Hey Everyone...!!! This is the first time in a week and a half I've had my home to myself for a few minutes!!! I don't like to blog when there is to much going on.. Just wanted to let you know that I'll probably blog more after the New Year...!! I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas and will have the HAPPIEST New Year!!!!

Dear Ms. Flipflopmom,
We wish to make you aware of a recent mailing error involving a reminder postcard that was mailed to you on or about December 3,2007. An error occurred when the address file was created for this postcard, ad as a result a string of numbers that reflected some or all of the digits of your Social Security Number may have been included in the mailing address.

STINKING GREAT!!! Not only do I have the worlds MOST COMMON last name.. now some STUPID company that I do NO business with has sent my SS to the world of the United States Post Office... GRRR.. BUT to be safe.. I can call this number..and HECK.. it's even toll free... 1-877-478-7625 to place a FRAUD ALERT on my Equifax credit file.

Anyway... on a different note... snow.. snow... and more snow is falling everywhere... Here are my two squirrels from this morning....

And Here is Nellie WANTING those Squirrels.. LOL LOL I have to remind her she's a BIRD dog!!


I have to tell you.. that I seriously am NOT fond of my son's school teachers.. he has one pretty decent teacher but the other three really could care less if my son falls through the cracks of education... At first I was NOT going to do gifts... didn't want to.. I was down right being a BRAT.. however... I found something small to do... and I went with it.. ( I got this idea off of Two Peas about a year ago.. and don't remember who it was.. sorry.. ) But this is what I made...


Up close tag....

And for my daughters High School Teachers... We made Oreo Balls!!!!



Oreo Balls are SUPER DE DUPER EASY to make... here are my directions

1 package of oreos ( NOT double stuffed)
1 package of cream cheese... at room temp.
1 package of Chocolate Almond Bark
1 package of White Almond Bark

Crush oreos in a food processor doing about 10-12 at a time...
Once they are all crushed... add the block of cream cheese and combine well
I use a small cookie scoop to scoop out the dough and form round balls....
FREEZE dough for about 30 minutes...
While dough is in freezer, with a double boiler.. melt about 3/4 of the package of chocolate almond bark...
Once melted.. dip ONE oreo ball at a time in the chocolate til completely covered and place on waxed paper...
These will dry in about 10 minutes...
While drying melt about two blocks of the white almond bark... once melted put in a plastic baggy and cut a tiny hole in the corner.... pipe over the balls... Voila... ENJOY!!
**** What EVER you do though.. DO NOT get any water in the chocolate .. otherwise it will clump up and NOT stay smooth and will not work...

I got a package today.. and I was pleasantly surprised... and I giggled so hard when I saw my gift...... I LOVE YOU JAYEDEE!! YOU ROCK!!! who else but a Florida Girl could get a New Hampshire girl this kind of tree ornament!!!!


Oh and here is the GORGEOUS Candle that LISA gave me!!!!! READ her blog... you WILL LOVE IT!!!Tomorrow my neighbor is babysitting TWO PUGS.. oh I can't WAIT to see them!!!!

I've also been boogying around and BAKING like a MAD woman.. Gosh I have made Banana Bread, Cookie Dough Brownies, Chex Mix, Buddy Buddy's, Mini Spice Bundt cakes, Chocolate Chip Cookies and MORE!!! But my gifts are almost done and ready to be delivered!! WOO HOO!!
So I decided at 11pm on SATURDAY night I was going to march my butt to Wal*Mart and GET all the BAKING supplies I needed.. and the store would be dead..!! Well............ I was RIGHT the store WAS DEAD.. but the shelves were BARE!!! YIKES!!!! Fortunately enough this sweet older gentleman found me a box of Corn Chex to make my MIX.. but not another kind.. so I surrendered to the shelf and bought HONEY NUT CHEX.... and made the Chex Mix...Ok.. I am in NO WAY a fan of the Chex Mix.... however.. with this HONEY NUT CHEX ... it was OUTSTANDING!!!!!!! It gives enough sweetness with the salt to give it a POP!!!!! So... next time you make the Chex Mix... PASS on the WHEAT.. and PASS on the RICE.. mix it up with Corn and HONEY!! YUM!!!! and I have to admit.. I alter the recipe as well... I use a WHOLE stick of butter and about 4 TBSP of Worcestershire sauce.... YUM!!!

And along with all that... I made PIONEER WOMAN'S Lasagna.... yum.. that's all I have to say!! I had dinner guests Saturday night and they agreed!!!

Well my friends and family think I have started a new threat to the animal kingdom... Obesity in Squirrels.... YUP... they think that I'm causing their lives to be shortened posing a real threat to our back yard trees. Ok.. I'll admit.. I LOVE watching what was ONE squirrel eat the corn on the cobs I bought for them... then when the deck was built.. I bought a BETTER feeder... How strange... before I knew it .. the ONE squirrel has turned into about FIVE and they all weigh at least 20lbs each... ok.. well maybe not that much.. but I think they might seriously outweigh my cat!!! The picture below was taken about two months ago...so maybe add 5lbs ... lol lol


Well... I wanted to get into the whole nature thing.. so I decided that I would make popcorn, cranberry and cereal garland for a fake tree on the back deck!! The Garland took me about a week to make but it came out really cute.. and then to add more.. I made pinecone bird feeders. Do you remember making those as a kid... oh it was fun and STICKY!!! but I have to tell you a secret... I put the peanut butter BACK into the cupboard.. wasn't thinking.. and then next day.. the teens came home for lunch.... ummmm guess what they had... PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES... ah oh.... GASP!!! What they don't know won't hurt them.. right.. it's all natural????? Ü

Ok... now for something cool.. here is what I got in my package from DONNA!!! I loved EVERYTHING in there!!! I even got homemade goodies in there that didn't last long around here!!!

Oh and see the "grubby" candle behind there.. I got that from PUGPOSSE .. I have YET to burn it.. it smells soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good unburned... ( I'll show a close up tomorrow)
Earlier this week I had a dear friend come over... she had her doggie in the truck.. I said... "oh girl get him out of there and bring him in".. and she did.. he's very very active.. but so handsomely cute.. and my Nellie girl loved him... I think she like the part where MAX had to wear the Santa Suit and NOT her!!!!

WE have a WINNER.. I had to go back through my e-mails and see who responded FIRST... and even though it's really NOT the technical name.. LOL LOL.. the WINNER IS ERIN... I give her this WIN because in all truth I don't even call this movie by it's given name... The MUPPETS CHRISTMAS CAROL in my house is known as THE FOZZYWIGS!! But here's another secret.. I can't stand any other muppets movie.. LOL LOL

I'm sorry for my lack of blogging... For all you New Englanders out there... you'll know that the pressure in our air seems to be "heavy" right now.. and for the past three days my head has been POUNDING.. and dizziness has set in.. UGH... ( I also suffer migraines) . So looking at a computer screen for to long does NOT help!! If I'm not feeling better by tomorrow.. I'm giving the good ole DR a call!!

OTHER NEWS... I got my great shipment that I WON from DONNA!!! I took pictures.. but I will post all that tomorrow!! As for now.. I'm off to get a good nights sleep!!

Come in and know me better Man....

Here it is Sunday night... and I finally can get a few moments to really blog the past few days without running out the door...
I met up with a BLOGGER friend here .. right in my own home town.. Pug Posse
She has the CUTEST and I mean CUTEST Pugs.. and HOME!! I LOVE how her home is dressed up Country and especially around Christmas time... She also gave me the sweetest gift... ( I don't want to blog it yet.. just incase she is giving it to others and they happen to end up here)... OH MY the gift was HEAVENLY.. and super cute!! I will share at a later time!!! PROMISE!!
Anyway.. meeting Lisa was FUN... and it felt like I already knew her.. I had my son with me who, after waiting in the car for an hour, came in and FELL in LOVE with her pugs... He just thought they were the GREATEST and the next day asked me 4 times if we could go see them again.. LOL LOL...
Her photos of her kitchen cabinets and table.. don't even do justice to how beautiful they really are!!! I'm JEALOUS.. !! and Sooooooooooo Seriously now want to do that to my kitchen that sooooo needs some life put into it!!!

I did get the kids Christmas picture done today.. however due to the friends "well" issues we got a late start on pictures.. so I wasn't quite so happy with her kids pictures.. they were acting goofy and just didn't want to co-operate.. I think my kiddos did good though.. I can't post those til tomorrow!!

Anyway... another hint... I might have said this.. MY FAVORITE MOVIE IS IN THAT snippet of movies...and it's NOT the PowerPuff Girls if that helps!! LOL LOL... My son and I actually don't call it by it's right name.. we call it "The Fozzywigs"... Ü Does that help?? Keep guessing!!!

What I'm listening to as I type.... LOVE IT!!!!!

I'm waiting to head out really soon to do my kiddos Christmas picture and some friends...!! Then we're gonna make YUMMY grilled cheese and soup.. mmmmmm... I'll post later with pictures...
But for now.. I wanted to let you all know..

THAT NO ONE HAS SAID MY FAVORITE MOVIE YET!!! ..

So if you have guessed.. guess again.. if you said you have no clue... guess anyway.. you NEVER know!!!

This is a movie that my son and I watched night after night after night...when he was about 3... ahhh Memories.. and then we moved on to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.... I love musicals!!!!

Enjoy your Sunday!! Keep Warm.. inside and out!!! Ü

I'll be back later on!!

This is a very cute video I wanted to share... There are many movies in here that you will recognize.. that you loved as a child.. if not still as an adult... My favorite movie is in this... To make it more cheery.. and to spread some love.. the FIRST person to respond and tell me what my favorite all time Christmas movie is.. will get a special something from me.!!! Happy guessing!!

This is my 150th Post.. I can't believe I've had 150 plus things to talk about... !! Kind of makes me crack up!!

Last night I stayed up til about 2:30 in the morning crafting a gift for my Mother in love that I want her to have BEFORE Christmas.. since the gift pertains to Christmas... I have no pattern.. no rhyme or reason.. it's something that I came up with... the "pouch" for the CD is the same McDonald's fry pattern that I cut the bottom off on.. and then sewed it shut... She loves my Christmas CD's.. so I thought I would burn some of them and share!! I will probably add more embellishments.. but for now I had to walk away from it... Ü

Ok.. Now before you peek at my sewing project.. PLEASE keep in mind I am not a huge sewer.. I'm pretty much self taught... and I'm NOT perfect.. but I thought of this idea and I wanted to go with it.. I had this bunch of fabric that I was just going to toss because I thought.. "Where or how would I use this????".... and the light bulb went off.... Again.. I Have no pattern...no rhyme or reason.. this is just it... and you experienced sewers.. HOLD your chuckles please!!!! Ü While I was sewing this I had to battle my cat too.. she ran off with the needles.. and string.. ahhhhhhhhh she was like watching a little child!!!

Its a toothbrush holder and a tube of toothpaste for travel.. I want to put floss and a cheap timer in their for my friends daughters... you know the rule 2 minutes for brushing!!! No EXCUSES!!! Ha Ha Ha Ha....

And this is Emma Lou Who ( her name for two years now.. LOL LOL) She was quite tired after all the sewing!!

Your Christmas Budget: The 1900's

Representative prices for items popular at various times during the decade, culled from newspaper and magazine ads of the period:

Men's smoking jacket: $5.00

Women's corset ( "all popular sizes:): $1.59

Sheet-music cabinet: $6.25

Phonograph: $150.00

China candle stick. 50 cents

boy's worsted sweater: $2.00

Toy sewing machine: $1.00

Toy automobile"with rubber tire wheels": $2.50

Elevated railroad set: $5.00

Clothbound copy of Peck's Bad Boy: 39 cents

The only blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart.

----Helen Keller

I have to giggle today cause I got a few e-mails this morning requesting that I put the Whoopie Pie recipe up on the blog... soon!!!! So here I am little earlier than normal.. blogging and reading!!!

I have used this recipe for the past 10 plus years... I have used different cocoas to make the "shell" of the Pie... and I have come to the realization that there is NO BETTER cocoa than King Arthurs. Unfortunately I have not made a road trip up that way so I had to settle for Hershey's.. which taste's just fine too...

So here are a picture of my pies!!

The batter is not super stiff... but should be thicker than cake batter....

The final product.. I have to QUICKLY FREEZE the ones that I want to mail or save for Christmas Gifts or they are GONE!!

FlipFlopMom's Whoopie Pies

1 cup shortening

2 cups milk

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

4 cups of flour

3/4 cup cocoa

2 1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

Normally I dump this all together and mix from there.. but you can do it this way as well..

Cream together shortening, sugar. Add eggs in one at a time. Add vanilla. In another bowl mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together. Slowly rotate combining dry ingredients with the milk... mix well. Preheat oven to 350 degrees... I lightly spray my cookie sheets with pam so the "cake" doesn't stick to the pan... I use two small spoons as my drop size on the cookie sheets.. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes... check your oven during your first batch so you can get to "know" how they cook.. each spooful can vary in size... Let the "cake's " cool and then remove them from the pan.. ( cooling takes about 5 minutes).... Once the "cake's" are cool frost oneside with a good amount of cream filling and and "cookie" it together with another "cake"...

*** Now here's a few pointers.. depending on the % of milk you have ... you might not need the whole amount of milk.. I used skim yesterday.. so I ended up only using 1 1/2 cups of milk.. so just watch for the look of the batter.. if you use whole you can use the whole two cups...

FILLING.... This is NOT a Marshmallow filling.. this is a creamy frosting filling... I prefer it OVER the Marshmallow any day.

3 cups of confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup shortening

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla....

*** Again.. my tips for this.. I DOUBLE this amount... I blend the shortening together with the sugar.. and then add vanilla... SLOWLY add your milk in... it's better to NOT Have enough than to have to much... beat the mixture together and add your milk in a little at a time till you get the desired creamy texture you want... ( I tend to make it stiffer than store bought)...

It's a LOT easier to make it than it sounds.. but if you have ANY questions.. you can always ask me... and if this wasn't the internet.. I'd post my # so you could call me if you needed... Ü I'm horrible with directions.. and this just happens to be one of those recipes that I have altered so much.. EAT and ENJOY!!!

Miserlygrinch Jerkyton here!! Or that's what the GRINCH NAME GENERATOR call me... Find out your name and let me know!!

It was a NO SCHOOL DAY HERE IN NH!!!!!!!

How was your weekend... was it as crazy as mine...?? I hope so...!! We finally headed out to Vermont to get our Christmas tree. It was bitter.. bitter cold... but I was all happy and raring to go to get my Living tree in! We packed up with friends and headed out... We went to the same place that we have gone for about 5 years and this year I was sad by the display of Christmas trees that you could cut down. I'm INFAMOUS for my BIG FAT CHUBBY TREES!! This year we walked.. and walked.. and walked.. and I couldn't find the right one... after much walking, and cold children.. I picked the best tree I could find... I was happy with it until I realized my husband could throw it over his shoulder... I was devastated... I wanted to cry.. I know it sounds selfish.... and there are many people out there without trees... but it came down to it.. I was heartbroken.... I had to take my tree and put it on a truck with a quilt to hide the trunk... sighhhhh....

This Weekend I started my baking too!! Oh it's so hard to bake and eat right... so hard....I first made these cookies...

Ginger Cookies

4 1/2 cups Flour

4 tsp Ginger

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp salt

** Mix all these ingredients together and set aside

Cream together

1 1/2 cup shortening

2 Cup sugar

Then add to creamed mixture

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

Slowly add dry ingredients with the creamed ...This will form a stiff dough

Scoop up into small balls and roll in 3/4 cup of granulated sugar....

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degree for 12 minutes

This made about 60 cookies for me using a small cookie scoop

********** these cookies will come out of the oven and melt in your mouth.... The BEST way to store these cookies are in an air tight container with a piece of bread.

**** STAY TUNED.. tomorrow is WHOOPIE PIE DAY!!!!!

Tomorrow is December 1st.. I can't believe it... It has to be one of the most exciting days of the year. For me it's my nieces birthday.... Happy Birthday!!! And it also starts the Christmas Season off with Advent! Several years ago I made my kiddos an advent Calendar and each year, except last year, I have filled them with candies and goodies... It amazes me how for 25 days 2 kids can wake up and the first thing in the morning they think about is the advent!

I also enjoy the 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS channel....

Monday.. the Year without a Santa Clause will be on.. you know the one I'm talking about.. I'm Mr. Heat Miser.. I'm Mr. Snow...... Gosh... I remember when I was little .. the anticipation of these shows use to make my stomach all giddy.. and we use to get extremely excited....!!! I remember FREEZING in the tiny house we lived in.. we would huddle by the woodstove that just never seemed to roar... wrapped in blankets, watching intently. Commercials stunk back then too... I think even worse when we were children. I just love the classics. Some of the newer movies are cute... but hold no grounds to the Rudolph or Jack Frost....

Tomorrow we are having some friends over.. and guess what.. the house is tidy... it's decorated some and it's going to be BITTER and I mean BITTER cold tomorrow... ( maybe I should call them and remind them to bring slippers.....!!!! and possibly warm jammies to lounge in!!) We are suppose to get and EXTREME snow storm Sunday night into Monday... Can we say NO School Monday!!! I really love those days...!!! Hubby won't have to work.. I won't have to work.. and the kids don't have to be anywhere!!! Tomorrow I'm hoping to make some ornaments and bake some cookies... I got the new reynolds food saver.... I'll have to let you know how it works.. or if YOU have it.. let me know.. I send goodies down to friends in FL... and other areas....

Here are my Santa's.. ( I forgot to plug in the tree)... I got all these wooden Santa's that were made in VT at a yardsale two or three years ago.. for $2.00 for the LOT!!! and the big Santa I got from a Dear Friend for being a "great" girl scout leader.. LOL LOL LOL If you look close YES that is a TIN CEILING!! The original to the house.. It had some damage to it a few years ago due to a bathroom leak... we had the bathroom fixed ( sort of.. long story).. and the same guy that wanted to fix my bathroom wanted to give me a SUPER deal on fixing my ceiling.. he wanted to rip the ceiling out.. and CHARGE me to remove it... I busted a gut on this one... because I love old things.. I KNEW immediately that he wanted to tear it out and sell it.. real tin goes for quite a bit of MONEY!! I was no fool...

Here's my little cupie santa again.. love him.. with this little vintage leather???? ha ha ha reindeer.. trust me.. he's really cute.. got him from a second hand shop from my MIL.. at first I was like.. hmmm but he grew on me!!

Here are my Carolers.. my husband thinks they are hideous.. I LOVE them... any New Englander will know that I got these at the Christmas Tree Shop!! Cheap.. But I thought they were adorable.. They are sitting on an antique cabinet that came out of one of the church's here in town that was built in the 1770's. I'm not so sure if the cabinet was built then... but it definitely wasn't long after that...!! and check out the wallpaper in the back... That's original to my house.. it's old and desperately NEEDS to be removed... but I'm scared!!! sighhhhh Along with the cabinet here the church was going to throw away another cabinet.. and I grabbed it...I didn't know what it was until I got it home.......... I scrubbed it up.. and then paid attention to the writing inside..It's the ORIGINAL LOCKERS to our highschool here in town...

Crazy day... I worked... I napped.. and then I grocery shopped.. my 12 year old made Ramen Noodles for dinner.. he was so proud.. LOL LOL... I was embarrassed because that's all he could find... So at 7pm.. after dropping dear daughter of at Cheer Leading Practice ( oh I forgot to tell you she made the team!!! ) I headed to the grocery store.... I have to tell you.. I LOVED it.. I'm normally and early morning bird.. but there was NO ONE in the store.. and I chatted with the store manager for about 15 minutes!! I filled my cart to the brim and spent $105.00 This was on fresh veggies, fruits, meats, cheese... and NO JUNK food!! YAY!!

Anyway.. just wanted to share what Christmas music I've been listening too.. and LOVING!!!

You should hear my son sing a long with it.. he TRULY TRULY has the gift to sing.. ( I'm jealous)... NOW if he would only see that himself and share it with others!!

Brrrr... Brrrr... Brrrr....

That's what I keep saying... Ok.. let me just tell you I LOVE my home.. it was built in 1914! But can I ask.. how in tarnations did they survive the winters in this house with NO insulation and just wood heat??? We need new windows... We need to insulate... We need siding.. We need... We need..... But I don't want to give up my home.... It has so much character.. that is me! Well... my kitchen does need some help too... but it's huge.. and it's mine... right??

Today my hubby and I are going to make some fancy window covers... plastic and wood.. LOL LOL As much as I hate to do it.. We HAVE to...Oil is to expensive NOT to... We have hard wood floors as well.. and I've dug out throw rugs and BEGGED one off of my friend.. LOL LOL... Thank Goodness for friends... I even bought a special fancy pink roll of insulation of the Pink Panther to insulate underneath my pocket doors in my living/dinning room area.... I know this might sound like a lot of work and seem silly .... but I could never leave New England.. it's just one of the things that comes with the territory.... Someday we'll have new windows ( hoping next).. and siding... and roof.... but for now... I feel blessed that we have a home.. and that I don't have to work full-time just to keep it... We may not have the best... but my kids will get the best of me.. ( that's NOT to knock moms that do work outside the home.. I did it for a couple years and I WAS not a "BEST" mommy then at all)

So last night I made up a few cute little goodies for my niece and nephews.... I just had to share....

First I have to show you my vintage Santa.. I LOVE HIM!!

Check these out.. they are little bags of M&M's.....

I made the little ornaments too that are surrounding it...!!

Up Close look

The Poem

As you hold these candies

In your hand,

And turn them,

You will see,

The M becomes a W,

An 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.

Today is my daughters 17th Birthday... I can't believe she is this old.. this mature.... To all the mommies out there that read this blog... CHERISH every moment you have with all your kiddos... my little girl who adored The Little Mermaid.. and called forks Dinglehoppers for years now is looking into colleges and is ready to get behind a wheel and drive... I remember when she was younger and I would say.. "I can't wait til........"... Now I want to take back all the little "I can't waits"....But time is something you can never give back.. nor replace.... I'm THANKFUL for all the time I have had raising her.. from a young single mom.... to a "young" mom of a teen nearly a woman herself.... At the age of 17 when I found out I was pregnant my world fell around me.. but in truth.. having her is what saved me.. and made me the person I am today.. ( don't get me wrong.. I don't encourage getting pregnant than..!!!) She is truly one of the best gifts I've ever been given in my life!!

I hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving.. I sure did... and I ate plenty of good foods.... YUM.. I baked.. cleaned... cooked... cleaned... ate.. cleaned... It was truly a GREAT day!!!

My pies before I baked them!!! mmmm.....

So now it's full fledge holiday season... check out this site... you can make your own snowflake.... Tell me what your name is and I'll let you know how cute your flake is... Can you guess my name... LOL LOL.. FLIPFLOPMOM!!! Snowdays!

Look What I woke up to today!!!

Gives a whole new meaning to "Frosted Pumpkin"

And since it snowed... why not show a little Christmas Spirit.....!!!! Read all the way to the bottom..there is a special web-site for you to visit that is a RIOT!!!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrap

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Both

4. Do you hang mistletoe? no

5. When do you put up your decorations? Hoping to start today!!!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? hmmmm I love White covered oreos!!! I leave my addy so you can send them my way!!! LOL LOL

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Well.. I had a horrible childhood... so really.. I'm still a kid at Christmas.. so each new year brings blessed memories!!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? hmmm not sure

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I did when I was younger.. but I don't with my children...

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Well.. our tradition is to never ever buy an ornament for our tree... we made them earlier in the years.. now we have to many.. that are gifts... and what the kids have made.. pretty soon I'll be separating them out... sniff sniff

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it and it came today!!!!!

12. Can you ice skate? not really good!!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? hmmm.... My gift is watching what the kids open.. and loving it..

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Celebrating Christ's birthday... and having my friends and family close!!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? hmmm... not really sure!!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? The Christmas Ornaments... cutting down our tree each year...

17. What tops your tree? A country Angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? TOTALLY giving!!!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I'm a song nut.. so I have plenty... I can't bring it down to one... However.. I really fell in love with a song... I believe it is call the Carpenter's song.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh touching!! touching!!!

20. Candy Canes? YOU BET!!

21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Sadly.... YES!!!! and I hate it!!

GO ELF YOURSELF I can't figure out how to post my elf... if you do.. can you give me some pointers??? Thanks!!!

*** I wanted to add this.. because.. I know that the sauce sounds funny...
I'll be totally honest with you...
*I don't like Marmalade
*I don't like Horseradish
*I don't like Pineapple
* and I'm NOT a fan of cream cheese....

HOWEVER.. ADD all this together.... and I love it!!! The Cream Cheese brings the *nip* of the crushed peppers and horseradish to a tame flavor... it's sweet... yet has a "bite" to it... I would seriously NEVER post a recipe that I didn't like... ( ask Mama Kim... lol lol lol)....
I made this for my friend Wendy who was just plain short on time making Christmas gifts.. we are a GREAT team.. she buys the products and I make it up.... Package it.. and make it cute.. and help her gift basket to send to her Louisiana family!!! She does so much for me... that I truly love making things... so it feels like a blessing TO ME!! Cause she always share's what she buys!!! But in the process of making this for her.. I did taste test it.. and I was VERY surprised and pleased with it.. and my SIL from PA came to visit last Christmas and she nearly ate a whole jar herself.. She LOVED it!!!... ( Guess what she's getting for Christmas... LOL LOL)...
Hope that helps!!! I wish the computer screen was Scratch and Sniff.... Ü

Hey all.. Happy Sunday night ( if you're reading).. Just wanted to share another quick gift Idea.. I made this last year and it was a HIT.... It's sweet, spicy, and a bit of tangy!!! I had my doubts while I was making it at first.. but it DOES taste great!!! The recipe doesn't call to "can" it.. but I can mine so I can mail them.. and it works GREAT!!

From This...

To This....

Jezabel Sauce

1 3/4 cup sweet orange marmalade

1 3/4 cup pineapple preserves

1/4 cup prepared horseradish

1 1/2 TBSP dijon mustard

1 1/2-2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

In bowl, combine all ingredients. Serve on crackers with cream cheese or pretzels.

To use as gifts, spoon into 4 8=ounce decorative jars with tight fitting lids. Store in refrigerator up to 2 months. ( Again I gave them a hot water bath)

Happy Saturday Everyone!!! I had a few minutes and I wanted to share a few more Christmas gifts with you!! The first one I came up with the idea last night while I was cleaning my computer/craft/scraproom.... I found an old McDonald's French Fry container ( obviously it wasn't used)... and a BELL went off.. I made a bunch of homemade bath salts.. and was trying to figure out how to "display them"... and this is what I came up with... I still have to make tags that say "BATH SALTS.. Vanilla Scented".... and attach.. but other than that.. they are done!! VOILA!

*** Bare with me PLEASE.. I'm not sure if something is wrong with my new camera or WHAT?? But EVERY single picture I take is Blurry.. and it's ALMOST identical to the one I had before.. so I'm not sure if I'm "missing" something.. or if something is wrong with this camera.. I'm going to read more into the manual.. But right now I'm a little frustrated with it!!

Ok.. here's another gift.. I made this SEVERAL years ago and sent these to a lot of people... now years have passed and I have NEW people in my life... I thought it would be great to re-distribute this craft. This was originally made for me by my MIL .. who made the pattern herself from a display from Country Peddler ( Now I think it's called Americana at Home???) I have changed some of the features to modernize it... and it's SUPER simple for a simple sewer as myself...

BUT.. wouldn't you know it..My Sewing machine DIED on me last night.... I growled... and gruffed... cause I have another CUTE idea for Christmas Gifts but I NEED a sewing machine for it..sigh.... Oh well.. God will provide... right?? OR.. who wants to come over and craft with me..?? Bring your Sewing machine... OK.... LOL LOL...