week 4 ~ holiday challenge

Wrapping up my journey through the Holiday Challenge ~


share a toast ~ I don't know when it started but my husband & I always toast to something when we are at a restaurant.

inner child ~ We have been playing hide & seek and now that there are nerf guns in the house, no one is safe

leave the dishes in the sink ~ I have been leaving the dishes in the sink because I have been doing copious amount of cooking. My darling husband and sometimes the teenagers have been washing like mad things.

pamper your kids ~ making sure that the sick one's have tissue, tea, orange juice and are resting. Good thing we have quilts in the house!

under the mistletoe ~ Everyday we greet each other in the morning, when saying goodbye and when we return home we greet again with hugs and kisses.

make space for what matters ~ I have stopped what I was doing to listen & help whoever has asked.

dwell in possibilities ~ I look forward to the New Year and all that is has in store. Very exciting

The 28 days are over and it was a pleasure each day, even when it was something different

week 3 ~ Holiday Challenge

I have continued to participate in the Holiday Challenge. I take time to pause and see thing in new ways and approach the day with a goal.

Week 3 was fun because it involved my youngest daughter. She was still in school during the day but what fun we had when she was home in the evenings. Our animals even got into the act!

kids plan dinner ~ My darling youngest daughter planned a party for a few of her friends. We enjoyed ham sandwiches on croissants, fruit and veggies. We made and decorated sugar cookies and sipped hot cocoa.

local food ~ I unfortunately never got to the farmers market but I do frequent a grocery store that stocks many items from local farmers...does that count?

cocoa ~ This is the recipe I used to make the hot cocoa for the party

Crock Pot Hot Cocoa

6 cups whole milk (makes this thick and creamy)

2 cups cream

14oz can condensed milk

2 cups chocolate chips (Guittard)

¼ cup cocoa

Place all ingredients into a crock pot and whisk occasionally till chocolate chips melt – 1-2 hours

When warm and chocolaty, add 1-2 tsp vanilla to your liking

Serve in a tea cup or mug. Garnish with marshmallows and mini chocolate chips.

If you have leftovers, keep refrigerated and heat individual servings in microwave

move your body ~ I have begun walking again. Making time for exercise is hard but worth it. Not a New Year's Resolution but a Lifetime Resolution.

starry solstice walk ~ We enjoyed the twinkly lights, playing in the fallen leaves of our tree and the brisk cold air.

be still ~ This was dangerous, I fell asleep and so did the bunny



hide and seek ~ This is one of our favorite past-times when everyone is home. It all starts when someone locks someone out of the house. The word spreads and everyone scrambles and locks the other doors. Eventually a key is found and the games begin. We all know where all the hiding spots are but it is oh so much fun.

Only one more week of Challenges.

week 2 ~ Holiday Challenge

More fun daily challenges came in the mail for the second week of the Holiday Challenge

cuddle ~ while watching holiday movies and hockey. The best reason to make a quilt wouldn't you agree?

make ~ A sign for my door found here.

sing ~ Sing-along with our piano player.
 Jingle Bells, We Wish you a Merry Christmas and Silent Night

write ~ Thank you and holiday wishes



giving wish list ~ Donations for Ronald McDonald House.
My husband came up with the idea for his yearly donation of an electronic gadget donation to one of his clients. For each donated toy they would receive one raffle ticket. We were able to collect 50 toys for the Ronald McDonald House here in San Diego.

ask for help ~ from my college students

make one corner just right ~ Our tree with ornaments collected over the last 25 years.

Merry Christmas Eve

week 1 ~ Holiday Challlenge

 I am participating in The Hectic to Harmonious 28 day Challenge presented for free by Laura Thompson Brady. Each day I have an e-mail with a challenge for that day. The first week set the tone for me and my home.

How do you want to feel ~ calm
How do you want your children to feel ~ happy
 I approached the first two challenges by remembering that if I am not calm no one else is. Our liquid amber tree is a good example of taking life in stride. It is also an example of change. I think I got it at it's most beautiful.

Cross 3 things off your to do list ~
This was easy:
1- No advent calendar. It is hectic to purchase 3-6 small items for each day leading up to Christmas. We do have our advent calendar up. It is a beautiful tabletop house. My 10 year-old is a little disappointed.
2 - We are a family of eight people with 4 in college so Christmas will be smaller this year. We are only exchanging with our kids.
3- It is rather a scaled down to-do. The youngest member of the family wanted a holiday party. It is now a simple hot cocoa and movie get together. Everyone is happy.

Read holiday story ~ We've been reading and watching holiday stories. Sound of Music, Home Alone and the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas are favorites

Tell own holiday story ~ Both my brother and I are born in the month of December. When my parents brought us home from the hospital they set up our carriage under the Christmas tree. It is there that we spent our first days.

Holiday anchor ~ words from the Dali Lama, "There are only two days of the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live."

Light a candle ~ While in my elving room I light a scented candle. It makes the room so cozy

This is probably something I will do each holiday season.