Is anyone else just not feeling it this year? I am trying to get in the mood. I love Christmas Lights. I love that our neighbors have all gone ALL out this year. Yards are full of lights, blow up characters, the whole shebang. It’s very nice and cheery.
Right around Thanksgiving Logan and I did some decorating inside the house, but since it’s just the three of us this year I decided to do minimal decorating. Our mantel is pretty much it.
During our lunch breaks Michael and I went and picked up a tree and then later Logan and I decorated it. We got a little tree this year. I like little trees sometimes and we aren’t entertaining this year like we did last year so it’s nice to just kinda do a little bit.
We put Logan’s angel on top 🙂 –I think he made it at daycare when he was like 2! <3
Kitties were loving the tree. They watched it all afternoon. Hopefully they won’t destroy it while we sleep!
Then I made dinner. I wanted to share this recipe because it’s pretty decent and nice for a cold, rainy night.
Cheddar Ham Soup recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced peeled potatoes
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup sliced carrot
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1-1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
- 1 cup frozen peas
Directions
- 1. In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes, water, carrot and onion. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook until tender, 10-15 minutes.
- 2. Meanwhile, in another saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add the milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in cheese until melted. Stir into undrained potato mixture. Add ham and peas; heat through.
Nutrition Facts
1 cup: 331 calories, 20g fat (12g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 772mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 19g protein.
Logan is getting older now so we have to wait to put any presents under the tree. Usually we’d just put them under there! But little bug can read now so…..! 😉
Vickie
Our were up a week early this year. I did more than normal, adding wreaths.
I made major changes which has really impacted me in a positive way.
I switched to a permanent smaller tree and it has made a huge difference (in how I feel about dealing with a tree each year). It is a very, very skinny 5’ tree and we put it UP on something. Up is key IMO.
The first several years we put it on a 2’x2’x18” wooden box wrapped in upholstery fabric and I wrapped tulle around the stand. Last year we figured out it fits perfectly on the window seat in the living room (with the cushion removed). From outside it looks like a full tree. So that is the new spot, it takes up NO floor space.
I also went thru all the Xmas decorations several years ago and purged big time, big and small. I got rid of house snd yard things that I was just not feeling anymore. What I kept, we use 100%.
I saved/packed one box for each kid with their ornaments.
What was left, ornaments, I only saved what I really loved. And then I bought things I loved (75% clearance) to fill in/make three sets. So every year I have different decorations. A 5’ tree does not take a lot, the three sets fit in three small boxes with ribbon and picks included.
This year I discovered a lot of old wreaths in our attic. Several at 36” and one at 48”. We redid these and they are now hanging all over the house.
We started putting lights and big outdoor ornaments on a tree in our backyard last year. (I found the ornaments in a neighbor’s dumpster when their kids were cleaning out their house.)
And we put 4 small wreaths in key front windows.
I use timers. There is something charming about having everything magically click on.
So I am just in a totally different place now at 59 than I was say 20 years ago. I wish I would have purged/rebuilt then.
Lisa Eirene
Those are great tips! I definitely need to go through and organized my Christmas stuff. I buy stuff on clearance after the holiday and then the next year I am surprised. LOL I’ve been thinking about getting a fake tree every year…especially the ones that already have lights on it! The worst part for me is putting the tree in the stand and putting on the lights. The rest I like.
We don’t have a ton of outdoor stuff. I have one little christmas tree made of lights.
Oh and I agree on the timers! They are so nice!
Vickie
I have the red/green bins for Xmas and orange bins for Halloween and they go in designated spots in attic. Those help my husband a lot. He is the attic person.
My sets of ornaments are in clear bins in an upstairs closet so I can SEE sets.
Sarah
We were the opposite, even though we aren’t having parties or family over, we have gone ALL OUT on decorations. Our neighbors and us are in a bit of a friendly competition, I am loving the spirit this year!
Lisa Eirene
That’s great! I feel like a lot of people are doing that! I love seeing all the decorations.