10 Merry, Merry Ideaz!
Wow! We asked our friendz who subscribe to the Creative Friendzy e-Newsletter to send us their ideas and traditions for Christmas. The first 10 responders received a Friendzy foldable tote (perfect for the shopping season!). Thanks for the great entries! If you have an idea or tradition you’d like to share with all your friendz, email us. We'll be adding more to the blog throughout December.
IDEA #1: From Paula C., (Pam’s sister)-Mt. Vernon, IL
My family and I are not much for the game playing and football watching kind of gatherings...but at Christmas time (after our annual after-Thanksgiving-all-day-shopping-gala) we gather around the twinkle of the Christmas tree, lift our cups of eggnog, and proceed to tell stories (usually on ourselves our other members of our family) and laugh like hyenas. It's a festive occasion...and the new and more quiet, reserved among us (who are either distant relatives or in-laws) gawk in amazement as we revel for hours in the hilarity of familial failures and sisterly shenanigans!
Like Mary choosing to sit at Jesus feet rather than busy herself about the business of "preparation" of the meal, take time to really ENJOY the company of those you love this Christmas! It makes all the difference!
IDEA #2: From Penny G.-Ozark, MO
My friendz and I love to get together to scrapbook a few pages, share moments, eat (chocolate). Need I say more?
IDEA #3: From Lou Ann R.-Andalusia, AL
Family is at the top of the list for me at Christmas. But, I also enjoy the parties that we have together with church friends where we can get dressed up, eat and exchange gifts. One twist on the gifts at these parties is "bring a white elephant" gift , i.e, something you have at home that someone else might enjoy getting, but that you are ready to part with.
You never know what someone might bring: foot massager, cookie press, knives, towels, decorative items for the home, radios, tools, jewelry, etc. These have been some of the most fun times spent laughing our heads off!
IDEA #4: Patty H.-San Antonio, TX
During the holiday season we have a Holiday Tea Party. It’s really a great time to get together to fellowship and have fun. We usually have each friend bring a dozen cookies of her choice and a gift for our gift exchange. This year we asked everyone to bring their favorite tea cup and then we’ll have them say a few words about their teacup and why it is their favorite. My favorite teacup is from a restaurant my parents had when I was growing up 30 + years ago.
IDEA #5: Janet M.-Palmdale, CA
Last year I hosted Christmas Cookie Exchange Party. When presenting the idea to co-workers and friends they all wanted to come because it sounded like a bit of a reprieve from all of the activities and expectations required of them during December. And that is how it turned out. A relaxing, fun time. We chose a Sunday afternoon for our event - 1:00 - 3:00.
All the guests have to do is bring 6 dozen cookies. They are not expected to bring or do anything else.. This is my gift to them. It would also be fun for 2 or 3 friends to host and make the preparations together. A light lunch is prepared for the guests. A cookie table is set to receive the incoming cookies. Plates or platters are provided for the guests to take the exchanged cookies home on (part of the gift). Thirteen attended last year. Afterward there were others who heard about it and wanted to be a part of the next one. So it is possible that this event will grow each year. Cookie-themed prizes were given to the first guest to arrive, the person who was the most festively dressed (Christmas attire). The guests were given pieces of paper to cast their silent vote for their favorite. Our winner even had red and green Christmas tree socks on! We planned on about 2 hours and it worked out just right.
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IDEA #6: Kathy G.-Seymour, MO
Just thought I'd share some of the traditions I do at Christmas. I always have whatever children are available to decorate the tree. I have memory ornaments that I save from each year. Some are homemade from the children as they grow up, some are from the year we had to make all the festivities because there was no money, and then some special ones bought for different reasons.
I have a few gifts I give as memories also. I give my best friend chocolate cherries because that was what her grandmother always gave her until she died and it is a special way for her to remember. I give her daughter a porcelain doll every year because I gave her the 1st one at 3 and told her if she kept it and didn't tear it up, I 'd give her another one and she still has the very first one, 13 yrs later.
We also try to have a time where we have an open house for anyone who wants to just drop in a say hi.
IDEA #7: Sherri B.-Athens, AL
My girlfriends (we meet monthly) have a Christmas CD swap each year-I now have a wonderful collection of Christmas music of various types! We have a covered dish supper and then play "Dirty Santa" for the CDs. It is always interesting to see the most popular CD for that season (sometimes 4 ladies will bring the same one!!).
IDEA #8: Jonette A.-Blackduck, MN
Our group in Blackduck, MN decided that the holidays get so crazy and many of us don't have time to do all the varieties of the goodies we want for our families so we decided that each person would make a triple batch of one thing and bring it. We all will be given containers and walk around the table and take some of each kind. Just like magic we will have an assortment for Christmas, we only have to get ingredients for one type and we also won't overload with so many batches of everything. (Our diets will appreciate that!) It will also be great because some of the ladies have great recipes that we all would love to try--what better than to have the "master" prepare them for us!!! The ladies in charge are going to make a "special" treat for each lady with a scripture verse included for them to carry them through the holidays.
IDEA #9: Donna F.-Lebanon, OH
This is something I do personally at Christmastime. I bake quite a number (usually 18-25) miniature loaves of banana nut, or date nut, or pumpkin nut bread. I attach a Christmas bow to each loaf. I then make several batches of Holiday Scramble (recipe follows). I put the mix into quart-sized freezer bags and attach a colorful bow.
Finally I fill a large basket with breads and snacks and set off for the local nursing home where I distribute them to residents. Many of the residents are former ministers, friends from church, co-workers, so I have a personal tie with each resident to whom I give the gift. If it's a first time offering, I let the person choose which they prefer, bread or snacks. I keep a list, so that the following year I can prepare personal labels with their favorite selection.
I have done this for years and years and love it. Now one of my married daughters does the same type of things, only she usually takes cookies or muffins. It's nice for the nursing home residents to receive homemade foods for the holidays.
Holiday Scramble
(Chex Mix/Nuts and Bolts)
One box Cheerios (15 oz. approximately)
One box Wheat Chex
One box Rice Chex
One box Corn Chex
One pound thin pretzel sticks
Three sticks margarine
One-half cup bacon fat (may be omitted, but adds a lot of flavor)
One-fourth cup peanut butter
One and one-half to two Tablespoons Tabasco or similar hot sauce
One fourth cup Worcestershire sauce
Two teaspoons Garlic Salt
Two teaspoons Onion Salt
One pound of salted peanuts (I use one-half pound Spanish and one-half pound small red skin peanuts)
1. Combine cereals and pretzel sticks in two large roasting pans.
2. Melt margarine. Combine with bacon fat, peanut butter, and all seasons. Heat more until everything is melted and well mixed together. (I do this in the microwave in a Pyrex 4-cup measuring cup).
3. Mix this with the cereals until coated. Spoon about one-third of mixture over the cereal. Stir gently, but well. Continue with second third of spice mixture and stir cereal well again. Spoon remaining mixture over cereal and stir once more.
4. Mix in nuts.
5. Bake 250°F, uncovered, for about two hours, gently stirring each half hour.
6. Cool and store in tightly covered container. (I use gallon sized plastic bags.) Can be frozen for a long time (if you can keep from eating it all up!)
IDEA #10: Amanda J.-Decatur, IL
All the ladies in our family get together for a road trip to Michigan Ave. in Chicago, Illinois. We all live either in central or southern Illinois. The trip is not so long. We car pool or one time we had a Shuttle Service pick us all up at my house. We have made it a family holiday tradition now! We have a great time, shopping and eating (of course).
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Tuesday, December 5, 2006
