Kim Kulture Club Musings

Diving Into 2021

As we begin 2021, I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for being along on this ride with me. I hope that you each know how much your support and continued encouragement means to me.

2020 was a doozy of a year: Covid, quarantine, school at home, unrelenting political and social unrest, job/income loss, cancer and a whole lot of unexpected surprises we never saw coming. We're hopeful 2021 will be kinder.

I find myself, a lot closer to 50 than 40, trying to reinvent myself and find a path to provide an income for our family doing the things that make me happy. As we enter into this next year, it's my hope that we'll continue to be able to grow and refine the site/social media platforms to be able to successfully do that. Starting a business in the best of economic times is hard, during it right now is kind of crazy. I have the utmost faith in this journey though. I know this is the path I'm supposed to be on, as scary as it is sometimes.

We're working on a lot of new avenues and changes that you'll start to see over the course of the next few weeks/months. I always welcome feedback and suggestions. And again, thank you for being here. Without an audience, this fails. You are integral to the success of this venture and I am grateful for you.

Recipes, Recipes & More Recipes!

We have a New Years tradition that we've done for forever that, no real shock, involves food. (Don't most GREAT celebrations involve food in some way?)

Every year to usher out the old & welcome the new, we celebrate with appetizers & dips. The way it usually works is the appetizers come out the evening of New Years Eve and we graze on them that night and the next day too. (Sometimes even longer depending on how crazy overboard I've gone! Ha ha!)

2020 has been a ride in more ways than I can even wrap my head around so I am more than happy to bid this year a fond adieu. Do I think 2021 will usher in like some winged angel? No. I think it'll be more of the same, but at least there's a chance it'll be an improvement. That's enough for me at this point.

Here are some of our favorite savory appetizer & dip recipes. (There are lots of sweet options on the website too!!!!) Please make, share and enjoy!

Blessings for whatever comes next!

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Poblanos

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

Salsa

Guacamole

Ranch Dressing

National Chocolate Candy Day

Were you aware that December 28th is "National Chocolate Candy Day"? Yes, really. Apparently it was created to encourage massive consumption of "leftover" chocolate.

First...what is this LEFTOVER CHOCOLATE they speak of? I've heard of leftover veggies or meat, but chocolate? Is that really a thing?

Secondly...the "experts" that declared this? They think a great way to celebrate it is to have a Chocolate Candy Tasting Party with your friends. Can we be honest? I love you guys but I'm not sharing my chocolate. Ha ha!

In honor of this day and to help you locate Chocolate Candy if you, like myself, are unfamiliar with the mythical beast known as leftovers chocolate, I've gathered some suggestions.

By the way - this is a great time to pick up discounted candy! Most of which can be used for Valentine's Day. I'm not cheap, I'm resourceful.

Hershey's Chocolate World

Nightmare Before Christmas

Let me let you in on a little secret...this family LOVES The Nightmare Before Christmas. Like a lot. The music, the animation, the storyline, the characters...everything about it. And what makes it even better? When you decorate for Halloween, guess what? You get to leave those decorations up through Christmas. How can that be wrong?

Another secret? I grew up with a mom who was a professional special events decorator so I'm kind of a "theme snob" when it comes to decor. Most things, no but something like decorating with a theme, yes. Thankfully, she's the same way. Ha ha! Enjoy some pictures of our homemade Nightmare decorations!

Dr. Finklestein

Yes, that's an outdoor projector

Because there HAS to be an inflatable

Jack Wreath

Lit up Jack Wreath

Jack Post

Lit up Jack Post

The Great Jack o'Lantern

The Great Jack o'Lantern lit up

Yes, that's a Lava Lamp with Santa tied to the top

30ish year old Mickey Village on the fireplace

Crocheted Goodness

I have a lot of crafts/arts I enjoy doing, but one thing I've never been able to master is crocheting. I've tried numerous times and failed miserably which is funny if you knew me. (I'm one of those weirdos that counts everything constantly - always have) Fortunately for me, I have an incredibly talented Mom. I would say that she is, easily, the most talented person I know on the face of this earth. She sees things as they could be, not necessarily how they are. (Where most people see a spoon, she sees 100 different ways to make that spoon into something new.) She always has an idea or craft or project on the back burner.

I love that she can and does make these things. It's no exaggeration when I say I use the dishrags all the time. I have other ones stuffed in the bottom of a drawer that I will dig out and use if I have no other option, but I don't like to.

There is nothing better than a hand crocheted scarf for those cold, blustery winter days and a fun hat to go with it.

And the ornaments? What a great way to use up odds and ends of yarn.

I have to share something about the ornaments. I knew she was working on them and when she sent me the picture of the wreath, I kid you not, I was transported way back in time at the sight of it. I was 7 or 8 years old maybe, wandering around the Grange Hall in the town I grew up in while my Grandma was visiting with her friends. I was gently touching and oohhing and aahhing at all the amazing homemade crafts and gifts at the Christmas Bazaar. Man how I loved that Christmas Bazaar!! (I can still smell the building if I try really hard) I VERY clearly remember these very ornaments hanging on a small tree on a long folding table and a sweet little old lady sitting there in a folding chair, quietly crocheting more. I cannot see her face though and it's driving me crazy. (Mom couldn't remember either) I have it narrowed down to 3 or 4 ladies I think it was, but I just can't remember. All of those sweet souls have moved on but for a few minutes, they were all very much alive in my memories.

I have been so blessed in my life to have known such talented people. It is my hope that by sharing these things, the traditions stay alive. If we've learned nothing this past year, I hope that we've learned how important our time, our gifts, our memories and our experiences are. I am honored to share these special crafts with you and I hope you make them and share them with your own families.