Holiday Season Has Begun and Giveaway Winner

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families!

  

Today is the official beginning of the Holiday Season, the most magical time of the year for my family.

My children are fascinated by the Christmas lights that neighbors put out and we are going to see more of them each day. This weekend we are going to put up and decorate our Christmas tree. And next week I plan to write and send out Christmas cards. However, my most favorite holiday activity is baking! I have several new recipes pinned. And I am so much looking forward to a family cookie exchange party that we are going to in a couple of weeks. Then there will be more gatherings and parties to attend. Such fun!  

And today is the day to announce the winner of the Mariposa tabletop fountain. It’s Susan from Writing Straight from the Heart. Congratulations!

Finally Cold Days

Last night it finally started raining. And it wasn’t just a light shower, but a nice heavy rain! The temperature dropped down to the sixties, making it appropriate to light a fireplace (I had been waiting for that).

This morning my hardwood floors were so cold that I had to put on a pair of warm knitted socks that my mom made for me.

In the afternoon the skies cleared up a bit and my boys and I went out to get some fresh air. Other than some trees changing colors, we didn’t see many interesting sights. But raindrops on the succulents in our front yard sure looked pretty.

Tabletop Fountain Giveaway

Back in June I had Smart Solar Flutterbys giveaway sponsored by Serenity Health. They were so kind as to offer another giveaway for my readers.

The prize for today’s giveaway is Mariposa Tabletop Fountain.

The sound of falling water is so calming and relaxing. And the fountain’s dreamy design can be a beautiful addition to your side table or desk.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below. Make sure there is a way for me to contact you if you win.

The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced on November 23, 2012. Due to custom issues that might arise, the giveaway is open only to US residents.

The last day to enter the giveaway is Thursday, November 22, 2012.

More of Krakow, Poland

My most memorable cultural experience in Krakow was attending an evening concert of classical music at this majestic old church. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul dates back to the seventeenth century and represents Polish Baroque style.

As for my best culinary experience, it was a brunch with my husband at a small inviting tavern. We both had traditional Polish dumplings called pierogi. I had ones stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms, and my husband had ones stuffed with potatoes. They both were very delicious.

You might ask me what my best shopping experience was. Well, I didn’t do any shopping. I realized that my home is filled with tons of small souvenirs and trinkets from my trips and I probably don’t need any more. I thought it was wiser to spend time and money on seeing and experiencing things rather than shopping. Nevertheless, I enjoyed window shopping at some lovely artisan shops.