Well, I started out so good on this. And then, work took off in a crazy, busy direction. Somehow (whispering), I’ve managed to avoid the plagues going around there. Even my other “black elderberry” devotee teacher succumbed last week.
I think forcing myself to go to bed early has really helped. And the black elderberry. Managed to stay healthy for my birthday and enjoy a handbell concert that evening.
Enough of all that, let’s play Blogmas Catch Up.
Day 14: Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Well, I’m surrounded by boys over here aside from the cat. And now the boys are young adults. Here’s a snippet picture of what I have for the stockings so far this year. None of them read this blog (that they’ve mentioned to me so I think I’m good). This is a collection of different things for everyone.
Catnip mittens are clearly for the cat. J gets the pfeffernusse cookies each year. Bob Ross page clips are for G. Hunter’s soap is for my husband. Everyone gets a new toothbrush (just one pictured) and batteries. I’m undecided on the t-shirts. They might get wrapped as gifts or I’ll throw them in stockings. I see now I need to focus a bit more on some stocking stuffer items for this year. 
Day 15: Goodies For Others
I’m not good in this category. I remember my mom would spend the weeks leading up to Christmas making all those cookies, pumpkin bread in coffee tins, and who knows what else. Then, we’d drive around to all my aunts and uncles to deliver them sometime the week prior to Christmas. I get hung up when I think of doing this for the neighbors/friends because I start worrying about food allergies/restrictions.
Day 15: Wish List
Hopefully, we all wish for peace on Earth and kindness to spread around the world. Aside from that, I have a fairly long wish list this year that I posted on the fridge. I made us all fill out a paper. Instead of boring you with mine, let me show you what I get to work with from my husband: 
He’s getting a new blanket for the naps/more sleep answer. Maybe some lottery tickets for the more money answer. SIGH. The boys lists aren’t much better. Underwear for all! And when I threatened that, G told me he actually needed some. At least, it’s an easy item to buy, right?
Day 17: Party Food Likes/Dislikes and Ideas
Sigh, it’s been awhile since I’ve been to a proper Christmas party. Is this where we all mumble: stupid COVID!? Anyway, back when get-togethers were more taken for granted..our two go-to appetizers to take to a party were: bacon wrapped little smokies (or you can use the grocery store crescent roll dough but the bacon is better!) and/or a homemade cheeseball.
super easy recipe:
take two 8 oz packs of cream cheese, soften, beat in one package of Hidden Valley Ranch dip mix. Form into ball, roll in chopped pecans. Or sometimes I’ve done parsley. It’s best if you can let it chill several hours in the fridge.
Serve with crackers. For me, it’s not official unless served with these Sociable crackers but it’s good with any crackers. P.S. amazon link for reference only, please don’t pay $10 for said crackers, they aren’t worth that price!
I like pretty much all party foods with the exception of olives. YUCK. Also, not a huge fan of salmon though I can get through smoked salmon.
As far as ideas: I’ve always thought it would be fun to host a Hot Chocolate Open House party around the holidays. Just make up a bunch of hot chocolate, have toppings, and a few sugar cookies. Do it on some Saturday and have people stop by and say hello while they’re out running around. Maybe someday I’ll manage to be together enough to do that.
Day 18 Favorite Christmas Food and Drink
I also love most appetizer foods like the summer sausage/crackers/cheese spreads. I’ve been trying to stick to water as much as I can lately but would be happy to find some cranberry sprite somewhere.
Hot chocolate.
Might have a glass of Prosecco on Christmas Eve.
I don’t know.
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Kind of a short post but I think it gets me all caught up and ready for tomorrow’s topic. What’s your favorite holiday food and/or drink?
Don’t forget to check in over at Tamy’s blog, Chasing My Life where she’s hosting Blogmas! Lots of great food/drink ideas over that way.
I spy that awesome soap! Where did you get it?! *teehee*
I’m really liking stocking stuffers more and more as years go by. Now that the kids are adults, there are so many smaller gifts that are appreciated and make the stockings fun to fill. Can you believe we went the first MANY years of our kids lives without stockings at Christmas??? We never had them when I was a kid so it was just not something I carried over to my own family. My kids were probably 10 and 8, if not older, before I was like ‘Hey, let’s do this.’ Doh!
I was hoping you’d notice that 🙂 I need to go leave you a review now that I’ve used and loved my other soaps. Wow, I can’t imagine not doing stockings but you probably had other traditions that we’ve never done. I always liked stockings because as a kid, you could look in there first and not have to wait that awful wait for everyone else to wake up. LOL. We’ve had all our stockings for so long but my children won’t let me get us all new ones (I don’t want a new one since mine came from my late mother-in-law. However,sometimes I think it would be nice to have those matchy ones).
No, we didn’t have any other traditions, just Santa leaving presents at night and we opened them all in the morning. When I was a kid, the neighbors that we were good friends with had stockings and I thought they were rich or something. LOL
I hear ya on the matchy stockings! The ones we have now are the not the original ones, but we have had these since nearly the beginning of us finally doing stockings so yeah, they are sentimental and I’ll keep using them. A couple years ago I considered just ditching stockings, didn’t think the menfolk cared one way or the other, but both Boychildz were firmly against it. “Noooo! I actually like the surprise of what’s in the stockings!” Well, okay, then maybe act like it, at least a little bit….? lol