Let it Snow!

... in San Diego.

Christmas is not the same without snow. Even my 3 year old keeps saying, "It is not Christmas because it is not snowing." We are in trouble tomorrow when it doesn't really snow. Hopefully he will be distracted by what Santa brings him.It has taken me the whole month to make these snowflake. Not that they are that complicated, just a lack of time and fear of getting glitter out with 2 small kids. But I love them. It is all Martha. I used cereal boxes for the cardboard (they are flimsier than I would like but easier to cut). I painted them white before I added the glitter. I painted them with Elmer's glue to hold on the glitter. And my whole house now sparkles with glitter. It is EVERYWHERE!

Merry Christmas Eve

I made these a couple of weeks ago at a Church Fabulous Friday. The people in charge ordered the vinyl and provided the boards. All I had to do was paint the wood and put the vinyl on. This was my first time using vinyl and I loved it. I will definitely use vinyl again. I put these in the kids room and I love that I don't have to worry about them getting ruined.

Homemade Oreo Cookies with a Peppermint Twist

Every time I make cookies for an event I make Homemade Oreos. Not only are they fast to make but super delicious. And more importantly they have never let me down (meaning they turn out the same every time). I offered to bring the dessert to book group but then realized I should probably make some kind of Christmas dessert (because we read a Christmas book). Limited on time I decided to make a Christmas Oreo Cookie or Peppermint Oreo Cookie.

Cookie:

1 Devil's Food Cake mix

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

Mix, roll into small balls, and bake 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until they begin to crack. Frost with cream cheese frosting and top with another cookie. Crush candy canes and roll edge of cookie in crushed candy canes. (The frosting was not picking up the candy canes crumbs like I wanted so I ended up pushing the peppermint into the frosting.)

Frosting:

1-1.5 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

1-2 drops of Peppermint extract

In a bowl, beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar beating well until right consistency. I mixed in the peppermint extract last.

Chistmas Gifts

Do you need an idea for Christmas gifts this year? I did this one last year for some of my close friends. I got the idea from NieNie (It took me exactly five years to find that exact link. Geez, I must have read her whole blog last year after the accident. I had to catch up.) I used Lily's baby formula cans. They were perfect with gold lids (Costco). I wrapped the cans in some of my wrapping paper. I used Microsoft Word to make the labels for the top. I bought the plastic bags at Michael's to put the cookies in. Very inexpensive, but in my opinion cute.I can't wait to show you what I am doing this year. If I ever get them finished, or started. December is flying by too quick.

No Pattern Apron

A couple of weeks ago I dreamt up this apron in my head. I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like. I used my William Sonoma apron to estimate the measurements and went to work. I actually finished it in one day. Which is a miracle for me. It usually takes me weeks to do a project like this. There are a couple of things I might change for next time, but not too bad for not having a pattern.
My friend Kim was kind enough to be my model. When I tried it on me it looked all wrong with my baby bump hitting it in the wrong spot.

Some Christmas Crafts

I wanted to share some Christmas crafts that I made last year. The first one was super fast and easy. I found these letters at Michael's. I just painted the sides red and mod-podged some paper on top. Ta Da.. Simple enough.

My second craft was not so simple. You may remember the Telluride Santa from Pottery Barn Kids (PBK photo above) from last year. I saw this Santa at PBK and thought "I can make that". My friend, Kim, and I started making them in November and did not finish our Santas until MARCH!!! I think it took so long because we couldn't find time to get together and we might just chat too much instead of craft when we get together. But here is our version. We tried to make it as close to the PBK version as we could. And I love mine.

I love...

..my newest Christmas decoration
The wreath not the couch. The picture does not do this wreath justice. So you will have to come over to my house to admire it. I found it this summer at a Restoration Hardware Outlet for $10. It brings me lots of Christmas joy.If only it didn't make my couch look faded and worn out. Maybe next summer I will find a Restoration Hardware couch for 90% off.