A Little Perspective If You Please

I relish this time of year. Although the nights are growing longer, the days will soon begin to lengthen again. There is an exhilarating rush as we gather with family and friends, warming ourselves in love, and good cheer.

There's also a lot of cranky buzz kills out there.


I cannot for the life of me understand why people get so offended when someone wishes them a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Festivus or Joyous Yule. So what if that is not their religious belief. Isn't the statement just a wish from one person to another to have happiness and hope. Isn't that a good thing?

I think this flowchart on Imgur says it best.

The Bestest Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie

For me, it's not the Holiday Season without lots and lots of Christmas cookies. I don't really eat that many ... well, maybe this time of year.... but I do love sharing them and finding new and interesting recipes. In fact, Cindy and I have a bakeathon the weekend after Thanksgiving when we get the first round of baking done.

Recipes come from all over. A real family favorite is your basic peanut butter cookie. And the best recipe I have is in an ancient tome - the 1957 Betty Crocker NEW Boys and Girls Cookbook. 




It's a well worn cookbook. I don't remember if it was mine or my husbands or where we got it, but it has lots of easy kid friendly recipes. It's also a bit of a time machine, showing how certain things have changed through the years. The kids comments crack me up.


 















I found this Peanut Butter Cookie recipe ages ago. It was always something the kids and I made together when they were young. It is so easy.

QUICK PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
1 package yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup water
1 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter

Mix together 1/2 package of the cake mix, eggs, water and peanut butter. Beat until smooth.
Add the other 1/2 of the cake mix and beat until blended.

Heat over to 375°. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls unto an ungreased cookie sheet. Press a fork dipped into flour, flatten rounds by pressing in a crisscross pattern on top of each cookie.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Let cool on the cookie sheet for about 2 minutes, then continue to cool on cookie rack.

Perfectly yummy peanut butter cookies.

When I made these last night, I started thinking. What if I used chocolate cake mix instead of yellow? Or maybe Spice Cake Mix? Hmmmm. I think I see an experiment in my future.
 

Last Fairs of the Season this Weekend

It's hard to believe the Season of Merriment is upon us. It's even harder to believe we're at the last weekend of our fair and festival season.

We've got two great events this weekend. Stop by and find out all about the wonderful ways to take care of your skin - sugar scrubs, lotion bars, body butters, toners, face masks and so much more.

Make sure to sign up for our newsletter or like us on Facebook. Because if you can't get to these shows, you'll still be able to order through our website. We'll even have some specials and new items coming next week!

From now through the end of the year - Free Shipping!

We want to thank all of you for your inspiration and encouragement throughout the year.  It's your enthusiasm for our products that keep us going when we're tuckered out.

We'd like to thank you for that support. So, from now through the end of the year, we're offering free shipping on all orders within the US. Just order on our website or email us your request.

Important! If you would like your order by Christmas, those orders must be placed by December 21st to guarantee arrival for the big day.

It is the summer of the soul in December,

Yes when you do your best for love, it feels like Christmas

The Ghost of Christmas Present, Muppet Christmas Carol

Where do you find the best treasures? In Granny's Attic!!

It's a holiday tradition that sets the mood for the season. Join us this Saturday at

The 31st Annual Granny's Attic 

Saturday, November 19, 2011 

9 am to 4 pm 

Thompson Middle School 

1001 Middletown Lincroft Road, Middletown 

100's of crafts fill the halls, rooms, gym and just about ever nook and cranny of this wonderful event. Bring your holiday shopping list with you. You'll probably be able to finish it all off in about 1 day!

This is a juried craft show, presenting the finest in hand crafted arts and crafts. We're proud and excited to be a part of this event again this year.

You can find Celtic Chairde Creations in room 135. Say the secret word, and we'll give you a holiday gift! Almost inviso text follows: The secret word is Slainte (pronounced slan -cha).

Come by and rummage through Granny's Attic. You'll be thrilled with the treasures you find there.

Don't Rush the Seasons

It was snowing again last night here in New Jersey. As the snow fell outside, I sat curled up on the couch with a lovely cup of Ducky Life Tea (some Ellen's Cranberry Orange tisane mixed with a little Wendy's Citrus Chamomile) sweetened with just a touch of elderberry honey and lemon herb honey. It smelled and tasted heavenly. My candles were lit throughout the house - some from Wickit Good, a few from Dreaming Tree Soapworks, and some made by my dear husband. The only other lights were the glow of the TV and the magical sparkle of the Christmas Tree. What a great way to relax on on cold and snowy winter night.

And yes, my Christmas tree is still up. Why not? It's still hanging on to it's needles and it makes the whole house feel festive and homey. I know so many people

who take their tree down almost the moment that Christmas has past. I just don't understand that. We spend so much time rushing to get things done before the holiday - shopping, baking, decorating, parties, etc. Then the big day comes and we're so used to rushing we practically speed through day without taking notice. Why rush? Celebrate Christmas, Happy New Year, take down the tree, where is spring? It just doesn't help your health or your spirit to go rushing through all these things with out taking some time to notice and enjoy them.

Take winter for instance. This is the second snowfall here in New Jersey. Now, I'll grant you, the first snow dropped upwards of 25 inches in many parts of the state and there were plowing issues in many towns. It could get annoying. But it's winter, it snow's in winter. If we're honest with ourselves, New Jersey has been pretty lucky in the snow department. Most winters haven't been that bad.

So many people are wishing the winter away, and it's only January. Heck, it's only been winter for 3 weeks! After this past hot, dry summer I'd say the land around here could use the nice winters nap, all tucked in and cozy. Do you like being rushed to wake up? I know I don't.

So, on my part, despite minor annoyance and inconvenience, I'm not rushing the seasons. They will end when it's their time to end. The tree will have to come down soon enough. Meanwhile, I'll stock up and candles, put a little Téigh on my hands and feet and a little Jazzy Lavender on my face and head out into the snowy, wintery wonderland.

Time for the Brick High School Marching Dragon Caravan Holiday Craft Fair

The holiday shopping kicks into high gear! We're busy getting all kinds of goodies ready for one of our last craft fairs of the season.

Marching Dragon's Caravan Winter Craft Fair
Saturday December 11, 9 am to 4 pm,
Brick Township High School
346 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, NJ

This is always a terrific craft fair. Over 100 crafters fill the halls, gym and cafeteria. Music from the Marching Dragons fills the air with holiday spirit. Crafters are carefully selected and only hand made items are allowed.

We'll be there with our lotion bars, dreamy dream mists and all of our skin soothing products. We may even get in a little holiday shopping ourselves.

Shopping for holiday gifts at craft fairs is magical. You'll find unique and interesting items, many with stories and history behind them. You'll meet the people that created these gifts. It adds a little joy and extra twinkle to the holidays.

See you there!

Get into the holiday spirit by rummaging through Granny's Attic

It's time to get your jolly on at the

30th Anniversary Granny's Attic
Saturday, November 20 9 am to 4 pm
Always the Saturday before Thanksgiving
Thompson Middle School
1001 Middletown-Lincroft Road
Middletown, NJ

This is probably one of the best craft fairs we have ever been to - let alone worked at! We're very excited to be a part of this enormously successful and popular holiday tradition. We'll be in the same space as last year - 135D, which is in a classroom off of the court yard.

It will be like a treasure hunt - come and find us!

Vendors come from all over the tri-state area and only the best are selected for a spot at Granny's Attic. People come from hours away to get that one-of-a-kind item that can't be found at any retail shop. This year, they are bringing back the tradition that started it all by having a few antique vendors selling their original and treasured items.

It you can't come and shop at Granny's Attic, we still have two other events coming up this season. Check here or on our website. And you can always order online! Look for special gift baskets coming soon!

The Holly Jolly Holiday Season kicks off Saturday with the Jolly Mouse Craft Fair

I'm sure you're thinking the same thing - how did the holiday's get here so quickly!? Yet here it is, that time of year when the air continues to get crisper and cooler, the days get shorter, and plans begin for holiday get togethers and gift giving.

To get you in the spirit, stop by
The 26th Annual Jolly Mouse Craft Show
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, 10 am to 4 pm
Lloyd Road School, Aberdeen
All proceeds benefit the H.A.M. (Hazlet, Aberdeen, Matawan, Therapeutic Recreation Program)


This is a great fair with a very friendly atmosphere. The coordinating group works hard to assure that all of the products presented are handmade. So you know you'll be getting some unique gifts for your friends, family - and of course yourself.

Our booth is located in the gym. We'll have our full line of skin care products and more - and maybe even a few surprises! If you can't make this holiday craft fair for some reason, just check out our upcoming schedule to the right - or you can stop by our WEBSITE to place your order.

More on that later!

Christmas Trees, Chai Tea and Seed Catalogues

It was late into the evening. I was curled up on the couch, sipping a lovely cup of Ducky Life's Doreen's Green Classical Chai Tea. The lights on the Christmas tree twinkling like stars while I flipped through my catalog, marking pages and taking notes. The wind howled outside, making the 20 something degrees that it was feel more like single digits.

At one point, the catalog was not enough and I jumped up, startling one of my cats and creating momentary havoc when the cat startled the dog. I went to the computer. I pulled up the website and began clicking and filling up my shopping cart. It was about to start the checkout process when I stopped - frozen by realization.

"What the hell am I doing buying seeds right now?"

Yes indeed. I was shopping for seeds and seedlings for my garden. The candy canes were still hanging and yet I had an over whelming urge to start buying things for my garden.

Tis the season of the seed catalog, and it brings thoughts of lovely spring days digging in the dirt and coaxing little seeds to life. Now, many people have a true aptitude for starting seeds. Alas I'm not one of them. I'll keep trying, but it doesn't seem to be my forte.

Days are growing ever so slightly longer. The catalog's hold many temptations for new and exciting herbs to try: Toothache Plant, which soothes sore teeth and gums; Stinging Nettle, wonderful for hair and a nourishing tonic; Roselle, the form of hibiscus with which you make tea; the list goes on and on.

I will be daring, I will get my seeds and try again. I will make my sojourn to Well Sweep Farm and by an array of young plants to nurture. I will refresh my mints and bee balm from Mountain Valley Growers. But first....

I think I should take down the Christmas tree and finish paying off the holiday bills.

What are you looking forward to planting in your garden?

Support a Cause While you Shop - Join us at this weekend at the Holiday Progressive Shopping Event

Extended Arms Fourth Annual Holiday Progressive Shopping Event

Sunday December 7


11:00 am to 4 pm.
Event takes place in 4 homes in one neighborhood in Toms River, NJ.

This is a wonderful fundraiser to benefit Ocean's Harbor House and Contact of Ocean County.
Take time to shop in an informal, friendly atmosphere - right in one of the lovely homes in Toms River.
It's a unique craft fair that you won't want to miss. Make sure to find us while you're browsing
through through the rooms of handmade treasures We'll have some lovely gift sets perfect for the holidays - and maybe a few new creations to try.

For ticket information contact Donna at dloblein@comast.net or call: 732-244-6089

Let the Holiday Festivities Commence! Join us at St. Peter's Craft Fair in Pt. Pleasant!

It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the sunny warmth of summer. Yet Autumn is now casting it's chilly spell, reminding us that winter is on it's way. And with winter comes the light in the darkness - the festive Holiday Season!

To get us in the spirit, we'll be at the St. Peter's 35th Annual Craft Fair this weekend, November 6 & 7th. That's right, it's a Friday and Saturday, from 9 until 4. This event is packed with wonderful handmade crafts. The perfect place to begin or (if you are much more organized than I)finish your Christmas shopping.

We hope you'll join us this weekend. Mention this blog post and receive $2.00 off your order of $15 or more! We might even have some new treats for you to try.

Let the merriment begin!

The Passing of the Tree

This time of year always brings a touch of sadness. And it's not just about figuring out how to pay for all those holiday gifts. As I drive by the houses, it saddens me to see all those harbingers of holiday happiness along the curb waiting for the recycling truck or worse yet - the garbage truck, barely any life left in them.

But sooner or later, the Christmas tree has to go. I keep mine up as long as possible, sometimes too long for my husbands liking. But to me, the tree is such an inviting bright spot in the dreary winter that I'll fight to keep it going as long as I can.

When the time eventually comes and I just can't justify keep it any longer, I like to try to find some way to keep the spirit of the tree around. I think of it as Holiday recycling.

One thing I like to do is strip down the needles from the branches until I have a good size bowl full. Then I'll take those lone socks that the sock monster has left in my dryer and stuff them with the needles. Stitch the end closed and you have a wonderful pine sachet to put in drawers or tuck in corners to add a refreshing whiff of pine when needed.

One of our favorites is to take the tree outside and attach crossed wood pieces so it will still stand. Then we decorate it again - but this time we use strung pieces of fruit or cranberries, dried suet balls, nuts and other bird tasty treats. For at least another month it provides nourishment for a grand assortment of birds, a few squirrels, and our cats who watch from the window.

Whether we make the bird feeder tree or not, we always cut up some of the branches and the trunk and add it to our wood pile. In the summer, we have some nicely dried pine to add to our fire ring. It's a very old tradition to keep the yule log for fires throughout the year, and it's just our way celebrating the old ways.

How do you recycle your holiday tree or wreaths? I'd love to hear from you.

The Tale of the Apocryphal Cookie

From the days before email, there was a wonderful chain letter with the story of the department store cookie. Typically, the store is Neiman Marcus. According to Snopes, it's not a true tale, thus the name of Apocryphal Cookie. Not a true story - but yummy non-the less.

Urban legend has it that a woman and her friends went to lunch at a posh restaurant in a very elegant department store. There the woman had a wonderful cookie for desert. She asked the waiter if the recipe was available. He said yes, but that it cost two fifty. She said that was fine and to put it on her tab. Off she went with the recipe.

When she received the bill the following month, she was stunned to discover that it wasn't $2.50 - it was $250! Despite her complaint, the store insisted that it was the correct price. To protest, she copied the recipe and distributed it to everyone she knew and asked them to do the same.

And so I came into the recipe. In fact, I still have the yellowed photo copy from so many moons ago. This recipe, with a few minor changes, has become a favorite of ours. If you haven't seen it, you'll find it below.


Apocryphal Cookies

* 1 cups butter, softened
* 2 cups sugar
* 4 eggs
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 2 tsp vanilla
* 4 cups flour
* 5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and whir in a blender to a fine powder)
* 2 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp salt
* 24 oz. raisinets or chocolate chips or cinnamon chips
* 8 oz grated milk chocolate
* 3 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Cream the butter and sugars together until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients of flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend completely and fold in chocolate, raisinets and nuts. Drop teaspoon size balls into an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven and place on racks to cool. Makes 124 cookies - but you can half the recipe.

Whether the story is true or not, this is a yummy cookie that deserves its place in legendary stature.

There's Something About The Holidays...

I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I do know it's an uncontrollable urge. And once I get started, I just can't seem to stop.

No, it's not shopping, or any thing else you might be thinking. It's baking. Specifically, baking cookies. I enjoy creating in the kitchen all year round - dinners, cakes, herbal creations and new ideas for products for Celtic Chairde. But there's just something about Christmas and this space between holidays that makes me want to fill it with the wonderful smells and tastes of sweet temptation.

I've gone into this baking frenzy for years, staying up till all hours rolling and mixing and baking. For the last 10 (good heavens has it been that long!), Cindy and I have gathered the Friday and weekend after Thanksgiving and baked cookies till we couldn't stand anymore. Our record, I believe, is 23 batches and 16 types of cookies. Now THAT's a marathon! We share our goodies with co-workers, friends, family, and people we just like to say thank you to. We've collected all types of recipes, from the sublimely easy Pudding Cookies (see below for this recipe treasure) to the exotic Rose Geranium Cookies. We have fun discovering new recipes, and laugh at our disasters!

Cookies, whether you're leaving them for Santa or enjoying them with coffee and conversation, are a sweet way to share with friends. Since I can't give you cookies, I want to share a great recipe with you - the amazing Pudding Cookie.


I discovered this recipe on the inside of a box of instant pudding. It's simple, and highly adaptable, giving you a vast variety of delectables with a simple recipe.

PUDDING COOKIE

2 1/4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 package, 4 serving size of instant pudding - choose your flavor!
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
12 oz of your favorite addition (see combinations below)

Mix the flour and baking soda. Cream the butter, sugars, pudding mix and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and continue to beat. Gradually add in the flour and baking soda. Stir in you addition. Use a teaspoon size disher, ice cream scoop or regular teaspoons and drop batter onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen.

If you like your cookies crispier, add an additional 1/4 cup of granulated sugar.

More of a butter cookie fan, add an extra stick of butter.

Here are some suggestions for combinations: Vanilla pudding and dried cherries, banana pudding and chocolate chips (my favorite!), chocolate pudding and crushed peppermint pieces, lemon pudding and chopped dried strawberries, pistachio pudding and chopped pistachios, vanilla pudding and cinnamon chips, butterscotch pudding and toffee bits, and so on and so on.

Add some fun to your holiday craziness - have a cookie baking frenzy of your own!

Find the Perfect Gift for the Holidays at The Crafts Extravaganza at Birchwood Manor

Holiday Shopping has almost qualified for an Olympic event. But you can stop the craziness and rediscover the joy of the season by stopping by the Arts & Crafts Extravaganza at Birchwood Manor in Whippany. This spectacular craft fair takes place on Wednesday December 3rd, 2008 from 10 am to 8 pm. The Birchwood Manor is at 111 N. Jefferson Blvd, Whippany NJ. You'll be able to find room upon room of unique handmade treasures from artists and crafters from all over the state.

Whether you're looking for clothes, wood work, candles, and - naturally,

the beauty products from us at Celtic Chairde Creations, you'll find it here. We'll have our lip balms, body butters, bath products and lotion bars, as well as gift baskets and a few surprises. Mention this blog post - and we'll give you a free lip balm!

See you at the Birchwood!

Join us at the Wonderful Sea Girt Holiday Craftmarket!

This weekend we run full on into the holiday season. One November 22 & 23rd, you can find Celtic Chairde Creations at the Sea Girt Holiday Craftmarket. Although relatively small, there are over 50 crafters presenting unique hand made items suitable for any holiday shopping list.

The event is held at the Sea Girt School on Route 71 and Bell Place in Sea Girt. One of my favorite parts of this show is the cafe. Eighth graders serve as waiters for some of the finest craft show food I've ever had.

We hope you'll come by and visit. There are only 4 more events that Celtic Chairde will be participating in before the Christmas. So stop by and select the perfect gifts for teachers, co-workers, family and friends.

Kicking off the Holiday Season at the St. Peter's 31st Annual Craft Fair

It's so hard to believe that we've rolled around to another Holiday Season! Yet here we are, busily preparing products for our flurry of holiday fairs.

One of our favorites is the St. Peter's School Annual Craftmarket. This year the event is November 7 & 8, this Friday and Saturday. There are always so many interesting crafts and gifts. It's one of our favorite craft fairs of the season. Friends and family start the holiday shopping and enjoy a good time.

We hope to see you there this weekend!

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