Posts Tagged holidays

Home, and unplugged, for the Holidays

Posted by Kristin in Ramblings on December 22, 2009

This afternoon I officially begin my holiday vacation, which consists of driving to Omaha until Saturday then returning to the Cities and continuing on to Green Bay for my first-ever Packer game at Lambeau field (cue music).

While my time at home will be relatively low-key, I am determined to maintain a healthy distance from online and social media. Blogs, Twitter and Facebook are a part of my everyday routine, but I don’t want to lose or miss out on the magic of family during the holiday season: playing board games, watching mom struggle with the Wii ;) and enjoying movies.

That’s why I am braving a potential blizzard to drive six hours through Iowa. I’m not driving home to jump on Twitter or blog about my Christmas, recent news or any other daily ramblings I may have.

I don’t pledge a full black-out from social media, but my posts will be more scarce, tweets more infrequent. Have a wonderful holiday, and make sure to enjoy quality time with those you are with.

We’ll talk next week!

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Maintaining Traditions

Posted by Kristin in Ramblings on November 13, 2009

With the holidays quickly approaching, the cooking and baking of traditional Scandinavian foods begins – for my family at least. This weekend my grandma, aunt and cousin will be making lefse and it got me thinking: Are we losing family-based traditions in today’s retail world?

lefse

Traditions have been continued in our family for generations. Lefse, lutefisk (eww), Swedish meatballs, spritz cookies and more are served every year, no matter how many times I say that I don’t like lutefisk. However, it seems that the number of individuals who know how to prepare them is getting smaller.

I am just as guilty as others. I have not watched my grandma and aunt make lefse. I don’t know how to use the cookie press to make the special cookies. Is it because I’m sure I could find out how online? Or I know I could run down to the store and buy it? Or am I just relying on someone else to know how?

The responsibility falls to me to observe, learn and continue the traditions that I believe are important. However, I am curious if anyone else is experiencing something similar and your thoughts on the cause and/or solution.

Photo credit: theconglomerate.org

Thanks to Dave Erickson for teaching me the style coding. NOTE: I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how to make the text wrap further up the image. If anyone has any tips, I would greatly appreciate it!

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