A Christmas Handbook Book Launch Party!

Book launch! Save the Date: November 9th from 1 – 4 p.m. Come enjoy treats, fun and prizes!

A Christmas Handbook was just awarded an Author to Watch designation by Richard Paul Evan’s Author Ready group. What makes A Christmas Handbook special and why does it stand out from other Christmas planning books?

Engaging Christmas celebrations – we all want our get-togethers to be special and memorable; with a touch of the traditional and something novel added to keep it fresh.  Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World, a time deserving of our best efforts. As a caterer, event and ward activities planner in Fallbrook, Newport Beach and Carlsbad, CA and Kaysville, UT, I’ve had the pleasure of creating meals and activities for groups from family-sized to several hundred participants. In my role as wife and mother, I’ve created Christmas activities and memories for my family for nearly 50 years.

A Christmas Handbook has 9 full party plans, over 90 recipes, 45 craft and gift patterns, including the toddler busy book shown above. There are activities that you can follow or change and personalize as needed. These are the party themes:

A Little Lambie Baby Shower – in honor of the birth of the Lamb of God and our Good Shepherd, this is a lamb-themed shower where guests bring baby gifts to be given to shelters or families in need. This can also be used with children’s nativity programs, Evening in Bethlehem ward and family parties, women’s group activities and other charitable events.

St. Nicholas Eve Dinner – Our youngest son was born on St. Nicholas Eve. As we started having birthday parties for him, we incorporated the tradition of leaving our shoes out to receive a small treat. This is a fun way to enjoy a little pre-Christmas activity to take the edge off waiting and to learn about the ancient Christian tradition and charity of St. Nicholas. Also fun for families that want to have a Santa-themed party if they are saving Christmas Eve for a Christ-centered activity.

The Party that Wasn’t invites people to forego an activity and instead donate the party funds to a family in need or charity.

The Nutcracker Party features the iconic story and ballet that are so popular during the holidays. Exploring Tchaikovsky’s fantasy world is a great way for little ones to learn about music and art while having fun.

Frosty’s Cozy Winter Party features a retro version of the good-natured snowman. With food and fun, this party can even carry over to January after Christmas quiets down and as the gray of winter wears on.

Merry and Bright is a vintage party for mid-century holiday and Santa fans. With old-school refreshments, music and merriment, this step back in time is a colorful reminder of the good times we spent with parents, friends, grandparents and family long ago.

Paint with Pals – here is another creative activity for Moms and others who need a night to relax and unwind. Snacks, chats and art make for a welcome diversion.

Christmas Ornament-Making and Exchange parties are perennial favorites. From July to November, this activity is a way to prep for Christmas before the busyness of the holiday season catches up to us. Who knows – you might find inspiration for your next Christmas theme.

Christmas Villains – an antidote to the sweetness of holiday themes, this party features famous baddies. Green foods and a not-so-fun game give a nice variation to ugly sweater parties. The premise is fun, especially for pro-antagonist types.

The book features:

“The Birth” used by permission of the Richard Macneil Studios Ltd.

The Light of the World, a Christmas Eve family or other occasion program for family, church or women’s groups featuring prophetic Old Testament scripture and sing-along Christmas carols about the birth of the Savior.

Mrs. Claus Movie Night, a talent show, activities and games such as Santa’s Naughty and Nice game, Santa Bowl, Santa’s Secret Sack and a scavenger hunt. Also, an extensive family history activity based on pioneers and western settlements that was created for Pioneer Day, but the heritage ideas could be adapted for holiday get-togethers.

Sweetness and Light, a medieval party with authentic games and activities that our ancestors of that era enjoyed. Included is a nativity play from the Middle Ages.

Stories and traditions of Christmas from Great Britain, France and Germany for a jumping off point for planning international Christmas activities. Also, the memoir of an American soldier who spent Christmas in a war zone in a foreign land.

Recipes to make and decorate cookies. And lots of handmade treats to enjoy and share.also festive dinners and easy meals for busy December.

A Christmas Handbook provides readers with ideas for Christmas fun all year round, with projects that take a lot of time, to things women can get together and make in one evening, to simple gifts and ways to make a holiday budget stretch. The patterns for the wool felt heirloom advent calendar miniature stockings below is included.

“Author Pam McMurtry is a member of Author Ready, an author’s group mentored by 46 x best-selling author Richard Paul Evans, whose first book was also self-published. She was a guest on multiple Broadcasts as the “Holiday Diva” on BYU SiriusXM Radio 143. Her A Harvest and Halloween Handbook won a “Hot New Picks in Design” Award from Amazon Kindle and she helped with or had 60 articles published in The Deseret News, U.S. News and World Report, Parents and other media. She holds a B.F.A. with a drawing and painting/art teaching emphasis from the University of Utah. “

A Christmas Handbook eBook is now available on Amazon.com.

Click here for A Harvest and Halloween Handbook.

It’s October!

Now, finally, we are officially in the fall. Halloween is a big deal around here and we are celebrating the cooler, beautiful weather with a price drop! Knowing things have been tough for a while, McMurtry Creative Media wants to help you out. We just dropped the price of A Harvest and Halloween Handbook II eBook on Amazon. We were at the bookstore the other day, checking out holiday magazines. Not only where there not many selections but honestly, they were not as cool and packed with fun as this eBook (and the others cost more.) Yes, I know I’m biased but I have a B.F.A. so I know good art when I see it 😉 There are dozens of party plans, DIY recipes, decor, activities, costume ideas, and everything you need to have a happy Halloween. Grab your copy today and enjoy a stroll through Halloween fun and adventure.

My Pinterest pins are buzzing with over 79,000 views in the last 30 days. And I’ve been busy adding decor to McMurtry Manor, here are a few new things and some golden oldies. These are my top pins on Pinterest right now, I’ll adjust as you let me know what you want to see.

Happy Halloween!

Coming in hot at #1 is this guy sitting on my desk, I thought he might be a cute model for Inktober. I love it too! 2087 friends have looked at it in the last 30 days.

“McMurtry Manor” is a seasonal favorite and is showing up with 2031 views.

At #3 are lunchbox jokes @ 1611 views. October is the perfect time to get all silly and send funny thoughts in your kiddos’ lunches.

And 1,817 friends have viewed this festive vintage trick or treat bag.

In fifth place with 1,477 views is “Spot.”

Here are a couple of new projects going on at the manor. We moved in about a year ago and I haven’t gotten to all the finishing touches yet. I am planning a gallery wall but for now our family photos are resting on this mantle. I’m thinking of changing out the frame on the family portrait and adding a few Halloween touches – will update!

I don’t know why, but for a while I’ve been wanting to dress up this metal form for Halloween – that creative spirit I guess. She’s in the garage waiting ’til we get a little closer to Halloween for her debut.

Batty started Halloween as a Dollar Store bat and got a reboot with black gauze, frayed-edge satin ribbon and button eyes.

This bat ended up on the fireplace. There are 6 of them in the house.

The Silly Old Cats came in from the cold and are snuggled on a rag garland.

In Wonderland, the crazy tea party is underway. I love how Halloween is a holiday free from the constraints of things like good taste!

Don’t forget – everything you need to create a DIY happy Halloween is at your fingertips in A Harvest and Halloween Handbook Second Edition. Download yours today; if you don’t have a Kindle, no worries, there’s a free app in your app store that you can add to your favorite device.