I love reviving old family traditions, and making new ones. I love remembering fondly the things that I did as a child at Christmas time and the things I couldn’t wait to do again.
As an adult, I get to make sure our family participates in our traditions and make new ones.
This tradition I don’t let my family participate in. Every year I stay up super late the couple of days before Christmas and wrap presents.
I always think I will start early, and I always think I have plenty of time.
Of course I don’t!
So I stay up late, while everyone is asleep and wrap their presents. At least I know I am not alone. Mom’s across the world are doing the same thing.
I was able to squeeze in making these gift tags for the boys. I didn’t want to write on their gifts from Santa, I don’t want them to eventually recognize my writing.
If you want to download a blank set of these gift tags you can do so here.
Ah, it’s finally the week of Christmas. Oh wait, holy cow! it’s the week of Christmas.
I was really sure I had so much more time.
The holiday week means less meal planning for me. So I decided to share a cookie recipe. We made some cookies for Ian’s school party and I decided to try a new one.
These cookies are inspired by the peanut butter blossoms. You know the ones with the Hershey’s Kisses placed in the warm cookies?
During the holidays Hershey’s makes a Candy Cane Kiss. They are super scrumptious. I’m not gonna lie, I have taken a bag (or two) to ‘share’ (with myself) before.
Candy Cane Shortbread Blossoms
Makes about 2 dozen cookies
Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped
2 1/2 c. Flour
1 c. Butter, softened cut into cubes
6 Tblsp Sugar (6 tablespoon= 1/4 c. + 2 tablespoons)
In a mixing bowl combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or a blade attachment for your stand mixer. Add butter squares one at a time and blend until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling.
Form into a ball and knead until smooth.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls, place on cookie sheet and flatten. (shortbread doesn’t behave like other cookie dough so it will not flatten out when baked
Bake in 325° oven for 20-25 minutes, until center starts to set. While cookies are baking unwrapped enough kisses for the number of cookies.
Immediately press a Candy Cane Kiss into center of cookie and let cool on cookie sheet for five minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack, let cool until kisses harden.
I love reviving old family traditions, and making new ones. I love remembering fondly the things that I did as a child at Christmas time and the things I couldn’t wait to do again.
As an adult, I get to make sure our family participates in our traditions and make new ones.
When I was little we used to go to a Breakfast with Santa. We would get dressed up and go downtown to Meier & Frank department store. (OK, I am gonna be honest and say I don’t really know if that was where it was held, but that’s what I remember. It might have happened elsewhere and my family will correct me when they read this)
In a gigantic beautifully decorated room we would have breakfast and Santa would show up. We all took turns getting our pictures with Santa and telling him what we wanted for Christmas.
I don’t really remember the details, but I remember the magic and the joy I felt.
I later found out we stopped doing it because the event deteriorated. The last year we attended we didn’t get a breakfast, but a box with a PB&J sandwich, or something like that. Plus the quality of the event was more cheap then magical. My mom decided it wasn’t worth it anymore.
Last year I decided I had to find a Breakfast with Santa event for us.
I found McMenamins, a local brewery & restaurant, hosts a Santa Breakfast. I love McMenamins so I thought it would be perfect. They have many wonderful restaurants around town.
Both last year and this year, I bought tickets too late, so I didn’t get the location I wanted. The last available location was at the Crystal Ballroom, a magnificent venue for concerts.
It is a buffet breakfast, but a good one because McMenamins has good food.
Santa comes early and you can go up at anytime to talk to him and take pictures. They don’t have a professional photographer, you just take your own.
Then all the kids run around and have a great time.
I love doing this because the kids don’t have to wait for hours in a line to see Santa. I will visit Santa this way for as long as I can.
I Tri and Craft 