Holiday Hoopla...the good, the bad and the ugly...share stories, ideas, recipes etc

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

Does anyone know of a Santa address here in the US? In Canada it was

Santa Claus

North Pole

H0H 0H0

and it would go to Santa and the Post office would return a generic response for the kiddies...

Do any of you know if he US Postal Service does this?

[minnew 4]

Well this is our first Christmas together as a married couple and we plan to do our decorating this thanksgiving weekend. It's only to two of us this Christmas ( and the dog). His family lives in GA and he plans to get leave next year from the military for x mas, it's been like 5 years since he's been with his family for x mas, my parents will prob complain that it's two x mas in a row without seeing them, but that's what happens when your children get married!

Thanksgiving in canada was never a huge occasion for our family, very rarely the whole gang would get together. Thanksgiving in the US with my bf, fiancé and now husband will be filled with co worker get togethers, because like us we don't have family around. They have always been filled with fun, beverages, and of course the best turkey I have ever had in my life!! Deep fried turkey!! 3 different types of seasoning to choose from and so juicy!! I hope the get togethers here are as good as where he used to work:(

Anyways, I have a recipe that my fiancé absolutely loves! It's called the x mas morning wife saver. My mom has made it for as long as I can remember. Sooooo good!! Make it the night before so your not spending x mas morning in the kitchen!!

I have never made shortbread cookies in my life but I am going to give it a try!

Anybody have a good recipe??

The tradition that we cannot agree on is presents, there won't be much this year, but still. Our family we were allowed to open 1 gift x mas eve after church, then the rest plus stocking x mas morning.

His family opens all presents x mas eve, then stockings in the morning and of course "Santa" presents.

[Sprailenes 47]

Does anyone know of a Santa address here in the US? In Canada it was

Santa Claus

North Pole

H0H 0H0

and it would go to Santa and the Post office would return a generic response for the kiddies...

Do any of you know if he US Postal Service does this?

They did, but recently they've made a lot of cutbacks with USPS and word out there is that this was one of the services they are, or are thinking of cutting.

Besides I think Santa probably uses email now.. I am sure he has an iphone or a blackberry.

[Marilyn. 340]

I saw this story on the news the other day about the Santa letters... but it has more to do with canceling the USPS programme to answer letters addressed to "Santa Claus, North Pole"

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world...o-1225800067812

[Marilyn. 340]

just found this article...

Dear Santa Letters Headed to the North Pole After All

Kids who send letters in the mail addressed simply to "Santa Claus, North Pole," can now rest assured that their wish lists are being read by one of his elves.

Earlier this year, the US Postal Service announced it would stop sending those innocent letters to North Pole, Alaska, as it had for decades, citing privacy concerns. But after a huge public outcry — and perhaps some holiday magic — the USPS reversed the decision and decided to start sending the letters there again, albeit with some more stringent privacy policies to protect identities and addresses of kids.

"We never wanted to spoil people's Christmas," US Postal Service spokesman Ernie Swanson explained to The Associated Press. "It was just a decision we had to make based on privacy concerns, and it is labor-intensive. But it's still nice that we're able to resume this and still make people's holiday."

Meanwhile, if kiddies want to bypass the Post Office and their more strict privacy policies, they can send the letters directly to Santa via the Santa's Mailbag program. Letters can be addressed to: Santa Claus, 1 Santa Claus Lane, North Pole, AK 99705.

Full article here..

Edited November 23, 2009 by Marilyn.

[Sprailenes 47]

Whipped Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 lb soft butter

1 cup 10X sugar (icing sugar)

1/2 cup corn starch

3 cups flour

1tbsp vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

MoP:

Beat butter until creamy. Add remaining ingredients until well blended. Drop by tsp full on baking sheet 2 inches apart (like you would chocolate chip cookies).

Top with candied cherries or sprinkles.

Bake at 300 for 10 minutes. Cookies should be set but not brown.

Enjoy the melting in your mouth

1 pound of butter???

Well thank goodness calories don't count over the holidays!

[Malrothien 6]

THANK you for posting that, Peachy!

[Inky 1,110]

Im just hopping that my husband is home for christmas or ima be spending it alone with a ruind christmas surprise. Im planning to get some decorations with a budget and do up the house for when he comes home, also do his fav cookies and a cake. I have some money left saved from when I moved to get him some christmas gifts as well.

[Peachey 10]

1 pound of butter???

That's why they melt in your mouth!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

I found a great idea for kids xmas lists and letter...you can google xmas letter heads and print out all sorts of stationary for free for making their santa wish lists etc... I think we will do that...it's free! lol

I think we will mail a letter anyways, even if it goes to no man's land lol...

[Sprailenes 47]

I always type a letter up a few days before 'from Santa' and leave it under the tree for him. Usually it's the first thing he opens.

He loves it.

I am going to miss it when he no longer believes because there's so much magic there.

[milimelo 4,413]

@poprocks,

we saw this cool toy for boys at the local sam's club - it's a type of the connex toy where you make your own roller coaster and then this thingy goes down with it with a real digital camera and then you can re-design the ride the way you want it - scarier, higher... I think it was around $60.

[Colleens 40]

if you use the silicon mats when baking your shortbreads, they turn out even better!!! The mats are great for sugar cookies as well!

[Sprailenes 47]

I picked up one of those flip video cameras for Ethan - or should I say Santa picked it up. I think he'll like that a lot. This years Christmas shopping is slower than last year I am really thinking about what I am getting him. He's 11 years old.. shopping for them gets harder as they grow up.

Edited November 24, 2009 by Sprailenes

[minnew 4]

I always type a letter up a few days before 'from Santa' and leave it under the tree for him. Usually it's the first thing he opens.

He loves it.

I am going to miss it when he no longer believes because there's so much magic there.

I was also a late bloomer when it came to santa claus, I think I was 11 or 12, I remember being so upset that my parents for not telling me sooner! LOL!

Peachey- Thanks for posting the recipe! I will have to try it out!