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
Gerald Freeman says
I didn’t even buy one and didn’t receive one until this year so we’ll see
Karen Eye says
I use a planner. After March, almost anything I had written in it was cancelled. Sure do miss all those fun activities with family and friends. Praying that 2021 will find our blocks in our calendars filled once again! Merry Christmas!
lisa says
2.5 months in the beginning of 2020. Half a month around summertime. I finally put it away in October. Made me sad.
Laurie says
I don’t use a planner per say, but I print a calendar page every month to stick on the fridge to track things – like rainfall, when I feed some of my sourdough starters, and when to change my HVAC filter (yep I do that monthly). I also put any appointments on it.
Christine Preston says
I used my calendar every single day as I am babysitting and Helping all 5 grandkids with their online school. On my days off, I’m running errands, grocery shopping and caring for my 87 year old Dad…not many blank days in 2020 despite the pandemic!
Debbie W. says
I use my calendar every month, mostly for tracking various doctor appointments or just to be aware what day/date of the week it is.
Linda Buermele says
I start the year with a pocket calendar. I put everybody’s birthday in it and doctor appointments, etc. Then I put it in my purse and that’s about the last I see of it until I put the next year pocket calendar in my purse.
Maureen Marino says
I did make appt’s. during this year, only to have them postponed or rescheduled and feeling very frustrated.
Any and all vacations never materialized this year, infrequent family visits did happen but not on a regular basis. My calendar was pretty empty and the majority of days went to grocery stores!
Hoping 2021 will be more fruitful, as two family weddings were postponed until next summer.
Marty says
I use a planner mainly for work. I do keep up with some personal things in my planner. Sad to say not much personal stuff in my planner this year. Hopefully 2021 will be different!
Kathleen Duncan says
I use my planner daily from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. I find if I write down what i want to get done that day, I’m more likely to accomplish that task. After all – It Was Written Down!!
Maureen O'Connor says
I use every month in my planner, and almost every day in the month! I like to look back at the end of the year ans see how my time was spent.
Toni Steinbuchel says
Nothing fun since middle of March, only a few Dr. appointments.
Cecile VanTyne says
I love a planner and everything that helps me stay organized so I use them all year. Maybe not as much in the summer. Hope there’s more going on next year!
Jackie B says
I use a calendar everyday to keep track of birthdays, doctors appointments, etc. I would be lost without it.
Cheryl Pryor says
My planner from this year looks pretty pathetic. The dates that are marked all seem to be appointments and “things going on” all to do with other people. My mother is a 90+ woman who I take to her appointments: beauty shop (something she insists is essential, doctors, dentists, and to get her groceries. Her appointments have been cut way back too due to this crazy year and all that it entails. Then there’s my brother, my one and only sibling, who discovered he has colon cancer so I’ve been keeping up with all his appointments before his surgery. I imagine next year’s planner will be even more filled once he has his surgery (he put it off till after the first of the year due to having to meet his deductible once instead of twice) and then his chemo appointments. So, it’s a year that was pretty stressful as it has been to everyone. Anyway, that’s my planner in a nutshell. If there’s any secret Santa’s out there, all I have on my wish list this year is for my brother to recover. Prayers would be much appreciated. Thank you and a Merry Christmas to all!
Wendy R Cathcart says
The only thing I did with my 2020 calendar is ERASE things…sigh!
Donna B. says
I’ve used my calendar every day this year. It really helps me stay organized. I’d be lost without it!
Kris Pettee says
I actually used mine nearly every day. I kept track of what I was working on from home, and then when the lockdown was lifted, I used it to track when I went into the lab and when I worked from home. I also used it to track seminars and web events and I had writing deadlines (next journal article from my lab)
Monica Kruck says
I agree the calendar was blank most of the year! Funny I ordered a new 2021 calendar and it’s supposed to arrive 1/4! Ha typical of 2020. What a year. I love your blog. Merry Christmas 🎁🎄🙏🏻
S. Cummings says
I’m actually still using my planner. I filled in items throughout the year and changed dates when needed.