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Christmas Eve Box - A Box of Memories!

Putting together a Christmas Eve Box is an easy way to add a touch of memory making magic to the holiday season.

 I used to do this when my boys were young so many moons ago.

The contents of their Christmas Eve Box every year was…

• A NEW pair of PJ’s  (of course)
• A Christmas movie (on VHS and later DVD – LOL)
• Hot Chocolate Mix
• Marshmallows
• A chocolate covered spoon
• Microwave Popcorn
• Popcorn seasoning (their favorite was salt & vinegar)
• Some other Christmas themed snacks & treats
• A seasonal mug (some years)
• A Christmas story book (some years)
• A letter from Santa in response to their letter
• A NEW Christmas ornament for the tree (always with their name on it)

We would get into the new PJ’s after bath time.  I always washed the PJ’s before putting them in the box so they were ready to wear.  We’d get our popcorn, treats and hot chocolate ready, in our new mugs, and we’d settle in and watch our new movie.

Before bed we would get Santa’s treat ready and off to bed to snuggle in and read the new Christmas story book, if there was one…but always we read T’was the Night Before Christmas.

They loved this and when they were older they looked forward to this so much!

These are the things that memories are made of for sure!

Other Ideas for Your 

Christmas Eve 

(Making Memories) 

Box

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Santa's Magic Key

This is a fun item to include in your Christmas Eve Box when your children are young.

What is Santa's magic key?

Why, it is how Santa gets into the houses without chimneys.  If you don't have a chimney, it is perfect!  There are many labels / tags available on the internet, or you can make your own.  You can attach a label / poem to an old skeleton key or I make it to actually hang on the front door, like a wreath.

Have your little ones hang the key outside your door just before they go to bed.

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Reindeer Food

Here is another option to leaving carrots for the reindeer.  Making reindeer food is magical and fun.  Do it yourself for a surprise or do it early and then stash it away for your Christmas box.  Just before bed on Christmas Eve leave it out with Santa’s cookies for him to give the reindeer.  This will help them stay strong and have the energy to fly the entire world in one night.

You could have them sprinkle it outside but remember it has to be gone in the morning (wink, wink)

Just mix together

Oatmeal

Red colored sugar

Green colored sugar

It’s the colored sugar that makes it magical! (wink, wink)

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A Special Plate

Do you have a special plate and mug or glass for Santa’s cookies?  This is a perfect addition to the Christmas Eve Box..

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Cookies to Bake

Add a cookie mix to your Christmas Eve Box.

Bake cookies to leave Santa together.

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Whether you do just a few things or have a list a mile long, enjoy this holiday season and make wonderful memories with your Christmas Traditions…traditions are what makes Christmas Christmas!

Gram's Easy Fudge!

Homemade Gummie Candies

Microwave Fudge

Candy Fudge

Fruit Jellies

Candy Cane Cookies

Chocolate Fruit & Nut Bark

Candy Cereal Treat Bars

Cherry Squares

Christmas Cake Cookies

Christmas Magic Cookie Bars

Cinnamon Buns

Cocoa Bourbon Balls

Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

Chocolate Raspberry Crumble Bars

Christmas, The New Way, My New Start

Well for the past 3 Christmases I have let myself think that I am the same person I have always been...and my personal expectations for what I would accomplish to make the holidays perfect for my family would, and could, continue. The results were epic fails all three years which ended in me becoming sad and depressed and Christmas just going down and down until last year we didn't even have a turkey dinner! We had a tree only because the boys decorated it - and for anyone who knew me before this life changed...decorating trees was something I lived for and loved!!  But I need to face the facts ~ I just am not able to be that person anymore!

This year I have decided to scale down my expectations because after all it is just another day but with some fluff and frills. 

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻~ So here we go ~✻ღϠ₡ღ✻

We are selling off Christmas decorations and keeping just the ones I had when the boys were so young!  The really special ones… I have shed my very much loved Santa Collection to a simple 3, with a promise I will not buy anymore; as painful as that may be.  LOL  If they are not here I will have no guilt about not being able to put them up!

We rolled pennies and actually had enough to purchase a seven foot pencil tree which means no more big, time and energy hogging, tree to decorate.  Now I have a much smaller tree area to decorate, but still have the height, and one that takes so many fewer ornaments to bring it to life.  Prelit, of course, to save that task…all literally for our pennies!!

It was a little challenging for me, being I am accustomed to the traditional Christmas tree size and shape; and took a little work to be happy with the final result.  Again, those who know me know I am extremely picky about my trees LOL.  But I did it.

Because I have always done multiple trees, I have quite a selection of ornaments…We played with all blues, blue and silver, all red, red and silver, with and without garlands, with and without both floral and holly pics, with snowmen, without snowmen, with Santas, and without the jolly guy…you get the idea!  

 I finally settled on simple silver, white and snowflakes.  Everyone is happy with it or perhaps just happy I finally made up my mind!!

✻ღϠ₡ღ✻~ What do you think??? ~✻ღϠ₡ღ✻

How did you decorate your tree?  

What's your colours or theme for your tree, 
or do you do more than one?

xoxo

Festive Butter Tarts