Stained Glass Sugar Cookie Ornaments

This morning we made sugar cookies for the tree. 

We followed Martha's instructions.

We used Lifesavers in the middle. One chopped up Lifesaver per cookie. Before popping them in the oven, we punched a hole in the top with a straw.

This recipe is simple, but time consuming! You have to chill the prepared tray of cookies for 15 minutes before you cook them for 11. Chopping the candies takes forever too!  Not to mention that candy shards fly everywhere - but don't worry...they stick quite nicely to your socks!


ps. I wouldn't want to eat them...but I guess you could!
pss. You have to really work the dough in between batches to get it smooth again. This is a dry dough to work with.

Early Christmas Dinner

We are having Christmas dinner with my in-laws tonight!

The table is set, the food is ready (I have a few more dishes to cook), the Christmas songs are playing!

I made an animation of the table setting itself!  Seriously, how great would it be if the table could, in fact, set itself??

ps. I realized after I took 30 something photos that I should have zoomed in.  Oh well! 
pss. I used the wide zoom, so it feels a bit wonky!  
psss. I wanted it to feel like the chairs were dancing...but they are distracting.   
pssss. I will play around with animated gifs again! So fun!

Don't knock yourself out!

Somehow, the holiday season lost its magic for me. I always assumed that when you have kids, Christmas becomes an even bigger deal. The opposite happened.

I want to do things for the boys to create memories...simple things. A tree. A few strings of lights outside in the front trees. Decorate gingerbread houses*. Make cookies. Advent calendar (he loves the stories!). Greetings cards. 

I gave up trying to be perfect. In fact, any time I try to create something beautiful, special, amazing, WOW!... inevitably, at some point, I get annoyed that there are two little ones under my feet. I am frustrated when something 'important' gets broken. Or I feel put out that I have the shortest window of time to accomplish it on the weekend. Or exasperated when the baby only takes a 30 minute nap. Or I stay up late to finish, and then I am tired the next day.  Forget it!

Why take the holidays and turn them into a huge stress-ball? What's all the fuss about?

Today, my sons** and I hung up all the non-breakable ornaments (about 25% of my stash!) No garland, no star on top, no orbs, no bows, and, I think, they couldn't be happier!

The non-breakables never seemed to fit in with the rest of the shiny pretty things, but they look perfect on their own!  Well, maybe not perfect, but, you know, just right!



ps. my three year old dug through the box of ornaments while my one year old napped for 1.5hrs!...this gave me a chance to hack away at the tree.  I pruned away at the branches to really open it up. I used the extra branches to make a wreath, and decorate the mantle.
pss. This was the fastest tree trimming ever!  My three year old was a huge help! It was so funny to see him hang 18 ornaments all in the exact same spot...I encouraged him to try and give each piece its own special branch.  We had fun!

*We decorated a mini gingerbread house village, you can see it on the mantel!
*The little one taste tested them

Animated!

Early this morning we set up the Christmas tree*

I took a bunch of photos in order to make an animated gif! I didn't have the time, or the brain capacity to figure out how to do it in photoshop. Lucky for me, there was an easier way, on this website.

Next time, oh there will be a next time, I will make the photos brighter and cheerier!!!!  I can think of a million ways to use this! Ok, maybe a bit gimmicky, but you know you like it!!

ps. I am going to attack the tree with tree clippers and thin out the branches.  I will give it a day for the branches to settle first!    

*We went with a $40 tree from Loblaws.

Advent Calendar

I just hung the advent calendar!

There is a clip on the backside of each of the tiny numbered felt booties.  I want to clip a short message or story about Christmas to each one.  I thought it would be nice to sit in the living room every evening, and read about Santa, the birth of Jesus, where stockings came from, why we give gifts and other interesting facts about the holiday. My three year old LOVES stories...

Anyways, I now have to research 25 things about Christmas, print them, and stick them up...before Dec 1. No pressure! 


UPDATE: I decided to write a short story every day...and 'upload' it to the calendar as we go...so that on Dec 24, all the clips will be full!

ps. I got this idea from the Caillou Christmas cartoon.   
pps. I will circle back next week if I am able to pull this off! Let me know if you have any good ideas/website links that might help!

Gingerbread

UPDATE: We added some red icing details this morning....the cookies are going fast!

I don't want to jinx it, but...

I think I'm finally getting better.  I went to see my doctor on Tuesday, actually, not MY doctor, she was off sick with the flu, but another doctor at the office.  Anyways, the doctor's remarks: "You're sick, but not that sick, come back in again before Friday if you don't get better"  ...she also said I looked great - which I attribute 100% to this concealer (and maybe the fact I am drinking 8 zillion glasses of water to help my sore throat).  So that's it.  If I can keep my sore throat wet and my headache suppressed, I am as good as new-ish. 

Thank you for all the kind comments! I am certain your well wishes helped me get stronger!!!

Goodie Train

My son and I put this gingerbread train together last night

He would pick up a candy and ask me "I wonder what this one tastes like, you want to try it momma? Can I try it?"

We made a train last year too!  Check it out, here!

ps.  I don't like black licorice

Wish List Part II

I didn't expect there to be a part II...but once I started to think about new treats for me, I was on a roll!

1. Running Shoes (New Balance Ladies 1226 - size 8)

2. Label Maker

3. Because all the cool kids have this

4. J.Crew Sweater Jacket

5. Wash Cloths

6. Almond Ring - yum!

7. Last Watch

8. The Windup Girl

9. Oliver Twist

Homemade Wreath

I had some extra greens, some wire, and this old frame thing (a DIY stretcher from a needlepoint I did a LONG time ago!)....so last night I made a wreath!

Inspired by this!

Christmas decorating and stuff

- We only brought up half the Christmas decorations from storage...and didn't put everything on the tree (the snowmen scattered on the mantel did get hung on the tree...I almost forgot about them!)...I am seriously considering giving away a third of what we have...(another third - we donated a bunch of stuff to goodwill two years in a row now)
- The tree isn't exactly what I hoped for...but with a sick momma and toddler in the house,we couldn't make it out to a tree farm. (Yes, we are suffering from back-to-back nasty colds around here while caring for a newborn)
- Notice the felt booties advent calendar on the fireplace - I didn't get a chance to stock it with treats.
- We are making messes, and intending to make cookies (we will see if the cookie dough gets done before the weekend)

Christmas Wish List

I thought I would put together a wish list, to help a certain someone out.  

I need some new pure+simple products (running low), and facial is always nice!; the basket is perfect for hats, scarves and mittens (for the foyer); the step is for the kitchen, for my little helper; I want to check out this gym; another star to add to my collection; a simple hat; I've never played Settlers of Catan, but read some of the hype; a simple radio.  

 

1. Pure+simple - Collagen Elastin Plus 100ml

2. Martina Gebhardt - Sheabutter Facial Cream 50ml 

3. Basay Basket

4. BEKVÄM Step stool, black

5. Personal Trainer 

6. Christmas Ornament, Annual Edition 2011

7. Cable knit pom-pom hat

8. Settlers of Catan

9. Tivoli Radio, Frost White Collection, White/Snow White 

What is on your wish list??

PS. I also wish for a new mouse for the upstairs computer, and a quickie photoshop tutorial

tinyprints

Our holiday cards have arrived!!

A few weeks ago, Rambling Renovators recommended tinyprints for holiday greeting cards. We weren't entirely happy with our 2010 cards, so we thought we would try tinyprints out.  The quality is beautiful!  Last year's cards looked as if they were printed on a 1993 bubble jet that was out of ink - that is to say, quite faded.  This year, we once again selected the matte option (instead of glossy) but the colour is crisp and bright.  True to what we see on the monitor.  All in all I am perfectly pleased and I expect to use them again next year!


(I didn't want to show too much of the card, because that will ruin the surprise!)

oh Christmas Tree

Source: caramagic.blogspot.com via Shannon8foot6 on Pinterest

Does anyone know what type of tree this is?  Is it real? I really want a real tree with 'less branches' this year...

Butter Tarts and cookies for the guy in the Red Hat

My first attempt at tarts...the crust is a little thick, and I made too much batter...but they are DeeeLICIOUS!

Plus a few treats for Santa

That's a wrap!

I used this tutorial to make some bows out of the wrapping paper (a jumbo roll from Costco)...

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vintage Tea Towels

I have two vintage tea towels (100% linen - need to be ironed) that I LOVE, LIKE THEY'RE A HIGH FIVE...but I have no idea how to decorate with them, or use them1, or where to put them.  I bought them at a Christmas rummage sale when I was 24 or 25...any ideas? 

1. we used them as 'singing aids' at one Christmas office dessert party I co-hosted at my apartment, ohhh so long ago...when I was the youngest...and everyone said "you won't always be the youngest, remember that!"...but at that time, I thought I would always be the youngest...

One day only sale - At the BAY

I called the Bay today to check in on the Christmas Tree ornaments I wanted.  I bought a few at 30% off, and I was hoping to add to my collection at a greater discount.  Lucky me! Today all Christmas decorations were 60% off! One day only...

Since my tree is already put together, I strung the ornaments on my chandelier.  I know, not the most original placement...but I like it!  Claudia (the woman in the charcoal drawing) likes them too! (Next year they will go on the tree....since they are sooo neutral, and sort of blend into the tree, I feel like I need A LOT of them...ok, lets face it - even if they were NEON I would feel like I need a lot of them!)

I used white ribbon because it was already on the dining room table (my wrapping station- you can see I washed the table just before taking the photo...it was covered with bits of ribbon and wrapping paper)...

The ribbon is driving me psycho - I think I need to switch it to some invisible white string...

ps. I didn't snap photos of the ornaments at the store...but the mercury glass, clear glass, gold, red, silver, teal, purple,white ceramic ornaments were all GORGEOUS! By Gluckstein; regular price $2.99 -$4.99 - RUN TO THE BAY TONIGHT!  (They aren't paying me to say this)

pss...I know what you are thinking: 'why would she put green bulbs on a green tree?' ...because I LOVE that they sparkle and shine but they aren't the 'star attraction', you know?  I LOVE THEM...(my favorite orbs with the etched stars were sold out at Yonge and Bloor.)