New Feature: Journey Through Christmases Past - Christmas 1968

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and journey with me through Christmases past.

1968

Here we are at Christmas 1968. After a year filled with social and political unrest, major sports and music accomplishments, and the Apollo 8 launch, out came the Sears Christmas Book. Inside its pages, one could find fashions for women, men, and children, jewelry, toys, home decor, Christmas decorations and, for the outdoorsperson, a Ted Williams "Gamefisher" fiberglass boat.  

Of course, six-month-old me had no idea about these things. Nor did I have any idea which of my favorite classic Christmas shows shared the year of my birth. 

The Little Drummer Boy 

 

The Night Before Christmas

Dean Martin, Bob Hope, and Andy Williams would all have Christmas specials on television, and Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Heather Ripley, and Adrian Hall would star in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was released in the United States in the middle of December.

Do you have any memories of Christmas 1968?

Christmas... in the News: Putting Christmas Away, Women's Christmas in Ireland & Christmas Trees Repurposed to Restore Dunes

 

Welcome to the final edition of Christmas... in the news for Christmas 2025. This is a review of Christmas articles and news over the last week. I'm unsure what weekly feature I will replace this with while Christmas news is scarce, but check in with us next week to find out. 

There are 355 days until Christmas 2026, but we know how quickly those days go by. Have you ever considered a Christmas planner like this digital download one from Etsy? I'm not much of a planner person, but this one seems helpful if you are. 

Now, for the news. Seems like putting Christmas away was on this writer's mind. This is an article that appeared in the TimesNews out of Kingston, Tennessee. The TimesNews indicated in the article that they are partnering with local clergy to share "Words of Comfort." Denise Wooten asks, "...do we really want to 'put Christmas away' in our hearts?" You can read Denise's article here.

Did you know that Ireland has a day for women to celebrate Christmas? Well, you do now. According to Today, "Nollaig na mBan," which means "Women's Christmas," coincides with the Feast of the Epiphany, which Christians celebrate on January 6 to commemorate when the Magi brought gifts to Jesus. Curious to know more about Women's Christmas? Check out the article here. Wouldn't it be neat if we had this tradition in the United States?

In one of the most wonderful examples of repurposing, Gulf State Park in Baldwin County, Alabama, is collecting live Christmas trees to turn them into dunes along the beach. According to WearNews3, this is a community's annual tradition that dates back to 1979! I love this idea. Read more about it here.

Thanks for joining us throughout 2025 as we have brought you snippets of news from around the world. 

Christmas Romance Review: Christmas on Reindeer Road by Debbie Mason

 

If you're looking for a sweet, heartwarming, and sometimes funny small-town Christmas romance, then grab a copy of Christmas on Reindeer Road by Debbie Mason. 

After her husband's death, Mallory Maitland returns to Highland Falls to give her stepsons a magical holiday despite the trauma of a history of abandonment connected with her childhood home. But when Oliver and Brooks land in hot water, the caring and handsome Chief of Police Gabriel Buchanan becomes a distraction. 

When Gabriel's wife died, he left his job as a homicide detective in New York City to focus on raising his three sons, Dylan, Cody, and Teddy. Though he is attracted to Mallory, with his mother-in-law looking for any excuse to gain custody of his sons, he can't afford to misstep, even if he's certain Mallory is the only woman capable of bringing his family joy this Christmas--and in the future. 

This book is Christmas magic! I loved everything about this novel from beginning to end. The small-town feel with modern elements, like Mallory's best friend Abby, who is a social media influencer. The spirit of the season pitted against some slightly annoying teenage boys who are determined to interfere with Teddy's desire to have a magical Christmas and Mallory's attempts to bring her closer to her stepsons. How grief affects people and how mistakes can lead to years' worth of misunderstandings. And most importantly, that despite it all, love often wins out. 

Christmas on Reindeer Road is the perfect book to read if you are a fan of reconciliations, happy endings, and the magic of the season!

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forever
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 29, 2020
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1538716968
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1538716960

I purchased this book from ThriftBooks. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Making Natural Cleaner from Christmas Tree Needles

I so wish this were my idea, but I found it on Instagram and then checked YouTube for another version of it. Who knew you could make pine cleaner out of your Christmas tree needles? Not me, obviously, but I am looking forward to trying this recipe that Ali from Little Hill Homestead put together. Check it out in the video below.

Five Kitchen Tools That Make My Holidays Easier

Front left: chicken & rice soup

Front right: chicken broth

Back right: simmering pot

Today, I had a rare day off, so what did I do? I spent time in my kitchen. Having the right tools for cooking and baking makes it easier for me since I cook six nights a week and bake for major holidays and special occasions. I've also learned through the years of working in a kitchen with limited workspace and counterspace what single-use tools won't lay claim to space in my house. Below, I am going to share five of my favorite kitchen tools that make my holidays easier. 

Strainers

Photo credit: Freepik

In my not-so-humble opinion, a set of three stainers in various sizes is a must for anyone who cooks and bakes. From rinsing fruits and vegetables to screening broths and gravies to sprinkling powdered sugar over cookies, a strainer has numerous uses in the kitchen. I truly can't function in my kitchen without them. My favorite use for a strainer is to sift dry baking ingredients (like in the above photo), which means I don't need to store a separate flour sifter in my cabinets. 

Greek sugar cookies for Christmas

Funnels

Photo credit: Freepik

Right up there with the sifters are funnels in a variety of sizes. Have you ever tried to pour liquid from a pan into a bottle without a funnel? Disaster in the making. Especially if you enjoy canning liquids, you need at least one funnel. My favorite is the set below from Pampered Chef. There is even a strainer in one of the funnels, which I just used today when pouring broth into mason jars. 

Mason jars

Photo credit: Freepik

Speaking of mason jars, I always have them on hand. They aren't just for canning, though that's why I started using them. With concerns about microplastics and the movement toward homesteading and self-sufficiency, content creators are talking about the varied uses of mason jars: keeping fruits and vegetables fresh longer, food prep, dry goods storage, drinking glasses, and food gifts. I keep at least a dozen in my kitchen all year round. 

Dutch oven

I use my enameled Dutch oven at least once a week, especially around the holidays. Though I haven't tried making bread in it yet--that task is coming in 2026, I use it for big batches of soup, chili, chicken broth--which I make to keep on hand for making dinner and pet food, and tonight's goulash, so that I can give some to the kids when they come home for supper. My Dutch oven came from Walmart. 

Spoonula

Photo credit: Modern Prairie

The spoonula is a tool that I never really understood until I bought one from Modern Prairie. I love all my wooden utensils for cooking, but the spoonula is one of those flexible tools that you can use to mix flour when you're baking, stir to blend ingredients for your evening meal, and more. The MP website says you can also use it as a serving tool, which I haven't tried yet. I ended up buying wood butter from another online vendor to condition and protect my spoonula and other wooden utensils to extend their life. 

Having these handy tools in my kitchen definitely made my holiday baking and cooking go much more easily. 

I do not get affiliate income from the above-mentioned companies. I'm simply spreading the word about products I enjoy. 

Happy New Year!

 

Wishing all our readers a new year filled with good health, happiness, and prosperity. 

Newest Additions to My Christmas Decor

In addition to the few items I bought at local craft fairs this season, the family gifted me items to add to our ever-growing Christmas decor collection. 

Jim Shore gnome from my oldest and his partner

Gifted by a friend of mine in a gift basket

From my husband

From the same gift basket my friend gave me

From my oldest and his partner, adding to our memorial tree honoring my in-laws

From my husband

My mother and me at a wedding (I think I am 3)

My in-laws' wedding photo

Our wedding day (All three ornaments were from my oldest and his partner)

Jingle bell from that same gift basket

Did you or anyone else add to your Christmas decor collection? Share in the comments.