How it Works:

1. Get an advent countdown calendar. I got ours at our favorite craft store. You can get them on Amazon too. 
2. Choose 24 activities or gifts.
3. I write the activities and gifts on little pieces of paper and place one in each drawer of our countdown calendar. 
4. Starting December 1st and ending on the 24th, have the kids open a drawer every morning and then doing the activity listed sometime throughout the day. Often my kids will open it on the morning and then do it in the afternoon and evening after school. 

My Christmas Advent Countdown Calendar Activity and Gift Ideas: 

1. Set up the children’s nativity set 

2. Make candy cane ornaments with red and white beads and green pipe cleaners. I cut the green pipe cleaners in half. 

3. Fuzzy Christmas socks 

4. Hang up the felt Christmas tree – a tree that the kids can decorate and redecorate as many times as they want. 

5. Bake Christmas cut out cookies and decorate them. Here’s our favorite cutout cookie recipe – Prizewinning Sugar Cookies

6. Sleep under the Christmas tree – this is always a magical night and the kids love it! 

7. Decorate an outdoor tree for the birds with peanuts, apples, and birdseed ornaments. 

8. Make candles – roll them with this kit or hollow out orange halves and pour melted wax into them with wicks.

9. A new kid’s Christmas book. Here’s some of my favorites:

Christmas in the Big Woods

Christmas Farm

Night Tree 

10. Hang candy canes on the tree and everybody gets to enjoy one. 

11. Make green and red paper chains – a classic that the kids never tire of. We hang them along the tops of the windows in the living room and it adds a festive homemade touch. 

12. Set up the Christmas train and watch The Northern Express movie.

13. Make clove oranges. An old fashioned decoration that’s pretty and smells amazing. Just push whole cloves into oranges and make different designs. 

14. Make paper snowflakes – we hang them up along the windows and enjoy them all season long. 

15. Make fudge and watch the movie Eloise at Christmas time. 

16. Make Buckeyes – our absolute favorite Christmas candy! Buckeyes

17. Make homemade play dough. Here’s my favorite recipe. 

Kool-Aid Play Dough  
Ingredients:
1 cup flour.
1 cup water  
1/4 cup salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp cream of tartar
A packet of kool-aid (for color and scent)  
Directions:  
Place all ingredients into a saucepan and stir until well mixed.
Once the mixture is (mostly) clump free heat over medium heat. Stir and don’t stop stirring. After a few minutes it will start to clump up.
Stir, Stir, Stir. Just keep stirring until the Play Dough is formed. It will form one big clump.
Remove from heat and knead by hand. This is my favorite part! It’s so warm and squishy!
Knead until it forms a smooth ball. Store in an airtight container or bag.

18. Make cinnamon applesauce ornaments – they smell amazing! Hang a couple in the car as a christmasy air freshener and tape them to gifts for a simple embellishment.

19. Paint wooden Christmas ornaments. There’s a great selection at your local craft store. 

20. Decorate gingerbread houses 

21. Bake a birthday cake for Jesus 

22. Do a simple Christmas nativity play

23. Bake gingerbread boys and girls and decorate – my recipe 

24. Cut down a real Christmas tree in the woods. 

25. Drive around and look at Christmas lights or go to a drive through Christmas light show 

26. Make eggnog. Here’s my delicious recipe. 

27. Make popcorn and cranberry chains to decorate the Christmas tree. Just string plain popped popcorn (no butter) and fresh cranberries onto a string using a bigger craft needle. 

28. Take cookies to the neighbors. 

29. Make homemade Christmas cards for family and friends 

30. Buy holiday drinks at your favorite coffee shop and walk around downtown when it’s all lit up for Christmas and window shop. 

31. Make homemade marshmallows for hot chocolate. 

32. Paint a wooden Christmas train.

The list could go on and on! Just think of fun Christmas things to do and write them on the daily papers. 

I incorporate fun Christmas parties and events into the calendar as one of the days for example every year our friends host a gingerbread house decorating party. The day that it’s on, it becomes the advent activity for the day. 
I often get a couple new kids Christmas books and make a new book several days on the calendar. 
You can use anything that you buy for the kiddos. Even something as simple as Hershey kisses if you’re exhausted and need a day off. The kids just love the excitement of opening the drawer for the day and candy and other little gifts are always a hit. 

Merry Christmas!
~Rachel Ballinger 🎄🎁🌟

“A lot of living happens in the kitchen.”   ~Rachel 

The post Christmas Advent Countdown Calendar appeared first on My Everyday Ordinary Life.

This smooth and creamy eggnog is my favorite for the holiday season. Cheers! Homemade is even better than store bought. I love making it with eggs from our chickens.

Made with eggs, sugar, milk, and lots of yummy spices, it’s perfect to toast your loved ones with at Christmas and a delicious way to welcome in the new year.  

Ingredients needed to make it:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• pinch of cloves
• 6 egg yolks (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• whipped cream (optional)
• extra ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)

Directions for making it: 

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cream, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Whisk very frequently while bringing the mixture almost to boiling.

1. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine egg yolks and sugar whisking thoroughly.
2. Add about 1/3 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture; whisking thoroughly. Keep adding the hot mixture to the egg mixture; whisking thoroughly between each addition. When most of the milk mixture has been whisked into the egg mixture (about 3/4 of it)  add it back to the saucepan.
3. Cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F; whisking constantly. Use a spoon to reach those tight edges at the base of the pan. It will be slightly thick but will thicken more as it cools.
4. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla. Chill and serve with a light sprinkle of nutmeg.

Cheers! 🥂 

~Rachel Ballinger ☕️💕

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Festive Homemade Eggnog

This smooth and creamy eggnog is the perfect drink to toast your loved ones with as you celebrate the holidays.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Keyword drink, eggnog, eggs, milk

Servings 4 cups

Author Rachel Ballinger

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• pinch of cloves
• 6 egg yolks room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• whipped cream optional
• extra ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cream, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Whisk very frequently while bringing the mixture almost to boiling.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine egg yolks and sugar whisking thoroughly.
• Add about 1/3 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture; whisking thoroughly. Keep adding the hot mixture to the egg mixture; whisking thoroughly between each addition. When most of the milk mixture has been whisked into the egg mixture (about 3/4 of it)  add it back to the saucepan.
• Cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees F; whisking constantly. Use a spoon to reach those tight edges at the base of the pan. It will be slightly thick but will thicken more as it cools.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla. Chill and serve with a light sprinkle of nutmeg.

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These delicious little balls of peanut butter, rice crispy cereal, and chocolate that we call Buckeyes are hands down our most favorite Christmas candy ever! Each year, it’s a family affair mixing them up and shaping all the little balls, and then dipping them in chocolate. 

What you need:

• powdered sugar

• butter, softened – I use salted butter for everything 

• rice crispy cereal

• creamy peanut butter – a 40 oz jar is perfect

• chocolate almond bark, melted

How to make them:

• In a large mixing bowl, mix the first four ingredients together with a large spoon until crumbly.
  
• Form into small balls and place on a parchment paper lined pan. 
• Melt chocolate almond bark in the microwave according to package directions.
• Dip the balls into melted chocolate using two forks.
  
• Let harden and then store in an airtight container.

You just can’t beat the peanut butter and chocolate combo and then adding the crispy rice cereal adds the perfect little crunch to it. So, so good!!! They make excellent gifts but it’s hard to make enough to share. 

Gather the family and make some memories while you make this yummy Christmas candy. 

Merry Christmas! 🎄 

~Rachel Ballinger ☕️💕

”A lot of living happens in the kitchen.”   ~Rachel 

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Buckeyes (the best Christmas candy ever!)

This delicious candy made of peanut butter, rice crispy cereal, and chocolate is absolutely the best Christmas candy. Gather the family and make a batch!

Course Candy, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword candy, chocolate,, Christmas, peanut butter

Servings 12 Dozen

Author Rachel Ballinger

Ingredients

• 2 lb. bag of powdered sugar
• 2 sticks butter softened
• 6 cups rice crispy cereal
• 4 cups creamy peanut butter
• 3-4 lbs. chocolate almond bark melted

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, mix the first four ingredients together with a large spoon until crumbly.
• Form the mixture into small balls using your hands and place them in parchment paper lined baking pans.
• Melt the chocolate almond bark in the microwave according to package directions.
• Dip the balls into the melted chocolate using two forks and place on parchment paper lined baking sheets.
• Let the chocolate harden and then store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

The post Buckeyes (the best Christmas candy ever!) appeared first on My Everyday Ordinary Life.

One of my favorite cookies to bake at Christmastime are these Sally Ann cookies. I think they’re actually my favorite Christmas cookie! They are kind’ve a cross between biscotti and a cookie. Perfect for dipping in a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

You mix up the dough the night before you want to bake it and shape it into loaves and refrigerate it. The next morning just slice and bake. Simple and so yummy! 

What you need: 

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened

• 3 eggs, beaten

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 tsp cinnamon

• 4 1/2 cups flour

• 1 cup pecans, chopped

How to make it: 

Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and beat. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Form into a flat rectangle log on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning slice thin and bake for 10-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven. 

I hope you bake these cookies and enjoy them as much as we do. 
Happy Baking!

~Rachel Ballinger ☕️

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Sally Ann Cookies

These yummy cookies a mix between a cookie and biscotti. With chopped pecans and a slight cinnamon flavor, they are perfect for dipping in your favorite hot drink and a lovely addition to your Christmas cookie tray.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Christmas, Cookie, dessert

Author Rachel Ballinger

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups butter softened
• 3 eggs beaten
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup pecans chopped

Instructions

• Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and beat. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
• Form into a flat rectangle log on a wax paper lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• In the morning slice thin and bake for 10-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

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This cranberry apple pie is the perfect Christmas pie! Filled with all the quintessential flavors and spices, it’s as beautiful to look at as it tastes in your mouth. Apples, cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Mmmm! I look forward to this pie all year and the Christmas season isn’t complete until I’ve had a piece with a cup of hot coffee.

This delicious pie starts with a good pie crust. Here is my pie crust recipe. It’s been handed down to me from my mother who got it from my grandmother. It’s simply the best! 

I use shortening to make this crust recipe and the results are amazing. But you can substitute it for butter or lard. 

Ingredients needed to bake this pie:

• apples
• fresh cranberries 
• orange zest 
• sugar
• cornstarch
• cinnamon
• allspice
• ground cloves 
• ground nutmeg
• butter – I always use salted butter 
• two pie crusts 
• milk and sugar – for the top of the crust 

How to make this delicious pie:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a bowl stir together the apples, cranberries, orange zest, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg and let sit while you prepare the crust.
3. Place one pie crust in bottom of pie pan and spoon the apple mixture into the crust.
4. Dot the filling with the 2 tablespoons butter.
5. Top the pie with the second crust. Cut slits in the crust to allow steam to escape while baking. Crimp edges.
6. Lightly brush top of pie with milk and sprinkle sugar on top.
7. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and then at 375 for 30 minutes or until lightly brown.

I hope y’all enjoy this Christmas pie as much as I do! Of course you can eat this pie anytime of year, not just at Christmastime. 😁

~Rachel Ballinger ☕️🥧

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Cranberry Apple Pie

This cranberry apple pie is the perfect Christmas pie! Full of apple, cranberries, orange zest, and the quintessential warm spices, it’s as wonderful to look at as it tastes in your mouth!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Apple, Christmas, Cranberry, Orange, pie

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 1 Pie

Author Rachel Ballinger

Ingredients

• 3 large apples peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 tbsp orange zest
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 9 inch pie crusts
• Milk and sugar for crust

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In a bowl stir together the apples, cranberries, orange zest, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg and let sit while you prepare the crust.
• Place one pie crust in bottom of pie pan and spoon the apple mixture into the crust.
• Dot the filling with the 2 tablespoons butter.
• Top the pie with the second crust. Cut slits in the crust to allow steam to escape while baking. Crimp edges.
• Lightly brush top of pie with milk and sprinkle sugar on top.
• Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes and then at 375 for 30 minutes or until lightly brown.

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