Ornament Memory Box

Well the excitement of christmas is over and if your house is like mine there are toys and decorations all over the house of the christmas festivities.  These memories the children may remember in the years to come but here is something your children will not.  My mother started this tradition with my siblings and I.  Every year we were given an ornament and once we moved out of the house and had our own tree we we went through the ornaments and took those that we received.  Or at least think we did.

Well this year I have decided to make that process for my children a little easier.  In the last few years I started writing the year and initials on the ornaments if I could sneak it on the back or bottom of it with out damaging the overall look.  This year I decided to try something even more organized.  Which of course surprised my husband because I am not considered organized in his eyes!!

 I was at Target and found $5.00 ornament boxes that hold 35 ornaments.  They are compact and sturdy.  I bought one for each of my children.  I put there names on the boxes, I may let them decorate them next year!  I started a list of ornaments by year for each child and who they were from if my memory served me correctly.  It was a little difficult to remember those ornaments that were not labeled and were over 5 years old.  I placed each of the kids ornaments in their boxes and included the list.

 Each year I will add to their boxes and lists which will hopefully serve as a wonderful keepsake when they are ready to start their own traditions.
Wishing you all a wonderful new year.

A make ahead breakfast or new tradition

I have made monkey bread in the past however it was not introduced to me as a make ahead recipe until one of my neighbors asked for my bundt pan one christmas season.  In a day or so, she returned it to me, very cold and  filled with the monkey bread ingredients.  On top of the tinfoil were the directions to put it into the freezer and take it out of the freezer and place it on my countertop  on christmas eve night b/f I went to bed. Then the following morning I just put it in the oven and in 40 minutes I have this wonderful breakfast.

I know after a cooking for guests the night before the last thing I want to think about is making breakfast.  This is a great alternative that can be prepared a week or two in advance.  You can accompany it with bacon and scrambled eggs if you want something more hardy or simply a fruit salad, also prepared the day before.

So next time you are having overnight guests or want an neighbor gift idea think about the monkey bread tradition.
I have seen many variations of this recipe but I thought I would share my dear neighbors.  Place in freezer for extended storage after assembling the rolls and butter mixture.    Do not bake with the foil on.  Over thanksgiving I used Vanilla pudding and it was tasty too!

Holiday Party Games

I think most of us dreaded having that bridal or wedding shower that the hostess would bring out the games.  Well Christmas parties are a great time to bring those out again and break up the eating and chatting.  I am not saying I am not social but you can actually learn a lot about someone by watching them play a game.

I really love the websites www.partygameideas.com/christmas-games and http://www.partygamecentral.com.     This website is filled with great games to bring to your child's classroom as well.  One way to get people excited about doing games is having prizes no matter how expensive.  Cocktail napkins, note pads or hot cocoa cones are always an easy choice for adults, find ones that are humorous.  Candy works great for kids.

I thought I would share some tried and true.
One that I love and it can easily be adapted for any crowd.  I wrap a jewlery size gift box filled with small items around the house.  It is amazing how much you can fit inside a small box by just looking inside your junk drawer.  The guests then have to guess what is in there and the one who gets the most win.

Drawing on your head with a plate.  Download the directions or make up your own and watch your guests young and old laugh.  This is a great mixed ages group game as well.

Guess what is in your purse is humorous and revealing.  Make a list of things people might have in their purse both common and uncommon.  The one with the most wins.  This could be adapted to older children with backpacks.

Tear a tree behind your back.
//www.partygamecentral.com/pgcstandard/gametmpstd.php?gnm=691
New to me this year and a good one.  Once again any age would be funny to watch.

Also these sites have downloadable quizzes such as guess the christmas carol.  This one makes your brain work pretty hard!

Also kids love party favors at birthday parties I think adults do too!  Find inexpensive items in the dollar section of Michael's or make something yourself.
The fudge cookie cutters are cute, or just fill cookie cutters with m& m's.  Inexpensive ornaments from www.orientaltrading.com that coincide with your theme.  They have a ton.

If hosting a cookie exchange how about a recipe book with all the cookies on display.
 Simply add a ribbon or a cellophane bag and it spruces even the most inexpensive item up!

 

Just wanted to show you some inexpensive decorating ideas from the extra limbs of a christmas tree and items in your yard.  If you dont have a real tree, many tree lots have an abundance of extra boughs to share!

Happy Entertaining!!

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Yet another pretzel treat--Reindeers

Well I managed to do it again.  Take chocolate and pretzels and make something for the holidays.  This is the second year I have made these, however this time when I went shopping I had forgotten what type of pretzel to buy so I bought the small twist and the long sticks.  Looking at my ingredients and realized I should have bought the large twist pretzels as antlers.  When I went back to the grocery store I found chocolate covered twist pretzels in dark and white chocolate.....I know my motto is to save money but time is money isn't it. I splurged for the premade pretzels.  Actually were a little trickier since you had to get already dried chocolate to restick to each other.

To make the originial recipe, on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper:

1. Coat the chocolate twists or antlers with chocolate white or dark which ever is your preference.

2. Dip 3/4 of the pretzel stick into the same color chocolate if desired.

3. Place the log onto the twisted pretzel.  

4. Immediately add mini chips for eyes and a red m& m for the nose.

You can mix things up with the colors of chocolate.

For the purchased chocolate covered "antlers", 

1. Add some chocolate to two pretzels to stick together.  

2.  cover the pretzel log with chocolate and place in the middle of the two pretzels.

Follow the same for adornments.

Let them dry completely before trying to package them.  They will not fit in the individual pretzel treat bags the double antlers where too wide!

These are going to the kids in the neighborhood....

hmmm...what can I come up with for New Years Day and pretzels....any suggestions

Cork Christmas Trees

Before Thanksgiving I suggested saving corks and empty Jars.  If you did not use up all your corks on the thanksgiving place cards then here is a fun craft to decorate a bar or have a child help make as a gift.   A great way to recycle those corks and the fun part is getting to drink the wine.  Our old neighbor went door to door looking for corks one year and we owe this craft to Devin!

My daughter made one and then gave it to her teacher.  She took it an extra step, she pulled out her bead bucket and adorned the tree with beads in her school colors for her teacher.  (She also took the pictures herself.  Guess I am turning her into a blogger) This is truly a homemade gift.

She is 8 and did burn her finger once.  Just have ice water in a bowl nearby in case.

what you need:

Corks

Glue gun

Felt or fabric if you want a bottom

Beads for onraments--optional

First decide how big you would like your tree to be.   For the smaller ones, we made a circle out of 8 corks.  Glue them together.

Then make a the second layer smaller using 4 corks and then one on top.  You can then glue a piece of felt or fabric to to the bottom if you worry about scratching but cork is pretty smooth.

You could make several of these and make them into place cards like the turkeys.  Hope you have been saving corks for a while!!

Last year I made this large one that sits on my wet bar.  I used a champagne cork for the topper and had some gold glitter glue on hand somehow.

Hot Cocoa Cones

A great treat for neighbors, hostess gifts, baby sitters or teachers is a hot cocoa cone, also known as Candy Cane Soup.  You can use purchased cocoa mix or you can make some yourself.  Each homemade recipe made 7 cones. --they retail for 4.99 at the stores.

Cocoa Mix
3 cups Powdered milk--found in any grocery store
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup sugar
dash of salt
Mix all ingredients well in a bowl--I used a whisk

For each cocoa cone you will need:

2 cone shaped baggies--can use cake piping or decorating bags
1/2 cup of cocoa mix
1/4 cup of chocolate chips or m&m's ( I mashed up some candy canes and added them to chocolate chips)  They also have those green mint chips.
1/4 cup or more of mini marshmallows
mashed up candy cane- optional

Place one cone baggie into a tall cup. Add the cocoa mix and tie with the twist tie.
Cut off the excess bag on top and then add to the other baggie.

Top off with chocolate chips and marshmallows.  Twist tightly and use a cute ribbon to close off.

Make sure and make a tag with the directions.  Avery.com has great templates you can customize.
Add 4 tbs cocoa mix(or the can of mix directions) to 8 ounces of hot water.
Mix and add toppings as desired.  You can also adorn the package with a candy cane..

The mix can get messy but my 3 year old loved adding the toppings to the "ice cream cones"
For extra special treat, put these into a festive mug with some cookies.

You can also do these into a jar that you have saved. Either way the gift recipient will welcome this warm drink mix on a cold winter's day.

Quick Tip-CAN-ID

My friend has recently started a company called CAN-ID.  She sent me a few to use over thanksgiving.  What a great idea for large groups and playdates/birthday parties.  These worked well with the boys bourbon glasses by the end of the night!
These would be great around juice boxes or soda cans too.

Good Luck Tracy.  Take a look at her webside CAN-ID  and consider them at your next holiday event!.  I know I can get a little forgetful after a few glasses of mommy juice!

Also a few tips from a reader, Thanks Chandler

have found some very useful items for our homes, that really work and /or are really tasty:

1- Lemi Shine ( the hard water expert  that removes tough spots and film) I was having water spots badly on my glass ware in my Whirlpool-nothing-fancy-dishwasher. I  found this stuff at Kroger, and it is amazing! Smells good too!

2- Pomegrant seeds in salads and for kids snacks! We have been painstakingly picking out the seeds with our hands, and a friend just told me to cut it in half, hold seed side down in palm of hand and knock the skin side with the back of a spoon or icecream scooper, ( half your hand over a bowl) and the seeds just magically knock right out! It is truly amazing! The kids loved it too!

3- Kirsten N. introduced me to the best sausage ever!! Sold only at Ukrops however. Joines Meats in a white casing. It is so flavourfull, soft and wonderful!

Stay tuned for some other fun and easy Holiday gifts and activites.

Christmas Candy

The non-baking has begun.  The following recipes are easy to make and will store well in a cool place.  They make quick and easy neighbor or hostess gifts and can be made with the help of your children.

 Of course we need to start out with pretzel treats. I am not sure what it is about the salty chocolate taste that keeps driving me back.  Like the eyeballs and turkey ones these I simply use green, red or white chocolate discs on square pretzels, heat on 250 for a few minutes and add a festive M&M.  If you have the budget the M&M's that can be personalized with pictures or wording would be adorable as hostess gifts or simply treats around the house.

 

ANother holiday favorite, using the same technique as above but instead of the chocolate disc, I melt a rolo slightly on the pretzel and then press a pecan into the slightly melted rolo.  Tastes like a turtle candy.  Yum, Yum.

1, 2  3 cookies.  This is a great one for egg and wheat allergy friends and family.

1 cup of peanut butter-not crunchy
2 cups of chocolate chips
3 cups broken up Corn flakes

Simply melt the chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth.  Add the peanut butter and then stir in the cornflakes.

Scoop onto a cookie pan lined with wax paper and put in the fridge until firm
For a more festive presentation, scoop into mini cupcake holders.

These would look great wrapped up in a small candy dish as a hostess or teachers gift.

Happy Candy making

barefoot Blogger pot roast

The November recipe selected by Lime In Coconut was Company pot roast. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/company-pot-roast-recipe/index.html

I will tell you I have never made a pot roast before.  I sent my husband to the butcher with the meat selection and when I was ready to make it I was not sure how to tie it.  Also it looked a lot thinner than the picture in the cookbook.
Needless to say I was going to make it.

There are a lot of good veggies in this recipe.  I found that if you have a sink cutting board, placing a plastic shopping bag underneath works great for catching scraps.   It provides easy clean up for the trash or right to the compost.
After 1 1/2 hrs I took the temp and it was 180, the recipe suggests after 2 1/2 hrs at 160 take it out.  My husband thought it was good, the kids only ate the egg noodles I made as a side dish and a little meat that did not have the sauce.
A friend of mine did make it once and said it was great.  I might try again and make sure I have the right cut of beef.

Dec 1st and the christmas preparations will be starting.  Would love to hear how you are preparing for this holiday season.