Are You Ready For Christmas?

 

All I can say is that I don't have to watch television commercials anymore since I cut the cord.  My main channel is You Tube Premium.  I pay to not have to watch commercials and I love it.  Thinking back to my cable television days, the Christmas commercial bombardment started around Halloween.  They tortured me and I hated them so much.

No, I don't hate Christmas.  It was just my choice to not celebrate it anymore since my first husband JR passed away.  For he and I, the Christmas/Thanksgiving holidays were as special as it gets.  We had huge parties for both days.  We decorated to the max.  A week after he passed away, a huge tree fell on the storage shed where all the decorations were and destroyed them.  For me, it was a sign from God.  Christmas is about the birth of Christ for me anymore.  JR passed away in October as the commercials started.  Anyway, when The Captain and I got together, it was a relief to find out he felt the same way about Christmas.  Another sign from God.

I'm all good with it now, but no commercials or celebrations.  It does bring me joy to see other people celebrating the holidays as I once did.  That is why I am focusing on Christmas posts, to help others enjoy the holidays to the max as JR and I did.

Speaking of the Christmas posts, I've posted a lot of them from recipes, cooking and Christmas decorating tips/ideas.  Below is a list of all the new blog posts.  I sincerely hope they touch even one person's life.  This is the time before Christmas that I always enjoyed the most.  

Happy Holidays to everyone!  May God bless you all . . .

NEW BLOG POSTS

LaBelladiva

Unique Christmas Tree Ideas for Every Decorating Style

Is It OK to Leave Your Christmas Tree Lights on All Night?

Subtropical Gardening

How To Water Poinsettias – Why You Should Be Misting Your Poinsettia Plants!

Peace Love Happiness

Live For The Moment

Gina's Italian Kitchen

How to Freeze Cookies and Cookie Dough

Secret To Silky Smooth Melted Chocolate

How to Quickly and Safely Bring Butter to Room Temperature - And Only Way to Store Butter

Leftovers That Spoil Faster Than You Think

White Chocolate Bark

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Smothered Chicken

Pecan Pie Coffee Cake

Foods You Didn't Know You Could Cook in an Air Fryer

Baked Two-Cheese & Bacon Grits

Fried Potatoes And Onions

Raspberry Crumble Bars

Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Butter Pecan Cheesecake

Deep-Dish Apple Pie

Roasted Pork Shoulder (Italian-Style)

Basic Thumbprint Cookies

White Chocolate-Cherry Shortbread Cookie

Hot and Spicy Hush Puppies from the Neelys

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Cherry Fudge Truffle Coconut Cheesecake

Ground Beef Taco Dip

Cheesy Crab Poppers

Baked Stuffed Shrimp

Homemade Corn Tortillas

Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes - UPDATED

Ribs - Informative Info and Recipes

Days are flying by!

 

Happy Thursday everybody!  It feels like Friday since this week is flying by so fast.  

I've been focused on Christmas with lots of posts on foods that are good for the holidays, gift-giving sweet treats and Christmas decorating inspiration.  Hopefully you will find them useful in your preparation for the Christmas holiday.

The weather has been beautiful in Florida which has me thinking about gardening and the critters that have visited my property.  There is a post about squirrels, everything you would want to know about them and a very happy memory of those quirky little creatures and how they affected my dogs.  I sure do miss those days!

Writing and posting to my blogs has really picked me up from a couple years of grief and sadness.  It has brought up memories that have brought me so much joy.

Have a joyous day!  Following is a listing of new blog posts.  

NEW BLOG POSTS

LaBelladiva

Are Permanent Holiday Lights "Tacky" or Worth the Investment?

Alternative Christmas Tree Ideas

Easy DIY Placemat

The Secret to a Stunning Christmas Tree, According to a Macy’s Designer

Subtropical Gardening

How You Can Help Birds in Cold Winter Weather

How Long Poinsettias Really Last—and How You Can Maximize Their Lifespan

Nutty and Fun Facts About Squirrels

What To Do For Daylilies In The Fall – For Bigger Blooms Next Year

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Does Pie Really Need To Be Refrigerated?

Classic Sloppy Joes

Pecan Tassies

Homemade Turtles

Pecan Pralines

Cashew Clusters

Pecan Pie Brownies

No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake

Pecan Pie Cake With Browned Butter Frosting

UPDATED Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes

New Orleans-Style Spicy Shrimp

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Buckeyes

Wendy's Copycat Chili

Better Than Anything Toffee

Peanut Caramel Brownie Bites

How to Craft and Send the Perfect Holiday Cookie Tin

Organized grocery shopping tips to help you save time and money on groceries

Gina's Cuban Style Fried Rice

Gina's Crispy Cornmeal Fried Shrimp

Culture change memories for a babyboomer

 

Keeping busy has made a huge difference in my general attitude and mood.  When you don't have the time to think about a bunch of negative stuff all the time, it is natural to feel better.  Lesson learned - stay busy!

In updating my blogs, I have revisited good memories of the past, like The British Invasion and The Beatles first visit to the US and their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.  It took me back to a time where I experienced a huge culture change for my generation.  I wrote a post about it for Babyboomer Flashback back in 2011 and have reposted it.  It put a huge smile on my face since it was a phenomenal time in my life as I was not quite a teenager, but no longer a child going through this awesome culture change. 

Memories can be so healing to a grieving soul and I'm so grateful for them.

Following is a list of new blog posts.  As I clean up the blogs, I am also bringing back some very old posts that are special.  

Here's to everyone having a wonderful rest of the week!  Stay safe and grateful for those you love.

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Cowboy Pork Chops

Cheeseburger Quiche

Easy Holiday Casseroles for Christmas Dinner

Cinnamon Pecan Cookie Bars

Almond Crescent Cookies

Easy Crock-Pot Candy

Peanut Brittle

Mint Sandwich Cookies

Peppermint Bark

Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

Buttermilk Pecan Pralines

Cheese Grits Casserole

Breakfast Crescent Ring

Alabama Corn Sticks (Cast Iron Pan Recipe)

Hot Tamale Pie

Copycat KFC Chicken Pot Pie

LaBelladiva

Christmas Tree Themes That'll Inspire You

Babyboomer Flashback

The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show

Subtropical Gardening

Make Your Real Christmas Tree Last All Through The Holidays

Peace Love Happiness

Blessed beyond the chaos

Excuse me while I pat myself on the back

 

Happy weekend everybody!  We are having a rainy weekend in Florida, but we need the rain.  I'm sorry for you guys experiencing all that snow.

That is Kiki's photo posted . . . I just wanted to see her precious little face.  I miss her so much!  The photo is blurry, but I took it with my phone in a dark room.  It turned out to be one of my favorites.

As promised, I have gone wild with posting Christmas sweet treats that are great any time of the year.  Many of these items are perfect for gift giving.  Make up tins of cookies for situations like giving to a host of a party you are going to, for example.  It was something I always did and I have posted the fudge recipe I used year after year.  People started asking for it.  Homemade treats are awesome!

It has been easier to manage the grief and I am feeling so much better emotionally and physically too since I have made several lifestyle changes.  

The biggest thing is that I have continued to be a non-smoker, it has been over 2 years.  Giving up sugar has proved to be equally as difficult, but my discipline is holding up great.  Of course I will treat myself for a job well done for Christmas as I did for Thanksgiving when I had one piece of pumpkin pie and that was it.  Pepsi that I was addicted to . . . no more!  It has been weeks since I had one.  My discipline has been strong and I'm proud of myself.

Have a great week everybody.  Below are new blog posts.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Cherry Cordials 

Brownie Bonbons

Almost Famous Molten Chocolate Cake

Amaretto Almond Bundt Cake

Gina's Chocolate Fudge

Peppermint Fudge

Chocolate Cream Pie

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Holiday Cookie Recipes from the Food Network

The Best Christmas Recipe Guide

Christmas Cannoli Cake

No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel

Copycat Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake

Coconut Macaroon Blossoms

How to Make the Best Sugar Cookies from Martha Stewart

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeye Cookies

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

The Ultimate Snickers Pie

Babyboomer Flashback

Marilyn Monroe . . . Suicide Blonde?

LaBelladiva

Should You Bring A Gift To A Family Member Who’s Hosting The Holiday Meal?

How To Make A Sunglasses Case

Life's bizarre times and desires

 

December has brought me the desire to create, so I've decided to start making jewelry again.  For now, just for me, to fulfill that desire and see where it takes me.  I'm happy to have even a little sense of direction.

The Christmas season is upon us and I will be posting seasonal stuff.  Don't ask me what that means, but I also have the desire to look into everything Christmas and write about it.  Of course I will continue with the food blog posts and find festive recipes.  And I'm definitely getting back into graphics, but it has been like having to learn all over again since it has been several years and the software has gone through dramatic changes.  At least it is keeping my mind occupied.

Maybe I should say that this month has brought me to a new beginning with definite desires after a couple of years with no desire to do anything at all.  I know how it sounds but I like to be honest about how I feel.  Life makes us go through bizarre times.

Hope everyone is having a good week and continue to an awesome weekend.  Another online friend has passed away and it made me very sad.  Anyway . . . below I have listed everything I've posted this week.  The emphasis has still been on food.

NEW BLOG POSTS

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Maple Bacon Cheddar Biscuits

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

The BEST Homemade Biscuit Recipe

Chef John's Prime Rib

Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

Crack Chicken Penne Pasta

Sheet Pan Scalloped Potatoes

Lemon Chicken And Rice Casserole

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Copycat Almond Joy Candy Bars

Shrimp and Grits

LaBelladiva

How to Make Fast and Easy Pincushions

Unexpected Ways To Reuse Dryer Sheets Outside The Laundry Room

Fabulous Frugalista

Ways To Use Christmas Decor Basics Year After Year

Peace Love Happiness

Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart

Holiday joy and blahs

 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Every Thanksgiving I enjoy a delicious feast that Door Dash brings to me from Bob Evans.  It is the next best thing to having to cook for a family.  I'm thankful for a tradition I enjoy.

Since the holidays are not a pleasant time for me, my mind is lured to the thought of food and cooking.  The things you are supposed to do for the holidays.  Something I loved so much, but will never have again.  So, writing in my food blog is the next best thing I guess.  It is a release for all those food and cooking related desires.  One day I will enjoy actually cooking again.

Yes I have gone crazy with the food blog.  Now you know why.  And it keeps my mind occupied.  I'm thankful for having the desire for something, anything.  Since The Captain died it was all nothingness.  So I'm thrilled to have some desire for something coming back.  I've delighted my mom with my renewed sense of humor and laughing again.  Even telling her funny stories.  That is what he left me with.  He would have wanted me to laugh and find humor with life like he did.  Trust me, this is progress!

The sadness I can't get rid of is missing my little doggie girl Kiki.  That is killing me still.  Oh the anxiety!  I'd love a lot of little Kikis, but I can't.

My desire for this month is to find those things of holiday joy to share with everyone on all of my blogs.  Get ready for the holiday-ish posts.  Yes, and the desserts since I have cut sugar from my diet if I care to live a longer life.

Have a great week everybody!  Listed below are my new blog posts.

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Butter Cream Chicken

Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Cheesy Taco Bake

4-Ingredient Sausage and Egg Casserole

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Rolls

Marry Me Chicken Pot Pie

Turkey Pot Pie Pockets

Is it safe to line the oven with foil

Turkey Leftovers

Grandma's Hash Brown Casserole

Hawaiian Sliders 

Chicken Alfredo Rice Casserole

The Best Chicken Fried Steak

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

Shepard's Pie

One Dish Chicken and Rice Bake

The Best Way to Make Lasagne

Cheesy Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Peace Love Happiness

Find the reason

LaBelladiva

DIY Small Pouch Sewing Pattern

Thankful They Were In My Life

 

What I am grateful for this year is that I was so blessed to have The Captain and Miss Kiki in my life.  They were so precious to me and I miss them so much.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  Give thanks for all those you love.

New blog posts follow . . .

New Blog Posts

Gina's Italian Kitchen

Magic Chicken Pie

Buffalo Chicken Potato Casserole

Thanksgiving Ideas and Tips

Crockpot Stuffing

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Bobby's Goulash

Creamy Chicken Tortellini

Peace Love Happiness

We all have choices

Babyboomer Flashback

Vintage Items Designers Say You Should Get Rid Of

LaBelladiva

Most Popular Holiday Decorating Trends Of 2025