No need to open these gifts, just eat!!

Thought this was a cute idea for an appetizer, its kind of small for bigger parties, but maybe you can be creative and make a few different ones on a platter?? Maybe this one and then another one with slices of green olives and maybe another with black olive slice?? Then mix and match the crackers  Enjoy!!

I am sure this would be a conversation piece at a party...too cute!!

Christmas Package Cheese Snack

 

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Spread some holiday cheer at your family gathering with this savory appetizer.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of cream cheese (softened)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Scallion
• Red bell pepper

Instructions

1. Mix the dried dill, garlic powder, and salt into the softened cream cheese.
2. Pack the mixture into a rectangular container lined with plastic wrap (you can reuse the cream cheese box).
3. Refrigerate it for at least 3 hours. Before serving time, set the unwrapped block of cheese on a platter and decorate it with a scallion bow and red pepper polka dots and gift tag.

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons!! Bracelets????

Buttons can be used to make fun pieces of jewlery. There are lots of different ways they can be linked and threaded together for necklaces, earrings, and bracelets which can look stylish or fun. You can also stick buttons onto hair slides or hair bands and bracelets to give plain basics a different look.   This is an excellent project to do with your older kids so that they can make a Christmas gift for someone special, maybe mommy, a grandma or an aunt.  

Materials
A large collection of similar sized buttons
Needle
Shirring elastic
Large bead
Acrylic enamel-finish paints (thats optional)


Hint, Hint

(Look out for unusal buttons at yard sales and thrift stores)

1 Thread the needle with a double length of shirring elastic long enought to slip over your hand and sit on your wrist comfortably. Tie one end loosely to a large bead to prevent the buttons from falling off.

2 Take the needle and double thread through one hole in each button until you have the threaded on enough buttons to go around your wrist. Then secure the thread with a firm knot.

Your end result...a pretty bracelet and special gift your child can be proud to give as a gift this holiday season!!!

Get creative!!! 


Find a little box to put it in, and have your child make special wrapping paper (see idea below with my home made wrapping paper)

It's the Biggest Loser Finale!!!

So, who will it be?? John, Ramone, Antone????


I must say this show has been an inspiration to me to keep moving and get healthy!!! Its incredible what some hard work and determination can do for your body. Cant wait til tonight.  Who do you think is the winner???
I have someone in mind but we will see if I am right. Watch it with me tonight.

so YUMMY!!! It will make you wanna laugh

I tried making this candy and it was really good....You should try....http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/02/23/homemade-taffy/

Homemade Taffy

2 1/2 cups white sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup light corn syrup

1 1/3 cups water

2 tablespoons butter (plus lots extra to butter hands, we probably used over 1/2 of stick of butter on our hands)

1 teaspoon salt

1 - .21oz (6g) package unsweetened, fruit-flavored drink mix (like Kool-Aid) (we used cherry)****however I used Great Value brand from Wal-mart and those were the measurements on the package and it said it made two quarts of drink. On the Kool-Aid packet that makes two quarts it has different amounts (far less) I would still only use 1 packet since it is still flavoring the same amount of water.

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

I also added some peppermint extract...not too bad....<S>

Butter large jelly roll pan or a cookie sheet with sides really well.

In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar and cornstarch.  Add corn syrup, water, butter and salt and stir well until butter is melted. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stop stirring. Cook mixture until candy thermometer read 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). This takes some time to get it to 250 degrees. Once it approaches 250 degrees watch very closely because it cooks quickly at the end.  Immediately remove from heat. Carefully stir in vanilla and drink mix. Stir well. We should have stirred ours more-- notice some bits of drink mix (dark spots) on our taffy. Pour mixture onto buttered baking pan. Allow to cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.

Directions:

Once the taffy has cooled enough to handle, butter hands and begin pulling. (It starts kind of translucent)
Then pull...and pull...butter hands again...pull...
and stretch...pull...more hand buttering...pull...
It will become more opaque and lighten in color depending on the attention span of your workers! This takes about 10-15 minutes of pulling.It will become more opaque and lighten in color depending on the attention span of your workers! This takes about 10-15 minutes of pulling.
Pull into long ropes and cut with buttered scissors
and cut!
Wrap pieces of taffy in pieces of waxed paper and give it a good twist on each end.
Finished!
Sweet!!

Lets help single moms and their kids this Christmas!!

Join me in helping my local Women's Shelter this Christmas!!!! Make a Donation today!! There are so many moms out there that need out support!!!!     Show some love and Christmas spirit today!!   http://operationchristmaskids.bbnow.org/

Fun, Easy Kid Craft!!!

I saw on www.torispelling.com today this really cute craft  I wanted to share with you, it looks fun and inexpensive. I really like homemade wrapping paper, it gifts extra special and personalized for someone.

Potato Stamped Wrapping Paper

This is a simple way to personalize your wrapping paper using materials you probably already have. And your kids can help stamp!

Materials

•    Old paper bags or butcher paper
•    One or two potatoes (depending on how many stamps you would like to make)
•    Paring knife (adult supervision required)
•    Paper towel
•    Paintbrush
•    Paint

Instructions


Take your old paper bags, open them up and cut them to size (or use your butcher paper)


Cut your potato in half.

Make an outline of your desired stamp shape in the open side of the potato. Feel free to cut out a stencil beforehand.


Once outlined, pass over again with the knife, making a deeper incision.  You will then slice away all of the areas outside of the stenciled area.


Make sure your stamp has a smooth surface.  All of the divots will appear in the stamping.  The imperfections can give it character though, so don’t stress over the minor flaws.

Dab the top of the stamping area with a paper towel in order to remove any excess moisture.

Wet your paintbrush with the paint color of your choice and paint the surface of the stamp. Be sure to keep the paint to a minimum.  The heavier the paint, the more the stamp with slide upon pressing.


Do a test stamping on a piece of scratch page.  If you notice imperfections, shave down and continue carving out your stamp.


Once your stamp is perfect, begin stamping your larger sheet of wrapping paper. Remember, only lightly coat the potato when stamping.  Too much paint will create smudging.

Stamp away! Let dry, and then wrap your gifts in your custom paper.

What kind of wrapping paper are you using this season? Tell me your giftwrap ideas in the comments below!

My salad has how many calories???

I was looking through Shape Magazine and came across this salad that I absolutely LOVE!!!

Its a chicken pecan salad with blue cheese and dried cranberries, but when I saw that its 1000 calories.....Suddenly that salad didnt seem so yummy anymore... Depressing....

Any salad suggestions? that are yummy like this but almost a days worth of calories??? I will have to look into that one....