The Suede Sofa Blog

St. Nicholas Day

Four years ago when my son was a baby, I started a TrAdItIoN that families around the world have been doing for ages. December 6^th is the celebration of St. Nicholas Day. St. Nicholas was known for his GeNeRoSiTy to those in need and his love for children.

In many European countries, on December 5^th, the eve of St. Nicholas Day children leave their ShOeS outside of the bedroom doors and wait for St. Nicholas to leave them a surprise. I have my children do the same thing with their favorite shoes and I love to see their excitement when they wake up in the morning to find that St. Nicholas has visited our home. I feel this is a great way to “KiCk OfF” the holiday season and teach my children about a Saint who was so giving to little ones like themselves. You can read more about St. Nicholas at www.stnicholascenter.org.

What family traditions do YoU do to start the holiday season? We LoVe to hear from our readers so please share your stories!

St. Nicholas Night 2010 – Let’s hope my son Nicholas has a better day this December 5th so he doesn’t have to get another letter and underwear in his shoes!

Christmas Tree Traditions

Jersey Girl: Decorating the Christmas tree is something I look forward to each year. Our family has an artificial CHRISTmas tree. The main reason we opted for the tree that we have is because I am able to put it up early and keep it up for a week after the new year without worrying about it drying out. Our tree looks so rEaL that most people who come to our house insist on touching it because they don’t believe me! My husband and I both had a lot of ornaments before we got married and our collection has continued to grow. Some of our faVoriTe ornaments are the ones that we made growing up and now our children are making new ones to add to our collection! It takes days to put all of the ornaments on our tree, but we pass the time with Christmas music and lots of lAugHs!

Lara: Ever since I was a little girl I remember piling up in the pickup with my family and driving around our cattle pastures for the peRfect cedar tree. Dad would cut it down with a chainsaw and we would decorate it that night. The smell of the cedar tree would fill up the house for the entire holiday. I love that smell!

As you can see, our traDiTion continues now that I have a family of my own. Last weekend we went hit the country roads in search for our tree. Doug cut it down and the whole family decorated it while Christmas music is played in the background :)

To top it off we usually enjoy some homemade hot chocolate and a Christmas movie before bed. Making memories can be so FuN!

Robynn: “Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how LoVeLy are your branches…” However, even more lovely than the branches are the memories that are made each year when my family and father-in-law a.k.a. “Papa” pile in the minivan and head out of town to our nearby Christmas tree farm, the PiNe TrEe FaRm where owner, Travis cuts our tree.

We made our yearly Christmas tree trek Thanksgiving weekend and although I am not a fan of cold and dreary weather this is one day of the year where it suites me just fine! This year did not disappoint, it felt and looked like WiNtEer (with the exception of snow) as it has the three previous years.

Once at the Christmas Tree Farm, we get on a hay rack trailer pulled by a tractor and drive through a grove of trees, across a bridge, into a field of trees.

Then it’s time to pick the perfect tree and head back to “headquarters” where HoT CiDeR and cinnamon mints await. My girls and I drop our mints in the cider and enjoy cinnamon apple cider! The PeRfEcT ending as we warm up our fingers and our tree is being tied to the top of our minivan!!

I AM…Hero of the Week

Last week was a time for family gatherings, good food, and being tHankFul for all the good things in our lives. Well, I’m thankful in a specific way for my sister-in-law’s husband Shawn.

Shawn is a lineman so he’s use to risking his life on extended storm breaks. He has to work through some of the most adverse weather conditions so we all can have electricity back on as soon as possible. This is a very tough job and dangerous job at times so Shawn is a hero in his own right.

Well last weekend Shawn was a HERO for a different reason. He saved my son’s life. Do you remember my post last week where I said my son choked on a grape? Well, he did it again but only this time with a steel marble he (for whatever reason!!!) stuck in his mouth. Fortunately (we attribute it to Divine intervention), Shawn was downstairs with the kids when it happened. He noticed Garrett choking and rushed him upstairs. I tried the Heimlich maneuver again this time and after the first couple times couldn’t get it. Shawn was already on his knees, reached out and grabbed Garrett, and after several attempts, the steel marble dropped on the floor and tragedy was averted.

Our evening went on after a little decompression time and we had fun with my husband’s family. The gravity of the situation didn’t really hit us until the 2 hour drive home that night. We couldn’t stop thinking about it. What if Shawn wasn’t downstairs, would we have made it to the hospital in time, what if???

We thought instead of highlighting another “Woman of the Week”, it was only fitting to highlight Shawn this week as “Hero of the Week”. We will fOreVer be grateful for him being in the right spot at the right time and saving our son’s life. Thank you Shawn!

~Lara

Christmas Candy Crowd Pleaser

I don’t know how many people have asked me for this recipe. I wanted to share this with you so you could take something new to your holiday gatherings! ENjOy!

Easy Oreo Truffles

1 pkg (1lb, 2oz) Single Stuffed Oreo’s, crushed

1 pkg (8oz) Cream Cheese, softened

1 pkg Chocolate Almond Bark, melted

Crush the oreos in a ziplock bag and mix in a bowl with the cream cheese. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1″ in diameter. Refrigerate until firm and then dip in melted chocolate. I drizzle white chocolate on the top to give them a nice look and so people can tell the apart from my other Christmas candy (like peanut butter balls). Put them back in the fridge until firm and enjoy!

Do you have a dish or dessert that is always a crowd pleaser? Tell us what it is!

~Lara

Since I had several people email me this morning about this other recipe, I am adding it! These are super yummy too! Be sure to read the recipes in the comments below!

Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

½ C. Butter (Softened)

¾ C. Packed Brown Sugar

2 C. Flour

1 C. (14 oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 tsp. Vanilla

½ C. Mini Chocolate Chips

1 Pkg. Almond Bark

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add flour, milk, and vanilla—mix. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (optional). Shape in 1 inch balls. Place on waxed paper lined cookie sheets and lightly cover. Refrigerate 1-2 hours. Melt candy coating, dip balls, and place on wax paper lined cookie sheets. Refrigerate for approx. 15-20 minutes until set. Store in fridge.

*I put cookie dough in fridge for about 20 minutes before rolling the dough into balls b/c the dough can be pretty sticky! Enjoy!

Handprint Memories

I try to do a handprint/footprint project with my kids for each HoLiDaY or SeAsOn. I started them shortly after my son turned one and have continued since. It is FuN to look back and see how their hands and feet have grown and the projects make great decorations and gifts. You can find tons of great ideas just by doing a simple Google search for holiday handprint projects. Have fun CrEaTiNg great memories!

I made this wreath last Christmas using my son’s handprints for the wreath and my daughter’s tiny feet for the holly! I wrote the little poem myself!

I made these little snowmen out of their feet last January!

~Jersey Girl~

Marriage Can Taste Like Vinegar

{With the support and approval of my husband, I am sharing this with you. Thanks Babe.}

Two weeks ago Doug went on a hunting trip with his college buddies. I am rarely eXciTed when he tells me he is going to be gone for 3 days, especially since his job requires him to travel so much. I also resent the fact that it isn’t as easy for me to get away, and even when I do, I feel gUilTy for leaving my family. I guess because I feel that way I assume he should too!

Each time he leaves for these extended weekends, it is very pRedicTable on what the mood will be. I’m usually not very peppy because I’m worn out from watching the kids and need a break. He feels like every time he calls home to check in I try to make him feel bad for leaving (which he is probably right). When he finally comes home it is hard to cOnnEct because we’ve built up a large wall between us.

Well, that is where we were when he came home on Saturday. After we finally broke the ice, we ended up having the same disagreement regarding his extended trips, and it ended the same as all the others ….with no one happy. We walked in separate directions of the house, with nothing but knots in our stomachs.

One GooD thing about our marriage is neither one of us can stand being mad at each other very long. This time around, I beat him to the punch. I walked up to him, and although it tasted like vinegar, said, “Are we oKay? I don’t want to spend the whole day being mad at each other” and hugged him. I have to admit, even at that point I wanted to pull away and scream with frustration. But staying frustrated wasn’t going to get us anywhere and I didn’t want to spend any more time being mad. I would rather suck it up and mAkEup vs. be mad and alone.

Marriage isn’t always eAsy. In fact, it takes a lot of work much of the time. If you are having a similar argument that has lasted 20 minutes, 2 days or several months, there is no better time than now to make a mends. From experience I know that the longer you go without breaking down those walls, the easier it is to keep separating. We know where too much separation leads, and no one wants that.

So, even though it may taste like vinegar, do the right thing and reconnect. You are probably to the point you don’t even know what you are mad about, you are just MAD. Do your marriage a favor and make this holiday season an extra special one by breaking down the walls between you and the ones you love.

~Lara

Biggest Bang For Your Buck {Take Stock}

From time to time its good for us to TaKe StOcK of our life. Where we’ve been and where we’re going. What has worked and what has failed. What stays and what goes.

I find the end of the year is a good time for this. January one is synonymous with new BegiNniNgs. And here is the question I am pondering:

What OnE HaBiT (if I had it) would give the “biggest bang for the buck”?

Would that one habit be self-control/discipline, faithfulness, truthfulness, love, patience, kindness, diligence, perseverance, humility, better communication skills, or loyalty?

Chances are we all have that “oNe HaBiT” that (if we possessed it) would change the course of our life. If you have trouble coming up with an answer ask yourself where you have the most conflict in your life. It’s most likely in that area you could use some help. Maybe its money problems; relationship problems; low self-esteem issues; or problems in your thought life, personal life or spiritual life.

As 2011 comes to a close, take some time to take stock of your life. Are you headed down a path that will ultimately take you to your desired destination? It’s well worth the InTroSpeCtiOn.

What’s your “One Habit”?

Robynn~

Pastor D.J.’s Playbook #17 {Play Hard/Play Nice}

The Suede Sofa KiNdnEss ChaLLenGe:

Want joy this season? Then pLaNt the “seed” of joy in someone else’s life. You do reap what you sow, afterall! Here is our challenge to you: Do two things this holiday season (things that you don’t normally do) for people who have no way of paying you back. If this is new for you, start with one thing!! Just do SoMeThing!!

;) Robynn~

{Skinny Jeans!}

When it comes to “SkiNnY JeAnS” on people there are two categories (in my opinion).

Those who look great in them and those who don’t. I’m not being negative, just ReAliStiC. You find out what looks good on you and then go with it and when I initially tried on skinny jeans a couple of years ago I realized that I fell into the second category.

That all changed on a recent shopping trip with Lara. She tried on a pair of “JeGgiNgS” (a combination of jeans and leggings). They were so flattering on her I just had to try them myself. And when I did, I loved them. My first response was, “I JuSt LoSt 10 PoUnDs!”

Now, I still don’t like the way I look in skinny jeans, that is, before I put the boots on, but once you put the boots on it changes everything. In fact, I can’t believe I’ve been trying to tuck my regular jeans into my boots. Uncomfortable!! But with skinny jeans or jeggings that problem is alleviated.

If you still aren’t sure you will like the way you look in skinny jeans (they do fit snug) then a tunic or long sweater is the answer. If you have never tried them, but are looking for a new, FaShiOnabLe look give them a try! Just remember you need to buy them snug. Lose fit does not work with these guys!

By the way, if you’re wondering where Lara and I got our “jeggings”, we picked them up at Maurices for $29. Hard to find a $29 pair of jeans these days!

Thanks Lara!

Robynn~

Countdown To Christmas!!

Let the countdown begin! If you don’t have Michael Buble’s new Christmas CD, we highly recommend getting it! If you need a fun and enjoyable gift for give a friend, give it! His music will light up your holiday and get the season off to the right start! (I get goosebumps every time I watch this trailer…am I a geek or what?!)

HaPpY HoLiDaYs!

Lara, Robynn & Jersey Girl