Tag Archives: Christmas

The Ultimate Virtual Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap

Posted on by Run DMT
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(Cue music.)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

When flour needs some sifting

And batter mixed with an ingredient of good cheer

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s yum, yummiest season of all!

Oven timers will be dinging and mom will be singing

As she samples them all!

It’s yum, yummiest season of all!

 

There’ll be cookies with chips

And some will call to be dipped

And some are powdered with snow.

Sometimes you feel like nut

But sometimes you don’t but you choose

To present them with a bow.

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Oh the most wonderful time of the year!

 

Help make this wonderful time even better by adding your cookie recipe to The Ultimate Virtual Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap linky party. I know that the title of the linky party is a bit of a mouthful, but then so are the cookies I will be stuffing in my face all month long.

To join the recipe swap, simply post a cookie recipe or any sweet treat on your blog.  Photos with your recipe are an added treat.  Be sure to included add The Ultimate Virtual Christmas Cookie Recipe Swap button to your post and link back to this post.  Then, come back to Run DMT to add your link to this blog hop.  You can share as many treats as you like, but please include the cookie swap button in your post and link back here. Then, sample some of the treats by visiting the links listed. Add a comment to tell us which cookies are your favorites!

It’s so simple!  Can’t you just taste the fun already?! Now let’s toss share those cookies!



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Our Christmas Countdown

Posted on by Run DMT
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It’s time once again to dust off our family Advent calendar and start burning myself out counting down the days to Christmas.  You see, our Advent calendar is more than tiny doors hiding small morsels of candy.  Each day leading up to Christmas, our Advent calendar uncovers activities to enjoy the season to the fullest.

Since we have no creepy Santa spy Elf on a Shelf, I bribe my children with Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses and bits of paper.  If they finish all their morning chores, then they can discover what lies behind the day’s door.

This little gem was hidden behind door number one today since I have no earthly idea what my children want for Christmas other than earrings.

Thankfully, Day 1 met Allana and Emmalynn’s approval as evident by their lumpy smiles.

To plan our 24 days of fun, I used a printable calendar to coordinate the days with my moms’ group’s play dates and events happening around our neighborhood.  I also added a few extra activities because you just never know how the weather will be literally and metaphorically.  Sometimes life simply gets in the way of our fun.  So, I’ll swap days around and my kids are none the wiser.

If you’d like to join in the holiday hullabaloo, here is a rundown of what will be doing over the next 24 days

1- Start the holiday season by writing a letter to Santa.

2 – Let’s catch a wave of the holiday spirit at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration!

3 – Time to trim the Christmas tree and get the house looking festive!

4- Bake cookies with Grandma and Auntie Simone. It’s sure to be a sweet time!

5 – Go for a Christmas light stroll and count the Santas and snowmen. Graph the results.

6 – Eat dinner at Chick-fil-a on Waters Ave. and enjoy the Christmas lights.

7 – Santa stop here! Let’s make reindeer dust so the reindeer know where to land and have some extra energy to make the long flight back home.

8 – Sip cocoa while watching your favorite Christmas movie.

9 – Dress up in your fanciest Christmas attire. It’s time for a Christmas Tea Party!

10 – It’s a movie day with Grandma.  Now showing: Arthur Christmas!

11 – A reason to be merry! We’re off to Moms on the Go Christmas party at Gator Freds today!

12 – No hard hats necessary just plenty of creative juice for today’s fun! Let’s build a gingerbread house!

13 – Watch the Symphony of Lights at The Shops of Wiregrass.

14 – Create pipe cleaner candy canes while snacking on candy canes.  (We’ll also make this candy cane craft.)

15 – Let’s sip some hot cocoa and toss our cookies at a Christmas Cookie Swap.

16 – All aboard! Let’s take a Christmas train ride through the woods at Crews Lake Park!

17 – Take a drive around town to look at Christmas lights while sipping hot cocoa.

18 – Make wrapping paper and create Christmas cards for our family members.

19 – Find time today to fold up some paper to create Christmas origami fortune tellers for some silly seasonal fun.

20 – Let’s share some goodwill and cheer by caroling for the residents at Carollwood Care Center.

21 – All aboard! The Polar Expressis now showing at Wilderness Lodge. Put on those pajamas and let’s roll.

22 – Make snowflakes and drink milkshakes. (We may also make these snowflakes puzzle ornaments.)

23 – Let’s have a Holiday Pampering Party complete with mud masks, pedicures, make-up and a glittery hairdos. (Inspired by Kristi of Live and Love Out.)

24 – It’s Christmas Eve! Remember to set out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Then, sprinkle the reindeer dust in the yard.

25 – Santa arrives! Merry Christmas! xox

 

Some extra ideas just in case!

Jesus is the reason for the season.  Read The First Christmas.

You’d better watch out! Santa has a personal message just for you.  (Idea from Kelly)

All hands on deck! Let’s make paper hand wreaths and other handy dandy crafts!

Buy gifts for family members at the school Holiday Shop.

Let’s rock around the Christmas time with a Christmas music dance party!

Walk through A Winter Wonderland at the Lowry Park Zoo.

Watch a live performance of A Christmas Carol.

Visit a live nativity scene.

Read a story telling of the first Christmas.

Watch a live performance of The Nutcracker.

Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Read stories about the Festival of Lights and sing songs. Then, light the menorah, play dreidel and dance the horah. (12/20)

 

*Submitted to*
Mama's Losin' It
“The first of December is upon us! Describe an Advent Calendar or a special way you count down days until Christmas (past or present). (Inspired by Classy Chaos)”

PhotoStory Fridaythe hollie rogue

Christmas Shopping with Shutterfly

Posted on by Run DMT
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Next Wednesday, we have our annual family Christmas portrait session with my fabulous photographer friend, Kelly.  With much anticipation, I’ve added the final touches on everyone’s outfits.  For this year’s portrait, we’re all wearing variations of red and black.

Also in preparation, I’m keeping a list of the poses I’d like to capture this year.  I love close-up shots of my kids’ smiling faces.  They’re perfect for Christmas photo cards sending Christmas cheer to wish everyone a merry and bright holiday.

When choosing our family’s Christmas card, I prefer a large card (5×7) that includes at least 1 family shot and 3 individual photos of each child.  I also prefer the colors of the card to match the colors we’re wearing in the photos; however, finding a card that displays that many photos in one card while color coordinating with our outfits makes the search for the perfect Christmas anything but merry.

Thankfully, Shutterfly makes the search for the right Christmas card or holiday card simple.  With its sophisticated system, Shutterfly helps refine my search by the number of photos and color.

 

 

On the Christmas card product page, I can view an assortment of cards with the appropriate number of photos and color by selecting that option in the sidebar.

 

 

I’ve already found a large variety of cards that fit my criteria, however, some the cards were folded.

 

Still not a problem!  With a simple click, Shutterfly shows the flat 5×7 photo card option.

 

 

But this year, I’m also considering purchasing photo books and other personalized gifts for our family’s Christmas presents.  Our Christmas portraits are such a treasure and I’m sure both sets of parents would love mounted wall art of our family as a Christmas present.

 

 

 

Even a pewter ornament would make a great gift but not solely as a Christmas tree ornament.  After Christmas, our extended families can hang it on the wall to enjoy it all year long.

 

 

Shutterfly offers so much from a variety of Christmas cards that fit my color by number criteria to wonderful gifts our family will enjoy throughout the year.  And that makes Christmas shopping very merry!


*Shutterfly is offering FREE standard shipping on orders over $30.  Enter code SHIP30.  Hurry! Offer ends November 30, 2011.
*

Xmas Ornament Xchange

Posted on by Run DMT

It’s the gift giving season around the world and the joy of giving is the air.  Let’s spread some of that gift giving joy in the blogosphere with an ornament swap!

For this Xmas Ornament Xchange, purchase or make an ornament valued up to $5 and be ready to ship it to somewhere in the United States at the close of the linky party (December  11). 

To make this Xmas Ornament Xchange more meaningful, send an ornament that reflects what Christmas feels like in your corner of the world.  Your ornament should represent your hometown.  Do you have white Christmases or do you build sandy snowmen?  When Santa visits your home, would he wear a red velvet suit or hibiscus Bermuda shorts?  Be creative and think outside of the ornament box.

To sign up for our first Xmas Ornament Xchange, add your name/blog title and blog url to the linky party below.  Then, fill out the Xmas Ornament Xchange form.  By adding your link and submitting a form, you promise to fulfill your commitment to this gift exchange.  Please do not send your gift late or fail to send one at all.

Then, promote the Xmas Ornament Xchange in a blog post.  The more, the merrier!  Add the Xmas Ornament Xchange button to your site and link back to Run DMT.  Encourage others to link up and join the fun!

The linky party will stay open from November 20 to December 11. 



Fill out the Xmas Ornament Xchange mailing address form here!

***To respect your privacy, the information collected on the form will only be used for this gift swap and deleted after the close of the gift swap.  Only the sender assigned to you will know your mailing address. ***

Viennese Crescents

Posted on by Run DMT
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During our annual Christmas cookie marathon baking day, my sister and mom had some serious baking issues.  None of their cookies passed inspection.  So naturally, I turned to the Joy of Cooking to find another cookie to save Christmas.  Our criteria for a recipe had to include items already stocked in my pantry and very few steps.

 

Not only did these tasty little Viennese treats fit the bill but they truly surprised me. They were so ridiculously easy to make and the results were delicious.

 

For the almonds, I used whole blanched organic almonds and ground them in a food processor until they had a powdery consistency.

 

 

Viennese Crescents

*modified recipe from Joy of Cooking*

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted cold butter

¾ cup confectioners’ sugar

1 cup ground blanched almonds

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp almond extract

1 tsp cinnamon

2 cups all-purpose flour

Pinch of salt

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line 2 cookie sheets. In a large bowl, combine flour, almonds, cinnamon and salt.

 

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Once creamed, add the sugar, vanilla and almond extract and beat until well combined. Then, gradually add the flour mixture on a low mix speed until well blended.

 

Next, roll 1-tablespoon pieces of dough into small balls and then shape into crescent shape.  Arrange about ¼ inch apart on the cookie sheets.  Bake until crescents brown, about 13-15 minutes.  Let stand cookies stand briefly and then move them to a wire rack to cool.  Once the cookies have completely cooled, sprinkle some confectioner’s sugar in a large Ziploc storage bag.  Add a few cookies at a time to avoid breaking them and lightly shake the cookies to coat them with sugar.

 

Yields about forty eight 2¼ cookies.

 

*Proudly submitted to*

Sereina Charise Photography: Very Merry Christmas Link Up

Believe

Posted on by Run DMT
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I suspect that this may be the last year Allana believes in Santa Claus.  She may have already let go of the idea ages ago, but she hasn’t shared that knowledge with anyone especially her little sister.  Honestly, I think she hasn’t shared her doubt with me because she knows I still believe.

 

For four years in a row, Allana has asked for a stuffed polka dot elephant from the Island of Misfit Toys featured in the animated classic, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  Each Christmas, Santa sent an apology letter explaining how the elves couldn’t make enough toys to fulfill every child’s request.  It broke my heart to see the disappointment in her face but our Santa wasn’t willing to pay hundreds of dollars for a small collector’s toy on eBay.

 

This Christmas, both girls have asked for the stuffed polka dot toy, but thankfully Santa has teamed up with the elves at Build-a-Bear and he will finally be able to fulfill this long awaited request.

 

 

I hope this small stuffed toy delivers another year for Allana believing in Santa Claus.

 

 

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Visit Amanda, Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

 

Reindeer Cookies

Posted on by Run DMT
13

 

As you can tell by Allana’s subtle smile, the girls were so excited to discover Day 11 of our Advent calendar.  Baking Christmas cookies with Grandma and Auntie Simone is annual tradition and my girls love to join in the reindeer games, especially when it’s time to make Reindeer Cookies.   They love assembling the cookies almost as much as they like to snack on all the pieces to that make the reindeer’s face.

 

 

 

 

Run DMT’s Reindeer Cookies

1 stick of cold butter

1 ½  cups sugar

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups all purpose flour

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Mini pretzel twists

Red M&M’s

Semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

In an electric mixer, cream the cold butter. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla until well combined. In another bowl, whisk baking soda, cocoa and salt until well combined.  Then gradually, add flour mixture to creamed ingredients and mix well.  Once mixed, divide dough in half and chill for 2 hours.

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Roll out dough and flatten to approximately ¼ inch thick.  Prepare dough into long rectangular shapes and then cut the dough into about 3 in x 3 in squares.  Cut each square diagonally in half to make equal triangles, which will form the reindeer head.

 

Place triangles 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. For the reindeer antlers, press two pretzel twists under the top two points of the triangle and lightly press dough onto the pretzel.  For the nose, place one red M&M in the bottom point opposite from the antlers. Add two semi-sweet chocolate chips for the eyes. Bake about 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove and cool on wire racks.

 

Yields about 64 cookies

 

*Proudly submitted to*

Sereina Charise Photography: Very Merry Christmas Link Up

Christmas Ornament Blog Swap

Posted on by Run DMT
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When Mommy to a lil lady {bug} announced her blogger ornament swap, I signed up to join in the fun.  I love ornaments, especially cute ones like the one she sent me.

 

 

I Ho-Ho-Ho-hope she likes the one I sent her even if it was over a week late.

 

 

Random Thoughts About Running in the Fog

Posted on by Run DMT
10

Since last week’s proclamation to run a half marathon at the Gasparilla Distance Classic, I’ve only fit in one run.  Not a good way to kick off my half marathon training!

 

Saturday morning I woke up with such gusto and I simply had to keep that motivation going.  But like every morning before a run, I checked the weather forecast and heavy fog was to be expected.  A quick peek out the window confirmed that a thick fog blanketed my neighborhood.

 

Truthfully, I am a fair weather runner, but fog is fine except that it messes with my asthma and it freaks me out a bit because the boogieman and scary storm drain clowns lurk behind every corner.  But during the holidays, fog is even freakier thanks to the creepy Christmas decorations.

 

At the start of my run, a mob of giant gingerbread people tried to grab me.

 

 

Then, a life-size scary snowman tried to beat me with his broom.

 

 

Thankfully, I managed to escape the clutches of all these creepy Christmas lawn decorations in the fog and finish a 3 mile at a decent time.

 

Distance 3.1

Time 39:09

Ave Pace 12:38

Max Pace 9:34

 

And for my minute half marathon training effort, I rewarded myself with a marathon of cookie baking the rest of the day.

 

***Proudly submitted at The Un Mom’s Random Tuesday Thoughts, because when I blog about my runs, it’s usually pretty random.***

randomtuesday