Twelve Days of Christmas

The Christmas season begins at sundown on 24th December and lasts through sundown on 5th January. For that reason, this season is also known as the Twelve Days of Christmas.

The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 originated in the 4th century. The Catholic Church wanted to eclipse the festivities of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity's existence. The Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during this time of year. Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people's birthdays in those times, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual season of Jesus' birth is thought to be in the spring, the date of December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ's Mass so that it would compete head on with the rival pagan celebration. Christmas was slow to catch on in America. The early colonists considered it a pagan ritual. The celebration of Christmas was even banned by law in Massachusetts in colonial days.

Santa's On His Way!!

Santa has begun delivering presents to the children of the world :) He is currently in the Andaman Islands, heading to Thailand next!! Keep up with all his schedule by visiting the NORAD Santa Tracker. Merry Christmas everyone! :)

Candy Cane Centerpiece

This is super quick and very simple. I use margarita glass, but really any kind of glass or vase could work. You just need to make sure it's big enough to hold the candle. then hang candy canes all around it. Next take your favorite Gold Canyon pillar candle and put it in the center. Light the candle and enjoy :)

Homemade Christmas Centerpiece

Materials:
2 white styrofoam dinner plates
stapler
natural greenery/leaves/flowers from your yard or garden, OR "scraps" from a Christmas tree lot
votive candle w/glass cup
holiday-motif place mat (paper OK), optional
matches (for when you light the candles later)

Instructions:
Invert one paper plate over the other. Staple these together around the rim, at about '12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock' positions. Insert decorative plant materials all around the rim of the top plate. Place the centerpiece on tablecloth on its optional place mat, place the votive candle cup in the center of the centerpiece. Put your favorite Gold Canyon candle in the candle cup, light it and let the party begin!

Sugar Cookies Recipe

I love Sugar Cookies!! They are one of my favorite things :) Check out this recipe and enjoy!!

Sugar Cookies:

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.
Preparation time: 45 minutes.
Chilling time: 2 hours. Cooking time: 8 minutes.

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine (at room temperature)
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
multicolored sugar sprinkles (optional) For icing:
2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons cold water
assorted food colors.

Step 1:
Onto a piece of waxed paper, sift 2 1/2 cups of the flour, the baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on high, cream the butter and sugar until light yellow and fluffy.

Step 2:
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla and lemon rind. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour mixture. Divide into three equal pieces, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled.

Step 3:
Preheat the oven to 350? butter three baking sheets. On a surface lightly floured with about 1/3 of the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, roll out 1 piece of dough, 1/4 inch thick, and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.

Step 4:
With a spatula, transfer to the baking sheets, sprinkle with the sugar if you wish, and bake for 8 minutes or just until edge starts to brown. Let cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough. Decorate as desired using the icing. Store in an airtight container, but do not freeze frosted cookies.

Step 5: Making the Icing
In a small bowl, stir the sugar with the vanilla, then add enough water to make a stiff icing. Divide into small cups and color as you wish. When the cookies are cold, pipe out designs, such as smiling faces, zigzags, bow ties for men and aprons for women. If using different colors of icing, let one color dry before piping the next.

Whiskey Egg Nog

This traditional holiday drink is saved from raw-egg problems by cooking the custard. Brandy or rum can be substituted for whiskey.

Makes 6 cups.
Total time: 3 hours 45 minutes.
Ingredients
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup whiskey
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup heavy cream

Step 1:
In a saucepan, beat the eggs and sugar until creamy. In a second saucepan over low heat, heat 2 cups of the milk until hot. Slowly add to the egg mixture, stirring continuously. Cook over low heat, stirring, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the mixture reaches 170?F and has thickened. Stir in the remaining milk, vanilla, whisky, and half the nutmeg. Chill 3 hours.

Step 2:
In a medium bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Fold into the milk mixture. Ladle the eggnog into a punch bowl and sprinkle with the remaining grated nutmeg.

Christmas Poem for Soldiers

I received a copy of this poem in my email today. It's very touching and wanted to share it here.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
'SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY! COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

This poem was written by a Marine.
The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.. ...

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men, women, and Canadian Forces for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we
owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed

Dr. Who BBC Xmas Ad

Here's an ad featuring the Doctor for BBC. It's too cute to miss :)

Dr. Who

I'm a huge Dr. Who fan and I'm going to be so sad to see David Tenet leave. He's my favorite Doctor :) Plus, he's cute too LOL

Here's a preview of the final Dr. Who with David. The show airs on Christmas day in England. Enjoy!!

Charlie Brown Christmas

While I might not be a Christian and agree with all of the religious feelings about the holiday, I do love the Christmas specials :) Especially the Charlie Brown Christmas special!! It's one of my favorite things about the season. Here's a clip for all of you to enjoy :)

New Scent Blending Recipe: Christmas Kitchen

Scent Blending Recipes are carefully selected recipes of individual candles that when burning together, create their own unique, blended scent experience.

To maximize your fragrant experience, use the exact sizes and quantities noted in each recipe ? a slight alteration can be like adding salt when you needed sugar.

FIRST: Arrange the candles on a heat-safe surface with the largest in the middle and smaller candles interspersed throughout. For votive and Tealight candles, use a holder to protect the surface.

SECOND: Place each candle approximately two inches apart in your arrangement.

THIRD: Light each candle and let the aromas mingle for at least 30 minutes to create your new fragrance experience.


Christmas Kitchen

Feel like you?re a kid again savoring the smells of Grandma?s kitchen during the holidays. All of the classic holiday scents are included to make this blend a sweet tradition.

*16 oz. Heritage Sugar Cookie
*13 oz. Coconut Pecan Brittle
*5 oz. Heritage Caramel Apple
*Cinnamon Vanilla tealights (3)