100 Days to Christmas » Fall

Thank a Veteran

listmama — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:01:19 +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, but many communities 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, some will be coping with injuries, and others will have to endure 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.

Today is also my husband’s birthday, who happens to be a veteran! Happy Birthday, Babe!! I love you and am so proud of you!!!

Make It a Soup Sunday

listmama — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:01:55 +0000

You cannot beat a hearty, healthy meal in November where all you have to do is throw all of the ingredients together in 1 pot (or crockpot). Soups and stews also make great Football fare. Make Soup Sunday a part of your fall/winter meal planning!

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to consider starting a new tradition of Soup on 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!

For some inspiration, check out List Mama’s suggestions at List of My Family’s Favorite Soups/Stews at ListPlanIt’s blog.

Election Day

listmama — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:01:45 +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 actually an excellent reminder of why we should feel privileged 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!

The Family that Plays Together. . .

listmama — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:01:15 +0000

Many families have a regular game night. This might be a specific night that they meet together to play, or it may be whatever night is most convenient and fits into their schedules. Fall is a good time to begin or renew a tradition of family game night because the days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler, and kids and parents are busy all day and need a chance to reconnect.

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to play a new game. Even the youngest child can have fun playing Memory or Go Fish. Everyone loves a good game of charades (think Halloween). Break out the board games that you haven’t seen in a while. Here’s a game that is perfect for October and for parents and kids alike as long as there are no more than 6 players: Spider.

To play Spider, each person needs a sheet of paper, a crayon or pencil, and 1 die (dice). Each person chooses a number from 1 to 6. The youngest person then rolls the die. If she rolls her number, then she gets to draw a circle for the body of the spider. Then the die is passed to the next person. Once each person has drawn a circle, then you start to draw the legs (8 total). If you want the game to continue, then you can then add a face. The first person who completes their Spider is the winner!

This week’s giveaway is for an assortment of eco-friendly giftsacks in a festive Christmas pattern from Wrapsacks™. Included are 4 reusable Gift Bags in at least 3 fabric designs: 1 mini, 1 small, 1 medium & 1 large. Once again, you have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment on this post,

2) tell your friends & followers about 100 Days to Christmas on Facebook or Twitter(so easy to do when you use the Share This button at the bottom of this post) and leave a comment here linking to your profile,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

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

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until November 1 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Aunt Trina’s Pumpkin Bread

listmama — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:01:01 +0000

67 Days! Even if you are just discovering 100 Days to Christmas, 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/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 yourself 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 3 pumpkins from our garden and used the puree for these muffins and they were amazing!

Click here for Aunt Trina’s moist and delicious Pumpkin Bread/Muffin Recipe.

The winner of a customized Christmas canvas from October Belle Designs is: Lyndsi! Congratulations!!

One of the symbols of the great state that I am proud to call home (Maine) is none other than L.L. Bean. Not only is their merchandise top quality, but they have a guarantee that is unequaled. And their customer service is excellent! This week’s giveaway is for a $50 gift card from L.L. Bean – perfect for holiday gift-buying. Once again, you have several ways to enter to win:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

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

5) contribute as a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 25 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Pick Your Pumpkin

listmama — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:01:23 +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; pull out the appropriate utensils for carving such as a larger, sharp knife for the top and 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 pattern or design. Do not forget to remove the seeds for the extra bonus of yummy Spiced Pumpkin Seeds.

This week’s giveaway ends today for a customized Christmas canvas from October Belle Designs. You can choose from one of her Christmas collections:

* The Jolly Jingle Collection: Colors are apple green, red and white with accents in chocolate brown or black.

* The Merry Berry Christmas Collection: Colors are cranberry, dark green, gold and chocolate brown.

* The Chilly Confection Collection: Colors are magenta, silver and turquoise with accents in black.

The winner will receive the personalization of their choice!

Once again, you have several ways to enter to win this beautiful, handpainted canvas:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

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

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 18 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Holidays in the New World

listmama — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:01:16 +0000

In 1492, Columbus first set foot on soil 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 themselves. Now is your chance. Let us know what fall project you tackled today!

This next week’s giveaway is for a customized Christmas canvas from October Belle Designs. You can choose from one of her Christmas collections:

* The Jolly Jingle Collection: Colors are apple green, red and white with accents in chocolate brown or black.

* The Merry Berry Christmas Collection: Colors are cranberry, dark green, gold and chocolate brown.

* The Chilly Confection Collection: Colors are magenta, silver and turquoise with accents in black.

The winner will receive the personalization of their choice!

Once again, you have several ways to enter to win this beautiful, handpainted canvas:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a commen

t here,

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

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 18 at 6 pm EST to enter.

Take a Hike!

listmama — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:01:07 +0000

Here in the Northeast, Columbus Day weekend is 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 this opportunity while it lasts!

The Countdown to Christmas Challenge for today is to find a place to enjoy the fall outdoors. Take a walk today. Go on a leaf hunt and collect the brightest leaves. Take them home and lay them one at a time between 2 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. Preserve the fall color throughout the year!

Today is the last day to enter to win 1 of 5 Holiday ePlanners from ListPlanIt. You’ll find 22 printable lists and planning pages for sending cards, buying gifts, planning holidays parties and events, and preparing holiday meals. Once again, you have several ways to enter to win this handy, downloadable packet:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

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

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 11 at 6 pm EST to enter. Now through the month of October, find out how to get a FREE Holiday ePlanner!

Be a Leaf Peeper

listmama — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:01:44 +0000

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

Today’s Countdown to Christmas Challenge is to take a fall foliage foray either in the car or on 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.

Today is the last day to enter to win a brand new cookbook called Stonewall Kitchen Winter Celebrations: Special Recipes for Family and Friends! Once again, you have several ways to enter to win this beautiful full-color cookbook:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

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

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 4 at 6 pm EST to enter.

The Apple of My Eye

listmama — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:01:49 +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, or use this delicious one. Even if you don’t get it made in time for your after-dinner dessert, apple crisp makes a delicious breakfast. To check that you have everything needed for an 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!

And the winner of the Harvest Yankee Candle is. . .

Congratulations, Julie! Look for your candle in the mail in about 1 week.

This week’s Giveaway is for a brand new book called Stonewall Kitchen Winter Celebrations: Special Recipes for Family and Friends! Once again, you have several ways to enter to win this beautiful full-color cookbook:

1) leave a comment on this post,

3) subscribe to 100 Days to Christmas‘ RSS feed using a reader or by email and leave a comment here,

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

5) become a member of the 100 Days to Christmas community

One of each of these per day please. You have until October 4 at 6 pm EST to enter.