Merry Christmas y'all

from our home to yours!

Wishing you peace, love and joy!

M& M Pretzel Treats

We are still busy here at Mrs. Claus' kitchen. Every year I think we have things done and I'm still "making a mess" as Bob says! Here is what CJ & I made this morning. I saw it on some blog awhile ago and can't remember where so if this is your idea THANK YOU and leave me a comment. You need waffle pretzels which we found at Superstore, HUGS and M&Ms which were are Walmart.

Place the waffle pretzel on a baking sheet. Get your helper to unwrap the HUGS and put one in the middle of each pretzel. Place in a 200 degree oven for about 3 minutes. Make sure you watch them, you only want them to melt a LITTLE or you'll have a mess!

Take them out, press a M&M in the middle of each one. Let them set again. (If you live somewhere cold just throw them out on the deck for a few minutes and that'll do it. NOT too long or your M&Ms will crack ~ ours did.)

I think they look kind of fancy ~ Saucy will be proud!

World's Best Playdough

CJ & I whipped up some playdough for her friends. We pressed them into the stocking shape in our RK box and then put them into bags with the recipe. Super easy, everyone loves it and it's DONE.

Kool-aid Playdough

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup salt

1 Tbsp alum powder

2 pkg Kool-Aid

2 cups boiling water

3 Tbsp oil

(I don't usually measure so you may need to add more flour.)

Mix together, knead for a few minutes and store in a sealed container.

It lasts a LONG time!

Christmas Treats

What better way to spend an evening . . . listening to Michael Buble's Let it Snow ( I love him!! Really love him. I saw him in concert last January and it was incredible. A girlfriend treated me for a baby gift! How sweet was that!) Okay, so I'm listening to Michael AND finishing up some treats.

This started out as Sassy's Moose Munch. Check out her recipe at http://sweetsassystudio.blogspot.com/. I had some melted dark chocolate left over from pretzels so I took a couple cups of caramel corn, and the same amount of mini marshmallows and broken graham crackers, made a little "goodie salad" and used the chocolate as dressing. Cooled it outside ( because it's freezing and there is NO room in my freezer) then broke up and dumped the chocolate salad back into the remainder of the caramel corn.

Now Sassy, dig out your paper crimper and make waxed paper "chip bags" and fill with 'Gourmet Moose Munch'. Then to jazz it up I made a bigger "chip bag" and put on a label.

Then it was on to finish CJ's class treats for tomorrow. We used our Stampin Up punches to make little snowman faces (with those two Sharpie colours) & added some ribbon to some mint patties for instant treats and a little ornament ... if it makes it to the tree.

Caramel RK Balls

Brrrrrr, it's cold out there! It was -31 this morning when we got up, I have no idea what it was with the wind! Good day to stay inside and make gooey yummy treats. These ones make Auntie Viki's teeth hurt but we like them.

It's so much easier when you have a great helper too!

Here's the recipe:

4 cups crispy rice cereal (Holiday Rice Krispies)
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup margarine
30 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped ( we used 45)
1 (16 ounce) package large marshmallows

(we cut our marshmallows in half using wet kitchen scissors so they didn't stick)

DIRECTIONS

Line trays with waxed paper. Pour rice cereal into a shallow dish or bowl.

In a double boiler, combine condensed milk, margarine and caramels. Cook, stirring, over simmering water, until melted and smooth.

Using two forks, dip marshmallows one at a time into caramel mixture, then roll in rice cereal. Place on waxed paper until set.

Scrap Jessi's Cookie Swap

Eggnog Tarts

4 dozen baked tart shells
2 cups whipping cream
1 large package instant vanilla
3 cups eggnog
Nutmeg

Prepare pudding following instructions on the box substituting eggnog for milk. Let stand 5-10 minutes. In another bowl whip cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar to taste. Fold ½-2/3 of the whipped cream into the pudding. Fill each tart shell with the pudding mixture, add a dollop of whipped cream & garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Keep refrigerated. Can be frozen but you'll eat them all before they get there.

Red Velvet Oreos

2 boxes Red Velvet Cake Mix

4 eggs

3/4 cup cooking oil

Cream Cheese Icing

Mix together. It will be a stiff cookie dough. Roll into 1/2 inch balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet leaving lots of room for them to spread out. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Cool cookies completely. Use cream cheese icing to "sandwich" two cookies together. Store in an airtight container and they will stay soft. You can roll the edges in crushed candy cane to make them look pretty (though the cookies are quite sweet and don't really need it).

Check out http://scrappyjessi.blogspot.com/ for more yummy cookie recipes.

Tagged

So I've been tagged by http://sweetsassystudio.blogspot.com/ to do the blog game

7 Random Things

which I'll give a try. Unfortunately I've never had much luck with these kinds of things going very far. Remember in high school all the chain letters we wrote with hopes of receiving 25 pairs of socks or postcards from all over the world. I would have been happy with a couple of things making them my way but they never did. BUT here we go . . .

Random Thing # 1
I am still longing for the return of my favorite drink from Starbucks. It was like heaven in a cup. I still remember the day when my dear 3 year old CJ ordered it and the barrister said that he couldn't bear to serve us and tell her that it was no longer available. I miss the CHANTICO. Anyone have the mix hidden somewhere in the Starbucks Warehouse?

Random Thing # 2
Hi, my name is Jerri-Lea and I'm a pack-rat. I hang on to EVERYTHING. I must say that I do come by it naturally though. I still have sentimental notes from high school, OK so I have clothes from high school too, but really who didn't love the 80's fashion. My husband says that soon we'll need to move to a bigger house for all my crap. But honey, it's all I have in the world!

Random Thing # 3
I love winter. NO, not so much the cold and ice, just the fact that it is so cold that all the creepy, disgusting garter snakes are no longer around. They are underground somewhere that I cannot see. A couple of summers ago when I was home on the "farm" I nearly had a bicycle accident trying to avoid a pencil sized serpent that crossed my path. Ewww.

Random Thing # 4
I DO like frogs and salamanders. Maybe it has something to do with them having legs. This summer we had 3. It was quite sad when after a year with us Alicia passed away. Felix went back to Pike Lake for the winter and Diego has happily taken residence in his little habitat that CJ & Daddy have made. Yes, we make the trip to the pet store every couple of weeks for crickets. Hint: DO NOT let a cricket escape they get HUGE and LOUD!

Random Thing #5
I'm a terrible procrastinator!

Random Thing #6
I LOVE chips and dip!! MMMMmmmmmmm, crunch, crunch.

Random Thing # 7
I truly am blessed! It was a long road to parenthood but I'm so glad we are here! I often tell CJ & CD "I made a wish and you came true!"

There you have it, now I've been asked to tag others and we will see where this goes so lets try:

http://papercapers.blogspot.com
http://www.jennspiration.blogspot.com
http://ladyshutterbug.blogspot.com

Thanks gals!
If you decide to play, here are the rules:
Link back to me for nominating you.
Nominate a few other bloggers and link to them on your blog.
Post these rules.

Jingle Jingle Charm Bracelet

Here is my red, silver & white charm bracelet from Sassy & Saucy's toggle party. There were SO many charms that I'm going to make another one with all the other charms I have left. CJ might just get to make one for herself with all the extra fullers I took and didn't use.




Here's what was inside our little bundles.



And the Christmas Pickle ~The child who finds it first on Christmas morning receives an extra present.
It was a good time spent crafting and making new friends. I was happy to have finally met Saucy who is just as sweet and kind as you'd think! Sassy was just as cheerful and excited as last time I saw her. Sassy and I have a little something in the works for the new year so keep checking back.

Thanks Sassy & Saucy I've changed the settings so all you non-bloggers can leave an anonymous comment, just leave your name at the end of your comment!

Thanks Tamara for the patterns!

It's Toggle Party DAY!

CJ and I just finished packing up our charms. One is THE charm, the other is a silly little one and a little treat. I'll post the finished bracelet later today!

Know Where to Find a Pattern?

I decided that we'd make things more personal this year for Christmas and make a lot of our gifts. I enjoy crafting and I know that CJ does too so it made sense to enjoy time together while creating gifts for loved ones. My top two projects are these. Or at least I hope that they will be. I've been searching for FREE patterns all evening, anyone know where to find them?

These are not my girls BUT mine will look adorable in these hats don't you think??

I did manage to find a pattern for these using an old pair of crocs for the sole, I'm thinking the generic kind. I'd really like to figure out a way of using denim for the sole I think.

CJ is planning on making these for her gift giving

Bath bombs but I think we'll try some in candy cane shape, the snowball ones will have a bit of glitter and snowflakes.

Bath Jelly, I think I can round up some cookie dough scent bubble bath to make it with.Snow Cone kits . . . that is if we get any snow!

That's the plan for this weekend. What are you making for gifts this year??

Christmas Season Begins Here

Last weekend we took in the Santa Parade. Wanting to get a good spot and park on the parade route we started with brunch at the Hilton. It was yummy and the girls found lots that they enjoyed.

The organizers of this year's parade did a great job! We enjoyed organic hot chocolate (in greenshift.ca cups that are biodegradable) and cookies while waiting for the parade. CJ had her letter ready to hand over to the Canada Post Letter carriers.

Then we waited for the big guy at the end. I think CD was waiting for more horses or dogs.

After the parade CJ got to go into the mall and pick up a prize for winning the Santa Claus Parade Coloring Contest!! I'll have to try to get it back or at least a picture of it! She did a great job, it was covered with glitter ~ I wonder if she's been reading Saucy's blog?

Ho Ho Ho ! Pictures with Santa ended the morning. I love seeing the wonder and magic in the eyes of my daughters!! This Christmas is going to be so much fun now that CD is a little older. I'm sure that Christmas morning will be hours of playing with empty boxes and gift wrap.

"Frothy the Snowman"

So we took a little trip down to LUSH, mmm. They had a free gift promo on and all we had to do was dress like our favorite snowman, EASY! Throw on a dollar store hat, white shirt with felt buttons, a scarf and some red glittery rosy cheeks and get a $13.95 Frosty the Snowman Gift Set for FREE. Not bad! We both dressed up and the gals at LUSH snapped our picture after ooing and ahhing over how cute we were. I think they were really paying attention to CJ!!

Little Guitar

Yay! It finally worked out! We have been trying since July to get CJ started in her Little Guitar class. We found a great teacher (Duane) who with the help of his daughter teach little kids how to play the "little guitar". They start on the ukelele which is a perfect size for their little hands and bodies. CJ picked out a cute sparkly purple ukelele to start on because Hannah Montana has a purple one! Of course!! After her first class she got in the van and said, "I love it! I could stay all day and do that!" SUCCESS! I'm so glad that her first music lessons were such a fun, positive experience and something she wants to continue!

How Do You Stack Up?!

CJ participated in World Speed Stack Day. The Speed Stack Association was trying to make a new record for Guiness having the most people stacking at a time. I haven't heard what the final numbers are yet. We just like them because they are fun and helps with the hand-eye coordination and keeps the brain working for us oldies!

Thanks for letting us use your cups SMS.

Toggle Party Charm Making

This is the weekend to make charms to swap for the Toggle Party. I had three ideas . . . With these supplies I'm struggling to make my charm small enough.

Together all this just isn't fancy enough, maybe I'll make a few for my own bracelet and a couple for CJ to make her own bracelet.

I think these ones might be THE one. I'm waiting to see how they "bake up" and turn out. They are darn cute! Don't worry fellow Toggle Pary goers, I didn't really use these colours, I stuck with the colour theme of red, white and silver. (With the eeniest touch of green.) Oooh, if I can find little bitty rhinestones I'll add those in too.