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’m busy crafting away and make a “to bake” list! If only I had some helper elves. 🙂
I am making homemade bath scrubs to give away for Christmas and burning a B&BW Christmas candle. 🙂
i’m in the midst of glitter, ribbon, and bling! making my Christmas cards tonight!
Christmas cooking, reading the Christmas story from the Bible and singing carols- some of our favorite things right now.
I’m working on handmade gifts to give to family we haven’t seen in 2 years.
I am making party mix to send to family
Cleaning the house to christmas music & getting ready for holiday guests.
I am decorating my apartment and making ornaments like I always do!
How am I getting into the Christmas spirit? Slowly! I’ve managed to set out my advent calendar, and do a little shopping (mostly on-line). I need to tidy up a bit in order to make room for the tree. Maybe I just need to make my family sit down and watch “The Bishop’s Wife” or “Last Holiday”…
I am making a lot of candies and treats to take to family and friends. And of course last minute gift shopping!
To get into the holiday spirit I am listening to Michael Buble’s Holiday album and making some christmas decorations. I love christmas time!
Geting in the holiday spirit by crashing the christmas tree to the floor…almost did it a second time! Watering an overloaded and unblanced tree is not too holly and jolly! Making sugar cookies tomorrow 🙂 Good cookies always help the “grinchies”.
I listen to Christmas music…all the time!!!!
I’m getting into the holiday mood by getting into my baking groove again. My brother is already asking for my cinnamon sugar cookies! Lol!
Baking! It always gets me in the Christmas spirit.
I put up the Christmas decorations today, the grandchildren loved them!!
Unfortunately, I am having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit. I do have the car radio set on the 24hr holiday music station and I think I have caught my favorite movie (A Christmas Carol – George C. Scott) 3 nights in a row, but I haven’t even brought out the christmas decorations yet 🙁
I just finished up hanging jingle bells around the house! My 3-year-old loves it!
I’m making gingerbread houses with my friends!! 😀 And listening to Christmas music, which we are all singing along to (and terribly out of tune, I might add).
I’m investing in charitable agencies making an effort to have a link between the person I am giving in honor of & the gift I “give”*; trying to be more mindful of others who are in need in addition to getting special gifts for my loved ones. (Give to a food pantry in honor of someone who has a job and able to provide for their family; give for a child to go to school in a 3rd world country, in honor of your child’s education; options are unlimited!! Here’s one: http://www.worldconcern.org/ )I’m also going to try to cull out closets and donate items to help people who can use the “stuff” I’m not using.
baking and baking!
Baking cookies and jam thumbprints are really good:@)
We’re putting up our tree today!
I am putting up lights and going to see other lights as well! Also loving the hot chocolate 🙂
Nice gift! I am a jam lover, so this would be very welcomed. Today, to get in the holiday spirit, I put out all the lighted lawn ornaments – 2 spiral trees, 1 twiggy, glittery tree, 2 rope light presents, a rope light train, some white reindeer, and a bunch of little snowmen. And all of this when it’s 30-ish degrees (yes, I’m nuts!). I’m sort of surprised that they all work as it’s been a few years since they’ve been used (we weren’t in the mood last year after losing my mother-in-law, father-in-law and grandmother in the span of 3 months. So it’s wonderful to have the cheery decorations again!
We have been making crafts like angels & wreaths!
I listen to Christmas music and have all the classic Christmas shows on my DVR. I’m getting ready to bake some goodies, especially since my youngest will be home from college next week.
Decorating the house!
I’m decorating the house and starting to bake.
singing christmas carols with my little kiddos 🙂