I am still amazed that it is already December. I heard someone say the other day that Christmas gets closer and closer every year...I kind of agree. But I have to say that I really, really enjoy getting ready for Christmas. What in the world did we do without AMAZON? I pretty much order EVERYTHING online now and it helps take some of the stress out of the holidays.
It also helps that my girls are older and I am older lol. When my girls were younger it was hard to get it all done, but I also was trying to do everything and do it perfectly. I am so thankful for my 40’s because I started throwing perfectionism right out the door and I am so grateful that I did.
Now let’s talk about the shopping! This is the hard part because there are such GREAT deals out there that I am finding that some of these packages at my door are for me...oops! It is so hard for me to pass up a good deal lol!
The other super fun part of this time of year is that we throw a Christmas Party every year. We have been doing it now for about 20 years! I can’t believe it! This party used to stress me out but now I have finally realized that no one comes to see my decorations or to see if I dusted the bookshelves...they just want to be together, drink wine and if you stay until the very end, sip on some limoncello. I remember one year I was talking to my neighbor about the party and she said “Jen, I never even noticed your Christmas Tree!” Enough said.
There are two recipes we make every year for this party that seem to be everyone’s favorites. I’m not even sure what to call the first one? Sausage and cheese patties?? Essentially it is a piece of cocktail rye bread topped with ground sausage and velveeta cheese and then you pop it in the oven to crisp it up a bit.
The second recipe is Peanut Butter Balls. I stole this recipe from a neighbor years ago and it is the BEST! I make a batch for my father in law every year and he makes sure they last the whole year! Here is the recipe…
Mix - 2 cups of creamy peanut butter
3 cups of rice krispies
3 ¾ cups of powdered sugar
1 stick of melted butter
Roll in hands - 1 inch round. Refrigerate for one hour.
Melt in double boiler - 1 large Hershey bar
6 ounces of chocolate chips
½ bar of parafiin wax*
Dip balls into chocolate - use 2 forks and put on wax paper to cool. Refrigerate.
*Yes it is wax - keeps the chocolate shiny and smooth. You can find it where they keep the canning supplies.
What’s your go to recipe this time of year? Let us know!
Enjoy!
~Jen
It’s a couple weeks after Thanksgiving, which means preparing for Christmas season has started. Lucky enough for me, I started preparing for Christmas way before Thanksgiving!
Kate and I were jamming her Christmas playlist in the car, I was making my Christmas list, and I was already counting down the days till winter break!
Now, Christmas is most definitely my favorite holiday of them all! Not just because of the presents, but because of the food !! (and I guess the time shared with the fam…) My mom, Kate, Emily and some of Emily’s friends started making our favorite holiday desserts this past weekend and I can tell you that my “healthy eating” has officially ended. Once it’s Christmas season, I dive into all things sweet and stray away from my broccoli and carrots!! Trust me, once those peanut butter balls are made and in the freezer, my healthy foods go out the door!
As for my Christmas list, I don’t really know what I’m asking for! I know I liiiiivveee in my sweatpants and sweatshirts so I think I’m gonna ask for some more of those, just to switch up my lazy outfits at home!! I feel like I want so much that it’s hard to put it all down! All I’m saying is that I better be rich when I’m older or I am going to have some serious money problems!
And last, but definitely not least, Christmas music. Let’s be honest, Christmas music is the best music of all time. Forget country, rap, pop, rock, or oldies music, Christmas music beats them all! Whether I’m belting the “YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU baby” in All I want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey or jamming slowly to Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Michael Buble, Christmas music is my first choice of music during this time. I mean cmon, how could it not be?
So… Christmas time, also known as, the best time of the year! And to make it even better, my parents’ Christmas Party is this weekend, which means a bunch of drunk parents and a ton of yummy food!! Count me the frick in!
~Elsa