Merry Christmas To Everyone!!

 Just didn't feel the same today... is it just me or is everyone saying that??  I will be quite happy to climb into bed tonight and put all of this behind me. 

At the same time, I'm wishing all of you as many happy thoughts as you can muster. I'm also sending lots and lots of hugs to anyone who needs them!!

 

 

A few more thoughts....

I found this site a few years ago that I thought some of you might like... especially with Christmas costs mounting lol. Yes, as I mentioned above, it's kind of like Facebook where you can chat away to your hearts content... but you get paid every month to do it! Kind of nice to find money in your PayPal account for just chatting with friends and family. It's called MyLot and you will find it at https://www.mylot.com Thought for This Morning... Have you been nice to someone this morning?

Thought for This Afternoon... 

Thought for Tonight... Hoping to go to sleep tonight like I did in school...

 What I'm asking for ... A much better 2021

January Got Away From Me!

I make it a practice to buy one gift every month. It  might be something major (to get it out of the way) or something small that will fit nicely into their stocking. Anyway, here it is the first day of February and I haven't bought a thing.  It's time I took care of my habit and get that one gift crossed off my list.  And I'm going to choose the 15th of February to buy the gift for that month. I've already written it on the calendar!

It just makes enjoying December that much more enjoyable if I have most of my shopping out of the way!

Taking The Time To Get It Right

Well, we have come through another Christmas morning and mine was awesome! I hope that yours was as well. And I have a brand new quote for you. It goes like this!

"No great thing is ever created suddenly."
Epictetus

So what does this have to do with Christmas morning you might be asking? I'm going to start my Christmas list today... for next year.  I'm going to write down what everyone got this year and how well it was received. And then I will add to it during the next 11 months. And I also shop all year round. It really helps if you have a list.

December shouldn't be for crisis shopping... just the fun stuff like chocolate. (Everything else was done)  Everyone in my family got lots of goodies... more healthy treats this year I might add. Less chocolate and more nuts. The change went over well and I think that the change will carry over to next year. 

I like the fact that all of our shopping was completed by the end of November so all of our December outings were for sheer enjoyment. Sadly we saw a lot of frazzled people out there looking for anything to complete their list. That's not the way it should be!!

Anyway, have a great day and Merry Christmas to all :)

Thoughts About Christmas Cards

 My mom was just saying yesterday, that she wishes that more people would write Christmas letters. She loves to catch up on everyone's news at this time of year. "It's so sad to open a card just to see a name and nothing else".

A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year… These make a Merry Christmas!
John Greenleaf Whittier

Thoughts about Winter on a cold windy night

Well, I just checked and there is nothing on TV tonight, so I decided to go down and re-arrange my Christmas room. Actually it is my HOLIDAY room and to keep everything sorted, I asked my husband to build me a wall of shelves so that I could keep everything organized. I thought that it would work beautifully, but it didn't take very long for everything to jumbled up into a mess.

Did I mention that everyone gives me Christmas houses?? Well, I climbed the ladder and put them up onto the top shelf. I HAVE A LOT!  With just the three of us at the moment, I don't always put them out. If we ever move home again, our granddaughter is going to have so much fun with them!! Anyway, ornaments came next... and somewhere I got this brilliant idea to have a formal tree and a family tree. That means twice the ornaments. They all needed dividing as well. And then I had to put my bathroom decorations into a box, another for the living room. One for the dining room... well you get the idea.

To make a long story short... my Christmas room is now THE CHRISTMAS ROOM. All of the other holidays have been sent to the attic. Yes, I filled the Christmas room and there is no space left for Halloween and Easter. I was pondering decorating for Valentine's Day... but decided that it might be a huge mistake. When we move, I have to take all of this stuff with us. Enough said...

Becoming a Child Again at Christmas

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.”

  Laura Ingalls Wilder

Video: A look at Christmas back in the 1950's

This is for all of you who WERE born in this decade! Ahh, it was a good time to be alive! Life was so simple back then! At least it was to a kid!

Today's Quote About Santa Claus

Alas! How dreary would be the world if there was no Santa Claus!... There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. FRANCIS P. CHURCH I have to agree. Even as an adult, there is a certain magic that Santa brings every December 24th. I even find myself listening to the night sounds just in case I hear sleigh bells. Oh, to be a kid again!!

What the World Needs Now...

... is more love and less paperwork.

Pearl Bailey


*and I'm working on it. I'm spending the afternoon de-cluttering. When did I start saving... EVERYTHING! I thought that I would use the advent calender idea to do a little bit each day!

Kids and Christmas

Are you experiencing the holiday season in the same way your kids are?? Who said that you can't bounce off the walls in excitement just because you aren't a kid any longer?? For the rest of the day, I want you to pretend that you are six years old again and I want you to get excited! Hey... it's almost Christmas!!

Life is tooo short NOT to get excited!!

Waiting for Christmas or waiting for us? Lessons from Charlie Brown - AnnArbor.com

Oh, I needed to read this so badly. Last year I let myself miss out on Christmas because of sudden Root Canals that I had to endure... and they weren't going to go smoothly either. That kind of put the finishing touches to my getting excited. There was always next year I told myself. But, next year is here and I'm still not excited and as hard as I try, I still can't seem to get that holiday spirit that I tell everyone I'm enjoying... I'm lying!

And then I read this article... I only wish I could turn the clock back so that it was December the 1st. Read the article and it will all make sense!

Waiting for Christmas or waiting for us? Lessons from Charlie Brown

Santa Claus is anyone who loves another
and seeks to make them happy; who gives
himself by thought or word or deed in every gift
that he bestows; who shares his joys with those
who are sad; whose hand is never closed against
the needy; whose arm is ever outstretched to aid
the week; whose sympathy is quick and genuine
in time of trouble; who recognizes a comrade
and brother in every man he meets upon life's
common road; who lives his life throughout
the entire year in the Christmas spirit.

EDWIN OSGOOD GROVER

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus: The Classic Edition

Christmas Thoughts and Quotes

Image via Wikipedia

More often than not, we are scurrying around this month trying to get everything done. It's sad... not to enjoy the season. For that very reason, I put together this collection of thoughts and quotes about one of my favorite times of the year!

Keep doing good deeds long enough and you'll probably turn out a good man in spite of yourself. Louis Auchincloss

Peace on earth will come to stay, When we live Christmas every day.
Helen Steiner Rice



Christmas Thoughts and Quotes

Decking Your Halls and all that stuff!

Felt christmas ball (Photo credit: Linda (Pane, amore e creatività))

Christmas decorating is supposed to be fun, but sometimes it gets a little scary too. Where do you start??

1. Make Your Own Family Christmas Tree... you can make cute little decorations to fill in the empty spots on the tree. All you need is red bristol board, white paper lace doilies and photos of family members. You might want to laminate them as mine are about ten years old and they are beginning to show their age. And then there is the one of granddad that soaked up a little spilled coffee.

2. Make an assortment of miniature Christmas Cards using plain white paper and holiday rubber stamps. Inside each Christmas card can be a Christmasy quote. Place a bowl of them on the coffee table and watch people thumb through them.

3. Pick up some inexpensive frames from the dollar store and "frame" old Christmas cards that can be displayed on coffee tables or even hung on the wall!

4. Odd Christmas Balls... decorate the fireplace??... Place a bit of greenery... real or otherwise and then sneak in a few Christmas balls. Looks amazingly pretty!

And Then She Was GONE: A riveting new suspense novel that keeps you guessing until the end

5. LOTS of tinsel. And place your tree near a vent if it's artificial and allow the warm air to make the tinsel sparkle! My husband hates tinsel, but that's my favorite part of Christmas and I'm not giving it up!

6. This is the time of the year for CLUTTER. During this month Christmas is all about bits and pieces everywhere. Let it put a smile on your face!

7. Wreaths in every window... Yes, it can be done. All you need is wire coat hangers and plastic wrap that is tied in knots around the wire. Bags that the newspapers arrive in can be used as well! I tried leaving them out for the paper boy, but he ignored them so I found a new use for them!

8. Window Sills ... don't leave them bare... miniature figurines from the dollar store work amazingly well.

Related articles

• I'm Making A List; I'm Re-blogging It Twice(thelaughinghousewife.wordpress.com)

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• Deck The Halls: Tips To Give Your Real Christmas Tree Longevity(detroit.cbslocal.com)

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• What Ever Happened to Angel Hair...aka December Writing Challenge(beduwen.com)

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Amazon.com: Crochet: Learn to Crochet Six Great Projects (Klutz) (9781570548703): Anne Johnson: Books

Have you noticed just how many scarves are in the stores these days... and then the prices!! It might just save you a bundle if you sit down and begin to crochet your own for Christmas gifts. And these scarves have been designed for beginners so it shouldn't take you a long time!

List Price:	$24.95
Price:	$16.47

Amazon.com: Crochet: Learn to Crochet Six Great Projects (Klutz) (9781570548703): Anne Johnson: Books

Merry Christmas... hold the stress

Image by hazelisles via Flickr

As much as we love the season... Christmas can be a stressful time of the year. Having a list definitely helps me put things into perspective. You have no idea!

1. How much you spend can cause a ton of stress. You never feel that you are finished or have bought enough. Decide before hand on a dollar amount and then let everyone know about. It will take away their stress as well.

2. How much you do during this time of year can cause major stress. If you start planning in January, you have a head start. Come up with a list of things that you want to accomplish and divide them up so that you can work on one thing every month. By the time Christmas rolls around, you are done... and no stress.

3. What to serve... now is not the time to try out new recipes... unless you are Nigella Lawson. For me, this is the perfect time for the dish to flop. Stick to recipes that are tried and true and keep them simple! I have one cookie recipe that always wins favor. Who would have guessed that an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie could do this!

4. One tree... there was a time when I thought that you needed multiple trees all around the house for your home to really feel festive. Okay, I am still feeling that way, but I'm trying to talk my way out of it. For a few years now, I have been waiting for an 8 foot black tree and so far, no luck. But... if I do happen to find one, I will really need someone to try and talk me out of it. Not sure that they will succeed however. I have been looking for this tree for several years now. Spotted it while on holiday a few years ago in England and I've been waiting ever since!

5. Enjoying Christmas eve... this is my all time favorite night of the year. I swear that there is magic in the air. I love to fill the house with candles and go for a walk in the early evening hours. Love shines out of every window and then home for a mug of hot chocolate and a reading of... The Night Before Christmas. And no, it doesn't matter how old your kids are.

6. Plan your Christmas day... It won't be so hard if it is merely the immediate family, but if you are planning for a crowd, "planning" is essential here. You will want as much prepared early as possible. That way, you can sit back and enjoy the day!

7. Potluck Christmas dinner... is another way to take a lot of the stress off of YOU! Ask everyone to bring... what you want them to bring. If you don't tell them what you want, you are likely to have little in the way of Christmas Dinner and a LOT of desserts... which might not be a bad thing lol!

8. The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose another thought over another.
William James

9. "The time to relax is when you don't have time for it."
Sydney J. Harris

10. "There are times when we stop, we sit still. We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper."
James Carroll

11. "Don't stress the could have, it would have."
Unknown

12. Give your stress wings and let it fly away.
Terri Guillemets

13. You can do anything but not everything.
Unknown

14... 2020...  Christmas just didn't feel the same this year. :(  It's amazing what this year has done to our mental state of being!

Thinking About Christmas Dinner??

I guess it's about that time... the morning when you start thinking about whether or not you want to host Christmas Dinner. If you haven't quite decided, I have prepared a list... this ought to make up your mind. ;)

1. Let someone else host it. All you have to do is show up with a bottle of wine! Okay, chances are you won't get off quite that easily. Christmas dinner usually means the best china and silver, so there will be some hand washing and drying of dishes. But it is still a fun girl time around the sink!

2. If you have to cook it... you get to choose the menu. So there is a perk to hosting Christmas Dinner. And there's always the old potluck idea if you need a little help!

3. Try to sneak in as many veggies as possible. We always try to have lots of fresh, chopped up veggies to offer for snacking about an hour before dinner is served.

4. Dinner conversation... reminisce about past Christmases. People love to chat about Christmases that they remember from when they were kids. Just start the ball rolling and you won't have to say another word.

5. If lots of people are coming... you don't have to do all the work! Let people bring some goodies. I mentioned this earlier, but it is worth repeating. Everyone has a specific dish that the are proud of. Ask if they could bring it with them. They will love the fact that you asked. It will make them feel so special!

6. Have quiet Christmas music playing in the back ground. The sing song can come later if your crowd loves that sort of thing.

7. Have a Christmas movie playing in another room. Give people a choice as to what they can do.

8. If you have an extra table, put out a Christmas puzzle. People will get hooked quickly! This is especially effective if teenagers are invited. They don't really want to leave the room, but they aren't all that excited about joining the conversation either!

9... I'm sure that there are oodles and oodles of ways to create the perfect Christmas Dinner, but I want to hear from you. What are your special little tricks. A girl can use as many as she can get her hands on!

Quotes to Help You Believe in Santa Claus

I just finished watching "Miracle on 34th Street" last night and I want/need to believe. Here are a few quotes that I thought would help all of us over 6 years of age!

Santa Claus is anyone who loves another
and seeks to make them happy; who gives
himself by thought or word or deed in every gift
that he bestows; who shares his joys with those
who are sad; whose hand is never closed against
the needy; whose arm is ever outstretched to aid
the week; whose sympathy is quick and genuine
in time of trouble; who recognizes a comrade
and brother in every man he meets upon life's
common road; who lives his life throughout
the entire year in the Christmas spirit.

EDWIN OSGOOD GROVER

Click Here for more info...


He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE (how can someone make that up?? ;)


"Dear Editor--I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'
Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?"

Virginia O'Hanlon,
115 West Ninety-fifth Street

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus."

Francis Pharcellus Church

“One of the problems we have in this country is that too many adults believe in Santa Claus, and too many children don't”

Lee Lauer

I rest my case! ;)

Snowflake-Beaded Christmas Stockings - Neiman Marcus

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas stockings?? I like the way they are all a little bit different, but they all still match!  These are made of burlap... yes and I'm ready for a country Christmas!!



Just a thought this morning... how old are your Christmas stockings? I wish that I had saved mine from when I was a child. It was just an old one that belonged to my dad and the thought of it is making me tear up. Oh, the stories it could tell!

Unfortunately the beaded snowflake stockings are no longer available. 

Too Close to Home

Image by P. Medina via Flickr

Just finished this one and it was a lot scarier than I expected it to be. If you are looking for a book that will keep you wondering right to the last few pages... this one is it. It's called To Close to Home, by Linwood Barclay.

Tomorrow, I have a fluffy Christmas novel that won't be the least bit scary lol... But... my husband heard me raving about it so much, that he's going to read it next. Now that will be a first!