lit*chick

Christmas Eve Eve: Right now...

 

Wouldn't this have made a great Xmas card pic? Evie was not having any of it! Taken on the set of the middle school play.

I'm watching....White Christmas for the tenth time this week. I like to have it on in the background and the kids seem to like it. Especially our song and dance man, Owen.

I'm baking .....sugar cookies. After countless attempts to find the perfect sugar cookie dough - I am happy to report it is this one from The Kitchn.  Truly the BEST I have found - easy to  make, easy to roll, very forgiving dough that tastes fantastic.  One more thing -  I only make 1/3 of the suggested recipe -it is huge!

I'm reading....The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. An odd holiday reading choice, perhaps, but I'm really into it. It has been on my to-be-read list for many years. And I just finished (devoured) Gail Caldwell's memoir on friendship: Let's Take the Long Way Home. It was absolutely lovely and you should give one to a friend right away. Especially if your friend has a dog too. (I was thinking specifically of Laura and cousin Trish as I read those dog parts.) It reminded me of Kelly Corrigan's writing - very real, succinct yet still eloquent.

I'm planning....tomorrow's Christmas Eve feast. Well, the main meal is one I make every year, so there isn't much to work out. But I am scouring my beloved cookbooks for a good green veg recipe. Preferable brussel sprouts. And if I can't find one, I'll rely on my favorite - roasted with balsamic vinegar & bacon. You can never ever go wrong with bacon.

I'm wishing...you, dear readers and friends a very Merry Christmas!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.   - Romans 15:13 (ESV)

The End.

Merry Christmas to You! Jane Mount Print Giveaway

In the gifting tradition of one for me, one for you, ahem, here is a shelf of classics from Jane Mount. Specifically Ideal Bookshelf 353: English Lit.  As you can see, they are all sold out at 20x200 so here is your chance to nab one. You can enter to win this 8x10 print by leaving me a comment about your favorite present - to give or to get or both!

Giveaway ends Monday 12/19 at noonish :)

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Gift Guide 2011: Tried & True Toys

In almost 13 years (ACK!- a teenager), we have seen a lot of toys. Many of them noisy, plastic, cheap and now gone. What remains? Well, here are my picks for you-can't-really-go-wrong toys...no books on this list because they are obviously the BEST choice ALWAYS :).

Fisher Price Little People - We have quite the collection - and these are great to find at yard sales (although there aren't any around here now that it is wet & cold!). Our favorites?  The Farm & the School Bus are timeless and verastile. Evie is currently diggin' the Thanksgiving set and the Castle. But the dudes would have loved the wheelie set....

Melissa & Doug - where to start... Their products have never steered me wrong. We love the wooden food, blocks, puzzles- the Clock is a favorite as is the car carrier. You can find them everywhere and they are reasonably priced. Hooray!

  Automoblox - as Laura already graciously pointed out; removable parts + indestructible = favorite toy  Evie likes them too...

Easels - Ikea's is 14.99 (see above) Melissa & Doug have one too...you can't really go wrong.

Action Figures - It is easy to be anti character toys (they are cheaply made & cheesy), but since we are already luddites, I am okay with a few favorite mix & match action figures. And you need some people to inhabit the worlds built with Legos, blocks, etc.  They make good stocking stuffers too. We have seen it all from the Wiggles to  Rescue Heroes and  Transformers to Ben 10. And we have a little bit of all of it now, after perhaps some character overkill in the past. One mixed up box still gets mild rotation and reminds me of the different age and stages...sigh.

 

Board Games - once you are past the Candyland stage...these are our most requested game night choices - Spy Alley, Break the Safe, Clue, Monopoly.  What are your faves?

There is also play food (who doesn't love fake burgers?), paper dolls (my favorite), and baseball cards. And I remain firm in my belief that everyone likes new sports equipment - there is nothing like a fresh basketball, football or soccer ball.

I realize this is mostly a boy list - so I ask you mamas to girls...what are essentials for the lil ladies?

The End.