Many European countries celebrate Saint Nicholas on December 6th. For our family, we read Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend on December 5th and then on the morning of the 6th our kids are in for a surprise.


In this story St. Nicholas, who was the pastor of a town, found a little boy crying. St. Nicholas asked why he was crying. The boy explained that his sisters couldn't marry because they couldn't afford a dowry. St. Nicholas encouraged the boy to have faith and reassured him that everything would work out.

That night St. Nicholas went to the home of the boy, quietly opened the shutter of the window and dropped little bags filled with gold onto the floor. In the morning the girls found the gold and were able to be married.


The story explains how St. Nicholas was known as Father Christmas and how his love was shared with those around him. It also talks about how God is even more generous and gave us the best gift of all- the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our kids leave their shoes out in front of their bedroom door on the night of the 5th. In the morning their shoes are filled with gold chocolate coins for them to enjoy. There is also a bag filled with "gold" $1 coins. They are instructed to use these coins on someone else outside the family whom they can help or cheer up. They are to do this act in secret without being seen or heard like Saint Nicholas. This helps them to be thoughtful and get outside themselves without being praised by the world.

We talk about how we have received many blessings like the girls in the story. But we can also bless other people's lives like Saint Nicholas did. We also talk about the best gift of all- Jesus Christ- and how we can be more like him. He is our perfect example of love, kindness, and service. It gets us into the Christmas spirit.

Every year I have to think of something to give to my neighbors and co-workers for Christmas. I always look for something that is cheap, easy to make, doesn't take a lot of time, makes a large amount, and tastes good.

This year we are making English Toffee. It meets ALL my criteria.

ENGLISH TOFFEE

Ingredients:

4 cubes butter
2 cups white sugar
1- 1 1/2 bag milk chocolate chips
3-4 handfuls of chopped nuts (I used pecans)

Directions:

In a medium-sized saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add two cups sugar. Stir constantly for about 12 minutes over medium to medium high heat (about a 7 out of 10 on the heat setting, if you have something like that) or until mixture turns a medium brown (like a nice caramel color). It should be at a low boil most of the time.

Pour hot mixture into a lightly greased jelly roll pan (12 1/2" x 17 1/2"). Spread evenly. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of hot mixture and let it sit for a minute or two. Lightly spread the melted chocolate, covering the mixture. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and chill in refrigerator until cool.

Once cool, crack into pieces for serving.

I've been wanting to make chalkboard placemats for months now. I finally did it. I decided that I would follow the directions from Sew 4 Home. However, I wanted to have waterproof fabric on the back instead of regular fabric so I grabbed some oil cloth. When it came time to put the placemat together, I couldn't press anything with an iron or use too many pins. I didn't want to melt my fabric and once the fabric is punctured with pins, the hole stays there.


I decided to do this thing a super basic way using bias tape.


What you'll need:

• Chalkboard cloth (found in the "utility fabric" section of your fabric store)


• Oil cloth (also a "utility fabric")


• Bias tape (extra wide, double fold bias tape- 3 yd. Plan on one package per placemat just in case)


• Jean needle (strong needle to sew your fabrics)


• Scissors


• Sewing machine (with jean needle)

What you'll do:


1) Cut one piece of chalkboard fabric and one piece of oil cloth the same size. Cut it to the size you'd like your placemat to be.


2) With wrong sides together, line up your bias tape on one edge of the chalkboard side! This is important! I found that the chalkboard fabric is quite slick and thick and doesn't grab onto the feed dogs well. So, having the oil cloth on the bottom allows for easier and nicer sewing.


3) Sew your bias tape on. See the following tutorial.

















I followed the instructions in the video almost exactly. The only change I made was that I lined up the edge of my bias tape with the edge of my fabric. The woman in the video, Amy, lines up her bias tape a little below the edge of the fabric but, don't do it! You need that space when you're using the thicker fabrics.


So, unfold your bias tape, with the thinner edge up. Sew along that first fold. I tucked in my sides like Amy did too.