Tag Archives: season

12 Days of Christmas: Mini Book Beans for Children

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literary-advent-6-edited-1DAY 5 of 12
“At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed,
it fell silent for all of them..”

The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg

1986 Caldecott Medal Winner

A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . . .

 

Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish.
Rated  4.7 on amazon.com

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lowsynhotchocolatedrinkBook Bean: Hot Choc-o-Late!
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Made from scratch with cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate, milk and cream. Yum. OH yeah and with marshmallows of course.

Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me,
as it does for all who truly believe.” 
― Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express
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12 Days of Christmas: Mini Book-Beans for Children

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literary-advent-6-edited-1DAY 3 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 Grinch 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.comed6ab3f427c0e107b9dcb69aa9a8aeab-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!

 

Book Bean: Merry Berry Matcha Freeze
0111-editedAs 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!


d095ad4bea6df8d433049a8bc12cb70d“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

12 Days of Christmas: Mini Book-Beans for Children

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literary-advent-6-edited-1DAY 2 of 12:
Candy Cane Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses

The Legend of the Candy Cane
by Lori Walburg & Richard Cowdrey

This charming and pious story about the origins of the candy cane is definitely a change of pace.
A stranger arrives in town one dreary November and begins hammering and sawing away at his newly rented storefront.


When a small girl offers her help, she’s in for a childhood fantasy-come-true, as it turns out all the shelves and counters are being built for a candy shop. After offering young Lucy gumdrops and lollipops, Mr. Sonneman launches into the history of the candy cane.

Rated 4.4 on amazon.com
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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. d2bbd5ab8d46516ae7d69e94998c9279-edited
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.

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WISO: Let It Snow

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This year I decided to stray from a few of my favorite Christmas reads and read some new books. I’ve had quite a number of them piling up in my tbr list and new ones pop up every year.


Here’s What I’ve Been Sipping on:

Let it Snow

Last week I stumbled across this book; a compilation of 3 short intertwined stories written by 3 popular author’s. The stories were well written and I liked how the stories intertwined. However, it was not necessarily my style book; it was too focused on teenage romance for my taste. Contemporary fiction (especially romance) is probably my least favorite genre, but still it was entertaining enough, and a quick read.

Rated 4.4 on amazon.com

“I may have been a complete lunatic, but I was a complete lunatic
with manners.”
0e3f21ce-4da6-4d14-813a-31d56f918c51~Maureen Johnson

Book Bean: Peppermint Mocha – No Whip
One of my two go to favorite drinks this time of year


I am now reading :
The Christmas Sweater
by Glenn Beck.

I started reading a sample and decide to keep with it. So far it is very well written and has a very intriguing beginning. I am looking forward  to seeing how it unfolds.

“You can either complain about how hard your life is, or
you can realize that only you are responsible for it.”
~Glenn Beck

make-starbucks-eggnog-latte_coffee-step-10Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

Book Bean: Eggnog Latte/Cocoa – Extra spice 😉
The second of my holiday favorites, been drinking
a lot of these!


Click here for an update on The Christmas Sweater

What have you been sipping on?

12 Days of Christmas: Mini Book-Beans for Children

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literary-advent-6-edited-1Day 1 of 12:
“Darkness was cheap, and Scrooge liked it.”

A Christmas Carol
By  Charles Dickens
Tiny Tim, Ghosts, and of course the infamous Scrooge! This fantastic and endearing Christmas classic is a must read for children and adults. It is a great book for older children to read or for adults to read aloud by the fire with family. There are also a few amazing audible version that make great background ambiance.

Rated 4.7 on amazon.com

Cozy up with this book and a make sure to have a warm drink
to keep out the ghostly chills.

12 drinks of Christmas!

unnamedBook Bean: Cinnamon Cocoa Crunch
Something with a little bite in the spirit of scrooge:
In a large pot add 1 cup milk per person. Once the milk is warm whisk in 1 tsp dutch cocoa powder to 2 tsps of sugar (I use bakers sugar or confection sugar so it mixes smooth) PER cup of milk! Bring to a low simmer.  Whisk in 1/4 tsp of cinnamon per cup of milk, or to taste. Add in 1 Tbls of cream/half n’half per cup. Top with whip and sprinkle with red hots.

a_christmas_carol.jpeg“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Holiday Book Recommendations

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images-2-editedWith December in full swing I am thinking again of what books I would like to read for the Christmas and winter season. This is a revisit to last years blog and contains a list of books that could get anyone through the next few months.

Here are few Holiday book recommendations:
(Click pictures or links for more info.)

This seems like a typical cheesy but delightful Christmas story, something just right to relax with. I believe it might be a bit romancy,
which is not usually my cup of tea, but now and then it’s ok.

Starry Night: A Christmas Novel
Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

 

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Book Bean: Gingerbread Mocha
The bitter sweetness of gingerbread
melts so well with the milk chocolate goodness.


Agatha Christie is such a great author so I have no doubt that I am going to be thrilled with this book.

 

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

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Book Bean: Peppermint Latte or if your daring try a Peppermint Chai, it’s goodness is a mystery 😉


Sometimes I like to mix it up and replace Christmas music with an old fashion Christmas story via audible. This year I think I’d like to try this out.

The Christmas List: A Novel
Rated 4.4 on amazon.com

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Book Bean: For something easy while on the go brew up some black tea and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg

 


I’d like to keep the warm and fuzzy Holiday spirit burning beyond Christmas. So, I think I’ll be reading this book for New Years. It seems like just the right kind of quaint story I adore.

 

Winter Solstice
Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

 

eggnogBook Bean:  Spiced Eggnog Steamer
Eggnog and milk steamed or heated and frothed. Sprinkle with cocoa and add a cinnamon stick.
Nothing keeps up the Holiday cheer like this sweet treat!


The best I save for last!
I am really excited for this book. I don’t know why I had never heard of it before, but if J.R.R. Tolkien wrote it I’m sure it is a worthy tale.

Letters From Father Christmas
Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

 

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Book Bean: Candy Cane Cocoa
Homemade cocoa in mugs with whip cream and candy canes for stir sticks (this is a tradition my family.) Make up a batch and share this experience with some kiddos.

Fun Fact: The song “Silver Bells” was Originally titled Tinkle Bell…’snicker’

If you’ve read any of these please share yours!
mmm Reading Treats