Welcome to September Rudy Day 2023. We’re only a couple months out! As we begin to delve into our Christmas preparation and planning, let’s get in the spirit!
MUSIC TO GET YOU MOVING
Need some energetic music to motivate you during your holiday cleaning? Crank up Christmas Party Songs, a non-stop medley of holiday tunes for dancing. It will keep your energy up and maybe make the housework a little more fun.
BOOKS
My favorite Christmas book is Dorothea Benton Frank’s The Christmas Pearl (2007). I loved spending vacations with my late DH in South Carolina and found this title at a bookstore when we stayed in Hilton Head. The story, which embraces the region’s cultural heritage and incorporates several Gullah traditions, deals with trying to maintain a sane holiday with disfunctional family, while attempting to re-create family traditions of years gone by. The author includes recipes for several holiday dishes mentioned in the story. I made the fruitcake recipe for our December 2022 Book Club luncheon and will make it again, for sure – but it takes weeks to mellow, so starting it in late Oct. or early Nov. is optimal. If you can locate a copy, I hope you enjoy this quick read as much as I did.
And, a shameless plug … My former employer, World Book, Inc., still publishes Christmas Around the World, a series focusing on the holiday, as it is celebrated in other parts of the world or throughout history. It includes individual titles such as Christmas in Ireland or Christmas in America in the 1700’s and 1800’s. Originally sold into homes on a subscription basis, several titles are now available through all sales channels and can be purchased individually. Several titles have been recently revised and are available for ordering at https://www.worldbook.com/store/Search.aspx?searchTerms=christmas&submit=true. Titles in the series may also be found in your local public library and are available from used booksellers, such as Better World Books (BWB, www.betterworldbooks.com), for a reasonable price. At BWB, I just searched the terms: world book christmas around the world.
MAGAZINES
Not sure if this is a Chicago thing … but I just had to share. Whenever I hear this song or see a snippet of this movie short, a stop-motion animation, I know Christmas is just around the corner.
CRAFTS
Something for the littles …
... and others for the adults ... How about Christmas coasters or potholders? Or maybe a string of Christmas lights? Or gift-card holders? Hmmm … so many things to choose from.
It’s time to begin thinking about your holiday tablescapes and table linens. Do you have what you need for the coming holidays? Are there any items you could add to your décor? Or linens that have seen better days and really should be replaced? How can we simplify (and economically update) our table décor during the holidays? And, with our casual everyday living, there’s a primer on setting a table and napkin folding, to help those who may want to “step up” their table for the holidays.
Thinking about your holiday meals? Here are a couple of pieces to help with menu planning for the holidays. Although they are geared toward Christmas, they can be helpful for Thanksgiving, as well. Yellow Bliss Road has some great appetizer ideas, too!
MUSIC TO GET YOU MOVING
Need some energetic music to motivate you during your holiday cleaning? Crank up Christmas Party Songs, a non-stop medley of holiday tunes for dancing. It will keep your energy up and maybe make the housework a little more fun.
BOOKS
My favorite Christmas book is Dorothea Benton Frank’s The Christmas Pearl (2007). I loved spending vacations with my late DH in South Carolina and found this title at a bookstore when we stayed in Hilton Head. The story, which embraces the region’s cultural heritage and incorporates several Gullah traditions, deals with trying to maintain a sane holiday with disfunctional family, while attempting to re-create family traditions of years gone by. The author includes recipes for several holiday dishes mentioned in the story. I made the fruitcake recipe for our December 2022 Book Club luncheon and will make it again, for sure – but it takes weeks to mellow, so starting it in late Oct. or early Nov. is optimal. If you can locate a copy, I hope you enjoy this quick read as much as I did.
And, a shameless plug … My former employer, World Book, Inc., still publishes Christmas Around the World, a series focusing on the holiday, as it is celebrated in other parts of the world or throughout history. It includes individual titles such as Christmas in Ireland or Christmas in America in the 1700’s and 1800’s. Originally sold into homes on a subscription basis, several titles are now available through all sales channels and can be purchased individually. Several titles have been recently revised and are available for ordering at https://www.worldbook.com/store/Search.aspx?searchTerms=christmas&submit=true. Titles in the series may also be found in your local public library and are available from used booksellers, such as Better World Books (BWB, www.betterworldbooks.com), for a reasonable price. At BWB, I just searched the terms: world book christmas around the world.
MAGAZINES
- The Christmas Magazine, filled with all things Christmas. https://www.christmasmagazine.com/
- And another site I love to browse is the Christmas section of Southern Living Magazine. https://www.southernliving.com/holidays-occasions/christmas
Not sure if this is a Chicago thing … but I just had to share. Whenever I hear this song or see a snippet of this movie short, a stop-motion animation, I know Christmas is just around the corner.
CRAFTS
Something for the littles …
Crayola – Christmas Coloring Pages (maybe print out and have some copies ready to keep the littles occupied while you have a project to work on or maybe for after your holiday dinner) https://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/holidays/christmas-coloring-pages/
... and others for the adults ... How about Christmas coasters or potholders? Or maybe a string of Christmas lights? Or gift-card holders? Hmmm … so many things to choose from.
- 25 Free Christmas Crochet Patterns https://sarahmaker.com/crochet-christmas-decor-patterns/
- Or some free Christmas Amigurumi https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Crochet-Amigurumi-Patterns/Free-Christmas-Amigurumi-Crochet-Patterns
It’s time to begin thinking about your holiday tablescapes and table linens. Do you have what you need for the coming holidays? Are there any items you could add to your décor? Or linens that have seen better days and really should be replaced? How can we simplify (and economically update) our table décor during the holidays? And, with our casual everyday living, there’s a primer on setting a table and napkin folding, to help those who may want to “step up” their table for the holidays.
- HGTV: How to Set a Table – 3 Ways https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/holidays/how-to-set-a-table
- 3 Simple Ways to Fold a Napkin https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/entertaining/easy-napkins-folds-to-dress-up-your-table
- From Thanksgiving to Christmas / Small Tablescape (ideas for quickly and easily transforming your Thanksgiving table décor for Christmas)
Thinking about your holiday meals? Here are a couple of pieces to help with menu planning for the holidays. Although they are geared toward Christmas, they can be helpful for Thanksgiving, as well. Yellow Bliss Road has some great appetizer ideas, too!
- Yellow Bliss Road: How to Plan a Simple & Elegant Christmas Dinner https://www.yellowblissroad.com/how-to-plan-a-christmas-dinner-menu/
- Taste of Home – Your Complete Christmas Dinner Planning Guide https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/your-complete-christmas-dinner-planning-guide/
- 30+ Easy Christmas Desserts https://wonkywonderful.com/easy-christmas-desserts/
