And now, for a trip down memory lane, here’s a very young Bon Jovi and “I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas.”
Good heavens, would you check out those hairstyles?
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Christmas Note #14 — Peppermint Fudge
I love Family Fun magazine, despite the facts that it’s owned by Disney and geared to younger children. I really have no reason to read it these days since our only offspring can be considered a child only if you employ vast amounts of imagination and great squinting of the eyes. She’s in college, not likely to be tempted by the prospect of creating a clamshell candy chain or a painted flower pot.
Still, I can’t help occasionally flipping through the magazine’s pages because every now and then I strike gold among “them thar pages.”
It was with that thought in mind that I picked up a copy last week.
Mmmm, thought I, that peppermint fudge looks good. And it says here it only takes twenty minutes to make.
The treat seemed to meet both my requirements for cookery — looks impressive but is actually a cinch. More importantly, I had all the ingredients at home.
Well, it was simple, but by no means easy, at least not for me, probably because I chose to crush candy canes to use for the “coarsely crushed peppermint candies.” This proved to be not nearly as straightforward as you might imagine. For the record? The plastic wrapping on candy canes is very, very staticky. Combine that detail with my sticky fingers and the activity quickly became a drawn-out mess. Also, my rolling pin will never be the same. (What else would I use to crush them?)
Peppermint candy cane on my scanner (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Nonetheless, the final results were satisfactory. Quite attractive and rather “moreish” as my father-in-law would say, meaning you want to keep eating it.
I didn’t take a picture of the fudge to post here because, well, you’ve seen what a dab hand I am at posting my own photos. (If you haven’t, I suggest you check out the less than stellar photography of the Santa mob in my earlier post.) So, if you want a photo, buy the magazine. Mine looked just like that (honest!), a lot like peppermint bark.
I was going to share the recipe but I’ve heard Disney is a little cranky about copyright, so if you want it, leave a comment, and I’ll tell you how you can get it.
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Tagged Candy cane, Christmas, Christmas note, Christmas notes, Peppermint bark, Peppermint fudge
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Christmas Note #13 — Peace on Earth
I was going to save this for Christmas Eve — it’s my favorite Christmas carol. But after today’s events, I decided we needed it early.
Peace on earth, can it be?
“I pray my wish will come true, for my child and your child too. He’ll see the day of glory, see the day when men of goodwill live in peace.”
Christmas Note #12 — Aimee Mann and “Whatever Happened to Christmas?”
Until I came across her CD at the library, I hadn’t realized Aimee Mann sang Christmas songs. This is my favorite.
Enjoy!
Christmas Note #11 — If You’re at a Complete Loss for Your Holiday Centerpiece, Try a Meat Tree!
Yeah, you read that right. Courtesy of the blog, “Awful Library Books,” here’s the answer to your centerpiece dilemma.
For more truly awful library books, visit the blog at www.awfullibrarybooks.net. As they say, all the books on their site are actual library books that are, as they put it, “amusing and maybe questionable for libraries trying to maintain a current and relevant collection.”
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Christmas Note #10 — Jackson Browne, “The Rebel Jesus”
It’s sad to realize that love and charity are still often looked upon as rebellious ideas.
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Tagged Christmas, Christmas note, Christmas notes, Jackson Browne, Rebel Jesus
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Christmas Note #9 — Ugly Sweaters Explained
I have a tank top with the words “Prom Queen” emblazoned across the chest. I’m also the proud owner of a t-shirt that claims I am a trophy wife. If you know anything about me, you know I’m neither. Yet I wear both these tops regularly, hoping that those who take the time to read the words will understand I’m being ironic.
Or maybe I just have a weird sense of humor in which laughing at myself looms large in the list of things I find funny.
It was in that spirit that I once bought my daughter a shirt that said, “If you think I’m a bitch, you should meet my mother.” (I almost got one for myself but was afraid folks would think I was dissing my mom, although when I later told her this, Mom laughed and said she wouldn’t have minded.)
You’rea probably wondering what all this has to do with Christmas. Well, a few years ago, I noticed a new trend in holiday attire, one that greatly appealed to my sartorial sense of the whimsy. It was the re-birth of the ugly Christmas sweater.
For those who are unfamiliar with the ugly Christmas sweater fad, it involves wearing the ugliest, most ludicrous, completely over-the-top holiday sweater you can find — usually to an ugly Christmas sweater-themed party.
Sometimes there are even prizes. And when prizes are involved, it’s no holds barred for festive (or should that be festering?) clothing. You’ll see sweaters with pom-poms, sweaters with tinsels, even some that light up!
The movement has become so popular that ugly sweaters are now difficult to find. My daughter and her friend Vincent (an exchange student from Brazil) went to our local Goodwill to buy a couple and paid a shocking $15 each for sweaters that weren’t even that ugly.
Since I recently paid $6 for a wool and cashmere coat (Anne Klein!) at the same store, $15 is truly outrageous.
I told them so.
“But I look so cute in it,” Vince said, and how could I argue?
(For the record, they both looked pretty darned cute.)
I’ve got them beat though. Last I purchased a sweater of astounding ugliness at the Hospice store, a place that hadn’t yet caught on to the idea that they can make more than $5 on some else’s cast-off holiday attire. 
I think it’s even hand-decorated.
Still, I’ve looked at a few blogs, and it’s clear I’m a neophyte when it comes to Christmas sweaters. For example, how could I compete with this guy?
If you follow the link, you’ll discover the model’s name — and I seriously love this — is Sugatroll, and that his sweaters are for sale on the Etsy site, Cosmic Yard Sale. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/cosmicyardsale).
However, if you’d like the “Tacky Ugly Christmas Sweater with Lights and Fringe Giant Glowing Snowman” pictured below (for a mere $75), you’ll need to visit the My Ugly Christmas Sweater site.
I guess mine was a steal, even if it doesn’t light up!
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Christmas Note #8: Christmas Lights by Coldplay
This one’s for Sarah, who shared the second video on Facebook. Another lovely Christmas song, this one by Coldplay. Your choice of two versions — one with the whole band, and one with just Chris. The sound quality is somewhat lacking on the second one, unfortunately.
Enjoy!
Christmas Note #7 — A reminder of what Christmas is
Would you give your boots to a stranger? A homeless beggar? Would I?
I’d like to say yes, but the truth is I doubt it. I have a tendency to be a bit self-righteous, thinking — though I hate to admit it — that I just can’t be sure if someone deserves my charity.
And, here’s the point: Charity isn’t meant to be deserved. It’s something to be given freely, and it’s a character flaw that I’m unable to do so directly.
Don’t get me wrong, I support numerous organized charities, but sometimes, maybe people need a little more direct help.
Here’s a link to a story about someone who did just that, and someone else who saw and felt compared to share what they saw.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/11/28/nyc-policeman-shows-what-a-real-good-cop-is/
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Tagged Charity, Christmas, Christmas note, Christmas notes, Cop gives boots to beggar
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Christmas Note #6 — Santa Mob Addendum
Santas step out for a smoke.
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Tagged Christmas note, Christmas notes, Cleveland, Cleveland Santa Mob, Santa Mob
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Reading, Writing, Ranting and Raving 