Christmas | Pbenjay's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

Countdown Till Christmas – #20 Gift Ideas for the Foodie on Your List

Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, Smooth or Crunchy, tagged Christmas, food, Foodie, Goat, scotch, Scrabble, Shopping, single-malt scotch, Smoked salmon on December 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I wish I had started this countdown on the first but somehow I forgot/got bogged down/was obsessing over my granddaughter’s missing Elf on the Shelf. Add a couple of nights devoted to movie going, a few hours at the office and all the other daily/weekly things that fill up your time. All that and playing Scrabble online and Words With Friends lol.

Alright so I didn’t make this into an Advent Blog month, probably you don’t care one way or the other. Well I decided to do it tonight (even though it is actually tomorrow -2am!).

Gift choices for the Foodies on your list are almost endless. You can go the imported wine route or single-malt Scotch, or the fancy small specialties such as caviar or truffles or choose from the myriad sources of artisanal cheeses, salamis, or smoked salmon. Catalogs offering overnight delivery for every foodstuff imaginable are clogging the mailboxes. I really didn’t know which item to feature (Mmmm I may have an idea here about doing 2o days of gifts for Foodies), so I just picked one that sort of jumped off the page at me.

That’s it, I’m changing the name of the post, I’m going for 20 days of food and drink gift ideas. WHY? Because I had almost forgotten the rule we have about receiving gifts; If we can’t eat it, drink it or attend it, then please keep it for yourself because we have way too much stuff now!!

#20 – GOAT MILK CARAMELS

Want to spoil someone you love? Goat ahead. These caramels, made with goat milk, sea salt and bourbon vanilla, come in a lovely wooden gift box. Caramels seem to be a hot item this year, I wonder if they pushed French Macaroons into second place? You can purchase this tasty sweet treat from bigpicturefarm.com. Cost is $50.

Sea Salt and Bourbon
OH BOY!

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BLACK FRIDAY = In The Red?

Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, tagged BlackFriday, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, Gift, Holidays, New York City, summer, Thanksgiving on November 28, 2013| 1 Comment »

BLACK FRIDAY is one crazy, clever retail gimmick. Get up at 4:00am to push your way into an overheated department store so maybe you can snag what? – the sought-after toy of the moment? REALLY?? The day after Thanksgiving IS the day to go shopping for Christmas presents according to a popular manipulative tradition dreamed up by the retail community. This day which is orchestrated to create consumer frenzy is a store’s way of making up money lost through the normally slower summer season. Add the proximity to the Christmas gift-giving holiday and you have the makings of a retail perfect storm. They hope to end up in the black and you might just end up in the red.

Personally, Black Friday holds no appeal to me and never has. I haven’t shopped in a Mall for a present or for that matter myself in a very long, long time. Of course when you live in New York City, going to a mall is not really an option but I stopped shopping for Christmas presents in a mall years ago. I like to give either really unique personalized gifts or unusual gifts. I don’t buy sweaters, hats, ties, shirts etc as gifts. I assume most people buy their own clothes, their own perfume and for the most part their own jewelry. However, jewelry is the exception to the rule; I might purchase a ring, necklace or bracelet for someone but it won’t come from a department store and it probably will be vintage.

Tomorrow, I’m going to Walmart ONLY because it seems to be the ONLY store in my area that carries an item I need, not want but actually need. It’s not a gift, it’s a repair item. Other than that one foray into a retail store, I hope to avoid the maddening crowds.

Target, Black Friday (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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“Hey YOU” – 100 Word Challenge

Posted in 100 Word Challenge, tagged Busted, Chris Brown, Christianity, Christmas, England, Hate, Hate Crimes, Hosts, Linky Tools, Los Angeles, People, Publishers, Race-Ethnic-Religious Relations, Religion and Spirituality, Thursday's Children, Tools, WordPress, Writers Resources on February 8, 2013| 7 Comments »

Dear Diary:

Oh God, I’m going to be sick. I’m sure I’m gonna throw up!

I hate that school; I hate my parents for making us move. They don’t care about me. Making me go to that snotty school. I don’t fit in. I’m not pretty.

Oh God, I can’t go back, they can’t make me! I can’t bear to see that boy again. I’ll run away!

What if his locker is near mine? I’ll die. He was right, I AM ugly. And they all laughed and snickered when I walked by and he said “Hey YOU- You’re SO BUSTED”.

This a blog hop: http://www.velvetverbosity.com

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BOXING DAY! Who – What – Why?

Posted in BY THE WAY, tagged Box, Boxing Day, Christmas, Christmas Day, Middle Ages, Samuel Pepys, United States, Wikipedia on December 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »

50% Off – Magic Words

My first introduction to Boxing Day came way back in the ’80’s when our next-door neighbor at the time, invited us to their house the day after Christmas and told us to bring a gift we had previously received-more than likely one that was not well-received by us. In other words that tasteless ashtray your Aunt gave you or the unwelcome set of beer mugs each with one of the Seven Dwarfs depicted. We had such a great time, so many laughs….but then they told us the real idea behind Boxing Day and it went something like this.

The exact etymology of the term “boxing” is unclear. There are several competing theories, none of which is definitive.[1] The European tradition, which has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions, has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown. It may come from a custom in the late Roman/early Christian era, wherein metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen,[2] which in the Western Church falls on the same day as Boxing Day.
In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect “Christmas boxes” of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.[3] This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys’ diary entry for 19 December 1663.[4] This custom is linked to an older English tradition: Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Source: Wikipedia

In the United States, somehow along the way, Boxing Day has taken on a double meaning. It seems to be THE day to return BOXES – those presents which neither fit our taste or our bodies. LONG lines of over-dressed and over-heated customers stand in line to endure the ordeal of returning unwanted or unwelcome items.

Secondly, Boxing Day is a day to rush to the stores and buy MORE items, those many things that are now deeply-discounted. We are truly a nation of consumers! As for me, as soon as I finish this blog I’m off to find next year’s Christmas cards, wrapping paper and anything else I somehow found out I can’t live without especially now that is marked 50% off!

What are you doing this Boxing Day?

Boxing Day (26th December) (mcp53.wordpress.com)
Happy Boxing Day (transatlantictaste.wordpress.com)

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Ho Ho Ho Santa’s On His Way!

Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, Ha-P 2 B in OG, Smooth or Crunchy, tagged A Wonderful Life, Christmas, Christmas movies, egg nog, Eggnog, Ho Ho Ho, holiday, Holidays, It's A Wonderful Life, Opinions, Religious, Santa, Santa Claus, Santa Clause, Starbucks, The Bishop's Wife on December 24, 2012| 3 Comments »

Christmas postcard, 1911

T’was the day before Christmas and all through the morning

No one was talking but I could hear all the groaning.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, not a good day to be mad,

‘Cause Santa knows who’s good and who’s bad!

No breakfast to eat, no paper to read,

Please go get me the Starbucks, I so desperately need.

Oh my how the years have come and gone by

No turkey to roast, no baking of pies.

The tree is much smaller and actually pink

Because we’re in the cottage, what did you think?

One or two gifts litter the floor

Hardly like Christmases years before.

It’s quiet around here, no sirens or noise

And of course no grandkids and noisy toys.

The cats hung their stockings in hopes that St. Nick

Will show up tonight and bring them cat nip.

A different Christmas eve’s about to begin

Left-over pastas and martinis with gin.

Not trusting the programmers of commercial TV

We stocked the house with Christmas DVDs.

First on the list is The Bishop’s Wife and

Soon to follow, It’s A Wonderful Life.

Only the classics for us old folks you know

We like what like from years ago.

Last year was a gala ugly-sweater event

Tonight a few friends but there’s no lament.

Although there’s no sitting by the fiery log

Or getting tipsy on killer egg nog,

None-the-less, we’ll enjoy the leftover food

And glasses of wine put all in a good mood.

As we clink our glasses filled with good cheer,

We wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I’ll put out the cookies and milk with a wish

That tomorrow morning I’ll find an empty dish.

Then I’ll know that dear Santa Clause stopped by to see

How clean the house was and how pink the tree!

I sent him my letter early on in the season

I wanted him to know I had a good reason.

It would take him some time and certainly some doing

Some planning, some cutting and lots of gluing.

I hope, I hope, he thinks I’m not too absurd

For wanting a “55 pink Thunderbird!

Oh YES!!!

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!! (justimaginecrafts.typepad.com)
Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas! (spirativity.co.uk)
“Ho, Ho, Ho”…Santa for President (psychologytoday.com)

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Count Down To Christmas-8 Days….8 Christmas Movies

Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, tagged Bing Crosby, Cary Grant, Christmas, Christmas Story, Clarence the angel, David Niven, holiday, Lionel Barrymore, Miracle on 34th Street, Scrooge on December 18, 2012| 3 Comments »

Cropped screenshot of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye from the trailer for the film White Christmas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Everyone has a favorite Christmas movie and I think last year I asked my readers to send in their fans-so why not again this year and let’s see which one emerges as most popular choice. I love the holiday movies and look forward to seeing the old classic Christmas movies. Here are 8 of my favorite holiday films:

THE BISHOP’S WIFE – My perennial favorite with Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. Made in 1947, this movie is terrific. Cary Grant as a charming angel tempted by the lovely Loretta is amusing and can you EVER really get tired of looking at his oh-so-handsome face? David Niven is perfect in the role of the uptight minister. WHY do they remake an already fantastic film?
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET – Year and year out ever since I was a child, I have watched Kris Kringle charm little Susan into believing. Suitable for kids of all ages and timeless.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – A holiday tear jerker for sure but I never get tired of watching it. Jimmy Stewart in the lead role of a small town boy all grown up and itching to go to the big city. However, love steps in, evil lurks around the corner and this lovely tale of good and evil and David and Goliath is well-acted and will bring out your holiday spirit. Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore and Henry Travers flesh out the cast and are superb in their roles.
HOLIDAY INN – With Bing Crosby singing and Fred Astaire dancing and Irving Berlin writing the songs…really now you know this is a very entertaining movie. A 1942 romantic comedy and set in New England, this is a true holiday movie because the Inn is only open on holidays. Produced in 1942.
WHITE CHRISTMAS – 1954 Twelve short years and Bing is back in the hotel business. This time he has even more talent around him to make this a cute song and dance film. Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney and Dean Jagger. Everyone pitches in to help save the inn!
A CHRISTMAS STORY – 1983 YES there was a time in our lives (well mine anyway) when you or your brother could actually ask for and GET a B-B gun for Christmas. Ralphie is a pudgy nerdy-looking kid who is perennially picked on and molly-coddled by his mother. Some of the most memorable scenes are the tongue-sticking on the freezing pole, the pink bunny pajamas, the leg lamp and the fateful visit to the store Santa. Darren Magavin as the Old Man.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL – I know of at least 6 versions. My choices are the 1938 film starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge, the 1971 Alastair Sim and Michael Redgrave movie and the 1984 George C. Scott version.
THE GATHERING – A 1977 made-for-tv movie starring Ed Asner. This is 5 tissue tear-jerker, believe me. Adam (Ed Asner) knows he’s going to die so he tries to pull his torn-apart dysfunctional family together for one last Christmas celebration. I wish I could see it again…

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December 17, 1971 I Got An Early Christmas Present!

Posted in Friends, tagged birthday, Boston, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, December 17th, Facebook, Facebook features, Florida, Holidays, Home, Joel Berti, San Diego, Tom, United States on December 18, 2012| 3 Comments »

Happy Birthday to You!

Could it really be forty-one years ago that I drove myself from my home in Avon CT to Hartford for a doctor’s appointment and then to St. Francis Hospital? Apparently yes, because today is my son Joel’s birthday! When my parents and grandparents would tell me how quickly the years go by and at this point they’re flying, I, like every other young person ,didn’t really get it. Well I get it now. Joel is 41 and Chiara is 35 and now I’m a grandmother myself.

Last year I wrote what I thought was akin to a mother-son love letter so I’m not going to repeat it again. All of it is true and I hope he reads it again because it is full of love and appreciation for who he is. Posted last December 17th, Happy Birthday Dear Son!

3000 miles and 3 hours earlier often gets in the way of communication although as any mother knows, if there’s a will, there’s a way. This Christmas, like last year, my daughter and her family are headed west to spend the holidays with Joel and we will be here on the East Coast. I think it would be wonderful if we could all be together, however, my feeling is that the kids like it the way it is. I have a Norman Rockwell Christmas in mind and they are thinking along the lines of what I heard referred to as Westivus. Apparently, some friends from Boston are also flying out to celebrate with them.

I hope today has been joyful for Joel. I wrote a Happy Birthday greeting on his Facebook wall – aren’t I just the 21st Century Mom and called him this evening. I hope to see him in the near future to give him the real hug I sent virtually.

So Happy happy birthday Joel, I love you very much and wish I could spend more time with you.

Love,

Mom

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9 Days Till Christmas – 9 Holiday Nail Polish Colors

Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, tagged Christmas, Essie, holiday, Nail Art, Nail polish, Opinions, Santa, Santa Claus on December 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Don’t get so busy shopping for food, baking, decorating and gift shopping that you don’t leave time to do something for yourself. Christmas is RED, no doubt about that – from Santa’s suit to the Cartier red-bow-wrapped store. Everyone can wear red, it just depends on the shade. Why people don’t believe that is a mystery to me! Red lipstick and red nails are HOT! RED is the color you want to wearing this season on your nails.

Essie makes several shades of red and I’m sure one of them would look great on you. Take the time to get a mani-pedi before you give over all your time and energy to making Christmas fabulous for others. You deserve it.

Here’s the 9 Days Till Christmas 9 nail colors:

REALLY RED – An award-winning truly rich red
SNAP HAPPY – A red-orange, a warm red
LAQUERED UP – Red hot crimson
RED NOUVEAU – The new must-have color is a fiery crimson

RED NOUVEAU

5. DRAMATIC DRACHMA – An orangey red

6. BIG BAG THEORY – Brick red

7. LONG STEM ROSES – The name speaks for itself

8. JAG-U-ARE – A gorgeous gleaming red

9. SIZE MATTERS – A blazing hot ruby red

10. LOLLIPOP – Candy cane red

As usual as I always say….”Red Is Where You Find It”

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Count Down Till Christmas-10 Days To Go-10 Things I Found in My Christmas Stocking

Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, tagged Candy, chocolate coins, Christmas, Christmas stocking, holiday, jacks and ball, Santa, Santa Claus, Stocking, Thomas Nast, yo-yo on December 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Ho,ho, ho, Christmas is almost here! And what will be under the tree for me? AND what will be in my Christmas stocking? As a kid growing up in the 50’s my Dad always made sure Santa filled our stockings with goodies. It was most definitely a simpler time then and what went into the stockings usually wasn’t very pricey but oh it was fun to sit in front of the tree and empty out the contents, wasn’t it? Only Santa knows what kids today expect in their stockings. This is the kind of stocking I had growing up and I found two in an antique shop years ago so I still hang a stocking up every year!

“…and their stockings were hung by the fireplace with care…”

There are several legends and versions of the origin of the tradition of hanging stockings the night before Christmas for Santa Claus to fill; I grew up with the one about the young boys and girls in the Netherlands leaving their wooden clogs filled with straw for the reindeer out on Christmas Eve. Then Sinterclass would leave treats for the children. Later the clogs would become stockings and the saint would become known to all as Santa Claus.

Then there’s the legend of the nobleman with three daughters who lost all of his money through bad inventions and was forced to move into a peasant’s cottage. The girls did all of the washing and cooking and had no chance of marriage because they had no dowries. The girls washed out their stockings and hung them by the fireplace to dry and that night, knowing of the father’s despair stopped by the house after all had gone to bed. He saw the stockings and was inspired to toss three pouches of gold coins carefully down the chimney, each one landing in one of the stockings.

Lastly there’s the North American theory dating back to the XIX Century; Some believe that stockings hung by the fireplace was first mentioned by writer, George Webster in a story about a visit from Santa Claus and in an illustration by Thomas Nast.

What did you find in your Christmas stocking? I found all kinds of goodies like:

A tangerine or orange was always in the toe
Yo-yo
A card game like Old Maid or Go Fish
Jacks and Ball set
Candy canes
Hershey’s chocolate kisses
Crayons or markers
Chocolate coins
Cellophane packet of cat’s eyes marbles
Licorice

I wonder what Finley Ray expects to find in her stocking this year?

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Count Down Christmas-11 Days To Go-Are You Ready?

Posted in Amuse-bouche du jour, BY THE WAY, tagged angel, Christmas, Christmas tree, New York City, Tree topper on December 15, 2012| 1 Comment »

OK less than 2 weeks and things are moving along at a rapid pace! We’ve covered Hostess Gifts, Cookies, Decorations, Gifts for Everyone, Candy Cane Dust, Holiday Advice, Holiday Humor and we’re not done yet! Today the Christmas thought of the day is:

TREE TOPPERS

Isn’t the best part of decorating a Christmas tree putting the topper on? Growing up I remember how my Dad would cut the tip of the tree to make sure that the Angel would fit. She was beautiful (well have you ever seen an ugly angel?) and had a gold mesh skirt that had 4 or 5 tiny white lites wired into it. And she held a candle in her hand. We had that Angel for a really long time; When I got married my parents gave me the Angel and I put it on top of every Christmas tree we had. After I got divorced and moved to New York City, I gave the Angel to my daughter and hope she will continue the tradition. The angel’s skirt is a little ragged but she’s still beautiful.

Just Like The One I Had

We didn’t always have that angel. My earliest memory of a tree topper is one so typical of the 50’s. It looked like this:

Retro Tree Topper

Then we had an angel with blonde hair and behind her was this reflector which was concave; This one has the reflector back however, I think our angel was not plastic but rather more like a doll.

Almost like half a disco ball

So what was on your childhood tree? What do you put on top of the tree now? There are LOTS of options; Vintage, retro, new-manufactured from all kinds of materials. Here are few available for this year’s Christmas tree.