Decorating Gingerbread Men on Christmas Eve.

This Christmas season seemed full to bursting with sewing for the shop, cleaning, cooking/baking, and the general busyness of homeschooling. I really wanted to make an effort to spend some quality time with the kids; even though I work from home and homeschool, finding time for quality time can still be ridiculously tricky this time of year. Thankfully we managed to squeeze in some gingerbread-men-decorating time on Christmas Eve. I wasn't sure I could make it happen, but I'm so glad I did! I didn't want to buy one of those terrible tasting houses, so I opted for homemade gingerbread and icing (thanks, Jill, for the easy recipe!), and purchased some candy from the bulk section of our local Wegman's.

It really was a sweet time of slowing down and having fun together (plus it was tasty!). I do believe we'll be making this a Christmas-time tradition. I hope you all had some extra-special moments during your Christmas celebrations!

Family Photo Fun with Twinkle Photo

It seems that there is always some extra expense that keeps me from splurging on things like family photos. Not this year! I was determined to hire my friend Tassia of Twinkle Photo to photograph our family even though a lot of things seemed to come up in the last few months. Boy, am I glad I did! I tried not to stress too much over our wardrobe; I just went through our winter clothes, took note of what color most of us had (3 out of 5 of us had gray shirts, and of course we all had jeans), and took a run to the store to fill in the rest. Even though I prepared by bringing a hair brush, extra layers (it was a wee bit on the cold side), and baby wipes for dirty faces, all of those things were forgotten and I was able to relax and enjoy our time together. Being outside definitely helped to keep the kids happy! Tassia was so flexible with our kids' needs, which totally helped to put me at ease.

Tassia did a wonderful job of capturing our family dynamic. I think the photos of the kids just being crazy are my favorite! As an added bonus, we were able to capture a few moments of just Sean and I; we celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary this year, and only have semi-professional images from our wedding day, so this was a priority for me! Now I just have to painfully choose which images to print and frame for my limited wall space!

// All images copyright Twinkle Photo.

Christmas + a New Blanket.

This year I decided that I wasn't going to get all crazy trying to take photos of the kids while they opened gifts. It's pretty much all we can handle to keep the baby from going berserk and ripping into everything she can get her hands on! Plus I wanted to be more in the moment and really be able to focus on what was happening. Sadly I forgot to take the camera with me at all when we went to my parents house Christmas morning after we finished up at our house. Looks like this is going to be the Christmas of very few photos! Thankfully my Dad took a fair few; all I need to do now is get some of the files from him.

This year my Grammy crocheted Sean and I a new blanket. I got on her about it after she gave two of my sister's blankets for their weddings in the last two years. Our ten year anniversary is coming up in June, so I kindly asked her to make one for us as a special gift. She surprised us with it a little early! It's perfect and cozy, and keeping us warm on these cold winter nights.

I hope everyone had a blessed and memorable Christmas!

Peppermint Bark Recipe.

Last Christmas was the first time I ever made peppermint bark. It was so super easy and the kiddos really loved it! Plus, I love it because it's got the flavor of a candy cane that the kids love without as much mess and stickiness as a candy cane! This time when I went into the kitchen to make peppermint bark, I thought I'd mix things up a little by adding a layer of milk chocolate to the bottom. While it worked out in the end, I did encounter a few wee problems trying to whip this together as fast I could and take photos while all three kids kept climbing onto the table to stick their hands and faces in it.

Peppermint Bark Recipe.
 
INGREDIENTS.

12 ounces of milk chocolate chips
12 ounces of white chips
1/2 cup (7-8 regular sized) candy canes, crushed
1 tsp peppermint extract


Unwrap all of the candy canes and smash them into bits. I've tried various methods. I once put the candy canes into a large plastic freezer bag and whacked them with a rolling pin; my kitchen table is pine so it left a few dents. The sharp edges of the candy canes also tend to puncture the bag. This time I put them in my blender for 2-3 seconds on the chop setting. They were pulverized. It worked well enough, but if you want the peppermint bark to have slightly larger chunky pieces of candy cane you may want to find another way. (Ps. if you have a good method for crushing candy canes please tell me in the comments below.)

Line a baking sheet with foil, set aside.

In a microwave safe glass bowl, melt the milk chocolate using 30 second intervals, stirring between each so that the chocolate melts evenly and doesn't burn (about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes all together). Spread the melted chocolate onto the foil lined baking sheet as thinly as possible. Place in the refrigerator to harden.

Once the milk chocolate has set, put the white chips into a glass bowl and microwave to melt in the same manner. When the white chips have melted, stir in the peppermint oil. Note that the white chocolate may begin to appear a wee bit curdled; do not try to melt it any further to smooth it. This does not work and will only overcook the chocolate. Spread the white chocolate over top of the milk chocolate at no greater than 1/4" thickness.

Gently press the bits of candy cane into the top of the chocolate. Put in the refrigerator to harden. It won't take long! Once set break the bark into pieces to enjoy. 

Peppermint bark is a nice companion to hot cocoa! It also makes a lovely handmade gift when placed into a fun food-safe box and tied with pretty ribbon.

New Owls Flying in for Christmas!

I'm sure it's no secret that I love making these owls. It's so much fun to watch their little personalities shine through as I add their face and wings. For the holiday season I've added a Special Edition Bronze Owl Ornament to the shop; he's extra snazzy and full of Christmas cheer.

When my Mom asked for an owl ornament for herself I was inspired to create one based on her living room wall color. My mom, as the matriarch of our family, has certainly continued to make all of her daughters and their families feel as much at home as ever (and my parents bought their house after I was married, so I never even lived there!). This wee owl is called "Little Miss Hospitality" in honor of my sweet Mama.

Just for the holiday season, I've also bundled owls together. You can choose five owls at a discount of 20%! Instant collection for decorating your home; this listing is also perfect for those who wish to give owl ornaments as gifts.

If five is too many, there is also the option for purchasing three at a time (also at a discounted rate). You can mix and match colors, or get all the same. So fun!

Not only are these guys an adorable accent to a bohemian home, they are also a great choice for homes with little ones (or even pets), as they won't break if knocked down.

I even had a little helper during my photo shoot. Note the sweet little fingers pointing out the different owls.

Sugared and Spiced Walnut Recipe.

These walnuts are a perfect snack when you need something sweet! And because of the protein in the walnuts, you certainly make better use of your calories than you would eating cake. This recipe is very simple and very quick! Keep walnuts in the pantry for when you have unexpected guests pop in, especially during the holiday season, so you can whip up these sugary treats lickety split.

(This recipe has been adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.)

Sugared + Spiced Walnuts.

INGREDIENTS.

1 pound of shelled walnuts

1 egg white
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt


Heat oven to 325. Grease the bottom of a 15x10x1 baking pan; set aside. Be sure to grease it well to discourage the sugar from sticking as the walnuts bake.

In a large bowl whisk the egg white and 1 tsp of water together. Add the walnuts and toss to coat.

In a small bowl stir the sugar, spices, and salt together. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the walnuts and mix to coat.

Spread the walnuts in the prepared baking pan and bake in a 325 oven for 20 minutes.

When the walnuts come out of the oven, spread them on wax paper to cool. They only take a couple of minutes to cool enough to eat them! Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

Keep this recipe in mind at Christmas for those to whom you give baked goods; it's a nice change of pace from cookies. These walnuts also make a nice hostess gift when packaged in a pretty container!

D.I.Y. Pine Cone Place Card Holder Tutorial.

If you have access to a lot of wee little pinecones either in your yard or a nearby park or wooded area, then this tutorial is just for you! These sweet little place card holders are a perfect accent to your holiday table, either to mark seats or to identify all that fancy food you are serving. I actually only made one, and I plan to stick scraps of paper with bible verses or inspirational words into it and keep it near my desk.

SUPPLIES. 

small or mini pine cones
jar lid (I used a Smuckers jam lid)
hot glue gun
metallic spray paint

 

Begin by gluing the pine cones into the lid. Start on the outside and work your way in, filling the lid. I found it easier to put the glue on the lid and then stick the pine cone in. Endeavor to keep them as upright as possible.

Go out of doors, and spray paint your card holder. Spray the bottom first, allow it to dry according to the directions on the can, and then spray the top. It's a good idea to apply two coats of paint. I didn't prime mine, but if you want it to be extra durable, or you plan to keep it in storage after the holidays, you may want to prime it first.

Once dry gently work your card between the tops of the pine cones. It's okay if it doesn't fit down very far, it should still hold the card.

I found this fun little guy sitting next to me in the yard while I was painting the card holder. So of course I had to paint him too!

Enjoy!

Trying New Things and Having Fun!

The last two months or so have found me itching to try and make some new-to-me things. I had fun stitching up some lumpy pumpkins, and was pleased as punch with the way my first ever yarn wreath turned out! There's nothing like success to keep one pushing on.

My daughter recently danced her way into the ballerina stage, so for Christmas I took the plunge into making a tutu. I fear that I won't get a fancy-schmancy picture with her sitting in her tutu surrounded by roses or anything because she wouldn't take it off for three days straight and now it's a wee bit mangled (although still in surprisingly excellent shape). I would say the tutu is a big hit.

Since being gifted a hand-me-down ipod a few years back, the hubs has been walking around with a faded pale pink silicone cover. It suddenly occurred to me this year that, "Hey! I can make that!" And while it's not perfect and has some very minor design flaws, he loves it. (For all of you non-nerds out there, I'm told that this creature hails from Dragon Quest.)

We've been married for 8 years now, and I've always wanted a set of drink coasters. I would look now and again, but I never fell in love with anything. Well, I'm in love now and I can't believe I didn't find time to make these before; because, as you know, I've got a ton of spare time (that's a joke). Merry Christmas to me! I'm so pleased with the coasters that I'm toying with adding them to the shop. What do you think?

Merry & Bright.

I really can't believe the confession I'm about to make: I didn't take one picture on Christmas day. Not one. Isn't that terrible? There must be a mommy prison or induction center somewhere for mommies like me. Oh, well. As always, we did film the gift opening fun, so that must count for something! We purchased a new flip video camera a few days before Christmas on a really, super-duper great sale, and the hubs had tons of fun playing with it. 

 

For the past few years we haven't put any ornaments on the tree, but instead layered on some sparkly white lights and added a construction paper chain for color. It seems much more kid friendly and appears to limit the tree climbing instincts in babies. My three year old daughter must have found it lacking though because after Christmas morning she gathered up the clothing hangers from the gift boxes and hung them on the tree.