The Busy Holidays

Hi everyone,
  Sorry that I have not blogged for awhile. Between the holidays and getting a head start on cleaning the house/getting walls painted back to white, etc for our move in March- it has been BUSY! Yes, I am already getting things lined up for our move! Why? So, I have more than enough time to get this place sparkly clean and to prevent some extra stress to such a stressful time anyways! :)
   I have been trying to think of something I can do on here that would give everyone great ideas and be helpful for you all.... The thought: food! With the holidays over if you are anything like me you want to get back on the right track and eat healthy. I actually have my husband to thank for this thought in a round about way. A few weeks ago he was working on a pregnancy/infancy developmental nutrition course for his masters and was really getting into it, asking me questions (I have a degrees in nutrition and biology), and talking about we should do.
  My husband grew up in a sweets family and I grew up in a savory family. Until a few years ago, I had a terrible time getting that man to NOT think a meal wasn't complete with out dessert. OR that oatmeal, granola bars, eggs, yogurt, and cereal (like special k) are actually great breakfast options and he should stay away from having breakfast that need syrup or glazes. Since I grew up with savory meals and had/have a father who LOVES to make meals for the family: he would make me breakfast before school (eggs, ham, toast, oatmeal, etc) I really wanted to keep that up in my marriage and escpecially when we have a kid. My husband was shocked when he read something in his research to me which you just don't realize unless you really think about it.
  Food for thought: A can of soda is harmless to an adult, right? Just ONE can.... get a little sugar (if not diet) and caffeine kick... no big deal, really. But for a child since they are much smaller weight and height, one can of soda is the equivalency to a 6 pack for an adult! A 6 pack of soda drank in one setting for an adult, not so great!
  I had a few of my bloggers ask me to post fun things for families and tie in healthy options. So, here we go! I am planning on spending several days just putting pictures of lunchbox meals. Take it to work, send them to school, etc! I hope you enjoy this idea!!!

Grilled Chicken Strips, cheese, crackers, canned peaches (if not in season for fresh!), grapes, cherry tomatoes, and garbanzo beans.

Chicken Tenders (leftovers, maybe?), dipping sauces (honey mustard & BBQ) in silcone baking cups, grapes, celery, mushrooms, and a cookie for dessert!

Egg Salad with lettuce paired with whole grain crackers, granola, and cucumbers.

Whole Wheat Wrap (this is egg salad) on top of a small salad with tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers (dressing in small container), a muffin and mixed fruits (strawberries, pineapple, and grapes).

Valentines Lunch: Heart theme! Heart shapes ham sandwiches (ham, onion, lettuce), tomatoes, cubed cheese, hard boiled egg, kiwi, grapes, and raisins. Well rounded meal!

A simple meal with a whole wheat sandwich, carrots, grapes, and sun chips.

Leftovers lunch: Pizza, strawberries, pretzels, and goldfish!

Snack Lunch: Summer sausage and cheese "kabobs paired with wheat crackers, mixed fruits, and a hard boiled egg.

Turkey and cheese rolls ups on a multigrain tortilla, pretzel sticks, goldfish, strawberries, and raisins.

  Spinach quiche (leftover dinner or not.. :) ), wheat crackers, walnuts, bananas, and grapes.

Bling

Hi Everyone, Today I wanted to show you my 'bling' nails that I created for the holidays! I really had fun with this one. I took a solid color and added some sparkle to it! For this project I used Orly's Ancient Jade (2 coats) then with tweezers (*tip if you have some with rubber ends they would work SOO much better to grip the sparkles) I grabbed the Avon's Sparkling Nail Art sparkles and placed them where I wanted. They have 'sticky' on them and with the wet nail polish them would stay well but just to make sure I also put a coat of Avon's Nail Experts to seal them in!

I love how they turned out. The sparkles stick out a bit so that is something to get use to but they look great! ENJOY!

Budget Friendly Cleaning!!

Hi Everyone! I hope you had a WONDERFUL weekend and our ready for the holidays this upcoming weekend! What a great time of the year. However, what a messy time of the year it can be also, right?! Lots of time in the kitchen preparing to celebrate not only Christmas time but the New Year and lets face it even the best cooks out there get messy. If you are like me when you have to go buy those cleaning supplies to keep your house beautiful, you curse a little since it is NOT nice of the budget. Many of my friends are starting to switch to homemade cleaning supplies and tell me that it works just as well as those Clorox Wipes we all use but for just pennies so it's that much better!!! After much research, asking friends, and testing here are the "recipes" for what I found to be great. Enjoy! 


General Surface Cleaner:

• 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups water

Disinfecting Cleaner:

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup pine cleaning solution such as Pine-Sol brand
• 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cup water

OR

• 1/4 cup lysol complete clean
• 2 cups of water

Window and Glass Cleaner:

• 1/2 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar

OR

• 1/3 Vinegar
• 2/3 Water
• 2TB Lemon Juice

Tips:

As you use the wipes, they will begin to dry out, so add more water and/or cleaning solution as necessary. Allow wipes to stand overnight before continuing to use them after adding more solution.

You may vary the strength of the cleaning solutions as necessary for your household, using more cleaning agents for a stronger wipe, less solution and more water for a milder product.

Use cut paper towels OR old shirts cut into squares. When I use a wipe, I just throw it into the laundry hamper that I use for the rest of my rags.  They get washed with the other cleaning rags, so it’s really no extra work for me.

Another Option I just found today that sounds really promising is:

Mix a cup of water with a good squirt of castile soap, a few drops of tea tree oil, and some white vinegar. The friend who does this just uses a little of each, mixes it up, and pours the solution over the wipes.

Both tea tree oil and vinegar have disinfecting qualities and the castile soap is just for a little extra cleaning power. The tea tree oil and castile soap cover up any smell of vinegar so if you *hate* the smell of vinegar you don't have to worry about that!

You can find both castile soap and tea tree oil at Target, but  the best deals are online, of course, at Amazon or TheNaturalStore.com

Salt Dough Ornaments!

Hi Everyone! I can't believe that Christmas is last than one week away! Hopefully you are all ready for it and can just enjoy this last week celebrating with your family and friends! Several of my friends with children are creating salt dough ornaments and it is a great way to enjoy the holidays together. Babies: paint their hands and feet or press them on the cookies. Toddler and older can help make the ornaments as well as decorate them! Remember to make a lot as everyone in the family (grandparents, aunts/uncles, "adopted" aunts/uncles, etc) would love to get the ornaments you create as a little added part if their presents. Tie them to the outside of the present with the bow and tag! Enjoy!

What you will need:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup table salt
• 1/2 cup warm water
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Cookie sheet
• Toothpick
• Pint: white, orange and black
• Paintbrush
• Ribbon
• Acrylic sealer spray

How to make them:

1. Place flour, salt and water in a bowl and mix with the spoon. You can hand mix or use the dough hook on a kitchen aid, put in all the ingredients and let it go for about 8 minutes. A bit of scraping and repositioning was needed in the process. You could mix it all by hand too; just make sure it's nice and smooth and everything's well incorporated before you start rolling.
2. Remove a small piece of dough for making the nose and roll the larger piece of dough between your palms to form a ball.
3. Press the ball down onto the cookie sheet with the palm of your hand, flattening it out.
4. Roll the small piece of dough with your fingers into a carrot shape. Press firmly but gently onto the round flattened dough.                    
5. Insert toothpick toward the top of the head, but not too close to the edge. Move the toothpick in a circular motion to enlarge the hole so that it is big enough to run a piece of ribbon through. 
6. Bake ornament at 250 degrees for 2 hours. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack. 
7. When completely cool, Paint the round section white and the nose orange. 
8. Use the handle end of a paintbrush dipped in black paint to dot on the snowman's eyes and mouth. Let dry.  
9. An adult should spray the ornament with a couple of coats of sealer. 
10. When dry, tie a ribbon hanger through the hole in the top.

 Tips:

1. If you want to create a perfect circle, place dough inside a round biscuit or cookie cutter and spread with your fingers.
2. Salt dough will break if dropped, so be sure to handle the ornament with care.
3. The oven step can be skipped if you allow the ornament to dry overnight.

  Other Ideas to create:

1. Stamped "sophisticated" ornaments.
2. Hands, feet, and paws! 
3. Add color to some of the dough and make candy canes!

*Roll out the dough after mixed, stamp with the design of your choosing, cut into the desired shape, and continue with step 5, 6, 9, and 10!   

Sweet Treats

Hi everyone, I can't believe it is Wednesday already!!! And it is a special day here at my house. 10 years ago my husband and I became an exclusive couple (in high school..)!! 10 years! Wow! With that I wanted to do a blog geared towards the fun little things you can do for your special someone or for some of them any loved one in your life (kids, etc). 

Life is busy. I don't have to elaborate on that but it is nice to do little somethings for those we love to remind them just how much we do, it doesn't have to be anything big and saying it doesn't always work to get the point across. I know that it's nice to get something that shows it and cost doesn't always equal the amount of love! 

So, I included in this blog pictures on sweet treats with love notes you can create for those lucky ones in your life. Throw them in lunch boxes, set one out by the coffee maker in the morning, or even in their vehicle so they find it on the way to work! Just little ways to shows them you care! And who doesn't like a little treat/snack during the day! 

Have a wonderful day and enjoy!

Flying Dragon Frenzy!

Hi everyone, I hope you are having a great week so far and enjoyed yesterdays 'elf on the shelf' blog. There were lot soy ideas on that lists and so much more you can do with your buddies! Have fun with it! 

 Today I wanted it to be a beauty day since it has been a bit since I did one. This past weekend we had one of our holiday parties so I polished up my nails to go with a lace black dress! My toes and fingers were done in China Glaze's Flying dragon (2 coats) and Sinful Colors Frenzy (one coat: it's a target brand!). Even though the glitter is a bit to get off, I usually set my cotton pads on my nails for a few minutes before trying to get it off and works quite well. Glitter is GREAT at staying on. The China Glaze after some "hard labor," painting walls and such around the house have chipped already just two days into wearing with base and top coat which normally "seal" the nails for a bit longer. So, I am bummed about that. My toes are great not a chip in site though I can go a few weeks before the growth shows and just HAVE to repaint them so we will see if it holds! I am sure I will want a change before that though. I really enjoyed this combination which is why I am bummed the purple is chipping. I may just glitter those as well! They are fun and festive! What do you think?! Good choice for this season??

Elf on a shelf

Hi everyone, this past weekend my husband and I went over to our dear friends house. We enjoyed the evening together with them and their 4 children. I noticed that they decided to do the Elf on the Shelf tradition this year. While the kids were getting ready for bed their elves moved, twice a day for them, and each time delivers an Andies mint for each child that was good during the day. From this I decided I would come up to with a list of ideas for those who have adopted the 'elf on the shelf' on what your elf can do this season!

1. Make your elf appear to be roasting marshmallows by seating your elf next to your stove or in the kitchen next to a small tea light candle. Take a small stick pretzel place a mini marshmallow on the end of it and place the stick in your elfs arms. Scatter some marshmallows around the Elf.

2. Hostess snowball cakes and individually wrapped them in plastic wrap.. one in the Elf's hands and the other lying on top of a stuffed animal as if the Elf hit Sonic with a snowball

3. Nerf gun fight – darts everywhere
4. Laundry fight – clothes everywhere
5. Lipstick on mirror message
6. Riding in Barbie's car with her. 
7. Rearrange story books in ABC order or in a pile of disarray
8. Clean closet or make mess of closet
9. “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.” -From the Movie Elf   Have you elf drinking the syrup in the pantry threw a straw

10. Hang from shower nozzle with a towel on

11. Unroll toilet paper roll on the floor, around Christmas tree, etc.
12. Create the elf donuts from my past blog and have your elf sitting with a plate of them ready to eat!
13. Caught sneaking candy
14. Eat milk and cookies
15. Emailing Santa at your computer with the document up : Dear Santa, Sorry I couldn't make it back to the North Polk tonight! I wanted to update you on XXX....
16. Write a message on the on the snow covered car window
17. Create a paper chain with a bit of a mess to show for it
18. Playing Connect 4 with another doll.
19. Hang from chandelier or ceiling fan
20. Make faces on school pictures with a marker
21. The elf put on a little felt scarf and spent the night in the freezer….it reminds him of the North Pole
22. Play board game with stuffed animal friends or action figures
23. Tea party with stuffed animal friends
24. Read book, newspaper, e-reader, ipad, computer, etc
25. Listen to child’s ipod
26. Play child’s DS/itouch
27. Play video games
28. Draw picture
29. Color in coloring book
30. Dump toybox
31. Create a block tower
32. Cut out little red paper feet and create a "track" which leads to your elf outside the back door looking inside like he was locked out.
33. Hanging out at the spice rack w/ a spoon and a bag full of reindeer food.  (oatmeal, sprinkles and raisins.)
34. Hide one shoe
35. Sit in shoe, holding shoe laces as if going on a sleigh ride
36. Elf sitting with an empty bag of M&M's 
37. Elf sitting with a midnight snack: Pumpkin pie almost all gone but some little "crumbles" use a baby fork.
38. Make cookies – flour everywhere
39. Attach the elf to a balloon and let him float around all day
40. Turn toilet water blue
41. Turn milk blue
42. Take picture of child sleeping
43. Hang out on child’s bedpost
44. Hang candy canes from the chandelier, then have the elf hanging from a candy cane.
45. Make paper airplanes and fly them around the house
46. Build something great with Legos
47. Put toothbrushes in toilet or clean toilet with toothbrushes– yuck (make sure new standbys are waiting in the wings)
48. Type /write an amazing letter of all the wonderful qualities your Elf has witnessed of your child!!!!!!!!
49. Have a package arrive via UPS/US Postal Service – new clothes for your Elf ordered by yours truly.
50. Hide parents phone, keys, or mom’s blow dryer
51. Recreate your family tree that now includes your Elf
52. Nothing. If your elf didn’t move overnight then perhaps their behavior contributed to their elf not moving.
53. Fold clothes, empty dishwasher, vacuum
54. Dust, sweep kitchen
55. Rake leaves/shovel or play in the snow
56. Dance party – music playing & stuffed friends dancing
57. Game day – playing soccer, baseball, basketball, dance, gymnastics, karate, etc in the house
58. Complete child’s homework or add pictures on homework
59. Make phone call
60. Cutting Coupons (maybe games or toys he wants?)
61. Run on treadmill/ ride exercise bike
62. Sew on sewing machine
63. Play cards
64. Learn multiplication facts
65. Play dress up – wearing mini homemade reindeer ears, etc.
66. Cover a room with Post-it notes on EVERY wall
67. Watch movie with popcorn & remote control
68. Drink a bottle of wine with your husband/wife, then hang the elf upside down on the empty bottle.
69. Change all clock times
70. Take all the kitchen cabinet knobs off
71. Unscrew all the light blubs
72. Lock car keys in the car (parents have to have good acting skills & time on their side)
73. Tear up child’s old homework
74. Take a red lipstick and put on everybody in the house noses as they are sleeping. When the children awake they will see their elf holding the lipstick with a note saying “Look in the mirror” with a picture of Rudolph. The children look in the mirror and see their noses paint like Rudolph.
75. Skype a friend/family member as your child is waking up (get someone to play along)
76. Open and eat some of a candy cane then put some candy "bits" or red on elf face.
77. Wrap gifts or cut up wrapping paper
78. Cut out toy pictures from toy catalog
79. Try on mom’s jewelry
80. Elf packs school lunches but mixes up everyone lunches (each child receives siblings lunch – great conversation piece at dinner)
81. Have him in the bathroom with toothpaste and toothbrush: place some of the paste on his mouth. He is brushing his teeth!
82. Cool off a cup of HOT chocolate with a stationary fan
83. Elf writes his own X-mas list – Elf clothes, Mrs. Elf, candy, etc.
84. Create a scavenger hunt for the kids with clues leading to mischief
85. Leave paper trail (or dog food trail) through house
86. Hang wet clothes on clothesline outside– especially funny in colder climates because their clothes will be stiff
87. Build a family fort with a name on the front
88. Wrap a new gift for the kids to open – exciting and thoughtful
89. Turn all the kitchen chairs backwards
90. Turn all the breakfast plates upside down
91. Swing on outdoor swing set – chilly
92. Sit by warm fire – cozy
93. Sit on toilet 
94. Cover lawn with Easter decorations such as plastic eggs
95. Have mixer out and a flour mess, baking something!
96. Build snowman
97. Hang your elf from a curtain rod: Watching the room
98. Create a mask & cape out of paper/cloth – Super Elf! Perhaps he can be hanging from the ceiling by fishing line.
99. Inspire reading, writing or imagination – leave a new book to be read or ask child to write a list things they are thankful for or ask child to finish Elf’s half written story making it as silly and creative as possible
100.Write a message in the snow (better for little ones who won’t notice the obvious footprints)
101.Hand your Elf in a doorway with your mistletoe. Leave Hershey Kisses scattered on the floor.

6 HOME RECIPES FOR HAIR {NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL HAIR}

Hi Everyone, Time for some beauty tips since it's been awhile! ENJOY! According to Beauty Tips 411, here are three home recipes for hair that are perfect for damaged and dry hair types.  These are frugal and easy ways to make a homemade conditioner.

Homemade Hair Treatments For Damaged Hair      

1.  Avocado Deep Conditioner Hair Mask- Using 1 small jar of mayonnaise and 1/2 avocado.  Mix all ingredients, smooth into head being careful to work it to the ends,  Use shower cap or plastic wrap to seal body heat in and leave on for 20 minutes.

2.  Mayonnaise Your Hair - Apply 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to your dry hair, work in really well, cover your head with a plastic wrap,  and let it set for about 15 minutes.

3.  Olive Oil Hair Mask - Combine 2 tablespoon honey and 3 tablespoon olive oil together. Apply thoroughly and then cover with plastic wrap and set for 15 minutes.

These beauty tips and treatments are great on any type of hair and safe enough for those with sensitive scalps as well.

Homemade Shampoo

4.  Baking Soda Hair Cleansing Mud - Mix 1 heaping Tbsp. of Baking Soda and 3-5 drops of essential oils of your choice (lavender, patchouli, rosemary, sweet orange are some of mine:not necessarily all together) with enough water to make a paste.  Mix this in the shower. It took a little getting use too, with there being no suds.  The baking soda one that it should only be done once in a while. It is a clarifying technique used to strip off any harmful residue from other shampoos and hairsprays…etc, but it really should not be used daily or even weekly. Maybe like once a month.

5.  Natural Chemical Free Shampoo – Use these three ingredients and use as a natural DIY shampoo, ¼ cup distilled water  ( deionized water is ok ), ¼ cup liquid castile soap ( I use unscented ), and ½ teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed or other light vegetable oil.

6.  Chamomile Fields Shampoo - Let the tea bags steep in 1 1/2 cups of boiled water for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and with the remaining liquid add the soap flakes. Let stand until the soap softens. Stir in glycerin until mixture is well blended. Pour into a bottle. Keep in a dark, cool place.

More Home Remedies For Hair

• Drinking a lot of water, to keep the body hydrated and  lustrous.
• Regular use of olive oil, to help control damaged frizzy and dry locks. This remedy can either be used directly on the head, or quantities of it can be increased in a diet.
• After washing, apply a small amount of silicone serum should be applied to the head, which repairs the damage.
• Jojoba oil should be applied mainly to the ends to make it softer. This home remedy can work wonders with frizzy and dry locks.
• Damaged hair should be deep conditioned thoroughly at least once a week.

Holiday Bucket List

   Hi Everyone, With the holidays right around the corner it is easy to get caught up in the moment and find yourself panicking because everything you hoped to do this season, didn't happen. I know I find myself at the end of the holidays each year wishing I had done certain things with my husband, friends, and family that I didn't. Don't get me wrong I am thankful to be able to share this special season with the loved ones who are here and creating the memories we did/will have but I was wished I did other activities with them also.
   This year for me I am trying something different! I am going to create a "Holiday Bucket List" and on it will be the things I want to do this season or every Christmas and make it a tradition. Examples?!? Well, I have always thought it would be fun to get my girlfriends together for a bake day. Invite them over and just make lots of baked goods and spend the day together. Life is so busy it's hard to find time to spend with them and having just a day to catch up and have fun without any cares would be refreshing. The baked goods in the end we could eat, gift to other friends, or have my husband take them to work and let all the military men enjoy some sweets during their long work hours.
   Another one for me that I LOVED doing as a kid and over the years was making gingerbread houses. Over the past few years I haven't done it because I don't want to pay the high price to get a set with all I need and before I got married I didn't really think about traditions and what I wanted to do to celebrate the seasons. I was in a limbo between kid and adult so I just did what my family did and that was it. Now, I can create my own thoughts and memories, and for me traditions are huge! So, gingerbread house, fun and on the list! I am not a huge fan of gingerbread cookies so I have found some ideas online for houses made with graham crackers. My husband does like gingerbread, however so if he wants that then the deal is, he has to help make the cookies! :)

 Gingerbread houses from Graham Crackers

    This picture is where the Bucket List idea came from. It's really simple to create your own and having on display will help you keep track of you goals. They framed it so it can be used for years to come. You will want a frame with glass so that you can mark off what you have done with an expo (dry eraser marker) and then easily wipe it off when the holidays are over and be ready for next year!

6 ways to wear a scarf!

Hi everyone! Thank you for the wonderful feedback on yesterdays blog, i am glad you all enjoyed it! I plan on doing many this month geared toward this season so check back often if you can't daily. ;) As I got ready today and threw on my scarf I decided that I wanted to show you all some of the different ways you can wear a scarf. I knew that if I did a video blog it wouldn't really get enough detail as to what I was doing: wrapping, twisting, tucking, etc. So, I went on the hunt for a great picture to show it better than I could and I found one!

The picture says "summer" on it but I wear my scarf more through the fall to spring. I love them! They are great 'accessory' pieces and can really tie an outfit together. Plus, added stylish layers especially here in the great North are a must!

Source

   Since I can't get the picture as large as I want so you can read all the descriptions, I added the source where I found this helpful tip! Happy 'hump' day! 

  

Holiday Treats!

   Hi Everyone! I hope you are having a great December day! We are having a "heat wave" here, ha. It's sunny and a windy, 30 degrees out! That being said I plan on staying inside but in the office near the window to take in a bit of the sun since we rarely see it!
   I have been working on getting my scrapbooks up to date. It is my way or keeping the clutter in my life down. Pictures are on my computer, a external hard drive, and the only the ones I really love and couldn't do without featuring go in my scrapbooks to show off. I am going on 10 years with my husband this month! Yes, I am too young to be married that long but we started to be an exclusive couple after many months of friendship and dates before it. So, 3 scrapbooks of 10 years is good, right?!? :) I am a huge believer in organization and minimalism, makes life better to walk into a house clean and clutter free, in my opinion.
  Anyways, enough of me rambling today I wanted to show you all some great holiday ideas for treats. I may find myself in the kitchen later baking some of these up! In the first few years of marriage my husband and I couldn't do a big celebration of the holidays because combining the finances really took a toil on us. So, we would do little things together like baking to enjoy each other and I am thankful still today that we did because many of my favorite memories are those times. Back then it was so we could gift the goodies to our friends near us as we are givers and would have hated not being able to gift them something for the season. We still do it, now just as our little tradition and the baked gifts are just little side gifts to our friends for fun!

The Melted Snowman (or in this case, Snowwoman) 

This cookie is SUPER easy. Make a batch of sugar cookies and add frosting and a marshmallow. I heat up my frosting a bit so it creates the melted effect on the cookie when it spreads out. For the detailing, I bought the cookie maker tubes of frosting since I don't have my own pastry piper. 

 Reindeer Cookies

The Recipe (a recipe for peanut butter cookies, any variation would do!)

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 egg

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

Chocolate-covered mini pretzels

Mini brown M&Ms

Regular-sized red M&Ms

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat until just blended.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended
4. Form dough into 1-inch balls. To make reindeer-shaped cookies, pinch the bottom of the ball slightly to form a point, then gently flatten with your hand. Space cookies about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just beginning to brown. 
5. Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers. Press two mini brown M&Ms in for the eyes and one red M&M for the nose (or any other color... some of mine ended up with green noses. They might be South Pole reindeer.).
6. Allow to cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to cool completely.                      Makes about 40 reindeer cookies.

Gingerbread Puzzle

The recipe:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

                                                                3/4 teaspoon coarse salt

• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup unsulfured molasses

• 1. Sift flour, baking soda, and baking powder into a medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Mix butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes; mix in spices and salt. Mix in egg and molasses, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Add flour mixture; mix on low speed until combined. Divide dough in half; pat into two disks. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
  4. To make puzzles, cut rolled dough into six rectangles, each 6 by 9 inches (reroll scraps once). Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; refrigerate until firm, 20 to 30 minutes. Bake until cookies are set and edges are just starting to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. While cookies are hot, use a pizza cutter or paring knife to cut out desired puzzle shapes. Carefully lift edges of parchment to keep puzzle pieces together; transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely.
  5. Fit a pastry bag with a 5/16-inch plain round tip (I used a ziploc baggy with the a small cut in the corner) ; fill with untinted royal icing.  Tint remaining icing as desired; fill another pastry bag the same way.
  6. Outline each puzzle piece with tinted icing; fill outlined area with more icing, smoothing with an offset spatula to make a thin layer. Let dry completely, about 1 hour. Keeping pieces together, use untinted icing to outline the shape of a tree (design should overlap all pieces); decorate area inside outline as desired. One at a time, lift each piece; sprinkle with sanding sugar, tapping off any excess. Let dry 1 hour; package in boxes, or store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Elf Donuts

They are actually cheerios, to leave with Santa's cookies or pass out as a little gift with a cute saying!

 Chocolate Gifted Candy Canes

 What an easy, genius idea someone thought of! Dress up those common candy canes. YUM!

Snowman Poop!

  My mom and I went to craft shows when I was growing up and cam across this when I was probably 12 years old. What a funny and cleaver gift for friends! I handed them out over the years at school to my classmates and they always love it. When I met my husband it was an immediate hit with him because of his LOVE for marshmallows! And really if you think about it everyone has a craving for something sweet at times... little marshmallows are a get way to get that fix and having them bagged up like this gives you some kind of portion control, right?! :)
  This is also a GREAT idea if you plan on gifting a hot cocoa set to someone. I have made mason jars with homemade cocoa and then given them, Snowman Poop for the marshmallow topping!

I hope you enjoyed these little gift ideas and try them out yourself. If you are like me, I am always on the hunt for great, new themed ideas for the season!