xmas

Letting Go of Christmas Expectations and the Stress

December 25, 2015 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Merry Christmas to everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season.

As you eat prime rib, turkey, and open gifts from your family and friends are you thinking this Christmas is not meeting expectations? Is it different, are your traditions changing? Our Christmas traditions are definitely changing and it’s not a bad thing. It’s an adjustment.

Due to outside family obligations, we have “our” Christmas on Christmas Eve-Eve on December 23rd and open presents at 12:01 am on Christmas Eve.

Long story, but it’s become a tradition. Normally I get the 23rd and or the 24th off, but this year I had to work and it really put my Christmas season out of whack.

We had the dinner, which was AMAZING, but then can prime rib roast NOT be amazing. My husband was wonderful in getting dinner prepared while I was at work and Christmas program practice.

I basically showed up and ate, which wonderful and odd at the same time.

It’s now Christmas Day, it is just the two of us, and the house is quiet. This gives me time to reflect on the year and where I’ve been and where I’m going.

This year I “let go” during the Holidays.

- I didn’t get every Christmas cookie made.
- I didn’t get cards mailed, ok that’s several years in a row.
- I didn’t stress about all the presents under the tree being adorned with bows, ribbons and looking fancy.,,,in fact
- ALL the presents were with the SAME wrapping paper, and not a bow to be seen (OMG!)
- Not all the Christmas decorations were put up this year.
- I shrugged off the fact my “extra” presents for people didn’t happen this year.
- I didn’t cry when all the kids couldn’t be home during dinner. (traveling from out of state isn’t predictable)
- I didn’t stress about the “yearly” family Christmas photo in front of the tree where everyone is dressed up for church service. (didn’t happen this year)
- I didn’t freak out that everyone couldn’t make it to Christmas Eve service. (my daughter had to work late)
- I didn’t go into a panic trying to find that present (ornament) that got “lost” this year. It will show up this week I’m sure.

What I did do this year.

I was thankful for the present, now and today.
I sat on the couch, watched the Christmas tree lights and listened to Christmas carols on Pandora.
I hugged my adult kids when I could, much to their dismay.
I snuggled on the couch with my husband watching Christmas movies.

and…

- I played the piano during the church Christmas Eve program and listened to the pure sound of the kids singing Away in the Manger.
- I teared up singing Silent Night at the Candlelight portion of the service.
- I am grateful to be alive and have all my grown kids healthy, happy and all together today. No matter where they are spending the day.

Holy Gifts: The True Meaning of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh C Is for Christmas: The History, Personalities, and Meaning of Christ’s Birth

Does it feel different? Yes, and it feels odd. But,…Christmas is not about the commercialism, the wrappings, or the gifts.

It starts with Christ, a baby born a humble birth, in a time of turmoil, who was sent by God to save His people and world. The Peace of God, the everlasting forgiveness who washes away our sins, cleanse us and makes us new.

To think over two thousand years ago a simple baby, a child, a man, was able to change the world. All of this without social media, just word of mouth from one person to another.

Merry Christmas Everyone and Remember the Reason for the Season!

The First Christmas Night The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey The Christmas Story: From The King James Bible Away in a Manger: The Christmas Story from a Nativity Scene Lamb’s Point of View

Do Peanut Butter Kisses Cookies Count as Christmas Cookies?

December 7, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Easy Peanut Butter Kisses Cookie Recipe

Starting in the beginning of December I start baking cookies, lots of cookies. Now Peanut Butter Kiss cookies don’t look like Christmas cookies, but they are one of my kids’ favorites, so they get made every year.

This is a quick peanut butter cookie recipe you can quickly mix and bake.

I then pack them in cookie tins and mail cookies to friends and family all over the United States.

How to Ship Cookies for Mailing

The best way to pack cookies for shipping is tight and snug so they can’t move around. I use tissue paper and line cookie gift tins. The I fill the tins and use the tissue paper to fill in the empty spaces around the treats. Everyone tells me they arrive just fine.

Empty Winter Holiday Cookie Tins (Set of Six)12 ct. Christmas Empty Tin Canisters – Assorted

I usually make at least six different varieties of cookies every year, not including my candies. This tradition started when I moved from Connecticut to Oklahoma for school and was looking for an inexpensive gift to send to friends.

Another reason I started making peanut butter cookies is one year I ran our of flour and these have three ingredients: peanut butter, sugar, and an egg. So not only inexpensive to make is also a simple gluten free cookie recipe for a friend who is gluten intolerant.

The Pampered Chef Large Bar Pan 14.75 Pampered Chef Stackable Cooling Rack

Recipe for Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

I have my favorite Pampered chef baking pan that LOVE to bake cookies on. WHY? The baking stone evenly bakes the cookies and doesn’t over brown the bottoms. Most metal cookie sheets get too hot and the bottoms of the cookies burn too easily.

Preheat oven to 350F, unwrap candy kisses

One Cup Peanut Butter ( I use smooth)
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
Large egg (1)

Mix together, roll teaspoon-size balls, I use a melon scoop for uniform size balls
Place on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes
Remove cookies from oven and immediately place an unwrapped Hershey Kiss into the cooked ball.
Cool slightly and remove from baking sheet.
Place on wire cookie rack until completely cool.

There you go, so easy a child could do it, and who doesn’t like peanut butter and chocolate? Enjoy your peanut butter kisses cookies recipe and if you have a favorite cookie recipe please share it in the comments. If you’re looking for more recipes using peanut butter these two cookbooks will keep you busy.

101 Things to Do with Peanut Butter The Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook

M&M Christmas Pretzels, a Holiday Tradition

December 6, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Countdown to Christmas: M&M Pretzels

In addition to Christmas cookies, I also make Christmas pretzels, AND I do it the easy way.

It used to be hard to find circle pretzels, but most groceries stores have them now during the holidays. Where to get circle pretzels the rest of the year is the challenge.

Fill circle pretzels with almond bark and plop an M&Min the middle. Years ago it was difficult to find circle pretzels, there was a hunt to find them in the grocery stores.

Now they are everywhere. I used to dip the regular twisted variety, but that takes too much time.

Mint Christmas M&Ms are even available!!

Hershey holiday M&Ms come in red and green and are perfect to give your cookie and candy plates that splash of color. Simply spoon the melted chocolate into the center of the pretzels.

Santa Stop Here Sign
by ndjmom

You can also use a frosting gun to squirt the melted almond bark into the pretzel centers.

M&M’s Mint Chocolate, Christmas Red, Green and White Candies, 9.9oz Bags 2 Pack

Making Christmas Pretzels — Using a Pampered Chef frosting gun

Why Use a Double Boiler?

Many people chose to microwave their chocolate, but I think it’s too risky. It doesn’t take too much heat before the chocolate gets too hot, seize up and become hard.

I don’t get fancy with melting chocolate, almond bark is fine with me and I place the squares on a double boiler on the stove. The chocolate is double boiler melts slower and there is no risk of burning or the chocolate separating.

How to Use a Double Boiler

A double boiler is easy to use. It’s basically a metal bowl or pot placed over a boiling pot of water. Put about an inch to 2 inches of water in the bottom pan and place your melting chocolate in the top pan.

Turn the stovetop to medium-low and your chocolate melts slowly into perfect liquid chocolate.

I’m off to dip pretzels now, you see, nothing is safe during the Christmas season when it comes to chocolate, I make more than Christmas Pretzels, I make pretzel rods, chocolate-covered cherries, chocolate covered marshmallows, and chocolate-covered apricots.

From Santa Gift Tags
by ndjmom

Christmas Music by Pentatonix: Mary Did You Know

December 3, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Countdown to Christmas with Pentatonix

It’s more Christmas music!!

It’s DAY 3 and I’m still on a Christmas music kick. For the past few weeks I have seen the video of Mary Did You Know floating on Facebook, but like I said, I don’t listen to Christmas carols until December 1st. Now that we are in the month of December it’s a free for all! This rendition of the popular song is hauntingly beautiful.

I love how it’s this Christmas song is set in a cave. Mainly because many Christians believe the stable wasn’t an actual building but a cave where animals were housed. Remember there was no room in the inn and Mary was an unwed Mother. Joseph was poor, and probably didn’t want any extra attention to this baby. Jesus, Christ the Lord was named Emmanuel our Lord and Savior.

If you haven’t heard of the Penatonix before you are really missing out!

Pentatonix music is mainly acapella with limited instrumentals. Their music and videos are hauntingly beautiful and I can listen to it all day long. In December Christmas music is the only music I listen to throughout the day.

For your listening pleasure, I present the best of Pentatonix Christmas music. Their Christmas albums are some of the highest best selling Christmas Music on Amazon, for good reason.

Pentatonix Christmas YouTube Playlist

Below are twelve Pentatonix Christmas songs. Just select play, and set it as background music as you work throughout the day.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PL0uCq9JWTdfnZkBsmnyMjN2drJDrYipNu&v=WSUFzC6_fp8[/embedyt]

A Pentatonix Christmas PTXmas (Deluxe Edition)Pentatonix (Deluxe Version) – That’s Christmas To Me – Pentatonix 2 CD Album Bundling Pentatonix – That’s Christmas to Me

What is your favorite Pentatonix song?

Count Down To Christmas: Marine Corps Christmas Ornaments

December 2, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

USMC Christmas Ornaments

I love the holiday season and everything about it including Christmas carols, outdoor light displays, making candy, baking cookies, and especially my Marine Corps Christmas Ornaments.

To me, Christmas trees are a journey through life and memories of family and friends. Every year I open our ornament box and it’s a journey through our family history. It’s more than just commercialism and buying gifts. It’s preserving memories.

I Love Christmas Tree Ornaments

My Christmas tree is a memory tree, each ornament has a meaning or is significant. The tradition is each year I buy a Christmas ornament for each one of my kids which represents their life for that year. The promise is when each of them gets married and starts a family their box of ornaments will go with them to start their own family tree.

For instance, when my daughter played softball, it was a softball athlete ornament. When we took a ski trip to Colorado it was a skiing ornament from the resort. You get the picture.

Marine Moms are very sentimental and I would have to say every Marine Mom in the country has at LEAST one Marine Corps Christmas Ornament on their tree. In fact, I know some Marine Moms who decorate patriotic Christmas trees in a with red, white and blue ornaments and accents.

Our tradition is to open the ornaments first on Christmas Eve and although my boys don’t like to be Motards with a lot of Marine Corps paraphernalia. But they do like and appreciate their Marine Corps Christmas ornaments and look forward to them every year. This ornament is the first one I gave to my oldest son his first year in the Corps.

I’ve started shopping for this years, but I can’t spoil the surprise for my boys my posting it here. So for those Marine Mom’s looking for Marine or military holiday decorations or themed Christmas tree ornaments here are a few selections.

Marine Corps Ornaments on Amazon

I like Amazon, it’s fast, reliable, and if there are any shipping issues it’s taken care of promptly. They also have the biggest selection and have just about EVERYTHING! How do you like to decorate your tree, is it thematic, color coordinated, or a memory tree?