Cleanse face before applying scrub/mask. Using a small amount of the mixture, smear evenly on the face with fingers or cotton pad. Then using fingertips, GENTLY massage mixture into face using a circula motion for 2-5 mins. Let it sit on the face for aprox. 10 mins. Rinse gently, and PAT dry with a soft towel.

So here are my raw thoughts on the matter.

I do wish people a Merry Christmas during the Chrismas season. I also wish Happy Holidays in collective messages- Not because I wish to be PC, but because I know there are quite a few holidays during the winter months (Christmas, New Year’s, the Festival of Lights… plus language barriers and all of that…), and most folks generally assume I’m am wishing them the blessings of happiness and wellness- which is pretty much my intention. I do celebrate Christmas as to commemorate the birth of Christ*. (Hello, I’m Christian… It what we do. It’s a primary point in our faith.) During the few days prior to Christmas, I will wish people (including my Pagan and Jewish friends) a Merry Christmas. I honestly don’t know if each person celebrates and honors the tradition the same ways that I do, but I figure they are living in the midst of the holiday the same as me… I might as well wish them a good one. It’s like saying I love you… but in your own language. Nothing wrong with that, I would think.

I doubt that the folks who say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” are nearly as intentional as some might imply. Although while some ARE motivated by PC in doing this, I doubt many are doing it out of some motive to replace or eliminate the use of “Christmas.” For the most part I don’t think people who are using “Happy Holidays” are intent on eliminating “Merry Christmas.”

Having said that, I DO know of Christians who definitely DO want to eliminate “Happy Holidays” as though it were somehow evil or wrong. Some feel the same regarding the term “X-mas.” I suppose that’s on them.

We know that the word “holiday” is a contraction of sorts, derived from the phrase “holy day”… and The “X” in the term “X-mas” comes from from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of “Χριστός” (Christ in Greek).** (Yes! Witness that seminary education and my linguistics-loving Daddy’s lessons shining through!)

So after all of that I think it’s not really the phrase, but the intent of the person speaking… and since no one has any control over any but their OWN personal intentions brought on by their OWN personal convictions… and I believe everyone is convicted in different ways for different purposes… We should all observe just that. If YOU want to honor Christmas by spelling it out and saying all the words- then do it. End of story. Don’t worry about how everyone else is doing it. You have your own convictions to keep and fulfill. Christmas is holy, but since “Holy” has different meanings for different people, Christmas has special meaning to those who are of the Christian Faith.

If any of this is offensive to you, remember that December 26 is National Whiners Day.

I love all of you guys.

Merry Christmas and Happy HOLY-days!

~Kitti

* Many will agree that December 25th is not the actual day of Christ’s birth. Using the 25th of December was early century Christian effort to establish a celebration of it’s own (Christemasse) during the time of the pagan festivities of that same week. Everyone likes a party… although a mass is a somewhat solemn event, it’s still a celebration honoring personal belief, conviction and purpose.

** The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning “Christ’s Mass”. It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038. “Cristes” is from Greek Christos and “mæsse” is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century. Hence, “X-mas” is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

Here’s what went into making it.

I used flat tortilla bread. I did use smoked ham, but of course you can cut that out for a no meat version.
On top of that I piled sliced cucumbers, avacado, red onion (purple), and red bell peppers. I sprinked a good bit of black pepper and a small bit of salt on that. Then I added an Italian blend of shredded cheeses (ramano, asiago, parm…). The dressing I used was a roasted tomato-basil mayo. It’s very light and flavorful. Then I pretty much slapped it on a plate, cut it into quarters, and cut up an apple and the rest of the avacado on top.

Here’s what I might do differently next time.

Next time I’ll probably either make a smaller one and roll it up… or use a stiffer bread, like pita. I’ll probably use slices of cheeses rather that shedded. I might also add some fresh baby spinach, sprouts, and whatever other veggie pops up at the time… and of course I’ll try out different dressings too.

Hope you try it. Let me know what you add.