Real Christmas Stories Part 1

by admin on September 21, 2011

in christmas traditions

MerryStockings is lucky enough to have a part time blog writer Barbara. Barbara will be working on several neat Christmas stories that come from people’s traditions and unique ways of celebrating. Today’s story, written by Barbara, is about a mother and daughter and a special tradition they share that includes a mini stocking…

A Loving Christmas Tradition

As it had been each year for many Christmases, a neatly folded hand-written note was secreted in the miniature Christmas stocking hanging from the brightly decorated tree. When Helen opened the note, this is what she read:

Dear Mom,
Here it is Christmas once again – my favorite time of year. I say that every year, I know. But it’s true. I know you feel the same way. I keep telling everyone that my love for Christmas is in my genes – from you! One of so many wonderful things you’ve given me.

This year, I have something special for your stocking.

I found this quote and I immediately thought ‘That’s my mom!’ Hope you like it.

“When I stopped seeing my mother with the eyes of a child, I saw the woman who helped me give birth to myself.”

This Christmas, I just wanted to tell you again how much I love you. And while we’re on the subject of children and births, I also wanted to tell you that you’re going to be a grandma! It will be another seven months or so before you can unwrap this particular gift, but how’s that for a really special Christmas present?

Merry Christmas, Mom!

Love,
Jean

For as long as she could remember, Jean and her mother, Helen, had exchanged special Christmas notes. These notes were always found in miniature Christmas stockings that were hung on the Christmas tree. Jean and Helen each had their own small and beautifully hand-decorated stocking that was used year after year. Helen had made both stockings when Jean was just a baby.

She and her mother started the special loving notes to each other when Jean was just six years old.

Merry Christmas to my darling little girl,

When I look at you, I see myself when I was your age. Your eyes are so bright when you look at the tree. I see the lights sparkle in your eyes and it makes me so happy.

I am such a lucky mommy to have you for a daughter. I told Santa this, too, so look for something special under the tree.

Love,
Mommy

Year after year, the stockings hung on the tree and on Christmas Day mother and daughter read the special notes that were always tucked carefully into the stockings. The tradition that Helen started continued until her death. Now Jean has continued the tradition with her daughter Melissa. Jean made a small Christmas stocking especially for Melissa that hangs on the tree. Each year, Melissa and Jean exchange loving notes unique to mother and daughter. Melissa has plans to continue the tradition with the daughter or daughter-in-law she hopes to have some day.

Jean still hangs Helen’s stocking as well. She says it’s her way of keeping Helen a part of Christmas.

Dear Mom,

I miss you so very much. Each Christmas I look at your stocking and wish you were here to read my Christmas wish.

Love you, Mom.

Jean

{ 0 comments }

Recently Bucilla just released five new Stocking Kits. The new kits are available now at our website, MerryStockings.com.

Here are the kits that were just released:

New for 2011 Candy Snowman

New for 2011 Nautical Santa

New for 2011 Santa's Sled

New for 2011 Santa's Secret

New for 2011 Christmas Stars

{ 0 comments }

MerryStockings is ecstatic to be offering our own line of wool Christmas stockings (personalized). In the past we’ve partnered with other manufacturer’s, but in 2011, we’ve created an exclusive line of gorgeous wool Christmas stockings. One of the neat parts of this project is that we hand selected our vendors and kept the project in our portion of the US. For instance, our wool is made in Nebraska and our knitting team in Iowa, and the final personalization details are hand sewn right here in MN. Although that’s great, most importantly, the product itself is second to none. It’s of the highest quality and we have 12 designs to choose from. We hope you’ll take a look and check them out for yourself!

Thanks for stopping by and if you questions about our new line of products, please call our toll-free number and we’d be delighted to help.

MerryStockings

Wool Christmas Stockings: Snowflakes


{ 0 comments }

Secret Santa Stockings

by admin on September 11, 2011

in Secret Santa

No one knows who came up with the idea of “Secret Santa” gift exchanges in the work place but the idea has certainly caught on throughout the U.S. Each Christmas season co-workers draw names to determine who they will be presenting with a funny, touching, or gag gift. Some office workers have taken the idea of the Secret Santa tradition and turned it into a holiday-long affair with the ingenious use of Christmas stockings and great senses of humor.

About two weeks before Christmas, workers place Christmas stockings outside their cubicles, offices, or lockers. Each Christmas stocking has the worker’s name on it to discourage merry pranksters who might have ideas about switching stockings. Over the two week period, workers drop little gifts into each others’ stockings. These gifts are usually funny notes, cartoons clipped from the newspaper, candy, gag items – anything that extends the enjoyment of giving during the Christmas season. The recipients, of course, enjoy the jokes and treats.

Part of the Secret Santa stocking fun is choosing motifs that clearly identify the stocking owners. For example, a plumber found a Christmas stocking shaped like PVC piping with an embroidered Santa wearing a jaunty plumber’s cap. A person known for her love of tropical vacations found a Christmas stocking featuring palm trees and a Santa enjoying balmy breezes in his snowflake patterned swimming trunks.

Secret Santa stockings can spur creativity in gift givers as well. One worker who lives in a state with cold, snowy winters found dropped in his stocking a gift coupon for a car wash – redeemable in spring! Another person with a notorious sweet-tooth received an inexpensive chocolate bon-bon every single day until Christmas. Part of the fun, of course, is that the recipient doesn’t know who is providing the gift. Stealth is important with Secret Santa stockings.

Looking for the perfect Christmas stocking that reflects your personality adds a special dimension to the Christmas holiday. Thinking of little stocking stuffers that make a co-worker laugh out loud or smile with pleasure reminds everyone that Christmas is a time when we need to pay attention to the little things in life that bring us joy and to share that joy with everyone around us.

Thanks for stopping by!
Barbara D.

{ 0 comments }

Roadhouse Munchies

by admin on September 9, 2011

in 2011 Christmas,christmas cookies

ROADHOUSE MUNCHIES

2 C. whole wheat flour 3 eggs
½ C. white flour ¼ C. milk
¼ C. stone ground cornmeal 2 T. margarine, softened
½ C. sunflower seeds ¼ C. molasses

Combine flour, cornmeal and sunflower seeds and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Reserve 1 T. of this mixture in a separate dish for glaze. Make a well in the flour mixture and gradually stir in softened margarine, molasses and eggs until well blended. Divide into 2 balls.

Knead one ball of dough at a time on a floured surface for about 2 – 3 minutes, until dough is no longer sticky. Roll dough to a thickness of ¼” to ½”. Cut with a doggie bone shaped or Christmas-themed cookie cutter and place on a baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, paint reserved egg mixture on each biscuit. Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the biscuits cool in the oven for several hours or overnight.

Store at room temperature in a container with a loose-fitting lid to preserve crunchiness. Munchies can also be frozen.

** Munchies taste really good to humans, too, so maybe the undoubtedly grateful adopted pooch will share with his loving human friends. Ask nicely and remember to say “Merry Christmas!”

Thanks for stopping by,
Barbara D.
MerryStockings.com

{ 0 comments }

Here’s a terrific way to have even more fun spreading holiday cheer among family and friends – a Christmas Treasure Hunt! Each family member or guest gets their own large Christmas stocking and a printed card with their first clue. Usually guests and family members work as a team to figure out the meaning of the clue. The clue will direct them to some object or piece of furniture in the house or apartment where a second clue will be secreted. That clue then directs them to another clue and so on until the final clue location where there is a small stocking-sized gift for each participant. At each clue location, there is usually a candy cane or other small Christmas treat that each treasure hunter can put in his or her stocking. Treasure hunters then all return to the main area where the Christmas tree looks down on them all opening their gifts and enjoying the fun of family and friends.

Some families use the treasure hunt as a way to remind participants of their family roots. For example, clues will feature questions and clues about ancestors. The first clue might point the way to a historic family photo taken long ago or a special heirloom Bible. Other friends and families create clues based on favorite books or music that the participants are likely to know.

Here are some examples of clues that are great for a Christmas Treasure Hunt.

When grandpa smiles, you know it must be Christmas. (This clue leads to another clue hidden behind a framed photograph of grandpa)

This house has a favorite Christmas movie that plays and plays all 12 days. (Clue leads to where a well-known family favorite DVD or VHS movie is stored.)

When Daddy finally puts his feet up after working all day, it’s likely to be here. (Clue leads to Dad’s favorite recliner.)

The Christmas Treasure Hunt brings friends and families together in a shared adventure that is sure to result in lots of merriment. Creative hosts can have treasure hunters chasing everywhere from the basement to the snowman outside. The object is fun and a reminder that Christmas is a shared delight.

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Barbara D.
MerryStockings Blog Writer

{ 0 comments }

I read an article today that I found very encouraging and felt as though it was worth to share a summary of the article and a link to the full article.

A group of Methodist Churches in Indiana completed a toy drive in the month of July. They dubbed the drive, “Christmas in July”. The purpose of the drive was to collect toys, and a few other health related items, and distribute them in very poor part of the world, Guatemala. The toys and other items will be shipped down to Guatemala, the transit time takes six weeks, and then the items will be sorted and distributed to people in Guatemala via an organization call Mission Guatemala. About ten different churches participated in the event.

If you are interested in the full article, it is here: Mission Guatemala

Thanks for stopping by today!

MerryStockings.com

{ 0 comments }

Today I came across a company called eLayaway.com. They offer consumers the ability to buy something and make payments on the product or service over a chosen period of time. Instead of making several large purchases during the Holiday rush, the thought behind the site is to approach the season with a defined budget and most importantly, pay for the gifts in full instead of just slapping them on a credit card. As a merchant, we are considering becoming a vendor of eLayaway to offer our customers and potential customers an additional payment option. From a quick scan of the site, it looks like consumers are charged a 1.9% fee, which is based off of the final price of the product. That fee is actually not bad if the alternative is to put it on a credit card that is being paid in full every month.

Something to think about as you begin planning and preparing for the Holiday season coming up (sooner than later!).

Here is the article I found if you are interested in more details.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/merry-christmas-in-august-from-elayaway-2011-08-17?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Thanks!

MerryStockings.com

{ 0 comments }

MerryStockings works with a lot of newly minted couples that are looking for new Holiday decorations. We often provide personalized Christmas stockings to customers who give them as a gift to new couples. In the spirit of the Holidays, Weddings and Holiday Decorations, we found a December Wedding inspiration board that we really liked. If you are planning a December wedding soon, we hope you enjoy the inspiration board and we also hope you remember us for your Holiday decor needs.

Thanks for stopping!

December Wedding Inspiration


{ 0 comments }

MerryStockings receives a lot of phone calls and emails about older Bucilla Christmas Stockings Kits that are not in production any longer. If someone is trying to match a stocking kit they made a few years back because of a new addition to the family, and they begin “hunting” for that particular kit, often times Bucilla has discontinued them. Bucilla continues to come out with new and cute designs and when they do that, they stop making some kits that are older and/or less popular. No fault of Bucilla of course, but it can be frustrating if you are looking for a particular kit and can’t find it. The good news is that you can find them, most of the time, but the bad news is that they often are a bit expensive. Let me explain…

e-bay is the best place to look for old kits. Sellers on e-Bay snatch up kits and hold them until they go out of production and then they sell them for a higher price because they are now “in demand”. It’s simple supply and demand economics – the less of something the more it costs.

So if you are looking for an older kit, the good news is that you should be able to find it. But the bad news is, it may be a bit more than you are use to paying for kits.

I found this kit, see below, for $39.99 on e-Bay. Last year we carried this kit for $19.99 on our site.

Good luck if you are hunting for an old kit!

Thanks for visitying,
MerryStockings

Ballet Bears Discontinued Kit from bucilla


{ 0 comments }