san diego christmas designer

9 Days Until Christmas: Family

Posted on by kerrimorrison

Happy Crazy Holiday, right? What a chore things can be at this time of year. Obligations and time tables evaporating before our eyes. Christmas parties, family trips and too many sweets. Kids in school and out of school, kids coming home or not. Airport deliveries and anxiously awaiting long distance plans.

It was fun to see the excitement in my daughters eyes for her trip abroad plans last night. We did “google hangouts” while she packed for the colder climate and discussed the activities and what she would need for her visit to Germany. The purple sweater or burnt orange cashmere? Good walking shoes; which boots? A formal dress if they go out for an elegant evening?  But wait, need to add a wrap and dressy shoes for that.

I will not get to spend this holiday with her, it is an international trip  she has planned to visit her best friend, Theresa, stationed in Germany. Perhaps it will also be a trip in history if she has the time to tour areas where her ancestors came from. We emailed cousin Bill for that information last night. The German culture is so much a part of Christmas holiday traditions here in the United States.  I am anxious for her to see her friend and enjoy a different culture during this holiday season!

For me? I have my friend, Renee, that will make the journey from Denver. We plan to catch up on the year and take in the holidays. Perhaps a bike ride on the coast. Old friends are the best. I have carefully planned surprises for her to unwrap under the tree. I have also invited some new friends for Christmas eve that have no place to go or plans for the holiday, blending the old and the new. We all feel blessed to have each other.

So I will have my new extended family here in the lovely city of San Diego and this will be the very first Christmas without my only child. Thoughts of past Christmas’s will fill my heart and I will miss her. I have great anticipation of her joy to grow and learn and be on that special journey and wonderment that life has to offer for her holiday this year. And to spend it with her special friend.

Cheers to our families, our travels and memories both past, present and future. In the honor of tradition, I am dusting off the old DVD I watch every year, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. A quick pause, I draw it close to my heart. Memories. I have mixed emotions this Christmas, but overall I know that, yes, it truly is a wonderful life.

Todays action is to consider inviting someone to join you in celebration at Christmas that may not have family or plans. It is in the giving that we truly receive.

 

10 Days until Christmas: Decorating YOU

Posted on by kerrimorrison

I own 5 pairs of knee high Christmas stockings, several hats, antlers and dawn the most awesome Christmas tree pin. I Bring the Christmas merriment everywhere I go with “Christmas fashion”. You will find people stopping me in stores for a chuckle or they may want to know where I bought my pin. I immediately look directly into their eyes and say two great words, “Merry Christmas!” More smiles and joy.

One weekend day while riding with my cyclist friends I was wearing my red and green tutu for our December ride. A lady rolled down her window and exclaimed, “Now you have made my entire day, that is the best ever. Merry Christmas.” If you are traveling on the weekends on Hwy 101, you may see me streaming through Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. Be sure and roll down your window so that I can wish you a Merry Christmas. Splash some holiday cheer on your person and rejoice in the season. Let people know you believe in the miracle of giving even if it is just a smile or greeting. You may just make someones day!

Today look a stranger in the eyes and say Merry Christmas. Share in the love of one human being to another that there is kindness and caring in this simple act of acknowledgement.

11 Days until Christmas: St. Nicholas the Story

Posted on by kerrimorrison

I was enjoying taking the word Christmas and using the letters for the true meaning of Christmas this morning. Since I often times research on the internet, I found that the letter S stood for a great Saint.

As we struggle for the true meaning of this special time of the year, I wanted to share some notes on St. Nicholas. As children, Santa Claus was that special person that really cared for us and he alone remembered us at Christmastime. It warmed my heart last night to see the kids at a grand display of a “Christmas House” . What a spectacular event and what these people do in self giving to the community. Tiny voices would say, “Oh, look at Santa Claus” and the joy in their voices could be remembered not so long ago in my own memory.

S stands for St. Nicholas, the fourth century bishop of Myra, a Christian whose story — embellished by years of telling — nevertheless exemplifies Christian faithfulness and charity. Christmas should remind us of the faithfulness of God, without which we have no hope of redemption through His greatest gift, His Son (John 3:16). Little historical knowledge is available concerning St. Nicholas, commonly called by his German/English equivalent, Santa Claus. But he is known for kindness to children in need, and for his commitment to Christ through persecution and martyrdom. Many traditions associated with Santa Claus are objectionable — especially that he is all-knowing or able to be present everywhere. However, the themes of faithfulness and charity are biblical and honor Jesus Christ.

So in the spirit of the holiday, find a child in need and leave a special gift for them so that they can also relish the same joy that St. Nicholas has remembered.

 

12 Days until Christmas: The meaning of the 12 Days

Posted on by kerrimorrison

As the rain in southern California is coming down in buckets, I ponder the 12 days until Christmas. Julie and I have decided to cardio shop since walking Torrey Pines is not an option.  I’ve decided to play the 12 Days of Christmas-Chirstmas Carol.

What a fun and very entertaining song.  I’m wondering what to do with all those birds running around my house: geese, a partridge, doves, hens, swans, and the calling birds are really loud!!! The ladies dancing just showed up with 5 golden rings, and the lords leaping are really too much for my small place.  The police are knocking at my door after the pipers and drummers arrived. There are feathers everywhere, and I may be spending the holiday in a tiny cell. Okay, so I had a little fun this morning! Some guy actually came up with the 12 days of Christmas cocktails, I just can’t go there.

The 12 Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day and last until the evening of the 5th January – also known as Twelfth Night. The 12 Days have been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages and were a time of celebration.

The 12 Days each traditionally celebrate a feast day for a saint and/or have different celebrations:

Day 1 (25th December): Christmas Day – celebrating the Birth of Jesus
Day 2 (26th December also known as Boxing Day): St Stephen’s Day. He was the first Christian martyr (someone who dies for their faith). It’s also the day when the Christmas Carol ‘Good King Wenceslas’ takes place.
Day 3 (27th December): St John the Apostle (One of Jesus’s Disciples and friends)
Day 4 (28th December): The Feast of the Holy Innocents – when people remember the baby boys which King Herod killed when he was trying to find and kill the Baby Jesus.
Day 5 (29th December): St Thomas Becket. He was Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century and was murdered on 29th December 1170 for challenging the King’s authority over Church.
Day 6 (30th December): St Egwin of Worcester.
Day 7 (31st December): New Years Eve (known as Hogmanay in Scotland). Pope Sylvester I is traditionally celebrated on this day. He was one of the earliest popes (in the 4th Century). In many central and eastern European countries (including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Slovenia) New Years Eve is still sometimes called ‘Silvester’. In the UK, New Years Eve was a traditional day for ‘games’ and sporting competitions. Archery was a very popular sport and during the middle ages it was the law that it had to be practised by all men between ages 17-60 on Sunday after Church! This was so the King had lots of very good archers ready in case he need to go to war!
Day 8 (1st January): 1st January – Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Day 9 (2nd January): St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, two important 4th century Christians.
Day 10 (3rd January): Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. This remembers when Jesus was officially ‘named’ in the Jewish Temple. It’s celebrated by different churches on a wide number of different dates!
Day 11 (4th January): St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the past it also celebrated the feast of Saint Simon Stylites (who lives on a small platform on the top of a pillar for 37 years!).
Day 12 (5th January also known as Epiphany Eve): St. John Neumann who was the first Bishop in American. He lived in the 19th century.

13 Days until Christmas: The Beauty and Meaning of Candles

Posted on by kerrimorrison

Light up my life, the beauty and the magic of the season is so incredible with candles. It was a game at my home for kids to light the candles before a Christmas party because finding them all was a task and they never found them all!  A fun safe way to use candles is in votive cups, mason jars in sand, vases and tins. Grab a lighter and get ready to enjoy this romantic and very Christmas “decoration”. Of course a bit of history on the use of candles at Christmas is fun to share.

The lighting of candles at Christmas originated far back in time when it was part of early sun worship: like bonfires, candles were lit in the depths of winter in an attempt to magically strengthen the weakened sun.

The Church tried to stamp this ancient custom out, but, instead it invested the lighting of the candles with a new meaning. Candles were lit so it is said to symbolise the divine light that was believed to illuminate the world. Another tradition is that candles were meant to recall the lights people lit in their windows at the time of Jesus Christ’s birth, so as to let Mary and Joseph know that they would be welcome in their homes.

Another association of the lighting of candles was the period in Irish history when the Catholic religion was banned. A Catholic family would signal when it was safe for a priest to come in their home to celebrate Mass by placing a lighted candle in the window. It is in this way Christmas candles are a silent tribute to those people of all faiths, who, have faced persecution and who have remained loyal to their beliefs.

Today, let us celebrate the freedom to share our beliefs and the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Amen.

14 Days until Christmas: The History of the Christmas Tree

Posted on by kerrimorrison

I am intrigued by the history of so many traditions. It was fun to note that Germany, my ancestors, were the influence of decoration and the use of the Christmas tree. The history has many more interesting facts, but the actual decorations are as follows.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.

The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.

Todays action is to create waves of positive influence today. Our Pacific Coastal waves will be at an all time high this weekend, a truly beautiful experience. Go make waves!

15 Days until Christmas: And the Stockings were hung by the Chimney

Posted on by kerrimorrison

With a daughter recently engaged, I wonder if Santa will leave me coins? This stocking is for my daughter!!

Legend says that this is how the Christmas stocking was started:

Very long ago, there lived a poor man and his three very beautiful daughters. He had no money to get his daughters married, and he was worried what would happen to them after his death. He thought they would become prostitutes. Saint Nicholas was passing through when he heard the villagers talking about the girls. St. Nicholas wanted to help, but knew that the old man wouldn’t accept charity. He decided to help in secret. After dark he threw three bags of gold through an open window, one landed in a stocking. When the girls and their father woke up the next morning they found the bags of gold and were, of course, overjoyed. The girls were able to get married and live happily ever after. Other versions of the story say that Saint Nicholas threw the 3 bags of gold directly into the stockings which were hung by the fireplace to dry.

Funny how traditions are started and stories are told. There were 4 of us girls in the family. I bet my dad rushed to put the stockings up every year for us. No wonder it was his favorite holiday. That and the fact that my twin and me were born on Christmas eve.

Todays Christmas idea is to forgive someone. You will lift your burden of resentment and fill your heart with love. Say a little prayer for that person while you are at it. Forgive and pray.

16 Days until Christmas: Embellishing food for the Holidays

Posted on by kerrimorrison

There are these amazing molds available from Nordic Ware that can be either ordered online or purchased in many kitchen or department stores. Nordic Ware is made in the United States. Some molds are easier to use than others. My favorites are the cake molds that stand on their own and don’t require a lot of decoration. Where I may have a creative side, my craft bearing genes are minimal, so I let the mold do the work. For the Village houses, I used nature to decorate and embellished with ribbon. I did make the snowman mold one year, but they are put together with icing and can be tricky. They are pretty amazing and impressive.

There are some tricks and tips to baking using these molds. Spray Pam on each mold then dust with flour. Taking care to cover every section of the mold is important as they are so detailed that the cake requires extra caution and this prep is key.  Once baked, let the cake also rest and cool down. Flip them over on wax paper. I then use a spatula to move them to the platter I want to use for display. Sprinkling the top of these houses with “snow” powdered sugar is easy and creates a feeling of the holidays. I like to use an old-fashioned metal salt shaker to put my powdered sugar in.  It sprinkles the “snow” more evenly. Now you have a snow village of cakes for your guests. These won first place at a bake competition  Me and my friend Paulina had the best time creating these. The recipe was an incredible buttercream cake (her mom’s recipe).

To display, I embellish by starting with a polished silver tray. Place the houses on the tray like a village then sprinkle with powdered sugar. Add in fresh magnolia leaves and branches of holly. Tie bright ribbon to the handles of the tray. My ribbon was red polkadots, mixed with red,green and white stripe ribbon, a whimsy choice.  Easy, yummy and beautiful!

Here is a website to order:

https://www.nordicware.com/store/product_detail/gingerbread-house-duet-pan#.VIW3NYctv7U

Today, take time to invite an old friend over for coffee or out for coffee. Maybe add a fresh baked treat like this to the equation to make it special, or have several neighbors over.

17 Days Until Christmas: The Christmas Wreath

Posted on by kerrimorrison

Wreaths are such a beautiful display of Christmas.The wreath has significant meaning for the season. It’s circular shape represents eternity, for it has no beginning and no end. From a christian religious perspective, it represents an unending circle of life. The evergreen, most frequently used in making wreathes, symbolizes growth and everlasting life.

Although traditionally most wreaths are hung at the front door, using them in windows is also a beautiful display. Fresh are always fabulous, but many warmer climates almost require artificial. When buying fresh, soak them in a tub for a day to absorb water for longer lasting wreaths. Spritzing them with water daily will also help.

As part of the home decor, place them on the inside windows. I have my favorites and decorate them to the theme of the room. If the location is too far from an electrical plug to light, add battery operated ones to illuminate this special symbol of the season.

Today do something thoughtful for someone. It is in the giving of ones self that is the truest of gifts.

 

18 Days until Christmas: The Life Size Santa

Posted on by kerrimorrison

It is always fun to create the impossible, but one year I found a 3D Santa head life-size. I had always wanted a life-size Santa, who wouldn’t?  So I pulled out an old cape pattern and the sewing machine and created my very own Santa.. Then I sold a few.  No project is far from sight!

There is a fun story to tell about this Santa.  One summer night in Chicago our neighbor, Phyllis  from Canada was watching our house while we were on vacation.  Apparently the alarm sounded, the policeman arrived and Phyllis escorted our local’s finest to our home. After checking the house, Phyllis flipped on the lights to the stairs to go to the basement. As she followed him, he suddenly stopped and drew his gun.  Panicked, she glanced to see the intruder and found good old St. Nick staring down the police officer.  Phyllis had to do her best not to snicker.  It was the year Santa almost got blown away. We still laugh about the police with sweat dripping down his face after his confrontation with Santa.

Today tell 10 people you don’t know “Merry Christmas”. Oh the smiles you will have and the joy you spread immense.  Cheers!