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!**
Decorating my tree and apartment helped get me in the holiday spirit. Also, I’ll be doing some holiday baking this weekend as well. That always helps too!
Putting up decorations. I do most everything in hot pink and lime green. It makes it fun and it slightly strays from the norm.
Staying up late making Christmas presents while listening to Josh Groban’s “Noel” cd in the background, and my Christmas lights and nativity lit up. Oh I love Christmas!
Lots of baking and candy making for homemade goodie baskets!!
Today I’m making ornaments and baking Christmas treats!
Putting together gifts for neighbors and friends, enjoying the “advent calendar” (twenty-four Christmas socks hanging from a rope with a treat or activity in each) with my kids.
We just got back from a Western Caribbean cruise, so I’m struggling with the idea that Christmas is just around the corner (my brain is still on a white sandy beach with clear blue water splashing around it). I am blasting Christmas music like crazy, and digging out the decorations so I can get at least 1 tree up. Three Christmas parties next week should help the situation some. 😀
I’m getting in the holiday spirit by singing and performing with the Chorale….
Yes, we need a little Christmas, right this very minute . . .
Listening to Christmas music and planning our cookie bake!
If you like putting honey on your toast you should try whipped honey!
As for how I am getting in the holiday spirit, I just put up my Christmas tree, and will be wrapping presents to Christmas music, while I play the fireplace DVD on my tv complete with fireplace scented candle!
I’ve been watching Hallmark Christmas shows while I bake Christmas goodies and wrap presents.
I got into the Christmas spirit by buying my daughters’ Christmas dresses yesterday!
Rushing to finish doll clothes for my granddaughters’ Christmas gifts. Then I can begin baking Christmas goodies and making yummy home-made candies.
Baking, and singing lots of Christmas songs with my baby niece as I decorate the house! 🙂
Already started giving away your homemade fudge/fondue to neighbors last Sunday. The tag said “Merry Christmas! Fudge & kisses, the Hough family” 🙂
Today we are celebrating my husbands birthday so holiday spirit has been put on hold, but tomorrow I will start back up again with a day of simple crafting with some friends!
Buy making holiday cookies of course :c) Got the tree up & the inside decorated. Just gotta get some lights up outside & wrap the gifts! great giveaway! thanks :c)
I am making extra goodies to take to a retirement home next week!
Making neighbor gifts.
Well.. I have 2 Christmas Parties to attend this week!!!!!
Christmas shopping at the mall with friends, Christmas music playing, kids musical program at church, small town “old fashioned Christmas,” house lit at night by Christmas lights……the season has begun and I love every minute of it!
Decorate the swimming pool I work at and playing Christmas music to get into the holiday cheer.
I started “getting ready” in October with Christmas music and shopping. We decorated inside and out and put up our tree after Thanksgiving. Then, we went to several parades and craft fairs. Next on the agenda is the Nutcracker ballet and a hayride through Tanglewood Festival of Lights! I heart Christmas!
My Christmas gift shopping is done, so now I’m getting in the mood by working on my Christmas Day menu (yum! It’s a day to celebrate life, family, good will and good cheer for all!) – Happy Holidays!
We are making holiday crafts for our gifts this year, it is getting us into the holiday spirit!
Writing out Christmas cards; shopping for family members presents… Helping my grandma with her little tree in her apartment… it’s all cheery!
I’m making and wrapping wonderful caramels. Yum Yum
We have been watching lots of Christmas movies and baking lots of treats!
Oh, what a great giveaway. Thanks for a chance.
I am actually taking a break from mixing up Christmas cookie dough. I have made 4 different batches plus a pan of fudge. That is how I am getting ready for Christmas.
Compiling my shopping list for the goodies that I want to make for others. Updating addresses on my mailing list and sending out our Christmas cards. Since we just moved, I’m trying to come up with a creative way to push aside the moving boxes so we can bring out our Christmas decorations.