Are the holidays really here?

0

It’s mid Novemeber, Halloween past a couple weeks ago (if you still have candy laying around that you are wanting to get rid of, check out Nicole’s post) , and Thanksgiving is next week. So, I guess the answer is yes, the holidays are here! What does that mean for you? Do you have traditions bubbling over the top? Or do you try and stay as far away from all the craze?

I happen to love the holidays!! I am sure I will share more over the next two months…stay tuned 🙂 I may not go overboard with lots of seasonal decorations, shopping, or bling, but I often turn more internal. Maybe it’s the therapist in me, who knows, but I find this time to be perfect for being introspective and taking a look at my story this past year. Ironically that usually leads to some extrospective thinking about others and what is happening in the grander story of our city and community. We celebrate Advent and Christmas in our house, and I love this time of anticipation, preparation, and hope. After Thanksgiving, I will share some ideas on incorporating Advent traditions in your family. Advent simply means “coming”, so you can practice a season of Advent no matter what religious beliefs you have. We all have a seasons of “waiting” and “coming” in our lives.

Here is what Fall looks like in the Mitchell home currently…

We have a Thankful Tree. I’m sure you’ve seen them all over Pinterest, and I briefly mentioned it in a past post. We write something on a piece of paper and tie it to the tree every day. My 2 1/2 year old loves it, and I think it’s a wonderful way to teach children to be thankful, not to mention to help me reflect on the goodness in my life.

Recently I made some homemade applesauce because we got a ton of apples from our co-op, and I need to use them up. Here’s the recipe. So simple, and so yummy!

Crockpot Apple Sauce

Ingredients:

Apples 6-8 (any variety. Using different types is wonderful too)

1-2 Tbs brown sugar (depending on the sweetness of the apples)

1-2 tsp of cinnamin (depending on your liking)

1tsp of lemon juice or lemon zest (optional)

Mix all ingredients in Crockpot and turn on low for 6 hours. I just whisk mine together and it creates a chunky applesauce. You can blend it if you prefer a smoother consistency. You can keep this for several weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator, but it probably won’t last that long. My husband says it would make a great pie or homemade pop tart filling.

We have also begun making gifts and seasonal crafts in our home. It’s so nice outside, and I love that we can paint, glue, glittered, and create outside these days. Makes clean up so much easier. Last week, we had a day at home (which doesn’t happen much around here), and we did some mama projects and daughter projects. Felt like such a fun productive day.

A batch of homemade laundry detergent, homemade disinfecting wipes, & homemade all purpose cleaner for me. And a fun painted leaf collage picture for my daughter.
A batch of homemade laundry detergent, homemade disinfecting wipes, & homemade all purpose cleaner for me. And a fun painted leaf collage picture for my daughter.

Here is a website with a TON of DIY Christmas gifts. Definitely worth checking out. I love the stove top potpourri recipe. I plan to try it this week. I have also heard that this is a great humidifyer as well, and in dry AZ we can sure use a little moisture in the air.

What are you doing this Fall week? Please share!

Previous article8 Reasons to Love Being a Phoenix Mom!
Next articleFamily Traditions
Elisa
Elisa is a native Arizonan by birth and a Seattleite by heart. She is a wise, spirited woman who loves feeling the sun on her face, but also enjoys cold rainy days, complete with a cup of coffee and a good book or conversation. After graduating with a Masters in Counseling Psychology and seeing clients for a time, she took a hiatus to love on, play with, and offer copious amounts of hugs to our little girls, Malia and Jayden. She is now back working at Socorro Counseling and Consulting in Downtown Phoenix. Unafraid to laugh at herself and able to see the beauty in others, she makes everyone feel at ease, making her a genuine friend, therapist, and wife. Give her a cute pattern and a sewing machine or some spray paint and a piece of furniture and they are surely to be transformed into some warm piece of art that brightens our living space. She also finds creativity in cooking, making household cleaners, and anything Pinterest. In short, Elisa is stylish, wise, thoughtful, creative woman who makes everyone around her a better person, including her husband (who wrote this bio).

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here