When I learned how to make vanilla extract a few years ago, I realized I had the perfect One Size Fits Most gift. It’s appropriate for anyone from 10 to 100, male or female, as long as they a) love baking, or b) love baked goods (and have someone who bakes for them) Now, vanilla…
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A Dutch New Year’s
New Year’s always seems one of the more dutchy holidays to me, because while at Christmas Dutch traditions look a lot like everyone else’s (stockings, Sinter Klaus, special pastries and desserts), at New Year’s our family did stuff no one else did. Dutch stuff. First there is Ollie Bollen. Traditionally served New Year’s Eve or…
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Letters From Home, Volume 3
This has been a unique Christmas Season for our family. As I mentioned in my reasons for a simplified Christmas this year, we drove to Orlando, Florida for a seminar Jeremy was attending, and were gone for 11 days at the beginning of the month. Coming home with just 12 days left to be ready…
Continue ReadingMy Bestest Tip for Simplyfying Christmas {for real this time}
You knew I was kidding yesterday, right? It is truly my aim each year to simplify our Christmas as much as possible, otherwise I wouldn’t have time for the tradtions that are most meaningful to us. I mean, if I’m wrapping presents till 2 am on Christmas, then I wouldn’t be able to join in…
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Top Ten Tips For A Stressful Christmas Season
I hope you can read this ok, ’cause I had my tongue in my cheek the whole time I was typing… The key to a truly stress-filled Holiday Season is always keeping in mind these two goals: To impress. Everyone. But especially those you don’t know. To Meet All Expectations. Especially of those closest to…
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Whimsical and Shiny – My Christmas Decorations
Several years ago I saw this lovely silver and gold themed Christmas tree in Pottery Barn’s catalog. I LOVED the mini picture frames with family photos all over the tree. I started watching stores for similar frames. Finally, I found them at the dollar store this year! Hooray! The sliver balls were in my stash…
Continue ReadingSweet Temptations and Nourishing Compromises
“We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.” -Buddy the Elf There’s no question about it – Christmas means candy, and an increase in all forms of sugar, even at our house. I’ve been brainstorming this month about ways to reduce our sugar intake without…
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Tree Traditions
It was our 6th year cutting our tree from the local tree farm. I can’t believe we have such a solid tradition already in our young family! Soon Jesse will be able to help cut the tree down and drag it. Until then, he pitches in to ‘help’ daddy whenever he can. Daddy was piggy-backing…
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Christmas Books
And now I share with you one of my fondest Christmas Traditions. When I was growing up, we didn’t have an advent calender – we had Christmas books. Twenty-four pages told the story of Christmas from Creation to the Cross. Each day we would draw our interpretation of the story, carefully guarding our pages to…
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Our Thanksgiving
Seth keeping Grandpa company while he carved the turkey. My sis-in-law’s delicious egg bread. The table set for 16 This was the first Thanksgiving in their new house. They have been putting up final decorating touches – I love the wall decals and these wood-burned hymn plaques over the piano. A crackling fire (on the…
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Flowers and Chocolate
My first birthday gift was the Magnolia tree the Lord arranged to be planted in my yard years ago BURSTING into bloom just in time to gather an arrangement for my buffet. I have always loved these trees, which I have known as Tulip Trees. I am amazed and blessed that I now have one…
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Weird Wednesday: Chocolate for Breakfast!
This Weird Wednesday is not at all inspiring or nutritious – it’s just yummy! When a package came all the way from Washington State for Christmas, it contained a box of Chocoladehagelslag for me from my Dutch Grandparents. That is, Chocolate Sprinkles, imported from Holland and part of my heritage. Traditionally you sprinkle them on…
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Loving Advent.
We all love the tradition of our Advent Book. Jesse loves the repitition, and the anticipation of a new door revealed each day. I love that this is a tradition that Daddy does with his kiddos (leaving me free to take pictures). Claire just loves reading books. I can’t believe how quiet and absorbed she…
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Daddy’s Little Helper
Daddy had an enthusiastic assistant as he strung the lights around the tree. He kept having to sweep her out of the way… But she’d be right back – the lights were just too fascinating! Uh-oh – the princess has been put in her Johnny t o keep her out of trouble! Streeeeching to reach,…
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A Questing We Will Go
Here are my favorite pictures of getting our Christmas Tree. (OK, I admit – this is ALL the pictures – couldn’t pick a favorite!) This was Claire’s second trip to the Christmas Tree Farm – last year she was just a week old, and stayed in the garage near the wood stove with me while…
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This Christmas All I Need Is You
This post is a public ‘Shout Out’ to my awesome husband, Jeremy. My love, you’re the best guy a girl could ever dream of, and I’m so excited to celebrate our 5th Christmas together! ♥2004 ♥I think I started falling in love with you the day you acted the part of one of the wise…
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