Our Material Holiday Season

The word Material: 
The substance or substances of which a thing is made or composed or
Anything that serves as crude or raw matter to be used or developed.

The meaning of the word Holiday:
A time or period of exemption from any requirement, duty, assessment
Of or pertaining to a festival; festive; joyous: a holiday mood.

Now what do most people do for a Holiday?

They buy things!

Everyone needs gifts, gotta get food, decorations, new clothes to look good, maybe get your hair done, etc...

It seems like we all try our best to make things as grand as possible. Material things are the most important for most of the kids now a days. They have to get the best bike, the newest games, they better have 7 huge boxes, 10 med boxes, and at least 20 small items (oh! and toothpaste doesn't count)

It makes me sad. A lot of adults struggle to save up enough money to get them the huge list of items they feel they have to fill because that's how it works.

But really?!?!

I think that we miss out of the fact that no matter who you are, you  have some kind of talent!

I myself have found that I am an artist.

So me and my soon to be husband decide to make soap last year. Now I have never made handmade soap before but I looked it up on line and also read a little about it. Didn't seem to hard. We went out and got the base, colors, molds and smelly good stuff. Next thing you know we were sitting in our kitchen with a glass of wine, some nice holiday candles and a nice mess on the table. It was fantastic! We spent time together making soap!

And guess what guys...My man loved doing it! He was better at it then I was. He mixed colors and layered smells. Man O man to see that look on his face. It was like a kid with a new toy.

So...My point is, Why don't we take some time this holiday to find something you can make!
Teach our children that spending some time making gifts can be even better than spending tones of money on material objects.

Materials are all around us.

Left over wood? Maybe make some bird houses

Family photo's? Maybe make a collage

Do you like butter? It's easy to make and most people use it

Extra drawing paper? why not paint the kids hands and make paper ornaments

Or you could be really brave ...

  Cook or Bake!!!

                        This is some homemade banana bread that was super easy and really good! You have the internet, There are millions of easy recipes to look up and try.

Flour's Famous Banana Bread

Recipe courtesy Chef Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery in Boston

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

1 hr 0 min

Cook Time:

1 hr 0 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

1 loaf

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
3 1/2 bananas, very ripe, mashed
2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped

Directions

Set oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a loaf pan with parchment
paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Beat sugar and eggs with a whisk until light and
fluffy, about 10 minutes. Drizzle in oil. Add mashed bananas, creme fraiche, and vanilla. Fold in dry
ingredients and nuts. Pour into a lined loaf pan and bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Copyright 2010 Television Food Network G.P., All Rights Reserved

Forget worrying about having the money to buy all these expensive gifts if it doesn't work for you this year. Make something new and fun. spend sometime with your love and maybe the kids if you have one or a few. This season you might get closer and make a real memory along with easy cheap gifts that end up being way more important than the million/$ gifts for ever one you know!

Good luck on your

Handmade Holiday!

Don't let the materials have power over you this season!