Basic Ingredients for a Merry Christmas

This is a re-post from something I did back in 2008!..... can you believe kidz has been around for more than 2 years!?!? Crazy. Well, since most of my current followers probably didn't see this post anyway, I thought it was good enough to share again. Enjoy!!!

The holidays are filled with parties and get-togethers and so many fun (and not-so-fun) things to do. But sometimes it's best to just stay home with the fam and enjoy being together.

And what better to serve up during the holiday season than

warm gingerbread waffles

....with hot chocolate sauce

Your mouth is watering, right?

Allrecipes.com shows you how to take it from a mouth-watering idea

to a real-live tantalizing treat.

Here are some fun ideas for sweet treats..... because you can never have too many of those during the holidays!

Nutter Butter Snowmen

Delish and fun for the kiddos to decorate!
What's not to love?
Taste of Home gives the 411 on these scrumptious bites.

Christmas Tree with Snow Cake

I shrieked with excitement when I saw this beauty for the first time.

The subtitle was: Very easy and just a few ingredients needed!

That's right up my alley!

Firefly shop gives the details here.

Okay, enough with the eating already! We can do things together as a family other than eat, right? Right. If you're lucky enough to have a white Christmas, then this is the family craft for you....

Snowman Snow Gauge

I know, right? Practical, darling, and easy to make. Perfect.

BHG Crafts tells you how.

If you're unlucky in snow, you can create a similar effect with paper snowflakes. Now, I know what you're thinking:

'Well, that's not a new or creative idea.
We've made paper snowflakes before.'

Well, that might be true, but if you haven't made paper snowflakes with the help of papersnowflakes.com, then you haven't had the full experience.

You can make some of the simple, first step patterns, like this:

OR you can go wild and crazy with some of the more complex stencil patterns, like this 3D jewel:

For all things paper snowflakes (games, patterns, templates and more), just click here.

Now that you're done with all that eating and crafting, it's time to settle down a bit, and read a nice

Christmas story.

Here are two of my favorites:

click here for the story.

What's your family's favorite Christmas story?

And just for a little laugh....

North Pole Magic

This is a repost because I'm on vacation and don't have time to come up with something new. It's good, though, so enjoy!

I want to share some fun ideas that will help bring a little bit of North Pole whimsy to your house and the little believers in it!

First of all, have the kiddos sent a wish list to Santa? Once that's done....

Wouldn't it be fun if the kids could get a custom reply back from Santa? The North Pole Secretary is just the place to go. Just let them know your child's name and other info unique to your child (due date is the 18th), and Santa will send a personalized letter that will bring excitement, but the letter will also remind of the importance of things like "caring, sharing, and the Baby who made it all possible." Cute.

And oh my am I excited to share the second idea. My friend Mel was the one to tell me about....

Carol at Elf on the Shelf explains this fun tradition:


This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Plagued by their desire to know how Santa really knew who had been naughty or nice, I searched through the Christmas decorations for a plausible explanation. Nestled among them was the answer; a small elf doll from my own childhood. With that discovery, the idea for the elf tradition was born.

At our home the elf would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch my children's behavior and report it to "Santa" each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the "North Pole" and was hiding in a different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.

Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were even introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him; however, they were allowed to talk to him. For obvious reasons, he was not allowed to reply. Eventually, my children even gave him a name - officially adopting him into the family.

Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf was watching" for errant behavior to be modified.

I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine.


Mel's family named their elf Buddy, and he has been spotted throughout their house this season....

Buddy hangin' out in a stocking

Buddy chillin' in a doll house

I can't wait to get a little elf of my own and create this tradition. I think it is a fantastic idea!

Elf Magic is a site that gives other ideas for your little elf.

Have you ever heard of Magical Reindeer Dust???


According to Kelly tells you how to make it and shares the legend behind it:

it has once been said,

that right before you go to bed.

you should sprinkle magic reindeer food,

to quickly bring Santa and his brood.

for many years the legend has been told,

to boys and girls, both young and old,

sprinkle the food throughout your yard,

then finding your house won’t be so hard!

the reindeer can smell the food for 100 miles,

just do not leave it in big piles!

after you do this you must go to sleep very fast,

so Santa and his reindeer will not pass!

I think this is such a fun idea. Go visit Kelly to get the recipe and tell her thanks for the idea!

Speaking of reindeer, doesn't everyone leave cookies for Santa to nibble when he stops on Christmas Eve? I think he might appreciate chompin' on these little guys.....

photo found on Big Oven.com

We made these little nummies for our neighbor gift last year. We put nine reindeer on each plate: eight had brown noses, and one had a red nose. I don't think that needs an explanation. They were a hit! They are made of peanut butter cookies. Pretzel bits are used to make the antlers. M&M's used for the noses, and we just used squeeze frosting to make the eyes. Yummy, easy and cute!

One last North-Pole-ish idea. This was a gift I got from a neighbor last year and I think it is so cute....

I put this little sign next to Santa's cookies on Christmas Eve last year, and I think it was appropriate. I decided to attempt to replicate it for a few gifts this year, and I was shocked at how easy it was! I just got an 8x8" plain white tile, a small black easel, and then created the vinyl lettering on my Cricut. They turned out pretty darn cute, and it only took me about ten minutes to make. Easy. Cute. Voila.

If you need any ideas for neighbor gifts, here are some easy ideas that the whole family could help put together....

Bag of M&M's

As you hold these candies in your hand, and turn them you will see
The M becomes a W, and E and then a 3
They tell the Christmas story, It's one I'm sure you know
It took place in a stable a long, long time ago
The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright
The M is for the manger where Baby Jesus slept that night
The 3 is for the wise men, bearing gifts they say they came
W is for Worship, Hallelujah, Praise His Name
So as you eat these candies or share them with a friend
Remember the meaning of Christmas it's a Love Story that never ends.

Bounty paper towel roll

This season may the "absorbing" spirit of Christ "blot" out your problems, "soak up" your sorrows, and "wipe" away your difficulties and may the new year bring you "bounteous" blessings all the year through!

kitchen tea towel

At first glance, one looks at a kitchen towel and thinks, "Wow! A towel! I needed a new one," or Wow! A towel! The old ones are getting stained and worn. But have we ever stopped to think that for years, even thousands of years, the towel has not just been used in the kitchen, but for a variety of reasons?

Take, for example, the mother who wipes the tears of a little child to soothe the physical and emotional hurt; The physician who binds the wound of a bleeding patient; The woman in her home wiping hands as she moves from task to task; The weary traveler who wipes his sweated brow.

Notwithstanding all of the above examples, perhaps the most significant use of the towel was about 2,000 years ago when our loving Jesus took an ordinary towel in his hands and dried the feet of his disciples only hours before his crucifixion. Sure, the towel is a handy item with a myriad of uses, but it also has deep symbolic meaning when seen in the hands of the Savior during a work of kindness for his fellowmen.

So, take this towel, knowing it is given with love, and do works of goodness with it, as the Savior worked with His so many years ago.

I got all these ideas at a boutique, and I'm sorry, I don't know where the poems originated from. Just know that these are not my ideas. I am not nearly so clever!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and lots of fun with your families!!!

Make Your Day Monday: Do What You CAN Do

For the past two years, 24-year-old Elsha Stockseth of South Weber, Utah, has used her tech-savvy talents to design and sell holiday cards to her friends and family.




All the proceeds from her sales are then donated to support a cause Elsha feels passionately about: clean water in Africa. While many of Elsha's peers share this passion, very few have gone to the lengths Elsha has gone to in creating each card. Below, Elsha tells her story....

I am writing to you about a project I did this year and last year to raise money for the African Well Fund (via Africare).

I am 24 years old but only weigh 34 pounds because I have muscular dystrophy. When I was in high school I was able to paint and draw, but in the past few years my arms quit working. My family was able to find a head mouse for me, which is a device that looks like a digital camera that hooks to the top of my notebook computer screen and picks up signal from a reflective dot that I wear on my forehead. I have been able to do my artwork using this device and the Photoshop software.

For the past two years I have designed Christmas cards and sold them to friends and family. Part of the proceeds I collect have been sent to the African Well Fund so I can help people who are less fortunate than me. I believe water is essential in sustaining life and everyone should have access to clean useable water.

I hope my small efforts will aid those who don't have water close by, in obtaining renewable sources of water to make their lives better.

Last year I sold about 1,000 cards and was able to contribute $105 to the African Well Fund. This year I did a little better and sold about 1,600 cards and will be contributing about $450 to the fund. When the printer who is making my cards this year found out about the purpose of my project, he helped by contributing to the cost of the cards and I was able to contribute more money.



— Elsha Stockseth
"The Biggest Little U2 Fan in the World"

From Africare helps Africa.



You can find more about Elsha's inspiring charity by visiting her web site.

Christmas Memories

I know it's a very busy time for everyone, but if you've got just a minute and you didn't catch this week's kidz story, go here and be inspired by Jacqui. You'll be glad you took the time.

Here are just a few ideas to add to your family memories this week!....



Somehow I don't think I'm the only one who could use these tips on improving home videos. Familyfun.com gives 10 tips and tricks to do just that!

Need an idea for a gift that is also a memory, a keepsake, fun to make, and way too cute for words? Even if you don't need another gift to put under the tree, this idea is too cute to pass up.

Crafty Chicks show you how to make the game Memory personal (and cute).

I cannot wait to make a Photo Memory Game! Cute!

Desperate for stocking stuffers, friend or neighbor gifts? How cute are these....

FREE printable recipe cards from messyvegetariancook.com. You can give a bundle of blank recipe cards, or put some of your favorite recipes on the cards. Either way, it's a free and easy, personal gift. Perfect!

Have you bought so many presents that you've ran out of gift tags? Or did you forget to buy them and do not want to go back to the store this week?.....

Then these FREE printable gift tags from marthastewart are for you!

Need something to help entertain the kiddos while you scurry around doing last-minute Christmas tasks?....

This printable coloring page can be found here.

There's also a cute gingerbread house here.

Now I know you're all dying to know who won this week's comment giveaway, a $10 gift certificate to justgive.org, where you get to choose the charity you donate to.

Congratulations to Kristina P from Pulsipher Predilections!

You may want to stop by and wish Kristina congratulations and check out her oh-so-fabulous blog. She is hysterical.

I gotta tell ya, I enjoyed this giveaway so much, and it is the season of charity..... we're doing it again! Every comment you leave enters you into a giveaway for another $10 donation via Justgive.org.

Leave plenty of comments so you can support your favorite charity. And it will be a Christmas gift to me. I LOVE comments!!!

Bringing North Pole Magic to Your Home

Before you find out how to bring magic from the North Pole to your home, take a minute to read this week's kidz story, about one of my heroes, Graham. Reading his story brings a different type of magic to your life. You do not want to miss it.

Now I want to share some fun ideas that will help bring a little bit of North Pole whimsy to your house and the little believers in it!

First of all, have the kiddos sent a wish list to Santa? Once that's done....

Wouldn't it be fun if the kids could get a custom reply back from Santa? The North Pole Secretary is just the place to go. Just let them know your child's name and other info unique to your child (due date is the 18th), and Santa will send a personalized letter that will bring excitement, but the letter will also remind of the importance of things like "caring, sharing, and the Baby who made it all possible." Cute.

And oh my am I excited to share the second idea. My friend Mel was the one to tell me about....

Carol at Elf on the Shelf explains this fun tradition:


This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Plagued by their desire to know how Santa really knew who had been naughty or nice, I searched through the Christmas decorations for a plausible explanation. Nestled among them was the answer; a small elf doll from my own childhood. With that discovery, the idea for the elf tradition was born.

At our home the elf would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch my children's behavior and report it to "Santa" each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the "North Pole" and was hiding in a different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.

Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were even introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him; however, they were allowed to talk to him. For obvious reasons, he was not allowed to reply. Eventually, my children even gave him a name - officially adopting him into the family.

Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf was watching" for errant behavior to be modified.

I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine.


Mel's family named their elf Buddy, and he has been spotted throughout their house this season....

Buddy hangin' out in a stocking

Buddy chillin' in a doll house

I can't wait to get a little elf of my own and create this tradition. I think it is a fantastic idea!

Elf Magic is a site that gives other ideas for your little elf.

Have you ever heard of Magical Reindeer Dust???


According to Kelly tells you how to make it and shares the legend behind it:

it has once been said,

that right before you go to bed.

you should sprinkle magic reindeer food,

to quickly bring Santa and his brood.

for many years the legend has been told,

to boys and girls, both young and old,

sprinkle the food throughout your yard,

then finding your house won’t be so hard!

the reindeer can smell the food for 100 miles,

just do not leave it in big piles!

after you do this you must go to sleep very fast,

so Santa and his reindeer will not pass!

I think this is such a fun idea. Go visit Kelly to get the recipe and tell her thanks for the idea!

Speaking of reindeer, doesn't everyone leave cookies for Santa to nibble when he stops on Christmas Eve? I think he might appreciate chompin' on these little guys.....

photo found on Big Oven.com

We made these little nummies for our neighbor gift last year. We put nine reindeer on each plate: eight had brown noses, and one had a red nose. I don't think that needs an explanation. They were a hit! They are made of peanut butter cookies. Pretzel bits are used to make the antlers. M&M's used for the noses, and we just used squeeze frosting to make the eyes. Yummy, easy and cute!

One last North-Pole-ish idea. This was a gift I got from a neighbor last year and I think it is so cute....

I put this little sign next to Santa's cookies on Christmas Eve last year, and I think it was appropriate. I decided to attempt to replicate it for a few gifts this year, and I was shocked at how easy it was! I just got an 8x8" plain white tile, a small black easel, and then created the vinyl lettering on my Cricut. They turned out pretty darn cute, and it only took me about ten minutes to make. Easy. Cute. Voila.

If you need any ideas for Christmas goodies....

Head over to Nana's Kitchen. She's got a lot of tips and tricks up her sleeve!

Be sure to leave a comment, this week's giveaway is one of the best yet (in my opinion).

Speaking of giveaways. The winner of last week's comment prize....

the very popular PediEgg, goes to..................

Shannon at Welcome to the Nuthouse!!!

Congrats Shannon! I know quite a few people who are coveting your prize. I've gotta get one of those PediEggs, almost everyone who left a comment mentioned how fab they are!

So, you'd think it might be hard to beat last week's giveaway, what with how popular it was. But I think I've gone and done just that. This week's giveaway is.....

A $10 donation in your name made to your favorite charity

through the site, Just Give.

So be sure to leave lots of comments so you can be in the running to help out the charity of your choice! Plus, I like comments. A lot. =)

If you're stumped of what to give someone who has everything, you may want to consider giving a card from Just Give. This is a unique and personal gift that anyone will love. Rather than over-abundance, you can help those who truly need it. 'Tis the season!

What is your favorite charity?

Hope you're enjoying the holidays!