Simplify Christmas

We had our Relief Society meeting at Marci Shaw's home in November. Diane Allred gave a wonderful presentation on how to simplify Christmas. 16 sisters attended. Here are some highlights if you missed it.

4 things kids want for Christmas:

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A relaxed and loving time with the family

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A relaxed expectation about gifts

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An evenly paced holiday season

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Reliable family traditions

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Believing in the true spirit of Christmas commit to the following:

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Remember the reason for the season

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Remember those people who truly need your gifts

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express your love in more direct ways than gifts

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examine your holiday activities in the light of your deepest values

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be a peacemaker within your circle of family and friends

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rededicate yourself to your spiritual growth

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Ideas of simplifying:

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1. drive around to see lights

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2. string popcorn or cranberries for tree

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3.visit Temple Sq. to see lights or hear a free concert

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4.act out the story of the birth of Christ, complete with costumes

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5.read aloud from Luke

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6.Instead of everyone opening gifts at once, take turns and have children thank the person who gave the gift

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7.give ornaments that reflect an event for that year

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8.make your family meals pot luck. Don't do everything yourself

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9.make and decorate cookies or a gingerbread house as a family

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10.choose a theme for the year in decorating

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11.watch your favorite Christmas movie

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12. do genealogy or go to the Temple

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13.consider buying gifts for your children, g-children, spouse, and your

parents

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14.perhaps you can give a family gift

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15.secret Santa

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16.buy on-line

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17.make your own gifts

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18.give experience gifts such as tickets, or movies or events

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19.pick just one project

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20.ask grown children to write favorite memories of Christmas so you don't forget

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21.read the night before Christmas

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22.don't send cards to people you see all the time

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23.write a happy new year letter and mail it after the holidays

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24.instead of sending cards, make a phone call

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25.just say no

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26.enjoy the malls without shopping

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27.bake only once

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28.get creative

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29.listen to Christmas music

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30.try skipping Christmas, and go on a trip instead

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31.make your celebration Christ Centered

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take a deep breath and enjoy

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Sue's favorite idea: was an old Victorian tradition that says each person should get "something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read."

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Diane shared these recipes with everyone:

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Diane's Salsa

8 or 9 Roma tomatoes chopped

1 can whole green chili's (drained) and diced

1 bunch of onions (including green parts) diced

4 or 5 cloves of garlic
dried cilantro 1 tsp. or 2 Tbls. fresh

6 shakes of oregano

1/4 tsp cumin

1 lg. can diced tomatoes (drained)

place first 7 ingredients into blender and pulse until the consistency you want. Then add diced tomatoes and pulse about 5 times until you see tomatoes pulled to the bottom. You can use fresh garden tomatoes but you need to rid them of as much liquid as possible.

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Diane's fudge



2 lg. (7 oz.) and 2 sm. (1.55oz) Hershey's chocolate bars

1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips

1 pkg. miniature marshmallows (not the x-large pkg)

1 tsp. vanilla

4 c. sugar

1 can evaporated milk

1 cube butter

1 cup chopped nuts

Break Choc. bars in large bowl. Add the choc, chips and marshmallows. combine sugar, evap. milk, vanilla, and butter in saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. boil 6 min. pour over ingredients in bowl. stir until creamy. add nuts and put into buttered oblong pan. Refrigerate. Freezes well.

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Heidi's Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs - beat 5 minutes on high speed
gradually add:
1 C sugar
add:
2/3 C pumpkin
1 t lemon juice
sift and add:
3/4 C flour
1 t baking powder
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t salt
Pour into greased jelly roll pan (approx 11x16) and sprinkle with 1 C chopped nuts
Bake 375 12-15 minutes. When done turn onto dishtowel sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Roll up and let cool.
Meanwhile mix till smooth:
1 C powdered sugar
8 oz cream cheese
4 T soft butter
1 t vanilla
Spread on cooled pumpkin roll. Roll back up and chill.

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Enjoy