I just returned home from my Stockstill family Christmas in Picayune MS located around 5 hours away from where I live. My sister and I slave for about 3 days to get ready for it but we love doing it! For our special Stockstill holiday, we make all of our favorite dishes (really everyone’s faves)
Starting with pralines (our mom’s recipe), Myia (it’s like a Heath bar – our Nanny’s recipe), mini pecan pies (our Mamaw’s recipe) butterscotch haystacks, white chocolate pretzels, Mississippi mudpie, a layered dessert with a crunchy crust, cream cheese/powder sugar layer + chocolate pudding layer and topped with whipped cream and chopped pecans – another recipe from mom). That’s just the sweets!
Then for the apps: Shrimp mousse (our mom’s recipe), Spinach dip, homemade salsa/chips, Rotel dip, mini barbecue sausages, chicken nuggets (for the kids – big and small) and seven layer salad (my sis’s recipe). The main course is seafood gumbo. Now that’s a labor of love! We start the roux around 8:30am and you have to stir it almost constantly so it doesn’t stick while it’s boiling and thickening. Then the veggies are added in with more stirring and shrimp/crab claws are added about 30 mins before serving. Whew! That’s a lot of food! But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Everyone loves it each and every year and we enjoy making it all. (I must also mention we need a day of rest to recover from all the standing on our feet and stirring gumbo)!
After eating we give gifts to dad and his love – Loretta, and he hands out all his envelopes of cash to each and every one of us. Talk about a labor of love – I spoke to my dad earlier in the week when he was filling each envelope with cash and writing a message for 52! Whew! I bet that took all day!
Then we take family pics. One with dad and us kids, then my siblings, then each of our families. That’s a lot of pics! We visit for a while then the clean up begins. And before we know it the night has come and gone! We had 40 people there (if I counted correctly – this includes a few guests) and still lots of food left over! What a fun night of great food and fellowship. It’s hard to get to speak to everyone and have a conversation but I make sure to at least hug and say hello to each and every one!
Back home I spend the days before Christmas finishing wrapping all the gifts and making sure each child has the same number to open as well as making sure their “stockings” are filled. It’s as if they all still believe in Santa because most gifts are from him! Stan, John Stanley, and Madison always go along with it. Still believing in the magic of Santa makes me so happy!
The weeks before Christmas are spent getting wish lists done and gifts purchased for all. I have to start early as our oldest daughter Tara lives in California with our granddaughter Skylar and all those gifts are bought, wrapped and shipped to them in plenty of time (I might have cut it a little close!). A couple of years ago we started buying the kids toiletries for a whole year (they fill a huge plastic box) and I have to say they are most thrilled about these “gifts” that save them $100s through the year. We have so much fun doing it and watching their faces as they open each and every gift. We miss getting to see Tara and Skylar open theirs but they FaceTime us on Christmas Day to let us see Skylar and all her gifts from Santa.
GIVEAWAYS AND DISCOUNTS!
In the spirit of giving I’m giving back to the community that supports my mission of menopause awareness, women’s health, hair care, and all that Glow Through Menopause stands for! Originally I had planned to end this special giveaway on December 14th but I’d like to give you another chance if you missed that first deadline. It has now been moved to December 31st! SO ENTER NOW!
Here are the steps to win a FREE $25 gift card:
Step 1. You must be following me on Instagram @glowthroughmenopause
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Step 3. Click on the link in my bio and become a subscriber to my FREE Monthly Newsletters. Here you’ll find out who the winner is and keep up with all of my content as well as future giveaways! If you’re reading this article simply SUBSCRIBE HERE.
Step4. Finally, once you’ve completed the steps above. Send me a DM on Instagram with the keyword “GIFT CARD” Deadline to enter is December 31st at midnight!
ONE MORE THING!
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These are most of my Christmas traditions. I’d love to hear about yours! I hope you all are filled with the miracle of Christmas – the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The is the real meaning of CHRISTmas and we are so thankful and blessed! I pray blessings over each of one of you and wish you a Happy New Year as well. I hope 2023 is your BEST year yet and that you GLOW more than ever before!
