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When my girls were tiny toddlers, I started sharing my holiday baking tradition with them. Fast forward 17 years. Baking cookies is still their favorite thing to do during the holiday season. It’s the one thing that has to happen no matter how crazy life gets.
Over the years the kids have grown taller and older but nothing has changed about our baking tradition. Whenever we bake, the kitchen is a huge mess. Flour is everywhere as are chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles. Christmas songs (but even ABBA and Celine Dion) blast through the small speakers, and spatulas become our microphones. Quite the scene, let me tell you. Better than any reality show.
We are usually in our pajama pants and by the time we finish, our tummies are full of sugar, our hearts full of joy. Dinner doesn’t happen that day and clean up takes several hours. I love all of it. I wish I could capture it in a bottle and drink or smell from it when I feel down.The girls are grown now (boy is a preteen) but the baking continues. Nothing can stop our tradition – not even divorce, out-of-state move, or a tight budget.The one thing that has changed is that now my girls are old enough to share a cup of coffee with me. There is something so peaceful about sitting on the couch with them, drinking coffee, eating cookies and chatting about life. A cup of coffee with home-baked goodies and people I love – priceless.
And because my girls enjoy coffee so much I decided to give each a painted mug with a bag of coffee for Christmas. I think they’ll be very happy with this gift. Ask any college student for their top gift wishes – Coffee is usually one of the things they ask for.
I hope the mugs will remind them of our cozy time on the couch during the holiday season. A painted mug is easy to make. All you need for this DIY gift is a sharpie or glass paint marker and an inexpensive mug. After you draw your design, allow the mug to air cure approximately 8 hours, then bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes in non-preheated oven. Allow mug to cool with oven door open. Now the mug is dishwasher safe.
At Kroger I found great coffee to go with the mugs.I can’t wait to share it with the girls when they come home for the holiday
What are your family holiday traditions? Do you enjoy a good cup of coffee as much as we do? xo Sabine
Cristi Comes
December 8, 2015I love the idea of bottling up those moments for when we’re feeling down. All of your photos and memories are just precious. I hope your daughters love their Starbucks and mug gifts. They’re really cute. #client
sabines
December 8, 2015Thanks, Cristi. So sweet of you.
alaya
December 11, 2015Wow! I love those mugs! and the memories are precious!
sabines
December 11, 2015Thanks for the sweet comment. I really appreciate it!