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 listening to Christmas music and wishing for cranberry punch.
I have been working on Christmas gifts as well as baking and decorating.
I have been making Christmas jammies and Waldorf Dolls for my little monkeys while listening to carols. We also stocked up on Christmas stories at the library. We are all feeling the Christmas spirit! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Making Christmas treats and singing Christmas carols… such a fun season!
Listening to old, old Christmas songs, and making of list of homemade decorations we will make a few days before Christmas…We love rushing around to finish everything by Christmas eve.
I’m having a hard time getting into the spirit of things this year. But – I am trying! I’m hoping to attend the Messiah this weekend and I’m sure after that I will be BURSTING with Christmas cheer! (The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear. Maybe I will try that next!):)
Right now I’m making Christmas gifts and wrapping up food gift baskets. If I only had more time.
we decorated our tree
baking sweet goodies and singing christmas carols while decorating the christmas tree 🙂
We are picking out our Christmas tree tomorrow, wrapping our gifts, and bringing back the Elf on the Shelf, Gerald.
I, without sounding too cliche, have been working diligently on craft and cooking projects, inspired by all the great things I get from your blog! I just completed a Tulle wreath for the holidays, from white sparkle tulle, lots of silver and turquoise, and of course glitter! It turned out BEAUTIFUL and I JUST LOVED THE IDEA from the Halloween Tulle Wreath post in October (I made one then too!) I also made the cloth flag banner, again one for Christmas and Halloween/Thanksgiving! I have my own seasonal receipes that I always make every year, but I have added Kate’s Turkey Brine trick (my Thanksgiving Turkey was AMAZING), the simple, marshmallow fudge (LOVE IT WAY TOO MUCH) and I went and found those wonderful Peppermint Marshmallows, and am working on fudge and rice krispies treats with my kids this weekend! I just LOVE your blog, ladies! You help keep me rooted in the things I love to do with my kids and for my family; and of course myself and my own fun enjoyment! THANK YOU, OUR BEST BITES!
Three things: Christmas music, cooking, and decorating the house. I dread December since October, then when it gets here I LOVE it!
Listening to Christmas music…a lot!
Playing Christmas music, watching It’s a Wonderful Life and decorating the tree and house!
Baking cookies and candy for friends and family.
We just finished decorating our tree and decking the house, ok parts of the house if I’m going to be totally honest! We’re topping it off with a movie–Alvin and the Chipmunks! Not so much Christmas, but our 4 year old insisted on it!
Thanks for the chance to win and happy holidays!
Amy
I am listening to Christmas music, wrapping presents and cooking up a storm but most importantly I am spending time with family and trying to serve others.
Starting to get Christmas Presents and trying to plan what to fix for the Christmas party at my Parents house!
I made Chex mix recipes for the first time and now I’m wondering where they’ve been all my life! 🙂
Haven’t started yet but hoping to make a Christmas version of this rosette wreath (http://pinterest.com/pin/729034226/)… and the snow globe was adorable as well – may try that one!
Each day we read about a title the Savior had. We also read a Christmas story and play Christmas music while we do things around the house.
Well, first of all, my husband and I sewed our Christmas stockings last night. Oh, how I want to be best friends with my Singer! Unfortunately, my husband is the real seams..ster? Anyway, we also are doing The Elf on the Shelf thing. Oh yes. We are. And to EPIC proportions as well. Last night we made our Elf (Piper) his very own zip line through the living room. “Piper” is also planning on saran-wrapping my in-laws car sometime next week…but if anyone asks, I had nothing to do with it…
We are in the midst of our annual 25 days of Christmas family tradition. We have read Christmas books, watched Christmas movies, had a cookies and egg nog treat night, saw a living nativity and had holiday pancakes. A new holiday activity for every day until Christmas.
The tree is up, the lights are lit, and the packages are all wrapped! Whew!
I’m getting into the Christmas spirit by listening to Christmas music, slowing down and spending more quality time with my little girl, doing my holiday baking and holiday crafts. 🙂
I love baking Christmas cookies and drinking hot cocoa with my kids as we share the Christmas story with each other…
Wrapping presents! I’ve always loved to wrap presents. No one else does for some reason…
Making cut out sugar cookies and butter frosting, YUM!
Christmas music!!! I have it on constantly and it puts me right in the mood.
We decorated our tree this week and we are taking our daughter to have brunch with Santa on Sunday. Love this time of year!! My daughter is 2 and really getting into the holiday spirit this year 🙂