From our Happy Home to yours!
May His coming fill your hearts with joy now and forevermore. 
I love and appreciate you all more than you will ever know…
-Julie
xoxo
Archive | Christmas Ideas RSS feed for this section
Merry Christmas!
25 Dec
Or the craziest. 10 Tradition Ideas for a Magical Christmas Eve
23 Dec
I can hardly believe that Christmas Eve is tomorrow!
A night simply filled with magic all by itself, but made even more fun with one of these creative tradition ideas…
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Many of us know about leaving out cookies and milk for Santa.
But what about his reindeer? I mean, they do some pretty exhausting work hauling that giant sleigh filled with toys all over the world in one night! Those antlered friends are going to need some fuel to keep their energy up.
So make a batch of Reindeer Food (simple recipe and FREE Printable tag found at Amanda’s Parties To Go!) and sprinkle it on the lawn with your Happy Buddies this Christmas Eve.
*Pssst – I hear that the reindeer sometimes leave behind small piles of their droppings (which look remarkably like Cocoa Puffs cereal) as their way of saying thanks for the chow.*
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When I was a little girl, Santa used to leave handwritten notes for my brothers and me to find after his visit on Christmas Eve.
I hear you can find FREE Printable stationary from the desk of Santa Claus himself over at Design Editor.
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Big D and Me have a fun tradition where a brand new Christmas-themed book gets magically dropped off at their house on Christmas Eve every year by a group of Santa’s elves.
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Speaking of new Christmas books and elves, there is a book called The Pajama Elves (you can read more about it HERE) that goes right along with another great Christmas Eve tradition of receiving a new pair of pajamas each year just before bed.
I’ve got my boys’ pajama presents all ready for when we get home from church!
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And speaking of church…
My favorite Christmas Eve tradition is definitely attending our church’s Christmas Eve Candlelit Service.
The church I grew up in had 3 Christmas Eve services – with the last one beginning at 11 pm! When I was old enough to stay up for it, that midnight service was by far my most treasured time of worship during the Christmas season. I just loved raising my candle along with my church family in this collective effort to praise Him for the light he brought to our dark world.
Attend a service this year with your family and even pray about inviting someone to come with you!
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Speaking of Christmas Eve Services, when the Happy Hubby and I get home from them and we get the boys in bed, we like to sit down and exchange the gifts we got for each other.
We like it this way because it’s just the two of us. Sometimes with all the hubbub of kids and family swirling around, the specialness of one another’s gifts can get downplayed because you’re just so distracted by everything else that’s happening (like maybe your 8 month old baby is trying to eat the tree).
Maybe consider exchanging presents with your loved one on Christmas Eve, in the quiet and still part of the holiday.
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This next tradition idea is one that will help in the effort to balance the give/get issue at Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, have your Happy Buddies fill a small bag with a few gently used toys that they would like to donate.
Leave the bag by the tree.
Santa will pick up the bag and make sure that the toys are delivered to a local charity or family in need. Then a few new toys are left in the bag for your Happy Buddies to find Christmas morning.
Not only does this encourage your Happy Buddies to think about others, but as a bonus, there is added space for the new toys.
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Do you have a special dinner on Christmas Eve?
Both of my parents worked as the music directors at our church when I was younger. Christmas Eve was always a busy one without a lot of time for food prep! I remember one of my favorite things to eat on Christmas Eve in between the services was a big bowl of cereal.
One year I also remember my mom running us to the local grocery store where we were allowed to quickly pick out a Kid’s Cuisine. This was a HUGE deal as we weren’t allowed to eat them at any other time during the year.
Maybe you have a bit more time than microwaveable dinners, so how about making it your tradition to cook up a big pot of steamy, delicious soup on Christmas Eve every year? Here is a yummy recipe for Christmas Eve Soup I found over at Gooseberry Patch. Or you could make these fun and easy homemade Christmas tree pizzas found HERE.
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And speaking of Christmas Dinner…
I so enjoy taking a plate of food or treats to someone working the night shift on Christmas Eve.
Simply pull up to the drive-thru window of your local 24-hour pharmacy and pass the tired employee a Christmas feast.
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And finally, the best Christmas Eve tradition I can think of is sitting around with your family and reading the Christmas Story passage from Luke 2.
A Pair of Pears made this great FREE Printable Christmas Story Poster of the treasured lines from the Charlie Brown Christmas movie for you to use as you share the true meaning of Christmas with loved ones.
What traditions does your Happy Home enjoy on Christmas Eve?
Merry Christmas Eve Tradition-ing!
My Favorite Little Things this Christmas
22 DecThis Christmas our family has so much to be thankful for.
For one thing, our baby boy is home with us. He’s alive. And he’s ‘thriving’ as his pediatrician said at our last appointment (even in spite of his terrible cold!).
That’s a BIG thing.
But I recognize that it’s often the little things in life that carry us from moment to moment. The small blessings. The ones we often almost miss.
I thought I would share with you the 5 things that have been my favorite ‘little things’ this month.
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#1 – The new Hillsong Christmas album.
Frrrrriiiiieeeennnnddddssss. If you need some new Christmas music, go buy this immediately.
This CD is so good. Such a fresh, fun, and powerful take on many of the beloved old Christmas carols.
In fact, the Happy Hubs and I are singing the title track, We Have a Savior, at our church’s Christmas Eve service. I am kind of excited about it. 
#2 – My Jesus is the Reason for the Season car magnet.
I picked up this beauty at our local Christian bookstore for like 3 bucks. How cute is that?!
It makes me happy every time I look at it – a reminder that, yes, Christmas is all about JESUS. I like to hope that other people are enjoying it, too, when we’re all sitting in 5 o’clock traffic. 
#3 – This $1 red glitter plastic photo album from Target.
I wanted a way to store our 12 Days of Christmas printables so that it could read like a little book.
Simply slip the cards in and voila! Perfect bedtime reading!
#4 – The Happy Buddy dressed as a wise man for his preschool’s Christmas Story production.
Last week I attended the Happy Buddy’s first-ever play!
He was absolutely precious in his little 3 kings costume. And it was a special moment as I watched him lay his little gift beside the baby Jesus’ manger.
This play really helped the Happy Buddy grasp the message of the season in a tangible way and had him singing “Happy Birthday Jesus” around our Happy Home all month long!
#5 – This JOY doormat from Pier 1.
The other night our Happy Home was feeling the stress of the Christmas season. The Happy Hubby was exhausted after a long day at work, I was bumming because we had a package of carefully selected and ordered Christmas gifts stolen off our porch, we were driving to a Christmas party and the Happy Buddy was asking a million questions – which normally isn’t a problem unless the Happy Baby is also crying in the back seat so hard he is making himself throw up (this kid’s gag reflex, we’re quickly learning, is unbelievably sensitive!). When we got home from the crazy night and wearily approached the front door, we noticed that a little elf (I’m pretty sure it was my mother-in-love!) had switched out our doormat for this one.
It was such a cheerful and convicting reminder that JOY is a choice. Regardless of my circumstances, I can choose to respond to the craziness and stresses of life with a quiet assurance that God is on the throne!
What ‘little things’ are blessing you this month? I’d love to hear about ‘em!
Merry Favorite Thing-ing!
A Merry Morning – Recipes for Christmas Breakfast (FREE Printable!)
21 DecWhen I was a little girl, I could not WAIT for Christmas morning.
Not just because there were presents under the tree, but also because my mom would make her famous Breakfast Casserole and cinnamon buns for us to eat.
There’s nothing else quite like the smells of Christmas morn – can I get an, “Amen!”??
This year I am hoping to offer my boys some delicious things to enjoy while we open gifts.
I thought a few of these easy recipes would do the trick – and maybe they’ll work for your Happy Home as well!
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At a recent speaking engagement, we all started talking about Christmas traditions. One gal declared that Christmas would not be Christmas without Breakfast Pizza.
I got so curious that I googled it right away and found this amazing recipe over at High Heels and Grills.
It’s oh-so-simple to put together in between festivities!
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Ahhhhhh… Monkey Bread.
Need I say more?
Jo Cooks calls it Monkey Brains, though. Bread… Brains… As long as it’s covered in butter and sugar, I don’t care what you call it!
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I think if I made Sausage Cheese Balls every morning (like these from Plain Chicken) that the Happy Hubby would feel as if he’d died and gone to heaven.
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I am a total sucker for all things fruit.
When I saw this gorgeous Easy Fruit Trifle from Chef In Training, with it’s layers of juicy goodness and sweet, fluffy topping, I knew it would make the perfect Christmas morning addition.
Do these recipes sound good to you?
I designed them up in a FREE Printable – all 4 recipes in one place. Easy access on a busy, but Merry, Christmas morning.
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Get your FREE Printable Christmas morning recipes HERE.
OR…
If Christmas morning is all about being with family and the idea of spending any time in the kitchen would work against that precious notion, then may I suggest this…
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Canned cinnamon buns in the shape of a tree.
Check out this adorable and tasty tradition over at Dukes and Duchesses.
It’s the little things!
Merry Merry Morning-ing!
*Need more Christmas Breakfast inspiration? Go HERE for another great collection of deliciousness!*
The Christmas Lego Competition
20 DecOne of my family’s favorite Christmas traditions is the Annual Lego Competition.
I mentioned in THIS POST how my mom rocks our stockings.
Well, for the boys (I have 2 brothers, the Happy Hubby and occasionally my dad), she puts a small box of Legos in their stockings.
Mind you, these are all grown men.
The reason for the Legos?
To have a competition, of course!
After the Christmas-everything is over and we are all ready to just sit around with hot mugs of something awesome (like my Snow Cocoa) and enjoy the bits of wrapping paper and ribbons that are twirling around our toes… Before we get too comfortable, the boys have to gather ’round the kitchen table with their Lego boxes, dump out the contents, and at the shout of “Go!” race each other to see who can put their Lego creation together the quickest.
It’s hilarious watching the boys try to become the year’s reigning Lego Champ.
I think my brother’s sweet girlfriend is quite entertained by our family’s bizarre rituals antics!
The Happy Hubby was a bit intimidated when he was initiated into this tradition that first year he was a part of our family. My brothers are kind of known to be Lego professionals.
*But check out how he is intensely flipping through that instruction booklet! You’ve got skills, my love!*
So his involvement, as he puts it is, “2 parts fun, 1 part humiliation.”
My older brother wasn’t home for Christmas last year as he, his wife, and 3 Happy Buddies were living in Germany. And this year they are settling in to a new home in Georgia, so I am thinking we may need to Skype him in on the action.
Does your Happy Home have an annual Christmas competition? A cookie bake-off? A gingerbread house-making contest? I’d love to hear about it!
Merry Christmas Lego Competition-ing!
*You can read about my family’s other traditions HERE and HERE.*
Christmas Wreaths
19 DecFirst, for all my American readers, I am SO SORRY that I didn’t realize that whole FREE Christmas call from Mickey (yesterday’s post) was only for people living in the UK or Ireland.
Ha! I went to do it for a friend of mine and when I got to the insert-your-number-part, I was clicking buttons out the wazoo trying to get it to stop saying UK country code. Ah, well. Thank you for forgiving me for not checking that in advance!
Maybe I can make it up to you with an incredible round-up of Christmas Wreath Crafts.
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I don’t know what it is about these sweet Sticker/Jewel Decorated Paper Wreaths from With or Without Nap, but I find them so enchanting!
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Your Happy Buddy will love making this neat Paper Plate and Pasta Wreath from A Little Delightful.
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You can create this gorgeous Family Photo Wreath from Parents with just a few materials!
What a terrific gift idea for the grandparents!
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A little cardboard, a little paint, some foam or wood shape pieces, and a bow!
No Time for Flashcards has these great Shape Wreaths that would look great on your Happy Buddy’s bedroom door!
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My Name is Snickerdoodle (love that blog title!) made a Christmas Handprint Wreath with her Happy Buddy that is just too adorable!
I cannot track down where I found this image! But I think the simplicity of these Tissue Paper Wreaths would be a snap to whip together with the kiddos.
Paper plates, paint, tissue paper squares, some red pom-poms and a bow – that’s my kind of project!
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Just another reason why M&Ms are necessary in your Happy Home this Christmas (see THIS POST for all my other wonderful reasons)!
Check out this easy-peasy Christmas M&M Wreath Cupcake idea from Sitting In a Tree.
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Finally, who here has made the popular Cornflake Wreaths - a favored Christmas treat?
Chrysanthemum made the beautiful ones above, but I also liked the recipe and brilliant tip from Paging SuperMom on how to form the wreath shape without a lot of mess.
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I couldn’t have said it better!
Merry Christmas Wreath Craft-ing!
Resources To Make Christmas Extra Magical
18 DecI recently came across a few resources that I thought I’d share with my sweet readers because they are just so creative and fun.
Sometimes it’s the smallest thing that leaves a lasting impression on a Happy Buddy (or Happy Hubby for that matter – I fully support the notion that any of these resources can be used for the man in your life as well).
With just a few clicks on your computer, I hope one of these sites gives your Happy Home the extra magical touch it needs this Christmas.
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First up, your Happy Buddies will be thrilled to receive a FREE phone call from Santa Clause this year.
You can create a customized call at Santa Tracker that will leave your Happy Buddies speechless on the other end!
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A few years ago I received an email that changed my life.
First, the email said it was from Santa (not even kidding).
Second, a link took me to a video that, when played, had Santa Claus himself sharing a Christmas message with me using MY NAME as well as a hint that I was probably going to be getting what I had asked for that year.
Which, at the time, was Almond Butter.
The point is, Santa said my name and he SPECIFICALLY mentioned my request for almond butter. He said that I had been a good girl!!
I may or may not have had tears in my eyes by the time the video was over – it was that awesome.
This year the website, Portable North Pole, has even added an option to send a video to someone who has been naughty… I am thinking that maybe one of your Happy Hubbies out there might need to receive a video like that! Talk about a perk in a boring work day!
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Before I share this last resource, you must know that it is NOT free (which left me slightly disappointed).
But it is SUPER fun if your Happy Home enjoys a visit from Santa at Christmas.
Capture the Magic is a site that allows you to upload an image of a room in your house and then digitally add a picture of Santa Claus to the photo.
The idea is that it is PROOF for your Happy Buddies that Santa was, indeed, there.
How neat to share that with your Happy Buddies!!! They will hardly believe it!
Which one are you going to do???
I may or may not have just sent a ‘naughty’ Portable North Pole video to the Happy Hubs {wink!}.
Merry Christmas Resources-ing!
**NOTE – Looking for more incredible Christmas links? Go HERE – everything from tracking Santa Claus to Elf-ing your Happy Home (or someone else’s for that matter!!), THIS LINK has it all!**
Why It Wouldn’t Be Christmas Without Some M&Ms
17 DecThe Happy Buddy is kerrrrrrrrrazy for M&Ms.
That precious boy would never have gotten potty-trained if it weren’t for those candy-coated chocolates!
There’s something about the Christmas season, though, that brings out the very best of M&Ms.
Here’s why…
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I make these little guys EVERY YEAR and they are ALWAYS a hit.
Not to mention that they only require 3 ingredients!
Check out Cooking Classy for the easy how-to.
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This year they introduced Chocolate Peppermint M&Ms just in time for the Christmas season {yes please!}.
Lil’ Luna via Infarrantly Creative showcased this inexpensive gift idea complete with FREE Printable tag!
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These M&M Cookie Bars from I Heart Nap Time make my mouth water!
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The Happy Buddy’s school is out for the holiday break in a few days and I know I am going to be needing some fun activities for us to do while he’s home the extra hours.
I am loving this fun FREE Printable Decorate A Christmas Tree M&M Game from Criss-Cross Applesauce.
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M&M buttons are the perfect touch on these adorable Nutter Butter Snowmen Treats from Brown Eyed Baker.
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Could someone please make this for me????
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This Christmas Trash Recipe I shared here at Happy Home Fairy last year will blow your mind (and maybe the top button of your pants! Haha!).
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A few layers of on-hand ingredients and you can gift someone these happy little M&M Cookies In A Jar from HERE.
All the hard work of measuring is done so the recipient has a quick and easy way to be productive in the kitchen AND have a delicious homemade Christmas treat.
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Finally, I’ve seen the famous Christmas M&M Poem all over the Internet, but I sure do love the way Kari from U-Create designed this FREE Printable version of it available for you to enjoy HERE.
How are you using M&Ms this Christmas?
Merry M&M-ing!
The Happy Birthday Jesus Cake
16 Dec
One of my favorite traditions that I have enjoyed since becoming a part of the Happy Hubby’s family is the annual Happy Birthday Jesus Cake.
I actually get to be the one who makes it every year!
You can see our birthday cake from last year and the year before HERE.
But for 2012, I found this fabulous cake that is going to change the face of Happy Birthday Jesus Cakes as we know it.
This cake is not only super yummy, but also it SHARES THE GOSPEL.
Each color of those beautiful layers symbolizes something in the story of our Savior.
The Happy Buddy couldn’t wait to dig in to his slice.
And while he was chowing I couldn’t help but feel like my little man was filling up on something a little bit more than red dye and high fructose corn syrup.
In the song she sang in Luke 1, Mary praises God with these words, “He has filled the hungry with good things.”
Yes, that is the Gospel, indeed.
I can’t think of anything more delicious this Christmas!
Want to make your own layered Gospel-presenting Happy Birthday Jesus Cake?
Find the how-to as well as the meanings behind each layer over at Squidoo.
Don’t forget to sing to the Birthday Boy!
Merry Happy Birthday Jesus Cake-ing!
