Christmas Traditions

Let's talk Christmas Traditions!!! I feel like Christmas is the most versatile holiday, there are so many different ways in which people celebrate some draw from their cultural traditions, some from their faith some come up with creative traditions all their own, but have you ever noticed that for christmas we all do something unique! Sure you have the typical family get together present opening but lets talk traditions today! What are your favorite christmas traditions?

One tradition in our family happened last weekend. We were just home last weekend spending time with my parents and grandma and we got together for our families traditional tamale making. Now growing up this was my least favorite tradition, my cousins and I would always try so hard to make plans the day we had to make tamales we tried every way possible to get out of making tamales, but somehow nana and my mom managed to force us into helping (and just to be clear we are talking about a full day of tamale making hands arms deep in masa as we make somewhere around 300 tamales yes 300).

As I got older and moved out of the house I found myself looking forward to going home and making tamales. My cousin Cora who lives on the other side of the country misses those tamale making days as well (come on Cora you know you do). I think it's something about being in a room with family laughing and gossiping about life and all the things going on with everyone. So I think that tradition has found it's way into my heart and will remain with me throughout the years. Even my white boy husband has become accustomed to the tradition of making tamales for Christmas.

Other family traditions include christmas cookie making which I have always taken vary serious from the time I was around 5 or 6.

Opening one christmas present the night before christmas (usually some christmas PJ's)

And of course my all time favorite traditions, my mom's Christmas parties. My mom has the most wonderful christmas parties she decorates the house like a christmas dreamland cottage! Every year she has her daycare families (who I may add are really just an extension of our own personal family, if you were ever in her daycare you know what I mean) come over for tamales and to enjoy christmas music as well as a big surprise from Santa who brings all the kiddos one early christmas present. Then of course our family christmas party where we love to just get together and spend time playing games and singing carols.

Over the years we have also incorporated new traditions as we added Tim to our family. His family has such beautiful Christmas traditions, they go to church on Christmas Eve then open christmas presents on Christmas Eve! (Tim's first christmas with us he was so excited to open Christmas presents on Christmas morning he woke all of us up at 5am Christmas morning to get Christmas started! haha it was like he was 27 going on 5 years old)

What are some of your  family traditions??? Do you do christmas presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morn? What is your families favorite Christmas past time? Are there any special family dishes that you make each year?

Tim and I added a new christmas tradition that we want to include every year, packaging an operation christmas child box (I used to do that all the time growing up and we did it again this year and it was so fun definitely an ongoing tradition for us) Are there any charitable traditions you have? What a wonderful time to spread love a peace to those in need!!!

The Story of the Candy Cane

Happy December!!! Another random Christmas fact for all of you! Have you ever wondered why Candy Canes are a part of this wonderful Christmas Season!!

The story of this popular Christmas candy goes back all the way to 1670 in Cologne Germany. The Cathedral choirmaster needed a remedy for the noise caused by children during his long-winded church sermons during the traditional Christmas Eve service. The choirmaster asked the local candy maker for some sweet sticks to give to the children. In order to justify the practice of giving candy to children during worship services, he asked the candy maker to add a curve to the top of each stick, which would help children remember the shepherds who paid visit to infant Jesus. In addition he used the white color of the converted sticks to teach children about the Christian belief in the sinless life of Jesus. From Germany, the candy cane spread to other parts of Europe where they were handed out during plays reenacting the Nativity.

 The first historical reference to the candy cane being in America goes back to 1847, when a German immigrant called August Imgard decorated the Christmas tree in his Wooster, Ohio home with candy canes. 

About fifty years later the first red-and-white striped candy canes appeared. Around the same time, candy-makers added peppermint and wintergreen flavors to their candy canes and those flavors then became the traditional favorites.

The candy cane is also depicted as a symbol for Christianity the white of the candy cane represents the purity of Jesus and his virgin birth. The bold red stripe represents God’s love. The three fine stripes are said by some to represent the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From its plain early beginnings to its familiar shape and color of today, the candy cane is a symbol of Christmas and a reminder of the meaning of the holiday. 

Merry Christmas go out and eat yourself some candy canes!!! 

For a new holiday tradition before packing away your stocking after christmas is over store one candy cane at the bottom, next time christmas comes around and you begin to decorate your house you will find a surprise to enjoy while decorating!!! 

Sources
http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/candy_canes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_cane
http://www.noelnoelnoel.com/trad/candycane.html

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!!!!!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year and I decided this christmas I'm finally going to enjoy every little detail of the Christmas Season!! To start I'm going to be blogging recipes, traditions, movies, and of course what I love random facts about christmas!! Oh yes I love Christmas!
SO tradition/random fact #1 begins today!

Have you ever wondered why we decorate the house with Poinsettias, oh you have, me too.... well turns out the reason is more than just the bright festive color.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

 "A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

"I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.
Not knowing what else to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.
As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.
Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.
From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season. The plant was brought from Mexico to America in 1836 by Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first American minister to Mexico.  It was introduced to him by Mexicans who called it the "Flower of the Holy Night."  The plant was cultivated in the 1890s by Albert Ecke in California. The city of Ventura, California, is called the "Poinsettia City."  Today, the Poinsettia plant is considered a Christmas symbol and brought into homes in early December. Their beauty remains throughout the holiday season."  

What a cute little story did you know that was the reason we use poinsettia's today?....me either!

The Thanksgiving Rookie

Alright this post is for all you seasoned chefs, ok or for all you who have done thanksgiving countless times, I need your advice this year. I'm making the thanksgiving feast this year for the first time (Tim volunteered me!! surprise surprise), but i'll be honest I'm kind of excited about it, because I love to cook and well because I love good food! I know you're probably reading this and thinking sure you are now, just wait! You are probably right! So I am writing this post to get your advice and tips on making this day a success. My parents and Tim's parents are joining us along with grandma sister, brother in law and his girlfriend, so it will be a full house. Now the main thing on my mind right now is questions about the food:
1. Do you recommend brining the Turkey?
2. I've always wanted to have the Turkey presented on the table. Growing up we always carved it in the kitchen and brought it out on a platter. Do you have any tips on carving it at the table or should I just swap that idea?
3. What dishes do you recommend making ahead of time like the day before?
4. Do you have any tips for keeping everything hot?
5. When should I begin to cook the 15lb Turkey do I really need to wake up at 5am for that?
Any advice you can give me will be so appreciated I would love to hear your tips and tricks!!!

Oh and for some fun thanksgiving trivia check out this old post!! 

Moments that make you blush!!

Do you ever experience an embarrassing awkward moment that just makes you blush instantly, I do too often! Let's talk about some awkward moments that happen to us all! (if these things never happen to you, you must be lying)
In no particular order.

1. Forgetting someone’s name when introducing them
2. Tripping over in public
3. Getting someone’s name wrong
4. Getting food stains or splashes on your top
5. Waving at someone and they don’t see you
6. Getting food stuck in your teeth
7. Thinking someone’s waving at you when they are not
8. Being late
9. Forgetting where you parked
10. Burping accidentally
11. Getting lost
12. Having sweat patches
13. Snorting while laughing
14. Flies/ trouser zip being undone
15. Swallowing food the wrong way
16. Stalling at a red light
17. Picking the shopping cart that only want's to turn left

Can you think of anymore to add to this list?

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving ~Albert Einstein

One of the activities in my life that brings me most joy is riding my bike!!! My husband bought me this adorable Yellow 1970's Vintage  Schwinn Bicycle. To this day some of my favorite memories are of something as simple as riding around on my bike! If it's been a while since you have been on a bike I recommend you get out there and ride, it will put an instant smile on your face! I mean what a great invention nothing says it better than this ~ "The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine"~JH

 Sean Connery on a bike

 Ava Gardner on a bike

 Roy Rogers on a bike

 Rita Hayworth on a bike 1940

 Sidney Poitier rides a bike. Sydney Pollack directs

 Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Ralph Bellamy and Luella Gear ride bikes. 1938

 Marlene Dietrich rides a bike. 1942

 Shirley Temple rides a bike. 1936

 Bing Crosby on a bike. 

 Betty Grable rides a bike. 1935

 Elvis Presley rides a bike. And signs autographs on a kid's head. 1959

 Susan Peters rides a bike. And gazes out to sea. 1942

 Alfred Hitchcock rides a bike. And signals. 1972

 Carole Lombard and Fritz ride a bike.

Elizabeth Taylor rides a bike

Grace Bradley rides a bike

 Ingrid Bergman rides a bike.

 Frank Sinatra rides a bike. 1963

 Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon ride bikes.

 Geneviève Bujold rides a bike

Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart ride a bike

Charles Boyer and Katharine Hepburn ride bikes.

 Twiggy on a bike.

 Sophia Loren on a bike. 

 Audrey Hepburn on a bike

 Audrey on a bike

 wearing a dress and heals on a bike classy

 Albert Einstein on a bike

 Best friends on a bike. 

 Grace Kelly on a bike.

 Humphrey Bogart on a bike. 

Marilyn Monroe on a bike 

Ginger Rogers on a bike

Also to look stylish while riding your bike this blog is dedicated completely to looking good on a bike, from what you wear to the accessories you add to your bike! check it out!

An Indian Summer

Are any of the rest of you fans of Indian Summers. The Indian summer is the time in the fall where there is unusually warmer weather right before winter. I have to say that this is probably my favorite time of year. In the past I would have said that I love summertime the best, but with the growing crowds that seem to charge into San Diego during the summer I think the Indian Summer is now my favorite. It's the time of year where you get to enjoy all the perks of fall such as delicious pumpkin treats, and celebrating halloween and other fall festivities, but the weather is still so warm that you can wear dresses and sandals into the evening! If you surf the water is still warm enough you don't have to full suit it and you can still lay out on the beach and get a tan without fighting the summer crowds. Plus good waves come in swell after swell during the fall which is loads of fun!! I'm spending the month up in the Bay Area right now as I'm finishing up school, and I am especially enjoying the leaves that are turning golden colors (we don't really get that in San Diego) while continuing to enjoy the nice warm weather.

I know my love for the warm weather isn't shared by all, I hear people say all the time say I wish it was colder so we can wear our cute fall clothes. So what's your opinion are you loving the warm weather or are you ready for the cold? 

Accomplishments to Celebrate

Go ahead and feel like you are on top of the world!

Do you ever feel like you tend to focus on your flaws and failures rather than your successes. Sometimes I catch myself looking in the mirror and criticizing myself I look at my small but growing wrinkles, the tired worn out look in my eyes, my curvy figure and I think tons of negative thoughts about myself, like "girlfriend you have seen better days" or "looking a little old". I know none of you ever do that! but my question today is why do we see ourself in such critical light. I'm now 27 years old which to some is very young to others very old but to me just feels like where did the time go wasn't it just yesterday that I was 22.

The average life expectancy in the United States is 78.2 so assuming that I will live an average life length I am 1/3 of my way through life. How weird to think of that I've lived 1/3 of life. I can't help but wonder did I make the most of it? Did I make some small impact in the world, did I accomplish anything.

You may sit there and do the same exact thing to yourself, but I'm challenging you today to start thinking of your successes instead of your failures.

I have friends who are very close to me that I discuss life with all the time some of those friends are single some are married with children some own a home some rent apartments some live with parents or family and some graduated from graduate school while others went as far as high school. In the discussions I have had with friends I have noticed a theme we all see the grass greener on the other side. Some of these friends feel unaccomplished because they never got a degree, even though these same friends have accomplished so much, such as finding a husband that loves them, giving birth to a beautiful child, buying their first house. To these friends I say look around you at the people you love your family and know that you are brilliant, loved and accomplished.

Then on the other hand I have friends who feel like failures because of failed relationships (where they still remain single), renting apartments or living with family members, struggling to make ends meet. To these women I say you are brilliant brave and accomplished, because while these women may not have the american dream yet they have accomplished so much, a lot of them have a degree bachelors/masters, some of them have traveled and seen so many places, some were brave and moved away from home when all of their friends stayed behind. Every person I know has something in their life that they have accomplished and it's time to stop looking at the failures and start celebrating the successes because even if you think it's small there is someone else who thinks it's great and probably envy's what you have done.

So friends and family next time you look in the mirror say thank you to God and yourself for the life you have lived, look at those wrinkles and say thank you for giving me a reason to smile and laugh, look at those worn out eyes and say thank you for the wisdom you have, look at those curves and say thank you for keeping me healthy! Look at yourself to your innermost part and say job well done!

The emotions wrapped into going for the Gold!

So who wasn't hooked to the TV the last couple weeks watching the epic moments of the 2012 Summer Olympics. I decided that from now on when people ask what my favorite sport to watch on TV is I'm going to have to say the summer olympics. Seems strange not to me, lets face it i'm not a sports fan though I try I get so easily distracted when sports are on, I just can't sit still. However for some reason when the olympics are on I'm glued to the TV and I feel like so is the rest of the world even the non-sports fans. So what did you think did you enjoy these emotional moments!!