If you read the Times-Standard on-line today, Sunday, Nov. 23, there is a story about two Girl Scouts collecting books and money (for shipping) to send a lot of books to Africa. Reading this story brought tears to my eyes that these girls spear-headed this project to bring joy to other people. I think the best part of the holidays is bringing joy to others, especially to those less fortunate than ourselves. Go through your books, toys, things, which no longer serve you and donate them to others who would love to receive them. When you see the trees throughout our area with dangling papers stating names of kids who would like a toy--take one and buy a present for that child. Find ways to be a Secret Santa for others. The season is about trying to make others smile and bring them joy. Perhaps you can check in with others in your family or group of friends and plan twelve days of Christmas-- where you come up with 12 special things to do, like going up to the snow to cut a Christmas tree, caroling in the neighborhood, gathering for a pot-luck dinner and white-elephant gift exchange. Christmas does not have to be about going into debt buying expensive presents for people-- that's not taking very good care of yourselves and financial situation. It's about sharing kindness and joy. Get together with the ones you love and brainstorm ways to make it special for everyone. Best wishes for a meaningful holiday season!

My suggestion is to stay in bed through the whole Christmas thing and let it just sleep past. This year has gone by way too fast and yes our economy SUCKS! For all the adults out there, have a few good spirits and sleep away all the stress and expense of Christmas.Lets start the New Year now and hope it is better than the last! Happy Holidays and Merry HO HO HO!

I listen to Christmas music which always puts me in the Christmas mood. Also, I remember all those service man and women who are out fighting for us each day. i hope this helps. Audrey

Homemade wassail. I haven't made it but grew up with it, and I think I'm going to try making it this year. There's even a CrockPot recipe here.

I'm still laughing.. I was like that too, I think it comes from having your kiddos' in public edumacation.. This year since we are homeschooling my son and I are anticipating the new season eagerly. I think its because we have the time too ENJOY our family. My family is extremely important, so whether we are decking the halls (we did that the other night) OR baking togethor we enjoy every minute of being TOGETHOR. Embrace your kiddos for who they are, not what they will become. Make smores by the fireplace, or have a big ole bon-fire, play board games, take cookies to a local sheltar, but most of all remember that all this season really means is spending time with the ones you LOVE.. (or love to hate :})

Well I got a recipe for you.
A bottle of peppermint schnaps and a packet of instant cocoa mix.
Mix together heat till warm and enjoy.
Better known as a girl scout cookie. but great for the holidays also. It will be quite spirited don't you think?
Fudge always makes me happy too though. Lots of fudge.

Do you have a "Christmas Tree Lane" of some kind of equivlant in your town? We drive through that neighborhood and look at all the overdone houses and that usually gets me in the Christmas spirit. Shopping on Black Friday helps a lot too, but only if you go out in the most obnoxious Christmas sweater you can find (my stepmother has several of these. You're welcome to borrow one.) And if all else fails, wrap all your Christmas presents while drinking a hot mug of cocoa (laced with Bailey's, of course!)

Yeah, I have no warm fuzzy ideas for getting in the spirit. I don't even entertain the idea of Christmas until well after Thanksgiving.

I was flipping through the radio and came across a Christmas song and shrieked like a little girl and pushed the button as fast as my fat little finger could.

Shoot, by the time Christmas comes people are sick of it because they start in frickin October.

So sorry, I'm no help.

Making a gingerbread house is always a lot of fun... especially when there are children involved. I do use the word fun loosely though!!

I usually shop around for christmas gifts to out due my sister with her kids. Then I spend a year rubbing it in that I'm the best uncle ever. Merry X-mas old lady. :) (I win?)

I am sooo not in the Christmas spirit yet. I do have all my gifts purchased (and wrapped) but without snow (or even really cold weather) I can't get into the holidays. Now watch, now that I have complained about it, it is going to snow 5 feet tonight.

So, do if I post twice does that secretly help me out more? Take some old towels to the local humane society and than do yourself a favor and BUY new ones for yourself. the Kittehs will be ever so happy for your generous thought.

Kids are the key to rekindling the Christmas spirit. Here's a great tradition.

Make or designate a "Christmas Quilt" (can be as simple as buying some fleece and cutting edges).

Put all your Christmas books/stories in one basket.

Every night, the Christmas quilt rotates to someone's bed (or to you or hubby's "side")

Whoever has the Christmas quilt on their bed gets to choose the story, and their bed is the spot everyone piles together to read it.

Uncle R I hear the Wii musical instrument stuff is pretty neat for kids. LOUD too. LOL It would make you the best uncle ever. You have a friend who would enjoy one also. He would record the music for you for your long drives every weekend. LOL After all I do have some old tapes I recorded with my group and two CD's out there. I think three or four of them sold about ten years ago. LOL

Hi mom. I have a few ideas. Well spend time with your family and at the beginning of the day take a nice hot shower or bath and settle down with a book for a while. Then get out of bed and enjoy some of your favorite foods for breakfast. Then enjoy unwrapping gifts and seeing the happy emontions and smiles while kicking back with a mug of hot chocolate. Then spend the rest of the day relaxing

I could have sworn I posted here!!!

Here's my suggestion. Get together with some friends and family to go bang with the happy masses on Black Friday.

Think of all the Christmas music blared through the speakers!!! How can you resist?

I could always dress up in the santa outfit and take a boudoir Picture. That always gets me in the mood. (inside joke)

Hey girl watchout. Do not combine fire and your Butt. It can be very hazardous and painful. After all you are your brothers sister.
Here is another suggestion. Send the kids to Uncle R's for the night. Get dolled up and have hubby take you out for a romantic evening. Or stay home for one with just hubby and you.
Just knowing Uncle R is handling the kids (LOL) or they him will brighten your spirits.

1) Sign up as a volunteer bell ringer for the Salvation Army, after seeing the kindness of strangers donating to the less fortunate you can not help but be in the spirit of the season.
2) Instead of buying yet another years worth of presents, try baking home made bread and home made candies and cookies, place them in a pretty holiday tin. You don't have to remember their sizes or favorite colors or will the gift get used or appreciated.
Happy Holidays!

Read A Christmas Carol. It can be done in a few hours. I get a tingle when I get to the first lines; "

Table Of Contents: A Christmas Carol

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Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to.

Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

Mind! I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade." By the time, you get to the part where Scrooge sends the goose to Tiny Tim's house you should be humming Christmas Carols.

I vote 2 bottles of wine and this easy and yummy Chocolate Cheesecake!

Chocolate Non-bake Cheesecake
Ingredients

For the crust:
1-2 packs of Graham Crackers, crushed into crumbs
3 tbs sugar
5 tbs butter, melted

For the filling:
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
1/3 cup caster sugar
4 oz plain chocolate, melted (you can increase the amount, or use dark chocolate if you’re going for an uber chocolatey cake)

Bash up graham crackers. Add sugar and melted butter. Using a fork, toss and coat in butter until all of it is covered. Press into bottom of a springform pan and use the back of a spoon to flatten and even it out. Place in freezer for the crust to bind about 15min.

Using a wooden spoon, beat together the cream cheese, mascarpone and sugar. Test your chocolate with a few bites. Carefully melt chocolate in microwave (1 min stir, 1 in stir, 1 min). In a separate bowl, using a metal whisk, whip the Heavy Cream until it can hold its shape. Do not overwhip. Add the chocolate once it’s cool enough to the cheese mixture. Finally,add the heavy cream. Give it a good stir.

Remove crust from freezer. Pour the cheese mixture into the pan and smooth out. Cover with clingwrap, making sure the clingwrap touches the surface of the cheese and up the sides of the cakepan. Place in freezer 40-50min. Remove and place in fridge. Serve whenever after by using a warmed knife to slice.

Ok so this is what I am going to do to start my spirit and my daughters! You have three children so you may need more!

You make a December calender, and go out to the dollar store or the dollar section at Target and buy 25 cheap little gifts your children would enjoy and wrap each one by itself and tape them to the calender days. Everyday when your child wakes up they get to open one gift and it is the count down to christmas!

I loved the idea I hope you do too!

AG 22 comments, gee I hope that commenting three times gets me something.. lol

I vote give the kiddos to your dear ole brother and head out for a night on the town with the NKOTB blarring on the speakers. YOu can take your dear husband or just go with your dearest friends. Drink some of the finest bubbly and after you declare your love to JOrdan, Nick or who ever the other 3 are have some one bring you home to your wonderful husband who can delight all of your fancies. Maybe, you will get lucky and find out you are knocked up with a future NKOTB. :) Wait, this was supposed to be Christmas Related, right... Oh well.. Its a dream, right?

Just be thankful that you live in a country where you can celebrate the season without prejudice.
Be thankful you are not in situations like some of your former clients.
Be thankful for your family and friends.
Be thankful you can write a blog like this and not fill the reprecusions on doing so.
In others words be happy and joyful for life that was given to you and live it to the fullest.
Oh yeah and especially be thankful for the chance of having Uncle R and all of his friends in your life to show you that you got it made girl.

If you are really looking for a way to get into the holidays then I will let you in on a little secret. There is a little Christmas Tree Farm in Arcata that will put a smile on your face and the glow of the holidays in your heart. Ben Hurd and his elves will welcome you to his farm where you can wander through naturally grown trees, occaisionally spotting deer, hearing the the gleeful sounds of kids on the tire swing or on the tractor ride. After finding your tree, a photo of you and your tree is taken and you can sit on the deck by the wood stove and drink the most amazing cider that you have ever had and munch some cookies. You will run into old friends and neighbors, you will make new friends and swear that you will come back every year!!! Most importantly you will walk away with tons of Christmas spirit and amazed that there is still a place like this in our world!

da best. Keep it going! Thank you