Ready Set Shop! Holiday Shopping Tips and Treats
The holiday shopping season is fast approaching us with a little less than 8 weeks before Christmas (eek!). Since having the boys it seems that time is just flying by, and I cannot believe we are at the the end of October already….where does the time go?
I found myself thinking about all the things that I have to get done. There are holiday pictures, cards to send out, shopping to do, gifts to send, traveling, baking, and decorating to do, just to name a few. I love this time of the year in spite of the hectic times ahead. There is nothing like the smell of cookies baking in the oven, the twinkle of the lights or the crackle of the fire. My husband always makes fun of me when I turn the Christmas music on a little early.
This past weekend I made about a half a gallon of homemade applesauce, and 4 apple pies, and I found myself getting in the mood for the upcoming holiday rush. I have been on the look out for what is at the top of the lists for gift giving this holiday season, and thought I would start it off with a bang!
If you are going to get out there and brave the crowds, I have a few tips for you.
- Take your time and compare prices. I know it may not get you instant gratification of snatching up the last few what nots, but I have found that researching prices both in stores and online may save you more.
- Black Friday! This is a great way to find deals. You can find many places that post retailers ads early so you can get your game face on the day after Thanksgiving. My husband is just brave enough to stand out in the cold for a great deal…like my new laptop I’m getting this year!
- Try and pay cash when you can, this will help you keep track of your spending and you don’t have to pay credit card interest rates. You will be feeling much better in the long run
- Get your easy gifts out of the way early and this will allow you more time to focus on the tougher ones.
- Make a list! This will help so you aren’t meandering aimlessly through the stores trying to figure something out. This is a huge time saver in the end.
- Think outside the gift box. Try having a family gift exchange and buying for one person instead of 12! You can get that someone a very nice gift worth all 12 and everyone is happy.
- Be creative
- Look ahead to next year…write down ideas that you hear your special someone talking about so you have something to go by. I always find myself forgetting what my husband said he really like then I am stuck trying to figure stuff out. If you write it down and keep the list somewhere you have a ton of ideas come Christmas time.
- Count that change…all those pennies add up and you’d be surprised how much money you can save for just such things as gift giving.
- Stress relief! Take a time out to do nothing related to the holidays. Go to a movie, have lunch, take a nap or just read a book. This helps to deflate all the pressure of getting things done and helps to quiet the mind and regenerate.
- Divide and conquer. If you have a willing partner…hand them half of the list and send them to get those things while you do the other half. It will take you half the time and then you can go out and have a nice dinner!
- Lastly, have fun! Don’ let the Grinch in you come out. If you aren’t having fun..just stop for awhile and recharge. All the weary holiday shoppers and people at the stores will thank you! these great Walmart coupons
Soooo, to kick off the holiday season! DoubleBugs is doing it right! Go do a little shopping, have a hot cup of joe, and relax at the movies on us: With a $25 gift card from Wal-Mart, $10 gift card from Starbucks, and 2 AMC movie passes!
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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!!
Here’s what you gotta do!
Leave me a comment on what you love about the holiday season, or leave a favorite recipe ( I am a sucker for good recipes!) and why you want to win.
Leave me an Email so I can contact you if you win.
Grab my badge for an extra entry or post about my contest on your blog or site.
Contest Starts October 27th, 2008 and Ends November 19, 2008
Good Luck and Happy Shopping!!!!
I love the Holidays because of the family get together and because I make a trip to the Nursing Home I worked for for years and bring them baked goods and Socks ( seems silly but they always need socks)
I would love to win this because I am a walmart lover and I haven’t been to a movie in years.
Shoot forgot my email iheartsweeping@aol.com
family time
What I love about the holiday season is getting together with friends, new and old!
I love the excitement in my kids eyes and all the fun things we do as a family like chopping down the Christmas tree and decorating cookies. It’s just a fun time.
I love the excitement of shopping for my family and friends. Christmas is a time for giving..a time for sharing..and it’s in my opinion, the best time of the year!
The holidays is the one time of year my whole family gets together since we live all over the US. I can’t wait, and this giveaway would help with some christmas presents for them! Thanks.
I love the holiday spirt. Sometimes it doesn’t show up until Christmas Day. It just seems to me that people are a little kinder to each other. It’s special when it happens.
I love searching the internet for bargains and deals that will save me time and money. That way I can enjoy the holiday with little stress.
I love that people just seem to be nicer around the holidays…everyone is in a giving mood…including you!
getting together with family
Getting to be with family and friends at a reunion!
I love the music and the decorations, the exotic and the silly.
Spending much needed time with the family…and especially the loved ones that are far away, so you don’t get to see them as often as you like. Grandma’s home cooking that has been pasted down generations. Sweet times.
I love the festive feel of the city and the smell of cinnamon and pine cones. I’d love to win because it would help with my Christmas shopping!
I love when all my family comes down and we have the big dinner fest and watch the kids play outside.
HONEY SOY WINGS (Aunt Marge’s)
Bake at 375ø for 60 mins
3 lbs wings
2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
1/2 cup Soy sauce
2 Tsps Ketchup
1 cup Honey
1 clove Garlic
Salt & Pepper
Cut tips off wings.
Mix all ingredients.
Pour over wings in a 13x9x2 pan.
Baste while Cooking.
Do NOT double the amount of Honey if doubling recipe.
Use about 1 1/2 cup.
I love the holiday season because it brings people together. and I love how charitable people are.
I love reliving my grown childrens long ago Christmases by watching my grandchildren’s eyes light up around the tree when it’s time to celebrate.
I like the Christmas decorations
I love spending time with my family.
I love decorating our tree. We get a Christmas ornament every time we go somewhere, and they are so much fun to hang as we reminisce.
I didn’t have kids until relatively recently. I have one who just turned three, one who is about to turn two, and an eight-month-old. So the holidays are a new opportunity to experience them as my parents must have experienced them so long ago. My two oldest are already excited, and that makes me excited.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
My favorite thing about the holiday season is spending time with family I don’t get to see very often. I want to win because I love Wal-Mart, LOVE Starbucks and LOVE going to the movies!
I just love to see how the holidays makes my daughter so happy. So I would love to win for her, it would go towards christmas presents..
I love the food. I love that I can eat the food and not feel guilty simply because it’s the holiday season and it’s expected that we will all eat too much and gain weight.
I love the whole Christmas Season. Decorating, lights, wrapping, etc. I would use the Walmart card to buy myself something nice. Thank you
I love making cooking, decorating the tree, and sending out Christmas cards. I would love to win.
The Christmas Holiday Season is my favorite. I love having family and friends gatherings and enjoying each others company. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life, and to be able to share my time with them during the Holiday Season is very special.
What a love most about Christmas is my kids getting so excited with Santa coming. I love seeing their faces on Christmas morning. I also love when we set up our Christmas trees. We decorate one as a family and the kids decorate their own and they get so into it. Small stuffed animals, small toys, etc. end up on their tree, but it really is cute. Thanks so much for offering this giveaway.
I like driving around looking at lights.
I love the peacefulness and happiness of the season.
KellieLor@aol.com
What I love about the holiday season is seeing family members that I only see at that time of year.
decorating the house
I love the holiday season, because I love to see others enjoy gifts that I give them. I also just love to spend time with my family.
I love watching the grandkids open their packages.
I would say just the spirit of the holiday. I heard a Christmas song and I got excited! I love decorating the Christmas tree with my 11year old son!
I love all the parties with friends and family. We have a blast. I would love to win this as my daughter and I could catch a flick, have a special coffee and go buy a gift at wal mart. That sounds like a great outing.
I love the anticipation, excitement, baking, eating, & gift giving!!! I also love Walmart!
I love how everyone is so happy and cheerful. The lights are so pretty too.
I love that I get to see my brothers and sister during the holidays. They live out of state so I hardly get to see them, but we always make sure to spend time together during the Holidays. I’d like to win because I can always use some extra help with my shopping so the Walmart card would help a lot.
ilove the smell of fresh christmas trees.
shopping and watching all kinds of people.
the holiday music. the get togethers and parties with family and friends. the holiday
specials and parades. the decorations and christmas carolers.
My family members cook for me during the holidays. I enjoy eating all the food offered. 🙂
elkaye[at]gmail[dot]com
love the fact its so cold outside they are instead, playing, cuddling and more at home and we play games, make ornaments- its like hibernating to me- there is more baking and stews and soups..its my creative season thanks please enter me! MRS.MOMMYYATGMAIL.COM
I love the holidays because everywhere is love and kindness. It’s about being with family and friends and seeing the magic in the eyes of all the children.
I love finding those perfect presents for my family.
I love the Holiday music, the smells, the lights, the presents, the trees, . . . i JUST LOVE CHRISTMAS.
I love the smell of fresh pumpkin pies. Best part of the holidays
There is so much I love about the holiday season. I love spending time with family. I love making ornaments, decorations and christmas cookies with the kids. I love that peppermint ice cream and egg nog are readily available. I could go on, and on. Most definitely my favorite time of the year.
Would like to win in order to ease my gift buying budget!
I love the sense of togetherness the holiday season brings.
My favorite part of the holidays is cooking with my daughter. We bake for our neighbors each year. She really looks forward to it.
I love the special time with my children, decorating the tree.
I love all the yummy food!
I love the holiday season because I’m able to slow down and enjoy Christmas break with my children.. it’s nice to bake cookies, decorate the christmas tree, listen to Christmas music and just have fun together!
i love the carolling
I love sharing the spirit of giving with my three kids.
I love the holidays because most people are in good spirits and friendly–so unlike the rest of the year.
I love buying gifts for people.. it’s like a good excuse to shop.. I love hunting for the best deals and all the chocolate and sweets laying around doesn’t hurt either..
Why do I want to win? Because I could make a date for my husband and I out of it 🙂 We don’t go to Wal-Mart often so although it seems silly, it’s always a treat to explore Wal-Mart even when there are a million people (all in a hurry of course), two cups of warm coffee to get us even more jazzed about Wal-Mart and then relax at the theater .. what could be better? 🙂
holidays are family time,,,my friend Myra works two (2) jobs to maintain her lifestyle and Christmas will be slim for her. I would like to help as much as possible!
I love spending time with my extended family! I miss my family all year long and can’t wait for the Christmas holiday to come around for good food and converstation!
autumn398 (at) yahoo.com
We all want to see Madagascar 2, so the AMC gift card would be put to good use (use the starbucks to sneak in my own cup of joe) followed by a trip to walmart to get a cute M2 toy 🙂 (OK, maybe I’d let the kids play with it!)
Going to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
what i like about the christmas season is the cold weather,and the smell of cider.
I love a cold nose and a warm sweater, a cup of hot chocolate or spiced cider, and how nice people try to be to each other. Thanks for the great offer!
I love the holiday music, especially the carols. Winning would give me a couple of easy gifts for family members.
I love spending time with my family, I rarely get to see them!
I love all the holiday smells! Christmas trees, pumpkins, spices, etc. And I love the snow! It is so fun to play in and it looks beautiful too. I would love to win so I can share the holiday spirit with others.
I love hot apple cider, the fireplace, and good food.
I love the holiday season because I get to see people I should be seeing throughout the year!!!
I love having the kids visit for the Holidays.
I love everything about the holidays. The snow, the food, the smell and watching the kids open their presents!
The holidays are my Favorite time of year, I love the get togethers
I love the holiday music and driving around with my family to see the Christmas lights.
I love the hustle and bustle at the shopping mall with the holiday music in the background.
I love it all!The spirit of the season,the lights,decorations,movies,music,baking,but most of the special time spent with family & friends.
I love sooo much about Christmas. First of all, I love the REAL meaning of Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Christ. I love the fact that our family is all together, the food, the visiting, the lights, the decorations, even the shopping with all the glitter and music. I soooo love Christmas
I love going over to my grandparents house for a nice dinner.
I just love shopping and cooking for the holidays.
I love getting to see all my family and friends when I go home for the holidays
I love the Christmas holiday because it is the Birthday of our saviour Jesus. I love hearing the music at church it such a beautiful time of year to be with family and friends.
I love all the decorations and being able to see my family.
I get requests for this every time I make it!
Ingredients:
16 cherry tomatoes
1 pound bacon — cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup chopped green onions
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
Directions:
Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato top. Scoop out and discard pulp. Invert the tomatoes on a paper towel to drain.
In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; mix well. Spoon into tomatoes. Refrigerate for several hours.
I love the decorations for the holidays. Everywhere you go either shopping or through neighborhoods you see beautiful decorations that get you in the Holiday spirit.
I must be honest and say I love it best when it’s over!
What I like about the holiday season is to be able to pig out & not feel guilty.
I like getting to see our family (since we live about 10-13 hours from them) and it’s always fun buying for our three nieces and three nephews too. This would help with some of the costs of holiday shopping! thanks.
I love the food and family time spent gathered around inside around the fireplace. The christmas cookies are good too.
I love the holidays because of family. There’s nothing like seeing a child’s face on Christmas morning.
I like the snuggly warmth of it all.
Just a note on Black Friday…there are a couple of good websites that compile the ads for you, so that you can map out a game plan easily.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love the family time. I also love shopping for the best deals. It is like a sport for me 🙂 The day after Thanksgiving shopping is so fun!!
I love getting together with old friends and with family. Oh, and a nice cup of coffee from starbucks and a good movie!
I love to send and receive Christmas cards.
My favorite is finding fun out of the norm, thoughtful gifts for others.
I’d rather buy something I know they will love than just a dvd or something. People always tell me I give great gifts too 🙂
Christmas is one of those few days that our family is not rushing from one place to another i.e. boy scouts, acting, etc. We actually find the time to enjoy the day and each other. Makes me wonder if we could do it more often…hmmm. Well at least this prize would be one way of getting ready!
I love to get together with family.
What I love most about the holidays is having all of my family together. My parents live in Texas and one of my sisters lives in California, so we all see one another at once only at Christmas. I’d love to win because although friends are always offering to babysit for us, we never accept. We can’t afford to go out so we just stay in. I’m dying to see a movie!
Family getting together…and good food of course!
I love decorating for Christmas.
People are more kind (unless you’re in line buying something)!
Seeing my kids faces light up on xmas morning
The best part of the holidays is decorating my house. My kids say it looks like Willy Wonka’s Christmas Factory on drugs! I even wrap the pictures on the wall (which is very cool looking, by the way!) Oh, and the holiday cookies are the best!
My favorite part of the holidays are the sights and smells–pine needles, lights, holiday music-I love it all!
My favorite shopping tip – Take a day off of work early in the season and do your shopping before the crowds get too big, and before the the things on your list are sold out.
spendimg time with my family
I love watching the movie “A Christmas Story” with my family.
I love the holiday season because my whole family comes into town & we all stay up late playing cards & just generally being silly!
I would love to win because a) I don’t think I could live without Starbucks (lol) & b) who couldn’t use a gc to Wally World?
I love the cooler weather and shopping, though this year there won’t be much shopping so here’s to hoping I win something!
I especially love Christmas season, it seems to draw most people to a warmer heart not just family
Ilove seeing the magic in my children’s eyes on Christmas morning:)
I don’t have the memories of a Christmas that a child’s memories should be. There weren’t any family gathering,grandma and grandpa to go see, presents to open,a Santa lap to set on. I’am a grandmother of 5 beautiful and wonderful kids now. My goal every Christmas is to make sure that my grandkids have those special, special memeories that they will always remember.
I shop and plan all year for the holiday season, for that moment that they all will be here. The inside of the house decorated with
lots and lots of lights, food ready to serve,
and the Christmas Tree full of prsents.
Just watching the excitement and the anticipation on these children’s faces, this is what I love the most about the Holiday Season. Thank you
I love all the lights and decorations!
I love the family getting together for a turkey dinner, thanks!
my favorite part is the decorating. I have a huge collection of snowmen that i ony have up during christmas. We decorate the house from top to bottom. inside and out.
What I love about the holiday has to be the gathering of the family. I have 6 grown kids and 5 grandkids and a great time is had by all. Noisy but great.
I love when I get my shopping done early and can relax and enjoy the Spirit of the Holidays.
I love the holiday season because it seems like everybody stops for a moment and thinks of others.
I collect and Santas. They stay out year round in a glass cabinet, but during the holidays they are sprinkled through out the house.
I love all the family gathered around the tree with the kids playing santa and passing out the presents to each other. To see their faces light up is priceless!
I love how things go on sale after the holidays.
I love the Christmas music and movies and the whole feeling of the season.
I would love to win, because we could always use a giftcard to help with our shopping. Also, my husband and I are in need of a date night, so the AMC card would be great!
My sister and I love decorating the house for Christmas. We put some Christmas music on and we get a glass of egg nog and we have a blast. Since I’m unemployed I could sure use the Wal-Mart g.c. I could buy my sister a gift to pay her back for everything she’s done for me. Thank you for a great giveaway.
My favorite part is decorating the tree with my kids.
what i love about the holiday season: everything. the smell of my house from all the cooking and baking, the crisp weather, fires in the fireplace, being surrounded by family, quick trips to drop of gifts at friends’ that turn into long, intimate visits over hot chocolate, there isn’t anything i don’t like about the holidays. i don’t even mind the crowds and long lines. i tell myself they’re all helping me become a more patient person.
why i want to win: the walmart gift card would go really far in helping me to buy craft supplies to make my gifts. and the movie/starbucks would be a great way to spend time with my sister. we’re both currently unemployed (thank you, economy) so we don’t have the money for little luxuries like we used to.
email: joy.hunte@gmail.com
I love being with my family and friends on the holidays. We don’t always get to be together through out the year. And It’s nice to do Christmas traditions together. I would love win because I could really use a giftcard to help with our holiday shopping. Thanks for the chance!
hottmomma_03@yahoodotcom
I love the opportunity to be with family and I love that we pick out a family to help. Try it, it’s lots of fun and will make your holiday even better.
I love decorating for the holidays and of course … the food
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Thank you for having this. I love getting together with my family and the great food! Especially the buckeyes and fudge! Thank you. I would love to win.
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
Love the holidays because of family, food, weather and a general feeling of good cheer. I would love to win because the gift card would surely help with the Christmas budget!
I love buying gifts for everyone and seeing how excited they are when they open my gift. I’d love to win this because money’s so tight right now in Michigan and every little bit helps.
Favorite, quick slow cooker recipe:
chicken (I use boneless, skinless breasts and thighs), one red onion cut up, your favorite bbq sauce – cook on low for eight hours. 🙂
Watching my children enjoying the holidays – love it!
Finding a perfect gift, that is always nice.
love spending time with family, entertaining (I finally have a place big enough to have guests), time off from school – get to sleep in (don’t have to get the kids up and on the bus)!!!
My favorite thing about the holidays is the anticipation and getting together with family – not doing anything in particular, just being together and drinking hot drinks. =) I’d love to win b/c it sounds like a fun date with my husband! Thanks.
During the holidays it seems most people try and forget all about their worries in life and enjoy the mood and season.
I like getting my shopping done early and then heading to the mall and just enjoying the sights and sounds. Holding the door open for someone and they thank you.
My favorite thing about the holidays is getting to spend time with my extended family that I rarely see. Thanksgiving is the one holiday when we all get together. And I would really love to win this prize so I can get away from all of them! My husband and I could use a chance to have a date alone while we have plenty of babysitters available!
Ok my favorite recipe is Geoza. My mother passed recently & she used to make this as a special treat for me. Here’s the recipe:http://www.knowledgehouseacademy.com/2008/07/geoza-goodness.html
Also I’d love to win because it’d be a great date night with my husband. I haven’t been on a date since our honeymoon (over 2 years ago!)
being with my extended family
I love the holidays because I get to see my whole family, its a fun time
I love the holidays b/c diet foods are out the door for the season 😉
I love the shopping, the sounds, the smells and Family
I love the holidays because I get to make appetizers and take them to my neighbors and friends. It is a great time to sit down and have a great time talking. My favorite appetizer to make around the holidays are my litle taco bits. I use Tostitos scoops, arrange them on a cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 350. Brown 2 lbs of ground turkey, two packs of Taco Bell seasoning mix, follow the driections on the season mix packet to add water. I put a teaspoon of taco mix in each Tostito scoop, sprinkle over the top finely shredded sharp cheese. Bake for about 10-15 minutes. I serve them with sour cream,chopped scallion and salsa.
I love the pigging out!
Getting the family together. Thanx for the contest.
My favorite thing about the Holidays is the Anticipation on my child face on Christmas morning before we have gone downstairs!
I love making christmas cookies with my family. I want to win because I need a treat for myself!
margelina@comcast.net
I love spending time with family, beautiful decorations and lights and it’s a good excuse to eat badly. Could use the gift cards this year because I am not working at this time.
Thanks!
I love Christmas trees and wreaths, good cooking and family and friends.
I love holiday decorations and how generous and happy people are during the holidays!
I love the excitement of shopping and spending time with loved ones, but always remember to take a little “me” time to help avoid burn-out! I could really use the prizes this season! Thanks for the great giveaway!
I love the fact that this will be the first year that I’ll get to spend the holidays living with my boyfriend. I’m so excited for us to get our first tree! So I love the excitement, I suppose. 🙂
I love the holidays as I get to spend time with all of my extended family.
I love the family getting together and eating and laughing
I love Christmas because it’s the only time of the year that my entire family is able to get together.
I love the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and great food, great smells, and most of all, great memories with family! I can hardly wait!
ksrutledge at hotmail dot com
I love the Holiday Season because of Family, Food and Fun times!
I love the holiday season, because I love celebrating the birth of Jesus, and I love the spirit of giving.
I love the Holidays !!
ktgonyea at gmail.com
I love being with my family and friends
I love the pretty tree and wrapping gifts.
I love the holidays because my kids make it so magical. The looks on their faces when we bake, decorate and of course open presents is priceless.
I love the smell of a fireplace burning. To walk outside in the crisp air and smell that smell makes me feel happy.
What I love about the holiday season is that I see people at their very best….making sure the poor have food to eat, children have presents for Christmas, visits and presents to nursing homes so those people will not feel forgotten, people smiling and wishing each othe a merry Christmas.
Tradition, family & memories
My favorite thing about the holidays are just being with my family. We sit around laughing and talking. It mean so much to me.
I love the lights and sounds and smells of the holiday season. I love the excitement in my children’s faces. Most of all I love reconnecting with friends and family.
My favorite thing about the holiday season is how our community really pulls together to make sure that everyone has a joyful holiday. I’d like to win because once in a while, I like to treat myself, too.
i am ready…..
I love spending time with my family.
I love spending time with my 2 grand daughters.
They get so excited & are so much fun!
My grandma made this candy out of mashed potatos using an old family recipie. It’s not christmas w/o it.
Fresh fallen snow, venturing through town to view the Christmas lights, family gatherings, friends, decorating the house…there is so much to enjoy and remembering the true meaning of the Holidays
I love the holiday season cause it makes me focus on what really matters. I can get caught up in the business but when it all gets too much I just sit down w/ my kids and hubbie and we recenter ourselves. That is why I love the holiday season along w/ getting together w/ all our families.
the family get together time
I love watching my daughters get excited for the holidays. That’s my favorite part of the holidays.
I love the snow and the time spent with friends.
I just love the holiday season because it is the one time my family puts all their grievances aside and just celebrate being together. I missed last years celebration so I cannot wait for this years!
I love the holidays because I love being with family and friends, the music, the great food, the true meaning of Christmas, the holiday shows. Andy Williams sings it best “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
i love getting together with family and shopping
Holidays are fun for me because I get to celebrate with my own very small family an I also get to spend time with my partner’s HUGE extended family with lots of kiddos! Its a blast 🙂
my favorite part of the holidays is spending time with my family. imjessica@mail.com
The family time together!
The gathering of family, the good food and the time to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ.
I love the holidays because all the family gets together. I can smell the fresh baked cookies already and the fireplace crackling.
What I love is the taking time out to spend with the family!!
cjnedrow@gmail.com
I love the change of seasons.
I love the holidays because of the sense of specialness in everything. The reason for the season is the most special.
I love everything about the holidays, the food, the lights, the music. But I think this year will be my favorite, since it will be our first as a family of four!
The best thing is the rush of remembered love when we get together. And what a treat it would be to have a day of shopping, a movie, and some of Starbuck’s wonderful Chai.
what I love about holiday time is hearing christmas music, it instantly brings back memories of a happy childhood and when the whole family would sit around listening to christmas carols and the kids used to go door to door singing for the neighborhood, sounds corny I know but I always look forward to the music, and love all the decorations it just feels so warm and cozy, thanks for the great giveaway
SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY
I LOVE THE MUSIC AND FAMILY TIME.
I like to cook all those special treats for my family.
It’s the only time of the year that I see family as they are spread all around the place. As they say “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
The holidays are the only time we see my niece and nephew and their kids, so that is my favorite part.
I also enjoy the music of the holidays.
i love this season because it is the only time i get to see extended family and friends! i miss them all year round so it’s a treat to see them even if it’s once a year.
I just love the holidays Having all my kids and grandkids at my home to exchange gifts,have a great dinner and just be together. I love baking cookies and making fudge. I love buying gifts but getting the best prices. Thank you so much for this wonderful giveaway!
Comparison shopping is the way to go. Sales might not be the best price – check before you shop – saves time and money. I love the decorations – as long as I don’t have to put them up or take them down. Thank yoU for this great contest and prize!
I love baking cookies for the holidays. I want to win because I only go to Starbucks if I have a gift card and I need to go there during the holidays while I am out shopping.
I love the decorating. Every room looks better when it’s decked out with evergreen and candles.
It brings back all of those childhood feelings.
Spending time with my family.
Thanks
I love that my kids, grand kids and great grandkids all have more time to visit and spend time together. That’s what its really about after all
I love the FOOD! Turkey, stuffing, cookies, pie, hot chocolate… I don’t have any recipes – I just eat!
I love spending time with family, the good food, snow, and presents. I’d love to win because these would make great presents.
It’s when the family drops what they are doing and we all get together and spend quality time together. Uncles aunts cousins grandparents.
an easy holiday treat:
Peanut Butter Bonbons
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 tub each vanilla and chocolate flavor ready-to-use frosting
Mix the peanut butter and vanilla frosting together. Add in the graham cracker crumbs until you have a sort of dough. By teaspoonfuls, roll the dough into balls.
Melt the chocolate frosting in a double boiler or in microwave. Dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate and put them on a tray with wax paper to cool.
i love this season because i get to spend time with the people i love.
I love watching it through the eyes of my granddaughter. How she loves the lights and the music…it is such fun.
I love the family gatherings – you get to see family you don’t see the rest of the year.
I love holiday season for being able to spend time with my family. We’re been sharing many great moments together and I’m sure there are so many still to come. 🙂 I would love to win so we could have even more fun like going to Starbucks for coffee and going out to see a new release movie. 🙂
i love singing christmas carols with a group of people (like at church on christmas eve)
I love having an excuse to be as sentimental and sappy as I want to be. There is something so innocent and heartwarming about preparing for Jesus’ birth… I love being steeped in all the “good will towards men.”
I love the holidays because my grandmother makes the best tamales!
I like the family getting together, the Christmas songs and decorating and the goodies!
I love the smells of the holidays! Cinnamon, pine, baking, candles and all the rest!
I love all of the family traditions – decorating the tree, making grandma’s special Christmas cookies, and watching a Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life on tv.
I love the holidays because it’s such a cheerful time. I’d like to win so I can get the kids a present at Walmart and dh could get the AMC gift card for Christmas. Our income keeps going down while prices keep going up, so this would be really helpful to win!
I love the Christmas music and I’m dying to see the Transiberian Orchestra just once in my lifetime!
The joys of the season, family, and friends.
I love my mom’s annual Christmas Eve party!
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is to walk along Fifth Avenue in NY and look at all the animated window displays. I end at Rockerfeller ice skating rink to drink hot cocoa under the giant tree! Great Prizes! I wanna win…please 🙂
I love The reminder of importance of Christ in Christmas and how it helps keeps family close.
My favorite thing about the holidays is the decorations and homemade candies.
Being with my family.
Food and playing with the kid’s toys
My favorite thing about the holidays is giving gifts! My family has never had a lot of money so holiday-time is the only time we splurge on things for each other. Whether it’s a scarf handmade from expensive yarn or a high-end product found for cheap on eBay, I LOVE being able to GIVE around the holidays. It makes me smile. 🙂
presents presents and food. thanks
The holidays are so busy for us, so I love this easy recipe.
1, 2, 3’s
1 package butterscotch chips
2 T. peanut butter
3 c. coarsely crushed corn flakes
Melt butterscotch chips and peanut butter in the microwave, stirring together till smooth. Add corn flakes. Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper and chill till set.
I love the holiday music.
I love the holidays because of the decorations and the time spent with family.
Thanks!
I love the holidays because it brings my entire family together.
Spending time with family and friends
The Holiday season gives me a chance to give to others. Winning this contest would be something for me. Thanks for offering.
I love spending time with my family. It is the only time during the year that we can all get together. Pick me!
Christmas dinner at my mothers house is the time I really look forward to each year. As we all get older and live such hectic lives, this is the one time we all get together and really enjoy what we miss during the years. I know one day soon that this will all end, but for now, I get to enjoy!!!
I love getting together with family and friends!
Getting together with my family is what is best about the holiday season. We do not see each other much throughout the year which makes the holidays so special.
My favourite thing about the season is the amount of time I get to spend with my family, because I have an amazing family and am less than eight months away from joining my family to my fiancee’s family, which makes this year’s celebrations even more fun!
thatidiotivan@gmail.com
I love having my kids together. Need to win-this economy is hurting everyone. May the most deserving person win this.
I love seeing Christmas through my daughter’s eyes…..God Bless!
I just love spending time with my family. Nothing is better!
I love Christmas! We have a lot of family time…this year we’ve added a daughter-in-law so it’s even more special…
Thanks for the chance!!!!!!!!!
Our favorite chicken recipe:
Rinse and pat dry four chicken breasts (bone-in or boneless, skin on or skin out). Place in a crock pot and sprinkle with Lawry’s seasoning salt. Cover and cook on low for about 7 hours (but check because cooking time will vary based on your crockpot). Tastes like deli chicken.
Family. That the only thing I love about the holidays. A night on the town, and a little shopping at wally world after the movie, sounds great
I love the fact that I don’t have to work on Christmas day.
Everything! The smells, the childrens’ excitement, the food and family being together!
I love the excitement in the air and the holiday decorations. A night out to the movies would be so great, since I haven’t been in forever. Plus, ending the night with some Starbucks would be superb.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love baking cookies with my grandchildren and they really have fun getting messy!
I love having time off to be with my family
love the smell of cookies baking!
My favorite thing about the holidays is both the food and how excited my kids get.
I love being with family during the Holidays. And the food! Oh, the food! OK..so I love just about everything about the Holiday Season!
I love the holiday season to see the love and sparkle in my families eyes and to play the annual board game on Christmas eve and open that one question. I would like to win to take my friend to Starbuck’s for that special girlfriend time…..
i just love the holidays because the focus returns to the family. In the busy day to day of life we lose that focus but at the holidays we seem to shift it back to the most important factor. too bad every day can’t be a holiday. i would love to win this because our church would use this in a silent auction to raise money for a shelter we have for battered women
I love the anticipation of giving a well picked gift. I would love to win as a gift to myself.
I love the holiday season because I love to cook the big meals and that’s about the only time I get to do it. I also love to watch my kids faces as they open their presents and see what they got. Those times won’t last forever with my little ones so I am treasuring what time I do have with them now.. Thank you for the chance..
I love decorating for the holidays and being with family and eating my mom’s homemade cinnamon rolls! I’d like to win because this would help out buying presents!
Thanks!
I am Messianic and my husband is Christian. So we celebrate both Chanukah and Christmas. Among our family favorites are Chanukah Doughnuts or Sufganiyot.
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup margarine, melted
3 eggs
5 cups flour
jelly for filling
powdered sugar
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients into a soft dough.
Let rise for 2 hours.
Punch down and roll out.
Cut into 3-inch rounds.
Fill half the rounds with jelly, and wet the edges.
Top with another circle and seal well.
Let rise at least 20 minutes.
Fry in very hot oil.
Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain.
Dust with powdered sugar.
(From “Adventures in Bubby Irma’s Kitchen,” by Irma Charles, Targum Press)
I love seeing relatives that come in from out of town, baking, eating good food, christmas lights and the music..semtaylor(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love everything about the holidays. I love being with family and friends that I don’t see on a regular basis, the FOOD(I’m on a diet), the decorations and did I mention the FOOD?
spending time with family
I love the way people are more caring during the holiday season. These gift cards would be great! Believe it or not, Ive never tried Starbucks because they’re so expensive, but I certainly would if I won this gift card. And who wouldn’t love a walmart gift card?
I love the holidays because the family sits around in the evening talking and looking at the beautiful lights on the Christmas tree. I would like to win to treat my husband or kids to a special treat.
Family! thats what this time of the year means to me, seems we always have tim ein this season to get together unlike other months!
I love the Christmas music!
I love being able to get together with friends and family to catch up on our lives.
Wow – what don’t I love about the holidays??? I can’t narrow it down!!! I love the spicy candles that I have burning. I love to go with my hubby and daughters to drive around and look at christmas lights, especially on our town’s christmas tree lane! Great giveaway – thanks for offering it!
~Tanya
the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com
I love decorating the house for Christmas and spending time with friends and family.
I would love to win this prize because I love Starbucks and I could always use a Walmart gift card and movie passes!
Thanks!
The holidays are time with the family, snow angels, hot chocolate with whipped cream, playing holiday charades, feeling the thrill of the holiday frenzy in the malls, Toll House cookies hot from the oven, the quintessential tie as a gift…
As a volunteer with Christ Child Society, we clothe children whose mother or father can’t afford to. I adopt a few families every year, and they would love this holiday treat.
Thanks for the opp.
I love decorating! I am an ornament addict, thwarted by the evil anti-Hallmark husband 😉
being with family and eating lots of good food
I love family get togethers, especially the hunt for the “perfect” christmas tree.
I love spending time with the family, eating great food, and seeing everything decorated so pretty. Why do I want to win? Because I love surprises!!
I love being able to spend time with my family. I also love decorating and baking.
I love holiday desserts! Also, we lost my dad this year and I needed to cheer my mum up in our first holiday season without him.
I love the green,brown and silver leaves falling, and the festive celebrating.
I love getting together with family. I also love all the good food that only gets made once a year.
I love the warm feeling the holiday season brings. The feeling of togetherness and love. Yeah, I know it’s corny~ LoL. Oh, and I love Christmas music.
I’d like to win because they’re all things I can share with my sister, who does a lot for me.
I love spending time with my family and buying or making gifts for them. I would much rather give gifts then receive them.
I would love to win to help out with shopping and feed my caffeine addiction
I love sipping (slurping) hot chocolate with my kids!
We love going out back to get our Christmas tree, and decorating it.
I love going shopping on Black Friday. Who doesn’t love a good sale. My daughter and I enjoy the excitement.
My favorite thing about the holidays? Celebrating the birth of Jesus, of course! Thanks!
I love Christmas, for the past few years though I haven’t looked forward to it because I lost a parent right before Christmas, this year I have a little girl that is going to bring me so much joy during the holiday season and I’m back to looking forward to the holidays again.
Oh wow, I love SO many things about holiday season…starting with Thanksgiving, it’s a wonderful time to gather with family and friends to eat, hang out and talk about what we are thankful for. Christmas, its a beautiful way to celebrate the real reason for the season. I love spending time with loved ones and picking the ‘perfect’ gift to give them. Its a time to give and reflect. I love the decorations and music, too!
Recipes … oh wow, I have a LOT. I would list them here, but there are too many. If you go to my site: http://www.penniesinmypocket.blogspot.com and click on Slow Cooking Recipes on the right hand side near the top, you’ll see my FAVORITE ones…Slow cooking tops my faves! 🙂
~melody~
melody at penniesinmypocket dot net
I love Christmas because I get to spend time with my family and enjoy all the good home-cooked meals!
Hands down, I love the holidays because of the special times with family. (The music is a big part of it, too.)
Thanks!
Megret
musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com
My favorite thing about the holiday season is spending precious, quality time with my large, extended family. I would love to win because my hubby, kids & I all love Wal-Mart,Starbucks and going to the movies!What perfect giveaway! Thanks for the entry!
I love the promise of peace and tranquility that’s in the air.
I love the holidays because I have time off of work that I can spend with my family. I love most the entire family gathering to have a meal and enjoy each others company, I would love to win that because it would decrease my holiday expences, I could use the Walmart card to help buy part of the meal and gifts to give with the movie tickets and Starbucks card.
I love the hunt for that gift that the person will love. I then love to wrap.I want to win because I love seeing movies on big holidays and remembering
who I was with.
I love being with my family during the holidays.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Your badge is on my sidebar:
http://grammyjanetsplace.blogspot.com/
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I love the holiday season because of my kids…I love the smile of my kds…love their faces…it is so awesome to see.
Martha Stewart’s Hot Chocolate Mix
Makes 5 3/4 cups dry mix or 92 eight-ounce servings
3 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups cocoa
1 tablespoon table salt
Whole milk for serving
1. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Store the mixture in an airtight container.
2. For individual servings, pour 1 cup whole milk into a microwave-safe mug, and microwave on high just until hot. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve. For a larger batch of cocoa, warm the milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, taking care not to let the milk boil; as it warms, stir in 2 tablespoons of mix for each cup of milk.
This stuff is so good, and I love that it doesn’t call for milk powder, which I never have on hand and is actually rather expensive. Whereas, with two little boys, I ALWAYS have milk. 🙂
Thank you for the giveaway!
x
the smell of good food
i love the smell….like the cinnimon scent in every store. it just makes me happy.
I love sitting up watching midnight mass with my husband and son. The music is beautiful and all is calm.
I love spending time with my family and taking walks at night to see all the Christmas lights in the neighboorhood with themoses of hot chocolate. Thanks!
I love the music and the SMELL of winter. I love the get togethers, just the FEELING of Christmas!!
I love seeing my family and my over 80 yr old grandparents on many occasions this season:)
I love everything about the holidays, the food, the baking and cooking, decorating, Midnight Mass, parties and gifts, shopping and wrapping – but most of all, the look on the grandbabies’ faces when they see lights and decorations and unwrap their gifts!
I love how the Christmas lights reflct in my son’s eyes. How I still get excited decorating a tree. I use ornamanets from when my mom was a kid and from my childhood. I love gettingChristmas cards each year and seeing how old’s friends kids have grown.
Hi I put your button my site and added you to Blog Contests of Notes on my sidebar.
Thanks for the great contest Happy Holidays.
the family likes to get together and eat.
I love all things tacky with decoration and entertainment.
I love the holiday season because I am a christmas baby, ‘Holly’ I have been collecting santa clauses my entire life, this has to be my favorite season! Happy Holidays to aAll!
I love the opportunity to do nice things for people–every year we go out on Christmas eve and give a Christmas basket full of wonderful treats to someone random –a random mail carrier, woman with three kids at the bus stop, person working the toll booth etc—the recipients are always really overwhelmed.
I love the madical feeling of Christmas eve night, sitting with the lights dimmed and listening to music.
i just love christmas period…love that its a time for FAMILY
I love Christmas because my Santa collection gets to come out of the corner cabinet and be spread around the house.
Going around the neighborhood caroling and stopping at the local pub afterwards.
God bless our troops.
I love the first snowfall , the Christmas lights downtown and how my Yorkie still seems suprised by the snow after all these years.
I love everything about the holidays. Being with friends and family, sharing wonderful meals, and watching everyone opening their gifts.
Lindad4 at cox dot net
I love the holidays because it is a great time to get together with family. I’d love to win this because this year we aren’t going home for Christmas and I would love to save on shipping. A gift card allows people to choose their own gift better than I ever could!
Having all those meals that your mom cooked when you were growing up and having them spark tons of great memories of family gatherings and early morning gift openings.
The holiday season is my favorite time of year. Our family gets together for Thanksgiving and Christmas to share food, gifts and laughter. I have a new granddaughter who will be 1 day short of 3 months on Christmas day, which will be a great cause for celebrating. If I win these I will donate the prizes to my work (the Head Start families).
My favorite part is Santa. Since I’ve had my son, my love of picking out gifts for other people has really found it’s home. It’s great to watch him run for his stocking and tree Christmas morning. Worth all the budgeting and headache.
This would be great to win because I love to give his preschool teacher a little something at Christmas. This would be great for her. Thanks for the chance to win.
skylergrotz at hotmail dot com
My favorite part of the holiday season is the “warm fuzzies”…Christmas music playing in the background, hot chocolate in front of the fireplace, cooking hearty soups with the kids, taking time to find just the right gift, etc. I would like to win so I can regift these items as a “thank you” to some special people.
The holidays have always had a mystical sense about them. It is spiritual and I try to pass that along to my children that there is more to the holidays than just “getting presents”.
This is one of our favorite holiday treats
nutty caramel cookie tart
INGREDIENTS
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® Create ‘n Bake® refrigerated sugar cookies
1/3 cup Fisher® Dry Roasted Peanuts
1/3 cup SMUCKER’S® Caramel Ice Cream Topping
1/4 cup JIF® Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1/4 cup white vanilla baking chips
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Press cookie dough evenly in bottom of ungreased 9-inch springform pan. (If dough is sticky, use floured fingers.) Bake 17 to 22 minutes or until light golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, place peanuts in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Crush peanuts with rolling pin or meat mallet; set aside.
3. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave caramel topping, peanut butter and cinnamon uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds or until hot and bubbly; stir well. Drizzle mixture evenly over partially baked crust. Sprinkle with peanut butter chips, vanilla baking chips and crushed peanuts.
4. Bake 12 to 18 minutes longer or until edges are golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
5. Run sharp knife carefully around edge of tart to loosen; remove side of pan. To serve, cut tart into wedges. Store tightly covered at room temperature.
I’d love to win this, because we do all of our grocery shopping at Walmart. The gift cards I get to use there are helpful, and then I put the same amount of $$ into our vacation fund.
What I love about the holidays is decorating the tree. I’d like to win because I need a little holiday cheer!
I love all the great smells – indoors and out.
And i would LOVE to win this because we do all of our grocery shopping at walmart, all of our latte drinking at starbucks, and AMC is the closest theater to our houss. THanks!
I love making lots of cookies for family and friends!
Great meals with family!
My favorite thing about the holidays are the hot drinks! I’m not much of a hot drink person, but once it gets cold out I can have peppermint hot chocolate and caramel apple cider!
I’d love to win because I shop at Wal-Mart for groceries, but have not been going to Starbucks (trying to cut unnecessary costs). Also, the last time I saw a movie in the theater was about 3 months ago!
I love the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season. There is an abundance of Joy and Goodwill. I would love to win because I love towels and plan to buy some if I win!
It’s the one time of the year that all my family and friends get together and enjoy each other company and good food. Thank you.
I love the holiday season because it is the one time of the year our family will gather together.
I love all the Christmas songs, from the solemn to the silly, and, God help me, I love the snow!
I lpve the smells of the season…Baking cookies…Christmas trees and wreaths…
v(dot)chrzanowski@comcast(dot)net
I love watchin the kids on Christmas morning.
I love having the family over on Christmas Eve.
For a short time in these bitter Midwest winters, everyone is actually happy.
I absolutely love seeing family I haven’t seen in months or even years.
I love decorating and getting together with the family for Christmas. It’s my favorite time of the year.
I love the Christmas smells, from the sweet smell of cookies baking the the fresh scent of pine.
I love the joy of the holiday season, and I am very appricative to have the opportunity to enjoy another one with my teenage son and beloved cat!
Life for us has not always been easy, but I never gave up the promise of a brighter day for my family!
I am medically disabled,have not been able to work.
My son is a very gifted student and has been looking hard for work part-time. So far he not gotten any job offers.
We live only my fixed disability income,under $700.00 a month.After rent ,food, and bills my money is finished. I pray to get better to work again,I pray for a hoilday miracle!
Just one gift card will be able to buy my son some winter clothing,that is hoilday magic enough for me!
Thank You Greatly!
Infinite Blessings In the Holiday Season And New Year For All!
I love the excitement in little childrens eyes. I love to make Christmas special for the little ones in our family.
i love the tree
I love the joy on peoples faces.
Christmas is the time to remember the good things in life, the gifts of life, the simple to the elaborate. It is those gifts of family, food and beauty that I love
I love being able to see more of my family at Christmas time. I’d love to win this to give my family a special gift this christmas.
I think I love all the colors at the holidays the best. It is the time of year when it gets dark early and often the days are gray so I love to walk in the stores and see all the decorations and color.I also love all the related holiday smells of cooking and pine etc. I eant to win because the prize is a well rounded one that allow me to treat a friend to the best of the season and share some time with her at the holidays.
family/friends the smell of dinners the smiles and joy helping others the laughter and giggles of children the brightness in the faces of underprivledged children receiving a new toy
What I love about the holidays is the “magic” that seems to fill the air. It might sound silly, but I just can’t pinpoint it–maybe it’s in the lights, the carols, or the candy… but I still feel it today as I did when I was a child.
I would love to win because this would greatly help out with my Christmas shopping.
kid.ra1nb0w(at)gmail.com
love being with friends and family i dont often get to spend time with
I love the holidays because its the few times each year my whole family gets together and is truely happy and haveing fun. ^.^
Mainly I like staying home and watching all the Christmas movies
Relaxing and spending much needed time with my children admiring our Christmas tree and decorations, sipping hot chocolate, watching a holiday movie.
I love being with my family and the festiveness of all the lights and holiday activities.
i love the lights
Being with my family
I love being with my family. We decorate together, make cookies together, laugh together and make memories!
I love that during the holidays, my friends give parties so I get to see people I otherwise wouldn’t. I love the smells: cinnamon, gingerbread, pine. I love giving and getting gifts. I love the time off from work!
The expression on my childrens faces when they open gifts
One of our favorite recipes is :
Cranberry Salad
2Pkgs Raspberry Jello
2 apples (peeled and sliced)
2 Oranges (peeled and sliced)
1/2 cup of chopped Pecans
1 Sm. can of Jellied Cranberry sauce
Mix Jello as normal let soft set
While Jello is soft setting slice apples and oranges. chop Pecans and mash Cranberry Sauce in a seperate bowl
Once Jello is soft set mix in all remaining ingredients. Let Jello mixture set solid in fridge.
This makes a Perfect side dish or my children all prefer to eat it as a dessert with Cool Whip on top. But either way it is truly yummy !
Thank you so much for the wonderful giveaway.
i would LOVE to win !!
I love the time I get to spend with my family.
I love to eat during the holiday season. THere is some good cooks in my family. I would like to win because its a thrill just knowing I Won something.
I love egg nog! And I love a Walmart gift card…
Getting together with the whole family and sharing life stories.
The holidays are special because of the time that you get to spend with your family and seeing the childrens excitement is rewarding in itself. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! GOD BLESS
I love the smells, cinnamon, pumpkin, the christmas tree
My favorite part of the Christmas season is seeing my family. This year my sister will flying in from California! I would love to win this so my hubby and I can go to a movie. I would use the Walmart card to buy gifts for my kids. My sister and I could go to Starbucks! Thanks!
Music is what I love about the Holiday Season!
Can’ think of anything else that gives everyone a sense of calm, happiness, personal joy! From lullabies to classical to rockin’ to country….everyone can be themselves with a gift of music or gift card, from Walmart, perhaps….
I love the treats, lights, and decorations.
I love the holidays All of my children and grand children together for at least a couple of days It’s one of the few times that everyone is together and I love it
Bonnie in FL
blday50@yahoo.com
I love the memories that are made during this season.
I love the meaning of the season, rehearsing for chorales and cantatas, Christmas caroling, and bringing the message of Christmas to all.
Spending time with my family, and eating foods I may not eat during other times of the year.
I love the Excitement that the holidays bring to kids, and Christmas songs! I would love to win because I can use all the help I can get with shopping this year due to the lovely economy and I looooove Walmart!
I love going shopping for stocking stuffers– it’s so much fun! I would love to win, because I would like to treat my husband to a little bigger Christmas, because he deserves it.
The joy of family and friends and the love shared are my favorite holiday blessings.
I love getting cozy in front of the tree and sipping mulled cider.
I love the thanksgiving and christmas because its the only time our family really gets together. We play games, tell stories and just have a really great time. I would love to win!! My husband and I just had our first baby and we havent ventured out much alone! This would give us a great excuse to call the grandma’s to come over and give us a break for a few hours! Not to mention, gramma/ baby girl time!
I love spending time with my family.
Thanks!
I love the look on my daughters face when she sees what Santa left her! And I love the wait, trying to guess what the presents are. Opening one present on Christmas eve and drinking hot chocolate while watching A Christmas Story!
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!
It’s the jolliest time of the year. If you don’t feel the joy then it’s very sad.
What I love about the holidays is watching my kids open presents and the food and seeing the family!
And here is our weird family tradition recipe for Jello Pie:
2 cups boiling water
1 pkg. (8-serving size) JELL-O Cranberry Flavor Gelatin (We also like Raspberry – it’s sweeter! both are good though!)
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)
1 medium apple, chopped
1/2 cup chopped PLANTERS Walnuts
STIR boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water and spices. Refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until thickened (spoon drawn through leaves definite impression). Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and sugar in medium bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of the whipped topping. Spread onto bottom of crust. Refrigerate until ready to use.
ADD apples and walnuts to thickened gelatin; stir gently until well blended. Refrigerate 10 to 15 min. or until mixture is very thick and will mound. Spoon over cream cheese layer in crust.
REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until firm. Top with the remaining 1 cup whipped topping just before serving. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.
I want to win because they are great prizes and would be great for xmas presents! Thanks for the chance to enter and win, hope you like our Jello pie 🙂
I LOVE buying things for my husband and kids that I know will make them happy. I absolutely love watching their faces light up when they see a gift that is really special to them. Thank you!!
Very nice giveaway! I love the kickoff of the holiday season. Alot of people grumble at the sight of Christmas decos in the stores so early, but I absolutely love it! I get excited when the radio station flips over to Christmas music, can’t wait to go shopping on Black Friday!
I love the holiday season because it gives our extended family to get together.
ardy22 at earthlink.net
I love the holiday specials on TV like Charlie Brown and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. They make me feel like a kid!
It’s the only time of year that my whole family gets together (all 40 of us).
I love the holiday season because it’s an excuse to spend time with and buy things for everyone I love. I would love to win this prize so I could take my overworked mom to the movies and give her a nice treat after.
I like the family time…it doesn’t happen enough! I would like to win because I recently had twins and dont get out much…so walmart, starbucks and a movie sound great!!
Hi! Thanks so much for the contest! I would love to win as it could come in great use for my Black Friday shopping woo hoo!
I have a great recipe for you. It’s been passed down from my mom and her mom…you get the idea :0)
Corn Casserole:
1 Can Creamed Corn
1 Can Sweet Kernel Corn
1 Box Corn Muffin Mix (Jiffy works great)
1 8 oz Tub of French Onion Chip Dip
3 Tbs Butter
1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees and spray 9×11 glass pan with non-stick cooking spray or grease with Crisco.
2. Combine both cans of corn (Do not drain the plain corn), corn-muffin mix, french onion dip and butter. The mixture should be gluey in texture.
3. Pour mixture into pan and bake for 45mins to 1 hour until the edges are golden brown.
Enjoy! It’s soooo good. :0)
I love surprising my loved ones with a gift that they hadn’t thought of, maybe something they forgot they mentioned they could use or wanted. Even the small gifts bring a big smile when they know you’ve been paying attention to the little things they’ve said even months earlier.
I love the good memories.
My favorite thing about the holidays is getting together with my family
I love christmas it gives me hope for the new year for all my loved ones. I can smell the pine already and the chilly wind already.
I love the Christmas decorations. Some of ours have great memories attached to them. I love our family tradtions, too.
I love the way the holiday season inspires strangers to be nicer to each other. I notice this every year and have grown to look forward to this part of the Holiday Spirit!
Thank you!
I’m away from home at college right now, so my favorite part of the holidays is being able to see all my family and friends because I miss them all so much!
An AWESOME recipe for Christmas cookies – they taste like soft, gingerbread men:
* 11 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 tablespoon sesame oil
* 1/4 cup dark molasses
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1 large egg
* 2 cups flour
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 1/2 ounces candied ginger, coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
Directions
1.
1
Preheat oven to 375°.
2.
2
Cream butter& sesame oil with molasses sugar and egg.
3.
3
Sift together dry ingredients (except candied ginger) and add to creamed mixture.
4.
4
Blend well.
5.
5
Fold in candied ginger.
6.
6
Chill for one hour.
7.
7
Form into 1-inch balls, roll in granulated sugar.
8.
8
Put cookies about 2 inches apart from each other on a greased baking sheet (or one you have lined with parchment paper).
9.
9
Bake 8-10 minutes.
annamariekraemer@yahoo.com
My favorite thing about the holidays is getting together with my family-seeing the joy of my grandchildren
This is a fabulous party dip and it’s SO easy.
1 cup parmesan cheese grated
you can use the Kraft kind in the green can, but I prefer to get the bagged kind in the cheese section.
1 cup mayonaise
1 cup artichoke hearts
use the canned kind, just drain the liquid off
Mix all and put in a baking dish.
Sprinkle with a light dusting of paprika.
Bake at 350 until bubbly (about 30 min) and serve warm with toast points, sliced baugette, or even Wheat Thins. The beauty is that you can increase or decrease this recipe as needed by using equal portions of each ingredient.
family time
The music is my favorite part. Makes me feel nostalgic. The old church hymns and the little kids Rudolph all get the saem reaction from me.
I love all the holliday decorations both inside and out–and putting them up one by one and reliving the memories attached to them.
What I love most about the holiday season is the atmosphere everywhere I go. The Christmas mucic playing and trees all decorated and all the lights people put up in there yards. I love the holiday season it puts me in a good mood. 🙂
I want to win this to buy stuff for my kids Christmas stockings.:)
🙂 Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! 🙂
This is our first holiday in our new home we would love to win thanks so much
My favorite thing about the holidays is spending time with family. Thank you for the giveaway!
I love spending time with our family.
I love being with family. Every year we go to my dads house the night before Thanksgiving and early on Christmas Eve to help him bake and get everything ready. I love that most people are helpful and in a good mood. I would like to win this so my sister and I could take a break from shopping and see a movie and grab a cappuccino together!!!!
My favorite part of the holidays is the food and seeing my friends
Family is the best part of the Holidays for me and I want to win this contest so I can spend more $$$$ on my family.
I guess I just love that it’s the one time of the year when people are just a bit nicer to each other.
I love being with my family!
I love the magical time with my family and friends and the look of wonder on the faces of the children.
I would love to win this to help out with Christmas shopping. I’m right there with most of the rest of America in trying to make ends meet and this would certainly help.
Thank you for the generous giveaway.
What I love about the holidays is seeing the look on my childrens faces as the time approaches for Santa to arrive. Decorating the house and enjoying a nice cup of wasel.
This is the easiest recipe and I cannot go to a family holiday without it or I’m in big trouble.
Broccoli Casserole
1 16 oz pkg frozen broccoli
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 sm can of mushroom stems and pieces
1 block of velveeta cheese
1 box of croutons
Make broccoli as directed once done drain well and put back on stove. Mix in mushroom stems and pieces and cream of mushroom. Then put in cubed Velveeta and melt. Once velveeta is melted add croutons put in casserole dish and toss in oven for about 15 mins till cheese is bubbly and croutons are golden brown.
Oh yeah forgot to leave my email thinking about the broccoli casserole lol. stunn68@gmail.com
I am not much of a cook and don’t really have a recipe that I can share. However, I do like Christmas time a lot because I am usually able to get together with my relatives some of whom live out of state and who I don’t get to see too often. That makes the holiday very meaningful to me. This is a great giveaway. Thanks.
Family time.
Love the christmas lights in my neighborhood. I need to step up my game and do a better job.
I love the lights and viewing neighborhood displays
I love the holidays because of the festivities. There is nothing better than decorating the Christmas tree, drinking hot chocolate, and singing Christmas carols with family and friends.
Time with family is what I love the most.
I love the holidays because my family isnt really close and this is the time we actually will all sit in the same room. I would love to win because the prizes would make great gifts to my loved ones. Thanks
I love everything there is about the holidays – but sitting around the tree Christmas day with family and friends can’t be beat.
The best thing about the holidays is the joy in my wife’s eyes when the family is all together, even if for such a short time.
I love how there’s such a feeling of good will among people and a general increase of cheerfulness and kindness!
I grabbed your button for my site.
Plus, I forgot to say why I wanted to win. I’d love it because my kids will be home for the break and to go out and spend some special time together, shopping, sipping hot cocoa and taking in a movie would be delightful!
I love to be around family around the hoildays and the food.
TIS A SEASON OF GIVING AN IM A GIVER SHOP ALL YEAR LONG FOR GIFTS I CAN AFFORD THEN GIVE THEM TO PEOPLE AT CHRISTMAS. TIS NEVER MUCH BUT THEY KNOW THEY WERE AN ARE THOUGHT OF
I love the EVERYTHING about Christmas. Whenever I am feeling down I put on a Christmas Cd and the music makes me feel better.
Thank you for the contest.
i love shopping, drinking caramel spice apple cider, and watching holiday movies with family.
I like the family time at the holidays.
Mm…..i loooove the food…and that it’s okay to gain some “winter weight” to keep warm ahhaha….fresh apple cider with a bit of cinnamon in it…mmmmmmm
I love the excitement in the kids on Christmas morning, its so much fun to watch them have a great time, with no troubles or worries for a while!
I love the holidays because I am the only one in the family that lives in another state so I am more thankful now for my family more than ever and really enjoy when I get to go see them
I love watching my kids open their gifts Xmas morning, spending time with my extended family and eating all the scrumptious food during this holiday!!
I love the time I get to spend with family members during the Holiday Season! My sister’s family lives in Spain and visits at Christmas each year. We enjoy the music, lights, food and family fun!
I love shopping for the “Adopt-A-Famliy” we are given a family every year through a local organization. I love the feeling that you get knowing that you are going to be able to make some families Christmas possible. I would use the prizes for this family.
ckfrrt@yahoo.com
I really really look forward to all of it. Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the decorations, the music, the food, and, most of all, selecting and wrapping the gifts!
There isn’t much I don’t like about this time of the year…it is so heart warming and comforting and such a joyous ocassion for everyone to get together. My fave recipe is Tuscan Pumpkin White Bean Soup. A can of pureed pumpkin, a can of white beans, and a box (or two cans) of chicken broth. Puree beans in blender with broth then add all ingredients to the pot and voila, delish, warm, healthy, quick and easy! 🙂 I want to win to add to the festive spirit of this time of year…
I love watching my grandchildren’s eyes light up as they open their presents.
I’d use the Walmart card to get them special treats for their Christmas stocking and give the Starbucks giftcard to my daughter.
dlcwin AT gmail DOT com
I love the parties during the holidays, it is so fun getting together. Seeing how the cousins and nieces, nephews have grown so much.
I love that we are celebrating our Savior’s birth adn getting to spend time with family.
I would use the gift cards to buy my kiddos favorite treats.
It’s the time of year when family and friends all get together.
I love getting up very early on Black Friday listening to Holiday music and going shopping with my husband its a tradition we have of starting off the holidays. I would love to win this to make our day even more special, thank you!
I love being with my family for the holidays. It is so nice to sit by the fire and catch up with everyone. I would love to win the Walmart gift card to help with those last minute holiday purchases.
I love the music stations that play Christmas songs non-stop. I love Christmas shopping with my family. I love the rich food. (What you eat on Christmas has no calories!)
I enjoy unpacking and displaying my collection of Rudolph beanie babies, which my wife packs up immediately — she doesn’t like them.
My favorite thing is having the family altogether. That doesn’t happen very often. And of course the food!Thanks for the giveaway!
Christmas music, lights and shopping. 🙂
Laurie,
try this eggnog recipe. This is sure to bring family and friends together:
* 5 eggs, separated
* 1-3/4 cups and 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 3/8 bottle bourbon
* 1/4 bottle dark rum
* 2-1/2 cups whipping cream
* 3/4 cup and 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon half-and-half (or whole milk)
* 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons brandy
* 1-1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg, for garnish
Directions
1. Beat the eggs and sugar together in a very large bowl until thick and light-colored. Stir in the bourbon and rum, mixing until sugar has dissolved. Let stand about 1 hour.
2. Meanwhile, whip the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form.
3. Stir the whipping cream and half and half into the egg yolk mixture until thoroughly blended. Slowly stir in the brandy. Fold in the egg whites, blending evenly. Cover and refrigerate two hours before serving. May be stored in the refrigerator up to one week.
4. Serve in small cups or glasses dusted with a pinch of nutmeg.
Enjoy and hope you and your readers have a great holiday season!
I love the Holidays because of time spent with family and friends. I want to win because I love to give everyone gifts and these gift cards would help.
I love the chance to gather inside around a warm fire drinking cider or hot chocolate with family and friends. Just being with those I love is what makes the Holiday season meaningful to me.
I love baking goodies for my family and friends
There are so many reasons why I love the Holidays and as I have evolved from being a child, to teenager, to young woman, to wife and now to mother my reasons have run the gambit over the years as to why! But I cam honestly say now as a mother of 3 young children that what I love most about the holidays is being able to relive all the Christmas fun and joy vicariously through my children. Seeing their excitement and their sheer innocence and wonderment with the entire Christmas experience makes me feel like that 5 year old kids again too! I love watching my kids try to decorate cookies, and write letters to Santa, and dance and sing to the Christmas songs, not to mention sitting on Santas lap to tell him what they want. I feel this inner happiness and love that is so magical and breathtaking that there are no words to describe it. That is what I love about the holidays! Thank you for letting me share my thoughts and for the opportunity to enter your amazing giveaway. Oh, did I mention why I want to win? I love GC’s and they will come in so handy during the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. Walmart is our favorite store, Starbucks for some much anticipate need for coffee and perhaps my husband and I can break away for a flick!! Happy Holidays and Cheers!
Lights – I love the Christmas lights!
And fruitcake, of all things. I have a family recipe I have been trying to perfect. Gonna taste one at Thanksgiving ..
I love seeing all of the lights and decorations. I love picking out the right present for each person on my list. I want to win because I’ll need some caffeine and a nice relaxing movie after spending all of my hard earned $$ on presents. 🙂 Thanks!
I love absolutely everything about Christmas! I love the decorations, the music and the good times with my family. Christmas is just the best! lol Thank you!
love the excitement of shopping
I love all the shopping I can do…I start weeks ahead
I love the lights and that everyone is extra friendly around this time 🙂
mjf926 at gmail dot com
The shopping is fun too!
I love the colder weather, since I’m in Texas, and it’s usually hot!
txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com
I love the holidays because I get to discover them all over again with my three children. I have a three-year-old, a two-year-old, and an eight-mo-old, and they all get excited about different things. I’d like to win, because diapers and formula are very expensive, and that is what I would use the Wal-Mart card on.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
Actually I love the craziness of the Holidays, but I also love being able to spend time with loved ones, and seeing the kids faces on Christmas morning.
It is the best of times with family and friends!
I love the snow, the music and the smell of pine trees. All of that makes me nostalgic. I would love to win this because it includes everything I need for a fabulous day. Thanks for the generous giveaway.
Here’s an easy and fabulous recipe for flan that’s a little different, almost like cheesecake. But still flan. 😉
CottonWood Cafe Flan
Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
3 egg yolk
14 ounces condensed milk, sweetened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 ounces cream cheese
14 ounces milk
Instructions
Carmelize the sugar in frying pan until a nice golden brown.
While doing this….. mix very throughly the rest of the ingredients.
Pour the carmelized sugar into a 10″ pyrex pie plate….it will harden
Then pour the mixed ingredients over the hardened carmelized sugar.
Place in a bain marie with 1 1/2″ of water and bake for 70 minutes at
350F
Recipe Notes
The CottonWood Cafe serves this flan (almost cheesecake) with thin
twisted slices of limes.
oinkmoobaa (at) yahoo (.) com
There are a million things I love about the holiday season but I have to go with the togetherness and the cooler weather.
I enjoy the holidays because I get to spend time with my friends and family.
I love the scent of our Christmas tree and the wonderful smells of baking holiday desserts. I love getting together with family and friends. I would love to win so I can treat DH to an afternoon of good coffee and a great movie!
I like holiday time because of all the TV specials they show only once a year. My favorite X-mas snack is grandmas famous salami sandwiches made with salami, pizza sauce, onions, green peppers, dill pickles and mozzarella cheese all ground up and spread on homemade yeast rolls…mmm…mmm. Happy Holidays.
Len M.
oklen465@yahoo.com
I love the holidays because it brings our family together for that one time in the year that we all give in and are sure to get together.
I look forward to watching Charlie Brown Christmas with my kids like I did with my Mom when I was little.
Nice!
I love the holiday season because I love making my loved ones smile I just have so much to be thankful for and the holidays reafirm this
thanks
Ooh, This is an amazing prize! Thanks so much.
My fav thing about the season is the Christmas music! I LOVE when they start playing it way early, like the beginning on November! It just gets me in the holiday mood.
What I love the most about the holiday season is to have all the family members under one roof once in a year. All of my siblings live in different states. Everything is more expensive nowadays we cannot afford to travel as often as we wish, but at least once a year we still see each other.
What I love about the holiday season? I love the feeling it gives you from deep down inside, the feeling of magicalness. The wonder of the glistening snow, the lights, the hussle and bussle of everything. The family togetherness. The at least 35 year old ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas book that my mom still reads to everyone on Christmas Eve. The fact that my dad still rings his bells on Christmas morning and says we just missed Santa and his reindeer. I am joyed to spend this time with them and them with their grandchildren. Christmas is not about who gives what gift, it is the gift of love and time.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
I love the holiday music, food, and sharing it with your family. There a peaceness about the season!
I love to give gifts to my family so that I can see the smiles on their faces!
I love getting out in the crisp, cold air to look at all the beautiful decorations
I love the cold weather and baking!
We live 1200 miles from our families so I treasure when we can be all together.
Todays my Bday maybe the candle wishes will bring some winnings my way
Thank you for a chance to be a winner
I love that so many people are on vacation at my work and within our clients’ offices that I can actually get something done!
I would love to win so I can justify taking a break from the holiday shopping and gift wrapping craziness to enjoy some yummy starbucks and a movie with my two wonderful children. Normally I wouldn’t justify that so close to Christmas, but if I won it, I wouldn’t feel guilty. Thanks for the chance!
Steamed Asparagus
1 bunch of medium sized asparagus, about 1 lb
2 Tbsp of the most exquisite extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon lemon zest – freshly grated lemon rind
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 Prepare the asparagus by rinsing them thoroughly, break off any tough, white bottoms and discard. Cut into 1 to 2 inch sections, slicing the asparagus at a slight diagonal.
2 Fill a medium sized saucepan half way with water, bring to a boil. Add the asparagus and reduce heat slightly to a simmer. Parboil the asparagus for exactly 2 minutes. Drain the hot water. While the asparagus are still hot, toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, Parmesan, and lemon rind. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or room temperature.
Note that when you are working with so few ingredients, it’s important to make sure they are of the highest quality.
Thanks for the contest!
I love the holidays because I get to spend time with my family and friends and make great desserts!
Above all I love seeing my family. 😉
I love getting together with family, enjoying great food, and all the presents!
If I win, I’ll use the Wal-mart card for grocery shopping, the Starbucks cards for hot cocoa while Christmas shopping, and I’ll give the movie tickets to a good friend who lives near an AMC theatre.
May I start by saying this is such a fun giveaway! It includes everything for a fun day out 🙂 So, my favorite thing about the holiday season is everything leading up to the holidays, and not really the day itself. I like the bright colors of the holiday lights illuminating the residential areas, the stores, pretty much everywhere you go… or conversely, the soft white of snow (here in the Midwest we get lots!). I love the smells of ovens on, and chimneys burning wood. I definitely don’t hate winter, except the occasional bout of cabin fever. Of course, gift giving is usually hit-or-miss, but I’ve learned to appreciate every bit of what people give me. Even bad sweaters 🙂
My favorite part of the holidays is our tradition of the “Christmas Feast” we have on Christmas Eve, which consists of everyone’s favorite foods. We have everything from beef jerky and cheese-in-a-can to smoked oysters and caviar! I would love to win this to do some Christmas shopping!
i love the holidays, turky day, christmas, all of them, we love to eat and have family and friends over and enjoy thier company. so please enter me to win.
I love the turning out all the lights in the house except for the Christmas lights, drinking hot cocoa, and reminising with my husband and enjoying a little be of peace and rest from our hectic days. It helps ground us about what Christmas is all about. Not the hustle and bustle, but the peace and love that came to the world as a babe in a manger, Jesus Christ.
I would love to win this prize. My husband and I moved a little over a year ago, bought our 1st house, and haven’t had much time for just us lately. We need a movie night!! Thanks and Merry Christmas
I love the food and decorations! We already have our decorations up!
I love the family activities that come with the holidays, and chocolate.
I really love Black Friday. My best friend sleeps over and we get up at four, go to Kohls, and once we’ve made our first deal of the day we hit Starbucks and leisurely go around to other store until noon. Then we pick up lunch and head back to my house where hubby is done hanging lights on the house. It’s so wonderful. I’d love these gift cards to help out with our purchases this year! Thanks!
I like Christmas songs in the car out riding around, looking at lights and Christmas decorations, and coming home to hot chocolate.
I’d love to win – I am saving Amazon for my husband some new shoes and my son and I love to stop at Starbucks. He has a thing for their organic apple juice.
Thanks for the contest! skullaria at gmail dot (com)
Christmas was more fun when my girls were younger. I still like the anticipation. We are depressed after the holidays, because we leave CHRIST out of Christmas!
Every single thing about the Season excites me. Today we played Christmas music at our home! I love the day after Thanksgiving as we shop and decorate over that weekend. I love all the Christmas lights and displays. I love watching my children learn how to give to others who are in need and will not give anything back to them.
i love watching all the lame holiday movies, like Home Alone, the Santa Claus and Jingle all the Way. I want this so i can buy more lame holiday movies for the family, hahaha!
I really love spending time with family and I love the Mexican Potluck we do every year with my brother in laws family on Christmas Eve.
getting together with family
Hi, I love the smell that a new live Christmas tree gives my house. Thanks.
My favorite thing about the holidays is the delicious anticipation of kids!
Love getting to see family members that live too far away to see often. The laughs are awesome. Thanks
I love being with family, eating way too much, and getting up early on Black Friday to go find great deals.
I would like to win this because it’s cold and dark when you go out Friday morning and Starbucks always makes it better.
The thing I like about the holidays is the electricity and excitement in the air. I love the sweets too! Pumpkin pie, egg nog, eating breakfast in the morning at my mother’s house…eggs, bacon (not me!), bagels, cream cheese, and we used to have sweet cinnamon buns before my parents lost weight. I love also giving my grandmother gifts. She is the BEST person to give gifts to! She makes all sorts of noises and is always so excited and grateful. I could learn a thing or two from here in that area!
I rarely buy Starbucks lately but it would be such a nice treat! I could go to Starbucks with my husband on our “date Saturday afternoon,” I would get a hot chocolate or coffee and he could get a chai latte. Then we would go to Walmart and maybe get some magazines or a book to read while waiting for the movie to start! There’s even a Starbucks in the movie theater at the mall, so we could do things in a different order too.
Thanks for the contest! This would be a fun one to win!
I love everything about the Holiday season-
the warmth, the love you feel, the closeness with your family and others, the beautiful lights, the wonderful foods, and the music {which, by the way, I am ALREADY listening to- lol}
I love getting together with family. I almost wish gifts weren’t even a part of the season, I think they take away from it. I just love when you can sit and enjoy the time with your loved ones.
I love watching my son during the christmas season. He will do anything to try and figure out what Mom is getting him! I’ve had to start hiding his gifts at my neighbors house so he can’t find them. He’s getting pretty creative!
I love going home to be w/famild and old friends it’s especially great to be home for the Japanese New Year..
I love the peaceful time with family. There is no rush to go anywhere, we just stay home and be together and enjoy our family and friends.
I absolutely love the feeling of joy, love and togetherness when our family gets together on Christmas Eve.
I would love to win because we would put each and every gift card to good use.
I love everything about the holiday season!! The lights, snow, cold weather, music, everything!! I am especially looking forward to this year, though, becuase my 2 1/2 year old is really able to understand Santa and Christmas and he is really excited! I would like to win this because, as we all know, the economy isn’t so great right now and money is tight!
chrisandamyward(at)comcast.net
My favorite part of the holiday season is anticipating the big day with the kids. They still believe in Santa Claus and I love the magic they think is possible. We leave Santa chocolate chips cookies and apples for his reindeer.
Here’s a quick recipe. Take some sliced bread, cut off the crusts and press it down with the end of a knife or a roller til it’s flat, then cut into quarters. Put a teeny dollop of some peanut butter and jam or honey in the middle, place an equal size flattened slice on top and press the sides like ravioli. Brush some melted butter on top top, but on a lightly buttered baking sheet and bake at 350 til golden. You can also sprinkle with cin. sugar.
Please randomly pick me! Every little bit helps.
The thing I love most about Christmas is that it celebrates Jesus Christ coming to this world as a baby, so that He could grow up to be the man who would die on the cross for my sin, and rise again so that I have a hope and a joy in knowing that one day I will be with Him in Heaven.
After that, I love all the wonderful sights, sounds, and smells that come with the holidays. Christmas is my favorite holiday!!!
Here’s a link to a great recipe:
http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe191.fantasy-fudge.html
Giving presents!
1bassoon@live.com
I love the holidays because the family actually gets together and is happy! Its not very often you can get my whole family together so it is cherished when it happens.
I love being with family around the holidays. With my son settling across the country after getting out of the service I don’t get to see them, but once every couple of years. I’d love to win the gift cards to make up a really nice gift basket filled with others to spend on themselves throughout next year as a token that “we are always together – in our hearts”.
My favorite thing about the holidays would have to be the guilty-pleasure, cheesy Christmas songs and television specials that my family and I can’t get enough of every year — we’re suckers for both camp and sentimentality, and both are in high abundance this time of year!
I love having all our children and grandchildren together. We have such a good time.
My favorite meal to make is stuff pork tender loin. Take the loin and cut it open and add your favorit stuffing inside roll it up and tie it with cooking tie and cook it until done. I would use the givaway to help buy christmas for my 4 kids. thanks
I love getting together with family for the holidays!
i love getting together with family and friends 🙂
I like people’s friendliness.
AztecFeller@aol.com
Eating, below is my recipe for dressing:
Dressing
CORNBREAD: Follow directions on cornbread mix or corn meal package to make a 10-12 inch loaf.
BROTH: Starting with about a gallon of water plus turkey parts (2-4 wings, legs or necks, or less when added to turkey giblets and neck from whole bird), and the end leafy pieces of a celery stalk. (Pre-made chicken stock will give milder flavor) Simmer about 1 hour or more reducing to 2-3 qts to make broth. Remove meat and celery pieces.
DRESSING:
Bread (pan of corn bread and one large or 2 small loafs of French)
4 small chopped onions (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 stalk chopped celery (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 1/2 t sage and 1 t thyme or 3-4 t poultry seasoning
4 eggs
1/4 cup plus 1 pat of butter or substitute
Crumble cornbread (minus 1 piece) into large bowl, add French bread torn into small pieces.
Melt 1/4 c butter with a little water in skillet and saute celery and onions. Add seasonings. Add this to the bread. Add most of broth. Stir in the eggs, slightly beaten, and enough of remaining broth to make dressing moist. It should be the consistency of oatmeal (add small amounts of water if necessary).
Cook dressing in a baking dish. Bake at 375 degrees, 40-45 minutes or until light brown and crusted.
Butter single piece of cornbread with pad of butter and eat while preparing.
I love spending the time with my family – and the incredible assortment of wrapping papers that I’ve amassed over the years!!
I’d love to be picked – it’d make the season a wee bit brighter!
I love going over to my grandparents house and seeing the rest of the family.
I love the holiday baking — especially when my kids help out — that’s always fun!
I love how excited the kids get decorating the tree.Their faces light up and they race to put the next one on.
I would love to win because i can’t remember the last time i went out and saw a movie. LOL!
The holidays just seem to fly by once they get started. I love being able to get together with family, but that isn’t always possible during the year although around this time everyone seems to make that extra little effort to get together.
Snow
I love the Holidays because everyone always seems nicer to each other. I want to win because this would make an awesome gift. I wish I had the ultimate recipe but I can not cook LOL
I love everything,the decorating,food shopping,wrapping the gifts and most of all everyone together,enjoying our time together. Its a magical evening and day.
Thanks for the wonderful contest
I love the whole days of just being with family and then the super good food- making it together and everything.
katelynthames AT yahoo DOT com
Spicy Pumpkin Fudge
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated
milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
1- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
Butter a 9×13 inch pan and set aside.
In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, butter, milk, pumpkin, and spice; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling over medium heat until mixture reaches 234 degrees F on a candy thermometer. This may take a while, so be patient, it’s worth it.
Remove from heat. Stir in white chocolate chips. When chips are melted, add marshmallow cream and vanilla. Mix until well blended.
Immediately pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread evenly. Cool at room temperture. Cut into squares, and store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container.
skiing on christmas day and ejoying the family.
i love my kids faces christmas morn. nothing else loike it! i love the smells of gingerbread! i love the colors of fall!!
I love the smells of the season, cinnamon and evergreen, roasting turkey.
Double layer pumpkin cheesecake
INGREDIENTS
* 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 pinch ground cloves
* 1 pinch ground nutmeg
* 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
* 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.
Yummy!
my favorite things about the holidays is everyone is happy and giving i love being with my family and seeing people that i have not seen in a while and why do i want to win well every little bit helps and i love the movies which is something i really dont do often enough
i love the sense of family togetherness during the holidays. i would like to win because it would help out with christmas shopping and i could send the giftcards to my mom. we dont have amc movies here sadly.
love food,family, and friends. Its the one time a year we all get together, it makes you feel thankful for what you have.
Coffee, shopping, and a movie? I just need a babysitter! : )
I love the food and fellowship surrounding the holidays
I would love to win this.
I love being with my family on Christmas. I always make special treats for everyone to share, like fudge, peanut butter balls, sugar cookies, and lots more!
family, family and family…
I love the Christmas lights at night, the way people can transform their yards into such beautiful and creative art. I love shopping for gifts, trying to find something perfect for members of my family and our friends.
I like the smells of Christmas season – the pine of the Christmas tree (yes, we still have a real tree) and cookies baking and cinammon sticks. All that gives me a warm, holiday feeling.
I love the decorating… trees, cookies, cars, work, and anywere a string of lights or holly might go. I especially love pulling out all the ornaments collected over the years and drinking cider around a fresh cut tree with my sister and our cats. I wait tables and with the slow resturant traffic it would really help with christmas shopping.
Most of the time I shop online but I still enjoy going to the stores and seeing the holiday decorations, listening to the music and just enjoying the feel of the season. It brings back memories of being a teenager and shopping with my best friend. We didn’t have much money but we sure enjoyed the experience.
The Reading of the Birth of Jesus from The Holy Bible and Christmas songs
I love everything there is to love about the holidays
Cinnamon Nutmeg Shortbread
This spicy cookie is a fragrant spin on the Scottish staple, shortbread. Shortbread gets its name from the fact that these cookies are very “short” or rich in butter. They use no eggs so are very useful when you find yourself needing a dessert or snack and have no eggs. These cookies are very tasty and freeze well.
1 cup unsalted softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9X13 inch pan. In a large bowl cream the butter and sugars together until light. Mix in the vanilla. In a small bowl mix together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Slowly blend the flour mixture into the butter mixture until well mixed. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Using a fork or knife, press decorations into the dough if desired. Bake for 17-22 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Let cool completely, then cut into desired shapes. Store in an airtight container or freeze.
I love baking during the holidays. Enjoy!
I can reminisce and watch old holiday specials
Most holidays for me have always been about a time we can spend together with loved ones we may not have seen in a while. My family is scattered throughout the United States. I have a brother in New York, a sister in Indiana and my mom is in California. My oldest boy and his wife live in Southern Oregon with my most recent grandbaby. I have an older grandchild in Mississippi with my son’s ex-wife. And last but not least my youngest son who became seriously ill last year moved in with me until he can get a kidney transplant and get back on his feet. And thats just the immediate family…cousins, aunts and uncles would take forever to list. So holidays are no so much about giving or getting as much as they are about loving.
I love everything about the holidays but I love seeing the look on my kids faces when they open up their gifts.That’s priceless.
what I love is to worship the Lord in the season
I have your button
I love the holidays because I can show my friends and family how much I appreciate them. I want to win because the budget is VERY tight this year, and I would like to be able to get a few gifts.
rlgrady[at]yahoo[dot]com
I love making my girls happy on Christmas Morning. Every year I make:
Marble Bark
melt white and semi sweet chocolate seperately. Drop in checkerboard fashion onto waxed paper. Use a knife to ‘marble-ize’
Cool in fridge. You can add nuts while chocolate is melted and still seperate.
I love being with family and all of those feel-good movies on Hallmark Channel. I would like to win the gift cards to use as gifts or to use to buy gifts.
It’s nice when the whole family is together, the food, the decorations, the music. It would be a fun day shopping for the holidays and getting to see a movie and have good coffee too!
I love the holidays because we celebrate Christ’s birth on Christmas.
I love spending time with my and my husband’s families. But I’d use these winnings to get a break from them!
I put your button on my blog.
GREAT PRIZES in this economic crisis.
great prizes in this economical crisis
I love the holidays because of the joy my kids experience. To see the holidays through a childs eyes is an amazing experience! I would love to win because I haven’t been to the movies since my son was born(5 yrs!)
My favorite thing about the holiday is the preparation for the special days. I know that sounds corny, but my favorite times are looking for gifts for my family, decorating and cooking everyone’s favorite foods. I would love to win either the gift card or movie pass. I would give them as gifts to my sons!
My favorite thing about the holidays is spending time with my family and enjoying the reason we celebrate! Also, I get to eat foods I won’t eat any other time of the year =) I love baking so I get to try new recipes and I love the thanks I get from my husbands crew when I send the goodies to work with him!
I added your button to my blog as well!
I love driving around the neighborhood with the kids looking at the beautiful Christmas lights.
Thanks for the great giveaway.
I love spending the holidays in front of the fireplace with my son. I enjoy watching him unwrap his presents still to this day. He is 15 years old but it’s still exciting to watch his face.
I love the holidays because I moved 500 miles away from my family and that is the one time of year that we all still get together. I love watching my children’s eyes light up when grandpa starts up the electric train around the Christmas tree. I love sitting by the fire and sipping hot chocolate. I say a prayer for the family that’s passed and know that there presence is still there at Christmas. My grandmother loved Christmas and that joy was passed on to each of us.
Why would I love the gift certificates? Wal-Mart-well I live there, I live in the middle of nowhere and Wal-mart is pretty much all we have. So the gift certificate could be one extra gift, half a tank of gas (to get us closer to home for the hollidays), or a midnight run for cough medicine, kleenex, and what-not. The Star-bucks, I could take mom out for coffee back home so that she’ll watch the kids while my husband and I go out for a movie…alone, with out children. Please, pick me?
What I love about the holiday season is the spirit of goodwill and giving. I want to win because these great prizes would make awesome gifts!
I love being able to get together with the family and reminiscing about both the good and bad events that have taken place through the year. I’d love to win because it would help to buy dinner, dessert and movies for my family.
I love the shopping. I like finding the different unique things for my friends and family
I love all of my family getting together for Christmas. I especially love Christmas Eve night when we all go to communion together at church. It’s a great time to really focus on what Christmas is all about.
I love the family get-togethers. I have a large family and we usually do not all get a chance to get together except during the holidays.
I love all the lights on the houses and decorations on the yard. I sip cocoa and listen to carols in the car.
I love just about everything about the holidays. The tree, the decorations, buying gifts, making cookies, watching the Christmas movies, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. One thing I don’t like is wrapping gifts, so lately, I’ve been using bags and gift boxes, which help. Thanks for having the contest!
I love decorating our Christmas tree.
Watching my children open their gifts and then getting to play with them is awesome!
I love taking the time to decorate my christmas tree. Then taking pictures of my daughter in front of it. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love all the lights, sales and family time!
You got into my brain and know exactly what I want! Wal-mart has great stocking stuffers, Starbucks has fraps and lemon pound cake and my daughter is itching to go see a movie.
What a great contest! Here is a great and easy recipe for a holiday get together or office potluck. Olive Pecan Spread: Beat together 8 oz cream cheese and 1/2 c mayo. Add 5oz sliced olives and 1 cup chopped pecans. Chill at least 2 hours. Serve with crackers or rye bread. Super yummy and elegant.
What isn’t there to love about the holiday season? I love spending time picking out just the right gift for everyone and planning my holiday dinners. My favorite is spending a day baking lots of goodies for all my family and friends. I LOVE to bake!
I love decorating the Christmas tree, the annual sugar cookie party we have with family & friends, the holiday films & music, and drinking eggnog!
Watching my kids open up their gifts 🙂
What I love about the holidays is the togetherness. Everybody is so warm and loving – I bask in the feeling.
Family and friends gather for the holidays. We will mourn together this coming holiday,
Party Host Holiday Ham Spirals
1 cup chopped Bone-in Ham
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 green onions, diced
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
6 (6-inch) flour tortillas
24 ounces prepared salsa
Directions
1. Heat ham according to package directions before chopping. Combine ham, cheeses, green onions, bell pepper and 1/2 cup salsa in a mixing bowl.
2. Spread evenly onto tortillas, to within 1/4 inch of edges. Roll up tightly; wrap individually in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or until chilled.
3. Remove plastic wrap. Trim ends from roll-ups; discard. Cut each roll-up into 6 spirals to serve. Serve with remaining salsa for dipping.
My favorite thing about the holiday season is spending time with family and friends!!! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !!!