Tag: christmas eve

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#FunFriday – Christmas Decorating Ideas

I love getting the house ready for Christmas! It’s the one time of year I really go all out with garlands at various windows and along the staircase, the Christmas village, lights outside, the tree and of course, the table for Christmas Eve. I must confess the table is a two person operation as my husband has it down to a science as to where the china and crystal are stored and how to lay out enough spots for all the friends and family that are attending. Once he gets the basic layout done, I come in and do the decorating.

We usually have three tables and I try to do something different on each one. The fun part is mixing in new with old family favorites, like my husband’s Lionel train set, gifts from friends who know I love Christmas, or handmade items my daughter or mother had made. Of course, everything around the house has color. No monochrome displays or just white lights. Sorry. It may be “elegant” but it’s just not for me!

Just in case you need a little Christmas decorating inspiration, here are some links to some fun sites for you to check out!

  • For those with a country flair: http://bit.ly/2zXEqoN
  • Tap your inner Martha Stewart: https://www.marthastewart.com/274574/christmas-decorating-ideas
  • Want to try out different colors for Christmas? https://www.bhg.com/christmas/indoor-decorating/christmas-color-schemes/
  • How about a little Southern, y’all? https://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/christmas-decorating-ideas
  • Or are you feeling a little wacky this year? https://yhoo.it/2zVxnwM

FYI – this photo is of one of our Christmas Eve dining room tables!

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#ThrowbackThursday The Kids’ Table

I remember being at the kids’ table as a kid and being so impatient about moving up to the adult table. Today’s Throwback Thursday is a look back at a kids’ table from many years back. Soon these kids’ kids will need a table of their own for Christmas Eve dinner! Very exciting.
The Kids' Christmas Table

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Pecan Pie An American Tradition

One of the things my mother stressed when we were kids was that we should honor the culture and traditions of the Nation that had gifted us with Liberty and a wealth of opportunities we would not have had in our native land. Because of that, when it came time to celebrate American holidays, my mom went all out to bring to our family and friends those things that she thought were truly American.

Pecan pie was one of those things and my sister continues with this tradition every Thanksgiving. Sis is the one who does this fantastic American holiday while I do Christmas Eve with a meld of American, Cuban and Italian flavors.

So why is pecan pie so American? For starters, pecans come from a hickory tree that is native to South-Central North America. While that means there are some pecan trees in areas of Mexico, the pecan tree is really prevalent in most of the southern United States.

Did you know “pecan” was an Algonquian meaning that the nut required a stone to be cracked open?

As for the origins of the pie itself, there is some dispute about that. Some say it was first made in New Orleans when the French learned about the nut from the Native Americans. But recipes for the pie itself do not begin to appear in more well-known cookbooks until the 1940s. That could be because Karo Syrup made the dish popular in the 1930s.

My sister follows the Karo syrup recipe which you can find by clicking here. But the trick to make this really nutty and hearty is to at least double the number of pecans suggested in the recipe.

So instead of six ounces, use at least twelve or maybe even an entire pound bag of pecans. You will have to adjust the size of the pie plate to allow for the greater volume, but you will get a delicious, sweet, chewy, nutty pie with this variation.

You can also add some bourbon and/or chocolate to the recipe. Substitute 2 tablespoons of bourbon for the vanilla or add 3 ounces of semi-sweet chopped chocolate to the mix (or make it a combo of bourbon and chocolate!).

Pecan pie is wonderful served warm with a topping of either whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

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Wishing you all the best!

Every year my family and I go to Manhattan to see the sights of the Christmas season. I love walking around, seeing the windows and other holiday decorations. This little video I put together for you has some of the photos that we took on our annual jaunt.

I’ll be away for a few days getting ready for the Christmas holiday! I hope you all have a wonderful and Merry Christmas and will be back on Monday.

If you can’t see the video below, you can click here or cut and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJRy7O_ugB0

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Thursday 13 – Holiday Favorites

With Christmas just over two weeks away, I am struggling with work and writing deadlines and getting the house ready for Christmas Eve, and yet there is no denying that I am getting in the holiday mood. I love this season with all that it represents – love for each other and sharing that love through the simple things like a hug or a smile. For Christians like me, the celebration of our Lord’s birth and embracing the principles of love and respect for all humans, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. The important things, you know.

But there are also the little things that bring a smile and lift the heart and so today I am sharing thirteen of those little things that elicit joy in me during this holiday season!

1. Christmas carols. Love to hear them and sing them.

2. The smell of roast pork on Christmas Eve morning.

3. Hot apple cider.

4. Hot chocolate.

5. Christmas lights.

6. Santas. One year we were on a train filled with dozens of Santas on the way to Santacon. What a blast!

7. The Nutcracker. We go to see the ballet every year as part of our holiday tradition.

8. Christmas trees. Love picking one out and decorating it (look for more on this on Fun Friday).

9. Exchanging gifts with friends and family.

10. A child’s face on Christmas morning as it lights up at the presents Santa brought.

11. Watching Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original animated one).

12. Christmas Eve dinner with family and friends.

13. Going to NYC to see the holiday windows, the tree in Rockefeller Center and the pond at Bryant Park.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Thursday Thirteen. I welcome you to share some of your favorite things about the holiday season.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

As a P.S. – This is a photo my Christmas village from a few years back. It’s still in the works this season and I hope to finish it soon!

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Fun Friday – Holiday Traditions

Snowman Holiday TraditionsIt’s that time of year when I can’t stop thinking about all the fun and wonderful things that the holiday season brings. For me the best part of it is getting to spend time with my family. We always go and chop down our tree, play tourist in New York City and share Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve with family and friends.

Here’s a shot of my dining room, all ready for those family and friends!

How about you? What are some of your fun holiday traditions? What other fun things do you have happening today or over the weekend? Please share with us.

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