Trivia

What movie cost 3.7 million dollars to make? It only brought in 3.3 million dollars during the first box office run and was considered a failure. If you know what movie this is, leave a comment.


It's a Wonderful Life, You're both right.

Holiday Decorating Tip

Found this tip on the BHG site. I'm definitely making me a decorating toolbox. I'm so tired of not being able to find my wire cutters, having my Christmas hooks at the bottom of the storage box, and not being able to find spare Christmas lights and fuses. This will come in handy next Christmas!


Decorating Tool Kit
Putting together a holiday tool kit is a great time saver from year to year. Simply stock any toolbox (or shoe box) with the following: ornament hooks, wire cutters, nylon line, narrow ribbon or cording, scissors, florists' wire, twist ties, wire ties, and spare holiday light bulbs.

Place your holiday tool kit in a prominent location with other holiday decorations and next year you'll be ready to decorate with ease!

Decorating the outside

I love this wreath!


This year I'm really getting a late start on decorating the outside of my house. For the past 20 years I have had my front porch decorated and my Christmas lights up and ready to turn on Thanksgiving night. Here it is Dec. 6th and I just took down my fall wreath. Today if it is not too cold, I'm heading outside to work on my porch, here are a few pictures from Better Homes and Gardens for some inspirations.

Peppermint pinwheel cookies

The other day I was flipping through my new Southern Living Magazine and came across these cookies. I just had to make them, I knew they would be a big hit. Well, when I read the recipe and came across the "roll out" part, I should have just turned the page and never looked back. Half way through, I kept thinking how crazy I was for doing this and that I would never make them again.

Well gosh darn it, they did turn out cute and my kids loved them. No sooner would I have a pan out of the oven and iced, they were gone. The nice thing about this recipe is, you can make several batches, roll them up and stick them in the freezer. I made them on Thursday and pulled them out and baked on Friday. I only had to cut in slices and they were in the oven within a couple of minutes.

If I do make them again, I will probably just make the regular cake icing, powdered sugar, Crisco, milk, vanilla, salt, instead of the cream cheese icing. My kids liked the icing, but it was a little too soft and thin for my liking.


Peppermint Pinwheel cookies http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1860238


Frosting
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1860239

Nutcrackers

The other night I was talking about my collection of nutcrackers. My husband over heard the word, "Nutcracker. He dropped his head back, let out a sigh and did a little eye roll. He said, "We don't have to go to that again this year, do we?"
"No", I said, "I'm talking about my collection of nutcrackers". "Good", he said and then proceeded to tell my son, Nick about the time I made him get dressed up and dragged him to see the ballet, "The Nutcracker". After listening to his version of the story, I'm guessing it wasn't a fond memory.

Some of my nutcrackers I have had for almost 20 years. Before I had kids, I bought 1 or 2 every year. Now when I find one, I go over in my head all the other things I should be spending my money on and always pass up buying it.

Here are a few that I really like.

My 3 wise men by Steinbach


I'm not sure who made this one, he is just
stamped Germany on the bottom


These are made by Susan Milford. She signs,
numbers and dates all of them.
I have several by her. I don't know if she
still makes them. I bought these in the 80's
and early 90's

Columbus

Hook

And of course, Santa

Maybe someday when my kids are grown and gone, I'll add to my collection.

Bah Humbug!

This is my next project. I found this little guy at a craft show. He looks really simple to make, just a Christmas light, two washers and some wire. In the pictures he is made to stick in a plant, but I think he would be really cute made into a Christmas ornament.

Magic Reindeer Food

Sprinkle on the lawn at night,
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
this will guide them to your home.
Must be sprinkled within 1 hour of bedtime!

When my kids were small I would make this bird seed and glitter mixture every year for them to feed Santa's reindeer. Everyone would ask for me to make it for their kids and I started making it and selling it at a local store. While going through my Christmas decorations I came across some that I had made up.

Here's what you need


White card stock cut 8" x7"
Christmas paper, I used Stamping Station cut 3 3/4" x 6 3/4"
red card stock 4" x 2 1/2"
brown card stock for reindeer
miniature Christmas lights, found mine at Hobby Lobby
red ball for nose
reindeer stamp, Stampassions 1-800-Art-stamp
bird seed
glitter
zip lock bags
poem

What a deal!

Look at the bargain I found today in Kansas City. I found these 3 trees, measuring 18", 15" and 12" for the low price of $15.00 for all 3. The berries are tiny jingle bells, so cute. Would have bought more but this was the last set. Wouldn't you know, I find a great bargain and they only have 1. My small collection of sheep look right at home.

Christmas!

Christmas has to be one of my favorite holidays. I love decorating the house and it is not complete until the tree is up. I have been collecting glass ornaments for several years now. The way the light sparkles on them is just so pretty.

Several years ago my Christmas tree fell over and half of the ornaments broke. You know that sickening feeling you get in the bottom of your stomach? I got it. My kids didn't say a word, I think that is the only time they have both been silent at the same time. They both just looked at me with their mouths wide open. I have spent several years trying to replace them. A lot of them we bought on vacation. Some of the ones I lost were my bear from Colorado, all of my Disney from Disney World, and my British solider (he was hard to find, but after a couple of years, my mom found him).

Today while putting up the tree I only lost one, my big horn sheep from our Colorado vacation. I guess we will have to go back! So here are a few of my favorite ones. I thought I had better take a pic. in case something happens. Knock on wood.

My favorite ornaments