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!**
By explaining to my kids why we dont celebrate the holidays, why other faiths do, and how to be respectful
Ugly sweater party! A holiday must!
I’m listening to Christmas music, of course! And finishing up my final exams–that always gets me into a good Christmas mood.
I am listening to Christmas music and we wnet to the mall to see the decorations and lights! We went to Cracker barrel and that always does it the smells and the crackling fire and all of those trees! Beautiful!
Baking fruit cakes!!
We are spending our family time watching a Christmas movie every night after dinner. During the day, I am baking cookies and candy to mail to my dad and to give to Project Rudolph Germany. They give cookies to wounded warriors and deploying troops 🙂
I am finishing up all my Christmas cards!
Lots of baking and listening to Christmas Music! I want to try these jams, they look yummy!
I’m getting into the holiday spirit by getting my kids into the holiday spirit. We turn on the Christmas tree lights first thing each morning, listen to Christmas music in the car or on Pandora, attend concerts (my husband is a band teacher and we’re both musicians, so we have lots to go to!), watch fun Christmas movies, and we try to do one little activity each night as a family. That’s the Christmas spirit to us… family time. Drinking hot chocolate and making paper snowflakes… doesn’t get much better than that. 🙂
Oh my goodness, I LOVE Gilmore Girls! It’s so funny you brought that up, too, since I was thinking about that when I was reading!
I am finishing up my semester abroad, and just thinking about being home for the holidays is getting me in the spirit! Otherwise, I’ve been walking around London, soaking up all of the decorations, lights, and spirit.
My five year old and I are doing a month of kindness, and we are also making a lot of our holiday gifts! They are both really good lessons to teach this year!
Happy Holidays!
I’m preparing our family’s 12 days of Christmas activities! I’m really excited, because nobody but me knows what is coming 🙂 IT’s going to be so fun!
I’m at work and getting in the holiday spirit by smelling all of the lovely dishes peole have brought for our Holiday potluck! The next 40 mins better fly, my tummy is a rummbly!
I’m baking your Candy Cane Kisses cookies and watching The Grinch on repeat with my 18 month old.
Yum! We’re decorating our tree tonight and I’m starting cookie plates tomorrow!
My family is getting into the Christmas spirit by buying gifts for 3 individuals with intellectual disabilities that wouldn’t normally get Christmas. My kids even said they would be willing to not get presents for each other and use that money to buy these gifts. It has really put us into the Christmas spirit.
Making some mug rugs for gals at work!
Honestly, I wish I could say my holiday spirit was totally up to par right now but my 1st floor flooded yesterday and ruined all my Christmasness. I’m going to try to move it all to our bedroom and see if we can’t make Christmas in our room be the best Christmas ever.
We do a couple of Christmas advents, one activity based and one more spiritually based. Decorating is done and now to finish shopping, wrapping, and baking.
Baking and finishing Christmas shopping.
Just made some 5 ingredient Christmas cookies for my food blog! My house smells like Andes Mint Chocolate baking chips…mmm!
I just finished putting the last ornament on the tree, the stockings are hung, and the kitchen is clean and ready for a mess of baking for our holiday parties coming up. While my husband is at work nights, I listen to Christmas music and finish the beanie I’m making. 🙂
I’m getting into the holiday spirit by having the kiddos help decorate the tree a little more every day, decorating all my co workers offices, and reading over lots of recipes! Also, helping my best friend plan a Welcome Home/Merry Christmas for her beau coming back from Afghanistan!
Putting up Christmas lights, and wrapping gifts.
We listen to/sing Christmas songs, and every evening when it starts getting darker we turn on our Christmas tree lights and enjoy.
We just had our annual cookie exchange, so that’s getting me in the spirit. Plus, there’s shopping and making treats for my son’s teachers. And of course viewings of “A Christmas Story.” 🙂
I’ve been trying out new recipes to bring to holiday partys and making lists for what I need to do once I START christmas shopping.. since I havent yet.
Actually… I bought my boyfriend a SIMPEL watch.. thanks to your post and great deal!! But thats it so far : )
We are getting in the festive spirit by making your Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie treats tonight & then watching Christmas movies as a family 🙂 Love your blog!!! Happy Holidays to you & your family!! 🙂
I am trying to get in the festive spirit by doing activities with the kiddies (like Santa and songs). It’s been a little hectic, so it’s about the best I can do!
Christmas movies with family