Common Sense Living

Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

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Heading out to do some Christmas shopping?

Are you racking your brain trying to come up with perfect gifts?

Think about conversations that you’ve had lately. What have they complained about? What problem are they having?

I would give you more concrete examples, but since the recipients read the blog, they would know who they are right away.

OK, OK-  take me for example. I am always cold. Super warm stuff is great for me. I have trouble getting up in the morning. A really loud alarm clock, or maybe one of those sunrise simuulator clocks would be great.

I try to eat as healthy as I can afford. One year someone gave me coconut oil. It’s great stuff! I love it. Pure maple syrup, jams, coffees are all appreciated. So is Godiva chocolate.

If someone says over and over that they would love to do something, but they can’t afford the gas – buy them a gas card. If it’s someone who can’t afford to get out much, a restaurant certificate or tickets to a show might be a good idea. I gave all the adults on my list certificates from restaurant.com one year. They were a big hit.

Did all their ornaments get ruined?

Do their pajamas look like they’re 20 years old?

Could they use new towels?

Are their garden tools all rusted?

Have they mentioned that that plant over there really needs a new pot?

Have they complained about dry hands or feet?

The point is, if you know someone pretty well and you can’t come up with an idea – you haven’t been listening!

Good luck! I’m off to do some serious thinking. I came up with a great gift for one sister, but I’ve got to charge up my thinking cap for the rest of the list…

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We were talking about our cookie making extravaganza that we are going to do this weekend. There were the usual suspects – the butter cookies, those cookies that my sister makes with the pretty irons ( I forget what they’re called)… and my sister says – and potato chip cookies, right?

This was a recipe from the 70s. Ever since I dug it out a few years ago, everyone loves them. Try it once, and you’ll have to make them forevermore -

Potato Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup light brown sugar- packed

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1 -6oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate pieces

2 cups crushed potato chips

2 cups flour mixed with 1 teas. baking soda

Beat butter, sugars and eggs until well blended in large bowl.

Stir in the rest of the ingredients and mix until well blended.

Shape into 3/4 inch balls. (if dough is too sticky, refrigerate for about 1/2 hour)

Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 10 – 12 minutes, until lightly browned.

Cool for about a minute, then remove to wire racks to continue cooling. Cool completely.

Makes about 84.

Store in airtight container in cool dry place for up to 2 weeks

500 chocolate recipes here >> (or if you are a member at Rebel With a Fork you can find it in the member library)

gift ideas – Gifts from the Hearth (free)

Christmas Carols

Christmas Quiz

Related articles

• Apple Peanut Butter Cookies (thedailymeal.com)
• Another John Besh Hit: Snickerdoodles (mothermeetstheroad.com)
• Candied Pecan and Toasted Coconut, Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies. (paonblanc.wordpress.com)
• Trader Joe’s “Cookie Butter”: Healthy Treat Or Gross-Out Snack? (blisstree.com)

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When you think of the holidays, what is one of the first things you think about?

Food, right?

You might think that gifts of homemade food is corny or cheap. But think about it – Don’t you love getting delectable goodies?

My niece is going to be in from Florida this week – and she wants to do a cookie baking extravaganza.

All kinds of memories are made along with the food.

There’s a lot of reasons you should consider giving homemade food as gifts -

Yes, its less expensive than the store bought counterparts

Homemade tastes better

Homemade food is better for you. There’s no chemicals or preservatives. Yes, even a homemade sweet treat is better for you than a commercially made treat.

But I think the biggest thing about homemade is the love that goes into it. There’s just something heartwarming about homemade food. You know that someone went to the trouble to make that for you.

Take a basic truffle. You can make your own truffles. They are surprisingly easy. OK, messy too, but consider that the average good truffle costs about $2 per piece…

In Dubai, luxury truffles go for $270 per piece.

You can add a little luxury to your gifts for a lot less!

Basic Truffle Recipe

½ Cup unsalted butter

2 1/3 C confectioner’s sugar

½ C cocoa

1/4 cup heavy or whipping cream

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Centers: pecan, walnuts, whole almonds or after-dinner mints

Coatings: coconut, crushed nuts, confectioners sugar

Makes about 3 dozen truffles

Cream butter in large mixer bowl.

Combine 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar and the cocoa;

add alternately with cream and vanilla to butter. Blend well.

Chill until firm.

Shape small amount of mixture around desired center; roll into 1 inch balls.

Drop into desired coating and turn until well covered.

Chill until firm.

Take truffles out about 30 minutes before serving.

You can find over 500 chocolate recipes here >>>  Make your own towers!

(or if you are a member at Rebel With a Fork you can find it in the member library)

More gift ideas – Gifts from the Hearth

Christmas Carols

Christmas Quiz

Related articles

• Poll: Homemade Holiday Gifts – Tacky Or Tactful? (blisstree.com)
• Advent {Day 4}: Homemade Gifts (asjulesisgoing.wordpress.com)

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My neighbor came over all frustrated yesterday. She had found some tinsel in her Christmas stuff and decided to put it on the tree.  Tinsel is a time consuming operation. She was ready to shoot herself when the worst happened – the cat discovered the shiny tinsel.

It reminded me of my Siamese cat. Everynight when I came home from work, I had to redo the bottom 2 layers of the tree. They were completely stripped.

My current cat chews on ribbons and strings. Any ornament on a ribbon or string is not safe. Packages under the tree cannot have any sort of ribbon bows.

I’ve never had a cat that climbed the tree, but I’ve heard stories….

Do you have any good cat in the Christmas tree stories?

Related articles

• Holiday Hazards for Your Pet (benway.net)

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Did you flip your Christmas switch? Tree up, lights on the house, cards and shopping done?

Me either…

The tree is up thanks to my daughter. She got up all motivated last Sunday and we got the tree out and decorated in a couple of hours. Then things kind of got stalled. Another crazy busy week at work. I ate dinner at 9 at night most nights this week. Thank heaven for the Thanksgiving leftovers. This job is killing me.

So I’m dragging out my copy of Gifts from the Hearthto come up with some ideas for gifts. This year, everyone is being difficult. Ask them what they want and they reply, “oh I don’t know…” There’s always gift cards, but how boring is that? Sigh… (doing my Winnie the Pooh imitation – think, think, think…)

There is a girl at work who is going Christmas Caroling – So I dusted off the Christmas Carols ebook too.

And the Christmas Quiz is always fun at parties.

How far along are you?

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• Medications For Winnie the Pooh Characters (laughingsquid.com)
• Winnie the Pooh: A Sublimely Silly Old Bear (time.com)
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• Post #670: Christmas Tree is Up! (yourcaptainspeaks.com)