Life: Holiday Rush and Yuletide
Dec. 2nd, 2014 01:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
escritoireazulDudes, it is December, and I am basically zero percent ready for any of the holiday celebrations my family has coming up. (So far, three separate gatherings, and because I love staying on top of information, I am taking point on planning at least two of them, maybe all three. Plus Yuletide, my favorite fannish time of the year.)
Cutting so it's my family's fault if they spoil themselves. Because money is tight for everyone, we're doing a more homemade theme this year. I really need to finalize the list of things I'm going to make. I was going to do infused vodka, and I still might for a belated gift exchange with friends that will take place in January, but I'm not sure my family will have much use for fruit-infused vodka. (I would have plenty of use for fruit-infused vodka, and plan to make a bunch for myself when local fruit is super cheap at the farmer's market next summer.)
Now I'm considering some sort of infused olive oil for at least one gathering, because most of that group are foodies. I've never done anything like that, though. I also wonder if I could do some sort of easy crusty bread mix for Sister K, because she and her husband love bread and olive oil, and that would be a nice little treat for them. (We all went out to lunch at their favorite local Italian place over the weekend, before we went to see Mockingjay, and damn. Brother in law recommended the alfredo, and he was not wrong about it being the best I've ever had. That plus a good Caesar salad and delicious bread and olive oil, and it was a delicious, lovely lunch.)
I'm definitely making a sugar scrub for those who enjoy pampering. I'm thinking a peppermint candy cane scrub, because I really love the look of the white and pink layers. Which is weird, because I don't actually like the color pink. I'm debating whether to use coconut oil or something else. I don't like the smell of coconut, but could deal with it while making everything (if there's even much of a smell, I've never used coconut oil before), but Sister K's husband doesn't like it, either, and if it's too strong, that'll be a problem. Probably the peppermint oil would overpower it, right?
I'll finish up with some sort of sweet treat. Maybe peppermint chocolate fudge (which I've never made) or adorably decorated sugar cookies. (I do fun abstract designs with colored icing. Mostly because I can't do actual designs that look like things. I've tried. Abstract all the way.)
I'm also doing a piece of art for each person. This year, probably water colors, since that's been my medium of choice for a few months now.
What are your favorite homemade gifts? I'm still brainstorming.
Yuletide continues apace. I need to do more source material review before I can finish my actual assignment. The Treat With No End is reaching an end, thankfully. And then the other treats float along behind those two. I hope to get at least five treats written, but we will see what I can manage.
Cutting so it's my family's fault if they spoil themselves. Because money is tight for everyone, we're doing a more homemade theme this year. I really need to finalize the list of things I'm going to make. I was going to do infused vodka, and I still might for a belated gift exchange with friends that will take place in January, but I'm not sure my family will have much use for fruit-infused vodka. (I would have plenty of use for fruit-infused vodka, and plan to make a bunch for myself when local fruit is super cheap at the farmer's market next summer.)
Now I'm considering some sort of infused olive oil for at least one gathering, because most of that group are foodies. I've never done anything like that, though. I also wonder if I could do some sort of easy crusty bread mix for Sister K, because she and her husband love bread and olive oil, and that would be a nice little treat for them. (We all went out to lunch at their favorite local Italian place over the weekend, before we went to see Mockingjay, and damn. Brother in law recommended the alfredo, and he was not wrong about it being the best I've ever had. That plus a good Caesar salad and delicious bread and olive oil, and it was a delicious, lovely lunch.)
I'm definitely making a sugar scrub for those who enjoy pampering. I'm thinking a peppermint candy cane scrub, because I really love the look of the white and pink layers. Which is weird, because I don't actually like the color pink. I'm debating whether to use coconut oil or something else. I don't like the smell of coconut, but could deal with it while making everything (if there's even much of a smell, I've never used coconut oil before), but Sister K's husband doesn't like it, either, and if it's too strong, that'll be a problem. Probably the peppermint oil would overpower it, right?
I'll finish up with some sort of sweet treat. Maybe peppermint chocolate fudge (which I've never made) or adorably decorated sugar cookies. (I do fun abstract designs with colored icing. Mostly because I can't do actual designs that look like things. I've tried. Abstract all the way.)
I'm also doing a piece of art for each person. This year, probably water colors, since that's been my medium of choice for a few months now.
What are your favorite homemade gifts? I'm still brainstorming.
Yuletide continues apace. I need to do more source material review before I can finish my actual assignment. The Treat With No End is reaching an end, thankfully. And then the other treats float along behind those two. I hope to get at least five treats written, but we will see what I can manage.
