Friday, December 9, 2011

Blogiversary Special #3 & #4

Happy Friday!  Busy busy week, but now it is countdown to holiday vacation time!!  And another weekend filled with holiday fun....work party tonight, shopping downtown tomorrow with the family, and maybe getting some holiday baking done :)  Must not forget the knitting too....

Yum

Today's treat :)  Yummy!

To continue with the blogiversary fun, here's specials #3 and #4.

Tonight until the end of Saturday (11:59pm PST), Dancette is on sale for 50% off!  $3.00 for a gorgeous shawl that you still have time to knit before Christmas if you want.  No coupon needed! 

Dancette

Blogiversary special #4.... a yarny contest!!!  One special winner will be receiving a few skeins of gorgeous yarn and an IGK tote bag!  Just leave a comment sharing one of your favorite holiday traditions...whether it be an activity, recipe, favorite song to decorate the tree to....  Please leave a way to contact you if you win (e.g., ravelry name, email).  Plus a few others will win an IGK pattern too!

Off to get ready for the holiday party!!  Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

66 comments:

Sarah-Dianne said...

My favorite holiday tradition is going to see a movie every Christmas Eve with my grandfather and my sister! It started when my sister and I were little and has continued for the past ten years!

I love your blog and your patterns!

Sarah-Dianne
SarahDianneKnits on Ravelry

Zonda said...

I am so drooling here over that macaroon! I bet you can't wait for vacation :)

One tradition we have that I totally forget about is not getting the tree until after Jimmy's birthday on the 11th. He liked to keep the two days separate (wonder why, more gifts ;)

nestra said...

We have fondue at my parents' house every Christmas Eve and then a lazy Christmas day and late-ish dinner at my in-laws' house. It is a perfect combo and everyone is happy.

Nestra on rav

Hey There Curly Locks said...

Every Christmas Eve we invite someone with no family over to have supper with us. We have a candle-lit dinner of fresh tossed salad, homemade lasagne, french bread, and traditional cannoli for dessert. We take the time and go the extra mile to make our guests feel special and welcomed. We have made several new and wonderful friends. It is such a joy to be able to share.


I truly enjoy your blog.

Have a wonderful Holidays!

Tami
harrington.girls@gmail.com

Peppermint Mocha Mama said...

Our family tradition is to bake sweets together. From cookies to cakes to crumbles and pies, we spend hours baking. Helpful tip - broken cookies at Christmas have no calories!

Here is my favorite Apple Crumble recipe ~

Ingredients

For the crumble

300g/10½oz plain flour, sieved pinch of salt
175g/6oz unrefined brown sugar
200g/7oz unsalted butter, cubed at room temperature
Knob of butter for greasing

For the filling

450g/1lb apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm/½in pieces
50g/2oz unrefined brown sugar
1 tbsp plain flour
1 pinch of ground cinnamon

Preparation method

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F
Place the flour and sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Taking a few cubes of butter at a time rub into the flour mixture. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Place the fruit in a large bowl and sprinkle over the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir well being careful not to break up the fruit.

Butter a 24cm/9in ovenproof dish. Spoon the fruit mixture into the bottom, then sprinkle the crumble mixture on top.

Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the crumble is browned and the fruit mixture bubbling.

Serve with thick cream or custard.

Peppermint Mocha Mama said...

Oh, I forgot contact info - I think you can click my name and get to my email but just in case, I'm "PprmntMochaMama" on Ravelry too.

Dana A. said...

Our family's tradition is to get together on Christmas eve for pizza and presents. We have lots of laughter and fun! Then my 2 son's visit with their "other" families on Christmas day.

Dana in TX
Dacarsha on Ravelry

SpinningLara said...

On Christmas Eve I make a turkey and we have a fun dinner. We watch Christmas Vacation on Christmas day and have Mimosas and stuffed french toast for breakfast. We mostly hang out in our jammies and later in the day have more turkey.

Im really jonesing for one of your bags so if I don't win I would love to purchase one!

Judy (Nanajudy) said...

Baking xmas cookies with my granddaughter.
Nanajudy

Nancy N said...

Happy blogiversary! My favorite holiday tradition is that after the mad dash for stockings, we all sit down and the kids give everyone their own gifts. It's this tiny sea of lovey thoughtfulness in the middle of the crazy. Now food traditions ...? Ah. We could go on forever ...

Nancy
n2n on Rav

nursenikkiknits said...

I love Christmas and traditions. One of my favourite is that every Christmas eve we have a supper that is totally unrelated to the feast coming the next day. For several years we went out for Japanese BBQ. So fun : )
Thanks for the giveaway. I'm nursenikkiknits on rav

Jane said...

My favorite holiday tradition is Cookie Day. One Sat. in December, my sister and I gather our families and bake cookies. She makes sugar and ginger cutout cookies ahead of time and the guys frost and decorate them. My sister, niece, daughter and I make other kinds of the cookies. Everyone leaves with a delicious assortment of cookies.

The other tradition is Christmas Day brunch. When my children were little they squeezed real oranges for juice and a tradition was born.

Jane

Susan said...

The one tradition my kids will not do without is driving around looking at Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music. A time to sing together, be together, and enjoy the season. I love the insular nature of the experience.

Suna on Ravelry

Suellen said...

Baking toll house cookies!

Knitter Kitter said...

My favorite holiday tradition is having our annual Christmas Eve dinner with all of our favorite comfort foods.

Thanks for the wonderful giveaway! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

KnitterKitter on Ravelry

lorraine said...

i really dont have too many christmas traditions..but i do remember watching snl and laughing at the christmas themed skits..i love this christmas song one from a while back..it makes me smile :)

http://www.hulu.com/watch/117205/saturday-night-live-i-wish-it-was-christmas-today

raineoc@yahoo.com

Eli said...

My favorite tradition growing up was to go with my Grandma to Dayton's department store and see the Christmas display on their eighth floor. They set up animated dolls and scenes to tell a different story every year, usually from a kids book. My first one was Babar in 1980-something. I went all but one year until they were bought out by Macy's. Now they do the same display every year, which is just not as fun.
Thanks so much for the great blogiversay presents! I will be starting on Comfort Food soon.

Eli GoodwitchEli on Rav

gMarie said...

Favorite holiday tradition: Our family builds a puzzle with santa in it somewhere every year - starting after the dishes are cleaned up on Thanksgiving and then the puzzle stays out until the new year.

Favorite holiday music: love it all, but my all time favorite? Garth Brooks Call my Clause CD, anything from it. g

Unknown said...

We're Jewish, so I always look forward to the annual "demand" from my kids for endless latkes. I have brought them to school for the talks my daughter used to give on the meaning of Hanukkah. It always means a lot to see how much they enjoy them. Happy holidays to you!

Mya said...

Yummy looking cookie!

Our favorite holiday tradition is going up to the mountains the day after Thanksgiving to cut down our Christmas tree (we have permits so it's not like we are stealing it, LOL). After lots of hiking in the woods and making our selection we haul the tree back to the car where we have hot cocoa and cookies waiting!

Unknown said...

My favorite tradition is the way my parents used to give each other their gifts after the party on Christmas Eve. It built up the anticipation for my brother and me to watch.

I just got back from a holiday party where we all stood around singing goofy Christmas carols, and it was really fun! That might be a new tradition for me.

Jana said...

I love seeing all the old ornaments while putting up the tree -- especially the popcorn popper!

Anonymous said...

My favorite holiday tradition is baking fudge (using my great grandmother's recipe).

~CutiePatootie's Mom

P.S. Maybe if I win some beautiful yarn, I'll start knitting ; )

Lorajean Kelley said...

Wow!! What a party on the blog!!

A little tradition we do is get in the car with some tasty hot chocolate and drive the neighborhood to look at lights.

Tonight we went to lights on fremont, a little neighborhood festival. Super fun!

have a great weekend!

Lisa said...

I host a cookie exchange party. A few friends get together in early December and exchange our favorite holiday cookies. Then, our house is on a holiday light tour route and we all go outside and say "Merry Christmas" to all the trolleys going by.

Scrabblequeen said...

Every Christmas Eve, after church, we all pile into the car and go drive around looking at all the Christmas lights. My kids are all grown now, but still happily go with us!

Jocelyn said...

Macaroons are so expensive. How do you make them?

Having been expatriates for the past 19 years, it was not easy to set Christmas traditions. But one thing we always do is mass on Christmas Day. When we get back home then it's lunch and opening of presents.

This year I will go back to the more traditional 9-day novena mass which starts from Dec 16th and ends with high mass on Christmas Eve followed by Christmas dinner and opening of presents with the family. Christmas Day will then be spent visiting family and friends and getting full with yummy homecooked meals. Can't wait.

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and if 2011 has been such a wonderful year for IGK Designs, I can't wait for what 2012 has in store for you!

Discoknits said...

My favourite tradition is hosting Christmas Eve: Turkey dinner, mince pies and family gifts.
I also love putting the ornaments on the tree - no matchy-matchy for us, just a memory in every one.
Merry Christmas, old friend }:0)

Karin said...

My favorite holiday tradition is watching Christmas Vacation with my family on Christmas Eve. We know all the words and crack up every year.

knitful on Ravelry

knittermom said...

My sons and I bake and decorate about 500 cookies and take them down to the homeless shelter every Christmas. My oldest son moved away last year but he and his girlfriend decided to continue the tradition.
I think I have almost every one of your awesoe patterns! Happy Holidays!

knittermom said...

My sons and I bake and decorate about 500 cookies and take them down to the homeless shelter every Christmas. My oldest son moved away last year but he and his girlfriend decided to continue the tradition.
I think I have almost every one of your awesoe patterns! Happy Holidays!
ksigman@yahoo.com
mmom on Ravelry

kelly-ann (on ravelry) said...

I started an activity advent calendar this year for the kids and we all love it. It has been a wonderful way for us to slow down and enjoy the season. This will a tradition from now on!

MicheleinMaine said...

On Christmas Eve morning I listen to "Nine Lessons and Carols" from Kings College in Cambridge England, usually while I'm still baking cookies. It's a quiet and peaceful space in an otherwise hectic time!

neknitsandbeads said...

My favorite Christmas tradition is going to Old Sturbridge Village and doing their Christmas by Candelight. It is a village that replicates life from the mid-1700's.

We went last night and it makes you feel so festive!

Unknown said...

My favorite holiday tradition began when my sisters & I were just girls. After the thanksgiving dishes are washed, we all sit down to watch old animated classic Christmas movies, starting with Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

My sisters & I are grown now, but still continue this tradition with our own children.


Happy Blogiversary! May 2012 bring you blessings!


RavID: PrincessMommie

Andrea said...

My husband and I started a tradition of watching "Love Actually" every Christmas and it's a nice time to cuddle and watch a movie together.

Anonymous said...

My favourite holiday tradiyion is watching all the classi.c holiday specials! Christmas Vacation and Elf are the favourites!! "SANTA! I know him!" Happy Holidays! I'm at work today wearing my Honey Badgers!!

Melanie said...

One of my favorite Christmas traditions takes place on Christmas Eve. After a nighttime church service, my family drives through a local neighborhood to look at all the decorations and lights. Almost every house in the neighborhood decorates, and as a child it was magical!

smelanie88@gmail.com

amyjknits said...

One of my more recent favorites is the Christmas chain. It's kind of like an advent calendar, with a different holiday activity to do each day. This was my spouse's tradition growing up, when his mom would make the chain out of red & green construction paper. We alternate who makes it & who gets to open it each year.

Kristen said...

Every Christmas Eve, we drive through a local neighborhood that has no streetlights and is lined, only for that night, with luminarias. It always amazes me how something so simple can be so beautiful!

Happy Blogiversary and Merry Christmas, Carrie!!

Kristen in Green Bay
Yarnqueen on Ravelry

Anita said...

Our family tradition for years has been to go to my mom's on Christmas Eve have sloppy joes, and sweet snacks, then open presents starting with the youngest to oldest one at a time so everyone can see what you got.

anitasparkman@sbcglobal.net

Julianna said...

On Christmas eve we would eat a traditional meal of 3 kinds of authentic Hungarian sausage, potatoes, and red cabbage -- yum yum. :-)

Val said...

My favorite tradition is watching a Christmas Carol on tv. All of them over and over.

and making perogies.

Val

dispatcherval on Ravelry

Laura said...

My family has always eaten chili for dinner on Christmas eve. But, because it's Christmas eve, we eat it off the fine china and pretend it's super fancy. And heaven forbid you suggest another meal. Growing up, my sister and I would spend ALL DAY setting and decorating the table.

cguard (on rav) said...

One of my favorite traditions is one our 4-H club does. Every year we take a turn ringing bells and standing at the Salvation Army Kettle. I come home thinking our life is filled with riches and wanting to share them instead of wishing we were rich.

Janaknits said...

We have Christmas Eve at my in-laws and my mother-in-law always makes the most delicious enchiladas! Yum. I'm excited just thinking about it. We also have a round robin gift opening session. It is so much fun!

Anonymous said...

Every year I make homemade "Bailey's" Irish cream for friends and family. It's tradition now and everyone starts asking when they are going to get their bottles. I collect and save pretty bottles all year for it. Everyone says my baileys is much better than the original!

**HOMEMADE BAILEYS IRISH CREAM**

4 eggs
1 can of condensed milk (NOT evaporated)
1&1/2 cups of whiskey(I use Black Velvet, Bushmills or Jameson.
1 & 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
1/4 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 t. almond extract
2 Tablespoons of Hershey's syrup
*****************************
Blend milk & eggs in a blender, add remaining ingredients and blend well. With a funnel, pour into your bottles and chill. Let set in fridge 2 days before serving.
Shake well before serving.
Lasts up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Serve with coffee, on the rocks, etc.
SLAINTE!!!
fowlervillesdeb (ravelry name)

Melissa B said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary! Making (and eating!) fudge is one of my favorite holiday traditions.

-Melissa (lissie581 on Ravelry)

YogaNan knits, too... said...

Favorite holiday tradition? Hard to choose, but probably putting out the nativity scene with all the precious figures--precious because they were part of my husband's family, and now are part of our holiday. There were seven little dime-store plaster lambs for the seven kids; I've added two more woolly ones for our kids. -Nan (yoganan on Ravelry)

Rebekah said...

We are not big fans of pumpkin pie in my family so for Thanksgiving and Christmas we make pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting... Yum!

Kathy said...

Well, we have a goofy holiday tradition. Years ago I was hugging our Christmas tree (because I really like Christmas) and I said her name was Trella. I was really sad about getting rid of the tree so my partner said she was going to see her family in Oregon. Now each year we find Trella at the same tree farm (she looks different so we have to search for her), then she gets dressed up in her Christmas clothes. At the end of the season, we take off her jewelry (ornaments) and put her near the curb until the limo (garbage truck) picks her up to take her back to her tree family in Oregon.
I know, corny, but we have so much fun with it each year. This will be our first year picking up Trella as husband and wife! :)
bigblueice on ravelry

CelticCastOn said...

Thanks for the special price on Dancette! I've been wanting to knit that one for a while.

We don't do this anymore because we have moved away but we used to go to my aunts. She made everyone old fashioned christmas nighties and bed hats, we used all wear them christmas eve and then go visit the neighbours for some christmas eve meat pie. It was awful when we were teenagers though,my brother was just too cool to wear them and we made a mad dash to get next door before anyone would see us.

celticcaston on rav

justageorgiagirl said...

When my children were little, the Christmmas Elf - not to be confused with the Elf on the Shelf - would visit each night from Dec. 1- 24. The elf would leave a different Christmas book for each child, each night. On Christmas Eve, all books were gathered together under the tree. When Santa came, he would take the books back to the North Pole until the following year. The elf added to the stash each year so my children received old favorites from previous years as well as a few new books sprinkled in. The books will be theirs when they begin families of their own.

Thanks for sharing your creativity - love your work! Merry Christmas!

Kay
justageorgiagirl on Ravelry

Kat2nich said...

I love cooking apple pies to share with my family. The smell is soooo wonderful. Also, we have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" each year.

Kat2nich on Rav

Anonymous said...

We keep a basket full of Christmas books. We started with one when our first child was born, now we have dozens. It's great for the kids to sit down with their favorite holiday books from years past. We don't limit it to Christmas, we have Hannukah and Kwanza, and any other winter holiday books I can locate. The books come out on Thanksgiving and go away on New Year's Day. That way they're a special tradition each year.

Janmarie-

(janmarie- on Ravelry)

KathyL said...

After the kids are asleep and all of the gifts are piled under the tree late on Christmas Eve, I sit alone in the dark admiring the lights, savoring the feeling of accomplishment, and thinking of all my blessings. It helps to put all of the craziness of the preceding month behind me so I can focus on the true meaning of Christmas the next day.

Susan said...

Hi Carrie! I kept asking Deb if she had heard from you . . . duh . . . I just need to read your blog to find out what you are up to . . . and I can see . . so busy as usual!

Favorite Christmas tradition . . my friend Ingrid and I go Starbucks, give money to the barista . . . . . . buy drinks anonymously for people in the line as long as the money lasts. It is SO much fun to hear the comments and see the looks on their faces! Pay It Forward!

Merry Christmas Carrie!

Gwen said...

favorite Christmas tradition ... hot cocoa and from-scratch cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. We have our "big dinner" Christmas Eve.

gracie41999 on Ravelry

~RaenWa~ said...

My favorite tradition is that every year Mk & I get a new couples ornament & have our names engraved on it. We have been doing that since we got together 8 years ago.

Rae
Raeknitsnwa on Ravelry

natalie said...

Going to see Santa light up the night before Thanksgiving has been an annual tradition sincy my oldest was born. It always make The Holiday Season feel like it's starting!!

Alicia said...

My favourite holiday tradition is buying a Christmas tree with my Dad. We always seem to buy the most oversized tree that we can fine but we still find a way to squeeze it into the house.

Alicia
AliciaVance on Ravelry

Knit-Chat said...

Singing Christmas Carols has always been one of my favourite things to do at this time of the year.

Knit-Chat said...

I'm Loves2Dance on Ravelry. Sorry for the duplication.

LeslieAnn79 said...

My favorite holiday tradition is putting up the christmas tree with my husband and daugther. Every year she breaks a treasured ornament. Which in itself has become a sort of tradition. Shes only 3 so I will cut her some slack for a few more years.
Leslie
leslieann79 on ravelry
www.pixemic.net

Scotiaknit said...

Our favourite tradition is a late Christmas dinner, champagne, and board games until the wee hours of the morning. My mother a cooks a huge breakfast the next morning and we laze around opening presents.

Scotiaknit on Ravelry

Kirstin said...

Norwegian lefse on Christmas Eve!

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