Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

May your holiday season be filled with rest and renewal.  Memories and belonging.  Joy and hope.  Generosity and compassion.  Celebrate traditions.  Create new memories.  Let's slow down and savour these days.  May we create space for the things that matter most.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  
John 1:14

Better World Shopper

With Christmas coming and all, I gotta tell you about one of my favourite websites.  The information on this site is changing the way that I shop.  The truth is that we vote with our wallets.  If you're anything like me, I want to be more and more a part of the solution and less and less a part of the problem.

BETTER WORLD SHOPPER is a site dedicated to providing people with a comprehensive, up-to-date, reliable account of the social and environmental responsibility of every company on the planet AND making it available in practical forms that individuals can use in their everyday lives. Coming out of more than 5 years of intensive research, this work is based on a comprehensive database of over 1000 companies and utilizes 25+ reliable sources of data to cover everything from the environment to human rights, community development to animal protection (taken from website).

Companies and Products are given a grade, based on the following 5 areas of criteria:

Check out the website at www.betterworldshopper.com.  The website is so informative.  There is also an app you can download to your phone or a book that you order through the website.  I just got my hands on the book.  Really great stuff!

Buckeyes

Last Christmas, I tasted these delicious treats and found out they were called Buckeye's.  I googled the recipe and this year I decided to try making them.  They were soooo easy and so yummy.  Like the kind of yummy that is hard to share, if you can relate.  If you're looking for another recipe this Christmas season, this one is so worth checking out:)

Buckeyes 
By: Tammy Winters


"This recipe is so good that I double it whenever I make it. Since it is peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate it is almost like candy. Real buckeyes are nuts that grow on trees and are related to the horse chestnut."


Original Recipe Yields 5 dozen
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups confectioners' sugar
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips


Directions
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.
Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth.
Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.

source:  www.allrecipes.com

How about you?  What are you baking this Christmas?

Advent Tags

Last year, my friend Lori made these amazing advent tags for her family.  What a great way to prepare their hearts for Christmas.  I totally want to make these for my family this Christmas (I need to get started asap!).   I love this idea and asked for her permission to share it with you.  So, here you go - thank you Lori!

Here's what Lori wrote in a facebook note last December about her Advent Tags:

"To save anyone else the hassle of writing the Christmas story in 24 bite size chunks, I've copied it below for you. I used the NIV version (because it's the closest to the way I memorized it growing up, although it is missing the word "swaddling," which I desperately wanted to add!). I only took liberties with the Wise Men part so I could squeeze it all in. To that end, King Herod got kicked out of the story. I tried to keep each day short enough so that I could hold Sebastien's attention (age 6). I'm expecting to lose Xavier (age 4) this year. Molly Irwin (inspiration website from earlier post) uses verses from all over the Bible to include prophesy. I just wanted to keep it to the narrative.

In an ideal world, there would be a small, thin Christmas tree in my front foyer on which every day we would add a tag. I'm sure it would be beautiful by Christmas day.  We'll be taking them from their wooden bowl and placing them either on the mantel greenery or on the big tree. Maybe next year I can get that small tree."

Here's the story:


1
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.


2
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”


3
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.


4
You will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.


5
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end.”`


6
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.


7
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.


8
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as you wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.


9
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”


10
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.


11
In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman World. And everyone went to his own town to register.


12
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of Daivd.


13
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.


14
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.


15
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.


16
And there were shepherds living out in the field nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.


17
 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.


18
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.


19
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.


20
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”


21
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”


22
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a manger.


23
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Magi from the followed the star they had seen in the east until it stopped over the place where the child was.


24
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of frankincense and myrrh.


Do you have any traditions in your home to prepare for Christmas?  I'd love to hear them : )

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Santa's helper

putting the angel on the top of the tree

the arrival of the long awaited "tablet"

the stockings were hung

Beth is warming up to Santa

time to decorate the gingerbread houses

finished products (with the help of a glue gun...touchy subject...don't ask.)

Homemade Christmas

Last Christmas my sister Leah suggested that instead of purchasing gifts, we all make homemade gifts for each other.  We all agreed - well all of us except our parents.  I know that I was willing to participate, but if I'm honest, I had fairly low expectations.

WOW - was I ever blown away?  Last Christmas was full of so much laughter and surprise.  It was definitely our family's favourite Christmas.  Ever.
My parents were so sorry they didn't participate and have already started their homemade gifts for this year!  As for this year, I can't write about what I am making, but I will blog about it after Christmas:-)

Last year, I gave everyone local canned peaches (that I had made in the summer) and homemade chocolate truffles, all boxed up nicely :-)

Leah and Craig  put together family cookbooks for everyone.  This was a gift we all knew about, so we all had a chance to submit our favourite recipes.  The only thing we didn't know was how fantastic it would turn out!  They did an amazing job putting together the cookbook, complete with personal thoughts and photos!

Lauren beaded the girls all necklaces and gave each of the guys personalized t-shirts. Her and Nat bought the t-shirts and then either stitched a cool design on it or ironed on a personalized logo.  Super thoughtful.

Dave and Kristal made something different for each of us.  A birdfeeder for my family, an outdoor stand-up ash tray for Leah and Craig ( they are not smokers, but entertain a lot and have friends who do smoke), a Christmas tree stand for Lauren and Nat and a personalized "Gran and Granda" sign for my parents house.  I think Drew received money, being the student and all...

Drew was the wild card.  Last Christmas Drew was just finishing up his first semester of his second year at University.  He literally came home for Christmas after his last exam on the 23rd.  I think we all kind of assumed that Drew would make his famous "tablet" for everyone, which we were great with. Tablet is a british candy - kind of like fudge...made with condensed milk, sugar and vanilla.  It sounds easy to make, but it's trickier than it sounds.  The key to fabulous tablet is all in the boiling - knowing how long and how hard to boil it for.  This is a family recipe that my Granny Harper used to make and  Drew has continued the tradition.

In case you are wondering, Drew still did make tablet and I received a tin of it on my birthday just before Christmas.  Drew has started a bit of a tradition and each year he makes me a tin of tablet for my birthday. It's pure gold.  I'm already looking forward to my upcoming birthday :-)

Anyways, Drew totally surprised us and between the time he came home on the evening of December 23rd and the afternoon of December 26th when we exchanged gifts - Drew knit us all hats.  All different colours.  19 in total.  Unbelievable.

Here are some photos:

peaches

Leah

Dave

Steve and Drew

Eva

In addition to making my parents a family cookbook, Leah also put together a book for my Dad which was full of all his favourite sayings.

Even my girls got into it.  Grace made all of the females embroirdered pin cushions and all of the males crocheted dish clothes ( gotta love a modern girl!).  I had no idea what Grace had even made everyone, because she made them all one weekend at Gran's house and even wrapped them before she came home.  Eva painted every family a small painting on a canvas.  Super cute.

I'd love to hear from you...
Are you making homemade gifts this holiday season?  What types of gifts have you made in the past and what are some home made gifts you have received?  What went well and what didn't?

If you want to give homemade gifts, but don't have the time,  check out Hand Made Market.  It's happening in Niagara on the 27th and 28th of November and is fabulous.  Some of my friends are the organizers and this is their second year.  It's pretty fantastic.
handmademarket.ca

This year I am making homemade gifts for as many people as possible.  I figure it's super thoughtful and way easier on my budget.  These days I am trying to simplify in every area of my life and this seems like a good way to be creative and simplify at the same time.

There are so many cool things you can make.  Here are some that I have been thinking about and considering for the years to come:

- fudge
- knitting mittens, hats and/or scarves
- homemade chocolates
- homemade flower arrangements
- jam, jellies, preserves
- knitting slippers
- homemade greeting cards all boxed up as a gift
- jewlery
- a homemade quilt
- wine
- gift certificates for babysitting, delivery of cookies each month, meals etc
- a personalized scrapbook


In addition to making gifts, I've also been thinking how I can combine the gift of giving with making a difference in the world.  Here are some cool ideas I have come across:

- kiva gift cards Kiva.org
- fair trade jewlery, coffee, chocolate, ornaments, scarves and more from 10 000 Villages ( you can even order on line at www.tenthousandvillages.com)
- purchase a pair of shoes from www.tomsshoes.ca and a second pair is given to a child in a third world    country.  I just found out that you can also purchase Toms gift cards.  Super cool.
- purchase an item from the World Vision Catalogue on behalf of someone www.worldvision.ca/gifts
- It's not on the website yet, but  at Southridge, you can also purchase a gift on behalf of someone - a backpack for a child in Guatemala, a year's tuition for a child in Africa or a care package for a resident at the homeless shelter.

Oh and there are some great ideas for creative, homemade, eco-friendly and budget-friendly wrapping ( from the Simple Mom blog): at www.simplemom.net - just click on the "green and frugal" link.

There are so many great ideas out there and I love that Christmas awakens in each of us a spirit of generosity!  Happy giving!