This Week in My Haven: No. 13
This week in my haven has been full of holiday preparations! This was the last week of school before winter break starts, and there seemed to be the usual level of anticipation for the holiday. There has been box after box delivered to our door with gifts for us and for others. There has also been lots of goodie-making and goodie-receiving. I thought the holidays might feel more subdued this year with all our COVID precautions, but I am beginning to think I was wrong. I don’t mind all the hustle and bustle, especially because it brings out so much unbridled, child-like joy in Joanna, but I do always look forward to the quieter week after Christmas too.
Shop announcements:
I am working hard on getting ready for 2021 and adding a whole slate of new items in the new year!
What I’m thinking about: Staying in the present moment. I am such a planner, and that usually serves me really well, but it can also make it hard for me to enjoy what I’m currently working on if I get too fixated on planning the next thing. My hands might be working on sewing a placemat, but my mind might be busy with one of a dozen other thoughts. This can lead to me feeling worried and anxious about getting everything done. I know that thinking ten steps ahead isn’t helping me actually get anything more done, and it’s taking the enjoyment away from the thing I’m working on in that moment. So I’ve been thinking about how I might dedicate more time for planning so that my mind can stay more focused on that task I have in front of me and enjoy it more.
What I’m making: This week has been full of personal sewing projects. Here’s a little list:
Sleepover pajama top for Joanna (She absolutely loves this pj set and I’m so glad!)
Gift sets for my nephew and niece (I’ll show you more after the holidays because it is the inspiration for some new items that will be added to the Haven Handmade shop.)
New cloth face masks (I thought we each needed a Christmas-themed mask, and Peter was asking for a new one to replace ones that have worn out.)
A Hopscotch dress as a Christmas present for Joanna in this adorable printed jersey. I think she’s going to love it!
Joanna loves her new jammies!
What I’m cooking: My family is doing an outdoor Christmas gathering this weekend, so I decided to make homemade s’mores fixings to bring along. My family loves making s’mores with peanut butter cups instead of the usual milk chocolate bars, so I started by making a batch of these. Next up were the marshmallows, so I made up this recipe. Half of them I left vanilla flavored, and then I added peppermint extract and crushed candy canes to the second half for a seasonal twist. Finally, I made the graham crackers using this recipe. I had to make a couple substitutions to make them dairy-free (almond milk replaced the milk, coconut oil replaced the butter), and they still turned out perfect. It’s been hard not to dig into all these goodies early!
What I’m reading: Instead of what I’m reading, let me share what I’m listening to this week. So much Christmas music, of course! Peter had me open one of my Christmas presents early this week. It was the A Charlie Brown Christmas album. It has been the most-played album of the week, for sure. Such fun! Do you have a favorite Christmas song or album?
It’s back to holiday preparations for me, I think. Have a wonderful weekend full of holiday cheer!
(Disclosure: I do not receive any compensation for the recommendations or reviews I post here. All opinions are my own.)
