I know that most of you are so excited because “the season” is here… we can smell it in the air and feel it in our hearts.  I don’t want to look at any of the Countdown Clocks/Calendars anymore because they remind me that we don’t have many days until Halloween, Thanksgiving OR “sleeps to go” before Christmas.  The distance between each Christmas is short when you think about the season instead of just Christmas day.

Last month I told you that I sponsored a child for Christmas through “Letters to Santa”… well, I am proud to announce that I committed to sponsoring three more children.   I am also considering sponsoring some children just for stockings… you can do that – you don’t have to buy them a bunch of gifts, you can just do a stocking. For information on sponsoring a child or receiving assistance, please email LettersToSanta2012@gmail.com.   I wish that I could sponsor dozens of children, but what I can do is spread the word and find sponsors… I encourage you to do the same, these children need a special Christmas – all children do.   I also located some groups that support seniors, they say “It takes a village to raise a child but takes the whole community to care for our seniors”.   Here are some programs you can support or search Google for your area:  “Be a Santa to a Senior”   https://www.facebook.com/SeniorsSantaPage and http://www.beasantatoasenior.com .   These programs are usually coordinated by Long Term Care Facilities or Senior Care Homes such as Homestead but there are many managed by small groups and individuals.

The joy of brightening a child’s heart creates the magic of Christmas.
 –W. C. Jones

Buying toys for the kids I am sponsoring will be fun AND costly, and of course I still have my FIVE grandchildren to buy for as well as nieces, nephews and my own children…. I have tons of shopping to do!!!   So I really need to plan this out quickly… especially because I have FIVE birthdays between now and Christmas.  This year I will have to take full advantage of the Black Friday sales… below is a list of stores and their opening times for this year’s Black Friday on Nov. 23.

• Bass Pro Shop – 6 am                           
• Best Buy – 12 am
• Cabela’s – 5 am
• CompUSA – 5 am
• HH Gregg – 12 am
• JC Penney – 4 am
• JoAnn Fabrics – 6 am
• K-mart – 5 am
• Kohl’s – 12 am
• Macy’s – 12 am
• Meijer – 4 am
• Menards – 6 am
• Microcenter – 8 am
• Office Depot – 6 am
• Office Max – 6 am
• Old Navy – 12 am
• Petsmart – 7 am
• Radio Shack – 5:30 am
• Sears – 4 am
• Staples – 6 am
• Target – 12 am
• Toys’R’Us – 9 pm (on Thanksgiving Day 11/22/12)
• Walgreens – 7 am
• Wal-Mart – 12 am

 I usually only buy gifts for the kids but I bring baked goods to others, such as my doctors, teachers and friends.   I especially love to give gourmet cupcakes or hand-decorated gourmet cookies from All Baked Up! But I love other fall goodies…  I thought I would begin to share some of my favorite recipes … maybe a few each month.  Here are some delicious “Pumpkin” treats:

This is a very simple dessert that you can make quickly and everyone should love it. Cinnamon Pumpkin Vanilla Sheet Cake   http://picky-palate.com/2011/10/20/cinnamon-roll-pumpkin-vanilla-sheet-cake/
I also love the Pumpkin sheet cake with Cream Cheese frosting http://kitchensimplicity.com/pumpkin-sheet-cake/

If you can’t make it to Starbucks for the Pumpkin Chai Latte, you can just make it yourself!    http://kitchensimplicity.com/pumpkin-chai-latte/

This one isn’t Pumpkin but close enough, this is for Sweet Potato Casserole and OMG you just have to have this for Thanksgiving but I recommend making it now – this IS perfect comfort food  http://www.grouprecipes.com/82254/ruths-chris-sweet-potato-casserole.html

Of course you have to have some of Pumpkin and Apple Cider Fizz on hand at ALL times   http://www.kitchenkonfidence.com/2011/11/pumpkin-and-apple-cider-fizz/

Of course I didn’t forget Christmas music….

If you’re going to be wrapping presents and baking some of those goodies, you WILL need some good Christmas music … and the good news is that there is NEW music out this year.  I have to say that I play the Michael Bublè Christmas CD on repeat, especially “Cold December Night”, but here is the news on some new releases for the month of October:

Blake Shelton will be releasing “Cheers it’s Christmas” on Tuesday, October 2^nd there are tunes that include Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson http://www.theboot.com/2012/08/06/blake-shelton-cheers-its-christmas-album/

The new album “Christmas in the Sand” by Colbie Caillat arrives October  23^rd; which includes appearances by (one of my favorites) Gavin DeGraw and Brad Paisley   http://www.billboard.com/news/colbie-caillat-announces-christmas-in-the-1007951002.story#/news/colbie-caillat-announces-christmas-in-the-1007951002.story

CeeLo Green has his own Christmas CD “CeeLo’s Magic Moment” featuring Christina Aguilera & The Muppets due to unveil on October 30^th http://www.billboard.com/news/ceelo-green-s-christmas-album-to-feature-1007954702.story#/news/ceelo-green-s-christmas-album-to-feature-1007954702.story

Lady Antebellum announced they’ll be releasing their Christmas album, “On This Winter’s Night” on October 22^nd http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/09/10/lady-antebellum-reveals-christmas-album-cover/

And I am both shocked and excited that Rod Stewart has a new CD coming out “Merry Christmas, Baby” which is expected to be released on October 30^th.  He also has a duet with Michael Bublè, Cee-Lo Green, Mary J. Blige and others.

New music by Blake Shelton with Michael Bublè, Gavin DeGraw and Rod Stewart and so many other GREAT artists will definitely keep me in the spirit throughout the season!

Whether you’re planning, baking or doing your holiday shopping… stay safe, stay healthy and stay merry… so many things can stress us out and try to ruin our spirit, so stay strong and remember that Jesus is the REASON for the season … take care & God bless,

Stay Merry!