Christmas Peeksters

I have a problem! A very sneaky problem! And, it happens just about this time of year during the holiday season....
My niece and nephew - well, really just my nephew Joseph - has a serious present sneaking issue. I think he just can't help himself. When I started to put my purchases together and wrap gifts for my family and friends, I first labeled them with post-it notes. According to my niece, Olivia, that was the problem! How dare I label the red-wrapping paper with bright neon teal green post-it notes? I mean she is right, they do stand out just a bit. So as I started to put actual tags on my Christmas gifts, I came across an appropriate website with great "Open Dec. 25," "Don't Open Until Christmas" and "NO PEEKING - SANTA IS WATCHING" tags.
See the link below...the original blogger made them to keep her grandfather from peeking, although it didn't work...I don't that it will, but at least they look cute!  I printed them on a full sticker sheet and cut them out for each individual gift. See photos below.
http://ashbyfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/wait-for-it-printable-inspired-by.html

Merry Christmas and make sure those gifts are wrapped securely! :-)

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like....

CHRISTMAS!
Over the past several weeks, I have been shopping, baking, wrapping and trying to squeeze in holiday festivities. With my mom hosting Christmas day this year, I (along with my niece and nephew) have been pitching in with the baking. And, apparently, one of the cookies they helped me with last year - Candy Cane Cookies - were such a big hit, that they asked to make them again this year. That being said, after searching for the final ingredient - peppermint extract - we were all set. Below is the recipe and photos of the final products! They are so cute and festive!

Candy Cane Cookies

(courtesy of Betty Crocker website)

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/candy-cane-cookies/93832e29-3b4f-4977-ae5a-9820053b254c

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon peppermint extract (we used almond extract in 2009, but you can also use mint)
1 egg
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food color
2 tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies
2 tablespoons sugar

Directions:
1. Stir together one cup sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, peppermint extract and egg in a large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Divide dough in half. Stir food color into one half. Cover and refrigerate at least four hours (overnight also works - the dough needs to be hard enough to twist - if it's too soft, it will break apart).

2. Heat oven to 375ºF.
3. Stir together peppermint candy and two tablespoons of sugar; set aside.
4. For each candy cane, shape one rounded teaspoon of dough from each half into a four-inch rope by rolling back and forth on floured surface. Place one red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist (try not to use your fingertips!). Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and curve the top of the cookie down to form handle of cane.
5. Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown. Immediately sprinkle candy mixture over cookies. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Just a sample of the candy cane cookies...Joseph was such a great help, especially sprinkling the topping of sugar and crushed peppermint on top of each cookie!

 But nothing compares to the real thing even though Joseph isn't the biggest fan of 'regular' peppermint canes. 



Christmas Light Show

Even though I am so not up-to-date on my blogging and have yet to complete Halloween Happenings, I wanted to post these pictures from our little excursion to Macy's in Center City for the Light Show and Charles Dickens Christmas Village today. I have to say first that my day started off extremely well with a tribute mass my Aunt Racheal requested to honor and remember my grandparents - Rose and John DeCicco - who passed away 30 and 31 years ago this fall. They are sadly missed, but loved immensely by all of their children and grandchildren. The memories my aunts, uncles, mom and dad gave today was extremely touching and brought tears to my eyes. And, even though we never met, I have always felt like I've known them (maybe it has to do with all the stories I've heard over the years) and they hold a special place in my heart!
That being said, with less than one week before Christmas to go, I was so happy we had the time and chance to visit the two classic Philadelphia Christmas traditions I mentioned above. We missed a couple of the other favorite stops (City Hall's Christmas Village and trains), but with everything else this weekend entailed, I was just excited to include these two.
The light show and christmas village were firsts for Joe. And, being a light guy (he used to sell lighting and works for an audio, video, lighting and special effects company), the over 99,000 or so LED lights displayed were right up his alley. We also learned more than we expected from the people standing behind us, which was exciting (I love eavesdropping!). Since its early beginnings in the 1950s, improvements have been made to the show each year. Click on the link above to read more about the history of this Philadelphia classic.

The Nutcracker

 I LOVED the train above!

 And, than we rode the escalator up a floor and walked through Charles Dickens Christmas Village and read and watched "A Christmas Carol" unfold. I don't have too many pictures of this part, but I have some videos below of the light show...check them out!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Diane's 36th

I've known my sister-in-law, Diane, since I was 12-years-old - almost as old as my oldest niece, Olivia. That's more than half of my life and over the years, she has become more like a sister and of course, my friend. With that being said, my parents, Diane's sister and niece and my brother, niece and nephew all went out to dinner to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her 21st birthday (or at least that's the toast my brother made!)

We traipsed over to the Riverwinds Restaurant in West Deptford - a good recommendation from my parents - where we enjoyed a family meal together along with some drinks. Since it was near the holidays, a beautiful Christmas tree sprayed white and decorated with big red balls in the lobby was the perfect place to snap holiday photos. One photo we did miss was one of the whole table unfortunately. And maybe I'll have more pictures to come once I seize Diane's memory card. This spot comes highly recommended from me - the food from appetizers to dessert were wonderful. You can even head over for just a drink since the bar is ginormous and the drinks are quite tasty!

 Side pic with my fave sis-in-law!

 Diane's tri-colored cappuccino

To another 36 Di!