Wrapping Up 2024: Holiday Cheer and New Year Hopes

As we wrap up 2024, I want to take a moment to wish everyone a joyous holiday season and a very Happy New Year! Here’s to a 2025 filled with happiness, success, and prosperity. The real estate industry has a lot of exciting things on the horizon, especially for buyers. For instance, updates to the Oregon Bond program are creating more flexibility, which means more opportunities to make homeownership a reality for many. Stay tuned for more details on how these changes can benefit you in the coming year!

Now, let’s talk about the chaos of the holiday season—because we all know it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Between last-minute shopping, gift wrapping, sneaking sips of eggnog, and baking endless batches of Christmas cookies, it’s a wonder any of us remain sane. I’m proud to say that my shopping is just about finished this year, which is a personal best. (I’m no stranger to being in line on Christmas Eve with a basket full of last-minute gifts.) Getting an early start has been a game-changer, leaving me with only one thing left to tackle: wrapping!

Speaking of wrapping, Natasha had a brilliant idea to save our gifts from our curious golden retriever, Niner. We set up a baby gate around the Christmas tree to keep him from opening presents prematurely. It worked like a charm—mostly. He did manage to pull some ribbon off one package, but that’s a far easier fix than replacing a chewed-up gift. Puppy-proofing the holidays? Success!

In the spirit of the season, I’d like to share one of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes: Santa’s Whiskers. My mom used to make these every year, and my brother William and I would race to see who could snag the first cookie. They’re a family tradition, and I hope they can become a part of yours too.

Santa’s Whiskers Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp almond extract
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2½ cups flour
• ¾ cup maraschino cherries, chopped
• ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans; I prefer walnuts)
• 1 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

1. Beat butter and sugar until very fluffy.
2. Add almond and vanilla extracts and mix well.
3. Gradually add flour and mix until just combined.
4. Fold in chopped cherries and nuts.
5. Divide dough into logs (two or three 8-inch logs, depending on your preferred cookie size).
6. Roll logs in shredded coconut until fully coated.
7. Wrap logs in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
8. Preheat oven to 375°F.
9. Slice cookie logs into ¼-inch slices.
10. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the coconut starts to turn golden brown.
11. Let cool on a wire rack and enjoy!

Whether you’re finishing up your shopping, savoring holiday treats, or just enjoying the glow of the season, I hope this time of year brings you joy and peace. Here’s to new beginnings in 2025, and may it be your best year yet. See you next year!