18 Days Until Christmas!

Hello friends! Here’s hoping you’re successful in getting ready for the holidays.

I would say I am 70% done with shopping. I have to round up a few little things and some gift cards. There has been no wrapping! I’m always a slacker with that. I haven’t started my cards yet but I got them out and printed my card list so that is a start. The baking/candy making list has been made.

The only thing I am done with is my decorating! Finally! I have discovered that I have so much stuff to decorate with that I have to make choices about what to display. For instance this year it was a contest between my nutcracker collection and my Tom and Jerry punch sets. The nutcrackers won. Next year I will display the Tom and Jerry sets.

Each year I add to my decorations. This year I was especially bad in TJ Maxx with the encouragement of my friend Linda! She is dangerous to shop with, especially in that store! However, I loved every minute of it!

During the holiday season sometimes we struggle to be “happy” because darn it we are supposed to be happy at this time of year. Sometimes, it is difficult for a multitude of reasons. Often it is missing a loved one who is gone but it also can just be the stress of getting ready or even just of “being happy” as expected.

I recently read an article by Lynya Floyd called, “The (Online) Pursuit of Happiness”. She really didn’t talk about online happiness but rather the title refers to some research she did on the web and through email. She has identified 7 theories about happiness. I will attempt to summarize them for you here. They were a little eye-opening to me and maybe they will help you put it in perspective too.

1. We should ask ourselves what an ordinary week looks like. After all, we can’t just gauge our happiness on achieving certain milestones such as an engagement or a job promotion. There is a lot of time in between those events and we need to look at that time and see how we can achieve our average happiness. How would I like my ordinary week to look? Since I am happiest when I get things accomplished I would like to keep up with my housework, work on my blog, etc. I would also like time in the week to watch a little TV in the evening while snuggling with my doggies. Some volunteering makes me feel good too so that would be part of my week. Being social is a big part of my life so that would be an element of the time too as well as some craft project(s). Do you see what I am getting at? Make sure your ordinary week has stuff in it that make you happy!
2. Comparison is not always a good thing. Sometimes we compare our accomplishments with what could have been. Try to just revel in what you have achieved. No comparison needed!
3. Happiness is not a goal to work toward but rather a destination you stay at. Carry your happiness with you and in you!
4. You don’t have to win the lottery to get a jolt of happiness. You can do that by helping someone in need. Sending a card, letter or email thanking someone else thanking them for something they did for you. Donate item(s) or your time to a cause.  Just be kind to others!
5. Quit complaining! It is nice to express yourself and be heard but let it end there. Continuing to complain keeps you focused on the problem. Allow yourself to move past that and move toward what you want.
6. There are two kinds of happiness, natural and synthetic. Your brain can’t tell the difference. Here’s an example. Let’s say you want to move to a brand new house or apartment. That would make you happy and would be natural happiness. Due to finances you are unable to move so you decide to put a fresh coat of paint on some walls, move your furniture around and make a couple of throw pillows. This makes you happy and is synthetic happiness because you created it. The message I take from this is that if you aren’t experiencing natural happiness then make your own!

Finally, the big milestones like graduation day, wedding day, birth of a child, etc. are really few and far between. We can’t depend on them to have happiness. If you focus on growing as a person either mentally, physically or spiritually, helping others, reaching out and connecting with people then you will have happiness. There will be unhappy moments but they will be few and far between.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Handy Tips

1.  This is the season for baking. How is it best to store our bounty until they are served? Martha Stewart says; Allow them to completely cool. Then layer them between waxed paper or parchment. Put them in an airtight container. Most will keep for 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Don’t store soft and crunchy baked goods together. The crunchy will absorb moisture from the soft and they will be soft too. Only keep in the refrigerator items that contain a dairy or egg component. If you need to revive stored cookies heat them in the a 300 degree oven for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them so that they don’t over bake.
2. Test baking soda by adding a teaspoon full to 1/2 cup of hot water. If it doesn’t bubble then throw it out!
3. Sprinkle a little salt in your pan before frying. This will keep the oil from splattering.
4. If you have icy sidewalks or steps mix 1 teaspoon Dawn dish washing liquid, 1 Tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and a gallon of hot water. Pour over the icy area. It won’t refreeze or chip concrete like salt does.

Christmas Goody Recipe

My grandchildren go crazy for this easy, no bake, delicious treat. It is sure to be a winner in your house too!

Peanut Butter Logs

1 stick of butter or margarine (melted)

2 cups of peanut butter (you can use crunchy or creamy)

1 pound of powdered sugar

3 cups of Rice Krispies

melted chocolate for drizzling on top ( you can use candy melts or chocolate chips)

Melt your butter and in a large bowl combine all of the ingredients except the chocolate. When all ingredients are completely incorporated shape them into logs and put on waxed paper or parchment paper. Melt your chocolate in the microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. You don’t want to over do this as the chocolate will get grainy. Once your chocolate is melted drizzle some over each log or you can completely coat them if you would rather do that. I drizzle. Refrigerate until serving.

You will thank me late! LOL

Have a wonderful week! Do those things that make you happy!