It is cold here. Like 5 degrees. And I know, I know, some of you live in places like Minnesota and Montana, and it is even colder where you are. But for Virginia, this is the kind of cold that brings tears to my eyes and has me running for my hot chocolate, heated blanket and fleece pajamas every night.
Whether it’s cold or not where you are, I wanted to send a little warmth somebody’s way. Here are a few things I rely on in the coldest months of the year:
1. A Good Smelling Candle. There is something about a candle that warms my soul. Maybe it’s that one tiny flame can chase darkness from a room. Maybe it’s the romantic mood it creates. Maybe it’s that I like things smelling good. This candle is in a gorgeous Anthro-esque tin and is sure to bring a tasty aroma to your home.
2. Herbal Tea. I’m not a huge tea drinker. I’m more of a cocoa girl myself. But when I saw this Candy Cane herbal tea I had to have it. It is perfect for a chilly night in December or to sooth a sore throat. Make it up for you kids. They’ll love the polar bears frolicking on the front of the box. Don’t have kids? Make it up for yourself and dip a Christmas cookie in it.
3. Socks. Okay, it’s time I come clear about something. I have a little sock addiction. More directly stated, I have a fuzzy sock addiction. Have you tried fuzzy socks yet? They are a cold girl’s dream come true. I am notorious for having cold feet. All. The. Time. But fuzzy socks are helping me overcome my chilly appendages one night at a time. I wander around the house in them from about 8 – 11 PM and then climb right into my bed with them on too. The Hubby is oh-so-grateful that his legs are no longer my warming posts. And you need a pair of knee socks too. Because they’re all the rage right now and look cute with a denim skirt or paired with some hip riding boots.
4. And lastly, I’m throwing in some of these bad boys. Because one of the things I love about Christmas is food. And one of the things I also love is feeling supported by those who read this blog. So I’m going to marry those two loves together in a perfect blend of caramely goodness. You + caramels = happy me.
So, if you’re needing a little warmth in your life, and let’s face it, who isn’t, then you’ll need to leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite holiday tradition, either from your childhood or current family situation. For an extra giveaway entry, become a ‘follower’ of my blog by clicking on the little ‘follow’ sign to the right with a rainbow colored G on it. Don’t have a Google account? It’s as simple as can be! When you click on the ‘follow’ button it will give you an option to open a new Google account.
I’ll close the comments at 5 PM EST on Friday and announce a winner Saturday morning so I can get the package in the mail.
I hope you’re staying toasty and warm where ever you are.
26 comments:
Favorite family tradition. Q's family has the kids line up in the hall way and record them seeing the tree and present on Christmas day!
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We would go to midnight mass at Greek Orthodox church - and it really started at midnight. The church was lit by only candelight and the air was filled with the smell of incense. Seemed like such a magical place for a little kid.
then we'd come home and open presents in the middle of the night (around 3 am). We were so excited knowing we were probably the first kids to open up presents (amongst our friends anyway) - I mean, what other families did it in the middle of the night, right?
Then we'd sleep in and revisit the presents like it was the first time!
Then my mom would host an open house all day for friends and family to visit.
Being first generation americans, it was fun to incorporate different traditions into one awesome day!
Funny you mention keeping warm when I am currently frozen from the inside out thanks to my brilliant idea of going for a run outside (I'm in VA too). The only thing that got me through it was the promise of some warm tea when I got home.
Anyways, my favorite family tradition would have to be going out for Chinese on Christmas Eve. (My mom chose the Ho Ho Gourmet the first year we did it...for obvious reasons.)
I love those fuzzy socks too! This year my daughter asked santa for them!
Growing up, one of my favorite traditions was finding a card under the tree from my parents that started a treasure hunt around the house. My mom has brought that tradition to our house the past couple years too. The kids love hunting around the house for one special present!
Our Italian Christmas Eve dinner - the last couple of years it's only been my husband and myself, but it doesn't matter, we still go all out.
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Every year I make a huge italian Christmas Feast for my hubby, family and any friends without family in the area. I make everything from scratch...Antipasta, Foccacia, pesto, red sauce, homeade raviolis, pork roast, Cannollis... This started 11 years ago when my boyfriend at the time chose to stay in Seattle to spend the holidays with me so he could propose. His family came to America as adults and I wanted him to feel at home. We love sharing it with friends and families in the area.
In my now family, with me as the mom, our favorite tradition is wrapping Christmas books to put under the tree. Each night the kids each get to unwrap one book and we read it. I'm slowly building my collection, but I still get most of the books from the library. I love this tradition because it makes the tree festive and gets the kids excited for Christmas without encouraging present lust because we don't put their actual gifts out until Christmas Eve.
Growing up, we often had a traditional German meal on Christmas Eve. Mmmm... Schnitzel!
My favorite holiday tradition is held on Christmas Eve. Our massive Italian family gets together and eats and eats AND EATS. We love getting together to tell stories and laugh!
On the first Monday of the month we always make and decorate a gingerbread house. It's funny to see how many candies "fall off" during the month. We love to bundle up and drive around to look at the lights in the neighborhoods while eating candy canes. Then we go home and have hot chocolate by the fire.
My favorite tradition is making cookies with my boys because I remember making cookies with my grandma. It's something that makes us all smile, especially when the timer dings!
What great items! I've never tried fuzzy socks, guess I need to because my feet are always freezing as well! Our favorite tradition this Christmas is our elf on the shelf. The kids love looking for him each morning.
The traditions I had growing up, I hope to continue with my kids when they are a little older. In the recent years we have enjoyed hanging around the house and enjoying Christmas Eve as a family. I love to catch Santa in action and take a picture to prove to the kids the next morning that he was there. More than anything, I love to see the look on my kids faces when the very thing they asked Santa for is sitting under the tree when they wake up in the morning. Priceless....
Speaking of which, I need to wrap my santa presents while the kids are asleep. Samantha, you are so creative, and I love that you do this to bring a little more joy to the holidays. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Our favorite family tradition (adopted from Dick and Patsy, of course) is the elf that comes and leaves a small treat/surprise in your shoe the twelve days leading up to Christmas. If you've been naughty and need a reminder, he will leave you a note i.e. "you need to be nicer to your little sister" etc. It's great because it motivates good behavior from the kiddos.
I'm a follower. :)
Favorite current Christmas tradition: candlelight service on Christmas eve, singing Silent Night, then lobster bisque, smoked salmon, cream cheese on french baguette and Christmas cookies, all with the grandparents.
We have quite a few family traditions, it is hard to pick a favorite. If I have to pick one it would be that on Christmas Eve. we invite some friends over and read Luke 2 and have the kids dress up and reinact the story of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
I also LOVE fuzzy socks and wear them every night in the winter too!!!
My favorite family tradition is going to midnight mass on Christmas Eve with our family. Thanks :)
Susan
susanhagner@gmail.com
Christmas is so full of traditions it is hard to pick, but since you are making me......I choose our manger tradition. Since my oldest child was a toddler we have had a little manger that we set out at the beginning of December and all month long we do secret acts of service and for each act we put a piece of hay/straw into the manger. Its fun to watch it fill up slowly all month long making a soft bed for the baby Jesus.
Dan says we Breinholt's have our own "culture" when it comes to all our traditions. My favaroites would have to be at Christmas time: Decorating homemade gingerbread houses, caroling the same songs every year, and then spending Christmas day hunting for treasure and following yarn inside and out of the house to find our gifts. Christmas traditions well, they are pretty much the best thing ever!! (New this year is the Elf on the Shelf!)
I have to enter-- those caramels look divine.
Favorite family tradition: making Christmas breakfast {crepes} while the kids play with new toys on the floor and It's A Wonderful Life shows in the background.
Waffles with ice cream and berries on Christmas morning. Best breakfast EVER!! :)
I'm a 'follower' now too. Not that I needed to click on it since I check it every day anyway... :)
Love you!
all of those look great!
One of my favorite traditions comes from my childhood. It was handmaking the "fanalet", usually at art class in school. It is usually made with different material from paper and similars and it has glittery things too. Then you put a candle inside and it shines!!
All the children go to the parade of the "Three Kings" with the "fanalet". It's something really nice and all kids are proud of their own creations! The bad thing is that is possible to burn since it's made of paper or light cartoon...
You can see a pictures of different kinds of "fanalets" here: http://xtec.es/ceipjungfrau/curri/fanalets/fanalet.htm (for me the best and more common ones are in the last picture).
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