Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Handmade Christmas!

The kiddos and I have had a blast over the past couple of weeks getting ready for Christmas! We love adding a handmade touch to all our gifts, so this year, my son and daughter both got in on the fun. From snowman pencils, to hand-decorated gift bags and yummy Peppermint Bark, we've been enjoying ringing in the Christmas season together. I wish I could say that most of the ideas were mine, but this year I relied on a Martha Stewart Holiday Magazine from a couple of years ago, thanks Martha! Preparing the Peppermint Bark is something fun the whole family can do. It's quick and easy and keeps in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week. We bought pretty glass canisters from the local craft store and added a holiday label to give as gifts to our friends. Below is the recipe for the Peppermint bark with a few modifications:


















Makes about 2 1/2 pounds

2 12 oz. bags of Nestle's premium white chocolate morsels

12 large candy canes

1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil (you can find at local craft store)

1. Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Follow instructions on package for melting chocolate. (I was able to pour both bags into a pyrex dish and heat for 2 minutes at 70%; stir and heat for an additional 10 seconds at 70%.

3. While the chocolate is melting, with a chef's knife or kitchen mallet, cut or pound candy into 1/4-inch pieces. I recommend putting the unwrapped candy canes into a plastic bag and placing it onto foil to contain the mess!




4. Stir candy and peppermint oil into the melted choclate. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet; spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Break into pieces before packaging (or serving). Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

So, I've been tagged a few times over the past weeks and I'm tryin' to catch up! So, this one is courtesy of my girl Rockerchic who shared her dirty little secrets and now expects me to share mine!

THE RULES:

~ Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
~ Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
~ Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog.
~ Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

SEVEN WEIRD OR RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME!

#1: I'm ambidexterous because I started out as a lefty and for whatever reason my kindegarten teachers thought I should conform and use my right hand, but even though my parents nixed that nonsense all I can really do with my left hand is write!

#2: My friends compare me to Joan from the sitcom "Girlfriends" and I've even been compared to Monica on friends...I guess I can admit I'm a little anal at times, especially when it comes to symmetry (in decorating my house, papercrafting...), but what's wrong with a little perfection now and then?

#3: I love decorating my house for Christmas! I put a little holiday cheer in each room in my house (including bathrooms...LOL). Everyone has their own wreath on their door and I put up a tree in almost every room...

#4: I think meals like burgers & fries, sandwich & chips, pancakes & bacon etc. were made just for me! Actually, I'm probably a little obsessive about how I eat my meals, I have to eat them proportionately so I do things like ration my fries so I have enough to go with each bite of burger, the same goes for sandwiches and chips, and I get a little bothered if I run out of bacon before I've finished my pancakes...I do share my food with hubby and kids, but there's always the concern that they'll throw things off-balance!

#5: When I was a kid I used to eat bologna sandwiches along with a bowl of cheerios for breakfast, EVERY MORNING!!

#6: Oh, while we're on strange eating habits, my mom says I used to bite off the stick of butter out of the refrigerator...now that's just gross!

#7: What could possibly top the eating butter thing...mmmm....I have a freakish memory when it comes to remembering faces. I tripped my hubby out once at the mall when I spotted someone I hadn't seen in about 15-18 years (when we were kids) and the kicker was we weren't even in our hometown!

So, that's enough about me. Can't wait to hear some interesting little trivia about these mamas:

MadebyJade

Wylesstyle

Stampinmom

Laylalegs

Crafts, kids, home and life

Turtlemommy

Eleganthobbies

Don't forget to check out these mamas' blogs!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas Creations

I just can't believe that Christmas is only 19 days away! This season is so busy for us; my daughter's birthday is sandwiched in between Thanksgiving and Christmas and then we celebrate a number of birthday's and anniversaries in January. Add being pregnant to all of that and I don't know how I managed to make anything new! But I found so much inspiration just thinking about the Reason for the Season. I especially like these latest tags and Family scrapbook Album I made and was soooo reluctant to list them in my Etsy shop! Think I'll just have to make some more tags for the gifts I'm giving.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

NCTriangle Team is Hosting a MegaGiveaway

Here's the scoop... the NCTriangle Etsy team is jumpstarting your holiday shopping this week by hosting MEGAgiveaways. It's going to be an exciting week!


It's on to day #2 of NCTriangle Etsy team's MEGAgiveaways!If this is the first day that you're joining in on the exciting giveaways, be sure to enter enter the previous MEGAgiveaway and make yourself a note to come back everyday this week to learn about the lastest giveaway!Today's NCTriangle Etsy Street Team giveaway is sponsored by Cinnamon & Spice Crafts. Interested in finding out more? Keep reading!
Cinnamon & Spice Crafts features cherished keepsake gifts and cards for birthdays, baby showers, holidays and more.


Prize: A set of 8 "Silver Elegance" Holiday cards and envelopes. $14.00 value. Plus shipping will be included!Who Can Enter: Anyone! US and International entrants are welcome. You do NOT need an"Etsy" account to enter.
Deadline: The give away runs from December 2nd to December 9th. The winner will be announced here the following day.
How to Enter: Visit the NCTriangle Team Blog and follow instructions there!