Simple Treats to Chase Away the Winter Blues

Winter can be a blustery time. The holidays are over, but it's still quite a while before spring finally arrives. It's dark when we wake up, and dark when we get home from work. Everything looks brown and dead. Cold, dreary days can really start to wear on us all.

That's why it's good to look for ways to chase away these winter blues. I've got a few fun and simple ideas that you might want to try. These would be great for friends and family, or just to enjoy for yourself.

Warm Up with a DIY Hot Cocoa Station

Warm drinks are a great cure for what ails us, especially when those chilly winds are blowing outside. Coffee and hot tea are fine, but there's something about cocoa that hearkens back to childhood and offers a soothing nostalgia good for the soul. 

Gather up all your favorite cocoa accouterments and assemble a DIY hot cocoa station for your next party. Or maybe just have this on hand for yourself after a long day. It feels fun and festive and who doesn't love a little sugar buzz to ward off the chill. 

via Party City

Some of my favorite cocoa add-ins include: 

Crushed peppermint

Assorted marshmallows (of course)

Cinnamon sticks

Peppermint sticks

Mint candies (including peppermint patty) 

Caramel 

Whipped cream 

Chocolate chips

Polar Bear Paws 

We don't have polar bears in Tennessee. In fact, we hardly get any snow around here at all. So since you won't see any actual polar bears in our neck of the woods, why not celebrate these cuddly creatures with a sweet treat? 

Polar bear paws are easy to make. All you need is cookies (or cupcakes), white frosting, shredded coconut and decorative candies. Check out this blog for more detailed directions! 

Snowman After-School Snacks 

As a kid growing up in Tennessee, snow days were like a rare gift. We just don't get a lot of snow around here. But there's always a chance and in the meantime, why not celebrate Frosty with some fun snacks made to look like him? 

With some basic clear plastic cups and a Sharpie, you can turn a simple snack into something really cheery and fun. Same goes for string cheese. 

Sometimes it really is the simple things that can bring us the most joy. I hope you'll take time this winter to inject a little fun into your everyday routine. And I hope if the winter blues find you, they don't stay very long! 

Resident Birds

Each year, when winter winds begin to blow, I like to feed the birds. I always intend to put out birdseed for wild birds every month of the year, but you know what they say about the road to Hell being paved with the best of intentions. However, when it's really cold out, I know that food is scarce and I try to keep my feeder filled.

It's a way I honor the memory of my great grandmother, who also enjoyed feeding birds off her back porch. Her name was Aline (pronounced al-een), but I called her 'Great.'

She was a short, stocky woman with spindly legs and she always wore those little housecoats that zipped up the front, knee-highs that drooped around her ankles, and vinyl house shoes that were meant to look like leather. A native Texan, she was dealt a tough hand in life, but always persevered. Early on, she worked as a cook on the railroad before moving her family to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where my great-grandpa could find work. At that time, Oak Ridge had really just been established and for folks like my great grandparents (both sets on my dad's side), it was the land of Milk and Honey.

As long as I knew my Great, she scrimped and pinched pennies to make ends meet. She was a coupon clipper and a fan of cheap foods like Vienna (Vy-eenie) Sausages. But she always put aside a little extra money to buy me bubble bath from the Avon lady and she always made sure to have money set aside for birdseed. I think of her every time I see a Chickadee because those were her favorites, even though she said they sassed her when she talked to them.

My beau and I enjoy watching our birds gather around our patio to chow down on the food we provide all through the winter. I'm definitely no ornithologist, but I can identify most basic birds (which seems to impress him). We talk about the different species and what they are doing, imagining where they might live and who their bird families are.

A few weeks ago, he asked me about why some birds stick around during the winter while others migrate to warmer climates. I had never really thought about it before, but a few days later, I ran across a magazine article that explained this phenomenon.

Again, I'm no scientist, but I managed to glean this...Some birds are migratory and move to a different location during months of the year when the weather turns cold and food is scarce. Other birds are called resident birds and stick around the same area all year long.

It got me to thinking about how different challenges we face cause us to react. Sometimes things happen that cause circumstances where we just need to walk away for a moment. You've probably experienced that. I certainly have. With wedding planning in high gear, plus life's daily stresses, my beau and I have had to take a couple of time-outs lately to cool down and work out some issues. Eventually, we come back together and talk it out...trying to see where the other is coming from and ultimately remaining committed to one another and the life we are trying to create.

And sometimes, there are challenges in life that cause us to pick up and move. Just like my Great did all those years ago when she wanted a better life for her family. I don't know what their lives might have been like had they stayed in Texas, but I know her son (my grandpa) had a most wonderful experience as a kid and then teenager growing up in Oak Ridge. He was a star football player, had the opportunity to go to college on a scholarship and most importantly of all, it's where he met the love of his life, my grandma.

But what about those times when we need to stay and stick it out. This winter, as I watch those resident birds gather around the feeder on my porch hoping to get a little bit of food, I think about how they are determined to make it another day.

I read where the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has been tracking changes in bird migration behaviors and that more and more birds are opting not to migrate at all. Experts aren't sure if this is because of climate issues or the increase of folks who supply birdseed in feeders. I like to think that the birds are getting tougher.

Seasons come and go, we are faced with difficult situations at every turn. Friends and loved ones get sick and pass away, jobs are won and lost, it's so easy to lose sight of our purpose. It's not a matter of if hard times are going to come, but when. And they will. But I want to be one of those resident birds who stick it out through thick and thin. That's the kind of friend I want to be, the kind of wife, the kind of sister and daughter...I don't want to be someone who flies the coop when the going gets tough.

I come from people who faced adversity and lived to tell the tales. My people didn't pack it up and pack it in unless it was really necessary, and then they made the best of all things. If it means doing the hard stuff day after day, hoping for something better, so be it. Eventually the reward will come. When the days are long and the weather warms, all those resident birds will sing a triumphant song...we made it! Another winter and we lived to tell of it. And we'll be there too. Singing along.

How to Host a DIY Spa Party At Home

Winter brings dreary days and cold weather. I don't know about you, but it can get downright depressing. There's a combination of let-down and relief after the holidays come to an end. But the stretch of time from January to March can really usher in the blahs. 

So, what better way to chase away the blahs than with some pampering? Fancy spa treatments can be expensive, but there's no reason you can't have a DIY spa party in the comfort of your home. 

Here are three simple spa treatment recipes to truly pamper and nourish your face, skin and hair this winter. Enjoy! 

1) Java Joy 

This simple body scrub is made with one of my favorite things: coffee. Did you know that the caffeine in coffee can combat cellulite and other skin imperfections? Give your skin a thorough pampering with this scrub. 

To make it, all you need is: 

- Coconut oil 

- Castor oil

- Coffee (finely ground)

- Sugar

- Vanilla 

Mix 1/2 cup finely ground coffee with 1/2 cup sugar. Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix. Then slowly add in the oils (2 Tablespoons of each) and incorporate together with a fork. When the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, transfer to an air-tight container. 

Use this scrub on your body, paying special attention to problem areas such as thighs, backs of arms, elbows and knees. It leaves skin oh so soft and smells like a frappuccino without all the calories. 

2) Luscious Locks Honey Hair Mask 

Our hair can definitely take a beating this time of year, with all the cold dampness outside and the dry heat inside. This simple mask treatment can be done as preparation for a special event or just incorporated as part of your regular beauty routine. 

To make it, gather the following ingredients/tools: 

- Coconut oil 

- Raw Honey 

- Small cooking pan 

- Bowl 

- Spoon

- Shower cap

- Towel 

Mix equal parts coconut oil and honey (more or less depending on the length and thickness of your hair). Heat the mixture on low in the cooking pan until it is warm, but not hot. This will help it to penetrate your hair follicles. Apply the mixture to wet hair until fully coated. 

Twist hair into a bun (if long) and put on the shower cap. If you have a hood hair dryer, you might want to sit under it for 20 minutes of so. Otherwise, let the mask soak in for 30 minutes. Rinse it out in the shower and wash your hair as normal. 

3) Best Face Forward Oil Cleansing Regimen 

When I first heard about the oil cleansing method (OCM) for washing one's face, I thought it sounded crazy. Why would you ever put oil on your face? But then I tried it and haven't looked back. In fact, I've become something of a pusher when it comes to OCM. I spread the oily gospel wherever I go (if given the chance). 

This is something I suggest practicing every day, but if you're wary, just try it once and see what you think. 

Here's what you need: 

- Jojoba oil 

- Castor oil 

- Tea tree oil 

There's really no perfect recipe...it varies depending on your skin type. Jojoba is a moisturizing oil, castor is more drying. And tea tree is antimicrobial to fight blemishes. My usual combo is about 1:1 jojoba:castor with maybe 1/8 part tea tree oil. If you need more tea tree you can always add it. And if you have sensitive skin, maybe use less. 

The method is simple. Mix your oils in a small bottle and shake well. With very clean hands, pour out a quarter sized amount of oil in your palm and start rubbing your hands together to warm up the oil. Now apply liberally to your face. You don't even have to take your makeup off first, this will remove it for you. 

Spend at least 3 minutes rubbing the oil all over your face. Maybe five if you have time. I like to make sure and get it into all areas, especially problem spots. 

Now, I also keep a jar of baking soda next to my bathroom sink for various things. It's great for exfoliation in conjunction with OCM. 

Add a little baking soda to your hands and rub that only your face as well. Be careful around the delicate eye areas, but spend some time exfoliating to remove flaky skin. 

The clean oil works against the natural oils on your face, dissolving the bad stuff but keeping the moisture. Have you ever felt that tight feeling from using a drugstore facewash or astringent? The problem is that once you strip your face of its natural oils, it goes into overdrive producing more, thus keeping the oily cycle going. After doing OCM for a few years, my skin hardly produces much excess oil. 

After you've exfoliated, take a washcloth and wet it with hot water (as hot as you can stand). Use this to wipe your face completely, removing all the oil and baking soda. My face is usually a little bit pink from all the rubbing, but it feels so clean and fresh. 

These are just three ways you can pamper yourself at home. For your DIY spa party, why not invite a few friends over and let them do the treatments too. Provide the ingredients and let them mix their own scents and flavors. 

A few things you might for a DIY at-home spa party include: 

- various small containers (jars, bottles, plastic bags)

- essential oils (for fragrance)

- extra towels

- bowls of water for rinsing 

- spray bottles of water

- salt/sugar/epsom salt for scrubs 

- lemons/honey/avocado for masks

Winter won't last forever! Spend some time pampering yourself and enjoying the little things that each day brings. Before you know it, spring will be just around the corner. 

Snow Day Baked French Toast

The most beautiful snow passed through Knoxville last night and I woke up to a winter wonderland. I always hate to hear of anyone who has lost power or gotten stuck while traveling so I sort of don't want to revel in the weather too much....but it really was gorgeous to see.

After an early morning stroll around my neighborhood, I came home and decided to make something special for breakfast. French toast has always been one of my favorite morning treats and I tried this baked version so I wouldn't have to stand over the stove making one piece at a time.

I didn't follow any particular recipe, but it turned out great.

First, I sprayed a baking dish with non-stick spray and then I lined it with pieces of whole wheat bread.

For the egg mixture, I combined two eggs, about a cup of vanilla-flavored almond milk and two tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk and poured it over the bread. Then I sprinkled brown sugar and cinnamon over the top.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. I probably should have used more milk...it was a little dry. But nothing some syrup couldn't fix.

Yum!

The snow is beginning to melt, but it was lovely while it lasted. I hope you are enjoying the day.

Simple DIY Craft Projects to Beat the Winter Blahs

Winter can be such a dreary time, what with the cold weather, fewer daylight hours and post-holiday let down. This morning, I joined my friends at Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 to share some simple and fun creative craft projects to help beat the winter blahs.

Each project was simple to complete and inexpensive too. You might even be able to do these using supplies you already have on hand.

1) DIY Frosted Glass Votive Holders 

 These pretty votive holders are so easy to create and really capture the simple beauty of winter. To re-create some like the ones I made, you'll need white glue, sponge brushes, some type of glass candle holder (even highball glasses or stemless wine glasses will work), and Epsom salt.

Mix two parts glue to one part warm water to create a homemade Mod Podge. This is how you'll adhere the Epsom salts to the glass. Paint this glue mixture onto your clean, dry glasses. Then sprinkle Epsom salt all over the glued surface until the entire thing is coated.

Once this is completely dry (4-6 hours), insert a candle or battery-operated votive and enjoy the warm glow!

2) DIY Mitten Garland

Maybe I'm just on a garland kick right now, but I love hanging cheerful strands of things around my home. I didn't want to put my Christmas garland away, but this fun winter project made a nice replacement for it. 

First, I cut mitten shapes from torn pages of a book (it was from the freebie bin at a local used bookstore). Onto each paper mitten I glued small red hearts that were cut from some scrap felt. 

Finally, I punched holes and strung these up on a piece of satin ribbon. This project was so easy and will be great for those winter days as well as for on into February and Valentine's Day. 

3) DIY Birdseed Wreath and Ornaments 

My third project from today's Fox43 segment is a way you can give back to those fine feathered friends who live in and around your yard. I love to sit and watch the birds eating from a feeder outside my window, but only one or two can actually feed at any given time. This project is a way you can feed more birds without buying any additional bird feeders. 

To create the DIY birdseed treats, begin by mixing 4 T of unflavored gelatin with 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Simmer gently until the powder is dissolved. Stir in a cup of birdseed and mix until it's all coated with the gelatin. Now pour this into some type of container that will act as a mold. 

For the large wreath, I used a cake pan with a jar of beans sitting in the middle (for the hole). For the smaller feeder ornaments, I used a muffin tin. You can push a section of a straw into the mixture in each muffin cup to create a hole where you can tie a string. 

After a couple of hours in the refrigerator, your birdseed molds will be ready to eat and the birds will surely thank you as you spread some cheer this winter! 

What Does Winter Mean to You?

SBS Celebrates Great American Pie Month

February is here and since it's Great American Pie Month (who thinks these things up?), I wanted to share some of the most glorious pies I've ever seen. These mile-high meringue pies were made from scratch at Dotson's Restaurant in Franklin, Tennessee. My mom and I were treated to a tasty lunch there during the holiday season with my sweet aunt and cousin. Yes, they tasted as good as they look! I'm only sorry I didn't get a photo of one of the slices. 

I've made lots of different types of pies, but never meringue. It seems like it requires more baking skills than I possess. Many folks won't touch the stuff. Are you in the meringue-loving camp or not a fan? My great uncle used to call it cow slobbers.Yuck! 

Dotson's is a wonderful meat & three if you're in the area looking for a place to grab a bite. I remember the pinto beans and cornbread being especially good. 

I'll leave you with another gorgeous pie and a link to the recipe. Isn't it just adorable? 

This delicious-looking pie from my pal Heather (known by the blogging world as Sprinkle Bakes!) is a deep dish chocolate banana toffee pie that looks heavenly [image via Sprinkle Bakes]. Heather is a talented baker and she's incredible sweet too! You'll get lost in the lovely images on her blog, so don't say I didn't warn you. 

And have a Happy Great American Pie Month! If you have a favorite pie recipe, please share it! 

Drink it up: Winter Party Punch

I just learned that my home state of Tennessee (good ol' Rocky Top!), was the first state in the nation to enact a prohibition law....on this day back in 1838. Since we're no longer dry in these parts, I thought I'd share a recipe for a delicious spirited punch. My friend was generous to give me some grapefruit so this is a perfect way to enjoy it!

A Wintry Mix Party Punch

• 2 cups grapefruit vodka
• 1 cup orange curacao
• 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 1/3 cups cranberry juice
• 1/3 cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 tsp orange bitters
• grapefruit slices for garnish

Mix all ingredients in a large punch bowl filled with ice and serve immediately! You never know when the Temperance Society might come knockin' on your door!

How to Beat the Winter Blues

It's crazy how much effect the weather can have on us...from our health to our mood or our overall disposition. January is one of those months that can be kind of tricky. We're dealing with the inevitable letdown that comes after the pomp and circumstance of the holidays. The days are short and can be dreary. If we aren't careful, the winter blues will set in and I'd just hate to see that happen to such nice folks like you and me.

We've already made it through the shortest day of 2012 (Dec. 21) but there are still several more days of winter left to endure. I'm joining my friends on Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 this morning and sharing some tips on how to beat the winter blues. These are some of the tricks that work for me, but I'd love to hear yours also!

1. Add Some Color to Your Everyday Life -

One way that winter can get you down is because it brings gray, dreary days. I combat this by infusing color into my life in every area I can, especially in unexpected places. Maybe a new dish towel or cleaning sponge will liven up your kitchen chores. I love snagging colorful office supplies because you can't take life too seriously when you're jotting notes on a neon pink to-do list. Whatever you choose, I hope it's something that brightens your mood when you look at it.

2. Liven Things Up with Fresh Cut Blooms and Branches -

Because winter seems like a time when everything outside is dead, I find that surrounding myself with living things helps to beat the winter blues. Grab a cheap bunch of grocery store flowers or even cut some branches from a tree in your yard. You don't have to spend a lot of money to create a lovely arrangement that will brighten up your home or office.

3. Beat the Blues with Color from Head to Toe -

Another way that I show winter who's boss is by refusing to wear dark, drab colors (even though that's what I feel like doing most of these cold days!). Wearing bright, punchy colors always lifts my spirits. You just can't help but smile when you're wearing vivid turquoise, brilliant orange, or luscious yellow. And if you don't want to go all out, add color with your accessories such as a statement necklace or scarf. It's all about the little things we can do to make a big impact.

These are some more fun ways, but the regular old tried and true methods are also great for keeping the blues at bay. These include getting plenty of sleep, eating a balanced, healthy diet and taking time to exercise your body as well as your mind. It's one thing to have a bad day, but seasonal affective disorder is a very real thing and if you're experiencing feelings of hopelessness or long bouts of not wanting to get out bed, don't ignore that...please seek medical help!

What are some ways that have helped you stay cheery even when it's dreary outside? I always love hearing from y'all so share! 

Shifting Faith Paradigms

The duck/rabbit illustration shows how a paradigm shift can make you see the same thing in a totally different way

As a kid, I used to love to learn new big words that I could use to make myself look smart. The only problem was, I often used them incorrectly or just pronounced them wrong. This sort of blew my cover. One such word was paradigm. I remember hearing it and thinking how I couldn't wait to use it in conversation. Of course I pronounced it para-dig-um.

When I was in college, I heard a lot about paradigms (it's so much more fun to say para-dig-ums) and how they can shift, causing us to see differently something we've looked at our whole lives.

This has definitely been my experience in the last several years when it comes to issues of faith. I learned about God as a child and formed many ideas about who He is and what it all meant. Now, I'm having to un-learn a lot of stuff.

I used to think that I was defined by how much I loved God. Now I see that I'm defined by how much He loves me.

I used to think my value came from how much I could do for Him. I'm realizing my value is demonstrated by what He already did for me.

I always thought peace came from an ability to manage my circumstances in a way that looked good on the outside. I see now that true peace comes from believing what God says is true...even when my life doesn't look the way I had hoped.

I always thought trusting God meant going through life, holding my breath, hoping nothing bad happened. I am learning that trusting Him means trusting in His character. Trusting that He is who He says He is no matter what is going on around me.

I'm not sure exactly how all these shifts took place but I'm glad they did. I still have so much to learn (and un-learn) but I'm grateful for the journey. And I'm grateful that you visited Southern Belle Simple. If the winter winds are blowing where you are, I hope you are managing to stay warm and toasty!

January is…

Everybody knows October is Halloween, November is Thanksgiving and December is Christmas. January 1 is New Year’s Day, but the festivities don’t last very long. February has Valentine’s Day and March St. Pat’s. But besides cold, dreary days, what does January have?

There aren’t really any fun January projects (unless you count putting away the holiday decorations or cleaning out the closets…please don’t say you count these as fun). There aren’t any holidays that warrant sweets or other cheery décor. Other than bundling up in bed with a few sleeping dogs and a good book, I just can’t seem to find any worthwhile January activities.

Surely you have some fun January traditions. If so, I’d love to hear about them! Maybe you have a special January event or happening that you want to share. Can anyone help me figure out what to do for the rest of the month? Even my dogs are beginning to get bored with me, I fear!

What does January mean to you?

{note: That gorgeous snowy scene is not my picture…in fact, it was a balmy 62 in my neck of the woods today. Maybe this bizarre-o weather is making January less fun?}

images via

Christmas! Christmas!

After a bit of a crazy week, I know we’re all ready for the Christmas festivities to finally begin. I can’t wait to be with my loved ones, eat delicious food and celebrate the greatest gift that’s ever been given to us.

I hope each of you has a blessed holiday! Oh and I’m guest posting over at The Trot Line today so I’d love to see you there too.

A Very Blustery Day

After we enjoyed a white Christmas for the first time in 17 years, there is more snow in the forecast in my neck of the woods. Snow, then sleet or just cold rain perhaps? I love snow, I really do. It’s lovely and makes everything feel a little magical. Living in a valley, we don’t usually get very much…but growing up on the edge of a plateau, we always got a LOT. Snow days are something I miss most from childhood…waking up early to watch the ticker across the bottom of the television screen, crossing our fingers that our county would be listed as closed. I’m a total chicken about driving when the weather is rough, but it’s more fun to stay home anyway…snug as a bug with lots of cocoa and good books & movies!

Do you get snow days where you are? And if so, what is your favorite way to spend them?

The End of Ten, 2010 that is…

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season. I can’t believe it is the last day of 2010. When I was in the 2nd grade, my class was part of a big anti-smoking initiative and I can remember the teachers telling us we were the (Smoke Free!) Class of 2000 and it seemed like such a mysterious thing. Then the year 2000 finally came and went (without much ado) and here we are on the cusp of 2011. Time really does fly. Just a short year ago, this blog was still a secret pastime of mine and now there are actual real live people who read it. Oh how I love you real live people….even those who don’t comment.

Since they are on our minds, I figured I’d mention New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve only made a few successful resolutions in past years (one being that I didn’t drink any juice made from concentrate, another that I didn’t wear the color red) and none have had any real lasting effect on my life. My friend Rachel and I are toying with the idea of resolving to never leave the house without makeup on, but I’m not sure my skin can handle it.

Instead of making lots of resolutions that I will ultimately fail at and end up feeling all the worse, I have decided to compile a list of things that I already try to do in the hopes of doing them more often in the coming year.

In no particular order….

Play more

Worry less 

Make better use of my imagination (an imagination is a glorious gift that for some, I fear, gets pushed to the back of the shelf when we reach a certain age…..let’s put an end to this, ok?)

Walk by faith…not by sight

Ask questions and really listen to their answers

Be brave

Don’t be afraid to cry

Believe that since dreams spring up in us for a reason, surely they will come true

Look for new dreams that haven’t yet sprung up

Encourage the dreams of others, especially when they need encouragement the most

Eat more fresh fruits & veggies

Accessorize, for this ability is the only thing that separates us from the animals! (according to Coco Chanel)

Wear more sunscreen

Contribute something to the world that is uniquely my own

Show appreciation to others for their contributions

Remember who I am & where I come from

Celebrate the lives of those I have loved by re-telling their stories, recreating their delicious recipes, reliving their traditions, and remembering them fondly on this blog

 

I’m so excited about what the new year has to offer us and I can’t wait to experience it with all of you! Thanks for being part of my world and allowing me to be part of yours…Hooray for 2011! See you next year!

{all photos courtesy my talented cousin Ayla W.}

Happy Christmas 2010!

“Time makes no difference. Whatever the century, wherever the place, Christmas is the Day of Days, the day of the heart's content, of gracious deed and deepest gratitude, when thoughts turn to the near and dear, to those who may be coming home, to celebrate at home the birth of Him Who has given to all of us all we are and may ever hope to be. Dear Christmas! Sweet Christmas! Happy Christmas! No day that man has known since the beginning of the Beginning can mean so much to man. Let us be together. Let us be good together. Let us be gentle together. Le us come home, if we can. Let us have joy this day. Let us have reverence. Let us never, never, never forget the significance of Christmas. For His sake, let us love one another. Dear Christmas. Sweet Christmas. Happy Christmas.”

{image courtesy Ayla Whittaker, text via McCall’s Dec. 1961}

On the Eve of Christmas

“Cloaked in the quiet of the winter's night, the Glorious Beginning stirs anew in the hearts of men. In every hamlet, wise men again are drawn to a manger, to watch, to wonder, to worship.”

{image courtesy www.mitchellwhite.com}

Harper Lee’s Generous Gift

The following story, written by beloved southern author Harper Lee, was published in McCall’s Magazine in 1961. Because of the age of the piece and the fact that McCall’s is no longer in publication, I’m not really sure how the copyright works, but I just wanted to share it for the sake of Christmas (I’m not taking any credit for it or making any money from this post). Please give it a read…As a wanna-be writer, the prospect of something like this happening is sort of a dream.

[UPDATE: I was informed that posting the entire story here was indeed a copyright violation SO I took it down. My apologies to Ms. Lee, I would never try to take any credit for anything you had written.....and I'm sure nobody could ever mistake your wonderful words for mine anyway. Here is an updated link to the story via the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read Website/Institute of Museum & Library Services.]

In case you are wondering, in the year that her friends gifted her, Harper Lee wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Their support allowed the world to know a truly wonderful gem. I can’t say that anything like this has ever happened to me on such a grand scale, but there are plenty of people in my life who believe in me and support me in other ways. Whatever your dream may be, why not consider permitting someone to believe in you? How do you know that the next masterpiece isn’t within you, just waiting to be created?

I Heart Tinsel Trees

This little aluminum tree belongs to my Me-me…it’s been around for at least 50 years and only made a more recent appearance within the last 15 years or so because I think we saw a silver tree in a junk store and I was utterly enamored by it. When I found out that there was a similar one in my grandmother’s attic, I insisted she pull it down. She even had the light that came standard with the trees when they were bought new, a bulb with a rotating disk of colors that reflected on the tinsel branches and made quite a lovely show. Last week I posted about how I don’t mind not having a “living” tree, which was a hotly debated issue! I guess some folks might think a silver tree is just tacky, but I think it’s beautiful. Until this vintage one comes to live at my house (please Me-me?), I have a couple of smaller silver ones that I decorate with each year.

Do any of you have an old (or new) silver tree at your house? Last year I searched high and low for a pink tree without any luck. I know my friend Terry is cringing right about now….but she humors me! Happy Monday Everyone!

The Only Christmas for Me

I’m such a sap, but this song gets me every time. Maybe it’s because my sweet home state of Tennessee doesn’t have too many songs that celebrate all it has to offer. Although “The Tennessee Waltz” puts a tear in my eye as well. When I was in the 5th grade, our class put on a Christmas program for the parents and part of it involved dancing to this song…boy/girl, each couple nervous and awkward making a circle around the gym. I guess every time I hear the song, I think about my eleven year old self, awesomely clueless as to what life had in store. And really, I still don’t know what to expect half the time…so not much has changed. But I hope I’m a bit less awkward.

I can’t believe we are just a week away from Christmas. Let’s make this next week last as long as possible by slowing down and really enjoying all the little things. The Happiest of Fridays to YOU!

Vintage Christmas Snapshot

This photo belongs to a dear friend of mine…it’s of her precious grandfather and mom (possibly aunt?) when she was a little girl. I love how clearly you can see the tree in the background with all the shiny tinsel but even more so, the obvious joy on their faces. It’s just a lovely shot and to me, it really captures something special about Christmas.

Hope everyone is having a productive and stress-free week! Happy Thursday!