Christmas is coming and a free Printable

Merry Christmas Everyone!

It feels weird to say that last March and April we longed for Christmas in hopes that this Covid craziness to end and here we are and it hasn't.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that it is worse than it was in March.  This Christmas season has been so hard and in many ways, it has been a fight to keep our joy in the midst of some heartache and sadness.  But, even in the midst of all the feelings that are floating about, we have been able to continue with a few of our traditions and well. . . it does the heart good! 

One tradition that is a big favorite is our annual Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt Adventure.  We started this last night on a slightly failed attempt to look at Christmas Lights, but will hopefully finish tomorrow night in our own neighborhood.  I blogged about it several years ago here  and even have a free printable.  Believe it or not that post is 7 years old and that list has needed to be updated, so this year, I finally made a new one with various lights we've seen around our neighborhood and town.   

I've always had dreams of doing this with my kids and their friends and splitting up into teams and making it a fun gathering.  Unfortunately, this year it just isn't safe to hang out with friends and so we're sticking with a friendly competition with the 4 of us.  It's still way fun!  

You can print the new updated version of the scavenger hunt here. 

 

There are a few other things on the blog if you need something:  

:: You can elf your neighbors. . . there's still 3 days left until Christmas and maybe your neighbors need a little cheer. 

:: You can spoil your delivery drivers. . . even through the new year. . . They need a lot of love right now! 

:: Run out of tags or forget to buy some?  Never fear. . . I made some quick printable ones right here. 

:: Need a quick Christmas cookie?  These are my favorite!  The cranberry bar recipe tastes like the Starbucks cranberry bliss bar!

:: This recipe is a favorite for Christmas morning! It looks gorgeous, too! 

:: And some encouraging words about Advent from 2015 me. 

This is my last post for 2020 and I just want to say thanks for taking the time to read my words.  I know this year has been hard.  Each of us have been rowing along in our own boats and navigating difficult waters.  I have no idea what life looks like in your boat and maybe my ramblings or home improvement projects were weird during such a difficult year, but thanks for sticking with me as we navigate through this time of uncharted uncertainty.  I do know that in the midst of all this, I am so thankful for my relationship with God.  He has comforted me and calmed my anxious heart so.many.times!  He hasn't listened to my frustrations and to be honest, my complaints, yet He still loves me and cares for me.  He cares for you, too! And despite so many hard things happening this year, I am so thankful for the rest and time with my kids and husband.  We have taken so many walks over the past 9 months and I am treasuring those conversations, giggles, and miles deep in my heart.  It has been weird with the absence of sports and church activities, but with that has come a season of much needed rest and for that I am thankful.  

I'm taking the next couple of weeks off to hang with my family and celebrate Christmas.  You can still find me on Facebook and Instagram.  I hope you will join me in 2021 as we continue for find creativity in the midst of motherhood. . . or life. . . or whatever season you are in.  Come join me! 

Have a wonderful Christmas!  And a Merry New Year! 

Christmas Cheer & Free Printable

I'm going to be honest with you.  I am trying so hard to get into the Christmas spirit.  This season is really hard after 9 months of Covid and some other stuff that's going on.  We're tired.  We've grieved our losses.  We've pivoted (just like the couch in Friends).  We've rested.  We've stretched ourselves.  We've grown.  Our state is basically shut down again due to an incredible rise in cases here and I know that we aren't the only ones.  Christmas will be very quiet around here and I am curious to what that will look like.  

I needed some joy this week.  My kids needed some joy, too.  We also needed to look outward and see how we could spread some around to our neighborhood.  We've always been fans of boo-ing people in October, but we've never joined in the Elf club.  This year, we thought it was necessary.  The kids and I found ourselves wandering Target looking for goodies to share with our friends (an excuse to go to Target. . . yes, please!).  The kids put together the bags, I designed some tags and made some bread and we headed out into the neighborhood.  I think we were caught my almost everyone, but it is so much fun!  We laugh.  I think Weston hid behind some trashcans and a tree. . . but still got caught.  It's so much fun!

I think that when things are so hard, it is so easy to focus on ourselves (self care is beautiful, don't get me wrong) when sometimes the answer is to do something for someone else.  One friend posted her kids reactions to being elfed and it made there day. . . one of them may or may not have been wishing for a candy cane just moments before!  Friends, it brought joy to our hearts!!!  This definitely helped our attitudes!

Some items we found to fill our treat bags were some hot cocoa, pencils and erasers, candy canes, festive chocolate.  We found all of those things at Target, but I wanted to find a few other fun things.  Hobby Lobby was the best!  Plus all their Christmas stuff was half off like normal, so I grabbed rubix cubes, stampers, and maze ball things for super cheap.  We made 12 treat bags and then the boys got to decide who in our neighborhood they wanted to deliver to.

I also baked my favorite bread for this time of year.  THIS recipe is the best!  It's super easy and makes 6 little mini breads that can all be baked at the same time.  This year, because of COVID, we put who it was from because getting baked goods right now from random people might be a bit questionable.  I bought some cardboard loaf pans so there's no touching the actual bread and then I wrapped it in larger clear treat bags. 

The door knob holder was super easy.  I just punched holes at the top and tied string through it making  a loop. 

The kids and I really want to challenge you to spread some cheer around your neighborhood.  Take some time and brainstorm how you could make someone in your neighborhood's day.  Remember to be safe, where a mask when necessary. Spreading cheer in a world where people are socially distancing and lonely might just might just be the thing that fills someone else up with joy. I promise you, it will fill your hearts with so much joy!  

Here's the link to the free printable.  Please remember that these are for personal use only.  I'd also love to see how you use them. . . don't forget to tag me or use #outoftherightbrainblog

CLICK HERE TO GET FREE PRINTABLE

 

Amazing Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie

I am currently enjoying every ounce of my days watching Hallmark movies, wearing comfy clothes, and working on Christmas stuff.  My computer and a stack of Christmas cards are calling my name. (So is the book I just started. . . but that will have to wait for a few minutes) Oh, and maybe a cup of hot chocolate. I am so thankful for these quiet days to just chill and check some things off my list. I'll be honest, there are so many things that make me want just crawl under the covers and hide from so.many.things.  There have been some pretty amazing things that have come out of this wild, crazy, and completely weird year, but there have also been some hard things. Today, we officially have stay at home orders and I am just so sad.  So, I am going to dream about this pumpkin pie. . . pitiful looking crust and all!

Speaking of crust, I am just going to confess something to you. . . and maybe offer a little bit of encouragement.  I CANNOT MAKE A PRETTY CRUST FOR THE LIFE OF ME.  There I said it.  It's true.  My crusts are never beautiful or magazine worthy.  But, I still make pie.  Because regardless of how funny the crust looks, the pie still tastes delicious (or so people say).  So, please, pretty please, ignore my ugly crust and trust me.

This year, we gathered with just a smaller family group and while we missed the extended family it was really a sweet time of conversation, memories, and a fun game stolen from a Christmas movie.  I made the most delicious chocolate bourbon pecan pie (click here for the recipe), but promised the boys I would add a pumpkin pie to my Costco order for after Thanksgiving.  It is always Jon's favorite, but it soooo big.  Well, I placed my instacart order and completely forgot to add the pie.  OOPS! The boys were just so sad that I had to get to baking.  Thankfully, pumpkin pies are pretty easy and I always have pumpkin on hand (the Trader Joe's canned pumpkin is truly my favorite and I used it in this particular recipe).  While I was looking for a recipe, I noticed a lot of chatter about Libby's changing their recipe this year and when I checked it, it was completely different.  Since, I just happened to have the non dairy version of the ingredients, I thought I would give it a try and hope for the best.  

How do the two pies compare you might ask?  Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie (the go-to original recipe) is just eggs, spices, evaporated milk, and sugar.  The new pie, called Libby's New Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie replaces the sugar with sweetened condensed milk making it super rich.

 My concerns for making this pie non dairy were:

::  Will the pie set up the correct way?

:: Will it taste coconut overpower the pumpkin? 

I think the new recipe is incredible and perfect and it might just be my new go-to recipe for homemade pumpkin pie.  I used the Nature's Charm Sweetened Condensed coconut milk and evaporated milk that I have found at Sprouts.  

Here's the recipe:

Amazing Dairy Free Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients: 

• 1 deep dish pie crust*
  
• 1 15 oz can of pumpkin
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1 cup of dairy free evaporated milk
• 1 can of dairy free sweetened condensed milk 
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  
• In a bowl, whisk together all your ingredients until creamy and beautiful. Pour into your prepared, uncooked crust.  Bake for 15 minutes. 
• Then turn oven down to 350 degrees and continue baking for another hour, or until set.  I found that it took about 5 extra minutes so definitely keep an eye on it. 
• Allow Pumpkin pie to cool.  Once it cools, stick in refrigerator to finish setting.  It will be a little runny, if you don't give it some time in the fridge.  Also, don't stick in the fridge while it is still hot because it will develop some condensation spot on top of the pie.  We don't want water-y pie.
  

*pre-bought pie crust is most often not dairy free.  I used a Trader Joes pie crust, but because it is baked the butter doesn't bother us (the high heat changes the chemistry of the milk protein and sugars)

I recommend making a pie crust using a dairy free butter, like Miykos.  

You can also make this paleo by finding a paleo pie crust or even switching your flour with some paleo baking flour.

** recipe adapted from Libby's.

And one final reminder: I am really bad at making pie crusts look pretty, but it does not stop me from making pies.  Don't let your imperfections stop you from baking or creating!

  LINKS:

Original recipe that we grew up with