happy day

Sweetness and Peacefulness and Dreaming

My mom and I were talking about this on the phone yesterday. We both decided we like Christmas Eve better than Christmas Day. I don’t know why…but in my head, Jesus was born on Christmas Eve and then His parents got to sleep in on Christmas Day (#thelogicofchildhood). Growing up, Christmas Eve was rife with tradition. We would go to the candlelight service and sing my favorite Christmas carols like this one. We would drive home in the snowy cold (I feel like every Christmas in Colorado was a white Christmas). We’d unbundle ourselves from coats and scarves and boots. Dad would grab the snacks and the camera. Mom would heat up her cup of coffee and we’d head for the living room and the tree. Dad would read the Christmas story aloud and then we’d open presents in a circle, one at a time so that we could enjoy them with each other. My mother was the quiet conductor of all of this, sipping her coffee and nodding that it was someone else’s turn. Mom and Dad would open presents from each other last and have the annual Hunny Bunny argument (both would insist that the OTHER person was “Hunny Bunny #1” and so no packages were ever marked to “Hunny Bunny #2”).  I would sort and pile my gifts in a box and, when we had finished, I would take them to my room and set them where I could stare at them in the dark. They would stay in the box for days, maybe a week, shining up at me all new and special. I liked to horde them for a few days, to keep them new and bright and separate from my regular, everyday belongings. Christmas morning was the leisurely version of this and we’d take as long as possible to open our stockings, just to make them last to the very last toe of the very last stocking.

This Christmas Eve will be different than the ones I had as a little girl but that’s okay. It will be a day full of baking and singing and movie watching and snuggling and candle-lighting and praying and present-opening. It will mostly be just me and Kyle but I like that. Someday we’ll probably have babies and then the babies will grow up and be children and Christmases will be different. This year I am cherishing the peacefulness and sweetness and quietness. I have a growing feeling that this is a rare gift.

I hope whatever your celebration looks like, it’s wonderful and that it feeds your soul.

Merry Christmas Eve,
elizabeth

Christmas at Mirror Lake

Kyle and I have been busy crossing things off our Christmas bucket list and last night, we managed to sneak away with some hot chocolate and the camera to one of my favorite spots on the university campus, Mirror Lake. I love this place year-round but during the holidays, they light up the trees all around the water’s edge.  I’m so glad we did this. It was one of the things on the list that didn’t cost a thing and it was so peaceful and sweet to be just the two of us there in the dark and the cold. It will probably be my stand-out memory from this Christmas with Kyle.

 

As we head into the holiday, I hope you’re getting lots of quality time with the people you love.

love, love, love,

elizabeth

“Build magical gingerbread forest.” Check.

I gotta say that I am super proud that Kyle and I are actually doing stuff on our Christmas bucket list. I was really afraid I would totally fail at making a list of goals and then, you know, DOING THOSE THINGS (I mean, have you checked out my bucket list for this year? It’s not going so great.)

I was really taken by the December issue of Better Homes & Gardens (which I talk about on this blog so much, they should seriously start paying me). They had instructions for a gingerbread forest that were so inspiring that, despite my appalling baking skills, I actually went out and bought things like “meringue powder” and “molasses” and “eggs.” Okay, maybe I already had eggs. I took an absurd amount of pictures of this entire process from the mixing of ingredients to the rolling of dough and the baking and the cooling and the frosting. If you find this as fascinating as I did, you can check out my Instagram for a riveting play-by-play. You’re welcome, internet.

One of the best things about being married to Kyle (and there are a lot of best things) is his wonderful ability to play with me. He has zero qualms about becoming a kid again and that’s good news because he’s married to a super uptight crazy person who needs someone to balance her out.

This is obviously a very well-maintained magical gingerbread forest because they have licorice park benches where the Sour Patch Kids like to hang out and smoke gummy bears.

Or do magical licorice and snowcap mushrooms.

This is Francis. He is the love-child of Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He has a LOT of medical problems.

Behold, the forest. I have to point out that the cobblestone pathway is constructed entirely out of gum and gingerbread bricks with frosting grout. It was the most fun thing to make.

My magazine inspiration. I have no idea how they made their tree seams so un-seam-like. But I seriously love, love, love B&G. Love.

Are you a gingerbread-making type person? Have you made any this year?

love, elizabeth

Help Me Decide…

One year when I was little, my dad made plum pudding for Christmas dinner and don’t ask me why, but I’ve been wanting to try it again since then. It seems like a very festive, very grown-up thing to cook. So I did what any sensible blogger does and hit Pinterest for recipes. Apparently, however, ‘plum pudding’ means a lot of different things, some of which are more cake-like and not so much with the pudding. I’ve narrowed it down to a few different possibilities but I really only have time to try one of these this year so…I’d love your opinion. Which of these sounds the best to you? Have you had plum or ‘Christmas’ pudding before? Did you like it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: allrecipes.co.uk via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

Source: tastemag.co.za via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: retroplanet.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: guardian.co.uk via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: octoberfarm.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

I know. This is a highly momentous decision. Thoughts?

What is your favorite Christmas dish?

love, elizabeth

“I myself am having some Yuletide doubts.”

Source: impawards.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

As per my Christmas to-do list, we curled up on the couch on Saturday night and watched my favorite Christmas movie of all time, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This movie is just awesome and Kyle and I have seen it so many times, we can quote most of it.

Here are some of our favorite Grinch-isms:

“One man’s toxic sludge is another man’s potpourri.”

“Blast, this Christmas music! It’s joyful AND triumphant.”

“She’ll be on me like fleegel flies on a flat-faced flugelhorse! We'll, I’m sorry, Martha baby, but the G-Train has left the station!”

“If you so much as utter ONE syllable, I’ll hunt you down and gut you like a FISH! If you’d like to fax me, press the star key.”

“Kids today. So desensitized by movies and television.”

“The NERVE of those Who’s inviting me down there on such short notice! Even if I wanted to go, my schedule wouldn’t allow it. 4 o’clock – Wallow in self-pity. 4:30 – Stare into the abyss. 5 o’clock – Solve world hunger. Tell NO ONE. 5:30 – Jazzercise. 6:30 – Dinner with me. I can’t cancel that again! 7 o’clock – Wrestle with my self-loathing…I’m booked!”

“Now listen to me, young lady. Even if we’re HORRIBLY MANGLED, there’ll be no sad faces on Christmas.”

What’s your favorite quote from your favorite Christmas movie?

love, elizabeth

Being Intentional About Christmas

Today blogging feels a like that treadmill I’ve been ignoring for a couple months – it’s not that hard when I do it everyday, it feels really good when I do it, and I feel better about myself after. But I keep staring at that treadmill like maybe I’ve really forgotten how to treadmill properly. So here I am, hopping back on the blogging train. I have so much to TELL you!

Beginning with my game plan for Christmas this year. Honestly, I’ve been feeling not-Christmas-y. I’ve been slower than usual getting decorations up. I’ve been staring at the tree extra critically this year. I’ve actually had a few moments of sympathy for the Grinch – I mean, the Who’s DO celebrate their festivities fairly loudly, don’t they?

My December issue of Better Homes and Gardens came (and this is not a paid advertisement, by the way) and I was struck by some of the advice in the Sanity Savers article about holiday organization:

“Before you launch into holiday planning, ask yourself: what do I love most? What do I dread? This exercise will help you decide what belongs on your to-do list and what needs to be simplified or deleted altogether. If quality time is a priority, put it on the calendar, just like you would any other important activity. Pick an evening to munch cookies, sip cocoa, and watch a favorite holiday film… Don’t get caught in the trap of doing something just because it’s what you’ve always done. Only commit to activities that really matter to you and your family.” (Thanks to B&G writer, Berit Thorkelson, for the wisdom. I’m taking your advice.)

So with this in mind, Kyle and I made a list of Christmas activities that actually matter to us. We have until December 31st to do it all…but if we don’t, that’s okay too.

Okay, your turn. What’s on your Christmas list that you REALLY care about? I can’t wait to hear.

love, elizabeth

PS: I’m also taking Berit’s advice about Christmas cards this year: “Defer sending greetings until another holiday such as New Year’s or Valentine’s Day, when both you and your recipients have more time to enjoy the sentiment.” So if you ordinarily get a Christmas card from us, be checking your mailboxes in February instead!

Open Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I know it’s only November 19th but I wanted to give you a head start on shopping by offering some options. And if my husband happens to see this…well, that’s just a crazy coincidence.

Option 1: Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries.

This book looks really funny and interesting. Reviewers have called it “investigative satire” and Jon Ronson spends time with the craziest, real-life people – like Phoenix, the masked superhero. I need to read this

Option 2: A coupon for a date with my husband to Wickliff Books on High Street (you’ll have to coordinate this with him, obviously, Santa).

Option 3: C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve (available at Bath & Body Works).

 

Option 4: An iPad cleaner cloth.

 

Option 5: Sparkly hair pins (not barrettes - there’s a subtle difference which I’m sure you will understand).

Option 6: One thousand kisses (not from you, from Kyle – way to make it awkward, Santa.)

If you think I’m being greedy…I am.

love and (sort of almost-ish) Merry Christmas,

elizabeth

Post-Christmas DIY: Recycle Your Christmas Cards

This is one of my favorite post-Christmas crafts, although it’s great for any time of year. If you’re a card saver like me, you end up with piles of them after birthdays and holidays. Here’s an easy DIY picture tutorial for folding paper boxes out of old cards. My mom shared this one with me when I was a little girl and now I’m sharing it with you…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished product is cute and they look great as a little pile in a basket or hung as ornaments…

What about you? What post-Christmas projects are you working on?

love, elizabeth

Twelve Things of Christmas

Christmas week was wonderful but I have so many pictures, I thought I’d share twelve as a representation of the whole.

1. Madigan loved Dad. She spent lots of the week in his lap…

2. Jeni’s, the best ice cream parlor in Columbus (maybe the best ice cream ever). My favorite holiday flavors? Smoked Tea & Plum Pudding and Cumin & Honey Butterscotch Cake. Yes, yes, and yes.

3. Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek. Sooo pretty to drive through…

4. An afternoon at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. What could be better?

5. Starbucks with Mom, Dad, and Kyle. Another bonus of being married to a barista.

6. Starliner Diner for a traditional Cuban breakfast.

7. Rummikub after dinner. Mom killed us.

8. Vegetable Medley Soup. Absolutely delicious and so easy! Recipe to follow.

9. The Poinsettia Tree at the Franklin Park Conservatory on Christmas Eve.

10. Perfect fortune cookie for our Christmas Eve dinner at Hong Kong Buffet.

11. Candlelight service at church.

12. Dad read one of our favorite Christmas stories aloud, Papa Panov’s Special Christmas by Tolstoy.

What kinds of things did you do this Christmas?

love, elizabeth