Gift Giving Season Is My Favorie

 Welcome back! 

Read to the end to find the yummiest recipe you'll ever make!

We are sitting between Christmas and New Year's and as I reflect on the last few years I'm feeling overwhelming joy about this gift-giving season. I knew the gifts would be a hit this year for the kids and especially for Hubby. But I have to rewind so you get the full effect of how excited I was to give Hubby gifts this year.

Last year I had no idea what to get Hubby for Christmas. He kept teasing that he would be happy with a box of crayons. Then, just before the holidays, Hubby got a new computer with a touch screen. It's a super cool computer that can fold backwards into a tablet and he was so excited he could use it for digital art! Inspiration! I'll get him a stylus. So I did my research, quadruple checked that it would be compatible with his computer, and spent the money. I was so excited for him to open it and get back into drawing like he's been wanting to.

I figured I'd play along with his "happy with a box of crayons" and get him a cheap box of crayons and some cute crayon styluses along with his fancy stylus. Fast forward to Christmas day and he's opening his gifts. He laughs at the box of crayons and crayon styluses. And now the big gift. The one I worked so hard on and spent a good amount of money on. He's so excited and opens it up!

It doesn't work with his computer.

I cried.

We returned it.

I've been sad about it for a whole year.

Now it's the holiday season again and I'm at a loss. Feeling sad that my gift last year was a flop when he had gotten me something that got me teary-eyed! NO, I'm going to find him the perfect gifts! We made some wish lists and his wishes were all very pricey - Lego sets that were hundreds of dollars, shoes that may or may not ship in time, models that would break my bank.

Then I remembered there was a thing he has been wanting for a very long time but never justified the money for. A wood burning kit! So I got some little wooden decorations for him to burn and the kit. Then I was out with one of the kids and saw one of the Lego sets on his wish list was on sale! I snatched it up so quick.

Fast forward to Christmas morning and I'm more excited than the kids, getting up early and pacing around. These kids can't wake up soon enough for me! I have some nice hot coffee. Hubby gets up and we finish preparing our slow cooker soup that we started the night before. We sit around and chat. And I can't wait any longer. I wake up the kids.

Each person was so excited to open their gift and I was overjoyed seeing how excited they were with what we had gotten for them! I finally gave hubby the Lego set. Of course he's excited! He's a little confused when I give him the wooden ornaments but he's grateful. "It'll make more sense soon," I tell him. It's finally his turn to open a gift again. His eyes lit up when he saw the kit! It felt so good to give him something he's been wanting for a long time. It was the first thing he did when everyone had finished opening gifts. I'm so excited to see what he creates with it and encourage him to use his artistic skills that have been put on the back-burner to raise a family.

But guess what. Hubby made me cry again this year with his gift to me. I thought I was cool for giving him something he's wanted for a few years. But I've been wanting something for probably about 20 years now. I have wanted a Holiday Collector's Barbie since I was maybe 8 years old.

Hubby got me a Holiday Barbie.

I cried.

Anyway. It was a really good Christmas, finished off with visiting both sides of the family. I am feeling so very happy and blessed as this year comes to a close.

Happy Holidays, friends and I wish you success, love, and peace in the year to come!

XOXO,

Steph J.

Better, not perfect.

SOUP RECIPE BELOW!

The Best Slowcooker Soup You'll Ever Have!

We always make a double recipe because we can't get enough. Here's the single recipe:

4 cups russet potatoes, chopped

3/4 cup yellow onion, chopped

4 cups chicken broth

Salt and pepper to taste

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4 Tbsp butter

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup sour cream

Put potatoes, onion, broth, salt and pepper in a slow cooker for 4 hours on high (or 6+ hours on low - we like to leave it over night). 

Near the end of your cook time, start the second part of your soup: In a medium saucepan, melt butter and incorporate the flour to make a roux (paste). Whisk in the heavy cream and sour cream. Add it to the slow cooker and cook on low for 30 more minutes. Top with cheese, creole, or any other toppings that bring you joy.

This soup is a great base for experimenting - we've added hot peppers, corn and chicken, and a variety of changes and it's always so yummy! Even better, it's more thick and tasty the next day when it's reheated. Give it a try and let me know how you like it in the comments and tell me what changes you want to try out!