12th Day of Christmas: The Grinch

Posted on December 25, 2018 by Abbie Lu

DAY 12 of 12
“Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot . . .
but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did NOT!”

How The Crinch Stole Christmas
by Dr. Seuss

This heartwarming story about the effects of the Christmas spirit will grow even the coldest and smallest of hearts. Like mistletoe, candy canes, and caroling, the Grinch is a mainstay of the holidays.

Rated 4.7 on amazon.com ed6ab3f427c0e107b9dcb69aa9a8aeab-edited

The ultimate Dr. Seuss Christmas classic – no holiday season is complete without the Grinch, Max, Cindy-Lou, and all the residents of Who-ville!

12 Drinks of Christmas:

Book Bean: Merry Berry Matcha Freeze
0111-edited As cold as the Grinch and just as green too!
In a blender add 2 scoops vanilla bean
ice-cream, Matcha powder to taste, one scoop
(or more to taste) of canned cranberry (not jellied, frozen ahead of time if possible.) Blend till desired texture. Garnish with real cranberries and enjoy!

“Then the Grinch thought of something
he hadn’t before!
What if Christmas, he thought,
doesn’t come from a store.
What if Christmas…perhaps…
means a little bit more!”
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Ninth Day of Christmas: Chicken Soup for the Soul

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Abbie Lu

The 12 Book-Days of Christmas – Mini Beans to Fill you with Cheer! literary-advent-6-edited-1 Day 9 of 12:

“The dynamics that are required to make any relationship work:
Just keep putting your love out there.”

Everyone loves Christmas and the holiday season. We love reuniting scattered family members, watching the wonder in the eyes of a child, and seeing the joy on the face of a gift giver. The rituals of the holiday season give a rhythm to the years and create a foundation for our family lives. We love the chance to gather with our communities at church, at school, and even at the mall, to share the special spirit of the season, brightening those long winter days.

Christmas is a magical time of year — a time of family, friends, and traditions. Readers will revel in the 101 holiday stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic that spread the special joy, wonder, and blessings of the season with its tales of finding the perfect Christmas trees, being with family, seeing the awe in a child’s eyes, and enjoying the magic of the season

Rated 4.6@amazon.com

12 Drinks of Christmas:

Gotta keep it simple on this one of course

Book Bean: Cuppa Chicken Noodle Soup

Here is a recipe for some amazing homemade Chicken soup, make a pot and savor a mug full while enjoying these amazing heartwarming stories.
https://the-ultimate-chicken-noodle-soup

“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.”

Eighth Day of Christmas: Hiddensee

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Abbie Lu

The 12 Book-Days of Christmas – Mini Beans to Fill you with Cheer!
Day 8 of 12:

“Luck and grace: an unmatching pair of boots with which to address
a long dusty road.”

For number 8 In the spirit of the new movie, I thought I would stray a little and try a new book, a twist on a classic:

Hiddensee
by Gregory Maguire
From the author of the beloved #1 New York Times bestseller Wicked, the magical story of a toymaker, a nutcracker, and a legend remade…

Gregory Maguire returns with an inventive novel inspired by a timeless holiday legend, intertwining the story of the famous Nutcracker with the life of the mysterious toy maker named Drosselmeier who carves him.

Rated: 3.8 on amazon.com

“Those who sit in the house of grief will someday sit in the garden.”
~Gregory Maguire, Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker

12 Drinks of Christmas:

Book Bean: HazelNogin Latte

A yummy frothy latte with spiced eggnog and hazelnut delights! Make a latte as usual but use half eggnog mixed in with milk of choice. stir in hazelnut sauce to taste. Sprinkle with nutmeg! You can make this a hot cocoa or mocha by using hazelnut chocolate tempered instead of or in addition to espresso. Get Crackin!

And here is something a little more simple and classic:

The Nutcracker
by Susan Jeffers
New York Times bestselling artist and Caldecott Honor winner Susan Jeffers has created a Nutcracker as only she can—with lavish illustrations, magnificent detail, and enchanting holiday scenes on every page. This is The Nutcracker as you’ve never seen it before!

Rated 4.6 on amazon.com

Behold the frightful Mouse King, the elegant Sugar Plum fairies, and the entire Land of Sweets in this dazzling, gorgeously illustrated holiday classic.

Six Day of Christmas: The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Abbie Lu

The 12 Book-Days of Christmas – Mini Beans to Fill you with Cheer!
Day 6 of 12:

“Always winter but never Christmas.”

The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe

I hope you are not sick of me mentioning this book yet. How could I not at Christmas time! This is one of my favorite books to read in general, but I especially love to read it at Christmas. It is a wonderful winterland story, that all ages will enjoy. I think it is a great book to read aloud in a group.

Rated: on amazon.com

“And Lucy felt running through her that deep shiver of gladness which you only get if you are being solemn and still.
“And now,” said Father Christmas, “for your presents.”

12 drinks of Christmas!

Book Bean: Gingerbread Steamer

Add hot milk and crushed gingerbread crumbs to blender, blend until frothy. Sprinkle with nutmeg and/or cinnamon.

“I’ve come at last,” said he. “She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening.” ~Father Christmas

Fifth Day of Christmas: Velveteen Rabbit

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Abbie Lu

The 12 Book-Days of Christmas – Mini Beans to Fill you with Cheer!

DAY 5 of 12
“Real isn’t how you are made… It’s a thing that happens to you.”

The Velveteen Rabbit
Margery Williams

This 1922 classic is getting a makeover for the holiday season with a beautiful new festive cover for Christmastime. This edition illustrated by picture book great Don Daily still tells the precious story of the little rabbit stuffed in a stocking as a present and his love for a boy.

Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

the_velveteen_rabbit_shared_piece_1 I adore this book! The quality of storytelling and charming characters captivate and move my spirit. The best part of the books is the parallel meaning in-between the lines. If you’ve read it, really read it, you know and appreciate what it is. This is a book everyone should have a chance to enjoy, both as a child and as an adult.

“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept…”

Book Bean: Velvety Eggnog Mocha
Your basic mocha but made with 1/3 parts eggnog 2/3 part milk (or to taste if like it extra sweet.) I also only use about half the amount of normal chocolate. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

“…Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off,
and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby.
But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
~Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

Fourth Day of Christmas: Miracle on 34th Street

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Abbie Lu

The 12 Book-Days of Christmas – Mini Beans to Fill you with Cheer!DAY 4 of 12

“Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.” …

Miracle on 34th Street
by Valentine Davies
You have probably all seen the movie, but it does not compare to the book (as usual.) I like the movie and actually the book is a nice extension of it. I was fortunate enough to have read it after the movie, which I think helps. It is a delightful book. The character of Kris Kringle is so enjoyable and jolly, you can’t help but love it. The story is wholesome and teaches us so many important lessons. If you have not read it, I urge you to do so, I think you will be happy you did.

Rated: 4.4 on amazon.com

“Well, this is the Imagination. And once you get there you can do almost anything you want.”

12 Drinks of Christmas:

Book Bean: Candy Cane Cream
In a sauce pan heat up milk and vanilla extract. Add white chocolate and candy cane pieces (or candy cane Hershey kisses work marvelously.) Whisk together until smooth.
Add mixture to blender and blend until frothy. Add in a dollop of whip and blend (you can also whip up your own whip cream which is double delicious.) Serve with a candy cane to swirl in extra yum.

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to,” he replied. “And you’ve just got too much common sense.”
~Valentine Davies, Miracle on 34th Street