Nashville Wife

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Christmas

Holiday Baking: Gingerbread Cookies and Royal Icing

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Soft gingerbread cookies recipe

Growing up with a mom who was raised by European parents, gingerbread was a big part of our Christmas celebration. Every December, we made gingerbread houses and spent hours baking and decorating dozens of homemade gingerbread cookies. We kept plenty for ourselves and shared the rest with the neighbors. When I married Mr. Handsome, I was saddened to discover that gingerbread wasn’t a part of his family’s holiday traditions. After all, who can resist a perfectly baked gingerbread cookie?

I really want our children to grow up enjoying gingerbread as much as I do, so I have kept the traditional alive and well by making gingerbread cookies every year. (We also make sugar cookies, since those are Mr. Handsome’s favorite.)

This year, I told myself at Thanksgiving that I wasn’t going to do any holiday baking, both because I am trying to eat healthy for the baby’s sake and because I’m about ready to pop. But when I was at the store last week and walked past the molasses and mini M&M’s, I just couldn’t take it. I had to make gingerbread cookies. It was a tiring process but completely worth the effort.

For those who love gingerbread as much as I do (or maybe you haven’t ever tried it–gasp!), my gingerbread and royal icing recipes are below. What’s your favorite type of Christmas cookie?…

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Christmas Tree Chaos

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While visiting Mr. Handsome’s family for Thanksgiving, everyone met at a Christmas tree farm (which also had live reindeer–see my November 28th post) so those who live in the area could pick out Christmas trees. The tree selection wasn’t great, so we ended up stopping at a tree lot. Mr. Handsome and I were poking fun at them because it took so long for everyone to choose trees. And it wasn’t that they were walking around the lot looking at a bunch of different trees…

Within the few minutes, Mr. Handsome’s youngest brother and his wife were sure that they wanted a 10-foot tree for $125. After about 25 minutes of discussion about size and type, the other couples decided to save money and go with the $25 Scotch pine trees. Then for another 15 minutes, Mr. Handsome’s parents (and two youngest sisters) and his second oldest sister and her husband went back and forth between three Scotch pine trees before each household came to a consensus. …

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Christmas Music

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The day after Thanksgiving, I jumped in the car at 8am to do a few hours of Black Friday shopping, and the first thing I noticed (aside from the frost on the windshield and the frigid morning air) was that quite a few radio stations had suddenly started playing Christmas music. We still had turkey and stuffing leftovers in the fridge and pie crumbs on the table, but Thanksgiving was over, and Christmas had officially begun.

Let’s get a discussion going about Christmas music. What are your favorite songs, and when do you start listening to them? My favorites are “The Little Drummer Boy,” “O Holy Night,” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” I’m a traditionalist who doesn’t pull out the Christmas carols until the beginning of December.

Gift Ideas Galore

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Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, but finding gifts for all the folks on your list can be a challenge. To make it easier on myself, I keep a running list on my phone of gift ideas for family and friends. As I think of things throughout the year that a particular person would need or want, or as people mention items they would like to have, I write them down. It makes holiday gift giving so much easier! Here are a few of my best suggestions:

Something Homemade

Every year, Mr. Handsome and I make small, homemade gifts for our family members and close friends, often in addition to larger presents. Ideas that we have done in the past include: homemade BBQ sauce (from my Buffalo Wild Wings Style Wings recipe), jars of apple butter–using our recipe, homemade scarves, paintings, and Christmas wreaths (tutorial coming soon).

Something Practical

One way to come up with winning gift ideas is to think of what the people in your life really need. Maybe it’s a digital compass because they recently bought a car that doesn’t have one and have discovered they can’t live without it (my mother-in-law). Or perhaps all the fry pans in their kitchen are hand-me-downs from your husband’s bachelor days, and every time you visit their house, you feel bad for passing down peeling Teflon pans (my brother-in-law). And how about that person who is missing half their measuring cups, or doesn’t have a non-rusted cheese grater, or minces garlic by hand because they haven’t yet discovered a garlic press? The possibilities are endless, but if you can think of something that someone desperately needs, you’ll be a gift-giving hero!

Give the Gift of Safety

Last year, my brother and his wife gave everyone vehicle emergency kits. What a great idea! You can purchase them at your local auto parts store. Some of the must-have items include a first-aid kit, a tire gauge, jumper cables, a flashlight and extra batteries, and a combo seatbelt cutter and window breaker–which should be kept within reach of the driver’s seat.

Coffee

Any coffee lovers out there? Several weeks ago, I was perusing the home goods aisles at TJ Maxx and came across a section of coffee. The smell was divine! It just so happens that Mr. Handsome’s grandmother is a huge coffee drinker. Her favorite quote is, “Why drink water when you can drink coffee?” So I chose a bag of beans for her Christmas gift. One thing to remember is that some people don’t have a coffee grinder. When in doubt, err on the side of caution, and buy pre-ground coffee.

Can you think of any gift ideas that I haven’t mentioned? Go ahead and share them as a comment, as I’m sure we could all use more suggestions.

Christmas Shoes

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A few days ago, I was sitting on the bleachers watching Mr. Handsome show off his amazing basketball skills in the league he is part of. Most of the players are married, so us ladies enjoy chatting during the games.

One of the gals is a second grade teacher at a nearby school, and she told a story about a student of hers.

“One of my students has been wearing a brand new pair of tennis shoes since he came back from Christmas break,” she shared. “They are three sizes too big, so he is always asking me to tighten the laces. A few weeks ago, I struck up a conversation with him and found out he had indeed received them for Christmas.”

“‘Those are beautiful shoes!'” I told him. “‘What else did you get for Christmas?”’ With pure joy, he proceeded to list all his presents, which included that pair of shoes, two new shirts, his ‘own’ bottle of shampoo, and his ‘own’ toothbrush. He was so thrilled that I couldn’t help but smile, but when I finished talking to him, I had to turn away to compose myself.”

All of us were tearing up as she finished the story. I just couldn’t stand thinking about that sweet little boy being without a toothbrush, so Mr. Handsome and I decided to give a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste to each of her students. She said the kids were absolutely thrilled.

Thinking back to my own childhood, I can tell you I wouldn’t have been that excited about receiving hygiene items for Christmas. Sometimes I forget that there are people out there who have so little. May we all remember not to take anything for granted, even something as seemingly small and insignificant as a toothbrush.

Christmas Contest Answers

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I hope you enjoyed taking part in the Christmas carol game I posted on Christmas Eve. You all did impressively well! The correct answers are below.

The reader who took the least amount of time to come up with the answers was Laura. Laura, shoot me an email with your mailing address, and I’ll send you some Christmas goodies. I’ll know it’s you if you’re able to tell me how many seconds it took you to complete the game. (I removed the comment where you reported your time.)

1. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
2. 12 Days of Christmas
3. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. Joy to the World
5. O Holy Night
6. Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
8. Away in a Manger
9. Here Comes Santa Claus
10. O Little Town of Bethlehem
11. Jingle Bells
12. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
13. Deck the Halls (also called Sing We Joyous)
14. Carol of the Bells
15. Silver Bells

Christmas Contest

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I want to wish you all of you who celebrate a very merry Christmas! May you enjoy spending time with family and friends and celebrating Christ’s birth.

In the spirit of the season, I have a little game for us to play. I have pasted one or two lines from 15 popular Christmas songs. Grab a pen and paper, and see how quickly you can figure out the names of all the songs. In the comments section below, post the answers and the time it took to get them. I’ll wait until Monday to release the comments so everyone has a chance to play. The winner will receive a special late Christmas gift. Ready, Set, Go!

1. Good tidings we bring for you and your kin

2. Seven swans a swimming

3. Faithful friends who are dear to us

4. While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

5. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ’til He appeared and the soul felt its worth

6. In your palace walls, mighty king

7. The fire is slowly dying

8. Bless all the dear children in they tender care

9. Bells are ringin’, children singin’, all is merry and bright

10. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight

11. Bells on bobtail ring

12. And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men

13. Sing we joyous, all together

14. Words of good cheer, from everywhere, filling the air

15. Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch

Mr. Handsome’s Christmas Carols: ‘Away in a Manger’

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For those who enjoyed Mr. Handsome’s guitar rendition of “Silent Night,” you’ll be happy to hear that I have another Christmas carol video to share. This one is “Away in a Manger,” also on guitar.

If you’re wondering what’s up with the trolls, I’ll admit I don’t really know. I wanted to post something festive, and these Christmas trolls made me laugh, so I figured y’all would enjoy them, too.

Gift Ideas for Your Outdoorsman

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Yesterday I shared videos of Mr. Handsome’s guitar rendition of “Silent Night.” Today I have a written guest post from him that I think you’ll really enjoy. Even if you aren’t looking for a gift for an outdoorsman, I encourage you to read it just for a laugh. The little jokes he includes are a great showcase of his witty personality.

 

Finding The Perfect Gift for Your Outdoorsman

Choosing the perfect Christmas gift for your outdoorsman doesn’t have to be difficult. If he likes to hike, fish, hunt, backpack, canoe, kayak, mountain climb, or just watch The Outdoor Channel, these are gift ideas that he is guaranteed to love.

Headlamp

When an outdoorsman is in his element (the outdoors) it’s easy for him to completely lose track of time. It is not uncommon for an outdoorsman to find himself in the middle of the forest or lake after dark without any source of light. Buy him a good headlight or flashlight so he can find his way back home to you.

Knives

If your man loves the great outdoors, he can never have too many knives, mostly because it’s so easy to lose or ruin them. Whether he drops his knife in the lake, leaves it in the rain, runs it through the laundry, or breaks it in half trying to jimmy the lock on his own truck, he will always appreciate a new knife. You can buy him a fillet knife, a hunting knife, or just a good old fashioned pocket knife. You can make it extra special by having his name engraved in it.

Shoes

Women aren’t the only ones who like shoes. Believe it or not, avid outdoorsmen often need multiple types of footwear, including…

   1. Hiking Boots: If your man likes to trek through the mountains and forests, he will love a pair of hiking boots. Quality hiking boots are lightweight, durable, and fashionable. But don’t skimp and buy the cheap ones. His feet could be in these shoes for hours, so he will need good support. Buying a solid pair of hiking boots will save money in the long run because he won’t be running all his other shoes into the ground (no pun intended) trying to hike in them.

   2. Versatile Water Shoes: There is a whole new market of high quality waterproof sandals that are great for both land and water use, including hiking, fishing, boating, and biking. One of the most popular brands is Keen. Again, these shoes save money in the long run because your outdoorsman won’t ruin his other shoes when he falls out of his canoe and gets soaked.

   3. Waders: If your outdoorsman enjoys fishing in creeks and streams, rubber waders would make a great gift. They come in boot length, waist length, and all the way up to his chest.

Meat

We have all heard of the companies that will deliver chocolate or flowers to a gal’s home at the beginning of every month (usually for an exorbitant amount of money). Well men also like gifts that keep on giving, but instead of chocolate or flowers, give your red-blooded outdoorsman something he will really enjoy: meat. Fill the freezer with steaks, ribs, pork chops, and pulled pork, and if you really want to spread holiday cheer, offer to cook it for him every so often. Even better if you can purchase the meat from a local farmer. If your outdoorsman is a vegetarian, you can stock the freezer with his favorite meatless meals or bring him a new batch of baked goods every several weeks.

Fishing Gear

You may not know what type of fishing gear your guy wants, so I have included some ideas that have worked great for me.

1. Strike King SHCKVD15F-538 KVD Flat Side Crank Bait: Great for catching big bass.

2. Strike King Crappie Joker, Junebug/Chartruese Glitter: I have used this jig tail to literally catch 100 crappie (a type of fish) in a day. Get a 1/16 ounce black jig head, and he will be set.

3. Corn Powerbait: If he likes to fish for trout, this will work great.

Hiking/Outdoor Socks

These socks are made with moisture-wicking properties that keep the feet dry while outdoors. Get a good comfy pair, and he may even enjoy wearing them around the house.

Binoculars

When he hikes to the top of a mountain, he’ll love a good pair of binoculars to help him see for miles around. Binoculars are also great for bird and nature watching.

Lawn Chair

Great for relaxing around a fire.

Beef Jerky

I know this is the second time I have mentioned food, but it is always a rough situation to be in the middle of the woods and hungry. Get him a good stash of beef jerky or trail mix so he doesn’t starve on one of his outdoor quests.

Cell Phone Case

It’s a tough life to be the cell phone of an outdoorsman. You have to constantly endure being dropped, scratched, sat on, or soaked in water. Buy your outdoorsman a strong case or cover for his phone so you can reach him in case of an emergency.

Camouflage

For an outdoorsman, camouflage is always in style. Whether it’s a hat, shirt, blanket, or truck, buy him something with camouflage, and he will love you forever.

Mr. Handsome’s Christmas Carols: ‘Silent Night’

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My wonderful husband wanted to help me blog, so he spent several hours yesterday afternoon writing Christmas-themed guest posts and creating musical recordings of popular Christmas carols.

His first order of business was to work up a guitar version of “Silent Night” and make a YouTube video. Then he proceeded to create a tutorial on how to play it. Both clips are embedded below. I look forward to sharing more of Mr. Handsome’s work with y’all in the coming days.

What are your favorite Christmas carols?