Archive for November, 2009

Turkey Treats

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

These treats are fun to make and great for little hands to help. My little hands are a little too little, but he was still able to enjoy the outcome and taste the ingredients while I was putting them together.

Ingredients needed:
Ritz crackers
chocolate kisses
icing (I took the easy way out and bought a can of pre-made, but you can also make your own.)
candy corn
carmel squares


Spread the icing on the cracker. Place a chocolate kiss at the bottom of the cracker. Then add the candy corn above the kiss for the feathers. Place a candy corn on the top of the kiss for the head. Let dry. Then affix a carmel to the back of the cracker with more icing so the turkey can stand. Use as a place setting or decor for you table and double as a treat. Make sure you have a cutie guy (or gal) to taste the results.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stress Free Christmas – Week 5-8

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009


I am behind on my Christmas schedule – I was so busy getting ready to go out of town and then we were gone for two weeks. I am still further ahead than I have ever been on Christmas planning, and I have the long weekend to get caught up. I am going to cram 4 weeks into one week. I apologize for those of you trying to follow my plan!

View Week 4 here

Week 5 (Oct 30-Nov 5) purchase or make Christmas card, pick up non-perishable baking items (they are almost always out of at least one ingredient when I get around to going to the store in December.)
Christmas card – I have actually already started on my Christmas card design. There are many great ideas you can use for your card. You can be as simple or complicated as you like. Try shutterfly.com, snapfish.com or walmart.com for online photo cards. Choose one of their designs and upload your photo. You can design your own using scrap book paper or your computer. Affix your photo to your own design. You can also find many designers on etsy.com that design cards (use keyword “Christmas card” or “holiday card”). Of course, we design cards too! (micandnic.com) However you decide to do your card, make it fun. If it is a stressful event, wait and send one for the first of January that says Happy New Year, or even wait until Valentines day. It should be a fun and creative time, not a stressful thing to check off the to-do list.

Pick up non-perishable baking items – since I was out of town I am going to have to wait on this until the beginning of December. They will be out of everything because of Thanksgiving baking. I will go next Wednesday or so.

Week 6 (Nov 6-Nov 12) catch up week; work on homemade gifts
It is a good thing that I scheduled a catch up week, I need it! I have been slowly working on my gifts when the little pickle is sleeping. I have a list of what I am making for whom, and am checking them off the list one by one. I am planning on making a big dent in my list this long Thanksgiving weekend.

Week 7 (Nov 13-Nov 19) make gift tags, decide on gift wrap colors
I will work on these this weekend as well. Look at tags and wrap in the store and magazines new and old for ideas. Use a photograph or make a design with a stamp or print out from your computer and cut with a die cut. Many scrapbook stores have big cutting sets and shapes you can use for free.

Week 8 (Nov 20-Nov 26) schedule Christmas party and plan, make invitation
This will be a quick one. Decide on the day to do the party, I am thinking a Tuesday or Thursday night. Make a list of easy snacks and desserts to make and shopping list. Design a cute card to send out. Make a small gift for guests to take home – maybe an ornament or cute packaged dessert and recipe.

Happy Planning! I will resume with the weekly plans end of this week.


Thankful Jar

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Last night I designed “thankful” notes and put together a jar to keep them in. I will have everyone write what they are thankful for on the note cards, then we can read aloud at dinner. This was a quick project. I taped a piece of scrap paper to the jar, then wrapped a bow around to help secure. To add the note for decoration, hole punch the card in the corner, and string through the ribbon before attaching and tying to the jar. Download note card here. Print, cut, and start writing!

Peanut Butter Pie

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009


Peanut butter pie is the richest pie I have ever eaten. It is so good it makes you feel sick.  To save some time on my Thanksgiving meal, I went ahead and made my pie today.

Peanut Butter Pie
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 oz coolwhip
oreo crust
handful of choc chips

Blend peanut butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla. Add coolwhip and stir together. Pour into the oreo crust. Chill, then drizzle with melted choc chips. (Place chips in a baggie. Heat in microwave for 10-15 seconds in at a time to avoid burning. Cut off small piece of baggie on the corner to make an icing bag then drizzle over the top of pie.) Keep refrigerated. Enjoy!

And we’re back!

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

We are back from our 2 week vacation and we had a blast. I have been missing from the blog, but now that we are back I have many things I want to post. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is this week?