| Holiday Cheer from The Sister Friends.....To All We Hold Near and Dear...... |
Christmas Gifts Ideas.....
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This page is provided to give you just a few ideas this Christmas Season as you try to
determine that "just right" gift for family or friends....
We have found, through our own experiences, that these are tried and true GOOD
IDEAS for a gift that comes from your heart... While we say they ARE good ideas, you
may want to fine tune them to suit your own tastes and also come up with some brand
new ideas yourselves! God Bless and DO enjoy the pursuit of that heart felt gift.
From Mary.......
Cookie Cutter Recipe/ Wall Hanging
One year I made all my brothers and sisters a gift to remind them of our mom, who passed away when we
were still kids. I have a childhood friend that emailed me a sugar cookie recipe that HER mom had in her
recipe book from MY mom.... Elizabeth, my good friend, used this recipe back in the 1970's and received a
purple ribbon for her sugar cookies.... I didn't have the recipe or even know of it, to my knowledge, so what a
surprise to get this recipe some 30 years later from Elizabeth. What a little gift of love..... I felt I just HAD to
share it with my siblings, so I made a copy of the recipe and attached it to a cute copper cookie cutter and tied
a photo of our mom and all nine siblings onto the cookie cutter....I keep it hanging on my kitchen wall, and
just take it down whenever I feel like baking those cookies......and I smile and think of my family..... and give a
thanks to God for all of them.... if you'd like the recipe, it's a great one, as it requires NO eggs and really no
need to roll the dough either, if you choose not to. It is so touching for me to see that gift hanging on the walls
in my siblings' kitchens when I go visit them at their homes....
Recipe for "Grandma Ginny's Sugar Cookies"
1 Cup butter or margarine (Mom called it Oleo)
1 1/2 Cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
2 Cups flour
Beat all together with mixer. Chill one hour. Form into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with
bottom of drinking glass. Bake 10 minutes, 350 degree oven.
Chicoine Family Recipe Book
A few years ago I compiled a book of about 40 recipes from my siblings, step mom, nieces and nephews. I
just emailed them in early December, requesting their favorite family recipes and asked them to include a
little story with the recipe if they wished. This was a very easy project for me as all I had to do was then print
the email recipes onto printer paper and bind them all into a three ring notebook. I also included an updated
list of all my family's addresses and phone numbers, so they could easily be found in that recipe book. We
received recipes ranging from Buckeye Balls to Coffee Punch to Sour Cream Enchiladas..... truly something
for everyone, and the memories included in the write ups are priceless....Fun and easy thing to do.....and
personal too!
"The Big White House" Memory Book
One year I took my siblings down memory lane as I presented each of them with a little booklet on "Memories
of the Big White House on Sherman Street," which was a compilation of family memories of the house we
grew up in, since 1957. I took them all on a tour of the house, as I wrote descriptions and memories of every
single room in our childhood home. Once you start thinking about the house you grew up in, the memories
just wash over you. It was my wish that these would bring my siblings fond memories and spark some of
their own memories as well..... I stapled this collection of memories together, placed it in a notebook with
pockets and put a photo of the family home on the cover. The end product was simple in looks, but packed
with loving memories. The nieces and nephews really enjoyed reading and remembering and learning new
stories too. Gift of the heart...... anyone could do this one, individually or as a group of siblings pooling their
ideas together. All you really need is a mind full of memories......
Russian Tea Mix
Growing up in South Dakota where the winters were frigidly cold, a wonderful memory I have is being served
Russian Tea by our neighbors, the Curry family. The Currys' had nine children like our family and their mom
was always making things nice for all of us. It was always fun to be served this tea, as we kids almost felt
like grown ups, being allowed to drink hot tea.....seemed almost like the forbidden coffee drinking to me! (My
dad always told us if we kids drank coffee, our knees would turn black!....and we believed him!)......But I
digress......anyway, a few years ago I was thinking about the Currys' Russian Tea and emailed a few of the
Curry siblings to round up the recipe. What fun that was too, reliving that memory with those dear neighbors
of yesteryear. Once we found "THE" recipe, I made many jars of it for OUR neighbors here in St
Charles.....sort of a full circle thing....from the old neighborhood in South Dakota to the newer one in Missouri.
Here is the recipe if you'd like to give it a try. Perfect for the neighbor that does NOT need or care for another
gift of Fruitcake!!
Curry Family Russian Tea
1 Cup Tang or any powdered orange drink (Beverage of the Astronauts, remember?)
1/2 Cup instant tea flavored with lemon
1 1/4 Cups sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
Combine all ingredients, mixing well and store in pretty decorated jars. When ready to serve, place two
heaping tsps in a mug of hot water.
From Joyce.........
Relaxing Bath Salts
This gift idea came from my youngest sister many years ago when her daughter was a Girl Scout - they would
get the troop together and make huge batches in large mixing bowls, then pour into pretty packages for gifts
on Mother's Day. With all the wonderful craft stores available now, there are many nice options to choose
from when deciding which container to use - or if your budget is less than accommodating, just use a ziplock
baggie!!
Bath Salts...
1 tablespoon glycerin
5-8 drops of essential oil
(whatever scent you prefer)
3 cups Epsom salt
Stir all ingredients together in a container or zip lock bag and spoon into a decorative jar - just tie a pretty
ribbon around the neck and put on a label stating the scent and directions to shake into the running water of
a warm bath. Epsom salt has a wonderful ability to relax tired and aching muscles.
Quilt Made with Love
Last Christmas was both a sweet and bitter time for my husband's family, their beloved stepmom was in the
final stages of cancer and we all knew it would be her last holiday with us.....we all wanted it to be so special
and everyone planned carefully to make it happen - and it did! My gift to her was a quilt made up of squares
of fabric that represented each family member - for instance, her favorite shoe to wear (no matter what the
weather) was flip flops so her patch was a colorful array of flip flops; my husband is Retired Army his patch
was the US Army emblem; his Dad loved tinkering with motors so his was tools -- you get the idea? I'm no
quilter, so after sewing the blocks together I just used a piece of yarn to "tack" each square to the backing - it
went very fast and will be very durable through washings. This quilt became her prayer piece - as she gazed
at each square she would think about us and pray for us. Her daughters also received pillows made from
the same fabric patches.
A Very Special Print.....signed with love
A very meaningful gift can be something you purchase and then add a special touch all your own - my family
received such a treasure several years ago when I lost two siblings in the same month. A small group from
our church that meets weekly in our home purchased a beautifully framed print of Jesus tenderly caring for
his lamb and on the back side, each of the members wrote a short note of encouragement and
comfort.....this is like a dual gift - one side to display, and the other only the giver and the receiver are privy to.
We will always remember those dear friends with gratitude for their caring support.
Personalized Shadow Box
I grew up on a beautiful farm, but sadly the property no longer belongs to the family. Recently I was so proud
to show several friends (Mary being one of them!) this area and we were able to peek inside the home and
see where I lived until age 12. Lots of photos were taken that day, but unbeknownst to me one was used to
create a shadow box for my birthday! I was so touched to receive an original poem created just about me, a
photo of me and the house, along with a small artifact from the home all artfully displayed in the shadow box
-- this is a one-of-a-kind creation that will always take my heart and mind back to the farm and the friends who
cared about me enough to want to document the experience. This type of gift can be as elaborate or as
simple as you want to make it - the point is to personalize the items to the recipient.
determine that "just right" gift for family or friends....
We have found, through our own experiences, that these are tried and true GOOD
IDEAS for a gift that comes from your heart... While we say they ARE good ideas, you
may want to fine tune them to suit your own tastes and also come up with some brand
new ideas yourselves! God Bless and DO enjoy the pursuit of that heart felt gift.
From Mary.......
Cookie Cutter Recipe/ Wall Hanging
One year I made all my brothers and sisters a gift to remind them of our mom, who passed away when we
were still kids. I have a childhood friend that emailed me a sugar cookie recipe that HER mom had in her
recipe book from MY mom.... Elizabeth, my good friend, used this recipe back in the 1970's and received a
purple ribbon for her sugar cookies.... I didn't have the recipe or even know of it, to my knowledge, so what a
surprise to get this recipe some 30 years later from Elizabeth. What a little gift of love..... I felt I just HAD to
share it with my siblings, so I made a copy of the recipe and attached it to a cute copper cookie cutter and tied
a photo of our mom and all nine siblings onto the cookie cutter....I keep it hanging on my kitchen wall, and
just take it down whenever I feel like baking those cookies......and I smile and think of my family..... and give a
thanks to God for all of them.... if you'd like the recipe, it's a great one, as it requires NO eggs and really no
need to roll the dough either, if you choose not to. It is so touching for me to see that gift hanging on the walls
in my siblings' kitchens when I go visit them at their homes....
Recipe for "Grandma Ginny's Sugar Cookies"
1 Cup butter or margarine (Mom called it Oleo)
1 1/2 Cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
2 Cups flour
Beat all together with mixer. Chill one hour. Form into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with
bottom of drinking glass. Bake 10 minutes, 350 degree oven.
Chicoine Family Recipe Book
A few years ago I compiled a book of about 40 recipes from my siblings, step mom, nieces and nephews. I
just emailed them in early December, requesting their favorite family recipes and asked them to include a
little story with the recipe if they wished. This was a very easy project for me as all I had to do was then print
the email recipes onto printer paper and bind them all into a three ring notebook. I also included an updated
list of all my family's addresses and phone numbers, so they could easily be found in that recipe book. We
received recipes ranging from Buckeye Balls to Coffee Punch to Sour Cream Enchiladas..... truly something
for everyone, and the memories included in the write ups are priceless....Fun and easy thing to do.....and
personal too!
"The Big White House" Memory Book
One year I took my siblings down memory lane as I presented each of them with a little booklet on "Memories
of the Big White House on Sherman Street," which was a compilation of family memories of the house we
grew up in, since 1957. I took them all on a tour of the house, as I wrote descriptions and memories of every
single room in our childhood home. Once you start thinking about the house you grew up in, the memories
just wash over you. It was my wish that these would bring my siblings fond memories and spark some of
their own memories as well..... I stapled this collection of memories together, placed it in a notebook with
pockets and put a photo of the family home on the cover. The end product was simple in looks, but packed
with loving memories. The nieces and nephews really enjoyed reading and remembering and learning new
stories too. Gift of the heart...... anyone could do this one, individually or as a group of siblings pooling their
ideas together. All you really need is a mind full of memories......
Russian Tea Mix
Growing up in South Dakota where the winters were frigidly cold, a wonderful memory I have is being served
Russian Tea by our neighbors, the Curry family. The Currys' had nine children like our family and their mom
was always making things nice for all of us. It was always fun to be served this tea, as we kids almost felt
like grown ups, being allowed to drink hot tea.....seemed almost like the forbidden coffee drinking to me! (My
dad always told us if we kids drank coffee, our knees would turn black!....and we believed him!)......But I
digress......anyway, a few years ago I was thinking about the Currys' Russian Tea and emailed a few of the
Curry siblings to round up the recipe. What fun that was too, reliving that memory with those dear neighbors
of yesteryear. Once we found "THE" recipe, I made many jars of it for OUR neighbors here in St
Charles.....sort of a full circle thing....from the old neighborhood in South Dakota to the newer one in Missouri.
Here is the recipe if you'd like to give it a try. Perfect for the neighbor that does NOT need or care for another
gift of Fruitcake!!
Curry Family Russian Tea
1 Cup Tang or any powdered orange drink (Beverage of the Astronauts, remember?)
1/2 Cup instant tea flavored with lemon
1 1/4 Cups sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
Combine all ingredients, mixing well and store in pretty decorated jars. When ready to serve, place two
heaping tsps in a mug of hot water.
From Joyce.........
Relaxing Bath Salts
This gift idea came from my youngest sister many years ago when her daughter was a Girl Scout - they would
get the troop together and make huge batches in large mixing bowls, then pour into pretty packages for gifts
on Mother's Day. With all the wonderful craft stores available now, there are many nice options to choose
from when deciding which container to use - or if your budget is less than accommodating, just use a ziplock
baggie!!
Bath Salts...
1 tablespoon glycerin
5-8 drops of essential oil
(whatever scent you prefer)
3 cups Epsom salt
Stir all ingredients together in a container or zip lock bag and spoon into a decorative jar - just tie a pretty
ribbon around the neck and put on a label stating the scent and directions to shake into the running water of
a warm bath. Epsom salt has a wonderful ability to relax tired and aching muscles.
Quilt Made with Love
Last Christmas was both a sweet and bitter time for my husband's family, their beloved stepmom was in the
final stages of cancer and we all knew it would be her last holiday with us.....we all wanted it to be so special
and everyone planned carefully to make it happen - and it did! My gift to her was a quilt made up of squares
of fabric that represented each family member - for instance, her favorite shoe to wear (no matter what the
weather) was flip flops so her patch was a colorful array of flip flops; my husband is Retired Army his patch
was the US Army emblem; his Dad loved tinkering with motors so his was tools -- you get the idea? I'm no
quilter, so after sewing the blocks together I just used a piece of yarn to "tack" each square to the backing - it
went very fast and will be very durable through washings. This quilt became her prayer piece - as she gazed
at each square she would think about us and pray for us. Her daughters also received pillows made from
the same fabric patches.
A Very Special Print.....signed with love
A very meaningful gift can be something you purchase and then add a special touch all your own - my family
received such a treasure several years ago when I lost two siblings in the same month. A small group from
our church that meets weekly in our home purchased a beautifully framed print of Jesus tenderly caring for
his lamb and on the back side, each of the members wrote a short note of encouragement and
comfort.....this is like a dual gift - one side to display, and the other only the giver and the receiver are privy to.
We will always remember those dear friends with gratitude for their caring support.
Personalized Shadow Box
I grew up on a beautiful farm, but sadly the property no longer belongs to the family. Recently I was so proud
to show several friends (Mary being one of them!) this area and we were able to peek inside the home and
see where I lived until age 12. Lots of photos were taken that day, but unbeknownst to me one was used to
create a shadow box for my birthday! I was so touched to receive an original poem created just about me, a
photo of me and the house, along with a small artifact from the home all artfully displayed in the shadow box
-- this is a one-of-a-kind creation that will always take my heart and mind back to the farm and the friends who
cared about me enough to want to document the experience. This type of gift can be as elaborate or as
simple as you want to make it - the point is to personalize the items to the recipient.
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