Is part of your holiday tradition making lots of sweet treats? It was for my mom, and she had a funny little trick that made her cookies, pastries and candies seem even more special (if that was possible)... You need to know a bit about my mom before I share her clever ploy. She raised six children, pretty much on her own. My dad died at 42 years old. I was nine, and my siblings ranged from five to eighteen years old. She was an amazing woman and one of her mottos was 'Always stay one step ahead of them! (us kids)'. And she did.