My Sweet Babu

Merry Christmas!

Whatever holiday you might be celebrating this season....

From our home to yours, we wish you all the best for the season and the upcomming New Year!

See you in 2010

alison

gift giving...

Gift giving at the holidays can be a puzzling time for me for a variety of reasons.  First, we are a young couple and are not wealthy by any means.  We usually end up spending the most on our kids and then try to buy a little something for everyone else.  This might not seem too crazy, except for the fact that both my husband and my parents are divorced and remarried...then there are the grandparents on my husbands side...oh, and I have cousins that are very generous our kids....close friends...

{the oatmel cookie recipe from the Quaker Oats container with craisins and white chocolate chips instead of raisins, then drizzled with melted white chocolate}

You can see how the list can go on and on and perhaps you are nodding your head in agreement, finding yourself in a similar situation.  What to do?  At some point this year, I decided that when it came to gifts, whether it was for a wedding, a holiday or birthday, I was not going to worry about perfect as much as I was going to focus on giving something that I liked and that was from the heart.  I like to think that I have pretty good taste, and I am happy that the gifts I have given seem to have been well received.

 {Homemade Chocolate bark, melted milk chocolate with slated peanuts stirred in, pour on a parchment lined baking sheet and swirl in melted white chocolate.  Let set in fridge and break apart.}

I am very fortunate in that I do not feel like anyone actually expects any gifts from us, but I like to have a little something to give all the same.  Hey, it makes me feel good!  Last year was the "green year" where we gave candles and home made soap in recycled glass dishes and had a tree planted in everyone's name...this year, however, I did not have a stellar idea, so we have decided to go with the failsafe, food.  Making special holiday breads and cookies, putting it all in a nice basket with a nice bottle of wine or champagne; now that is a gift I'd be very happy with!  I am hoping that everyone enjoys them...I'm sure they will! 

So if your stuck on an idea, it is never to late to do some baking and hit the spirits section of your food store for come nice bottles of wine or champagne that you can keep to hand out in a pinch! 

a.  

cookie swap

Many years ago, I was invited to participate in a cookie swap.  Ok, talk about baptism by fire...I was instructed to make 12 of 2 kinds of cookies for like 8-10 other women...yeah, that was like 240 cookies!  I should probably mention that we were living in a small apartment at the time that had an even smaller kitchen!  And then there is that little thing that I'm not exactly the world's cookie baking master...

So not long after we moved to this town, I was invited to participate in a cookie swap, which the next year, I ended up hosting myself.  Having been through cookie swap boot camp, I called this swap the "bake, borrow or buy" cookie swap, because I did not want anyone to not participate becasue they did not have the time or desire to bake a million Christmas cookies.  In addition, the nuber to swap was 6...of one kind of cookie! 

Over the years, the cookie swap has turned into more of a mama's night out, wine swap...where guests happen to stumble home with a variety of different cookies.  However with everyone's busy scheduals, it works out that the best night to get together is actually the 23rd of December.  Being all pregnant and trying to be a mindful host {I don't my friends to be totally hung over for Christmas eve} I'll have to make sure that the party does not go on too late!  But whatever the evening turns out to be, we have all agreed that it is well worth it!  It is so much easier to make one kind of cookie then to make several...but with the swap, it works out that we all have a huge selection of Christmas cookies to offer or bring to our individual holiday gatherings.

It's not too late!  If you don't do a swap already, try to throw one together!  If there are less guests, up the swap # to 12 per person, or whatever you all agree on!  It is such a fun time...and if it does not work out for this year, make sure to put it on your holiday to do list for next year!!

Happy baking!

a.

christmas trees, part 2

And this would be our lovely, live tree!  I insist on buying it right after Thanksgiving so it can be up and decorated for my big boy's family birthday party that usually falls the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We are able to pull this off and still have it look fresh and green for Christmas because we put it on the closed in front porch.  Although the windows are new, with the doors to the dining room shut it is still much cooler out there, which helps our tree to not dry out...or get knocked down by little people!

Last year, I realized that we had quite a few green decorations, so I decided that to tie together the rest of the glass ornaments, this would become our "green tree".  Again, I was in need of some decorations to fill in the gaps...so in keeping it "green", again, I cut up some of the cardboard packing boxes we had from my Christmas shopping in the shape of simple triangular christmas trees.

Then I had the kids decorate the the ornaments with green crayon and green glitter paint.  Again, this would make not only a wonderful decoration for your tree, but would also make a wonderful gift for family memebers! 

 
 I have to quickly mention that I do find it rather silly that what we refer to as out "green tree" of live tree is actually neither "green" or alive!  But I figure that buying a cut tree does stimulater the economy for tree farmers.  But getting back to decorations...For a variety of other great holiday craft and gift ideas for you to make with your children, please check out my dear friend, Elyse's blogg, http://bylittlehands.typepad.com .  He book, full of great craft ideas, would make a wonderful holiday gift!!

Have a great weekend!

a.

santa claus is comming to town...

This is one of my favourite parts about living in a small town, particularly, this small town.  Each year, Santa comes around the town in his sleigh at night, pulled by one of the town ambulances.  We usually know which week he will be making his rounds, but not the exact night.  So for all of last week, our jackets and shoes sat ready by the front door and we watched our Christmas movies with the volume on low so we would be sure to hear the whistle of Santa comming around...

Yes, forget long lines at the mall to sit on Santa's lap.  It is amazing to see all of the kids that live in the houses near us come running outside; their parents with their cameras and cans of food for the food drive right behind them.  It is slightly Polar Express-esque to see all of the kiddos in their pajamas with coats over top, clambering onto Santa's sleigh. It is truly magical...and I would almost bet that the parents enjoy it as much as the kids.  Hormonal me...I was fighting back the tears.

Wishing you many magical moments this holiday season!

a.  

take the time, make the call

Be fore~warned, I'm on a money saving kick again today...

So a while ago, I created a baby registry at a higher end store.  I figured since I would not need many things, I could splurge on certain other purchases.  I was not expecting anyone to shop off of the registry for me, but I made it more to keep myself organized as I chipped away at buying the things that I wanted.  Then one day, while browsing the internet for a coupon code for free shipping on an order I was placing, I came across a comment refering to a 10% discount on registry items from the store I had registerd with...

As it turned out, there was a discount for buying the remainder of the registry items after the event date.  But, I also found a small statement saying that a discount would also be offered when 2 or more coordinating items of furniture or beddign were purchased!!  Hello!  Well, after a few calls, I managed to get my discount!  It was well worth it to take the time and make the call.  With the economy being the way it is, no store is looking to upset it's customers.  I think many people would have just written this off, thinking, "Oh well"...not me!

So whether you are dealing with a store or an insurance company, hang tough.  The worst that can happen is that you get a No for an answer.  But every now and again you will be victorious and you time and effort will pay off.  What a great lesson for children to see as well...that when you go the extra mile and stand up for yourself adn what is right, sometimes things work out the way they are supposed to!

a.