UPDATE: The winner of the mug and tote is Michelle Duhon!
* * * * *
Diana Cosby ©2017
Gifts come in many shapes and sizes, but I believe the most precious ones are those delivered from the heart. It’s easy to get caught up in the mayhem of life, particularly during the Holidays, but every day, there are people amidst the chaos who help you, who take time out of their busy lives to make a difference in yours. This year, why not return that gift?
This holiday season, as wrapped gifts exchange hands, I ask you to pause, reflect on those who’ve truly made a difference in your life, and if possible, find a special way to say thank you. This can be a simple gesture—something like a greeting card, a bouquet of flowers, or a heartfelt poem. Maybe you could bake their favorite cookies? Or, present them a coupon book filled with everyday chores, which they can tear out and give you to do on those days when they really need a helping hand. The absolute best gift you can offer another person is one given from the heart. And when special-delivered, without any strings attached, it touches their own.
This Christmas, I’m making gift baskets filled with my favorite homemade things, such as macadamia-butterscotch chip cookies, shortbread, double chocolate-orange-pecan biscotti, Vermont maple syrup, and more. With each one, I’m sharing a part of myself with the other person.
What ideas can you think of? Remember—the more original and inventive, the more fun! 🙂 I can’t wait to hear your ideas! ONE person will be drawn from all who post, and the winner will receive one of my totes and a mug.
(*Contest ends the 23rd of December, 2017.)
*~*~*~*
My gift to you, one of my favorite recipes: Butterfinger Ice-cream Pie!
Apple Pie Ice-cream Pie
INGREDIENTS:
Chocolate cookie pie shell
1 Quart Apple Pie ice cream
Whipped cream
1/3 Cup of brown sugar
1/2 Cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 Tsp. cinnamon
1/16th Tsp. cloves
Chocolate syrup
Caramel syrup
DIRECTIONS:
Place 1 quart of softened Apple Pie ice cream into chocolate cookie pie shell and smooth out flat. Layer with ½ inch or slightly more of whipped cream. Sift on brown sugar/chopped nuts/cinnamon/cloves mixture. Drizzle on top lines of chocolate syrup and caramel syrup. Cover, freeze and enjoy!!!
*~*~*~*
I wish everyone a fabulous holiday season filled with friendship, laughter, and blessings!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, International Best-Selling Author
www.dianacosby.com
Diana’s next release, Forbidden Vow, book #3 The Forbidden Series, is available for pre-order. Release date 15 May 2018.
https://www.dianacosby.com/ForbiddenVow.html
About the Author
A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense. Books in her award-winning MacGruder Brothers series have been translated in five languages. Diana has spoken at the Library of Congress, Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and appeared in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happy Ever After,” MSN.com, Atlantic County Women Magazine, and Texoma Living Magazine.
After her career in the Navy, Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world. After the release of the bestselling MacGruder Brothers series, The Oath Trilogy, and books #1 & 2 of The Forbidden Series, she’s now working on book #3, Forbidden Vow which will be released in May 2018.
Diana looks forward to the years of writing ahead and meeting the amazing people who will share this journey.
Website | Facebook
Forbidden Knight page | Forbidden Vow page
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We enjoy cookies – butter, sugar, peanut butter whirls, snicker doodles, almond thingys. But I also crochet ornaments for everyone and started a crocheted creche. I made one a year. They are time consuming. I am also into Moldova wine and share that with everyone. Our daughter is in the Peace Corps there.
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Delilah,
My deepest thanks for having me back on your blog. The holidays are a special time to me, the perfect time in fact to stop to thank those who have made a positive difference in your life. I look forward to hearing how others thank those who are special in their life. Take care, and Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Debra Guyette wrote:
We enjoy cookies – butter, sugar, peanut butter whirls, snicker doodles, almond thingys. But I also crochet ornaments for everyone and started a crocheted creche. I made one a year. They are time consuming.
~Hi Debra, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing. No doubt everyone loves their handmade gift from you. Very special. Wow, a crocheted creche, how beautiful!
I am also into Moldova wine and share that with everyone.
~:) Yum.
Our daughter is in the Peace Corps there.
~What a wonderful life experience for your daughter. I know you are so proud of her. Take care, and I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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I donate to my favorite charities & there is a homebound neighbor I always spend time with & take a cat themed gift bc she loves them so. We love my Monster cookies so I make a batch for the boys but they don’t last long.
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Hi, I have been making homemade mounds bars, peanut butter fudge, and Oreo cheesecake cupcakes. Then I try to find a wine that everyone likes and make some gift baskets. Can’t go wrong with chocolate and wine! Lol
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This year for the holidays my mom and I made charm bracelets to give out to all the ladies we work with. Our final tally ended up near 60! It was so much fun picking out beads with colors that we knew each person liked and then matching up charms to their likes. We started Black Friday and worked each weekend and finally finished them up this evening! We probably could have worked faster had we not been watching Hallmark movies!
Happy Holidays ladies!
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No fair teasing. 🙂 You wrote: “My gift to you, one of my favorite recipes: Butterfinger Ice-cream Pie!” but posted the recipe for: Apple Pie Ice-cream Pie.
I love Butterfingers but apples not so much. lol
Hubby and I don’t exchange gifts with others any longer (no kids, parents all passed on) but we enjoy getting together with friends.
I agree that handmade gifts are fun and thoughtful. I still have a Christmas ornament that my high-school best friend made me over 45 years ago. Although we lost touch with each other years ago that ornament is priceless to me. It’s one of only a few that I kept when we downsized and moved 1,100 miles 5 years ago.
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Misty Dawn wrote: Hi, I have been making homemade mounds bars, peanut butter fudge, and Oreo cheesecake cupcakes. Then I try to find a wine that everyone likes and make some gift baskets. Can’t go wrong with chocolate and wine! Lol
~Hi Misty, I appreciate your stopping by. Wow, sounds yummy! I agree, wine is always a welcome gift. Take care, and I wish you a terrific holiday season!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Tamara Kasyan wrote: This year for the holidays my mom and I made charm bracelets to give out to all the ladies we work with. Our final tally ended up near 60! It was so much fun picking out beads with colors that we knew each person liked and then matching up charms to their likes. We started Black Friday and worked each weekend and finally finished them up this evening! We probably could have worked faster had we not been watching Hallmark movies! Happy Holidays ladies!
~Hi Tamara, thank you so much for stopping by and sharing. Wow, what a wonderful and special gift, plus amazing memories of the time spent with your mom to cherish. I wish you a wonderful holiday season!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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ButtonsMom2003 wrote: No fair teasing. 🙂 You wrote: “My gift to you, one of my favorite recipes: Butterfinger Ice-cream Pie!” but posted the recipe for: Apple Pie Ice-cream Pie.
I love Butterfingers but apples not so much. lol
~*Blush* Opps. So sorry about that. Here’s the recipe:
Butterfinger Pie
.Chocolate pie shell
.Quart Butterfinger ice cream
.Whipped cream
.Chocolate fudge ice cream topping
.Caramel ice cream topping
.One Butterfinger chocolate bar chopped up
Place 1 quart of softened Butterfinger ice cream into chocolate cookie pie shell and smooth out flat. Place ½ inch or slightly more thick layer of whipped cream. Drizzle on the chocolate fudge and caramel ice cream toppings. Sprinkle with chopped Butterfinger chocolate bar. Put plastic top on and freeze.
*I usually make this a couple of days in advance and leave it on a flat shelf in the freeze. Enjoy!
Hubby and I don’t exchange gifts with others any longer (no kids, parents all passed on) but we enjoy getting together with friends.
~:) Time spent with friends is the best gift.
I agree that handmade gifts are fun and thoughtful. I still have a Christmas ornament that my high-school best friend made me over 45 years ago. Although we lost touch with each other years ago that ornament is priceless to me. It’s one of only a few that I kept when we downsized and moved 1,100 miles 5 years ago.
~*Hugs* What a beautiful memory, thank you for sharing. I still have the drawings and ornaments that my kids made when they were small. I appreciate your stopping by, and hope your holidays are terrific!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Hi Diana. Loved reading your post. Recipe sounds yummy, Thanks. At Christmas growing up and now we all exchange homemade gifts. Mom and dad always encouraged our creativity. This year one of my sisters and I did cards for mailman and others in the neighborhood. I cooked meals for a neighbor who lives by her self. But in my eyes she is amazing because Maranda (sister) paints pictures for others. Most have meanings, poems or prayers. Not only is it therapy for her, its a way to make others happy.
Thanks and glad to share with you.
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Michelle Duhon wrote:
Hi Diana. Loved reading your post. Recipe sounds yummy, Thanks.
~Hi Michelle, thank you so much for stopping by. If you try the recipe, enjoy!
At Christmas growing up and now we all exchange homemade gifts. Mom and dad always encouraged our creativity. This year one of my sisters and I did cards for mailman and others in the neighborhood. I cooked meals for a neighbor who lives by her self. But in my eyes she is amazing because Maranda (sister) paints pictures for others. Most have meanings, poems or prayers. Not only is it therapy for her, its a way to make others happy. Thanks and glad to share with you.
~Wow, how wonderful, and I appreciate your sharing. What a beautiful tradition, one no doubt that brings such joy to others. Take care and I hope your Christmas is filled with friendship, laughter, and blessings!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Recipe sounds great , nothing special but do cook a big old turkey dinner for all my family and am just greatful to spend time with my family and grandkids who are the joy of my life , have a very merry Christmas
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Growing up my family made tamales and passed them out, but I like now as an adult, making cookies and candies. I pass them out to friends and family, this is how I share a piece of my self.
Happy Holidays
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I’m going to try the cookies they Sound so good
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Comment 13 · December 20th, 2017 at 9:33 am
Recipe sounds great , nothing special but do cook a big old turkey dinner for all my family and am just greatful to spend time with my family and grandkids who are the joy of my life , have a very merry Christmas
Thank you so much for stopping by. Sounds wonderful.
Spending time with family is the best gift. I hope you have an amazing time! Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Christina Riggs wrote:
Growing up my family made tamales and passed them out, but I like now as an adult, making cookies and candies. I pass them out to friends and family, this is how I share a piece of my self.
Happy Holidays
~Hi Christina, thank you for sharing. Homemade tamales are yummy! 🙂 Awww, what a special gift, no doubt one enjoyed by all. Take care, and I wish you a wonderful holiday!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Nell Norwood
I’m going to try the cookies they Sound so good.
~Hi Nell I appreciate your stopping by. I hope you enjoy the cookies. Merry Christmas!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Delilah, thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. Always an honor. *Hugs*
After a random drawing, the winner of the mug and tote is Michelle Duhon. Congratulations! Michelle, please e me a mailing address at diana@dianacosby.com
My deepest thanks to everyone for stopping by and for sharing how you thank those special in your life for the holidays. I wish each of you a wonderful holiday season and a tremendous New Year!
Sincerely,
Diana Cosby, AGC(AW), USN, Ret.
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Thanks so much for being a great guest and offering such a cool prize! Congrats, Michelle!