Friday Favorites from Rachael Ray, the Food Charlatan, Half Baked Harvest and More

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Good morning! Christmas is in 5 days, can you believe it? I know that I said it before but I cannot believe how fast time is flying bye. I LOVE the holidays, I love the spirt, the happiness, and well, everything about “the most wonderful time of the year,” so I am trying my best to savor every moment. 

How are your Christmas preparations? Are you enjoying the season or are you ready for it all to be over? 

I hope you enjoy my favorite finds from this week. 

Food

Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls from Half Baked Harvest would be a scrumptious treat for Christmas breakfast. 

We are having Buttery Almond Braid, and

Cheesy Overnight Egg, Hash-brown Casserole from the Food Charlatan. 

On Christmas Eve we are making Christmas Pasta, we have made this several times on Christmas eve and we love it. 

Image Comfort of Cooking

Christmas day we are making, Cranberry, Apple Walnut Pork Tenderloin. and one of these desserts.

Image Here

Typically we have mulled wine but one of these cocktails from The Ultimate List of Christmas Cocktail Recipes might be good too. 

Articles

Here’s How to Survive a Blue Christmas

52 Random Acts of Kindness to Preform Today

A Neuroscientist Says These 4 Things Will Make You Happier.

A Podcast About Europe.

31 Mid-Century Women Who Enjoyed Their Aluminum Christmas Trees.

Books 

I shared the The Christmas Mouse a few days ago but just in case you missed it I wanted to share it again. You can read it free with Kindle Unlimited. 

A Wish to Be A Christmas Tree Free with Kindle Unlimited.

This charming tale of an overgrown pine always being passed by for Christmas, and what his woodland friends do to help him, is sure to become a Christmas classic. With delightful illustrations by wildlife artist Michael Monroe and enchanting text from Colleen Monroe, the birds, deer and squirrel of this story help make their special friend’s wish come true.

The Baker’s Dozen($2.99 Kindle)

Van Amsterdam the baker was well known for his honesty as well as for his fine Saint Nicholas cookies. He always gave his customers exactly what they paid for — not more and not less. So, he was not about to give in when a mysterious old woman comes to him on Saint Nicholas Day and insists that a dozen is thirteen!

The woman’s curse puts an end to the baker’s business, and he believes it would take Saint Nicholas to help him. But if he receives that help, will it be exactly what he imagined?

Find out in this inspiring legend from Dutch colonial New York about the birth of an honored American custom.

Jesus Calling($1.99 Kindle)

Christ was chosen before the world was made.

—1 Peter 1:20

The Christmas story began long, long ago. Before the angel Gabriel told Mary she would have God’s Son. Before the shepherds saw the angels and before the wise men saw the star.

Even before the sun and the moon shone for the first time, before the first cows ever moooed and the first monkeys ever climbed! Before Adam and Even took their first walk in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan for Christmas.

From the beginning of time, God had a plan to save his children. That plan was Jesus!

Curl up with your little ones around the Christmas tree with Jesus Calling^®: The Story of Christmas.

The Christmas Carol(.99 cents Kindle)

“A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas” is more commonly known as A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens in 1843.

This edition is based on the original, unabridged, 1843 edition with the original illustrations by John Leech. 

A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

Finds

I am in love with this Toile Bedding from Pottery Barn, unfortunately I have no where to use it, maybe you do?

I  think this penguin from H&M is cute. 

And Mia the mouse too! Mia is on sale for $12.95 at Anthropologie.

My favorite plaid shoes from J.Crew are on sale for 50% off, $89.00, just in case you want to wear them for Christmas or New Years. 

That is it for this week. I hope that you have a wonderful, and safe weekend if you are traveling.