Photo Courtesy of Clipart Heaven
Article Courtesy of Organized Christmas
It's coming, it's really coming ... it's here? Oh, NO! The Saturday
after Thanksgiving can be a time of flagging motivation. How is it that,
despite cooking for three solid days, the leftovers give out less than 48 hours
after the Thanksgiving feast?
In spite of all the preparations, no one feels really prepared for the
Christmas season to come--and after the Thanksgiving holiday, it's no longer
possible to avoid the obvious. Here it comes!
It's natural enough when you think about it, but nobody expects to be a
bit depressed at this point of the season. But for many of us, there's no
"good enough" when it comes to the holiday season. No matter where we
are, plans, prep or purchases, this is the week we feel the strain.
Have you made a Christmas planner, gotten organized for gifts and giving,
and done more holiday prep than ever before--but still, you feel anxious?
Time to relax--with a catch-up weekend!
Here's the good news. First, you're not alone. Second, what you're
feeling is normal. Third, it's going to go away. Judging from years of
experience, lots of us enter a holiday slump right about now, but it's
short-lived.
Think of it as being on a big, big toboggan at the top of the hill. The
hill is the holiday season. This year, we've loaded all the things we're going
to need onto the toboggan with us, and we're going to be thankful for all that
work when we reach the bottom of the hill.
But right now? It's as if we're trembling on the brink, not really sure
we're ready to careen our way to the bottom. "Have I done enough? Am I
ready? Will everything go right?" runs through our mental Muzak.
Go ahead, shove off! It's the indecision that's causing the strain.
Once we surrender to the season, start the ride down the hill, we'll settle
back and enjoy it.
Ready? Reach for some holiday motivation. This weekend, do the things
that jumpstart your holiday feeling. Play the special carols music. Bake the
family cookie recipe. Take in a live performance at church.
Once you get rolling, you're going to enjoy the ride. Time to
celebrate!
To Do Today
It's Catch-Up Weekend! Big cyber-sigh!
Whether it's gifts or decorating, cards or cooking, catch up on what
needs doing to create an organized Christmas.
But be good to yourself! Lighten up the load and lighten your hearts,
because we're almost there.
To Read Today
Putting up the Christmas tree spawns a snowfall of tiny parts: extra
lights and fuses, ornament hooks and hangers. Even worse? These little items
tend to go wandering. Never there when you need them, yet found all over the
house during the first weeks of the New Year.
Keep these small necessities close at hand with a simple solution: an
under-tree storage box. Wrapped like a holiday gift, it's a decorative way to
corral Christmas tree clutter!
Christmas Clutter Cure:
Under-Tree Storage Box
Christmas is a time of cheer ... and clutter! You'll find Christmas
clutter lining each box and storage bin as you pull out holiday decorations.
An ornament box spills over with hanging hooks and zip ties. The tiny
red-tipped light bulbs you need to make light strands blink. Special tools and
assembly sheets for your "nevergreen" artificial tree. The dandy
gun-shaped light tester, complete with instructions and replacement bulbs. Left
to their own devices, they scatter around the house, never to be found when you
need them--but popping up to haunt you right into the new year.
How to bring order to Christmas clutter? An under-tree storage box.
To keep Christmas clutter in line, it's as simple as a special wrapped
box placed under the Christmas tree. When closed, it looks like just another
gift. Inside, it holds everything you need to trim the tree, deck the halls and
keep the lights shining bright.
Under Tree Storage Box
To make your under-tree storage box, choose a sturdy, smallish lidded
box. Our 8-inch square box is right-sized for this purpose.
When wrapping the under-tree storage box, reach for heavy, durable gift
wrap. Good-quality foil wrap, like these lovely patterns from Martha Stewart's
Home Office Holiday Collection by Avery, will stand up to years of use.
(Transparency note: the folks from Staples were gracious enough to send
me these samples to evaluate. You can find them only at Staples .... but hurry,
before they're gone!)
Choose a pattern and color that have some legs, too. This year's trendy
green-and-purple owl design will look dated in a few years, so stick with a
classic color and pattern.
Wrap the box and box lid separately, and decorate with ribbon to
resemble a wrapped gift.
Tucked away under the tree, it'll keep Christmas clutter under control
and at your fingertips all season long. Better, you'll know where to find the
ornament hooks next year!
Today's Recipe
banana bread recipe
There's a reason this Banana-Nut Bread recipe has been loved for
generations: taste! Not to mention that it does a great job of repurposing ripe
bananas!
Bake in small loaves for holiday giving, storing the Banana Nut Bread
in the freezer until ready to use. To freeze, wrap each loaf in plastic wrap,
then place wrapped loaves in a freezer food storage bag.
Banana Nut Bread will stay fresh in the freezer for 4 to 6 weeks.
Moist and flavorful, this traditional nut bread freezes well ... and
kids (of all ages) love it! Try it toasted and spread with peanut butter!
To make banana nut bread for holiday gifts, use mini- or small sized
loaf pans. After baking, cool loaves completely, then wrap in plastic food
storage wrap. Wrap with a second layer of food wrap, then freeze baked loaves
in freezer food storage bags.
Frozen loaves thaw quickly, making it easy to assemble gift baskets or
quick hostess gifts for holiday parties.
Ingredients
1⁄3 cupsugar, granulated
1⁄3 cupbutter, unsalted
2 eggs
1 1⁄2 cupmashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1⁄3 cupwater
1 2⁄3 cupflour, all-purpose
1 teaspoonbaking soda
1⁄2 teaspoonsalt
1⁄4 teaspoonbaking powder
1⁄2 cupwalnuts, chopped
Instructions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of one large loaf pan or
three small mini-loaf pans.
Cream sugar and softened butter in mixing bowl. Add eggs and beat on
low until blended. Stir in bananas and water.
In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder.
Stir in remaining ingredients just until blended. Do not over-beat. Fold in
nuts.
Pour batter into pan, and bake large loaf 55-70 minutes, smaller loaves
45 to 60 minutes. Bread is done when toothpick inserted in center comes out
clean.
Cool in pan for five minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely
before wrapping.
Notes
To freeze, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, then place in zipper food
storage bags.
Freeze banana bread loaves for up to 6 weeks.
