Erin,

You know I find your dilemma very interesting. Every year I’m very similar to you. The list seems endless and there is never enough time to complete everything before Christmas. This year I have been in the most upbeat mood about Christmas with no real particular reason. The weird part is I have not spent a dime or have put any effort into this holiday season. I don’t care to fight with the holiday shoppers or wrapping a million gifts for that matter. I have not decided what cards to send if any this year. My tree is in my mother’s shed almost an hour away, and I really don’t care to hassle with all the fake limbs anyway. However, every day I get in my car and crank the usual holiday jingle and sing to the top of my lungs. When I get to my destination my joy comes out in the words I choose and in my actions. I found that what makes you happy around the holidays may not always be the norm. The holiday spirit comes in different ways, and I think you should just skip a few things on your list and let your mind may catch up to the spirit you are used to. Whatever happens, may you and CK have a wonderful Christmas!

Amber

I hear you too! I haven’t done any Christmas shopping, I haven’t even purchased Christmas cards yet, let alone find all the addresses for the recipients. Haven’t baked a single cookie or even started a list of things I need to bake. The only think I’ve done so far is hang a small wreath on my apartment door. The two week Christmas crunch is on! Good luck with your evil to-do list too!

I’m sorry you’ve been so frazzled Erin. I don’t even do a fraction of what you have planned this year, and I’m feeling a little wack-a-doodle myself these days.

Please: if you can fit it in your schedule, get a massage and a nice, lengthy manicure. It will do *wonders* for your mental health, and it will make you pretty too

Okay, I am great at decorating (honest!), resolving conflict (giving in), meeting deadlines (at the LAST possible moment), baking (that one’s true) and gift wrapping (as long as you accept gift bags as wrapping!)

You know all or most of this, but stressing-out makes our memory foggy.

Wear a santa hat and jingle bells while you do everything. (Also wear clothes unless you want to get side-tracked by Chris.) Play Christmas music (like Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” and Louis Armstrong’s “It’s a Wonderful World” and John Lennon’s “So This is Christmas”) or holiday movies every second that you’re awake. Okay, maybe not that much, but alot. Drink lots of hot chocolate and wine, but not at the same time.

Fastest way to decorate your tree (and in a kitty-friendly manner) is to use TONS of the mini-lights that have the remote control so that you can change the pattern they blink in right from the comfort of your sofa. Top the tree with a star, an angel, a wide-ribbon bow, or one of your felt ornaments and the tree is done. If you want to, make bows and place on random boughs of the tree. You can tie them right on the tree limbs, so no hangers needed. Definitely NO tinsel around the kitties. Or poinsettias or lilies. If you don’t have a tree skirt, just get about three yards of fabric. You may or may not have a problem with the kitties and popcorn or cranberries. Eat the popcorn while watching holiday movies and put the cranberries in clear vases, with or without flowers. Check out a really big problem with cats climbing trees all of the way to the top at:
http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp

I also like to string the mini lights on mantles, banisters, around windows, around mirrors and outside. Wreaths go well inside & out. Christmas ornaments in bowls and jingle bells on doorknobs (strung on ribbon) are pretty kitty safe. Use the wire-edged ribbon for everything, as then you can shape your bows. Tie it on anything from chairs, candlesticks, and vases to doorknobs. “Wrap” paintings, photographs or prints that you have on your walls and finish off with ribbon to look like wrapped gifts.

If all of your cards come back with postage due, just save them for next year and send e-cards from Yahoo! Greetings. They even have some cute ones for free.

Just glue and glitter the rest of your felt ornaments. No sewing required. Glue on the ribbon to hang, too.

Christmas shop online – I know a great site: http://www.yummery.com! And books are always good. Gift cards, too, if you are going to be mailing to the recipients and know what they’re interests are.

Gift wrap – Pick one or two colors, but many designs of holiday bags with tissue (and ribbon or bows if you have the time and energy.) I’d go with the colors you picked for your felt ornaments. Same colors for ribbon you use to decorate the tree and your house. You probably know lots of sites to shop online, and it shouldn’t be too late yet to use the more inexpensive shipping options.

Cookies for work party:

Coconut Macaroons Dipped in Chocolate

One bag sweetened shredded coconut
Less than one can sweetened condensed milk
Vanilla or almond extract to taste (one or two tablespoons)
One bag or less semi-sweet, dark, or milk chocolate chips

In one bowl using a wooden spoon, add sweetened condensensed milk to shredded coconut a little at a time until it will stick together, about half of the can. Add vanilla or almond extract. Drop by spoonfuls onto a liberally greased or buttered cookies sheet and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes until just starting to brown. Do not overbake. Cool on racks. Optional: Melt chocolate chips according to package directions in microwave. Dip cooled cookies just halfway in chocolate. Place on racks set over waxed paper on a baking sheet until set. You can also push on the warm cookie with the back of a spoon or your thumb and place a maraschino cherry in center while cookie is still warm. Refrigerate in single layer in tightly sealed container. Take to work on a tray or just use pretty paper plates. If you’re going to give to individuals, skip the chocolate and pack in holiday-print or solid colored Chinese take-out boxes. Do not freeze well.

Baking for Maine:

While you’re watching holiday movies, make quick breads and use the “bake & give” mini or fun-shaped containers from http://www.kingarthurflour.com. When they’re cool, freeze in zip-top bags. Then, when you’re almost ready to leave, wrap individually in red or green plastic wrap, tie with a ribbon, and they will thaw out and stay good even at room temperature until you get to Maine. Also give pre-mixed dry ingredients in jars with a ribbon and a recipe card if you’re really motivated. You can also do Mexican hot chocolate mix in jars with a recipe card attached. (Don’t forget the mini-marshmallows!)

Christmas dinner:

Cocktails or sparkling wine and appetizers, which can be as simple as herbed goat cheese & crackers
Prime rib (small-end, cut from the bone & tied by the butcher; roasted on a rack or rotisserie)
Baked potatoes (we like sour cream & chives)
Salad with croutons and bleu cheese dressing (just 2 or 3 kinds of greens are fine)
Favorite vegetable, like asparagus or creamed peas & pearl onions or peas with sauteed mushrooms
Sauteed mushrooms and au jus (We always add a little pouch of McCormick Au Jus mix and about one cup hot water to the bottom of the roasting pan that has all of the good drippings. We pour off as much of the fat as we can first. I like to sautee the mushrooms in the au jus, my daughter likes them sauteed in butter.)
Dinner rolls or garlic bread
Your favorite wine
Dessert depends on your time and energy, but make-ahead like cheesecake is always good. You can add strawberries or blueberry/cherry pie filling.
Port and/or coffee with your dessert
Peppermint pig
English “crackers”

Post for Erin Cooks:

Your quick breads, appetizer(s), and/or dessert.

Sorry I missed this post on the seventh. Hope something here helps. I LOVE Christmas! And New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day – I love to do everything in black & white & silver!