Freezer Meals

Honeycutt Baby #2 is due in May 2013!

Now that I'll have a toddler to care for while I'm recuperating, I need to have a freezer full of meals by the time baby #2 gets here.  

Make ahead food for Ben

Chili (homemade)

Shredded chicken in sandwich baggies (kroger)

Chicken Enchiladas (homemade)

Tortillas (homemade)

Hot Sandwiches (roast beef, Italian chicken, mexican chicken)

Make ahead food for Me and Trinity

Baked Spaghetti (homemade)

Chicken Salad? Can i freeze this?

Breakfast Casserole (homemade)

Quiche (homemade)

Breakfast Burritos (homemade)

Breakfast Sandwiches (homemade)

Frozen Ingredients

Green Beans (costco)

Broccoli (costco)

Salmon (costco)

Sandwich Bread (homemade sourdough)

Chicken Broth (homemade with Organic chickens)

Bagels (aldi)

Mozzarella Cheese (costco)

Frozen Ingredients for Ben

Chicken Fingers (aldi)

Fish Filets (aldi)

Tilapia (aldi)

Corn Dogs (costco)

Hotdogs (aldi)

Hotdog Buns (aldi)

French Fries (walmart)

Hash browns (walmart)

Refrigerator Ingredients

10# of carrots (costco)

4 dozen eggs (kroger or farm)

chicken salad (homemade)

Apples 

Grapes

Kefir (homemade)

Butter (kerrygold-walmart)

Lemons

Cream Cheese

Dry Foods

2# Pinto Beans (Earth Fare)

2# Northern Beans (Earth Fare)

1# Green Peas (Earth Fare)

Brown Rice (costco)

Quinoa (costco)

Cheerios (kroger)

3# Oats (Earth Fare)

Freezer Recipes

Honey Rosemary Chicken

IN THE BAG- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite sized pieces, 1/3 c balsamic vinegar, 1/3 c honey, 1/3 c olive oil, 3 T chopped fresh rosemary, 1 t salt. Let marinate for several hours in the refrigerator before freezing.

TO COOK- Let defrost completely in the fridge. Add 1 cup of water and the contents of the bag to the crockpot. Then cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Ten minutes before serving, add cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

TO SERVE- Serve over couscous (or rice). Be generous with the sauce as you ladle- it’s fabulous.

Coconut Curry Chicken (modified from this Chicken Curry recipe at Martha Stewart)

IN THE BAG- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 2 lbs. of chopped butternut squash, 2 medium onions,chopped, 8 minced garlic cloves, 1 oz fresh ginger, 2 T curry powder,1 t ground coriander, 1 t ground cumin, coarse salt

TO COOK- Add the contents of the bag and a can of coconut milk to a slow cooker and cook on low all day. 25 minutes before serving, add another can of coconut milk and a bag of frozen peas.

TO SERVE- Garnish with chopped cashews and cilantro (except if you’re us and you hate cilantro- then just garnish with cashews).

Lime Salsa Chicken (modified from the Cilantro Chicken recipe at Pip & Ebby)

IN THE BAG- Juice from one lime, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional), a 1.25-oz. package taco seasoning, 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional), 3 lbs. boneless chicken breasts or thighs, 1 chopped red pepper, and 1/2 onion, chopped

TO COOK- In a slow cooker, mix together the contents of the bag and one 24-ounce jar of salsa (I used mango salsa, but use whatever kind of salsa you like). Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

TO SERVE- Serve in corn tortillas with rice.

Advocare 24 Day Challenge - Day7

PreBreakfast- Spark, (3) Catalyst,
ProBiotic Restore™ ULTRA packet

Breakfast: (2) OmegaPlex, apple, egg, 2 slices turkey bacon

Lunch: hamburger patty,
marinara sauce, steamed vegetables

Afternoon Snack: carrots, celery, hummus

Dinner: salad, chicken, cherry tomatoes,
1/2 bell pepper, fat free sour cream, salsa

Evening Snack: 2 kiwi

Before Bed- (3) Catalyst, Herbal Cleanse Packet

Advocare 24 Day Challenge - Day 5

PreBreakfast- Spark & (3) Catalyst,

ProBiotic Restore™ ULTRA packet

Breakfast- (3) OmegaPlex, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 egg, turkey bacon

Mid-Morning Snack- didn't have one because we slept in :)

Lunch- black bean burger, carrots, & broccoli

Afternoon Snack- carrots, celery, 

hummus, & 1/2 hamburger patty

Dinner- (2) OmegaPlex, spring mix salad,
shredded mexican style chicken, black beans,
fat free sour cream, & cherry tomatoes

Evening Snack- (3) Catalyst

Before Bed- herbal cleanse

How I'm feeling...

Thoughts about Today:
*I've had plenty of energy all day, and I'm loving that I no longer feel bloated. I can see that my face is a little thinner & I wore another shirt that I haven't worn since per-pregnancy.
*For dinner, we had a church event where I was expecting to eat a nice, balanced meal, but there were only hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, and brownies. I was hungry and it was dinner time, so I had half of a hamburger patty and planned on having my real dinner when I got home.  This was a HUGE accomplishment for me, because a week ago, I would have just eaten what was there.  I'm determined to succeed, and I recognized, in the moment, that eating a hamburger & chips would have been a set-back.



**I'll update with the rest of my pictures tomorrow. I dropped my phone in the tub last night, so it's drying out right now.

Advocare 24 Day Challenge - Day 4

PreBreakfast- Spark & (3) Catalyst,
ProBiotic Restore™ ULTRA packet

Breakfast- (3) OmegaPlex, 1/2 grapefruit, 1 egg

Mid-Morning Snack- celery & hummus

Lunch- (first meal out) Half portion of
'Lighter' margarita grilled chicken,
rice, beans, salsa @ Chili's

Afternoon Snack- apple & almond butter

Dinner- (3) OmegaPlex, lean ground beef patty,
homemade marinara sauce,
sugar snap peas, and carrots

Before Bed- (3) Catalyst, Herbal Cleanse Packet

 

How I'm feeling...

Emotionally: I've found myself having an easier time making smart choices. I think this is because I can already feel a difference in my belly area. I know that what I'm doing is working, so it isn't hard for me to make the right decisions. I feel better and I look better.  I'm definitely seeing a change in my mindset, which is really exciting!!! Trinity and I went to the mall today and I got a bottle of water when we got there, and I was never tempted to "treat" myself even though no one was watching!! :D

Physically: My belly is definitely flatter! :D  I'm wearing a shirt that I haven't worn since Trinity was born!  Ben keeps telling me that my face looks thinner. I'm loving these immediate results!!!

I feel great and have plenty of energy!

About Today...
*I ate out for the first time since I started the 24 Day Challenge. I was super proud of my choice and I didn't go crazy eating chips and salsa like I normally would have.
*I didn't need the evening snack!!! YAY!!!
*I was out and about most of the day, so I didn't do so well with my water intake. I'll have to plan better the next time I'm away from home.

Ben's 26th Birthday

@ Chili's

Advocare - 24 Day Challenge - Day 3

Food Log 

 

PreBreakfast- Spark & (3) Catalyst

Breakfast- Fiber Drink, (3) OmegaPlex, apple, egg, and turkey bacon
 
















Mid-Morning Snack- celery, 3/4 banana, almond butter
 















Lunch- spring mix salad, grilled chicken, black beans, salsa, cherry tomatoes, fat free sour cream
 















Afternoon Snack- Spark (20 min. before snack) sliced turkey, carrots, celery
 















Dinner-(3) Catalyst (30 min. before), (2) OmegaPlex, pork tenderloin, sugar snap peas, 1/2 sweet potato, side salad
 









Evening Snack- rice cake, 1/3 banana, 1 tsp peanut butter (this is my favorite snack!)















Before Bed- Herbal Cleanse Packet

How I'm feeling...

Today, I felt pretty rough. I didn't really have much energy, and just felt completely run down. I've done cleansing diets before and this is normal for me after a few days. I see it as a good sign that my body is getting rid of toxins. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

Thoughts about Today:
I had that same 2pm craving today, so I'm gonna try adding a fruit to my lunch to see if that prevents it.  I really didn't want to have the evening snack, but I eat at 5pm with Trinity and I'm hungry again by 8pm. Tomorrow I'll try just having raw carrots & celery, so I'm not adding so many calories. 
   
Coffee, for me, is comforting, so I wanted some ALL DAY because I felt yucky.  I'm going to order some Coffeccino with my next order!

Advocare - 24 Day Challenge - Day 2

Food Log 

 

PreBreakfast- Spark & (3) Catalyst

Breakfast- Fiber Drink, (3) OmegaPlex, orange, & 2:1 egg

Mid-Morning Snack- 3 celery stalks, 1 Tbsp. Almond Butter, 1/2 orange











 

Lunch- baby greens salad, beans, taco seasoned ground turkey, black olives, cherry tomatoes, & fresh salsa

Afternoon Snack- Spark (20 min. before snack) rice cake, peanut butter, 1/2 banana

Look at that sweet hand reaching for those vegetables. <3

Dinner-(3) Catalyst (30 min. before), (2) OmegaPlex, lean ground beef patty, marinara sauce, carrots, cherry tomatoes, & sugar snap peas

Evening Snack- roasted apple w/ cinnamon
















Before Bed- Herbal Cleanse Packet

How I'm feeling...

Emotionally: Ben took my before pictures the other day and I reluctantly looked at them and almost cried. Today, I feel great and can see that there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Physically: I've felt great and had plenty of energy all day.  I woke up before 7am with a little bit of pep in my step! I even plan on going to mom's group in the morning which I haven't done in months because it starts at 10am, and its so hard to get myself and Trinity up and ready that early.
       I got a headache around 7pm, but I'm not sure if it's this wonderful Northwest Georgia allergy season or my body detoxing. 

Thoughts about Today: I went to the grocery store today. I usually don't go until I need lots of groceries, but I want to keep a wide variety during my 24 Day Challenge, so I'm able to make the best choices.

Here's what I got:

apples

bananas

celery

sweet potatoes

grapefruit

salsa

dried black beans

ground turkey

turkey bacon

canned tuna

chicken tenderloins

sugar snap peas

*I stocked up on a few produce items from Costco before I started the Challenge. 
10# bag of organic carrots (these will keep in the fridge for at least a month!)
5# bag of organic baby carrots
cherry tomatoes
sprouted brown rice & quinoa mix
almond butter
broccoli
large tub of organic spring mix salad

Advocare - 24 Day Challenge - Day 1

My Weight - Day 1

Days 1-10 Cleanse Phase:

The first ten days are about cleansing your body of toxins and preparing for optimal nutrient absorption, and you may enjoy weight loss as well!*

Products I'll be taking during the Cleanse Phase:

• Herbal Cleanse-Citrus: helps to cleanse and detoxify your body.*
• OmegaPlex®: essential fatty acids for increased overall wellness.*
• AdvoCare Spark®: nutritionally-advanced energy*
• Catalyst: amino acid that helps maintain muscle mass during exercise and weight management*

Food Log

PreBreakfast- Spark & (3) Catalyst
Breakfast- Fiber Drink, (3) OmegaPlex, & a banana

I realize that this is a pretty large snack, but I'm pretty hungry. ;D

Mid-Morning Snack- cherry tomatoes, carrots, sliced turkey, & 1/2 orange

















Lunch- (2) OmegaPlex, Baby Green Salad with grilled Chicken, cherry tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, 1/4 avocado with fat free Italian dressing














Afternoon Snack- Spark (20 min. before snack), rice cake, 1/2 banana, & almond butter
















Dinner- black bean burger, steamed broccoli, steamed carrots

After Dinner Snack- (3) Catalyst, celery, & natural peanut butter
















Before Bed- Herbal Cleanse Packet

How I'm feeling...

Emotionally: I always have an afternoon craving for sweets around 2pm. Today, I drank my second spark at 2pm and it kicked that's craving's butt. ;)

Physically: I've had a pretty busy day at home with several haircuts while doing laundry, dishes, and taking care of Trinity.  Thanks to Spark, I have more energy and focus than usual, so I'm pretty sure I've accomplished more than I normally would have.

Thoughts: Surprisingly, I felt great and had plenty of energy throughout the day.  I got hungry shortly after breakfast, so I'm going to add and egg to my breakfast tomorrow.  I had a craving for sweets at 2pm, but I drank my Spark and had a snack and never gave in to my craving.  I was home all day, and I really think that helped me eat every 3 hours, which helped my blood sugar stay where it should be. I'm really excited about tomorrow, and the next day, and the next...

Advocare - 24 Day Challenge

I got my package today, and I'm super excited to start tomorrow! I've already stocked my fridge with yummy, healthy food. :)  My plan is to blog each day of this journey. I have a long way to go, and I hope to gain readers that will help me stay motivated!

Tomorrow starts the 10 Day Cleanse Phase. I'll take my measurements and weight in the morning. Keep checking back to see my results!

A little bit about me...

This was my junior year. I'm the one in the middle.

 This is me (and my HOT husband) PrePregnancy 2010

This is me now, April 2012

I am a 27 year old stay-at-home mom.  I have been married to the LOVE of my life for 6 years, and we have a beautiful daughter, Trinity.  I gained 60 pounds while pregnant with her, and unfortunately she didn't quite weigh 60 pounds...7 lbs. 14oz. to be exact. I'm not sure what went wrong. I've always been a healthy eater, and I didn't overindulge while I was pregnant. Well, that's in the past and I can't go back, so I just have to look forward.

I've always been a healthy average weight, so being overweight has affected almost every part of my life for the worse. I've had issues with postpartum depression; none of my pre--pregnancy clothes fit, and I refuse to buy a new wardrobe of clothes in sizes I NEVER thought I'd wear; I have NO energy; I don't feel pretty anymore; I hide in pictures because I can't stand to see myself. Don't get me wrong, I was never SKINNY, and I don't ever want to be.  I'm just not happy with myself the way I am now, and if you read some of my previous blogs, you'll see that I've made multiple attempts to lose weight in the past year.  I'm fed up with being UNhappy with myself! I CAN & I WILL lose this weight! I believe Advocare's products will help jump-start my metabolism, so that I can feel beautiful, again.  Feel free to comment and share your weight loss successes/failures/frustrations. I'd love to hear from you!

P90X

I've procrastinated WAY too long!
I'm starting today and never looking back!
167.8 lbs.

 Here is a video of my thoughts about starting...again.

Juicing

I started juicing Tuesday night. First, I had some cravings for sugar, refined sugar that is. I was also a bit hungry and irritable for a few days.

Today is my 4th day, and I'm feeling pretty good now. I am down to 1 scoop of caffeinated coffee in the morning, and I seem to be regaining some energy. I can also think more clearly now. I seem to be less stressed too! The dishes are clean, and I don't feel overwhelmed with my life .

After I finally reach my goal size, my goal is to continue running (that helps clear my head too) and weigh weekly. If I've gained in that week, I will juice
For a few days until I get back to my ideal weight. This all sounds like a great plan, but the challenge is getting there. I've never been this big before, so I've had a hard time, but I really think if I continue running and working hard to reach my goal, I will succeed in being happy with my body again. I'm not setting a deadline for myself because I don't want to get discouraged. I've lost 3 pounds in 4 days and I already feel better. I can't imagine how great I'll feel after I've dropped another 35 pounds.

Telling Others
I've made a few Facebook posts, so that my friends know about this life change I'm making. I hope they'll hold me accountable and be encouraging. I've got a long road ahead of me, and I need all the support I can get.

Running

Since Trinity was born, I've had a hard time getting motivated to workout. You'd think I'd be motivated just stepping on the scale, being 25 pounds heavier than I was before I got pregnant.

Exercising is mostly mental, for me anyway.  I have to get my brain wrapped around it before my body can catch up. Otherwise, I fail. every. time.

A few weeks ago, I go this urge to run. I started researching Run For God, a program some friends from church did last year. Turns out, I couldn't find anyone that I know doing it this year, but I borrowed a book, and I'm planning on doing the program by myself.

I signed up for a 5K! I have 7 weeks to train for it.

After running a few times, I realized that my shoes are way old and not very supportive anymore. All of the running blogs and articles I've read say that the right shoes are key. I invited Lauren Simpson to start running with me and to go look at shoes. We went to Fast Break Athletics in Chattanooga. They did an amazing job analyzing our feet and fitting us for the right running shoes. I'm a bargain shopper, so paying full retail price for running shoes is WAY out of my comfort zone, but if I'm gonna commit to do this, then I have to have the right gear to make it work.

What shoes did I get??
Well, I really wanted some pretty ones with super bright colors, but wound up having to go with the ones that were most comfortable on my feet. Asics Kyano 18 in an 8.5 wide. I never thought my foot was wide or an 8.5. I've always worn a 7.5. Turns out, most people wear shoes that are too small.

I never knew that shoes could be this comfortable. They feel amazing. I want to wear them everyday. :)

My GOALS
1. Run a 5K - Run at the Mill 5K in Varnell, GA on April 14th
2. Run a 10K or Half Marathon in the fall
3. Stick to a training schedule and stay healthy
4. once I reach these, I'll make more goals



I'm doing the Couch 2 5K program on my iPhone, and I can tell that it's getting easier with each workout. I run to the Pop Workout Pandora Station.

Frustrations with Weightloss

I gained 60 pounds while I was pregnant with Trinity, who is now 10 months old.  I lost 30 pounds almost immediately after her birth, but this last 30 just isn't budging. I have nooooo energy, and therefore have no motivation to exercise. I've been really frustrated with my weight lately, so I've been doing some research to try and figure out my problem.

I've had bloodwork done, and everything is normal. NORMAL? I don't feel "normal". I feel tired all the time.

I've decided that God made me a really good momma. :) Meaning, God made mommas' bodies hold onto extra fat, so that in times of famine, we could still feed our babies. Which really is amazing! Thank you, God! The problem is, I'm not starving. But, I'm fairly certain that my body thinks its starving. Which is why I'm having problems losing weight.  I need to reassure my body that it isn't starving. How do I do this?   1. Eat more often
2. Eat more


I'm also going to eat more raw foods.

Groceries - How long did they last

I went kinda crazy last month on grocery shopping, but I'm proud to say that nothing has gone to waste!! I wanted to see how long some of the items would last, so here goes...

Organic Spinach- just finished it today Organic Apples- finished last week Organic Frozen Broccoli - still have 3/4 of the bag Half & Half- we use 1/2 gal every 2 weeks Shredded Mozzarella- Still have 3 1/2 bags Blueberries- lasted maybe a week. T loves blueberries! Mini Peppers- lasted about 3 weeks 5 Avocados- best avocados I've ever bought. Downside: They are all ripe at the same time. Organic flax- still have tons Papaya- *Found out that no one in our family likes Papaya 10#Organic Cane Sugar- Still have 1/2 bag Organic Brown Rice Medley- Still have most of the container 10# Organic Carrots- Still have about 5 carrots left Organic Quinoa- Still have most of the bag Trader Joe's {I don't usually get to shop at Trader Joe's because the closest one is in Atlanta, but it was fun!} Steel Cut Oats- barely dipped into first container. Organic Eggs- We go through about 1-2 dozen per week Trail Mix- Still have some EVOO- Have used maybe 1/4 bottle. LOVE the bottle! Will buy 2 next time! Organic Virgin Coconut Oil- Great Price/Great Product! Have about 1/2 cup left. Should buy 2 next time Organic Apple Sauce- Still have one jar left, but should buy 5 jars next time. Organic Blueberries- gone Peanut Butter w/ flax seeds- Full jar Hummus- 2/3 full Organic O's- 1/2 full - I bought these for T, but they are a bit too hard for her, so I've been eating them. :) Organic Celery- just finished it yesterday Organic Bananas (2 big bunches)- Lasted us about a week Overall, I think we did pretty well. Most items that I bought were organic, and organic produce keeps fresh longer than conventional produce, so none went to waste.

Groceries

I recently bought groceries at Costco and Trader Joes and I thought I'd share my finds! {I recently converted from Sam's to Costco because Costco has several organic products.}

I loosely follow Weston A. Price principles, so I can't buy all of my groceries at Aldi anymore. Which means that I must spend more on good quality organic foods. I have to look at buying groceries and cooking whole foods as an investment to our overall health and well being.

Costco
{we invested in a deep freezer last year, so we're able to save by buying in bulk.}
Organic Spinach- $4.29 {1#}
Organic Apples- $6.99
Organic Frozen Broccoli $5.99
Half & Half- $3.29 {1/2 gallon for our coffee}
Shredded Mozzarella- $12.79 {5# broken up into 6 freezer bags}
Blueberries- $4.99 {22oz.}
Mini Peppers- $3.29 {2#}
5 Avocados- $5.99
Organic flax- $7.99*
Papaya- $3.29*
10#Organic Cane Sugar- $8.69
Organic Brown Rice Medley- $3.97
10# Organic Carrots- $6.99
Organic Quinoa- $9.79* {might could get it cheaper in bulk Earth Fare}


Trader Joes
{I don't usually get to shop at Trader Joe's because the closest one is in Atlanta, but it was fun!}

Steel Cut Oats- $3.29
Organic Eggs- $3.99
Trail Mix- $4.99*
EVOO- $7.99
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil- $5.99
Organic Apple Sauce- $2.29
Organic Blueberries- $2.99
Peanut Butter w/ flax seeds- $2.99*
Hummus- $3.99*
Organic O's- $2.49
Organic Celery- $2.29
Organic Bananas- $.19 each- $2.66

*things that were impulse buys and I need to do price checking to see if I got a good deal.

I'm not sure how long this will last me. I don't usually have this much fresh produce on hand because I can't stand for it to go bad. Hopefully Trinity and I can handle it. ;)

I haven't fully converted our family to grass fed/organic meat, yet, because we still have quit a bit in our freezer. I am researching local grass fed beef and organic chicken. I plan to save up over the next few months and purchase them in bulk.

Bento Craze

Trinity's First Christmas

This was our first Christmas with our baby girl, and luckily, she was old enough to enjoy it!! We knew that this Christmas was going to be a little hectic seeing that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year. We had a Christmas Eve and a Christmas morning service at church. When I first found out that there were going to be church services rudely interrupting our Christmas schedule, I was frustrated, to say the least. When I vented to my level headed husband about it, he reminded me that Christmas is the celebration of our Savior's birth, and what better place to spend this special day than in worship and hearing His word. I cooled down a bit, but it wasn't until I went to the Christmas Eve service that I really began to accept and ultimately love the fact that we were having a church service on Christmas. It was an amazing time of worship and I was able to truly reflect on what this day is about.

This being Trinity's first Christmas, Ben and I wanted to start a special family Christmas tradition at our house. We decided to have a pajama day where we eat popcorn, watch Christmas movies, read the Christmas story from the Bible, and indulge in homemade cinnamon rolls (which were a bit dry, but I'll do better next time... it was a new recipe). This was a very special day, and I'll be looking forward to Pajama Day every Christmas!

I've always felt a bit weird about getting gifts at Christmas, and even though I grew up in a Christian home, it's easy to forget the real reason for the season.  We didn't buy gifts this year, and we asked our family to not get us any gifts. They were too excited about buying this first grandbaby gifts, so it didn't seem to be a big deal for them. :)

Christmas morning before the festivities began

Christmas Morning at Meme's House

Pops helped Trinity open all of her presents

• Emma (a hard bodied baby doll) and money toward her college fund - Meme

• Vilot (a Leap Frog talking puppy that's computer programmed to say Trinity's name and favorite things), Fridge Fonics, Jingle (a stuffed Husky who barks as you read his book), an angel necklace - Noni & Pops

• Stuffed owl with baby pouch and teething toys and a banana toothbrush - Uncle Blake & Aunt Magan 

• Bouncing Turtle - JohDonna, Tiffany, and Jo

• BOOKS Galore! (Which mommy loves because they're educational and take up less room than toys ;) ) - Denise
  

The Day after Christmas with Mamaw

Uncle Cody and Trinity playing with her new toys

Trinity's beautiful Aunt Katy

Aunt Wanda got Trinity a Lee Middleton doll

Ben Teaching Mamaw how to use her new computer

• Several outfits, tights, boots, wooden puzzle, wooden blocks, books, spoons, tub toys, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things... like I said, these new grandparents were ecstatic about buying presents for this rotten baby girl! :) - Mamaw

• Lee Middleton Doll - Aunt Wanda
  
  
  We had an amazing Christmas with our family, and I pray that we stay focused on the real meaning of Christmas every year.