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episode 82 season 1
Welcome back for this Christmas special episode. Giving thanks, setting goals and a personal story.
This year when we my hubby Jeff and I were discussing Christmas and where to spend it, we planned a trip to Mexico before the holidays, which I will share after when we get home. We were sitting around discussing this and Christmas is such a different time of year for me, When I was a kid I loved getting together and being with family – like emmersed in and around family, being busy with family. Since growing up and having a family of my own it’s just different. London, my eight year old made me feel so good…as we were discussing plans for the holidays and possibly heading out of town for Christmas Day…she said,” Mom, I like being home, I like when you decorate the house with your Christmas quilts, I like opening my gifts and stocking up here” Man do kids every make you feel good. This did it we are staying home and for once I’m looking forward to it on a big scale.
What are you doing for Christmas? Who do you like to be with and what do you like to celebrate. Do you have special baking. Special Songs and movies that get you in the spirit? Is it playing the Yule log on Netflix while reading a good book in bed, like The God’s Chair?
New Traditions Anyone?
Christmas Tree Ornaments
This year I started a new tradition, well only made it once so far BUT it’s a keeper…so before I tell you what I did I’m going to tell you what I’ve done in the past. At the beginning of the school year, London gets school pictures like most of the kids – typically I send these out in a Christmas card with a note. Well once the kids get older they like to help with everything and now that London and read and write she’s helping with this also.
So, I made her write a family list of names for the cards but instead of cards we made ornaments with her school photos. I used parchment paper, stamped with live flowers and pinched in certain ways creating designs like flowers, as the backing. I have these little cardboard frames, I collect coffee sleeves to use in scrapbooking, batches of Christmas stickers and started to layer and play with this. Check these out! they turned out so well. London write a small note telling almost all of the recipients that they were awesome and she loved them in her amazing 8 year old hand writing. Stuff these into an envelope and sent these off.
Christmas Chain Letter
The other thing I did was create a Christmas chain letter…I know right? I had this idea, I wanted to have the feeling of family as when I was a child I loved having my Auntie Kathy’s home to go to surrounded by my moms side of 5 siblings plus their kiddies and my dads side 7 siblings plus their spouses and kiddies at Christmas. So, since this doesn’t happen anymore I thought we should do a chain letter…this is how it worked:
First, I wrote a note with instructions (you read my letter, you write your note and update all of the family on your best things, then I wrote my letter, along with the instructions then I inserted blank paper and stamps to help encourage the next person to write their note, include it with mine and send it to the next family member. I included a list of people/family aunts uncles and cousins for ideas. At the end, send back to me (my address included) and I’d post this on socials for all to see…What do you think? Have you done something like this before? I’ll let you know how it goes.
My Top 5 Christmas Recipes
- Best of Bridge Cookies, Mona’s Mother’s Mother’s Best Friend’s Favourite ( I add coconut and oatmeal)
- Best of Bridge Cookies, Whipped Shortbread (I’ve made these with cinnamon chips, and also with rice flour and whole wheat flour as well as the traditional all purpose flour)
- Jeff Moss, Chocolate Drop Cookies
- Poppy Cock
- Oakhart Rum and EggNog – the only eggnog that.I like is by Lucerne sold at Safeway only.
Moving into the new year, there’s a few things that I’m changing on the show first I want a theme so for 2020 my theme is going to be: Hobbies and Food with a focus on passion. Instagram @ValerieJMoss Pinterest @VJMoss Facebook @ValeriesVarietyPod
The music for this show is performed by London Moss, as previously she recorded for my show last year, she again is my background for this show. I’m in awe of her confidence at such a young age to feel open and courageous to be on a microphone singing her heart out. She feels proud and I’m definitely proud of her.
