THE END OF 2011

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This year has flown by for me. Did it go by fast for you?

When I was a kid, New Year's Eve in Hawaii was a huge party night. It still is a big party night. Everyone in town is outside popping firecrackers and enjoying good food with friends and family.

New Year's Eve in Utah is a lot more calm and quiet. We can't even do sparkler's in our city. Sparklers were the best part of New Year's Eve for me. Oh well.

Tonight both sides of the family are gathering at our house for movies, pupu's, mocktails, and a little bit of Just Dance.

Thanks for reading. Talk to ya in 2012. Happy New Year!

IT'S GO TIME

Happy Christmas Eve!

I hope you are enjoying today with your family and friends.

We are having a big ol party at my house tonight. Yipee.

Talk to ya later.

MAKE MINE A MINI

Our family is officially on Christmas break. Shout hooray! 

As Tess' room mom, yesterday was a big day for me. Okay, not really, but I had a lot of fun organizing the class party. We had five stations, came together for a big class freeze dance, ended watching Frosty the Snowman while eating different snow foods. 

What are snow foods? Powdered sugar donut snowballs, white cheddar popcorn snow flurries, marshmallow hail, and milk. For those that couldn't drink milk, we had melted snow (aka water).

For the party favor, we gave out mini snowman kits.

Supplies:
Small buttons
1/4 inch black pompoms
Small candy canes
Felt strips
Clear bags

I thought about using a baby carrot for the nose, but if you sing the Frosty the Snowman song he has a button nose. So we went with that.

These gifts came together so easily. It was a nice alternative to a bag filled with candy and toys that will be thrown a way at the end of the week.

Wouldn't this be a fun friends or neighbor gift?

THE FLATEST SNOWMAN

Tess doesn't get bothered by the cold very easily. She loves to drag Collin outside to dig in the snow.

While I was cleaning the house Tess and Collin built their very own snowman on our deck. Tess was so proud. Strangely enough I was too. They didn't ask for my help, just went about their work and did their best.

Collin tried to start a snowball fight, but his efforts were waisted. Tess didn't even notice.

After the "big" snowman was done, Tess worked on a baby snowman. Tess is so funny. She loves all things little. This little man gave me an idea for Tess' class party. If it works out, I will share it.

Collin. Well, he just snacked on the carrots I had given them for snowman noses. Good times.

OUR MINI VILLAGE

So, how was your weekend? Our family went to the mall and picked up some presents. The mall is a crazy place and it reminded me of why I shop mostly online. Seriously, every time the doorbell rings the two younger ones run to the door to see if there are boxes. Not people, just boxes.

In other news...

Davis wanted to make a gingerbread village. We didn't pick up a gingerbread house kit like we usually do, so I had to be a little creative.  I pinned this recently, and knew it would be great to fill our needs.

Perfection was not the goal for this village.  The kids and I grabbed an assortment of goodies from our cabinet, graham crackers, and a tray to contain everything.  I melted vanilla almond bark and got to work.

After our structures were set, the kids got their house trimming on. Davis, Tess and I each decorated a house. Collin stood at the bar, and pushed all the rubbish and candies off the counter.

My house has the worm on top. I told you, perfection was not the goal. Oh, and most of the popcorn snow is now gone due to children eating it up when no on is around.

SEA SALT CARAMELS

I've spent the couple of hours cutting and wrapping homemade caramels. I went with a new recipe, and it didn't disappoint. 

Sea Salt Caramels via Tablespoon.

The recipe makes a batch to fit in an 8x8 inch pan. I quadrupled the recipe to fit my biggest cookie sheet. 

Delicious. That's what caramel is. 

MINI SALTED CARAMEL DARK CHOCOLATE TARTLETTES

Have you seen these amazing tartlettes floating around Pinterest? This weekend I thought I would try to make something similar. 

Presenting my...

These mini desserts are so tasty, you might just eat them all up before you share any.

Want to make some? This is what you will need:

Pie dough - Make your own, or buy it from the store. 

Heavy cream

Salt

Sugar

Peanuts - optional

Chocolate chips

Corn Syrup

Water

Mini muffin tin

2" circle cookie cutter

Let's get started. Preheat your oven to pie dough instructions. Cut out as many circles as you can from your pie dough. I think I was able to get about 18 circles from one 9" pie crust. Work your magic here.

No need to spray, just press your pie circles into the mini muffin tin. Prick each mini pie with a fork.
The mini crusts bake up quicker than you think. Start checking them after five minutes. Bake until they are golden in color.

I have made these Chocolate-Covered Salted Peanut Caramel Cups in the past and love them. Use this Salted Peanut Caramel recipe for your caramel. I saved the peanuts for the topping at the end. Tip: Watch your caramel closely. Once it starts to change color it can burn before you know it. Trust me. Set the caramel in the fridge to firm up quicker.

When you crusts are cool and the caramel is thicker, spoon into the mini bowls. Fill the bowls a little less than half way.

Set a cup of cream on the stove to boil. In another bowl place one cup of your most favorite chocolate chips or wafers. I like dark chocolate with salted caramel. It's a good balance of sweet and salty.

When the cream is nice and hot, pour it over your chocolate chips. Using a whisk, mix the cream and chocolate together and your should have a nice shiny ganache.

 Watch out for little helpers. 1. They tend to sneak your chocolate. 2. The caramel is really hot.

Spoon your ganache on top of the caramel, sprinkle with chopped peanuts if you like. Isn't this so simple?!

Find some friends to share your tar-teenies with and eat up. A glass of milk is the perfect pairing to this dessert.

Holly Jolly

How is your weekend shaping up? 

The family and I are going to an ugly sweater party tonight. It's amazing people are still designing and producing ugly sweaters, and turtle necks with candy canes or holly for adults.

Are the sweater parties a product of so many ugly sweaters, or are the sweater makers trying to keep up with the parties? I'm not sure, just hoping my sweater is ugly enough for tonight. I'd hate to look good. That's weird to say.

This cute little Green English Holly plant is a gift for our host and hostess tonight. It was too cute to pass up.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

the kids's nativity

Did you see this stable in the bargain section of Target? It was only two fifty. I bought a bunch of doll pins to paint up as the Wise men etc. After a little bit of thought I decided to leave them unpainted.

Mike cut the pins down for me with a ban saw, and I sanded the bottoms smooth. There are a few           more dolls, but Collin likes to tote them around the house and set them in different places. 

    

These little pieces are not for little little kids, but we have three and older in this house. The kids love    playing with this set and I don't worry if we loose one of the people. They can easily be replaced.

Natural or Neutral

Stockings have consumed more of my time than any other Christmas craft. Between sewing, fixing mistakes, making new and new again I have made a few too many.

Last Christmas Tess picked a stocking at a local craft market. The boy's needed something similar, so I sewed a couple up. Looking at them this year, I was not excited to put them up. They are super big. Think ten pounds of potatoes big.

Mike thinks these are a little on the small side, but I think their perfect!

I have held on to this left over linen from a table cloth I made a couple of years ago. It is so great, I wish I would have bought the entire bolt. One side has a silver shimmer to it, and the other is plain. Fancy or casual, easy peasy.

The supplies to make these are so basic. Everything you see in the above photo, + pinking shears and five inches of rick rack per stocking.

I drew a stocking shape on card stock and cut it out for a template. 1. Fold your fabric over with right sides facing each other. 2. Trace your shape and pin the two pieces of fabric together. I traced five stockings. 4. Instead of cutting each stocking along the line, I just cut them so each was it's own chunk. I cut them out after I sewed. 5. Sew on your traced line.

5. Use your pinking shears to trim off any excess fabric about 1/4 inch away from your stitch.

6. Flip your stocking right side out and iron flat.

7. Fold down top of stocking about two inches and stitch your rick rack to the edge for hanging.  

Tess and I glittered these initials for each family member. Now I can change things out each year, and don't feel bad throwing away glittered paper.

Our kids pick a new ornament every year. When they move out they will have a small stash of ornaments for their own tree. Each kid wanted something so different, but I love how it reflects their personality. The kid's ornaments are from Crate and Barrel this year.

Our fireplace is in the basement and doesn't have a mantel. I think the mirror works just as well to hold the stockings up. I love that the stockings are simple, but spruced up with each person's initial and ornament.

This month is moving along pretty quickly, but I don't mind. I'm excited about the holiday break and having my Mom and Step Dad in town for Christmas.

How are your holiday plans shaping up?


P.S. The dinner last night was perfect, and I am still on a happy high thinking about it.

Tougher than I thought

Tonight is the Christmas Social for the ladies at my church. I am coordinating all the efforts for this shin-dig, and it's been occupying brain space for over a month now.

One of my visions were cute little chocolate bowls filled with ice cream for dessert. I pinned this idea forever ago and was excited to give it a try.

I used a ballon animal pump to fill my balloons. Filling the balloons wasn't an issue. My fingers were sore after tying so many.

The kicker was getting them not to pop.

A chocolate balloon would be sitting fine for a few minutes.

Then BOOM!

Chocolate splatter all over the kitchen.

I did eventually get the forty bowls I needed. Then I realized they were a little smaller than I wanted. I debated on melting the chocolate down again and starting over with bigger balloons. Mike informed me that was not a wise decision. So small bowls will have to do.

And because I can't do things the easy way. I decided to make forty linen napkins for the dinner too. My serger munched one of my napkins funny, so I will be holding that on the side to use for myself.

I hope you are have a great Tuesday friends. Talk to ya later.

Our Neon Christmas

Every year we pick out a tree at the local grocery store. I grew up with real trees, and artificial tree was not in my vocabulary. The kids and I spotted this white tree at Wally's and my standards got flexible. What would make neon pop better than a white tree? Done, tree was in the cart. Kids were excited.

A friend of mine said their Christmas tradition is to have no tradition. Hello?! Totally my new motto. I can't even go longer than two months before I rearrange my furniture.  So, while we might have neon this year, I have no idea what is in store for next year. Isn't that exciting?

 I have to be honest.  The kids were most excited about setting the train up around the tree.

I wanted to bring something natural to the room. This tree stump made my heart go pitter patter.  Mike screwed a lag bolt into the center of the tree stump, and we slid the white tree on. Perfect.  

The neon pink fabric was from the remnants rack at the fabric store. Nothing fancy, just draped around the base and it's done.

With a few cans of neon spray paint anything ordinary can become an extraordinary ornament.

The neon card stock wasn't just for our countdown.  I put together several of the 3D paper ball ornaments from How About Orange. They only took my two days to figure out how to put together.

Overall, everything has turned out exactly as I had dreamed. The kids love to play and make house in the front room all around the tree. Glitter is everywhere, and Christmas music is always playing. 

Now that I am thinking about it, this is the most enjoyment I have ever had from Christmas.  It must be all the bright colors!

Glitter Everywhere

I have a really bad habit. Only my sister, Noelle, has witnessed it.

When I am overwhelmed with something, anything, I neglect my responsibilities and craft instead.

This week I have had a lot on my mind. Nothing life altering, just stuff to remember and do.  

Today, instead of being responsible, I am treating my self to some glittering.  Oh, and I'm loving it.

Tess, the kitchen and myself are covered in tiny little sparkles and specks. I'll share pictures when everything is finished.

I hope you have a great weekend friends. Tonight my hubby and I are going on a date to his work Christmas party. I hope they have stuffed mushrooms. I'm really in the mood for stuffed mushrooms.