Celebrating Hanukkah and Christams!

Here is a great way to do this.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Decorate for both holidays. Find or make Hanukkah-themed decorations for your Christmas tree. Wrap gifts in both Hanukkah and Christmas wrapping paper. Place holly sprigs around the Menorah. Be as creative as you like with this. If there are children in your household invite them to make suggestions.
   • 2
     Prepare food from both traditions. For example, make cut-out sugar cookies in Hanukkah shapes. Decorate them with colored sugar in red and green for Christmas and blue and yellow for Hanukkah. At your holiday meal serve dishes traditional to both your Christian and Jewish familymembers.
   • Combine gift-giving traditions. Allow children to select one gift from under the tree for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah.
   • 4
     When you light the Menorah each night, sing both a Christmas song and the traditional Hebrew chant.
   • 5
     Hold a latke party for Christmas Eve. Have children and adults participate in making the traditional potato pancakes. Serve with the potato pancakes with homemade apple sauce and eat them around the Christmas tree.
   • 6
     Make dreidels available for children's games on Christmas Eve. Or combine Christmas carol singing with the dreidel game by having a song for every round of the game.

     
     

     Source: Ehow.com

Peaceful Thanksgiving

Peaceful Thanksgiving Plan

1. Remember what its about.  Really reflect on what you are thankful for.  Its not about who brought what food or who is seating where but its really about getting together and being thankful.  Go around the table and let each person share what they are thankful for.

  

2. Grandparents, know your limited role.  Grandparents need to know their boundaries and not contradict the parents.

3.  Choose not to fight.  Make it a plan ahead of time to choose not to fight.  Let things go, its a time to enjoy each other not to pick fights or get angry over little things.  Most fights are usually over little things anyways and its just not important to ruin a holiday by being angry.

4. Don't miss the innocent moments.  Take time and enjoy the innocent moments with the little ones. A smile a first impression.  Look for the special priceless moments.

5. Delegate.  Mom or grandma doesn't have to do it all.  Let others help in the cooking and clean up.  Share the work load and the mom/grandma won't be overly tired and they can enjoy the company in the kitchen.

6. Keep your focus.  Don't dwell on the problems in life you experiencing but instead be thankful what you do have and enjoy each others company.

7. Curb you high expectations. Don't expect things to happen a certain way, allow for the unexpected and go with the flow.

8.  Challenge tradition.  Don't stress yourself out by over committing to travel, over committing time, money you don't have.  Give yourself permission to make changes.  Its nice to see your parents or grandparents but if you don't have the time or money its okay to just call them.

9.  Don't set the bird on fire.  Remember to take the bag of giblets out of the turkey before baking.

Drunken Turkey Recipe

This year we are trying a new recipe for our Thanksgiving dinner.  It's a drunken turkey,  haha!  No really it's  called a juicy Thanksgiving turkey. This turkey will get drunk on Champange!  For all of you who don't realize this alcohol is burned off when its cooked so its not really drunk.  

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons dried parsley 2 tablespoons ground dried rosemary 2 tablespoons rubbed dried sage 2 tablespoons dried thyme leaves 1 tablespoon lemon pepper 1 tablespoon salt 1 (15 pound) whole turkey, neck and

giblets removed 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 orange, cut into wedges 1 onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth 1 (750 milliliter) bottle champagne

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a turkey roaster with long sheets of aluminum foil that will be long enough to wrap over the turkey.
2.	Stir together the parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Rub the herb mixture into the cavity of the turkey, then stuff with the celery, orange, onion, and carrot. Truss if desired, and place the turkey into the roasting pan. Pour the chicken broth and champagne over the turkey, making sure to get some champagne in the cavity. Bring the aluminum foil over the top of the turkey, and seal. Try to keep the foil from touching the skin of the turkey breast or legs.
3.	Bake the turkey in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear. Uncover the turkey, and continue baking until the skin turns golden brown, 30 minutes to 1 hour longer. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Source: Allrecipes.com

New Items Added To The Baby Line

I have redesigned my baby towels into a grow with baby towel. 

 It works great for baby and well into early childhood, great until 8 or 10.

               

Teddy bear voile print bath towel set.

Blue patchwork print with cute little animals too.

I do basic towel sets or custom orders with special print designs.

Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe

Recently I found this recipe for homemade fabric softener.  So I thought I'd try and I share it with my readers.  Make sure you don't make the mistake I did with my first batch, by using shampoo.

Ingredient
6 cups boiling water
3 cups of distilled white vinegar
2 cups of conditioner (hair)


1.  In a large bowl, combine all three ingredients together and mix.  Whisk gently or you will get bubbles.

2.  Pour into your container and measure out as you would with store bought fabric softener.

Wordless Wednesday

Prayers and Support After Sandy!

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is devastating and tragic. 

 Please take time to pray for those who have lost so much and offer your support too.

Even though the hurricane has already done lots of damage,

 we can continue to pray for those effected by this tragedy.