the spirit of magic

Last night my son played the role of Joseph in the Christmas Program at his school. What a joy it was to see my little boy walk down the sanctuary aisle with his big grin and kind eyes… telling the story of Christmas. And although he doesn’t quite understand it all yet, he’s beginning to feel the magic. That pure absolute innocence of Magic. And what a precious thing to witness as a parent.

Our house has been filled with all the Christmas feels lately. The cookies, the decorations, the outdoor lights, the elf on the shelf and late-night Santa sightings. (Apparently my daughter saw him and his reindeer fly over our house) We talk about Santa like he’s our friend most days. Washy, our little Santa Elf that finds plenty of ways to get into mischief, has become a regular morning find. A little plastic red man who goes to the North Pole every night and reports back to Santa about my children’s behavior. It’s a tactic that I’m not quite sure works, but it teaches them about the power of bravery and the power of magic. Either way, Santa makes his way into their hearts way before Christmas arrives. And that is okay with me.

In this beautifully spirit of Christmas magic, I have been recently obsessed with creating my very first Peppermint Fudge for this blog. I was grazing through the new Magnolia magazine and Joanna Gaines once again wowed me by her recipe and I just had to share it with you. A dark chocolate peppermint fudge. You are MOST welcome!!

Peppermint Fudge

By: Magnolia Magazine

Butter, softened

4 Cups Sugar

1 12 oz, can Evaporated Milk

¾ Cup Butter

12 oz Semisweet Chocolate Chips

12 oz bittersweet chocolate chips

1 7 oz jar marshmallow crème

½ tsp. peppermint extract

1 cup crushed peppermint candies

1. Line a 13X9 in pan with foil, allowing foil to hang over edges of pan. Butter foil with softened butter. Combine sugar, milk, and the ¾ cup butter in a large heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over medium-high until boiling reduce heat to medium. Continue cooking and stirring 10 minutes. Continue cooking and stirring 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips, marshmallow crème, and peppermint extract, stirring until melted and smooth. Beat by hand 1 minute.

2. Pour Fudge into prepared pan. Sprinkle with crushed candies. Cover and chill at least 4 hours. Use foil to lift fudge from pan; cut into squares. Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.

I did my research on this latest pairing. A song we’ve been blessed with since November of 1980… since I was 1 year old. Not really a Christmas classic, but a damn near one. This incredible Holiday song called December Will Be Magic Again by Kate Bush. Kate has been an English singer and song writer since the age of 19 and she became the first female artist in the UK to achieve number one with a self-written song. She’s inventive, artistic and a one of a kind. Enjoy this one! It’s pretty special!

This year has been a wild one for our family. A different space that allowed us to really dive deep into seeing how blessed we are. There is nothing like being so loved in this World… and so beautifully driven by the magic of Jesus’s birth. Everything that comes along with it… whether you’re religious or not, this is a season of feeling like anything is possible. Everything is love. Everything is real. Everything is like flying over your house in a sleigh and with dozens of presents for everyone in this World. To think that was even possible… to think that was even real… makes my heart flutter. My children make me believe in the impossible. My children make me believe in magic. And for that, I am so incredible happy. Merry Holidays to all of you. May you only be blessed with the spirit of Magic.