How to Make a Winter Wreath That Will Last Until Spring

After you've taken down all of your Christmas decorations, are you sometimes stumped with what to do with your front door? If you don't want to decorate specifically for Valentine's Day, you can make this seasonal wreath that you can keep up from winter through spring!

Winter Wreath Supplies

• Pine wreath form
• Glittered long-needle pine garland
• Lambs Ear, Dusty Miller, or other flocked light green foliage garland 
• Glittered pine cones
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Directions

1. Cut apart the garlands into individual picks and organize picks into similar groups, removing distinct pieces from picks, such as pine cones, glittered branches, and berries (these will be added to the wreath separately).
   
   
   
   
   
2. Fluff up your wreath form and reposition any branches.
3. Choose one type of wreath pick and "dry fit" them evenly around the wreath and make sure that you're happy with their placement. For example, I chose to start with the flocked pieces first.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Hot glue those pieces into the wreath.
5. Choose the next type of wreath pick and "dry fit" them evenly around the wreath before hot gluing into place. For example, I moved on to the glittered long pine needle picks next.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Continue dry fitting each type of pick and hot gluing in batches until you've used all of the pick types, making sure that you've evenly distributed each type of pick before hot gluing them.

Notes:

I actually started with a pre-made wreath from Michaels that already had a few unglittered pine cones on it and a few different types of greenery attached to a grapevine base. I had planned to start with a pine wreath form because they give you a little more substance to hot glue your items to.

When I went to purchase my materials for the wreath, the only plain pine wreath forms they had left were either extraordinarily large (about 3 feet across) or super-small (about 6 inches across). This particular wreath was actually a pre-decorated Christmas wreath that was on clearance, and I was happy to use it as a starting point for this project. But I wanted to add a little extra oomph to create an extra voluminous wreath. 

Make sure to shop after-Christmas sales for simple wintery floral picks, wreaths, and garlands. I was able to get all the supplies for this wreath for 70% off because they were technically classified as Christmas items and were on clearance before the store brought in all the Valentine's Day merchandise.

I opted not to use the red berries that were included with the flocked garland on this wreath. But they would also look appropriate on a winter wreath too!

I'm really happy with how the finished product turned out. Here are a few close ups so you can see the details better:

Glittery long pine needles and lambs ear:

Glittery branches:

Pine cone clusters:

And one more look at the finished wreath:

There you go! If you've got about 20 minutes, you can create a whole new seasonal winter wreath for your front door this year!

DIY Wreath Tutorials for Other Seasons and Holidays:

• Valentine's Day/Winter Wreath
• Hot Air Balloon Spring Wreath
• Peeps Easter Wreath
• Halloween Candy Wreath
• Witch's Broom Front Door Hanger
• Christmas Wreath
• Vintage Christmas Wreaths (trio)
• Vintage Shiny Brite Wreath

Vegan Collard Greens

I wanted to share with you a new recipe for our family's traditional collard greens for our New Year's meal. It's a vegan recipe that's perfect for our family, which includes two vegetarians.

This recipe is perfect for if you have to consider a variety of dietary needs at your New Year's table. You can serve the traditional meat of ham separately for any meat eaters in your group.

We pair this Southern-style recipe with Vegan Hoppin' John and Sweet Honey Cornbread to start the new year off right!

Vegan Collard Greens

2 bunches fresh collard greens
olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups vegetable broth 
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon Liquid Smoke flavoring
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
black pepper (to taste)
balsamic vinegar (for serving, if desired)
hot sauce (for serving, if desired)

1. Remove bottom stalks of the collard green leaves and chop or tear into small pieces. 
2. Fill your sink or a large container with cold water, add chopped collard greens, and soak for at least 10 minutes. (Some people prefer to soak greens overnight.)
3. Remove the collard greens from the sink, place them in a colander, give them a good rinse, and drain. Complete this step in batches, if needed.
4. Coat the bottom of a large pot with olive oil.
5. Sauté onions over medium-low heat until they begin to brown and then add in garlic.
6. Cook until onions and garlic are fragrant, for another 2-3 minutes.
7. Add in vegetable broth.
8. Season broth with salt, Liquid Smoke, red pepper flakes, and black pepper (if desired).
9. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. 
10. Bring broth to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
11. Add in the greens, cover, and cook until greens are completely tender, about 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
12. Check at the 30-minute mark to make sure there is still enough broth in the pot. Add more vegetable broth if needed.
13. Serve with hot sauce or balsamic vinegar, if desired.

Notes:

Make sure you like the taste of the broth when you taste it at step 9, because this is how your greens will taste. Adjust seasonings at this step, if necessary. 

Remember that the heat from the red pepper flakes will increase as the greens cook and you can always add more heat by serving the collard greens with additional hot sauce.

Traditions & Superstitions: 

A long-held tradition in the South, collard greens are often served for New Year’s Day.  According to superstition, if you eat collard greens on New Year’s Day, then you will have financial success for the coming year.

• collard greens represent green backs (dollars), or cash 
• black-eyed peas represent coins (this is traditionally served with alongside collard greens on New Year's Day)
• cornbread represents gold (this is traditionally served with alongside collard greens on New Year's Day)

Vegan Hoppin' John (Black-Eyed Peas and Rice)

I wanted to share with you a new recipe for our family's traditional black-eyed peas New Year's meal. It's a vegan recipe that's similar to Hoppin' John, and it was perfect for our family, which includes two vegetarians.

Rather than cooking the rice in the same pot with the black-eyed peas, we served the black-eyed peas over a bed of white rice. But, considering Hoppin' John is a recipe that originated in the Carolinas (just like The Harris Sisters!), Carolina Gold rice would be a great addition to this recipe too.

Vegan Hoppin' John (Black-Eyed Peas and Rice)

16 oz. bag dry black-eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 Tablespoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke flavoring
cooked rice to serve

1. Wash the sorted dry beans. Place them into a pot and cover with at least 2 inches of water. Let them soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.
2. Add olive oil and onion to a large pot and sauté until it begins to brown. Add the bell pepper, celery, and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. 
3. Then add all ingredients except salt, Liquid Smoke, and cooked rice to the pot, along with enough additional water to cover the beans by one inch. 
4. Bring beans to a boil, then reduce to simmer, cover, and cook until beans are completely tender, about 1 1/2-2 hours, adding more water as needed. (Note: water should cook down into a thick sauce, but make sure that beans have enough water to cook in at all times.)
5. When they’re tender, add the Liquid Smoke and salt, cook for 15 more minutes.
6. Serve over cooked rice with a side of collard greens and cornbread to complete your vegetarian New Year's meal!

Notes:

If you prefer a spicier dish, you can either increase the amount of hot sauce and cayenne pepper in the recipe or serve with additional hot sauce.

If you prefer green bell peppers to red bell peppers, you can substitute them in this recipe.

If you want to avoid the "rush" of buying black-eyed peas right before the end of the year, put them on your grocery list for the same week you're buying ingredients to make Christmas goodies. While you're buying ingredients to make Christmas cookies, candies, fudge, etc., swing by the dried beans aisle and pick up a bag of black-eyed peas for your pantry. That way, you'll already have them for when you need them, and you won't have to hunt for them when supplies will be low a few weeks later.

Traditions & Superstitions: 

Hoppin' John is a Lowcountry dish that is served for New Year’s Day.  According to superstition, if you eat Hoppin' John on New Year’s Day, then you will have good luck for the coming year.

• black-eyed peas represent coins
• tomatoes represent health
• cornbread represents gold (this is traditionally served with alongside black-eyed peas on New Year's Day)
• collard greens represent green backs (dollars), or cash (this is traditionally served with alongside black-eyed peas on New Year's Day)
• Sometimes, the cook slips a coin into the dish before serving, or serves each dish with a coin underneath.

On the day after New Year's Day, leftover Hoppin' John is called Skippin' Jenny, bringing a hope for an even better chance of prosperity in the New Year.

A Letter From Santa

Last year, when my in-laws moved closer to our part of the world, they went through a lot of their belongings, as we tend to do when we are preparing for a big move, and my mother-in-law came across a wonderful letter that she received from Santa when she was a little girl.  She passed it along to me because she thought I would appreciate it.  And boy was she right!!

It was still tucked away inside it's original envelope, dated December 21, 1953, complete with the Santa Claus, IN postmark.  Her mother saved it for her for many years, and then she kept it for many years herself.  Now, I share it with you because it's too special not to. 

Here's a look at the special letter inside. Just look at the letterhead.  I love it!!

And here's the full letter.  (You can click on the image to view a larger photo.) 

Signed by Santa himself.  

The letter reads: 

Hello there- 

Just the other day, I got the nicest letter from you, and because it was so nice, I'm answering it myself.  My helpers are just finishing up the biggest and best bagful of surprises ever. 

It's a pretty big job making sure that everybody gets their share, but Mrs. Claus and I can do it because we've spent hundreds of years learning what boys and girls like to find underneath their trees Christmas morning. 

Remember, if you don't find every single thing on your list, it's just because some of it went to your friend down the street or in the next town or maybe even across the ocean. 

I'll be around Christmas Eve.  'Til then, here's a very Merry Christmas from -

Santa Claus

Oh how sweet and special and magical.  And oh to find a letter like this from Santa himself.  What a wonderful surprise that must have been.  

Creative parents have come up with all sorts of ways to do similar things over the years.  But I will close by sharing a little tip with you.  There is only one place in whole entire world that bears the Santa Claus postmark.  Santa Claus is in fact a real little town in Indiana.  (We have been there and seen it first hand.)  And there is a sure-fired way to receive a letter similar to this one with that special postmark on it.  

Just send your letter to Santa to: 

SANTA CLAUS

P.O. BOX 1

SANTA CLAUS, IN 47579

As long as your letter to Santa has been received by December 21, 2017, and a legible return address is included in the letter, the child will receive a reply.  And it's FREE!!

Merry Christmas, my friends!

How to Get the Cozy Hygge Feeling at Home

As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, now is the perfect time to start thinking about how to relax and be cozy at home. 

You may have heard of the Danish idea of hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) that embodies a feeling of contentment, coziness, enjoying the little things in life, and viewing those little things as special.

Source

So autumn and winter are the perfect time to shed the stress and busyness of the season in favor of practicing self-care that will help you enjoy all the little things that happen every day.

You might be thinking, "Why now? My calendar is filling up quickly (or is already full) with holiday commitments! Now is not the time to try to fit these things in too!"

But NOW is the perfect time!

First off, take a look at your calendar. Do you really NEED to do everything you've scheduled? Do you have anything that is penciled in as just a "want to do" but not a "need to do"? Maybe that might be something you'd be willing to forgo in favor of a day of relaxing. 

If not, don't worry about trying to accomplish all of the things on this list. These are just a few ideas to get you started. Some don't take a lot of time to do, but the ones that take more time are certainly not intended to cause more stress. Work them into your schedule as time allows.

20 Ways to Fill Your Home with the Feeling of Hygge

1. Bring out warm blankets to layer on your bed.

2. Turn off your phone before going to sleep on the weekend. Sleep late.

3. Eat breakfast in bed.

4. Spend an entire day in your cozy pajamas and fluffy slippers.

5. Make comfort foods like chili, soup, or homemade bread.

6. Light candles.

7. If you knit or crochet, settle into a cozy nook and make an afghan. 

8. Enjoy a fire in the fireplace or a bonfire outside.

9. Bundle up for a hike in the woods. Take pictures of nature along the way.

10. Listen to music on a record player. Sing along to your favorite songs.

11. Open the curtains to let the sunshine in.

12. Plan your spring garden.

13. Enjoy your morning coffee or tea by the light of your Christmas tree.

14. Make time to read a new book or re-read an old favorite.

15. Enjoy a family movie night with popcorn.

16. Bake cookies and share them with neighbors and friends.

17. Start a gratitude journal and write down three good things that happened each day. 

Source

18. Relax in a bubble bath.

19. Take advantage of the shorter days and watch the sunset.

20. Have an old-fashioned family board game night.

Most of all, enjoy your cozy time at home!

In the Midst of Winter, I Found There Was Within Me an Invincible Summer

Today's quote is perfectly appropriate for the harsh Winter that many parts of the country have been experiencing. This past week, all three Harris Sisters have been hit with some form of inclement weather in the form of snow or ice, so we thought we'd pass along this thought:

In the midst of winter, I found there was within me an invincible summer.

Source

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You can also find our Friday posts and many others on my Words to Live By Pinterest board so make sure to pop over there and start following for all the latest updates.

Holiday Wassail

'Tis the season for all things spicy and warm.  We Harris Sisters have introduced you to a Crockpot Wassail once before.  Now, we bring you yet another version to try.  This one can be made on the stovetop or in the slow cooker- whichever you prefer, or have time for.

I made this wassail for the Thanksgiving weekend this year, and the whole family really enjoyed it, including my somewhat reluctant husband.   So, I'm thinking of adding it to the Christmas rotation as well because it just screams of the holidays to me.

Holiday Wassail

1 gallon apple cider

4 cups orange juice

4 earl grey tea bags

6 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp whole cloves

1 Tbsp juniper berries

2 inch piece of fresh ginger (cut into slices)

1 apple (sliced)

1 orange (sliced into rounds)

Brandy (to serve)

1. Place all ingredients, except the brandy, in a dutch oven and bring to a simmer. Then let steep for 10-15 minutes.  Alternatively, place all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for an hour and a half.   Remove tea bags.
2. To serve spiked, pour two ounces of brandy into a glass and top with hot cider.  Otherwise, serve as is.  It's delicious either way!

Note:

This makes a large batch of wassail, but this recipe can easily be cut down if you need less.  It also keeps well in the refrigerator.  Just strain to remove all fruit, tea bags, and spices.  Then reheat by the cupful in the microwave.

Easy Birdfeeder Craft

The boys and I worked on this craft during one of the MANY winter weather events that we've had this winter. And considering that the European models are predicting that we have (if you can believe it) EVEN MORE SNOW coming our way next week, I thought I would share. (And, no, the irony of me writing this post on the third day of Spring is not lost on me.)

While this craft is also perfectly suited to Spring and Summer time, I found it to be particularly effective at keeping the boys busy when they've been stuck in the house for one too many snow days. And, of course, there's always the added bonus of making sure that your bird friends are well fed even when their little houses are snowed in too:

Birdfeeder Craft Supplies:

Ring shaped cereal (Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Cheerios, etc.)

Waxed dental floss

1. Cut a length of dental floss that is not longer than your child's patience.
2. String one piece of cereal onto the floss and tie it securely.
3. Have the child string the cereal onto the remaining length of floss.
4. Tie the last piece of cereal securely.
5. Hang the cereal string from the tree branches for birds to enjoy!

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How to Remove Ice from Steps and Walkways Without Using Salt

With a ton of snow (and maybe ice) headed our way, THIS is a tip that we can surely use. 

I haven't tried it, but considering we don't have any ice melter in the house, and we DO have these ingredients, I'm going to give it a try. Certainly worth passing along:

Mix together:

1 tsp Dawn dishwashing liquid

1 Tbsp rubbing alcohol

1/2 gallon hot/warm water

First remove whatever snow and ice that you can, and then pour the mixture on it. 

It supposedly works like this: The dishwashing liquid helps prevent the ice from re-freezing, and the alcohol makes the ice melt faster.

Again, I have not tried this and I will be trying it during this snow event. I will report back if it, in fact, works. So, if for any reason it does not work, don't shoot the messenger. :-) As with anything, you never know until you try it.

Good luck and stay safe. And if you haven't seen our snow cream recipe, that might also be something to try out if you're going to get snow.

***************************UPDATE TO ORIGINAL POST***************************

I promised that I would give this a try and let everyone know how it worked out. Well, first let me say that over the course of three days, North Carolina was walloped with a winter storm of epic proportions. It has already been documented on Wikipedia, if that tells you how significant this weather event has been in this area. So, it should come as no surprise that not everyone was exactly prepared (including yours truly), and we've turned to scouring the Interwebs for methods of de-icing steps and walkways.

My findings regarding this particular method follow. Here's the "before" shot of my front steps. I left these photos completely untouched:

As per the instructions, I shoveled off as much snow as I could and found that there was a good bit of ice on the bottom layer. I mixed up double the recipe using tap water that was as hot as I could get it and poured it on the icy layer that was left. That layer immediately turned to slush (no doubt because of the hot water that I used). I swept major bits of slush off the steps, and this is what they looked like later that same day and since.

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Happiness Is . . . A Snow Day

We did it! We FINALLY got some snow - a mere 1 1/2 inches, mind - but when you haven't seen a good snow in years, that will certainly suffice!

The boys have been making good use of it. They've been knocking things off of our 100 Things to Do This Winter List, focusing mainly on #20 (snowball fights).

And there are some other kids that I think seem to enjoy the snow too. Check out these snow-themed Peanuts finds:

Isn't this how every kid feels when they build a snow fort:

And isn't this how every adult feels when it snows:

Maybe if you got a tad bit more snow than we did, you'll be able to attempt this (the neighbors would be so jealous!):

And I'm leaving you with this free 8 X 10 printable of Lucy's thoughts on snow. (Download it from Mrs. Greene.) For what it's worth, I think Lucy is on the right track - everybody knows you can't make snow cream with the first snow of the year . . . although since some of us have been waiting for a few years for a good snow, we might be willing to look at that as a mere "guideline" and dive in. :-)

Snow Cream Recipe

Here in good old Music City, we are still high and dry- COLD, but dry.  All the snow missed us to our north and east.  But, I know quite a few of you might be able to use this recipe this week.  

I fondly remember making snow cream every winter growing up.  But Mama always said that you should never use the first snow of the season.  No worries, back in the day- we ALWAYS had more than one snow.  So we dutifully waited until the second (and subsequent) snows to mix up our snow cream, and it was always worth coming back in from playing in the snow for!

Those were the days!  This southern girl sure does like a good snow.  Enjoy some for me!

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Winter/ Valentine's Wreath: Decorating your Front Door for the Wintertime Blues

I don't know about you, but for me it always seems like that wintry time between the holidays and springtime is just a little blue- ESPECIALLY after taking down and packing away all the lights, glitz, and glamour that is Christmastime.  And I have personally struggled for years with finding some sort of wreath for our front door that is seasonally appropriate for this wintertime stretch. 

So this was the year I decided to do something about it.  Typically, when decorating a wreath you want to choose floral that is right for the season, but that becomes a bit of a challenge in the winter. Yes, there is evergreen, but to me, that just looks like you forgot to take down your Christmas wreath.  And then there is also boxwood, but you might remember, I just did a boxwood wreath for Christmas this year, and it was definitely time for a change.  So I decided to start with a grapevine wreath instead, and here is my finished product. 

You will notice I also incorporated ivy into my wreath, just stringing it along over my grapevine. And because I wanted it to look Valentine-y without using hearts and roses, I chose deep deep red flowers for the bulk of my floral.  I added a couple of green hydrangea sprigs to break up the red a little and hint at the coming spring, and finished it with my pièce de résistance, a deep red peacock.   She is truly fantastic, and her tail feathers are so long, I couldn't even get it all in this photo.  

This wreath was super simple to make.  All supplies came from the floral section of my local craft store.  I waited until they were running a 60% off floral sale, and then stocked up.  I always arrange everything on my wreath the way I want it before I start gluing any of it down.  And I always leave the stems on my floral pretty long too.  It helps when you are working with grapevine as you can just tuck the stems directly into the wreath for extra security.  Once you have it all where you want it, secure it with hot glue (or crafting wire).  I happened to use hot glue on everything except my lovely love bird. She already had wire on her feet so they were easy to secure.  I just used an extra measure of wire around her neck to help keep her in place so she wouldn't be top heavy.  If I had been thinking more clearly at the time, I would have also added a few pearls around her neck.  She seems like the kind of girl who might like that.  

Note to self: pick up a cheap pack of pearl beads next time I am out and about. 

And voilà!  Just like that, I now have a wreath for my front door that looks wintry without looking like I accidentally left my Christmas wreath up too long, and looks Valentine-y without screaming hearts and roses. Mission accomplished!

Cornbread Waffles, Black-Eyed Peas & Collard Greens

Well, it should come as no surprise that THIS family has had its fill of black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread in the new year.

It's a Southern New Year's tradition to eat black-eyed peas and collard greens for good luck. The black-eyed peas represent coins and the collard greens represent cash-money (as Aidyn Kale Walkush calls it). And if you eat them on New Year's day, you're bringing yourself some prosperity. The cornbread? It's gold in color, which equals EVEN MORE money. And, well, it just tastes good with black-eyed peas and collard greens.  

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then you must not be a dyed in the wool Southerner, bless your heart. If it makes you feel any better, my husband is originally from Ohio, so he had to be eased into this tradition too. :-) 

This year, I decided to change up the way we made the cornbread, so I served it waffle-style. Let me tell you, this was an excellent decision, as it cooked up quickly, and the leftovers also tasted great served for breakfast with syrup and fruit (and according to my husband we'll be making these again to serve with his Kicking Butt and Taking Names Chili).

Cornbread Waffles

3 cups yellow self-rising corn meal mix

2 eggs

2 Tbsp oil

2 cups milk

1. Preheat waffle maker.
2. Measure corn meal mix into mixing bowl. 
3. Beat together eggs, oil, and milk. Stir thoroughly into corn meal mix. 
4. Prepare waffles according to your waffle maker directions.

Black-Eyed Peas

1 16 oz bag dry black-eyed peas

1 large onion, minced

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

2 tsp salt

2 tsp soul food seasoning*

1. Wash the dry beans. Place them into a pot and cover with at least 2 inches of water. Let them soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain.
2. In a large pot, melt butter in olive oil. Saute onion and garlic in mixture. Add soul food seasoning.
3. Add drained beans and enough water to cover beans by one inch.
4. Bring beans to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 2 hours. At 1 1/2 hour mark, add salt.

Note: If you cannot find soul food seasoning at your local supermarket, you may substitute 1 tsp cayenne pepper.

Sautéed Collard Greens

2 bunches fresh collard greens

1 large onion, minced

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes, if desired

4 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

Salt (to taste)

Pepper (to taste)

Balsamic vinegar (for serving, if desired)

Hot sauce (for serving, if desired)

1. Remove bottom stalks of the leaves and chop or tear into 1-inch squared pieces. 
2. Fill your sink with cold water, add chopped collard greens, and soak for at least 10 minutes. (Some people prefer to soak greens overnight.)
3. Remove the collard greens from the sink, place them in a colander, give them a good rinse, and drain. Complete this step in batches, if needed.
4. In a large saute pan, melt butter in olive oil. Sauté onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add red pepper flakes (if using), stirring well to coat.
5. Add greens (in batches), salt, and pepper to the sauté pan and cook, stirring often, until wilted and tender. 
6. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let steam, about 10-15 minutes. 
7. Serve with balsamic vinegar or hot sauce.

Notes: I use a 12" straight sided saute pan to fit two bunches of collard greens. As the greens cook down, you can add more batches. This is a quick and easy method of making collard greens in much less time than the traditional cooking method.

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100 Things to Do This Winter

I know, I know, we're jumping the gun again here. Winter doesn't technically start until December 21 (and runs through March 20 for those of you keeping track). BUT we've already had our first snow, and I don't know about you, but the Walkush household is already in full Christmas mode. So, it seems as though Winter is upon us. Let's just say we're getting a head start on these fun activities.

But for those of you who might be squeezing the last drops of fun out of Fall, pop over to our 100 Things to Do This Fall List (or pin it for next Fall). And don't forget we also have an awesome 100 Things to Do This Summer List and 100 Things to Do This Spring List - so check those out too.

Today's list is 100 things you might want to consider doing with your family this Winter. Some are activities the kids can do by themselves, and some they might need help with. And some are all for you!

And to show you that these are activities that we Harris Sisters endorse, I have included links and photos of our own experiences with many of these suggestions. Enjoy!

1. Play Christmas Music

2. Wrap Christmas Presents (Need help? Try our blue, red and green, or neutral free Christmas printables.)

3. Have a Christmas Movie Marathon

4. Catch Snowflakes on Your Tongue

5. Go Through Your Old Toys and Collect Any You Can Donate

6. Go for a Sleigh Ride or a Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

7. Make Christmas Goodies

8. Make Homemade Christmas Ornaments

9. Make Snow Cream

10. Blow Bubbles Outside on a Very Cold Day to See if They Will Freeze

11. Make a Gingerbread House

12. Make Magic Reindeer Food

13. Drive Around the Neighborhood and Look at Christmas Lights

14. Write a Parody of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas That Includes the Year’s Most Memorable Events

15. Go Caroling

16. Make a Special Christmas Day Breakfast

17. Make Mulled Cider or Wassail

18. Play Shadow Puppets

19. Read Red Ranger Came Calling

20. Have a Snowball Fight

21. Wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater

22. Read How Murray Saved Christmas

23. Make a Snow Fort

24. Make Gingerbread Pancakes

25. Play 20 Questions

26. Fold and Cut Paper Snowflakes

27. Make Soup

28. Go Sledding

29. Bake Cookies

30. Research, Create, and Play a Game of Christmas Trivia

31. Fly Paper Airplanes

32. Make Hot Cocoa

33. Donate Food to a Local Food Bank

34. Track Santa’s Progress on NORAD

35. Leave Cookies and Milk for Santa

36. Visit Friends and Family Members on Christmas Day

37. Play with Your New Toys

38. Go Ice Skating

39. Tell Jokes

40. Make a Fort Out of Pillows and Blankets

41. Read a Book by the Fire 

42. Make Snow Angels

43. Make Fondue

44. Go Snow Tubing

45. Put Food Coloring and Water in Spray Bottles and Use It to “Paint” Snow

46. Make Homemade Shrinky Dinks  

47. Take Photos of Trees Covered in Snow and Icicles 

48. Take a Long Bubble Bath

49. Build a Snowman

50. Assemble a Jigsaw Puzzle

51. Visit a Local Monument or Historical Site

52. Start Planning Your Family’s Summer Vacation

53. Make Goodies for a New Year’s Party

54. Watch the Ball Drop and Count Down to the New Year

55. Sing Auld Lang Syne

56. Eat Black-Eyed Peas and Collard Greens for Luck on New Year’s Day

57. Make New Year’s Resolutions

58. Go Through Photo Albums and Remember the Year’s Best (and Maybe Worst) Times

59. Give Yourself a New Year’s Makeover

60. Celebrate the New Year with a Sparkling Cider or Milkshake Toast

61. Blow Party Horns, Throw Confetti, and Maybe Set Off Any Remaining Summer Fireworks

62. Buy Girl Scout Cookies While They’re Available

63. Watch Groundhog Day (the movie) on Groundhog Day

64. Watch Punxsatawney Phil to See Whether We’ll Have an Early Spring!

65. Make Goodies for a Super Bowl Party

66. Watch the Super Bowl, the Half Time Show, or at Least the Commercials

67. Order Takeout to Celebrate Chinese New Year (Don’t Forget the Fortune Cookies!)

68. Sort the Messages in a Bag of Conversation Hearts. Look for Unique Ones.

69. Decorate for Valentine’s Day

70. Make a Heart Shaped Pizza for Valentine’s Day Dinner

71. Make Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Floats with Strawberry Soda and Vanilla Ice Cream

72. Give (Chocolate) Hugs and Kisses to Your Favorite Person

73. Learn How to Say “I Love You” in Different Languages

74. Make Homemade Valentines

75. Visit an Indoor Bounce House

76. Make a Meal from Another Country or Culture

77. Make Marshmallow Shooters

78. Eat King Cake on Fat Tuesday

79. OR Celebrate National Pancake Day with IHOP 

80. Go to a Planetarium

81. Play a Game of Dominoes or Set Them Up in a Row and Knock Them Down 

82. Celebrate Leap Year (If It’s the Year for One) or Learn About When We’ll Have the Next One

83. Have a Bubble Gum Blowing Contest

84. Complete a Word Search

85. Make Popcorn and Try Different Toppings

86. Have a Family Game Night

87. Have a Family Slumber Party (Drag Out the Inflatable Air Mattresses for Mom and Dad!)

88. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday on March 2nd

89. March Is National Reading Month – Celebrate by Reading Some of The Harris Sisters’ Must-Read Books 

90. Celebrate National Grammar Day on March 4th

91. Play a Game of Checkers or Chess

92. Set Your Clocks Forward for Daylight Saving Time

93. Eat Pie on National Pie Day on March 14th

94. Practice Knitting or Crocheting (or Learn How)

95. Wear Green for St. Patrick’s Day

96. Eat Skittles for a St. Patrick’s Day Snack

97. Look for Four Leaf Clovers!

98. Mix Sprite and Lime Sherbet for a St. Patrick’s Day Treat

99. Eat an Entire Meal Made of Green Food

100. Eat Lucky Charms on St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast

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