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 am planning the menu for my Christmas Wrapping Party where I invite 10 friends over to wrap their presents. I provide wrap, tissue, ribbons, tags – they just bring their gifts to wrap. It’s a perfect combination – I make yummy snacks, we have fun together, they are “productive” and leave feeling so accomplished. So now I’m trying to decide what brunchy items to serve….this is my favorite thing to do for friends.
I’ve been spending time baking and decorating Sara’s famous sugar cookies while listening to Christmas music and totally enjoying myself. 🙂
We broke out all of our Christmas books and have been reading them with the kids, listening to Christmas music, and now I’m going to be starting on my Christmas goodies this weekend.
I am making a Christmas DVD with scriptures, pictures, and songs.
I’m adding christmas music to my workout song list! 🙂
I’m prepping Christmas paper crafts for my daughter’s 2nd grade class!
Putting up decorations and looking at Christmas lights. It’s been fairly easy with a 2 1/2 year old 🙂
My family has set up our tree and decor, I’ve bren doing alot of test baking of goodies,my daughter has been sing carol and playing Christmas music, My son made a wish list for Sants, and this weekend we are taking pictires for our cards
My three year old is getting me in the holiday spirit this year. I don’t know what it is but it just doesn’t quite feel like Christmas yet (maybe it’s becasue time went by so fast this past year or what). Anyways when he comes home everyday from preschool singing songs for their Christmas program he sure starts getting me in the Holiday Spirit 🙂
I’m cleaning the house and finally putting up my Christmas decorations.
Making cookies, listening to Christmas music and going shopping! Also writing little notes to my primary kids with little treats, and avoiding my homework!
Today I finished Christmas shopping online (except for my father-in-law, what in the world do I get him, maybe jam) and now on to the baking neighbor gifts, you know, in between babysitting three kids and two of my own.
I’m baking and reading Christmas stories to my little ones! 🙂
I am decorating my house with Christmas decor and baking up a storm lately! I’ve been making anything mint and chocolate to get into the Christmas mood!
Got the tree up! Working on the gift list!
Singing Christmas songs to my baby! Well, he’s not really a baby anymore 🙁
Decorations Decorations Decorations!!! Plus we keep a peppermint candle lit pretty much all day, which keeps the house smelling nice and Christmasy!
In addition to making some of your cookie recipes to give cookie dough gifts this year, I mailed my holiday cards this morning. =)
The tree is up, the mantle is decorated,some shopping is done. Next up? Cookies!
By decorating, baking, shopping, and spending time with family.
We have Christmas music playing round the clock. I love it and often find myself or my 5yr old dancing and singing along.
holiday baking
Ive got my collection of nativitys out and am teaching my little man some fun Christmas songs! Love the holiday season! Thanks for the giveaway!
Baking! I just made your peppermint brownies last night.
Making cookies, watching christmas movies and listening to christmas music helps me get into the Christmas spirit!
What a great giveaway! I’m getting in the holiday spirit by enjoying the 60 degree temps we’ve been having here in South Florida. Perfect for leaving windows open while baking and watching our Christmas tree sparkle 🙂
Christmas is a favorite in our home! My three year old and I bake daily, have put up all the decorations, and sent a letter off to Santa! We read Christmas stories daily, and talk about Christ, and the true meaning of Christmas. Oh, and loads of Christmas music, crafts, and cards!!!
I’m listening to lots of Christmas music all the time! And enjoying the Advent candle lightings each week. 🙂
Tonight I’m getting in the holiday spirit with a bowl of homemade ice cream and hot fudge with some candy cane joe-joes sprinkled on top!
We’re making cookies to take to my husband’s co-workers, and we’ve been giving out candy canes to people we see each day (with a little Christmas note attached), like cashiers at the grocery store, the mailman, etc. It has been fun!