Santa Handprint Ornaments

Every year for a family tradition we want to have our children make a Christmas ornament.  It is tough coming up with ornaments that a newborn can participate in.  This is the perfect ornament for small children to make or help with.

Step 1:  Make the salt dough:
            * 1/2 cup salt
             * 1/2 cup flour
             * 1/4 cup water (a little more or less)
          Knead until dough forms.
Step 2: Trace infant's/child's hand on a piece of cardboard.  Cut out cardboard hand.
Step 3: Roll dough flat and place cardboard hand on top.
Step 4: Trace around the hand with a knife.
Step 5: Poke a hole in the palm of the hand with a straw or pencil.
Step 6: Bake the hand on a cookie sheet at 200 degrees for 2-3 hours.
Step 7: Paint
Step 8: Put some ribbon through the hole and hang.

Enjoy the reminder of how little your kids once were as you hang the Christmas ornaments on the tree each year.

You can also give these ornaments as a gift with this poem:
"This is to remind you when I grow so tall that once I was quite little and my hands were very small."

Simple and Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

I love the Holiday season for many reasons; One being, that I love giving gifts to others.  Sometimes it gets hard when you have a lot of people you want to give gifts to and a tight budget.  

Here are some inexpensive, quick, and easy Holiday gifts.

 

Present: Brownie or cake mix (can attach wooden spoon too)

Note: Christmas is Jolly, Christmas is sweet.  I'm stressed out so make your own darn treat!

Present: Candle
Note: May your days be happy, your heart be light, your Christmas merry, and the New Year bright!

 Present: Chocolate with gift card

Present: Popcorn
Note: Popping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas
More details here

You can find 6 other great inexpensive gifts here.

Shirley J Review and Giveaway

I received product for review purposes.   My opinions below are 100%  honest.

      I recently had the opportunity to try out Shirley J Mugging and Cookie Mix products.  Shirley J prides itself in "Cooking made Easy".  The great thing about Shirley J is that you are able to whip up a delightful treat within minutes, without a mess, and with quality taste.  

Cookie Mixes:
     Shirley J Cookie Mixes come in five delicious flavors including Coconutty Macaroon, Soft Ginger-Molasses, New York Black and White, Oatmeal Jumble, and Classic Sugar Cookies.  Most mixes only require water and sometimes butter or shortening.  Shirley J Cookie Mixes have the homemade fresh taste without the mess and time.  They make great gifts and are perfect for the Holiday season.

     My family's favorite cookie mix was the Coconutty Macaroons.  Oh my goodness, these are absolutely divine!  They are the freshest and best tasting macaroons that I have ever tasted.  My husband wanted some cookies, so I reached for this Shirley J Coconutty Macaroon mix, when I realized we were out of eggs.  Much to my surprise, it doesn't call for eggs.  Just water.  It's amazing how simple these cookies are to make, for the great quality of taste they deliver.  After the baked cookies cooled, I dipped them in melted chocolate.  The chocolate kicked the cookie taste up a notch.  My 15 month old son loved these. I put them on top of my refrigerator to store them and I finally had to hide them because he was constantly going up to the fridge and pointing to the cookies.

      The great thing about Shirley J Cookie mixes are that it is "Cooking made easy" but the quality and taste don't make it seem that way at all.



Mugging:
      Mugging! by Shirley J is a new concept of baking in your own microwave.  You bake single-serving dishes and desserts right in a mug.  Most take only 90 seconds to bake.  When you put mugs in the microwave the handles usually get too hot to hold.  Shirley J mugs don't get as hot after heating them up in the microwave.

This little guy LOVES Shirley J mugging products!

      Mugging! flavors include Chocolate Brownie Cake, Yellow Cake & Cobbler, Country Style Cornbread,
Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie Cake, Pumpkin Spice Bread, Walnut Bread, Quiche in a Cup,and No-Pan Pancake.
   
     My family's favorite was the chocolate brownie cake.  Add some whip cream, chocolate chips, or ice cream on top for an enriched taste and look.

Shirley J mugging products and cookie mixes are now available in Utah grocery store (Macey’s, Dan’s, Dick’s, Fresh Market,Lin’s, Lolo’s and Ridley’s).  Shirley J also has a website where you can find other products or purchase if you live outside of Utah.  

     Now that I have all of you wanting to try these cookies and mugging treats, one of you lucky readers have a chance to win some wonderful Shirley J products.  One lucky winner will receive 1 Mug, 3 Mugging flavors of your choice, and 1 cookie mix of your choice.  (U.S. Residents Only, no PO Boxes, please)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Popcorn Christmas Gift

I love giving gifts for Christmas, but it can get really expensive once you starting giving more than just gifts to your family.  This is a simple and inexpensive gift to give to friends.  All you need is some paper, popcorn, ribbon, and buttons.  

Instructions:
1. Cut white paper in half. Wrap around popcorn.  Tape.
2.  Cut hat and glue hat on snowman. Put a button on the hat.
3. Draw face on snowman.
4.  Tie ribbon around snowman.  This is a great way to use up your random small pieces of ribbon.
5.  Write on the back of the snowman, "Popping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas."