Christmas from the Store

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!

--Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Hello world!

It’s been a while I wrote a blogmas post here. Life has been pretty busy, overwhelming. Is it just me, or time is really running quicker than normal? Today is 21^st December, just 3 days and 17 hours to Christmas. By the time we realize, we have entered 2018.

Oh well, life itself just passes quickly by.

I was at work yesterday when it dawned on me that we have entered the 20s of the month, but I hadn’t had time to do a proper Christmas shopping for gifts and food. I then understood those who usually say they hadn’t got time to do anything.

Well, maybe, I do not know how to manage my time.

A thought came to mind. Christmas is not all about the physical things we use to celebrate. As I participate in the #LightTheWorld initiative, I realized Christmas is all about having time for your loved ones and the people who love you. I must not worry about not having time to do Christmas shopping, I must worry about not having enough time to spend time with family, friends and loved ones.

The #LightTheWorld initiative has taught me about the value of service and presence. Jesus Christ gave service to His fellow men, even though he is the King of kings. He took care of people and loved them.

The quote I wrote above came to mind. I have been watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas since I was younger, and this quote came in handy.

Do not worry about not having time and money to spend on the material things of Christmas, even though, it is so cool and fun to do such things. The most people thing is having the people you love around you during this time of the year.

The end!

Daily Gifts (An Excerpt from Christmas Stories for the Heart)

Another blogmas post is coming your way this morning. How has your December been so far? Mine has been full of work, work, work, and I cannot complain much. Between being a student and a worker, I have seen the difference. As a student, you get a little break but as a worker. There is nothing like break.

Anyway, I have been trying to enjoy every little moment I have to spare. I have been super busy, but I try to live life at peace.

For a minute, I didn’t know which blogmas post to write again, but as I was reading this festive book of mine, I read page 104 and it really touched my heart.

It looks so much like the Light the World initiative I am involving myself in, but it has more options and simple and daily things we should be practicing.

The book says we can call these daily gifts “our Christmas Projects.” We could practice one of these little projects, one moment/day/period at a time.

They listed some suggestions in the book and I will list some here

Mend a quarrel

Seek out a forgotten friend

Write a long overdue love note

Hug someone tightly and whisper “I love you so.”

Forgive an enemy

Be gentle and patient with an angry person

Express appreciation

Gladden the heart of a child

Find the time to keep a promise

Release a grudge

Smile. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more

Play some beautiful music during the evening meal

Apologize if you were wrong

Turn off the television and talk

Treat someone to an ice-cream cone (yogurt will be fine)

Pray for someone who helped you when you hurt

Encourage an older person

These are some of the many things they listed in the book. You can try and do some as time goes by.

Merry Christmas!

🎀 🎅🎄A Merry Chips-Mayai 🙌

Jamani kila mtu!

Imebaki siku kumi na mbili na dakika kidogo kuzaliwa Yesu Kristo. If you don’t understand, I said, Hello world! It is just 12 days and some hours to Christmas day. (Not a direct translation)

Lolz xx. That was Swahili. [Whispers] Between you and me, I don’t even know how to read it myself. 😂😂😂

How are y’all doing? This morning, I saw the Harmattan’s shadow but it looked like it wanted to rain too. His appearance this year was dramatic. Maybe, he had a chat with the rain before the rain left. 😒😒😒

That was just by the way.

Meet Chef Addo. For this Christmas, he is teaching us a new recipe all the way from Tanzania! This is a great opportunity to add a new meal to your Christmas dinner/ New Year party.

Today, we will be learning how to cook chips-mayai, a very popular dish in Tanzania!

Thanks to Chef Addo for sharing this with the Marietta DeGrant Blog and with some friends.

Ingredients:

8 medium sized Irish potatoes

3 medium sized carrots

2 medium sized green peppers

3 medium sized tomatoes

10 eggs

Salad oil to fry the potatoes

Salt to taste

Method

Wash and peel potatoes

Cut potatoes into French Fries sizes and wash them again

Put oil on fire at a reasonable heat

Fry the potatoes and set them aside after frying.

Cut vegetables (green pepper, carrot and tomatoes) into smaller sizes.

Set vegetables aside and beat the 10 eggs together. Add salt to taste

Put frying pan on fire again and pour a little oil for shallow frying

As you wait for the oil to be hot, add vegetables to the beaten eggs and mix together

Take some French fries (few) and spread them on the hot pan.

Take a ladle and fetch some of the beaten eggs and vegetables and spread them over the pan. Make sure it does a full circle of the pan.

Cover the pan with a cover, and let it heat for about a minute. Make sure the heat is moderate to avoid burning.

Without removing the cover, and using a napkin to hold the cover, flip the pan so that the chips mayai lands on the cover.

Put the pan back on the fire and let the uncooked part of the food stay at the bottom of the frying pan.

Allow it to stay on the pan for a few minutes and flip it back again.

Serve on a plate

Serve with a scoop of ketchup and a cold drink.

Enjoy your meal.

 

A Chef happy with the results

Thanks to Cephas and Caleb for supporting this festive cook-out!

Most photos were taken by @bleceph.

Do you want to know more about the Tanzanian culture? Call him to be your chef this Christmas and during the New Year. He will not only cook for you, but you will learn a lot.

Book him now by sending an email to degrantm@yahoo.com.

Have a merry chips-mayai!!!

Some friends enjoying Chips-mayai

 

Santa Claus and one of his elfs😄😄😄

Book Review: Christmas Stories from the Heart

Every December, I do a festive book review and this year’s own is a book I bought in the middle of the year and I am so glad that I bought it. It is one of the best festive book ever. It is filled with miracles and sweet little nuggets which you can keep and cherish in your hearts all year long.

One thing I love about the book is the foreword which was written by Avalon, an award winning singing group. I totally agree with the foreword and I can read it over and over again.

They said Christmas seemed so much simpler when I was a child……in fact it seemed like pure magic. It’s true and the foreword reminded me of the cartoon movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas, where Charlie Brown complained of the way Christmas has been commercialized.

This book can be a perfect gift, for people who love reading and treasure little stories and poems that touch the heart.

Get a copy, and thank me later.

Simple Ways to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Hello world!

I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s poem. I wrote it last year and it’s one of the simplest poems I have written.

It’s another blogmas post day and I have a short post for you.

How to have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Before that, let’s try and sing a carol related to the song

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on
Our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yule-tide gay
From now on
Our troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more

Through the years
We all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now

This is one of my favourite Christmas song and I can sing it all year round.

Today, I will be sharing some tips/traditions on how to have yourself, a merry little Christmas. Having a merry little Christmas doesn’t have to be so glamorous. It’s the peace that we need, not stress and tiredness.

I do not do all of these, but I will also add the ones I do and maybe, in the future, we can try them all.

Set up a nativity scene. How cute can it be?

Get an advent calendar to help you countdown to the day of Christmas. Here is a perfect example of it. #LightTheWorld is a perfect way to countdown to the Christmas day by participating in good will activities starting December 1^st, ending on Christmas day. 

There are other ways of also counting down by purchasing advent calendars that are filled with goodies.

Read your favourite Christmas themed books

Watch your favourite Christmas movies. Home Alone is very popular in this country, Ghana. Hahaha.

Play your favourite Christmas songs. You can create different Christmas playlists for the season, example, Quiet Time Christmas carol playlists, Workout, out and about etc.

Remember the less fortunate this Christmas. Donate, spend time with them, show them love.

Spend more time with family. They are very important.

Decorate! Decorate! Decorate!

Create a miniature Christmas village. At St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, they had one and it was very creative.

Try your baking skills or a recipe that you have been meaning to try.

Create family traditions if you do not have some.

Try other traditions found in other countries.

Here are some traditions you can try.

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!!!

Of Your Absence and the Harmattan

Hello world!

Welcome to another blogmas post (#DecemberMiracles). I have a harmattan poem to share with you, even though the harmattan is not fully in force. I wrote it last year. Do not forget to share with friends and someone you love and missing so much.

{Source}

Of Your Absence and the Harmattan

Far away you are

I miss the sound of your breath

And the rhythm of your heart

The harmattan dries off the memories of wet kisses and tight hugs

Your absence makes my heart to beat a thud

I cannot complain more

Of your absence and the harmattan

Welcome Blogmas 2017

Hello World! 

Happy December!!! I just can’t hide my excitement. I have changed my desktop wallpaper, decorated some parts of my room, made a bucket list and blaring out Christmas music. Let December roll. 🎄🎅🎆🎇🎈🎉🎊🎧🎥🎶

Drum roll for December please!

*drum roll*

I am doing blogmas this year. It was a success last year and I blogged every day in December. I really enjoyed blogging every day in December. There have been a change in plans this year. Instead of blogging everyday till December 25^th. I will be blogging every other day. I will inform you when a new post goes up live, so make sure you follow me on Twitter. However, I will daily post on my Instagram page, more like a photo challenge, but I am not strictly following many prompts. So, follow me on Instagram too.

I am also participating in the #LightTheWorld Initiative. It is a 25 days heartfelt activity in which we are encouraged to participate in service opportunities during the Christmas season to celebrate the life of Jesus Christ. This initiative focuses on celebrating and sharing the light of Jesus Christ who is the light of the world (John 8:12) and told us that we are also the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14). Last year was an interesting one. I am participating this year too. To learn more and join us in lighting the world, click here.

On Sunday December 3^rd, 2017, there will be a Christmas devotional, and you are all invited to come and watch/listen. You can watch it live on the YouTube Channel. This is a great way to start the festive season, so save the date

Now, let Blogmas begin. Call me MarieNoel.

I wish you a very Merry December!

Kelewele Date with Marietta (30/12/2016): A Letter to 2016

Welcome to our last kelewele date of the year!!! WHOOOOO!!!! Can you believe it? I still remember when it was the beginning of the year and I wasn’t feeling enthusiastic about it, but it is almost over, so we thank goodness about that.

Anyway, 2016 was a mixture of everything. In this kelewele date, I have written a letter to 2016.

Dear 2016,

Oh, you are almost ending I can see. Your last day is tomorrow. I can’t believe that is the end of you. I remember when I was a little younger, I thought you would be a very strange year. I thought we could have pen pals from space and drive our cars in the air. How wonderful. You are ending tomorrow and I obviously know nothing like that would happen tomorrow.

Or would it?

You made the beginning of my year less enthusiastic. A loved one of mine was seriously ill, but she is ok now.

I made new friends in you. I made some achievements during your time.

But you know you took some people away, right. That’s what we hate about you. You gave us broken hearts.

You made us put our broken hearts on paper. We wrote more than we expected.

But you are going away, and we won’t see you again. That is somehow a good thing, but we will keep the sweet memories with us and the achievements and the milestones. Just the good aspects of it. For the bad sides of you, you can take them away. Take them away, and never let them come back. We have no room for them.

It was a privilege to meet you, 2016.

Good bye.

Let’s meet 2017.

Prepping For 2K17 + #LightTheWorld Review

Hey world

3 days till the end of the year. I bet some people are making New Year resolutions. Good luck on doing that. I stopped making New Year resolutions some years ago, so those kind of resolutions like losing weight (I don’t have to lose weight. For someone like me, I have to put on some flesh.), going to church every Sunday (I already do that), saving money (No comments on that one), and all that jazz. Nesta wrote about the failure of New Year Resolutions and I totally agree with him.

I am not discouraging you on making New Year resolutions. You have every right to, but please make realistic ones.

During the festive season, I was involved in a campaign called Light the World. We invited people from all walks of life to participate. Every day from 1^st December till December 25^th, we were required to participate in an activity that would show kindness and let us do good to ourselves, family, friends, strangers and other people around us.

If you were following me on Twitter and read my Blogmasposts, you will see me posting an activity daily for #LightTheWorld, especially on my Twitter.

It was like an advent calendar, and it was refreshing doing it and I felt so good. Even though, sometimes, I was so busy I lost track once, or twice, but I tried hard to get back. I can admit that not every day was perfectly made.

The aim of the campaign was to light the world, and turn the activities into goals for the New Year to continue to light the world, so it doesn’t end on the 25^th. It continues into the New Year and throughout ourselves.

I really enjoyed engaging myself in this advent activity, and I hope next Christmas, there would be more activities like this.

How are you prepping for 2017? Any goals, resolutions?

Life in the Post-Christmas Phase

Hello world!

Are you there?

Or you are hiding?

How were your holidays? This festive season went quickly by. I went so fast, we couldn’t get a glimpse of it.

This is the story of my life in the post-Christmas phase. I am now getting some proper sleep, and trying to relax, and eat more plantain chips. I am mostly at home.

How did Christmas end so fast? I keep asking myself. I hate the idea of packing away the ornaments, and not counting down the days and hours to Christmas. Everything literally ends on the 25^th.

I can’t actually play Christmas songs now, even though I am quietly playing them on my laptop on a very low volume.

Hahaha xx.

Anyway, we have been making pastries and other fried foods like Bo Floats.

Life in the post-Christmas phase is something else, and quiet.

Just next week is New Year. Like what?

This year, I am not actually looking forward to the New Year. I remember when I was a teenager, I always looked forward to the New Year. I always wanted the old year to leave.

But this year, I’m not actually looking forward to it, even though I will gladly welcome it.

2017. 2017. 2017.

Anyway, we looked forward to a year that will bring out the talents we have in us to make a difference in the corner where we are.

How do you see your post-Christmas phase?

Anyway, I am just curious. How do you spend the Boxing Day?

A Different Kind of Monday-Boxing Day

This Monday is kind of different. The one that doesn’t require shrieking of alarm clocks, and rumbling of buckets of water.

This Monday is the one that we get to stay in bed, and not think about any hustle and bustle, but instead, we think of left over foods, open our eyes and let them wander about the room. We begin to wonder how come the holiday is over, and we get up and look out the window.

Christmas is going away….

No, don’t go…We whisper to it.

But you see it going away, and you stare at the inexpensive ornaments in your room.

Ugh…you give up. In fact, you go back to bed.

Scrolling social media….

Still scrolling….

Still scrolling…..

It is a different kind of Monday.

A very different kind.

Keeping it real since One Christmas Day

Merry Christmas y’all.

Ooh, I can’t hide my excitement. It’s Christmas Day people! And my soul feels beautiful.🎄🎅🎆🎇🎈🎉🎊🍸🍹🍰

I remember when I was a little girl and wanted to grow up fast, buy more high heels and wear my hair, so that the wind can blow it.

Now I wish to be 12, or even 9.

Living your life as a young adult is not as easy as we see it when we are young. It has a whole lot of things we should warn our younger selves of. I think I need to write a book about being a young adult.

I was wide awake till I heard my phone ring. I answered it and heard “Happy Birthday, Silly!” I glanced at the clock and saw the time, 12:00am.

OMG! It’s two things: My Birthday! And it’s Christmas!

Exactly two years ago, I was on the search for a woman. A woman I have not met or seen before. I was wondering whether I could find her. I have seen a piece of her in my mother, so I had a fair idea of what part of her would look like.

It’s been two years and I realized, I am only 25% there. I wonder if it is a total waste of time.

But I am slowly learning that finding someone is not going to be an easy journey. You might get flat tyres, you’ll get hungry, eat bad food and get running stomach (diarrhoea), run out of money, meet good strangers and bad strangers. Finding someone is muddy, rough, scary, fun and overwhelming.

I thought of asking people to help me find that woman. Yes, I asked family, friends (my good friends), the church, the community, the workplace, books, the stars in the sky, the past and the present. I wanted to ask the future but it would spoil the fun.

I asked God. You know our Heavenly Father already. He has things in place to help me find her, but I will have to do my part. It’s like asking God to have sufficient money. He won’t send you gold and money, but He would give you strength and wisdom to work hard to earn money.

The woman I am looking for is the woman I want to be, and I am only 25% there.

I hope to find her.

Life has been fun and overwhelming and heartbreaking, but we are still surviving.

Yes, we are.

I have been keeping it real since the day I was born.

I feel like I am writing a post all about myself.

Hehehe xx.

That is the power of a personal blog.

How is your Christmas day?