Holiday Peanut Butter Bites

3 cups of all purpose flour
1-1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1-1/2 tsp of molasses
3 tablespoons of peanut butter, unsalted
3 tablespoons of canola oil

~ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

~ In a bowl mix the all purpose flour and the whole wheat flour together and set it on the side. In a separate large bowl stir the molasses, peanut butter and oil together. Then add the flours mixture into the molasses mixture and whisk it until it is smooth.

~ Use your hand to break the dough into small ball size pieces and roll each one into logs about 1/2″ in diameter.

~ Cut the logs into 1/8″ thick discs. Place the discs on ungreased baking sheets and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown.

~ Once done allow to cool completely before serving.

~ Store in an airtight container for up to 14 days, or wrap in freezer wrap and keep them in the freezer for up to 60 days.

[image: flickr]

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Holiday Peanut Butter Bites for Dogs

Image: sxc.hu

The gifts are food treats or a toy.  But children in our family throughout the years have enjoyed sharing gifts with their pets.  Seeing the dog, who senses there is something for her, ripping the wrappings and tossing the toys usually provides laughter for the youngsters…and picture taking opportunities.

These occasions create more holiday memories for the family, with photos to share in later years with children and grandchildren.

Do your pets enjoy the holidays with you?

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Kids’ Christmas Gifts for Pets

Willow Tree Angel: With Affection I adore the Willow Tree collection and own several, and this sweet angel holding a cat is on my wishlist this year.

This adorable Chester the Cat Teapot (with matching mug and salt and pepper shakers) makes me wish I drank tea!

I love calendars and for reasons I’m not even sure of, I tend to have several throughout the year. This 2010 calendar features “Bad Cats” in humorous situations.

Learn about the traditions and history of the Lucky Cat, a popular symbol of prosperity and good fortune across Asia and the world, in a hardcover book. Then check out the Lucky Cat figurines.

This Amazon seller has dozens of resin ornaments and figurines, perfect for any collector. Of course, I especially like the Chihuahua and rat terrier ornaments!

Show everyone who your best friend is with this adorable Dog Lover coffee mug.

I love these dog paw car stickers! The set of eight stickers costs less than $4 (including shipping!) and attaches cleanly to any smooth, hard surface.

Of course, we can’t forget the dogs when it comes time to look for a 2010 calendar. This one, like the cat calendar above, also features silly dogs in compromising situations!

[images: amazon.com; custom]

Post from: Blisstree

2009 Gift Guide for the Cat and Dog Lover

Chrstmas ornaments image: sxc.hu

• Keep a journal and record the various holidays activities that are occurring in the family and at school.
• Take pictures of the various crafts and activities and put these in a slide show on the computer.  So many youngsters are learning how to make slide shows for school projects.  So this could carry over at home
• Print off pictures and put them in an actual scrapbook.
• Make holiday collages with pictures from magazines and write about the holidays on this.  These could be lone collages or be compiled into a scrapbook.
• Find old Christmas cards saved in the family.  Put these in a scrapbook and write something about the memories these evoke.  My grandmother saved hristmas cards for years.  I’m trying to jot down notes about any of the people I know who sent these to her.

What holiday memory projects does your family do?

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Holiday Memory Project for Tots

I’ll also look for books out there that children today would like.

Let me know what your favorites are and whether you read them to your children.  My daughter and son-in-law have a large box of children’s books that they bring out for the holidays.

Christmas stories image: sxc.hu

Their children, now in high school and college are too old for them.  But we all have fun reminiscing about them and the times we read them.

Do you like the classics, like Dickens’ Christmas Carol?  Or those of more recent years?  What part do Christmas books play in your holiday festivities?

Have you written Christmas stories for your children, whether they’re published or not?  I’ve had several published in Christmas magazines.  But there are others we relate that are word-of-mouth.

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Favorite Christmas Books for Kids

The added bonus of doing some holiday shopping for your pet is that you can also donate a few dollars to help shelter pets while you’re at it. Petsmart Charities is offering up cute dog and cat Christmas decorations and ornaments, with 25% of the sales going to help save the lives of homeless pets in the US and Canada.

Petco currently has a 72-hour sale going where you can get free shipping on orders over $50 and save up to 40% on select items, and they’re also featuring all your winter pet needs, including travel products and of course, holiday items. Petco Foundation also has their Tree of Hope fundraising campaign going on in stores until December 24th.

[image: petsmart]

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After-Thanksgiving Pet Shopping

This old Fannie Farmer cookbook was actually my father’s mother’s book. She died, ironically, on Christmas Day when I was a wee kid, but judging from the photos I’ve seen of her, I’m sure she would have enjoyed having a cup or two of the Walker family nog.

There is a science to this egg nog recipe. For starters, it uses raw eggs. I remember when I was a kid and it was OK to lick the cake batter out of the bowl without someone freaking out about salmonella poisoning. I’m not sure what happened to eggs between now and then. But my father, the immunologist, says that the alcohol in our egg nog is enough to kill just about anything in its path. Honestly, this recipe uses enough booze that even my family would warn guests not to smoke near it.

The other odd thing is that this recipe is to be made a week before it is consumed and “store in cool cellar.” We live in Alabama. Our cellar holds wine and is climate controlled, otherwise it would be about 75 degrees this time of year. But, the refrigerator is a fair substitute. And we make room.

I have had two different excellent chefs taste the Walker Family Egg Nog and they both agreed with anyone else who has ever been brave enough to try it. It is excellent. And for those skittish few out there – not a single person has come down with salmonella or any other illness from consuming the raw eggs in this nog. (Think Rocky Balboa in Rocky, the first one.) As for alcohol poisoning, well, I can’t vouch for that.

I’m going to share this recipe, and you’ll thank me if you try it. (I’m not going to type it in because that’s probably a copyright issue. So I’ll just shoot the page.) But if you really want to thank me, then you can visit BlissMom.com after Dec. 1, because at the end of the month I’ll be moving on from the glorious BlissTree. Bittersweet. Meantime, let’s toast to this, the best egg nog recipe you will every try.

Photos, JWJourney

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Best Egg Nog Recipe in the World!

I don’t blame my father for that. He has a new life now with a wonderful, beautiful wife. And she has her family there. I’m a grownup now. I have husband and a child. And if anything, I should be grateful for my in-laws, who have readily filled that emptiness. But still, it depresses me. This is my problem, obviously. Each year I get upset about it and each year I eventually realize that just because my family no longer sees each other on the actual holidays doesn’t mean we don’t love each other. It means I need to focus on what I have here. It just drives me nuts that every holiday season I have to process the same old bullshit again and again.

Well, enough about my rant. I probably should check into therapy, but for now I did find comfort in these tips on How to Handle Holiday Stress, offered by speaker, author and coach Karen Susman. And, now I’ll offer them to you, too:

1. Lower expectations. Have a realistic view of what is really important. Your kids want your time. They are not going to remember the Martha Stewart decorations – unless you involve them in the making of the decorations.
2. Don’t over schedule yourself or your family. Pick and choose the holiday functions.
3. Take care of yourself. You can’t give what you don’t have. So, eat healthfully, avoid the sweets as much as possible. Exercise routines are sacrificed when we’re overwhelmed, but exercise is the best investment of your time.
4. Get plenty of sleep. Most of us are suffering from sleep deprivation as it is. Nothing is worth your getting sick.
5. Ask for help. Involve your kids, spouse, family and friends.
6. Ask yourself, “If I only had half the time, what would I do?” This will help you prioritize.
7. Pick names for gifts instead of buying a gift for everyone. This will save you money and time.
8. Shop online or from catalogues.
9. Buy stamps online. Why stand in line at the post office?
10. Make gifts with your kids. They’ll love the time spent together and they’ll be proud of their creations.
11. Read holiday stories to your children. This allows you to sit down, relax and connect. (We had a holiday tradition of everyone climbing on to the big bed and reading together.)
12. Start new holiday traditions that are less stressful for you but just as meaningful.
13. Ask yourself why you’re really working this hard on the holidays. Many times our egos get in the way, or we’re in competition with a friend or family member. Martyrdom has lots of payoffs. Give it up!
14. Take a minute in the tub, or waiting in line to write down all your stressors. Include your everyday stressors as well as holiday stressors. Which ones can you face head on, take care of and get off your list? For instance, if paying bills is hanging over your head, sit down and get that done. Get the snow tires on instead of praying it doesn’t snow. If money’s short, spend less, cut up credit cards or call a financial advisor.
15. Look at your list of stressors and determine which ones you have no control over. Your parents are aging. The economy is like sludge. If you live in Minnesota, it will snow.
16. Do a mental makeover. Reframe what the holidays are all about for you. Is this a religious holiday? Then forget the fluff and focus on the real meaning. If your kids are pressuring you to buy, buy, buy, this is a wonderful opportunity to help them learn the value of giving to others. Have them go through their toys and pick some to take to a homeless shelter.
17. Remember how you felt on December 26 of January 2 last go ’round. What did you say you’d never do again? What did your kids enjoy most? How would you like to feel this year after the holidays? How can you achieve this?
18. Don’t get caught up in the hoopla. Just because the media, family, friends, etc. say we should be doing something doesn’t mean we have to.
19. When a “should” runs through your mind, you don’t have to act on it.
20. Embrace your imperfection. It’s one of the nicest things you can do for your kids and your mate. Being imperfect takes the pressure off of you and off of them.
21. Limit your TV watching – especially the news.
22. Don’t do anything in December you’re going to regret in January. Why be stuck with huge bills and 10 extra pounds?
23. One last de-stresser: the holidays will pass and you’ll survive. You always do.

Photo, Flickr, Greg Westfall

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23 Ways to De-Stress Your Holidays

Image: sxc.hu

If you’re making crafts for your own gift giving or for sale in stores and over the Internet, you’ve probably begun already.  Now’s the time, too, to develop your promotions, check out craft fairs, make your gift list to prepare for the holiday season.  Also, you won’t be so rushed, if you prepare ahead.

What are you doing to prepare crafts for the holiday season?

Related Post at Home Biz Notes:

Have You Started Holiday Sales Plans?

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Preparing Your Crafts for Christmas

One of the popular places to be during the holiday season, is New York City.  From the beautifully decorated department store windows, to ice skating at Rockefeller Center, to the parade and the Rockettes, and everything else that the city has to offer.

One of the highlights of the season is the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center.  The tree overlooks the ice rink, and the promenade leading to the ice rink from 5th Avenue, and is one of the most recognizable holiday symbols.  If you’re making plans for the tree lighting, mark this date on your calendar:

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009, 7-9 pm

The two hour program will include celebrity appearances, music, and lots of festivities.

If you can’t make it for the lighting ceremony, you can still see the tree on display until January 7th, 2010.  It will be lit daily from 5:30 am – 11:30 pm, all day on Christmas, and from 5:30 am – 9 pm on New Year’s Eve.

Photo credit: cchen @flickr

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2009 Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center