I was recently introduced to a beautiful children’s book, called Peace is an Offering, about taking care of one another and appreciating the world around us.
The sweet, simple poem is by Annette LeBox with illustrations by Stephanie Graegin adding a delightful interpretation of her words.
Cover images via the publisher.
While you can get it at your local library or bookstore, I also recommend having Emily on YouTube read it to you. Her quiet, soothing voice, combined with the lulling rhymes and satisfying sound of book pages turning, will make you feel at ease (or give you ASMR).
Because, like many of the best children’s books, it’s not just for kids.
[My sister-in-law Dinah always gives such fun gifts and beautiful handmade cards. I’m excited that today she’s sharing some of her ideas here with you! –S]
I enjoy giving presents under normal circumstances, but during 2020, I felt it was more important than ever to send fun surprises in the mail for my friends and family – for birthdays or just because – since I wasn’t able to see them as often (or at all).
A birthday card made by Dinah.
Craft Beverages + Food
I try to seek out local companies here in Arizona or, at least, small businesses.
Derek is a teacher and a father of 5, who lives in Tempe, Arizona. He loves coffee and decided to start roasting beans himself as a side business. We shipped out bags of his coffee to several family members this year (and also to ourselves)!
Ucayali River, Peru 70% Cacao bar. Via Stonegrindz Chocolate.
For my chocolate-loving friends, I discovered this company located in Scottsdale. They specialize in small batch, single-origin craft chocolate that’s beautifully packaged. I love how they come up with new flavors regularly.
The original Cartel Coffee Lab location is in Tempe. I was pleased to see that they offered this “Stay at Home” blend, which was perfect for my friend Robin, who is coffee-obsessed and works from home. Plus, 10% of the profits go to a Navajo Nation COVID-19 relief fund.
Six Shooter olive oil gift set. Via Queen Creek Olive Mill.
This company is located in Queen Creek, Arizona. I purchased some bottles of flavored olive oil for my brother’s and sister’s birthdays this year. It was a useful gift for them, as they like to cook, and it lasted awhile. I enjoyed hearing which foods they paired the olive oils with!
In addition to standard olive oil offerings, Queen Creek Olive Mill has unique flavors like vanilla bean and dark chocolate. There’s even a set called “Quarantine Essentials!”
My husband Daniel did part of his Navy training near Saratoga Springs, New York, where this company is located. They offer a holiday pack of different kinds of peanut butter. I can’t wait to try more of their flavors in 2021!
For several birthdays this year, I put together boxes full of goodies of the same hue.
I sent my brother a “box o’ sunshine” with yellow items, since his birthday falls right after Christmas, the dreariest time in Montana’s winter. My sister-in-law’s birthday is right before St. Paddy’s Day, so she received all green gifts. And a few people received some “Out of the Blue” birthday boxes.
Hopefully, I can try it out with some other colors this coming year!
We received a lovely gift in our mailbox of pre-measured mix to make Dalgona coffee drinks from a friend. We loved the idea so much that we copied it, making our own Dalgona coffee mixes send to other friends and family.
Once you have the dry mix, all you have to do is add boiling water and beat in the mixer until it turns into coffee-flavored whipped cream! Drink it with ice and your milk of preference.
This was a great way to make a “fancy” coffeehouse-style drink, while staying safe at home.
I’m thinking this would be a good year for some reverse trick-or-treating.
While I’m not really into Halloween, I do like it as an excuse to indulge in some of the junk candy that I don’t buy the rest of the year, and I’ll pick up a bag or two “just in case.”
I even did this when we lived in a third-floor apartment. Since I didn’t expect anyone to come up, I made a few little candy bags and brought them to my neighbors instead. Reverse trick-or-treat!
In the 2020 version, I’d mask up and leave the treats outside neighbors’ doors.
Materials + Tips
Here’s what I used, plus alternatives in case you want to make the project simpler or fancier or to use materials you happen to have already…
Treat bags – These are great to buy when they’re on sale after the holiday – unlike candy, they’ll keep! I got a pack of clear ones on clearance at Target several years ago, and I’ve used them for a variety of things since then, including sleeves for pressed flowers. Alt: regular sandwich baggies, small paper bags, gift bags
Crinkle paper – Upcycled from some other packaging (maybe it came from these costume mask kits-?) Alt: tissue paper, shredded paper, confetti, or skip it (It’s mostly there for color.)
Cord (for the bow) – I used what I had on hand from an envelope journal workshop. Alt: ribbon, raffia, yarn, bakers’ twine, nothing (Again, it’s just a festive touch.)
Shipping tag – I wrote our names on the back with a reminder who we were (i.e. “From: Phillip and Stephanie from upstairs”), since I suspected some of our neighbors might recognize our faces but not our names. To be honest, I wasn’t sure about some of theirs, which is why there was no “To:” – just a “Happy Halloween” on the front. Alt: label, card, or make your own gift tags
Ultra fine tipped marker
Washi tape to keep the bag closed
Candy – make sure it’s individually wrapped!
Kids need a project?
If you are looking for something to occupy your kids or teens (hello, parents working from home!), here are a few ways they can help with these…
Color, stamp, and/or add stickers to bags.
Make Halloween cards or tags.
Cut construction paper into pieces to use instead of crinkle paper. (Or use a hole puncher / leaf-shaped paper punch to make confetti.)
Fill the bags – if they can be trusted around all that candy! (I barely can.)
On the tag or card, include the age(s) of any contributing young artists (i.e. “From Velma, Fred, and Daphne, age 3”), because that somehow makes it even cuter.
If you make candy bags, I’d love to see them! Tag @travelcraftjournal or #TCJreco on Instagram. Have fun!
My mom likes to throw these big, informal, everyone-come-on-over get-togethers, especially around Christmas. She’ll set out a bunch of food, while Dad gets the firepit going.
One perennial favorite of her holiday buffets is a delicious hot punch with spiced cranberry and citrus flavors. It tastes like the holidays and makes the house smell amazing. It’s particularly excellent for sipping around the fire on a chilly night.
The recipe makes enough for a crowd without requiring a lot of fuss, so you can focus on decking the halls and whatever else you need to do.
Mom makes it (by the gallon) and serves it in her crockpot to keep it hot all evening. She’ll put a ladle and a stack of festive mugs next to it, so guests can help themselves.
Although the title on her recipe card says “cranberry tea,” the tea part is actually optional. Most of the time, she leaves it out. Then you have an equally delicious hot cranberry punch.
Hot Cranberry Tea (or Punch) Recipe
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup loose black tea (omit for punch)
3 cups sugar
2 cups orange juice
1/2 gallon cranberry juice
1 cup lemon juice (or substitute a 12-ounce can of frozen lemonade and reduce sugar to 2 cups)
10 cups + 6 cups of hot water
Optional: orange and/or lemon slices and cinnamon sticks (for garnish).
Wrap the spices and tea in a piece of cheesecloth or place into a tea infuser.
Steep in 10 cups of hot water for 20 minutes.
Add sugar, juices, and 6 more cups of hot water.
If desired, garnish with orange or lemon slices and cinnamon sticks.
Serve hot.
Makes about 7 quarts of punch. (Invite a lot of people over.)
Mesa’s annual holiday celebration, Merry Main Street, includes concerts, an arts and craft market, food trucks, visits from Santa, and – most surprisingly in an Arizona desert city – an outdoor ice skating rink.
O Christmas Market
While there are Merry Main Street activities throughout the downtown, the centerpiece of the celebration is the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree and market that takes over Macdonald on the north side of Main Street.
What you’ll find here…
Mesa’s official Christmas tree – this is where you can see Santa Friday and Saturday evenings.
Mesa Christmas Market – 30 local vendors selling handcrafted items, food and gifts in booths set up around the Christmas tree.
Most of the time, you’ll only find an ice rink in Arizona inside a large, air-conditioned building. So, the temporary Winter Wonderland Ice Rink installed for the holidays in Mesa City Plaza is a downright novelty. It’s really fun to watch people skating around there, even if some of them are wearing shorts.
Speaking of Arizonans’ winter apparel (or lack thereof), Winter Wonderland just assumes you don’t own ice skates (and you probably don’t), so they automatically include skate rental in the ticket price.
Free Rides
You can ride the mile stretch of the Light Rail between Country Club and Mesa Drive free on December weekends from 5-10pm.
This weekend (December 13-14), there will also be special decorated “Polar Express” light rail trains with Santa, elves, cookies, and singing on board. Pajama-wearing is encouraged. No tickets are required.
Pioneer Park
The weekly Mesa Feastival Forest in Pioneer Park turns into Jack Frost’s Food Truck Forest on Friday and Saturday nights during the holidays. Check their Facebook page for updates on the food truck lineup.
Also in Pioneer Park…
The Mesa Farmers Market and Flea will continue to be held in the park on Saturday mornings – with a few extra festive touches like additional vendors and photos with Santa from 9-11am.
Kiddos can ride the trackless Main Street Express Train there for free during food truck or farmers’ market hours.
Merry Main Street’s little train (at its old City Plaza location).
In past years, you could sometimes hear the choir singing outside the LDS Temple across the street. This year, however, the annual Christmas Lights display and concerts have been suspended due to major renovations of the buildings and grounds, which are scheduled to be completed in 2020.
The Space Between
Like a microcosm of the City of Mesa itself, Merry Main Street is a bit sprawling (although it’s gotten less spread out than in previous years).
Activities are just close enough together that you’re not sure you want to wait for even a free light rail ride, but far enough apart that you have time to regret it as you traverse the vast, vacant expanses of sidewalk between things.
How to Merry Main Street
The the best approach might be to enjoy different parts of Merry Main Street throughout the season, instead of thinking of it as all one event. Stop by the food truck forest before heading over to a performance at the MAC. Have an ice skating night. Do some holiday shopping and take some photos in front of the tree (or in the selfie stations or with Santa).
Why not go multiple times? There’s no admission cost, parking is free, and each time the weather will probably be so nice you could wear shorts to go ice skating.
