We Plan Wednesday: A New Blog Series for December

Yes…I have been MIA.   I have been doing very many things…with my family…with work…and with planning for the blog.   I have something new to work toward:  25 days of holiday recipes…appropriate for Christmas…Thanksgiving…New Year’s Eve…and New Year’s Day.  Some are brand new to the blog…and some are re-fashioned favorites of recipes I’ve already posted.  I hope you’ll be impressed with my best. 

Here are few recipes that you will be seeing:

Sea salt caramel truffles
Sparkling apple cider
cornbread dressing vs white bread dressing
My take on Yams Richard
Chicken and steak fajitas
Guacamole
Pico de gallo
Spanish rice
Nanaimo bars
Pecan pie
cranberry relish
chocolate dipped licorice
Frogs
Olive bread
BBQ little sausages
Red velvet cake the right way
How to make greens from frozen
And many other surprises

If you’re going through Christmas withdrawal, be sure to visit my 12 days of Christmas in July
entries and round up. If you are one of those people who feels that Christmas is beginning to early each year, I apologize but respectfully disagree. I think the world could do with more Christmas spirit all year… The sharing, the caring, the generosity toward others, and tolerance and patience for other’s shortcomings.

I wish you in advance Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy new year, and a great year next year.

Here are a few of the recipes I plan to feature:

The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: A Baker’s Dozen of Gifts and a Wrap-Up

On the thirteenth day of Christmas, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

Bonus printable tags (although for boys birthday gifts) for you to keep!

(Click the image above to receive the PDF printable from GoogleDocs.)

Recently, Muffin was invited to the birthday party of one of Josh’s coworker’s grandsons.  To decorate the package containing the birthday gift, I made these rugged boy tags.

I hope you enjoy these (and have enjoyed the Twelve Days of Christmas in July series).  I might plan another Christmas series in December, but it will probably be more tied to what is available in the Pinteresting Blogosphere.

Here is a round-up of the Twelve Days of Christmas in July posts:

1st Day:  Christmas Gift Tags

2nd Day:  Cream Cheese Mints

3rd Day:  Christmas Carol Subway Art Printable

4th Day:  Jingle Bells Lyrics Printable

5th Day:  Hot Chocolate Recipe and Tags

6th Day:  Snowflake Gift Tags

7th Day:  Peppermint Bath Snow Instructions and Tags

8th Day:  Printable Christmas Card

9th Day:  Printable Christmas Ornaments

10th Day:  Recipe Binder Cover and “A Gift from Our Kitchen” Tags

11th Day:  Nectar Syrup Recipe and Tags/Labels

12th Day:  Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Tags

Enjoy and Merry Christmas (in July)!

What was your favorite gift of the Twelve Days of Christmas in July?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Twelfth Day of Christmas in July…

On the twelfth day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

Printable tags honoring the twelve days of Christmas, golly gee!  Click on either of the images below to be taken straight to the PDF (2 page file) in GoogleDocs.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” happens to be my favorite Christmas carol (although I can’t remember all of the verses and have to look them up each year).  The printable today is a tag/decoration for packages…twelve in fact…one for each of the days mentioned in the song.

Just so you know don’t you fret…a bonus day (of the series) may be happening yet!

What is your favorite image from “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Eleventh Day of Christmas in July…

On the eleventh day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

A printable recipe for red nectar so sweet!

Click on the image above to access the recipe!

Click on the image above to access the printable labels.

This recipe for red nectar syrup (that originates in New Orleans) can be mixed with club soda to make a neat soda pop or poured over shaved ice to make a nifty snow cone.  Either prep it in either incarnation to serve at a Christmas party or bottle the syrup with the printable tag and give as a hostess gift at a Christmas party (or a neighbor gift).  Your sweet gesture will be much appreciated!

Here are some recipes you can use to add to your syrup.

The twelfth day of Christmas brings an end so apropos…you will love the gift of tomorrow though!

What is your favorite neighbor gift to give?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Tenth Day of Christmas in July…

On the tenth day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

A cover for a binder to hold all your recipes!

Click on the image below to access the PDF located in GoogleDocs.

These are some of the recipes that are essential to the merriment of the season in LFam Land.  I always start early with these recipes (mid-October) in order to make them by the end of December rush.  Many of these make up part of the Christmas gifts that we create each year.  Included with the printable is a tag to label your goody plate, basket, bag, or egg carton (long story best saved for December).  Just remember to click the image below to access the tags.

I hope you enjoy day eleven’s present…a recipe for a delicacy from the City of Crescent (and it’s red…just in time for the holiday season).

What is your favorite Christmas goodie?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Ninth Day of Christmas in July…

On the ninth day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

A sheet of printable ornaments to enhance the beauty of the Christmas tree!  Click on the image below to print the PDF from GoogleDocs.

These printable ornaments would be great for children to cut out, hole punch, string, and hang on the tree.  Each year, I try to let Muffin create an ornament on the tree, and this year will be no exception.  If possible (if your printer can take it…mine can’t), print these on card stock (or heavier printer paper) so that they may last beyond this year to become cherished ornaments in the years to come.

Seriously…you might scoff…but every year I look forward to seeing the card stock snowman I created in kindergarten on my parents’ tree…almost thirty years after it’s creation.  Run off on a purple-ink ditto machine, colored and cut out clumsily by five-year-old me, it is tied up in the precious memories of Christmas for me.

Tomorrow marks day ten of this gifting…the gift tomorrow requires no heavy lifting!

What is the most cherished ornament on your Christmas tree?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Eighth Day of Christmas in July…

On the eighth day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

A printable Christmas card for all recipients to see!

Click one of the images below to print the card in PDF format from GoogleDocs.  This prints as a one-page, quarter-fold card.

This is one of the reasons why I’m doing the twelve days of Christmas in July, as opposed to later.  This way, you can print out enough copies of this card far enough in advance to still be able to address, envelope, stamp, and mail the cards in time for Christmas.

Sending Christmas cards out on time this year is one of my goals.  The last few years, this holiday tradition has fallen by the wayside.  I’m hoping to be more on top of things and intentional this year (and better organized).

I hope you enjoy this card!

Tomorrow’s gift involves a gift for something piney or plastic; the adornment for it is going to be fantastic!

What is your favorite Christmas card you have ever given (or received)?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Seventh Day of Christmas in July…

On the seventh day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

Peppermint Bath Snow (plus a printable tag) to help you relax and smell so pretty!

Click on the image below to print the PDF of the tag in GoogleDocs.

 

Click the image below to print out the PDF tutorial from GoogleDocs.

I used to make these bath salts years ago, and I think this year is a great time to revive the tradition.  Would you join me in making it a yearly homemade Christmas gift?

Day 8 marks a single gift, as through many images and fonts I must sift.

What image means Christmas to you?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Sixth Day of Christmas in July…

On the sixth day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

Six more gift tags to adorn presents under the Christmas tree!

I didn’t include the “to” and “from” lines.  For these types of tags (the next of which will appear on the Twelfth Day), I would write the “to” and “from” on the back, punch a hole in the tag at top, and tie the tag to the gift.  Click the image below to access the handy dandy PDF in GoogleDocs.

I’ve found it is a good idea to have a treasure trove of Christmas gift tags to choose from to beautify and accessorize packages.  These are great ones for a variety of gifts, especially children’s gifts.

How about a gift to put under that tree plus a handy printable?

Tomorrow’s gift features a relaxing gift and printable that are compatible.

What is your favorite handmade gift to give?

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The Twelve Days of Christmas in July: On the Fifth Day of Christmas in July…

On the fifth day of Christmas in July, Muffin’s Mama gave to thee…

A recipe for hot chocolate that warms the tumm-eeeee!

Click on the image below to access the PDF of the recipe.

Click on the printable below to access the tag in PDF format on GoogleDocs.

You know you have a child of toddler or preschool age if you magically memorize the lyrics to “Hot, Hot, Hot Chocolate” from Polar Express.  Muffin loves that movie, but it also happens to be my favorite Christmas movie, as well.  I just never pictured that I would be cajoled into giving command performances of his favorite song from the movie so that he can perform his own dance performance to the music…ad nauseum.

But it is adorable!

Simply click on the image above to find the decorative printable (suitable for framing) of the recipe.  It will take you to the full-page on GoogleDocs.  Also included is a nifty printable tag for gifting the mix.

In tomorrow’s webisode in the Pinteresting Blogosphere, enjoy six of one item that you enjoyed on the 1st Day of Christmas in July…

What is your favorite holiday beverage?

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