• Do You See Apple Slices or A Candy Cane?

    It is the super simple things that can add an extra festive touch to a family snack or get together.  The girls wanted a snack so I sliced up some apples, but instead of putting them in a bowl or on a plate I left them on the cutting board in the shape of a candy cane.  I love it when I am thinking clearly enough to actually do the “little stuff” because it is so worth seeing them get excited over apple slices in the shape of a candy cane or something similar.

    Think of 3 simple ways you can add a festive touch to things you are already doing.  Not to mention it may coax your kids to eat more apples or other healthy foods around the Holidays! 🙂   You don’t have to make  elaborate dishes to spark a smile in your family members!

  • Christmas Giving: 100+ Stocking Gifts under $1.00

    Rolled pennies made to look like a candy for stocking stuffer gift

    One of the fun parts of Christmas is opening the little items that you get in the stockings every year.  I like to put both practical and fun items in the stockings.  Many years while doing regular shopping and finding items on clearance or with a coupon I am done with the stockings before December even arrives.  In our family we typically open the stockings on Christmas Eve before the girls go to bed that night.  It gets the celebrations started and it allows the girls to “savor the moment” as they open their stockings.  As they are opening the gifts they will try on new socks, read a book, paint their nails, put a pretty hair barrette in their hair or play with their little toys.  As a general rule the items that go in the stockings need to be less than $1.00 and in some cases I can get items for free. Here are some ideas if you are trying to fill that last little bit of the stocking.

    100+ Stocking Gifts for under $1.00

    • Roll of Pennies from the Bank ($0.50)
    • Candy Canes
    • Chapstick
    • Fingernail Polish
    • Gloves
    • Small Puzzles
    • Coloring Books
    • Slinky
    • Pack of Gum
    • Mints
    • Erasers
    • Match Box Cars
    • Breath Mints
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Hand Lotion
    • Googly Eyes
    • Fuzzy Sticks
    • Crayons
    • Colored Pencils
    • Markers
    • Glue Sticks
    • Batteries
    • Socks
    • Jewelry
    • Stickers
    • Craft Items
    • Playdough
    • Molding Clay
    • Glowsticks
    • Small Toys
    • Juice Box
    • Barrettes
    • Bows
    • Headbands
    • Pom Poms
    • Christmas Candy
    • Pens
    • Pencils
    • Paper Clips
    • Fingernail Filer
    • Scissors
    • Body Mist
    • Deodorant
    • Perfume
    • Hairspray
    • Wet Wipes
    • Individual Packs of Kleenex
    • Bouncy Balls
    • Small Notebook
    • Flashlight
    • Screwdriver
    • Pliers
    • Small Tools
    • Mini Calendar
    • Highlighters
    • Binder Clips
    • Watch
    • Scarf
    • Stocking Hat
    • Yo-Yo
    • Silly Putty
    • Glow in the Dark Stars / Planets
    • Kitchen Gadgets
    • Magnets
    • Small Games
    • Playing Cards
    • Sticky Notes
    • USB Flash Drives
    • Cookie Cutters
    • Whisk
    • Spatula
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Kitchen Towel
    • Wash Cloths
    • Small Christmas Cups
    • Makeup
    • Removable Tattoos
    • Flower Seeds
    • Vegetable or Fruit Seeds
    • Small Book
    • Sandwich Cutters
    • Small Activity Book
    • Key Chains
    • Swiss Army Knife
    • Tape Measure
    • Ruler
    • Coffee
    • Bath Toys
    • Bubble Bath
    • Belt
    • Underwear
    • Facial Mask
    • Foot Cream
    • Gift Certificates (bought with rewards)
    • Stationary
    • Leak Proof Drink Bottles
    • Ear Plugs
    • Chopsticks
    • Bookmarks
    • Golf Balls
    • Bracelets
    • Earrings
    • Rings
    • Necklaces
    • Silly Bandz
    • Wallet
    • Paint
    • Paint Brushes
    • Coasters
    • Small Cookbook
    • Recipe Cards
    • Small Photo Album
    • Packs of Hot Chocolate
    • Packs of Hot Apple Cider
    • Lipstick / Lip Gloss
    • Brush
    • Comb
    • DVD
    • CD
    • Baseball Cards
    • Ornament
    • Sunglasses
    • Magazine
    • Snacks
    • Coupons for Free Items

    A lot of what you get will depend on the size of the stocking you are trying to fill.  Items like socks are great for filling up the stocking where getting smaller items will take more to fill it up.  If you want you could go with a “theme” and get all kitchen items or crafty type items to put into the stocking for someone who would enjoy it.  You can get many of these items for free or nearly free throughout the year by checking out the clearance sections, using coupons, and rewards programs (CVS – Extra Care Bucks, Walgreens – Register Rewards, KMart – Rewards, and more).

    If you need a few items but don’t have time to shop throughout the year go to Dollar Tree and pick up a multi pack of hair barrettes, chapsticks and other goodies and divide them up among the family members.   Another great spot to pick up items if you are on a time crunch is in the travel / dollar sections in stores like Walmart or Target (where they have the mini bottles of items or other things people may need).

  • Recipe: Chocolate Pretzels, Snowmen, & Snowflakes

    We were getting tired by the time we got to making the Chocolate Pretzels, Snowmen, and Snowflakes on our Christmas Baking Day.  Despite being tired these turned out pretty well.  Brina was determined to “help” us make them which slowed down the process but we got enough to share with our neighbors.  The purple didn’t set right and the blue got a drop of water in it so it was done within a matter of minutes but we had plenty of the red, yellow, white and brown colors to make it look festival.  We added crushed candy canes for a minty flavor and a Holiday flair.  The neat part about these is the kids can pitch in and help.  They enjoy making special candies for others as well, however, I do not recommend starting around 9:30 in the evening after baking for several hours.

    Chocolate Pretzels, Snowmen, and Snowflakes

    • White Chocolate
    • Milk Chocolate
    • Mix of Colored Chocolates
    • Candy Molds – we had Flower Pretzel Sticks, Snowmen, and Snowflakes

    Melt the chocolates over a double boiler or slowly in the microwave (microwave for 15 seconds, stir, microwave for 15 seconds, stir) because they can burn easily.  Use the molds you have chosen to place the chocolates into.  You can paint the chocolate into the mold using a toothpick then fill in the reminding amount with a solid color.  When doing the pretzel molds paint the flowers, fill with solid color, then roll the pretzel stick to coat.  We stick the chocolates into a pan of warm water on a griddle to keep the chocolates melted while decorating, just make sure to not get any water in the chocolates at it will ruin the entire bowl.  Once the tray is complete freeze for about 10 minutes, turn the mold over and the items should pop out quickly.  Repeat the steps as many times as you like or until you run out of chocolates.