Welcome to SSJ Advent 2024
“Let’s ring bells. Let’s send up skyrockets. Well, let’s turn on all the lights in the house!”
– Linda Seton, Holiday
SSJ Advent 2024 has officially begun! And, we’re in one of those magical years in which December First coincides with the First Sunday of ecumenical Advent! While this means that this year’s countdown to Christmas is the shortest it can ever be, our days and nights will be full to the brim with goings on! What’s more, we’ve brought back our ON THIS DAY feature, so be sure to scroll down to the bottom of each post for a look at previous Advent TBDs. Now, on to the show….
Tree Trimming Party
Tonight’s our annual Tree Trimming Party! This evening, we’ll be streaming a few of our favourite Christmas albums and dolling up the Christmas tree we brought home from the Scouts lot earlier this week. As we’re sampling our first Coquito, we’ll be marking the end of an era by making our final Favourite Photo Ornaments. The drama!
First Coquito
As a lover of eggnog (you’ll find my eggnog cocktail for one right here), I’m always trying to taste test local ready-made nogs and to expand my repertoire of eggnog adjacent cocktails. For years, I’ve been promising myself I’d try Coquito, a Puerto Rican eggnog. Except, this drink uses full cans of ingredients and is generally for a crowd. As the only true eggnog enthusiast in the house, I’m often at a loss for who to share it with. But the family is on board for at least a sampling of the Coquito, and I’ve found a few nog-friendly neighbours who are more than willing to come over for a cocktail tonight or to receive a bottle for their fridges! Its takes a village, to be sure.
Since this is my first go at Coquito, I certainly won’t be publishing my own recipe here on SSJ. Instead, I’ll be trying the tested and true Serious Eats Coquito Recipe. This version could easily be made alcohol free by leaving out the rum or choosing a good AF Rum such as NOA Non-Alcoholic. If you are looking for an eggless version, I would suggest the Food52 Spice-Forward Coquito. For the latter, if you’re using alcohol, there’s a make-ahead component, so do be sure to get cracking sooner rather than later if you’re following along at home! As always, drink responsibly.
Final Favourite Photo Ornaments
Now on to the truly sentimental. I mentioned that everyone in the house is willing to sample the Coquito…which means that everyone in our house is now 19 or above. If you’ve ever looked at SSJ Advent before, you’ll know we’ve been making our classic Favourite Photo Ornaments to hang on the tree since 2003. As of 2024, we will have 42 Favourite Photo Ornaments to place on our tree. We now hang these ornaments first instead of last to make sure they all find a place! We don’t think that a tree that can actually fit into our house can hold any more FPOs. So, while this means that our daughter has the slight advantage to her brother in number, we’ve come to an agreement as a family that this will be our final year to make new FPOs. And yes, we’re pretty emotional about it, especially the parents.
Results
Here’s Ye Olde DIY:
Favourite Photo Ornaments, A Streamlined DIY
Ingredients
- Digital Photos [or 2.25x 3.5 Printed Photos]
- Computer
- Photo Printer
- Photo Paper
- Business Card Lamination Sleeves
- Hole Punch
- Scissors
- Ribbon
Instructions
- Pick a favourite photo or two.
- Use your favourite photo editing software to: a) size your image close to a 2/3 ratio so that it will fit into a 2.25X3.5 inch holder. I tend to default to 450×700 pixels. Keep in mind that you are going to punch a hole about 1/2 inch down from the top of the photo. So, crop accordingly! b) Make the image black and white. c) Create any additional borders you desire. d) Add the year in a festive font on the picture.
- Print your photo to approximately 2.25 x3.5 inches.
- Insert your photo (or two photos back to back) inside a laminating sleeve and seal according to package instructions. You might need to trim the photo(s) so that there’s sufficient tackiness around all four sides.
- Punch a hole about 1/2 inch down from the top centre of the laminated photo.
- Cut a ribbon of about 5 to 6 inches in length.
- Tie the tail ends together with a large knot or knots larger than the punched hole.
- Slip the loop from the backside of the photo through to the front, so that the knot stops at the back of the photo. Et voila!
Notes
ON THIS DAY
2023: Festive DIY Painted Candles
2022: Card Games & Jam Night
2021: Make Springerle
2020: Contribute to the Daily Bread Food Bank
2019: Tree Trimming Party
2018: Tree Trimming Party
2017: Tree Trimming Party
2016: Lunch, Shopping, and the Ferris Wheel at the Toronto Christmas Market
2015: Family Book Exchange
2014: DIY Vanilla Extract and Simple Syrup
2013: Read & Illustrate As You Like It, Act I [With Some Alternate Options for the Little ones]
2012: Tree Trimming Party, Cinnamon Glitter Ornaments and Favourite Photo Ornaments
2011: Gratitude Ornaments
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