Handmade Holiday Swap

Before Turkey Day I signed up to be apart of Susan and Kersey's "Holiday Gift Swap"  I thought it was a great idea and I super way to get some exception handmade gifts crossed off my list. I wasn't sure what I wanted to make but I knew it would involve fabric, quilting and something use-able. The day before I was suppose to send my "gifts" in the mail... I finally settle on an idea: drink coasters and as quick as I had decided I changed my mind again: table runner.

I was put into a group with 6 other artists and just going off our #'s there was at least 178 participates. Pretty cool! I was #8 so I don't know if I signed up really early or they went alphabetically. I know I am late sending my gifts {Dec. 1st} was the deadline, but luckily I have only received one "gift" {thanks Joy} so maybe because of the holidays were all a little late, right?

These beauties are being delivered to the post office today when Mr. H wakes up from his nap.
 I was inspired to make the Trees after Maggie's  table runner from the Retreat. The trees and borders came together really fast, but the binding was a beast. I hate doing bindings. I loved the hand stitching embellishment of the bakers twine. I think it gives a "Christmasy" feel without over dueing it.

 I had enough fabric to make 4 identical runners and 1 I had to use different fabric. I went a little out of my comfort zone and tried to design a runner that was a little more sophisticated and not so cutesy Christmas. I hope the ladies really like them.

Linking up:

Santa Postal Pouch {Tutorial}

 

Can you believe it? Tomorrow is December 1st!! I've got my Christmas decorations up, were getting our {fresh} tree this weekend, advent calendars are ready to go and Bing Crosby is singing as I type. I'm just bursting with Christmas Spirit this year and I wanted to share a fun tutorial just in time for you little ones to send Santa their wish lists! I am calling it: Santa Postal Pouch. It is so cute. Have your kids write their letters and end them via North Pole Postal Pouch Mail. I can't wait to see my kids faces when Santa sends a letter back and leaves it in the pouch. Oh, the magic of Santa!

Here's the easy tutorial. 

Step 1: Cut Fabric. 

Cut 2 squares measuring 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 {outer fabric} and then cut 2 square measuring 10 1/2 x 9 1/2 { 9 1/2 measurement needs to be the bottom of the square. inside fabric}

Cut 1 square measuring 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 and cut in half to make a triangle. {pouch flap} 5 total pieces of fabric.

Step 2: Pouch Flap
Fold your triangle right sides together {I realize this picture isn't right sides together, sorry!} in half. Iron. to mine I added a little bit of dingle ball fringe, but do whatever you prefer. Sew right sides together sewing  shorter side of triangle with 1/4" seam allowance. Turn right side out and iron. Leave long side of triangle unsewn.

Step 3: Making Pouch

Match your outside fabric with your inside fabric {x2} right sides together and sew top of fabric. Add your flap pouch to one of the squares sandwiched in between the fabrics. {note: bottom of inside fabric is 1" shorter} Iron. Match like fabrics right sides together and sew 1/4" around entire pouch. On inside fabric leav a 4" opening to turn fabric  Flip pouch right side out, iron and sew pouch opening closed.

Step 4: Finishing Up
Iron and lay flat. Making sure your corners are pointed. Tuck inside fabric into pouch and flip your flap!

Step 5: North Pole Tag
I added a little hand stitched North Pole Tag with NearSea Naturals organic embroidery floss {fire red}and wool felt . I also thought of a few other tag lines: "Polar Express", "Express Delivery to Santa", "Santa's Mail", "For Santa" ~ you decided. I am making a few of these for family and friends and will probably change up each tag to say something different.

Have your kids tuck their wish lists into the pouch for Santa. I thought it would be cute to leave it by the fireplace, have it disappear for a few days and then re-appear with a message from Santa or one of his elves with a treat.

Linking up: Blue Cricket Designs

Peppermint Dessert ~ Mid Week Munchies

I couldn't have been more pleased with how the meals turned out during the Retreat. I have to admit I was really stressing over what to make, how to prepare it and if everyone would like it. I had a beautiful kitchen to use during the retreat at Ivory Ridge but it lacked a oven and stove top. So I had to be creative. I relied heavily on my crockpots and my best arsenal in my kitchen: my Mom! She is an amazing cook and was an even better sous chef last weekend. I couldn't have done it without her!!

With the encouragement of the attendees I am sharing all the recipes from the Quilt Retreat. First up: Peppermint Dessert. This has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. My mom would make it around the Christmas holiday and because it is a no bake, it is a great make ahead dessert.

Enjoy!

Peppermint Dessert:

I make this recipe using two kitchen appliances: my Kitchenaid and Cuisinart. I loved the layer look and I also love that this dessert is no bake. Just out of the freezer and into your mouth. Yum!!

Crust: 2 cups crushed Nilla Wafers
1 cube of Butter (melted)

Don't skimp on the butter. The wafers need to be really moist and soak up all the butter in order to make the layers work. Also, I crush my wafers in my Cuisinart. Place wafers in the bottom of a 9 by 13 pan. Spread and pat with a fork evenly across pan. Place in fridge to start freezing while you make the chocolate.

Chocolate:
1 cup butter or two cubes (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
6 egg yolks
2 oz. semisweet chocolate (melted)
1/2 cup crushed walnuts

Beat softened butter and powdered sugar until creamy. Add egg yolks and beat again. Because you don't cook this dessert, make sure you don't have any lumps of butter. Melt chocolate in microwave and add, beat again. Fold in walnuts by hand. Layer on top of wafers. Place in fridge to start freezing while you make the peppermint.

Peppermint:
2 cups heavy whipping cream (whipped)
3 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup crushed walnuts
1/2 cup crushed peppermint

Beat cream until cream holds shape, dot not over beat cream because you will do some stirring by hand, so just watch your cream while mixing. I use my Cuisinart to crush the peppermint. I mix the peppermint to a very fine texture, almost like powder. Then fold in marshmallows, nuts and peppermint. Stir until just mixed. Layer on top of chocolate. Place in fridge until hard. About 6 hours, if freezing overnight cover with tin foil.

Christmas Time at Disneyland ~ Field Trip Friday

The day we visited Disneyland was a picture perfect day. Blue skies, warm 60+ degree weather, big crowds and Christmas!! Upon enter the magic kingdom you are greeting with the most breath taking Christmas Tree. The presents, poinsettias, wreathes and garlands all accumulate in the view of Disney's Christmas Tree. The "Tree" was spectacular. Town Square looked like a postcard from Christmas in the 1950's and my dreams. Walking into the Magic Kingdom and seeing the "Tree" I knew the today would be special.

As usually, Disney spares no expense and Christmas is no different. Visit at Christmas is a must see and well worth the trip. The ambiance, music, decorations and celebrations are all wrapped into a picture perfect snap shot.

Just a few of the larger than life (or at least larger than my head!) ornaments:

Santa

Gingerbread man

Toy Soldier

Musical Instruments

Stars, Balls, Bells, Bows

Birds

The kids had a complete blast. The whole family cannot wait to come back again at Christmas Time.

View down Mainstreet. Even at 9 am the crowds were forming!!

Poinsettias Galore!!

I am really grateful to Disney for complimentary passes to see, explore and experience Disneyland and California Adventure at Christmas!! Due to terrible weather in SoCal the week prior to our visit (on 12/27) Disneyland was packed. We were told by multiple cast members that they were expecting a larger volume of visitors (more than normal for Christmas) because of the rains the week before. I am not sure how many more people were actually visiting Disneyland but I personally had never seen it sooo congested. Long ride lines and stand still traffic was the order of the day.

That being said......We had a great time. It was magical and memorable and I would do it again in a heart beat.

Next Friday ~ Tips and Tricks to using the Fast Pass and what we thought of the Toy Story 3 ride!!

Christmas Wrap-Up

Just thought I would do a little Christmas California Wrap-Up 2010. Here is our tree Christmas morning. I love the sunlight in the room, I love the frosted tree, and I love all the presents!! This picture doesn't do it nearly justice. I AM CONVERTED: FROSTED TREE next year.

We re-enacted the Nativity.

The boys got Red Ryder BB Guns, and we hid them just like in a Christmas Story. 6,000 BB pellets. Oh, it was glorious.

Adam got me this amazing perfume. The fragrance is Marigold and I love it. (purchased: Anthropologie)

Too cute!

This is the only family Christmas picture we could muster. Christmas Eve Night, Thousand Oaks, CA. 2010
Not our best.

Neighbor Gifts

We live in a great neighborhood, and I have alot of friends and neighbors I like to give alittle something to during the holidays. Letting them know, Merry Christmas from our family. So....I added Pecan Logs to my  Christmas Candies List. I always make chocolates, toffee and cookies, but this year I wanted to try Pecan Logs. My sister Kitty, who is the professional actually sells them, and she came up with the idea for Pecan Balls. Aren't they cute??

Each of our neighbors received a cute pecan ball for Christmas. Nothing to me says or feels like Christmas like something handmade from the kitchen.

From my family to yours: "Have a wonderful Holiday this Year!!"

Christmas Travels

This year my family and I are traveling for Christmas. The last and only other time we traveled for Christmas was over 7 years ago to my parents in Oregon. Way back then, I had a two year old and we flew. Three kids later and all the TSA regulations (scary!) we are driving our little family of five to sunny California this holiday.

Athough this will be our first Christmas traveling by car we are no strangers to the Family Road Trip. Never Fear: I've come prepared. Here are some simple, handy, tips and tricks to traveling.

No. 1 ~ Never leave a Man behind. With four Men in my family I've got to keep track of them all!!

NO. 2 ~ Let the driver do the driving. The parent in the passenger seat keeps the kiddos happy so the driver can keep his/her eyes on the road.

No. 3 ~ Keep the kids entertained. This year Santa is dropping presents off early. Activity bags for both boys! Drawing paper, favorite new book, crayons and activity books.  

No. 4 ~ Don't be afraid to stop. We are all about the pedal to the metal, but this time we have a 3 month old. Yikes! Lots of breaks for the littlest man. This year we are even spending a night over in Vegas.

No. 5 ~ Prepare a Emergency Kit. You never know what may happen. Although we are traveling to warmer weather stranger things have happened. We are packing extra water, food, first aid kit, matches etc. Just to be on the safe side.

Have a safe and happy Holiday!!

Mid Week Munchies ~ Gingerbread Marshmallows

If you live in my house you love Hot Chocolate. We'll I don't, but everyone else is addicted. They want it after school, after sledding, after racking leaves. (Yes, here in Utah we have snow on the ground and are still waiting for all the leaves to fall off the trees) during game night, before bed. Lets just say, I make alot of hot chocolate in the winter months.

So, when I came across Jet-Puffed Gingerbread Man Marshmallows I couldn't resist. Plus, they were only a $1 at my local grocery store. Warm hot chocolate, a splash of whipping cream and gingerbread men! Smells and tastes like Christmas.

P.S. I changed my profile picture. My friend Ella took it for me!! What do you think?

Giant Gummy Bears

Do you have a massive Gummy addition?? Would you love to eat a 1/2 lb. giant gummy bear on a stick?  I do!! I am ordering these large than life novelty gummy candy for my boys to open on Christmas Day. Who cares that the bear will probably be larger than their faces, they will have a tummy ache half way through and love it.

Want to order your own? Click here.

Christmas Quilts

About the 10th of December I decided I wanted to make Christmas Quilts for my boys. I knew I wanted to surprise them Christmas morning so I had to quilt quick. I decided on a simple pattern that would make for less stress, but still show off the great fabrics. I went through my stash and decided on a color theme of Red, Green, White and Black. My focus fabric is from Anna Griffith using her adorable cameo reindeer's. I was so proud to make the quilts all from stash fabric, even the backs and binding!!

Making two quilts over a 2-3 day period can be overwhelming... that is why I was so grateful for my Mom's help. She was a fantastic pin-er and iron-er (are those even words), I couldn't have done it with out her. Thanks Mom. One of my main goals was to make sure the quilts were twin size and fit their beds looking right. I took the 4 colors and evenly distributed them through the quilt 3 times and used the reindeer fabric three times as well. The strips of fabric ranged in size from 3" to 10".

Ella did all the wonderful quilting. I am really happy with the star design. They bring a bit of whimsy, but are still remain boyish. Now, my boys have great Christmas quilts for their beds all through the month of December!!

Chocolates for Christmas

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Since my giveaway is done, Whew, I have been busy with other fun Christmas Projects. One of them being these...homemade chocolates. Yumm! Every year I make them with my Mom.  We'll ....she makes the delicious fondant and then I help her dip.

Flavors 2009:

Vanilla Nut

Orange Pecan

Chocolate Nut

Maple Brown Sugar Nut

Lemon

Hope your Christmas is filled with lots of things homemade.

An Angelic Nativity

About the middle of the month, we started receiving little packages every night on our door. The first one had three wise men and a scripture, the second night was the a shepard with a sheep and a scripture, the third night...you get the idea. It was so fun. The boys absolutely loved and looked forward to each present until the whole nativity was compete.

We have an absolutely amazing nativity sets from Adam's Mom which I threaten the kids to even touch with an inch of their lives. (She wouldn't be to happy if she knew that.) But it is a prize possession. So, this nativity is great, because Thomas and Jack have loved looking at the pieces and resetting up the nativity about a 100 times.

The scriptures have been great - not just the standard scriptures but really great thought provoking scriptures about each member of the nativity. At the end we were a little sad, our very thougthful friends never revealed themselves....it will remain a mystery. But a greatful
thank you all the same. Thank you!

Christmas Festivities

When we moved into our newest house we started a Christmas Breakfast Tradition. We invited over some close friends and neighbors and had an aebleskiver breakfast on Christmas Eve. The first year was such fun, it is now a much anticipated tradition. For me I get to see all my closest friends as close to Christmas as possible and it really kick starts the Christmas festivities.

I love aebelskivers! Puffy sweet pancakes with lots of hot yummy syrup yes, the syrup has to be hot!

The recipe I have for aebelskivers is easy... the hard part is the pan. I borrow my mom's because it is deep, well seasoned and they cook up perfect. She found hers in a thrift shop, you can purchase them NEW at most kitchen stores.

Here is my recipe:

9 eggs

3 cups Buttermilk

4 cups Bisquick

4 tablespoons oil

1 long skewer

In a large bowl combine buttermilk, bisquick, oil and all 9 yolks - whisk together. Take the separated 9 egg whites and beat until white and fluffy. Add to batter and allow to sit a few minutes. Heat pan on high with a drop of oil in each hole. Once pan is very hot (hot enough that the oil bubbles) drop a large spoonful of batter into the hole. Turning the aebelskiver can get a little tricky. Take your skewer and as the batter cooks make little half turns until the batter cooks making a complete circle. The aebelskiver should be somewhat hallow inside. All the aebelskivers should be done about the same time. Remove from heat, and enjoy! I love to add any and all my favorite toppings: jam, syrup, powdered sugar, butter, fruit, whipping cream etc.

Rocky Road for Christmas!

This year My Family is doing a Progressive Dinner. Appetizers at Jill's, Main course at Mom's and Dessert at my house. I am also in charge of the Christmas Program and I have some great ideas up my sleeve. I am going to try and share some of them over the next couple days.

Since I am in charge of Dessert! and with lots yummy treats on the menu, I thought I would share my favorite treat of all: Van Duyns Rocky Road. I love Rocky Road- gooey marshmallows, crunchy walnuts and chocolate. Van Duyns is a local chocolate shop in Portland, Oregon. So I have my rocky road sent to me via my parents. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Christmas Calendar

Adam and I's trip to Disneyworld last february!

Summer Hike!

Taking a nap in Island Park

Last Day of Kindergarten

Exhausted from playing!

Jet Skiing in Lake Tahoe

Every year since my oldest was about 2 years old we make a Christmas Calendar for the Grandparents. I add a few photos and the kids do awesome art work. Although I know the pre-made calendars you can create on the web are easy and nifty - it just isn't the same for us. Besides we love to really get our hands dirty while making it. Here are some of the photo selected to grace this year's calendar.