ideas

Ideas for a special Holiday Season

- Tobia Leave a comment

Tomorrow we celebrate the First Advent. Time to get into a festive mood and to think about how we can spread some Holiday spirit. This year we have to get used to that all is a bit different. So I put together ideas for a special holiday season because truely after what 2020 has thrown at us we can sure use something special.

Special Gift Ideas for the Holidays

Coffee Cinnamon Scrub

Waking up in the morning taking a hot shower and loosing yourself in the scent of coffee and cinnamon. There is no better way to get into holiday spirit. This coffee cinnamon scrub is easy to make. You have almost all ingredients at home already. And it makes a really nice gift for loved ones. Just make sure you have a batch for yourself.

craftaliciousme seeking creative life selfmade coffee cinnamon scrub

Vegan Bath Bombs

Let’s stay in the bathroom. Enjoying a lovely book in the bath tub or listening to some relaxing music can chase away all the holiday hectic that is taking place. If you are making some vegan bath bombs yourself you could even add some glitter or fancy ingredient to get into the holiday spirit. Or you make some star shaped bombs by using a baking try. Since all ingredients are edible (except glitter) you can use it to make cookies afterwards too. Again this would also make a wonderful gift.

handmade vegan bath bombs

Printable Pattern Calendar

I love the time around Christmas and especially between the years. The 12 days after Christmas have some special magic. I like to hang up a new calendar in my office. This year I made my own pattern calendar and share a download with you. I also review my year and make plans for the next one. Having those thoughts and time to reflect is Holiday Spirit for me.

free printable pattern calendar craftaliciousme

If you are looking for more gift ideas to make this season check out my post “10 Last minute gift ideas” or my collection of advent & Christmas ideas.

Special Drink Ideas for the Holidays

Spicy Fruit Punch

I am not such a big fan of “Glühwein” or as you may call it “Mulled Wine”. I tend to get a headache rather quickly. However I love to drink some hot spicy red drink when others sip their Glühwein. So I came up with this alcohol free version of mulled wine.

craftaliciousme seeking creative life Spicy fruit punch

Hot Cranberry Drink

When on our honeymoon in Finland we came across this drink all the time. There are little huts everywhere on the trails where you can warm up and often times there is a cauldron over the fire with this drink. When we went to the husky safari or at the reindeer farm everywhere we were served this hot cranberry drink. I came to love it.

finnish cranberry juice

Hot Apple Cider

Now bear with me the photo is pathetic. But it was one oft the first posts on this blog back in 2013. You can see how I evolved my photography skills. Nevertheless ever since this hot apple cider is one of my favorite Holiday drinks ever. I will be sipping one tonight while FaceTiming with friends.

hot apple cider special holiday season

Special Baking Ideas for the Holidays

Finnish Sour Cream Cake with Cardamom

Don’t let the photo fool you this is the perfect cake for cold winter days. Maybe while watching the snowflakes dance outside. But also for a wonderful crafting afternoon or for an relaxing afternoon while drinking tea. The smell of the Finnish sour cream cake is hinting that the holiday season is around the corner.

Kermakakku - Fisnish Sour Cream Cake

Baked Apple Pie | Bratapfelkuchen

Baked apples is there anything more festive than this? Add a few cranberries and vanilla and you get holidays on a spoon. Or fork. This baked apple cake reminds me of the times when my grandma would make us baked apple in the old tiled stove that had a little compartment were you could heat things up. The apples would be put in there after lunch and bake for a few hours until it was time for a snack in the afternoon. The smell was so wonderful. This brings back that spirit.

baked apple pie | bratapfelkuchen top

Spicy Chai Cookies

These are my favorite cookies to bake and eat during the holidays. They are a nice variation with all the the sugary cookies and chocolate glazed ginger breads. They have a spicy punch to them, added with a nutty flavor they are really really good. But don’t let me fool you – healthy is probably not one of their adjectives to describe. But this season specially they are good for the soul.

spicy chai cookies

I hope you will have a special holiday season this year. Do you have anything that makes it festive?

Happy festivities

Tobia

DIY ENVELOPES TO SPRUCE UP SNAIL MAIL { RECYCLE QUICK TIP #14 }

- Tobia Leave a comment
DIY envelopes made of recycled paper calendar pages and wrapping paper templates as download on blog

If you follow me on Instagram you have probably seen how I come up with fun DIY envelopes to spruce up snail mail. While they are not as fancy as back in my teenage days it is still a lot of fun to see what I can come up with. Finding a fancy envelope in the mail box always makes me smile. I love the anticipation until I finally get to open it and read the careful written words from loved one. And it so much fun spreading the cheer to other mail boxes.

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Mindset shift – developing digital household chores

- Tobia 2 Comments
mindset shift developing digital household chores

This post is born from frustration. From anger and annoyance. Of procrastination and bad self talk. What happened? I will tell you. But more important is what it made me realize: that I need some mindset shift – developing digital household chores is what I will call them.

Frustration with digital devices

For weeks months my laptop kindly reminds me that I should be updating my laptops operating system. I am usually really good in pushing that button a few days after a new release was made. Not right after because – lets wait three days to see if it runs smoothly – but then. Always. Well almost always. The last time I wanted to do just that I was told one of my programs would not be functioning under new system. So I postponed. And I forgot.

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10 Things to spread some kindness

- Tobia 2 Comments
10 things to spread kindness craftaliciousme seeking creative life Charlie Chaplin at window craftaliciousme seeking creative life

This year has taken a toll on us. Some of us have been a bit luckier in handling changes and some had to struggle. Some day more some days less. So I believe we should be spreading some kindness these days and give each other a break. I mean who needs to encounter grumpy people while running errands in an already stressful time? Who needs to be pushed around more when already fulfilling a job that is tough these days. Who knows what friends and family really go through on a daily basis trying to handle everything life and 2020 has thrown at us. So I made a list with 10 things to spread some kindness because we sure can use a lot of it today, tomorrow and in general in this world we live in.

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Enjoying Summer at Home

- Tobia 2 Comments
craftaliciousme seeking creative life enjoying summer at home in Brandenburg

Summer is here. Vacation time has arrived. But are you going anywhere with the uncertainty of a pandemic and so many unknown variables? I decided to enjoy summer at home this year. Of course I would love to explore the many treasures and sights this planet has to offer but not now. And who says you can not find a wonderful adventure at home. Just a few days ago I spent four days in our country home near the Polish boarder. It was my vacation for this year. And I was enjoying all summer had to offer. I want to share a few things and maybe you get inspired to enjoying your summer at home.

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