NOTE: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all of you who entered! The winners have been notified, and they are #464 (Natalie), #1151 (Wendy), and #1307 (Gloria). Y’all have 48 hours to respond before we pick new winners! 🙂
I have a confession for you all and I hope it’s not too shocking: I am not a fan of jam. Not a jam fan. I like homemade freezer jam because it basically tastes like sweetened fruit, but most jam is just too sweet and sickly and cooked fruit-ish for me. If you’re dying to know what I put on toast or peanut butter sandwiches, I like butter on toast and honey on my sandwiches. Am I weird?
Well, I thought I hated all regular jam until I went to Smucker’s last month and I got to try their Orchard’s Finest preserves (and then discovered, in a cruel twist of fate, that they don’t sell it where I live). Even the names are pretty–Pacific Mountain Strawberry and Coastal Valley Peach Apricot and North Woods Blueberry and Fall Harvest Cinnamon Apple. And the jars? 
Don’t even get me started on the jars. Y’all know how I feel about adorable jars and bottles.
I love this jam because not only does it taste fabulous, but it’s fancier than your average jar of jam, so it’s great for holiday entertaining or gift-giving. Instead of just handing someone a jar of jam (anyone remember the Gilmore Girls where Rory and Lorelai forgot to get Luke a present in Europe, so they brought him a jar of jam and he found it lame?), you could fill line a basket with a festive tea towel and then fill it fresh croissants or homemade rolls and then add a jar of jam with a ribbon on it.
Or you could make a plate of these cookies and deliver them with a jar of jam and a copy of the recipe.
If you’re having a party, you could serve up a plate of crackers and slices of crusty bread with some of your favorite cheeses and a few jars of jam. It’s elegant and easy and requires zero to little prep (which is totally what I need right now!)
Because it’s getting close to Christmas and because it’s Thursday (which has always been my favorite day…don’t ask…), we’re giving away 3, count ’em, three of the following gift baskets:
-6 jars of Smucker’s Orchard’s Finest preserves in a cute little crate
-A set of spreading tools (or something similar)
-$100 gift card to Cooking.com
To enter, leave us a comment telling us how you’re getting into the holiday spirit right now! You need to respond here on this post in the comments section, not through email or on Facebook or Twitter. The giveaway is a short one! It will end next Tuesday, December 13 and the winners will be announced on Wednesday morning.
**Thank you to all who entered! This giveaway is now closed!**
I’ve been singing a different carol each day — finding the music and singing through all the verses. Such good messages in the verses we don’t usually hear and of course, the main verses are old favorites.
I am getting into the holiday spirit by decorating my house! I love the lights on the house and the tree and everything in between! 🙂
The holiday spirit has been slow in coming for me this year. I am in my final semester of school and will graduate next week- as long as I finish the research paper I should be working on instead of reading this blog! I haven’t had a lot of time to think about the holidays yet, but last week my friend gave me a recipe for the most delicious toffee I have ever eaten and I made a batch and hid it from the kids so that I could eat it all! Everytime I have a piece I feel like a little bit of Christmas is melting in my mouth! I’m looking forward to making a whole lot more and sharing it with my neighbors so that they can feel a little holiday joy, too. After all, the Christmas spirit is better felt with a little chocolate to go along! And some jam would taste really nice with the cinnamon toast we traditionally have on Christmas morning!
By listening to Christmas music!!
Tonight we are going to see our community Nativity display. They are beautiful nativities from all around the world! Nothing helps me feel the real spirit of the season. Thanks!
I love this time of year. I am getting in the holiday spirit by reading my children a Christmas book every night before bed time. We get a new Christmas book each year to add to our collection. So fun!
Homemade advent calendar with Christmas-y activities and gifts for the kids!
Eating peppermint bark while studying for finals!
These look so good I need to check if my grocery store carries them. This year we had our first baby, so we’re enjoying starting traditions of our own. So far we set up the Christmas tree and decorated the house.
Having an open house to welcome friends and family. . homemade goodies and a grand fresh cut tree!! AND Michael Buble Christmas cd.. Now if I can just get it all done!! hehe
I’m loving all of the Christmas movies and specials on TV!
I’m just entering the goody-making phase of the holidays. The peppermint bark rice crispy treats are on my list and I’m really excited about them!
To get in the holiday spirit, we’re making thumb print and rugelach cookies with jam!
I’m just now starting to get into the Christmas spirit…tree and lights will go up this weekend, and the classroom won’t be decorated until next week. Yikes, it’s coming quickly!!
Putting up our pencil tree this year! No room for our full-sized one. Plus there’s always delicious holiday BAKING!
I’m gathering supplies to make sugar scrub for gifting and I’m making an awesome Christmas ribbon wreath — time consuming, but I’m so hoping the final results are worth it.
Listening to LOTS of Christmas music and baking goodies helps our Christmas spirit.
I’m listening to Christmas music, as this moment is Josh Groban.
We decorated our house, and play Christmas music. That always puts us in the Christmas spirit.
Amidst baby preparations (I’m due Dec. 27th), I’m trying to find the time (and energy) to get our tree decorated with my 3 year old. It’s been up for a few days now, it just needs the “stuff” on it!
We are going caroling with friends and while caroling deliver plates of goodies, fruit, and a cup of soup and bread, to widows and widowers in our area. We always come back come back to our house and share our goodies that everyone brings and have hot chocolate. We did this growing up and always caroled “redneck” style. We would pile into the horse trailer and go place to place. So fun and great memories.
We have been making lots of crafts, cards, and tags. I love it. Next week I will start the baking 🙂 O-my favorite time of year!!!
Baking and decorating and shopping and listening to Christmas music!
Baking cookies and going to holiday parties!
Baking, decorating the Christmas tree, and lots of peppermint hot chocolate!
We have the cutest advent calendar that me and my sis made years ago- every mornng I try to talk my 2 yr old into being excited about it- and we watch Rudolph every night!! Gotta love it!!!
writing out Christmas cards, baking & shopping! Happy Holidays!
Yum!! What a delicious giveaway. I love to set up my collection of nativities from our travels in the US and Foreign. Also, love to look for new recipes for Christmas Breakfast with our family. There is one that has been a staple for almost 40 years but others come and go.
Have a God Filled Day
Shirley
Getting into the Christmas by decorating & baking with the kids. & hot chocolate & Christmas movies!
I just finished putting up all my Christmas decorations. Usually, it’s a one evening kind of event. This year it took 3 whole days because we had to squeeze it in between school, hockey practice and church functions. It’s all finally up and I’m happy!