The Christmas Story

How sweet is this?

SB, thank you so much.

More on Gift Wrapping Made Easy

This I love. Get a great stamp and let the child in your life have at it. Oh, florescent duct tape, too.

Santa Hand Ornaments

Lock in those little hands this holiday!

Here are salt/dough tips.

Easy Advent Calendars

Source for left concept. Source for right.

Mini Tree Advent Calendar

love love love   And there's more.  Why do I always get inspired so late in the season?

More Advent Ideas

How darling is this? Am I really going to stencil my own bags? Not likely. I DO, however, love the concept of an ornament a day. Let's see how easy we can make this/follow below as I search for a simple solution.

Found. Many options for purchase on Etsy. And there many, many other options and ideas here.

An Even Easier Advent Concept

Check out the many options on Etsy.

source

Fab Finds

Wonderful Fresh Perspectives Meeting!  

Rather than hitting the highways after our meeting, I again chose Amazon.  I'll continue to post finds for those unable to join us today as I track them down.  Here's a start.  Stay tuned.

Connie showed up in the following FABULOUS BOOTS. Many patterns. See the flat Nomads as well. 

Here's the link.

Mouse Maestro.  Robyn, THANK YOU!  

Judi's favorite find:  after spending the week in NYC/cannot imagine/during and after Hurricane Sandy. Perfect for purse or pocket.

Jill, great recommendation! Can't wait for it to arrive.  

"Celebrate a special day, from long ago and far away. Place the angel on the stable the star lights up to guide the wise men from afar and the tune "Away in a Manger" plays. Two fence pieces connect to the stable and to the other Little People playsets. Children love retelling the Christmas story through play, and with a charming set of their very own, they might leave your holiday collectibles alone! Requires 3 "AA" batteries (not included)."

Everyone who has seen this has said that it's much better/cuter than advertised/friends are ordering for their families.  Amazon link.  Please note that I make NO money if you purchase anything I recommend.  

I've heard about the following for decades. This could be the year to go! Particularly since you can buy burritos across the street and enjoy while standing in line. More information.

You find other balance toys on Amazon.  Gumps has a great price on this one. Be sure to enter the code for free shipping. Linda, thank you.

From Kathy:  "Check out Portable North Pole online for a terrific personalized message from Santa! The kids LOVE it."  Here's the link.

Found it, Linda! I'll bet there's another source if Amazon is out.

Decorating Your Drinks

For the person on your gift list who likes to take their eggnog, latte, or cappuccino to the next level, here's a possibility. Stencils from Amazon specifically designed for drinks.  Simply sift cocoa, cinnamon or nutmeg over stencil and enjoy. 

Easter, perhaps?

Hi Lois,

I forgot to mention these FABULOUS croissants that I served on Christmas morning. You order in advance; the box arrives with croissants frozen on dry ice; place croissants in freezer until the night before you want to use. Set out to rise overnight. The yeast from the dough rising already smells great in the morning. Pop them in the oven, and your home smells like a French bakery. Wonderful for all holidays!  xxx Jeanne

Meghan, wonderful!

"This video just made my whole week.  The HMS Ocean deployed for a 7-week deployment exercise that ended up being 214 days.  When they heard they were going to make it home for Christmas, they made this video.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!" 

Gifts from our garden

Along with honey from the garden, our gift to friends this year is the following nut mix. Spicy, smoky, sweet, all-round sensational. Several have asked for the recipe. It's from Ina Garten's How Easy is That.  Love this and all her other books.

Note to self: Next time, find sensible source for nut purchases. Spare yourself the excitement of a totally outrageous bill/shop smart. Definitely not Draegers!

For local readers: You'll find chipolte chile powder at Penzeys Spices, Menlo Park as well as other Penzeys stores around the country.

Ina Garten's Chipotle & Rosemary Spiced Nuts
Serves 8 to 10

"When I have a little extra time before a party, I'll whip up a batch of these really delicious nuts. They're sweet, salty, and spicy--with lots of brown sugar, maple syrup, chipotle powder, and fresh rosemary. Roasting is the process that brings out the most flavor in nuts, and serving them warm is a particularly nice touch.

Vegetable oil

3 cups whole roasted unsalted cashews (14 ounces)
2 cups whole walnut halves (7 ounces)
2 cups whole pecan halves (7 ounces)
1/2 cup whole almonds (3 ounces)
1⁄3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder
4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves, divided
Kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Brush a sheet pan generously with vegetable oil. Combine the cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, the maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, and chipotle powder on the sheet pan. Toss to coat the nuts evenly. Add 2 tablespoons of the rosemary and 2 teaspoons of salt and toss again.

Spread the nuts in one layer. Roast the nuts for 25 minutes, stirring twice with a large metal spatula, until the nuts are glazed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary.

Toss well and set aside at room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking as they cool. Taste for seasoning. Serve warm or cool completely and store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Chipotle chile powder is different from ordinary chili powder-- it's ground dried smoked jalapeños and has a distinctive hot, smoky, sweet flavor."

Recycle, reuse, repurpose...

all wrapped to create a treasure ball!

Each is filled with household trinkets rolled up in yards of crepe paper...

Could be used in stockings, for place cards, an invitation or for a gift!

From Chris:  Inside I put all sorts of various trinkets...from silver dollars, novelty pins, miniature figures, earrings, marbles, perfume samples, colorful rubber bands, tiny whistles...easy to do when you clean out "junk drawers" ..there are so many wonderful treasures...junky and fun!  Also as the ball gets larger things like gift cards, could be easily wound into the ball. The sky's the limit :-)!

Brilliant!

Thank you so much, Chris!  Really fun idea!

Too wonderful for words.

Skip the shopping. Watch this.

Terrific, Joan.  Simply terrific.  Thank you.

Uncommonly creative

OK, so we missed the discount. This was the only image I could snag from their site. Free delivery still exists.  I just ordered mine/adore the personalize-it-yourself possibilities.  Note that gift certificates are available.  

http://www.getuncommon.com/product/iphone4/capsule/  

Kids can do!

So can you!

 

Look closely.  I bet you can figure out how to make these!  Great fun, Karen! Thank you!

Simple Snowman Pattern

As opposed to some of the incredible artwork many of you created and the rest of us witnessed today during our time together, this is, perhaps, more my speed!  

I'm off to find simple "pattern" ideas from coloring books. WAIT until you see the sweater I shared today!!!  Solid green (with a few moth holes just a few hours ago).  Not any more!!!  WOW.  Stay tuned. Will share ASAP.

 From Etsy.

Easier than you might imagine.

Maybe.  Sleigh-Ride Snow Globe

Use model-train-set props to create customized snow globes that even jingle.

Get the How-To from Martha's site.  

Making spirits bright!

I've always adored Christmas lights. I was the one who lugged the ladder from the garage and climbed onto our roof each season. Staple gun in hand, I'd string lights along the ridge lines and gutters. In my book, there was no better pre-holiday bit of preparation. Creating something colorful to welcome the holiday, guests and family members into our home. It was my own little light-, memory-filled, magical world. Above what often felt/was chaotic down below.

Years later when we moved to a three-story house with a much steeper roof, I outgrew the urge to perch high above the ground.  We used a local group to hang icicle lights on the gutters.  It was spectacular! A little like Christmas Vacation/a LOT like Christmas Vacation. But because the installation was dangerous and our gutters required repainting each year, the icicles were history after two seasons.  

Discouraged but not dissuaded, I found another lighting option.  Installation took only a few moments AND with a flip of a switch, snowflakes fell from the sky, down across the house and onto the ground.  It, too, was magical.  MR CHRISTMAS PANORAMIC PROJECTOR SAVED CHRISTMAS!  Almost like being back in the Midwest without the need to shovel.  

If you, too, love holiday lights AND are interested in a super simple alternative to struggling with stringing or stapling, here's what you need to know: EVERY MR CPP source was out of stock today when I searched for an additional projector.  All sources...except one.  Click below to connect.

Wowlights 

Go get 'em, group!

Full disclosure notation:  My snowflakes are not nearly as crisp as those in this ad.  I'm going outside right now to see if there's some special adjustment required or if this is a bit of Photoshop trickery. Whatever, I love my somewhat blurred snowflake lights. And no one has died putting them up.

Love you, honey!

Hi Sweetheart, 

I am sorry about getting into an argument about putting up the Christmas lights. 
  
I guess that sometimes I feel like you are pushing me too hard when you want something. 
  
I realize that I was wrong and I am apologizing for being such a hard-headed guy. 
  
All I want is for you to be happy and be able to enjoy the holiday season. 
  
Nothing brightens the Christmas spirit like Christmas lights! 
  
I took the time to hang the lights for you today and now I will be off to the golf course. 
  
Again, I am very sorry for the way I acted yesterday. 
  
I'll be home later. 
  
Love you…… 

Too funny, Joan!