Prepping for the ADVENTure of Christmas - Day Two (part 1)

Yep, I'm back with my second installment on how to get your December off to a grand start of memories and fun!  Today we're talking about media.  And, not just any media --Christmas media!  Books and movies!  Oh My!  

But before we jump right in, to review, in this post, you were told to:

1. Get something to write on and to write with
2. Grab your December calendar (one was provided for you!)
3. Plug in the dates you already have plans for (school plays, sports, special gatherings)
4. Jot down the events that happen in your area that you hold an interest in participating in (Santa visits, tree lightings, parades, etc.)
5. Make your list of books and movies
6. Brainstorm crafty ideas
7. List any activities you want to do such as acts of service

Now that you have your foundation completed, you can tweak it to your liking!  

Each day you will PLAN  to view a movie, complete an activity together, read a book, focus on a letter of the alphabet (for those with little ones like me), and address part of the 12 days of Christmas as it parallels to the Bible.  The important thing here is to PLAN.  You can always deviate from the plan but at least HAVE a plan. 

Today, we get to talk about books and movies!  

One thing we love in this house is CHRISTMAS!  I LOVE all things Christmas!  Because of this, I'm a tad of a collector of Christmas books and movies.  I mean, I have a slew of them!  (If you don't know what a "slew" is, it's more than a lot and less than anything that could potentially qualify me as a bonafide hoarder.) If you don't own any Christmas books, have no fear -- the library is your friend!  And, so are your friends!  In a bind?  Do a weekly Christmas book swap with your friends!  What a great way to experience new books for no cost!

So, what books should we read?  When should we schedule them?  That's entirely up to you.  I have a tradition in my home, however, that we read certain books on certain days.  Like movies -- I'm ridiculously OCD in my planning like that.  For instance, Christmas Eve -- every single year we read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I mean, you just have to.   Do you have some favorite Christmas books?  If so, share them in the comments!  I'm always looking for new books to check out!

And here are the books that make the cut at our house:

I will have to add that there are three books that every parent AND grandparent needs.  Period.  I don't care what your children's ages are:

This book is such a treasured heirloom for me and my kids.  This has seven of Jan Brett's works in it:  The Mitten, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with Trolls, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Hat, Christmas Trolls, The Night Before Christmas.  The words are timeless.... the illustrations are so detailed, intricate and amazing.  This one book will take up a week's time on your list alone...and it is worth the time!  What's even BETTER is that you can really bring her characters to life because she has printable activities on her website




  The Crippled Lamb is a timeless story by Max Lucado that is read by someone in our family either ON Christmas or on Christmas eve at our family gathering.  It's the story about a little lamb who wants more than nothing to go with his friends to the pasture but being crippled, he can't keep up.  As such, he has to stay behind.  But then, in the night, visitors come to the stable...and he discovers his purpose was one of great importance.  If you can make it through this one with a dry eye -- you've got me beat.  It's a definite for every family in my book!




And, although Jan Brett has The Night Before Christmas in her treasury collection... and it is awesome... I simply LOVE the illustrations in this version as well.  The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore.  While sometimes we read this book (The Night Before Christmas, generically) more than once, I save this one for the big night because the pictures are just THAT GOOD!


To me, one of the fun aspects of including the tradition of READING to your children is that every year you'll discover something new... or think of another way to bring these books and stories to life.  I think the magic of Christmas is completely kept alive in the words we read that fill our hearts.... and minds before bedtime.

If you're a Pinner, you'll find that some people have found a way to make reading a gift by wrapping each book individually.  They label them 1-24 so that each day they have a "present" to open through Christmas Even.  Because, let's face it -- kids love to open stuff!  Treat them to a gift of books every single day!  How fun is that?  I, however, won't waste the paper or my time wrapping each book because I like to leave them laying around as part of my Christmas decor. 

Getting in the spirit!  Yes, I am!

Prepping for the ADVENTure of Christmas - Day One

Are you guys as excited as I am to plan a December to remember for your entire family? Well, grab your pen and paper and get ready!  Cause... here... we... go!

Today is Day One.  Today is the day where we take our handy dandy December calendar, print it and get prepared to fill it full of fun!  Don't have time to go searching the internet for a printable December calendar?  Not to worry, I've got one ready for you right here.  Click THIS LINK to be taken to a printable version.

Once you have your December calendar printed, it's time to get your own personal calendar so that you can jot down any important dates, deadlines and events that you need to take into account before scheduling something else on that day.  You'll see in a bit where that comes into play.

This is where you really have to narrow down what you want to accomplish this December and really think about what activities are definite MUST DO's and what activities are just filler.  This is a good time to rethink your traditions to find out if you're really having fun or if you're just doing the same old crap just because you've always done it that way.  If it's drudgery, it's not worth looking forward to!

For many people this season represents a renewal of their Christian faith and I will have ways to incorporate that into your daily ADVENTure activities as well.  

So, when you take into account all you want to do, read, watch, taste, and experience... it sure takes a lot of planning, right?  Wrong!  It just takes a couple of hours of dedication and a little time once a week to make sure all of your ducks are in a row! 

Without further delay, here are some easy steps to follow to make the process a little more seamless!

1. Grab a spiral notebook, some blank paper, index cards, whatever you want to use... just make sure you have something write on and something to write with!
2. Print out your blank December calendar.  In fact, print TWO.  I like to use one as a rough draft.  It's inevitable that I will forget something so it's easier to have one to scratch up before making one pretty one!
3. Plug in your known commitments.  Include your kids' class parties, your work party, family commitments, anything and everything you can think of -- pencil it in.  If you ALWAYS have dinner with the in-laws the Saturday before Christmas, put that on your calendar NOW!  Seeing what you already have on your calendar helps with scheduling your advent activities because you will be aware of your time constraints for activities that may be a little more labor intensive or time consuming.  
4. Check the internet, your newspaper, your church, with your friends... anywhere you can to find lists of local activities that you may want to include in your advent plans. If you're in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you'll be happy to know that I have included a list of them for you at the bottom of this post.
5. Make a list of your favorite Christmas books you want to incorporate into your advent.  If you don't have one, you will shortly!  Tomorrow's post will include a list of our favorite Christmas books and movies!  For instance, it's NEVER Christmas at my house until we watch It's A Wonderful Life!  I know I'm not the only one that has movies that you just have to watch... the ones you just can't miss each season? Write those down.  There are so many awesome movies out there now for Christmas that you will have absolutely no problem filling your entire ADVENTure with one per day.  Don't believe me?  Be sure to check out tomorrow!
6. Search Pinterest for your crafty ideas.  There is a wealth of information all over the internet.  Don't try to recreate the wheel!  If someone has done something and you love it and want to do it - DO IT!  This is not a competition... this is simply about making opportunities to make memories with your kids.  Plain and simple!  So, search Pinterest for ways to help YOU bring out the creative side in your kids!
7. Make a list of things to do... activities and acts of service that you may want to incorporate in your ADVENTUre.  This is separate from the places to go and events to attend (number 4 above).
8. Have kids that like to draw?  I have created an entire printable "ABC's of Christmas" book for you to print out and enjoy with your kids.  Print a page a day and let their inner artist flow!  
9. Shop!  Once you have your list of crafts and activities, you will need to go shopping for supplies.  The dollar store IS YOUR FRIEND!  And remember, follow the scouting rule of thumb -- KISS.  Keep It Simple Silly (I actually say "stupid", but we won't say the "s" word today!)
10. Finalize.  Each day of my December ADVENTure plan includes a book, a movie, an activity, a letter of the alphabet, a bible verse and usually a little piece of candy.

Once you have your December days planned, it will be easy to go with the flow and create your December to remember!

One caveat is to remember that it's better to have planned and failed, than failed to plan. If you have no plan, you're more likely to stalk Pinterest staring at all the awesome ideas you COULD and SHOULD have done but didn't. 

Am I right or am I right or am I right?!?  HA!  

However, simply stated, have a plan because you can always deviate.  Things come up, kids get sick, activities change and so does the weather!  Be flexible but have a framework!

As promised, if you're in the D/FW area, here is a list of the upcoming events and local activities in my area that you may want to include in your December ADVENTures.

So, like I said, what I like to PLAN on my rough draft for each day is a letter of the alphabet, a bible verse, an activity, a movie and a book.  So, if you want to incorporate those into your daily plans -- more power to ya and here ya go!


If right clicking and saving the above won't work, here is a link to take you to the document.  

One thing that always brings more fun to our days is to actually create a theme to the day.  For instance, if we cut out snowflake ornaments, we may watch Frosty the Snowman and make snowman pancakes for dinner.  It's easy and fun to tie it all into everything together.  

So, for now, this should hopefully be enough to get you well on your way to planning your best Christmas season ever!  

See you tomorrow!  Stay warm!  Snuggle!

Baked Potato Soup

I posted this...

A photo posted by AprilD (@ardriggs) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:22pm PST

...on my Instagram feed and was asked for the recipe so I thought I would share it with everyone.  Soup is good food.  Did I mention it has bacon?  You're welcome.

Ingredients
1 onion, diced
1.5# bacon
1/2 cup flour
1.5 tsp dried parsley
2 cartons chicken broth
1 quart half and half
1 stick butter
salt and pepper
1.5 cups shredded cheese
1 small box of instant mashed potatoes (don't hate, you'll understand why)
3-4# potatoes

For garnish:
green onions, chopped
shredded cheese, your favorite
plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
bacon bits


Directions
I'm going to have to go all Pampered Chef snob on ya here because I will attest that there is absolutely NOTHING in the world that can cook bacon quite like this baby can!

This, my friends, is the Pampered Chef stoneware large bar pan.  I use this to cook bacon...every...single...time.  Why?  I like my bacon flat.  I like my bacon even.  I hate the splattery mess it makes all over the cooktop.  I hate getting hot bacon grease pops on my skin and clothing.  I simply lay the bacon out, pop it into a 425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes and voila.  Remove onto a drainage tray or some paper towels.  BAM!  You can't beat it.  And frankly...

But I digress.  Directions for baked potato soup...

Wash your potatoes and bake them. "Bake" is a subjective term here that can mean one of three things:  

1. You're going to roll your potatoes in foil and stick them in your crock pot to "bake" until they're done which, in turn, means that you're out of luck for making your soup right now.  Nexxxxxt?
2. You're going to roll your potatoes in foil and bake them in the oven.  This means that you not only need to have dual ovens (because you're a genius and you are baking your bacon in the oven right now) but you also need to allow more time which means that you won't be making your soup anytime soon.  Sooooo neeeeexxxxxxxt? 
3. You're going to give your potatoes a good rinse and throw them in the microwave to "bake."  Truth be told, that's the only way I "bake" potatoes anymore.  I'm busy.  It works.  Deal with it.  I haven't jumped on the bandwagon that microwaves are guilty of leeching all of the minerals out of our food and turning them into micro carcinogenic anti-nutrient GMO franken-potatoes.  

Cook your bacon.  Set aside to cool and drain.  You'll need to use a good ole butcher knife and chop those bad boys up into whatever size bits you like.  I prefer a little more substance so I have hearty sized bits, but you may want to just chop the shit out of them until they're like... pulverized.  Go for it!  Whatever floats your boat.  Knock ya self out!  

Next, use the drippings to cook your onions until they're soft.  While those are sweatin' it out, pour the cartons of chicken broth and the half and half into a large pot over medium heat.

Your taters should be done baking in the nuclear reactor so just pop them out, slice them in half and let them cool a little bit.  Your finger tips will thank you.

In the mean time, don't forget you have onions in bacon grease cooking on the range.

Once those are done you'll sprinkle in your flour and butter.  Stir that around until you have a bit of a roux.  Once this is cooked through, into the pot it goes.  Stir well and often.

Next, peel and dice up your baked potatoes and carefully add them to your soup. Typically I ladle them into the soup so I don't get burned by the hot plops.  (That doesn't sound appetizing does it?  A "hot plop"?  Well, if you've ever been burned by something plopping into something hot, you get it.  You just do.)

At this point is when I add the parsley, a few turns of freshly grated sea salt and pepper and a big old heaping handful of shredded cheese.  Above it says 1.5 cups... I eyeball it... measuring isn't usually my thing unless I'm baking.

Now, THIS is where personal preference will come into play.  I prefer MY baked potato soup to have a thicker base.  I've been elsewhere and had it served and it was a little "soup-ish" and runny.  Neither tasted bad, we all just prefer what we prefer.  So, I learned this little trick from my grandma -- to thicken the soup, sprinkle in instant mashed potato flakes.  This way, it's thickened to YOUR liking with something that isn't going to alter the flavor because -- duh -- they're potatoes!  Why do I use instant mashed potatoes rather than more flour?  Well, sometimes too much flour can really render a dish flavorless... plus, this just works.  It just does!  Trust me.

I let it all simmer for about 10-12 minutes while I prep the serving area.  I set out bowls of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (whatever we have on hand), grated cheese, bacon bits and fresh chives.

It's a hearty, fill-your-belly kinda soup.  I hope you enjoy!

Trendy and me just don't go together

Welcome back to the November Blogathon.  The topic du jour?  What are your favorite Fall/Winter trends?  What clothes flatter your body type?  Feel free to make this shoppable!
I don't really follow trends plus I hate to shop.  Don't get me wrong, I love seeing everyone else's look, but I really hate following trends because they come and go which means more stuff I have to buy... and I just feel like I look SOOOOOO fake.  I feel dressed up and stuffy... not comfortable in my own skin when I'm wearing something super trendy.  For me, I prefer classic pieces that are just "me" rather than trendy looks that really look like everyone else in town.  
Fall/winter clothing for me is all about layers and textures.  Layers meaning, I'll wear a long-sleeved t-shirt under a flannel shirt... couple that with some jeans and snuggly footwear and I'm golden!  
This is also prime sweatshirt weather.  I don't know about you but there's not much that's more comfortable than some cozy yoga pants and a big ole over-sized sweatshirt!
However, my FAVORITE thing in the world?  

Flannel jammies like these from LLBean (one of my most favoritest places to shop -- if shopping has to be done!)

My big fat red plush fleece robe just like this one from LLBean
Super loud, bright, fuzzy socks

My favorite squishy soft Dearfoam slippers.  
Give me that... my Kindle fire... and go away!  I'm all about the warm and cozy because "trendy" and me just don't go together.
Be sure to stop by the MRS. & the MOMMA to link up to her #NovemberBlogathon

Talking Turkey

1. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving at home or elsewhere this year? With whom will you spend Thanksgiving Day?  Holidays are at home.  Lucky for me my son's football team won the last two play off games so instead of spending the holiday with his dad in Iowa, he gets to be here with me!  He gets to go to football practice every single day (except Thursday) of his week off from school and they play another game on Saturday, but it is always a blessing to have my babies with me on the holidays!  So, it'll be the five of us, my parents and a family from Josh's baseball team that relocated to Keller from Abilene last year.  I love having new friends to celebrate the holidays with!

2. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?  Thanksgiving breakfast is always a casserole that has been made in the crock pot overnight so I don't have to cook.  Want to know one of my favorites?  It's this one from Eat At Home Cooks  I mix it up because I change out the cheeses, the meat, add in green onions, etc. but this is a great place to start!


3. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV?  I love to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade at home.  It makes me happy.  I DVR it so I can fast forward through the commercials.  I hate commercials... and most commentary.

4. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day?  Yes.  

Ha!  I almost just left "yes" there as my only answer.  

We eat Thanksgiving "dinner" at noon, so after breakfast, we really have no appetite for snacks.  Everyone just waits until the meal is served.  I generally have the appetizers leftover from lunch and they're out for people to snack on for supper, too.  I actually call "supper" dinner, but since I used the term dinner when referring to lunch, I decided to mix it up.  Does anyone really say "supper"?  I'm curious.  For me it is usually breakfast, lunch and then dinner... but since the Thanksgiving meal is called "Thanksgiving dinner" it screws everything up.

5. What do you wear on Thanksgiving?  Nothing fancy... jeans, shirt... though I do think it would be cool to request everyone to dress in their "Pilgrim" best.  Although, you know, if you know your history, you would know that this actually wasn't their traditional dress.  Just like any other Puritan, they just wore simple clothing... not necessarily the black/white as depicted in all the children's books.  Trivial information to help you embrace your inner Cliff Claven.

6. What's your Thanksgiving table like -- do you use special plates/silver/glasses, etc? Do you have a centerpiece? A color scheme? Candles?  Funny thing, I have china, but I never use it.  I decided I'm really NOT a "china" person.  Some years we've used really big sectioned disposable plates to eat lunch from and other years, we use our regular everyday dinnerwear (Fiestaware).  I don't have two plates that are even the same color.  Not a fan of the whole idea of matchy-matchy.

I use no "special" anything other than this old enamelware serving dish that was given to me by my grandmother.  She taught me how to cook and it was what she used every Thanksgiving so I use it, too.  I have no centerpiece, no candles, no color scheme.  No pomp and circumstance, just friends, food and fellowship.  I'm about the company and the food... not the superficial.  In fact, I actually already have my Christmas crap out!  I got antsy today and didn't want to wait!

7. Do you serve buffet-style or family-style? What do you have to drink?  Buffet style is a must because we generally have more people than space at the table so we just gather wherever and dig in!  Drinks are sweet tea, water, wine, coffee and usually some type of punch for the kids.

8. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?  Before anyone digs into anything to make a plate, everyone gathers in the kitchen and grace is said.  We've done the shin dig where everyone says what they're thankful for... but I really hated being put on the spot as a kid so I tend to not make anyone do that now.  I've done the "thankful" tree.  

9. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on?  Dessert is available immediately afterwards.  Most guests aren't spending hours at my house so they eat... talk... eat dessert... talk.... leave.  And this... this beautiful thing... is always on my plate!  Calories be damned!

Photo source

10. What do you do with your leftovers?  I LOVE leftovers!  I make all kinds of things with leftovers.  We always have ham and turkey leftover so I'm making tons of leftover dishes with those!  I'll be sharing those on my blog next week!

Come join in the theivery at Sunday Stealing!