CathyMac home tour

Today I am joining Cathymac from Mhh for a tour of our home's decorations. This year I am at my sister's Cathy and this is the decorating she and my mom did enjoy

my elf has arrived

i am having an elf visit the home where I work. The elf's name is Jollyanna. She will arrive on Thanksgiving
I have a stocking bed for her and will be geeting a pillow.
Joolyanna will be arriving ewith a passport and a friend.
I can't believe Thnksgiving is this Thursday. i will be cooking dinner for the residents.
My plan is to do a little decorating after Dinner If I have time before going to BFF's house
I will be posting pictures soon

Christmas card

This is one card that that i was able to finish.

Peanut Butter Fudge

Here is the recipe that I use.
Please make this only when it is not dampor raining out.

5 cups sugar
1 st margarine
1 8 0z can evaporated milk
Bring this to a boil and bil for 7 minutes remove from heat. Aa 1 bag PB chips and approximately 1 cup of peanut butter. I guesstimate on the peanut butter. Add 1 7 oz jar of marshmallow creme or flff. Beat until cr
eme is well mixed and it is thickened. Pour into a 9x13 greased pan. refrigerate or store in a cool place. makes five pounds. This recipe has bdeen in our family since I was a little girl.
You can make this chocolate by adding cahocolate chips instaed of peaunt butter and omit PB.

I am an acive member of Magical Holiday Home, and the site has really started to get busy. It is a great group. We are anxious for fall to come.

Merry Christmas in July

Today I am combining my pictures for two parties that are being held in honor of Christmas ib July
http://playingdishes.blogspot.com/ Join Felicia@playing with dishes for a great tablescape


http://katamommydamacy.blogspot.com/I am also joining Maggi for her party. Check her site out fo more fun

Candy recipes

One of my favorite traditions at Christmas is making candy. I make peanut clusters, cashew clusters dipped pretzels, peanutbutter fudge and ting a lings. the recipes i use are very simple.
PEANUT CLUSTERS
12 oz semi sweet chocolate bits
dry roasted peanuts I use the large glass jar of peanuts
Melt chocolate in micowave for about two minutes total. I melt the chocolate in 50 secod intervals stirring as I go.
After the chocolate is melted I add the peanuts. stir until well coated and drop by teaspoons on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Refrigertae until firm. Store in cool place,
Cashew clusters
follow directions as a bove but use cashew pieces and white chocolate.
Tina lings
Chou mein noodles
peanuts
white or dark chocolate
melt chocolate as above
add peanuts and chou mein noodles.
This recipe is easily adapted and I use dirrerent quanties, store as above
Chocolate covered pretzels
Small knot shaped prezels
your choice of chocolate
chocolate candy pieces
melt chocolate, put prezels in chocolate
place on wax paper cookie sheets
place two chocolate candies in the top two places of the pretzel
cool in cool place
Tommorrow I will post my fudge and Santa cookie recipes.

Christmas Tree Themes

I love to decorate with trees. Here are some ideas for themes.
Snowmen There are all types of snowmen find your favorite and use snowmen garland and other snowmen ornaments to decorate with

gingerbread. This is the theme I use in my kitchen. I have small gingerbread men, cookies, and other ornaments.

Red and white candy or peppermint. For this tree I use red garland red ornaments, peppermint ornaments,

Here are some others,
Color theme. This can be black and white, light and dark green, all silver

How about a hobby theme. sewing tree with small thimbles, thread etc.
a western theme- boots, cactus

Check out Hobby Lobby for a variety of themes.

Christmas tablescape

http://playingdishes.blogspot.com/

CIJ tablescape

http://playingdishes.blogspot.com/

Today i am joining Printersdevil for a CIJ tablescape

Happy Christmas in July month

Over at Magical Holiday Home we are kicking off a month long celebration for our favorite holiday, Christmas.
To start I am posting 30 ways to celebrate the month. All of the ideas are either no cost or low cost.
July 1---Find a b ranch or a small tree to decorate all month.
2---Make a paper chanin
3-- Make ornaments out of paper, glue and glitter. use cookie cutters for the shapes. put these on ypour tree.
4.--find some of your Christmas mugs and have hot cocoa and cookies.
5---Read a Christmas story
6---Watch a Christmas video.
7---have a freeze dance with Christmas songs
8.--make a marshmallow snowman with mini choc chips, fruit rollups cut into thin strips for the broom and for the mouth
9. Fix your favorite Christmas food
10-Take some canned food to your food pantry
11. copy somwe pictures and color them
12. wear something red
13 wear something green
14 make your favorite cookie if it is cool enoug
15. Try a new recipe
16. Play with re or green playdough
17 Have a scavenger hunt to find all the red and green items in your house.
18. Start a gift list for 2009
19. Find a simple Christmas craft and try it
20. Surpsie a nighbor with cookies
21. Go to your Hallmark store and dream of the ornaments you want.
22. Start working on your cards
23 Make a paper placemat for the holidays
24 make a wreath using paper plates and gluing peppermints on it.
25 make a reindeer out of a paper bag.
26 make your favorite dinner
27 have a carol sing
28 Take your family picture
29 Decide what activites you want to use for your Christmas
30. make applesauce and glue ornaments
I hope you will enjoy celebrating the month

cards

Two of the cards I am starting on

Houses

These are two of the houses that I am going to be decorating for the holidays

Christmas in July

Only 20 days until It is time to talk about our Christmas in July activities. Ginger over at Magical Holiday Home is getting us ready. Last year I was not great about posting. This year I hope to do much better. Watch for Card ideas, simple craft ideas, links, recipes and other activites.

Happy Rudy Day

Today I am experimenting with ideas for my cards and invitations. I also have included an idea for a simple placecard. My goal this year is to have an open house.
I painted th black and white snowman one and added paper snowfakes.
I am attending a small group dinner tonight and in honor of Rudy Day, I made a chocolate mint cheesecake to take. The cards that I made are very simple and would be easy for a child to do.
I also have gotten the first inital of each of my family member and I am going to be decorating those as stocking stuffers.

First Rudolf day 2009

Today is the first Rudolf day for this year. My plans today are to take down the remainder of my winter decorations and start a gift list.