Christmas Morning Biscotti Gifts!

 

Today I am sharing an adaption of a post
 I did last year - but was a little late getting it posted.

And I think good timing is everything -

so right now seems to be the perfect time to share this,

for early enough planning ahead!

CHRISTMAS BISCOTTI!

Biscotti is a double-baked dry crisp Italian "cookie,"

that travels well and keeps a while in an air tight container.

And just who wouldn't want a simple crispy crunchy biscuit

really good for dippin' and dunkin 

 in tea or coffee to start a morning off to a sweet start?

These easy-to-make baked super crunchy goodies

are the perfect answer!

I have been making them for years -

and last year had the idea (I got from Diana at Nana Takes a Break blog) to make them just 

the right size to fit inside Christmas card boxes

to give as gifts.

I love cleverly repurposing the use of things, don't you?

She made fudge for hers.

(I am adding this now- last year I had mentioned her and this year I omitted, so fixing now.)

 I always save these heavy-duty card boxes,

 and they'd been really adding up.

Last year I filled my seven boxes I had saved

 and dropped off to all my neighbors in my cul-de-sac.

(Hobby Lobby sells my favorite cards and have the best boxes.)

Of course biscotti individually wrapped up

 in cellophane & tied with a bow

 tucked into a jar or basket,

filled in a repurposed large jar, put in cute square cookie tins or filled up a cute holiday box...any contained works!

Two favorite recipes for fall & winter:

Cranberry-Orange Biscotti

and

White Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti

I cut up the cranberries much smaller and use less 

from the above recipes, which helps them

 keep their shape and stay together and not break too easily.

These make really great treats to mail to loved ones!

So, remember:

 SAVE YOUR CHRISTMAS CARD BOXES

 and plan to do some biscotti baking this year!

As always, thanks for your visit.

Hugs and prayers,

~Michele

Linking:

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December's First Snow!

I sure enjoyed waking up

 on the first day of December to finding it had really snowed!

I do love having all 4 seasons here, and I do really like snow!

(Especially when I decorating for Christmas!)

It helps me really get into the spirit of it all!

I love the patterns the snow made

on the stone pavers...

And how the piles of snow sits on the branches of

the boxwood outside our kitchen window.

And on the lilac bush next to it on the right....

But the BEST part of a good snow day

 is when sweet little girls get to make snow angels!

Oh, the sheer joy of being a child!

Vivi says to herself:

"OK, I am going to look at my mommy. Smile, even. 

Think she will notice that I am making a snowball?

Don't look at my hands. Just focus. Just keep smiling at mommy.

I think I am almost ready to throw it at her..."

(Just look at that "innocent" look she's giving her!)

I know that look all too well myself! 

Seems sweet, but really is T.R.O.U.B.L.E!

Hahaha!

And of course there are no pics of the war that ensued!

Alas, the paparazzi were nowhere to be found.

(THIS grandma sure loved getting these happy pics from them!)

♥

Incidentally these are her shiny new "Olaf" boots

 from the movie Frozen.

In pic below she is holding her Olaf plushie toy.

Yes, she still has a strong Frozen obsession.

 As always, thanks for your visit!

Hugs,

~Michele

My Advent Calendar

 Happy First Sunday of Advent!

 Let our Hope Begin! 

What a wonderful time of year

 counting down the coming of our Lord's birth! ♥

Thought I'd pop in and share the cutest

 Advent calender

our eldest Evelyn made us a few years ago.

It is a tree shaped wooden holder for wee clay "ornaments"

that are stamped with numbers 1-24!

♥

 Isn't it just adorable?

It's got a farmhouse/Scandy/natural vibe

that fits in perfectly with the way I am decorating this year!

I used my Rae Dunn "Blessed" sign with it. ♥

 So let our countdown begin!

May each day of the Advent Season

 bless each of you abundantly.

The key to a happy Advent - feeling blessed.

Blessed with a roof over our heads, food in our tummies,

love around us in friends and family, relatively good health

and freedom to worship as we wish, without fear.

As always, thank you for your visit!

Hugs and prayers,

~Michele

Linking:

Inspire Me Tuesday

FRESHA SOAP & FUN THINGS GIVEAWAY WINNER!

 Thank you everyone for entering our giveaway!

And a super huge thanks to those of you wonderful readers

 who purchased items from Fresha!

You are supporters of small business

 and generally fabulous human beings!!!! ♥

Drum roll... and our winner this time is none other than

RITA 

from the blog Panoply

Rita wins a free soap & lip balm of her choice from Fresha,

(and a few random little surprises from me, too.)

Look for an email from Evelyn at Fresha soon.

You can find Fresha Soap on right side of my home page

or you can go here.

Visit the site to double check availability of choice products,

then just let me know via an email of your picks

along with your mailing address

 and we will get your goodies out to you asap!

Thanks again to everyone!

Was super fun hosting this giveaway!

Hope y'all had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

(If you celebrated it, that is!)

Time to bring on the MERRY! 

YAY!!

Hugs,

~Michele

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (And a Give-away!)

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Sending you all warm thoughts and prayers today.

Sharing our special card we received in the mail

 from my 4 year old grand girl.

She is doing well with her homeschooling.

She is learning her letters well!

Reminder:  

If you haven't signed up for our artisan soap n surprises giveaway 

it's not too late - will randomly pick a winner tomorrow.

Just leave a comment saying you wish to enter!

Click here.

Comments closed for this post so you all can enjoy

your family, and hopefully a nice dessert after your feasts.

And to our outside our borders friends,

let the Christmas fun begin! 

As always, thank you for your visit!

Hugs,

~Michele

Tea Time - Bird Theme

 I began sorting through all our Christmas bins and such

 over the weekend, mindfully choosing what to keep out.

I am decorating much earlier and differently this year,

 so it's a bit more challenging - but in a good way.

(More on that to follow in the days to come.)

We are going to follow our governor's mandate

 and not going to have any company in for Thanksgiving this year.

Our girls felt this way first, then we followed their leads.

So instead of being very sad, I am choosing to be busy!

(Thoughtful gift years ago from a dear blogger friend.)

Perhaps that is why so many of us are starting

 to decorate much more early this year....because 

We need a little Christmas,  right this very minute! 

Click on "We need a little Christmas" above and really listen-

these words never hit me like they did this past weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~

This weary world needs to rejoice in its joyful hope

 of the coming of our Lord and Savior.

 Now more than ever.

 I think we all can agree that this year

 has been an absolute nightmare. 

 

I am making a promise to myself:

 to stay positive and focus on what's is happy and good.

(I guess I will just fake it till I make it!)

So what better way to start it all out than tea-for-one?

In the middle of what looks like Saint Nick's workroom

 with boxes and bits and baubles and all Christmas-y goodness

 strewn about, I made myself a pretty tea respite. 

I needed a quick easy nosh and a cuppa. 

 I put together a pretty little bird-themed Christmas tea.

I filled a pot and wrapped it with my beautiful cozy

made by blogger friend Bernideen.

She has an Etsy shop here. 

 I rested my mind, my back, my feet and my soul near a fire. 

And counted my blessings in prayer.

Then again got back to happy busy!

If you haven't yet checked out my artisan soap giveaway-

please check out a special web site filled with great gift ideas!

Just click here. 

Another great gift idea from another dear blogger friend

Angela from Tea With Friends.

You can find it on Amazon.

And last but not least, please join in the fun at

Rose Chintz Cottage's

NO PLACE LIKE HOME link party!

And as always, thank you for your visit + sweet comments!

Big happy hugs,

~Michele

Linking:

All About Home   *   Inspire Me Tuesday

A Very Special Give Away

 

Announcing a very special give-away close to my heart!

It is Fresha Soap Company's First Anniversary

 and we are so delighted to celebrate it with you!

Fresha Soap is absolutely the best soap I have ever used.

It's chalk-full of naturally good things for your skin.

It smells amazing.

It is very long-lasting and gentle with soft lathering.

(I would say this even if it weren't my daughter's company!)

Truth! I swear it!

They have many year-round amazing soaps to choose from,

 but today I am showing off two groupings of

 recent seasonal limited-edition batches:

4 awesome autumn-inspired scented soaps!

Top to bottom above:

Cinnamon Latte 

Pretty Pink Apple 

Woods Walk

White Birch Oud

Fresha recently introduced a wonderful new

 year-round scent called "Heavenly."

(And is it EVER THAT! It's my new favorite!)

My talented daughter also made the table those pretty soaps above are sitting on!

 4 new amazing limited edition winter-inspired soaps:

Snow Day

Butterscotch Toddy

Foxberry Frost 

Cozy Cashmere

Of course these "seasonal" scents

 are truly great for any season.

But they are specially made in small batches,

so when they're gone, they are gone!

Fresha has so many wonderful good-for-you products;

lip balms, solid lotion pucks, hair oils, beard oils...

and has just introduced Botanical Bath Salt Teas!!!!

The Fresha Soap Company is recognized locally

 for the many bars of soap given

to those in need in various local area shelters.

 They also have an easy way for us to help them do so

 by having a Good Neighbor donation button on their web site

should you also ever care to share. 

OK,  TIME TO GET TO THE FUN STUFF!

One lucky winner will receive a mini Holiday Gift Bag

 with winner's choice of a full size bar of any soap available on 

Fresha Soap's web site, along with a choice of lip balm.

Finch Rest will also add some fun surprises in the box, too. ♥

1.) To enter to win simply go to Fresha's web site

then come on back and tell us what you think you like best via a comment!

Be sure to mention if you are entering the give-away!

 (The site is very cute, well written, and full of fun trivia facts!)

2.) Please be a follower of my blog. It is a nice thing to be. ♥

3.) I will also need to know your contact info if you win-

 so if you are a no-reply/anonymous blogger I won't have any way to contact you - so please remember to check back after the winner is announced! You needn't be a blogger to enter.

If I don't hear back from winner within 3 days for contact info,

another winner will be randomly chosen. 

Sorry only open to the US folks. 

Fresha Soap's website 

Fresha's Facebook Page 

Fresha's Instagram

Fresha Soap's newsletter 

(on site's home page bottom right)

This giveaway will run until the end of Thanksgiving Day

and will be announced here sometime Saturday Nov. 28th.

And as you all prepare for your busy gift-giving season,

 please remember how important it is

 to support your local small businesses. 

These places need our patronage to stay operational.

Amazon, Walmart and Target stores will always do brisk business -

but all the little unique stores available to us are true American treasures!

These businesses deserve to be considered to fill our own, and gift-giving needs. 

Thank you for your thoughtful & mindful purchasing - especially this year!

As always, thanks for your visit!

Hugs +prayers for your health and peace,

~Michele

If you missed my post about a recent cute tea party, click here. 

Letter "T" and Telling Time Tea Party!

To celebrate learning the letter "T" and Telling Time

 I hosted a little tea party luncheon for my preschooler grand,

and for both of my daughters early last month.

♥

It was a perfect time to use my clock teapot for a centerpiece.

It was a good day for using my Gracie china.

I only have 4 teacups and saucers in this pattern

 so it worked out well.

I was asked to teach some basic table and tea party manners.

(FYI - Katie asked Vivi a few days later about what she learned, 

and she remembered all she was taught!)

Pink velvet dress, cute tea hat, a sweet smile -

 yep, I believe she was ready for her tea time!

I used these heavier stoneware teacups for the soup.

I used these sweet fall napkins my tea sister/friend Pam D. sent

 in the mail - love random acts of kindness getting happy mail!

Paper napkins always best when there is a 4 year old at the table.

I really can't believe none of us even thought of 

taking pictures of any of the beautiful foods.

*Sigh*

Where is my Mary D. when I needed her the most????

♥

I am happy to report that Vivi liked almost everything!

(And these were rather mature foods, too!)

I was so happy she liked the curry soup!

About the only thing she didn't care for was the ham salad.

BTW- the pumpernickel was homemade by my hubs!

He is an amazing bread baker, and he nailed it perfectly.

It was the first time he'd ever made it, too. 

The cello-wrapped favor was to be a fun painting

of  an autumn pumpkin craft for us to do, 

 but we ran out of time so we weren't able to do it together.

Here they are in learning mode as I was in kitchen brewing the tea!

A play clock, a making a paper clock craft - such fun!

I absolutely love her happy pose!!

She left her very special pink shiny tea party

 princess shoes at the front door.

BTW- these cute wooly toys her Aunt Ezza

 hand made her and gifted her that day

 for doing so well in her learning!

Cute, aren't they?

I love the "cutie marks" on them!

Vivi's auntie makes her the cutest things.

I could do several posts on them alone.

The pink caterpillar with hearts was a very special request

 made by Vivi.  If anyone wants to know more about it please 

write me privately and I will share.

As always, thanks for your visit!

Stay safe, stay well, please!

Linking:

Tablescape Thursday