Boston Trip and a Bloggy Friend Meet up

As most of you know I went to Boston for a Work-Cation last week (actually I left Black Friday and returned last Thursday pm).  We had a huge event of around 400 people, and I had the opportunity to fly in and help and meet with all the amazing people, I usually only get to talk to on the phone.   I flew in late Friday night and took the urging of my boss to stay at the hotel we were having the event at.  Thankfully I did since the car ride was only about 25 minutes and I was able to get in shower and curl into bed to do some work.  WELL at I thought I could until I found out I had no internet in my room unless I paid $20 and being the cheap person I am I walked my PJ's wet haired butt down to the lobby to use the FREE wi-fi ... LOL.

The event went great, it was busy and I was running around like crazy and didn't get many pictures like I did last time.  I was able to get my picture of course with Santa!

Me and Santa

Teri, Me and Stephanie

My Room at the Hyatt!

The Sauna at their house!

The Bunk Bed I slept in my first night :)

Their work out room I used at night!

My Co-Worker Faires & Our Boss Kelly

Me & Faires

My Lifeline Coffee and a Book for flight home!

I spent most of my time working like a busy girl, but one day I was able to step out for lunch to meet the Amazing Robin of Masshole Mommy.  She is so sweet she drove 40 minutes to have lunch with me!  We had a GREAT time talking, we have so much in common 2 boys, recently lost a lot of weight (but that GIRL works out like crazy, I so need to get her motivation).  We had so much fun and I was so sad to have to cut it off to go back to work.  

Our Yummy Food :)

It was a GREAT trip and I was so happy to have gone again, and can't wait to go back in January for our next event.  It looks like I'm going to get to fly out for each event.  I'm so tickled to be asked to come work the events.

Hope you all have an amazing day!

Holiday Cheer .... Funny Christmas Card

Each year I do the traditional card with Santa and all of us.  But this year I wanted to do something fun!  I so wanted to do the card that has me, Rick and the boys dressed up like the characters from Christmas Story.  BUT with little time with me leaving for Boston and trying to talk Rick into dressing up in a sweater vest and holding a leg lamp was not in my future.  So I searched Pinterest for ideas and found this funny one for "Silent Night".  You who know me know I have 2 VERY loud (but lovable) boys.  This was perfect, forgive me on not giving credit to who created I couldn't find the source, if you know let me know and I'll add a link to them.

What you Need:

Christmas PJ's

Christmas Lights (1 box)

Colorful or Seasonal Duct Tape (2 Rolls - 1 of each type)

Christmas backdrop is helpful

Wrap the hands (lightly NOT tight) with duct tap and add a piece to the mouth.  I gently put it on so it didn't hurt when it came off.  I went to my mom's since she had her decorations all up and it looked picture perfect.  I took a few and then went to PicMonkey a great FREE site to add the wording.  I then went to Walmart and found a 5x7 I could add my photo to.  The saying below was a letter to Santa Perfect!

My Photo with just wording.

NO kids hurt in the making, they could talk the whole time believe me they NEVER stop.  It was a fun picture, I hope I get some laughs and no nasty grams over it.

Do you do funny cards?

What did you do this year?

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Holiday Cheer ... Mini Sausage Wreath

Next on the my list to make for the party was some party food.  I saw this idea for a Mini Sausage Wreath on Free N Fun (this is a great site for many cool ideas).   This was one of the simplest things I've made, Caden actually did all the rolling of the mini pigs in a blanket and helped make the ring to look like a wreath.  He loved it and I loved the help.  The only hard part was making a pepper shaped into a ribbon.  My ribbon wasn't beautiful but it gave the right look so people at least knew what it was .. lol.

Ingredients

Mini Sausages

Refrigerated Crescent Dough Rolls

Red Bell Pepper

Diced Rosemary

1/3 cup Butter

1/2 cup BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to the temperature specified on the package of Refrigerated Crescent Dough Rolls. Drain the liquid off of the mini sausages.
2. Unroll the crescent dough and separate at the perforations to create 4 rectangles. Press together the remaining perforation in each rectangle. With a knife or pizza cutter, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 8 strips making a total of 32 strips.
3. Wrap one strip of dough around each mini sausage. Lay out the crescent-wrapped sausages with their sides touching on an ungreased cookie sheet in a circle forming a wreath shape.
4. Bake for 11-15 minutes or until golden brown. Melt 1/3 cup of butter and brush the butter on top of the crescent-wrapped sausages. Sprinkle the rosemary on top of the butter.
5. Cut a red bell pepper into a bow shape for garnish. Combine the BBQ sauce and cranberry sauce in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until heated through. Serve with wreath for dipping.

ALEXIS NOTES: I skipped the rosemary.  The sauce I must admit was not for me, and most of the kids skipped it too.  It looked so pretty when it was done, I was very pleased with mine and Caden's creation!

Hope you are all have a great day!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Holiday Cheer .... Lump of Coal Gift (Oreo Popcorn)

I am back from Boston!  It was a wonderful work-cation as I love to call it.  Yes I'm working full time but I'm also spending time with my bosses and their kids who are like family to me.  I left on Black Friday and returned late this past Thursday.  It's around a 6 hour flight and 3 hour time difference.  I'm still a little jet lagged and a lot of work to continue so bare with me as I adjust back to real life here at home.

We had a party to go to on Saturday, I worked that am and got done checked my FB Events and it said 2pm so I thought I was fine.  Ran around picking up last minute things to make the gifts for the funny gag type gifts.  Well along came 2pm thinking I would be an hour late I text my friend to find out the party time had been changed to 11am and they were just finishing up.  So I halted took the food I made and headed up to her house.  It worked perfect we missed the party but we were able to play and Santa riding a sleigh pulled by firetrucks stopped by her apartment complex so it wasn't that bad of a day.  I'm left with a few gifts that my friends will be getting son.

The first one I made was a Lump of Coal, I found the idea of Christmas Coal Popcorn on Free Fun Christmas.

I hit up the dollar tree and found a fun stocking that looked like a Santa Suit.  I couldn't find the Santa Bottom like in their picture but I think the stocking was real cute!

What you Need:

Santa Stocking

Clear Bag

Ribbon

Coal Popcorn (see recipe)

Ingredients
2 bags microwave popcorn, popped
1 (6 oz.) box candy canes, crushed
1 pack Oreo® cookies, crushed
1 1/2 packs Almond Bark

1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract or a few drops of peppermint oil

Directions
1. Melt the white chocolate almond bark according to the directions on the package. Add the 
peppermint extract or oil to the almond bark and pour over popcorn.
2. Pour the popcorn in a very large bowl. Mix in crushed candy canes, Oreo® cookies and 
half of the melted almond bark over the popcorn and stir. Repeat using the remaining 
almond bark.
3. Pour popcorn on waxed paper and allow to harden. Once the popcorn has hardened, 

break into pieces and enjoy!

ALEXIS NOTES: I used my Blow Your Mind Microwave Popcorn instead of Microwave popcorn bags.  I think it's easier and tastier :). I also skipped the peppermint extract just let the candy canes do the flavoring. 

After you make and bag the popcorn (I put mine in a clear bag and tied with a bow, I Goggled Coal Gift Tags and printed and added it to the bags).  I then put the bags of Coal into the Santa Stocking.  I added some stuffing into the bottom to make the stocking to prop the popcorn up.

Hope you are all have an amazing weekend!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Let the Shopping Begin!!!

Yes I'm one of the crazy people who will be out on Thanksgiving night shopping and into the wee hours of Friday.  It's the only way I can get the Christmas presents for the boys.  This year I'll be cutting it a little tight.  I fly out to Boston Friday afternoon so I'm actually thankful most can be done Thursday night.  And I know some of you are against this.  Having worked retail for many years and working Thanksgiving, Christmas ... I know it sucks but I also know I needed the money and the time and a half was always nice.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and you that brave the stores be-careful and remember to be kind to those around you.

A funny I had to share:

Happy Thanksgiving to you all

One of my favorite things about holidays (heck back in the day the funnies in Sunday paper too) while growing up was Peanuts.  I just love those guys, I wish my kids would get into them.  I saw this and it just brought me back to being a kid!

Hope you all have a wonderful day, with laughter and lot's of love!  Remember if you can those who don't have as much.  Give to your shelters and churches if you can.  You never know what a simple little thing can do for someone!

God Bless!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving