Tis the Season ... Eggnog and Gingerbread Man Popcorn

Looking for a quick and easy recipe that can double as a gift?  As you know I love to give personal gifts and this one was one I whipped up this up for my women's group ladies.  Popcorn gifts are one of the simplest I have made.  I always do my recipe for Blow Your Mind Microwave Popcorn instead of bag popcorn.  It's easy and it doesn't have all the extras.  I found the perfect flavored Candy Melts at Walmart, also saw them at Micheal's

What You Need:

Popcorn Kernels

- Microwave

- Glass Bowl / Plate (see link for instructions)

Candy Melts - Eggnog Flavor

Pop your popcorn set aside.  Melt your Candy Melts in the microwave, remember it does burn so do it in 30 second increments.  Once melted add to your popcorn and stir it until all the popcorn is coated.  Let it dry on some parchment paper.  Break up and box it up!

Next on the list was a Gingerbread Popcorn.

What You Need:

Popcorn Kernels

- Microwave

- Glass Bowl / Plate (see link for instructions)

Candy Melts - Gingerbread

Gingerbread Men

Pop your popcorn, then break up gingerbread men add to the popcorn and set aside.  Melt your Candy Melts in the microwave, remember it does burn so do it in 30 second increments.  Once melted add to your popcorn and stir it until all the popcorn is coated.  Let it dry on some parchment paper.  Break up and box it up!

I found cute little boxes at the Dollar Tree that I added the finished popcorn and delivered it!

Are you already for Christmas?

Thanks for Stopping by!

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

Tis the Season ... Mistle "Toes" (DYI Christmas Gifts 2 Ways)

Looking for a simple gift that is very cute?  I made this gift two different ways, I gave one to each of the boys teachers then I made a set to go to my boss and her daughter.  I just loved the cute little tags.  I just knew they all would love them!

The first set I made and put in a box that I shipped to my bosses, just a little something special that I knew would bring a smile to them.  This one I found on Ivy In the Bay, she has a FREE Printable that was super cute also!

What You Need:

Nail Polish

Lotion

Plastic Bag

Card Stock

Printer

Stapler

Print your label on card stock, cut out.  Add your nail polish and lotion to your bag and attach with the label, staple to close.

I later found this one that I made for the boy's teachers, I wish I would have found this and made it for the box I sent to my bosses.  This one has a little more to it and was also super cute.  This one I found on Our Best Bites, she also has a FREE printable that was cute and simple to cut out and attach.  Now I added a few things to the bag, you can add or not add these items :).

What You Need:

Nail Polish

Fuzzy Socks

Lotion

Nail Polish Remover (I added this)

Nail Kit (I added this)

Card Stock

Printer

Stapler

Place all items in your clear plastic, print out your label on white card stock.  Take a stapler and attach the label on your bag.  Give to someone to make them smile!

Thanks for Stopping by!

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

Tis the Season ... Reindeer Hot Cocoa & Snowman Soup

Can you believe it's almost Christmas?  The boys last day before the break is Friday so I am trying to get a jump on the gifts for his classmates.  I found 2 really simple gifts to make.

I found These super cute Reindeer Hot Cocoa idea on pinterest, but the ones I clicked linked to a picture not a post so I'm sorry for not giving credit to who created this idea.

Need:

Plastic Cone Bags (Found 100 on Amazon for $13)

Hot Cocoa Mix (bought mine in bulk section at Winco)

Mini Marshmallows

Brown Pipe Cleaners (Cut mine in half)

Googly Eyes

Red Pom Pom

Glue

Fill your cone bag with hot cocoa (I found about 1 cup was the right amount) top with a handful of mini marshmallows.  Tie the top of the bag (I used tap to secure it shut).  Cut the pipe cleaner in half twist around the top of bag, use your fingers to form the antlers.  Glue on the googly eyes and the red pom pom for the nose.  Let it sit so the glue is dry before handing out.

Last on my list was Snowman Soup, there are several post out there but I went with the one I found on Funky Polkadot Giraffe that had a really cute free printable you could use, she also linked to a printable that was super cute that had an old fashion Christmas feel but I was running low on ink and didn't want to print 25 of them.

Need:

1 packet of cocoa
mini-marshmallows
mini candy canes
Hersey Kisses

Printable Label

Clear Bag

Add all to the clear bag, staple the label to close the bag up.

ALEXIS NOTES: I found Cocoa that had the marshmallows already in it so I skipped putting it in the bag.  I copied her printable she made and pasted into a word doc where I shrunk it down so I could print 8 per page, I'm all about the saving of money.  I used white card stock paper.

Are you doing any classroom gifts?

Thanks for Stopping by!

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

Tis the Season ... White Chocolate Peanut Butter Krispies

A few days back my dear friend Beth posted a recipe that I just had to try for my Christmas Packages that were going out.  I had most of the ingredients on hand and went to my favorite bulk section at Winco for the rest of the ingredients.

Ingredients:

2 cups Rice Krispies cereal 
2 cups dry roasted peanuts 
2 cups miniature marshmallows 
1 cup peanut butter 
2 pounds white chocolate chips (2 12-oz packages plus 1 1/3 cup) 

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine cereal, peanuts and marshmallows. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and peanut butter on High for 1 minute and then in 30 second intervals until fully melted. Stir chocolate into cereal mixture. Mixture will be slightly runny. Drop by tablespoons onto waxed paper. Let set until firm, 2 hours. Store in an airtight container.

ALEXIS NOTES: I used White Chocolate melts, they melt nicer (no clumps and I think taste better).  I used 5 cups (1lb = 2 2/3 cups) and found mine was a little too soupy so I added more of the dry ingredients until I got to a scoopable cookie.

These are so simple and I did take a taste of one and they were very yummy but pretty sweet so I only wanted to have one which is a good thing so I didn't eat the whole lot in front of me.

Thanks for Stopping by!

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

Tis the Season ... Making Gingerbread Houses

The boys and I got together with my girlfriend and her son to make gingerbread houses!  I of course had to make the gingerbread house from scratch ... lol.  Sometimes I need to listen to Rick and just buy one.  BUT it sure was fun to watch the boys decorating them, that was when I was being sick in the bathroom.  YUP I got sick right as we started to decorate the houses.  Next year I will buy the cookie cutters instead of using a piece of paper and cutting each one out.  They weren't perfect but still worth it!

I found the recipe for the house and icing along with a template to use to cut the house on Sweetopia she even has a video on there if you need a little extra help!

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Sticks unsalted butter
1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoons ground cloves
2 large eggs
1 cup molasses
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions:

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix butter and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy.

2. Mix in spices first, then eggs and molasses.

3. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder and add to bowl; mix until just combined.

4. Wrap dough in a disc shape in saran wrap. Let it rest by refrigerating until cold, about 1 hour.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface or between two sheets of parchment paper to about 1/4-inch thick.

6. Cut shapes out with cookie cutters and place them approximately 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

7. Refrigerate until firm; at least 15 minutes to 1 hour.

8. Bake cookies until crisp; 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

Royal Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

6 oz (3/4 cup) of warm water
5 Tablespoons Meringue Powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 kilogram (2.25 lbs.) powdered icing sugar

*** Note; if your meringue powder has no vanilla flavor (vanillin powder) in it, add a teaspoon of clear vanilla to this recipe.

Directions:

In mixer bowl, pour in the warm water and the meringue powder. Mix it with a whisk by hand until it is frothy and thickened…about 30 seconds.

Add the cream of tartar and mix for 30 seconds more.

Pour in all the icing sugar at once and place the bowl on the mixer.

Using the paddle attachment on the LOWEST speed, mix slowly for a full 10 minutes. Icing will get thick and creamy.

Cover the bowl with a dampened tea-towel to prevent crusting and drying.

Tint with food coloring's or thin the icing with small amounts of warm water to reach the desired consistency. 

I doubled the recipe to make 3 houses!

A little extra dough for a few men too!!

They may not be professional looking but the boys loved them!

Hope you try this!  So much for the whole family!

Thanks for Stopping by!

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

OH No Snow ...

I live in Washington so we don't get much snow so when I woke up Monday (ok when I opened the door to take boys to school ... I was that busy with work I didn't even open my blinds) it was a shocking.  YES it was only a inch, but us Washington people freak out at one flake ... lol.  My friend posted this and made me laugh!  Hope you're all having a wonderful day!