouth cookies are known by many different names around the world. My grandmother called them Sugar Butter Balls.
Creamy chocolate fudge filled with peanuts and marshmallows makes a chewy, crunchy, salty, sweet Rocky Road Fudge that all ages will enjoy. This Rocky Road Fudge has everything I love about Rocky Road ice cream mixed into a rich chocolate fudge.
What I’m CRAVING: Have you heard of kardemummabullar? Neither had I – until my friend Sue shared them on her site. They are Swedish Cardamom Buns and they sound incredible!
What I’m READING: Shepherd’s Abiding by Jan Karon. This is the eighth book in the Mitford series and I continue to enjoy them all. The timing for this book couldn’t have been more perfect as it’s set at Christmastime. And as it turns out, Christmas in Mitford is as heartwarming as it could possibly be.
What I’m WATCHING: Santa Who? This was a great Christmas movie. While we’ve already established that I love a predictably funny and happy Christmas flick, this one was better than most. I’m honestly not a big fan of Leslie Nielsen, but he did a terrific job portraying Santa Claus with a case of amnesia.
“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” – Winston Churchill
Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile!
Mary
Brenda Haines says
We’ve pretty much been home since March. But I still used my planner for school and therapy zoom meetings for my son. Poor speech. She kept having to call and remind me that it was speech day and to get online lol. That’s when I realized that I still needed my planner.
Carole johnson says
My planner had a vacation scheduled for early March at the ocean in Oregon. My husband and I had a great time – but from one day to the next, the town closed down more and more. By the time we got home, everything was closed! That was my last entry.
LM Alden says
Sadly, I stopped using mine in April of this Pandemic year.
Susan Broughton says
I use calendars usually a lot. After March there wasn’t a lot put onto the calendar except essential doctor appts. I sure hope next year is a lot better!
Kim Schartner says
I use my day time planner every single day.. I keep it handy on my kitchen bar.. im a lists lady for sure!
Melissa Savidge says
Yes I barely used my planner, pretty empty in March April and most of May… that’s when the non essential business I worked for had to close over state orders for quarantine . My last entry was actually in September, after that, I guess I completely gave up!! Thanks for your ideas and this give away! I’m enjoying your posts!
Thanks
Melissa
Lori St. Germain says
As an essential worker and manager, my calendars are always full and this year has been no exception for me. I have a large calendar on my desk at work, one hanging on the wall there and, of course, my Outlook calendar on the computer and my planner, too. And even with calendars at home, too I still don’t know the date sometimes! Don’t know how I would stay organized without any one of them.
Linda Carter says
My planner is all Scribbled….. yes making many plans for the new year.
Merry Christmas!
Marianne Stana says
I actually used my planner in 2021 quite a bit. I had cancer surgery in late February. I was blessed to find out that it wasn’t cancer🎉🎉. I had a whole mind shift and felt that there was a reason that I didn’t have cancer. Just about that time COVID really hit hard. I was asked to help coordinate mask making prior our parish and community. We made over 4000 masks, quite an undertaking. I was recovering from surgery physical and using my mind to organize about 75 volunteers 🤪🤪. Best thing that could have happed, so many wonderful people helped, many of whom I had never met.
I am feeling good, trying to get ready to have knee replacement in January. I definitely want to organize my time!!
Enjoy your holidays. I’m so encouraged by thi blog.
Margaret Miller says
I use mine from August to June. I am a teacher so I write out what we are learning. I don’t really use a planner in my personal life.
Cheryl K says
Like many others, all our plans were “on” the calendar, but sadly did not happen!!! Hope & pray to be able to follow through on things this year!
Pat Prather says
I absolutely must use my calendar daily! I get the one with large print so so have room to write appts. etc.. I would be lost without it. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. BTW, I love your recipes.😁
Monica Archer says
I pretty much quit using mine in March and crossed out many events but got to start using it again once school started.
Lorrie Carey says
I used pretty much every day of the year in every month. Being in the ministry, we didn’t slow down much during the pandemic. Glad we have a church family that has been faithful and active along with us through the whole ordeal.
Nicole Schwalbach says
I use all 12! I have to keep myself organized to manage a full-time job, teaching 3 college classes, and serving as Chapter Adviser for a sorority! It seems every day something is due or needs to be done. Whew!
Helen Wallinger says
I use my calendar every day, though there’s not much on it, except medical appointments! Classes went virtual, though they are done now. No volunteering yet, but looking forward to returning to that in 2021.
Caroline says
Merry Christmas, Mary!
I actually use my planner every single day–I use it to document reading, exercise, school work, etc. It somehow gives me an added incentive to do my lists of ADLs. I’ve done this every year for what seems like forever. It works for me!
This also gives me the ability to look back to prior years and note what progress/regress has happened! It is a historical record :-).
Thanks to you for all the cheer you spread!
Caroline
Mari Luna says
Ummm, what calendar?? Hasnt been used much since March.😪
Lilly says
March and April were pretty open but after that it has filled up.
Pat Clark says
I went back and saw I used the planner up to May and then blank. I do use a large desk calendar that I hang monthly on the fridge. Problem is, if I need to go back to recall something I have thrown it away.
I keep wall calendars in each room as I like to see the days of the month. I also like the different themes for each room.