Raki's Rad Resources: My Favorite Things

The holidays are approaching and as we have been overseas in Morocco for 3 years, my boys and I are geared up to take advantage of a holiday season with that special holiday “feel”. Here are a few of my favorite things about the holidays in the United States:

1.) Christmas lights and decorations – Even though I scoffed at the idea of seeing Christmas decorations in the stores a month before HALLOWEEN, I secretly got excited to see these things available. Now that the holiday season is upon us, I love seeing trees and lights everywhere and can’t wait to drive around with my family the week of Christmas to see everyone’s lights.

2.) Caramel Apple Cider at Starbucks - For a long time I didn’t drink coffee. Although this was cured by Moroccan cappuccino and espresso, when I walk into a Starbucks at this time of year, I still order that sweet and spicy Caramel Apple Cider that is generally on special at this time of year.

3.) Easy to Find Baking Supplies - You will never appreciate the things we can find at our regular old supermarket until you are searching for something like molasses, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract or food coloring while trying to do holiday baking. For three years, I improvised and scrambled and convinced people to bring me things. So this time of year, a trip to Ingles where I can just pick up anything I need to bake cookies with ease and simplicity. Since we have such easy access to supplies, my children and I have decided to turn our normal weekend of baked goodies into an entire month long affair. We are using a few recipes from my Holiday Cookbook for Kids and a few recipes that associate with their Country Studies and baking ourselves silly!

4.) BIG Bottles of Nivea Lotion – For some reason toiletries in Morocco come in VERY small bottles. Every winter I get very dry skin and last year I went through a TON of tiny bottles of Nivea lotion, so this year I bought a big old bottle and I am using it liberally!

5.) A Library Full of Holiday Books – Besides a nice copy of The Night Before Christmas, most of our holiday books didn’t survive the cut in the move into the RV. Luckily, we have access to a lovely public library with a whole section of holiday books. This provides me with no end of FREE holiday stories and other books to use in my home school lessons with my sons.

To further celebrate this holiday season, I am participating in the Favorite Things Holiday Blog Hop organized by Laura Graham from Where the Magic Happens - with two things to make your holidays happy ones:

First, I donated a $20 gift card to KOA (Kampgrounds of America) to the Favorite Things Raffle. As most of you know, we are currently living in our RV full time (and blogging about it at RVing with the Rakis). When we are on the road, we often stay at KOA campgrounds. They are consistently nice and clean, with friendly staff and good amenities. Camping is one of my favorite things and I want to share it with you, so be sure to enter to win, there will be 5 different winners, and one should be you!

Second, another one of my favorite things is providing teachers with resources that help make their life easier. So, from December 7, 2014 until December 14, 2014, the following items in my Teachers Pay Teachers store will be available 50% off:

The Great Plant Experiment Project

Deserts of the World Unit

Exploring and Designing Machines Unit

Year Long Country Study Project

Because we value our followers and wanted to treat you to our favorite things Oprah style, we have put together the best giveaway of the season! My bloggy friends and I welcome you to the best, biggest, most cheerful event of the season: