100 Days to Christmas » Fall

Thank a Veteran

listmama — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:01:51 +0000

Today is Veteran’s Day. Many children will be home today, wondering why there is no school. Some communities have a Veteran’s Day parade, while others are quiet on this day. There will be a lot of veterans and their families struggling through the holidays this year because of separation through deployment, coping with injuries, and the tough financial times.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to take this opportunity to teach your children that because of a history of dedicated veterans, we have the freedom to celebrate the holidays in whatever style suits our beliefs and traditions. Today, with many children being home from school, it would be a good day to enlist their help in delivering the food you have been collecting to your local food bank as there will be a good number of veterans partaking in the donation of charitable organizations this holiday season. And, if you know a veteran, tell them “thanks” for their effort and sacrifice to our country.

Happy Birthday to my husband (who also happens to be a veteran) today! 11-11-11 I always knew he was one-of-a-kind.

Election Day

listmama — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:01:04 +0000

Election Day is an opportunity to exercise your right as a citizen and to contribute to the democratic process. Although Election Day may seem to have no bearing on holiday preparations, it is still an excellent reminder of why we should feel grateful this holiday season.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to get out and vote! And then call your friends to remind them to vote! It may not be easy to think about the possibility of standing in lines, but some things are worth a little inconvenience. Be an example to your children and let them know you voted today!

Did you vote today? Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and wave your vote flag.

Make It a Soup Sunday

listmama — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 04:01:40 +0000

Did you “fall back” yet? Do you have clocks in your home that still need an adjustment? If so, adjust those now while you are still thinking of it. You cannot beat a hearty, healthy meal in November where all you have to do is throw all of the ingredients together into one pot (or a slow cooker). Soups and stews also make great football fare. Make Soup Sunday a part of your fall and winter meal planning!

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to consider new soups to serve your family or even start a new tradition of Soup Sunday! Send out invitations to friends and family and let them know that if they like soup, they are welcome to drop in on your Soup Sunday (with some advanced warning, of course). I know many families that prepare a big pot of soup the night before Thanksgiving or Christmas when they tend to have a lot of company. It’s easy to feed a lot of people with soup. Just add some type of bread and maybe even a salad for a delicious meal!

List of My Family’s Favorite Soups/Stews

What soups do you love? Tell us over at the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page.

Aunt Trina’s Pumpkin Bread

listmama — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:01:30 +0000

Even if you feel you are behind in your holiday planning, you can still catch up and be ready. We are taking baby steps so that December will be a fun month rather than a stressful push to just “get through the holidays”. My sister informed me that she had the best recipe for pumpkin bread and muffins. She said they were the moistest muffins she’d ever had. The kids and I made her recipe and we are hooked!

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to make a delicious loaf of pumpkin bread or muffins today. Not only does it make a great breakfast, but it also makes a terrific after-dinner treat. We recently cut up three pumpkins from our garden to use for the puree in these muffins and they were amazing! Help yourself to Aunt Trina’s moist and delicious Pumpkin Bread/Muffin Recipe.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us about your favorite pumpkin recipe.

Pick Your Pumpkin

listmama — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 04:01:31 +0000

There are so many uses for a good pumpkin! They make wonderful pies and baked treats, decorations for your home and porch, soup tureens and bowls, and of course, Jack-O-Lanterns.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to visit your local farm stand or grocery store for the perfect carving pumpkin. Then, spread out some newspaper on the floor of the kitchen, over the kitchen table, or even on the lawn. Grab the appropriate utensils for carving such as a large, sharp knife for the top of the pumpkin, knives with smaller blades for the detail work, and a large spoon to help you scoop out the “guts”. Create a traditional design such as a face or search the internet for a more unique pattern or design. Do not forget to remove the seeds for the extra bonus of yummy Spiced Pumpkin Seeds.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us your favorite uses for pumpkins. Submit a photo of your best jack-o-lantern.

Take a Hike!

listmama — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 04:01:23 +0000

Depending on where you live, the leaves are either sporting their lovely colors or are beginning to turn from green to red, yellow, or orange, and then to brown. The air is turning crisp and we are spending more time outdoors wrapped in cozy sweaters.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to find a place to enjoy the fall outdoors. Go on a leaf hunt and collect the brightest leaves. Take them home and lay them down one at a time between two sheets of wax paper. Iron them on a low setting for about 30 seconds. Send them to friends in the mail or put them on display in your home to preserve the fall color throughout the year!

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell about your fall hike!

New World Holidays

listmama — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:01:43 +0000

In 1492, Columbus first set foot in the Americas. Many people find that today, in honor of that historic event, they may not have to go to work or their children will likely not have school. Canada has even more to celebrate today – they are all sitting down with their family and friends for a nice Thanksgiving meal to recognize the end of the harvest.

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to complete (or at least work on) a project. Ugh! I know. However, those winter clothes that you’ve been saying you’ll get to will not make an appearance on their own. Your basement or garage will not improve by itself. Now is your chance.

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and let us know what fall project you tackled today!

Be a Leaf Peeper

listmama — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 04:01:43 +0000

Here in the Northeast, Columbus Day weekend is the peak for fall foliage. We have a steady stream of leaf peepers all weekend long. If you are lucky enough to live in or vacation in a place where reds, oranges, and yellows light up the trees, don’t miss the opportunity to be a leaf peeper while you can!

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take a fall foliage foray either in the car or by foot. Don’t put it off because you’ll find yourself waiting until it is past peak and all that is left are leaves to rake in the yard.

List of Favorite Fall Things to Do

Crafty October

listmama — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:01:31 +0000

Craft projects are such a great outlet for creativity. Even if you believe you don’t have a creative bone in your body, the holiday season is a great time of year to let loose your inner artist or crafter. Children LOVE to create and should be allowed to let their imaginations explore through provided materials and instructions.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to look around online or in some old magazines for some new craft ideas for the holidays. You may have already begun to work on handmade gifts for Christmas, but October crafts can be many types of fall or Halloween projects. There are so many wonderful resources out there for craft ideas such as FamilyFun.com, Kaboose.com, and BHG.com. Add your craft ideas to your Holiday Craft Planner* so you’ll remember which ones were a success and which ones weren’t.

* Available as a download in the 100 Days to Christmas 2011 eBook. Members to ListPlanIt.com can print or download Holiday Craft Planner in Holidays & Occasions as a worksheet for your holiday crafting.

List of Craft Supplies for Holiday Decorating and Gift-Giving

Visit ListPlanIt’s Fall/Halloween Craft Board on Pinterest

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us your favorite October crafts!

How would you like your own personalized binder for storing your Holiday planning pages? This week, enter to win a binder from ListPlanIt‘s Store.

You have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment here and tell us how you would use your personalized binder,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Twitter (it’s easy to do with our share buttons below) and leave a comment here linking to your Twitter handle (be sure to follow @100Days on Twitter, too),

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email (and get our daily posts delivered straight to your inbox) and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “If I win a personalized binder from 100DaystoChristmas.com, I’m going to use it to _____________.”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Thursday, October 6 at 6 pm EST to enter.

The Apple of My Eye

listmama — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:01:33 +0000

Put those apples you’ve picked or purchased lately to good use! Apples are delicious and nutritious, they make perfect portable snacks, and they are the major ingredient to some of my favorite desserts.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to locate your family’s favorite apple crisp recipe. Even if you don’t get it made in time for your after-dinner dessert, apple crisp makes a delicious breakfast. Before you decide to make the apple crisp, be sure you have the following: lots of apples, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter. Add what you don’t have to your shopping list and make a point to stop by the store today. Your family will thank you for such a delicious fall treat!

List of Reasons to Love Apples

Visit the 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page and tell us your favorite apple dessert or fall treat!

This week, we have another fun giveaway. . .ListPlanIt.com would like to give away 3 Download Memberships to participants at 100 Days to Christmas! Members to ListPlanIt have access to hundreds of lists and planning pages that they can download to their computer, type their own information into the spaces of the page, save to their computer for future reference, and/or print! You’ll find lots of pages in our Holidays & Occasions section to get you on the right track for the holidays.

You have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment here and tell us why you’d like a membership to ListPlanIt.com,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email (and get our daily posts delivered straight to your inbox) and leave a comment here,

4) blog about 100 Days to Christmas, then leave a comment here linking to your post.

5) follow our page on Facebook and tell our entire community that you are going to participate in this week’s giveaway by leaving the following message on our Facebook wall, “A membership to ListPlanIt.com will help me get organized for the holidays and throughout the year.”

One of each of these per day please. You have until Friday, September 30 at 6 pm EST to enter.