generalparenting

I live in Oregon. Not in the mountains and not on the coast but somewhere in between. It rains here from about October until April or May and it rains a LOT! Well on rare occasions the kids wake up in the morning and scream, MOM THERE’S SNOW OUT SIDE!! This is the sound that woke me up at 7:35 even though it was a day I could normally sleep in. Yes my kids are older, 12, 13, and 16, but they still get just as excited as ever to see the snow. I have to admit I get excited to just because I miss it from when I lived in Pennsylvania. This may be our only snow fall for the year so the kids know they have to enjoy it fast before it turns to slushy goop. See the snow is usually closely accompanied with…. you guessed it… rain. Any way it is snowing here so I have to get up and start making some warm hot chocolate and toast with maybe some biscuts and gravy because they are going to want something to warm their tummies when they get in.  My little snow bunnies should be in soon so I have to go. Have fun and Stay warm!!

This is the perfect gift for everyone on your gift list this year and it’s so simple your kids can do it.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups skim milk powder

1 1/2 cups white sugar

3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa

3/4 cups powdered non dairy creamer ( coffee creamer)

1 cup of miniature marshmallows.

It’s very simple. Mix all of the ingredients together and pour them into a jar. Cover with the lid tightly to avoid any spilling and tie a bow around it.

 Include these directions:

Add 2 or 3 Tablespoons in a 6-8 oz cup and add boiling water. Be careful it will be hot. Enjoy your holiday hot cocoa.

You Need:

A purchased wreath 24-26 inches works fine ( I get mine from WalMart)

Christmas Berry Bunches

7 or 9 Pine Cones

Foral Wire

Ribbon ( The Bigger The Better In My Opinion )

This is a real easy wreath to make. With the wire you are going to attatch the cones to the wreath. Wrap the wire around the pine cones and then wrap the wire around the wreath base. Space out the pine cones evenly. I put one on the top center and then work them out around the wreath leaving and empty space in the center on the bottom. Wire your bunches of Christmas Berries in the same way placing them between your Pine Cones. When you are finished with that put your bow or Christmas Flower of your choice at the bottom center. Your wreath is finished and ready to hang or be given as a gift.

I love this ornament. My kids are older and I still had them make these last year. You need hand sized styrofoam balls, cotton balls, red and black pom poms from your craft store or local store with craft department, popsicle sticks, white glue, plastic eyes, and pipe cleaners and a square of felt. Glue the pom poms on to make a red nose and black eyes or of course you can use the eyes and use the pipe cleaners as antlers. Stick them into the styrofoam ball to hold them in place, gluing the ends to ensure their placement. Those would be your reindeer ornaments. With the addition of cotton balls you can make Santa Clause ornaments as well. Glue on the eyes and a red pom pom for a nose, cut one in half to make two rosey cheeks and glue those on. Get a red pipe cleaner and twist it into a cone shape and glue a white pom pom or a cotton ball on top to make it a hat stick that into the styrofoam ball and glue it there securely. Glue cotton balls along the bottom to make a white fluffy beard and you have a santa. Now for the littler kids you can make reindeer ornaments with the popcicle sticks glue them together in a triangle. Add two eyes and a red pom pom for the nose and you have your very own Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. With all of these ornaments you can glue string to the back to hang them with.

It looks so good you could eat it.. Well almost I went to my local WalMart and bought handfuls of plastic fruit. I remember when I was little my grandma used to use this stuff as center pieces. She had a medium sized glass punch bowl that she filled with the stuff. I loved that centerpiece. Here is a small variation.

A glass bowl, or wooden if you choose

Several pieces of artificial fruit ( I prefer the glass kind it’s easier to decorate)

Some pine twigs

A bottle of white glue

Several different colors of glitter

Paper plates to put the glitter on

Now this is where you get creative.

I generally make all of the pears covered in one kind of glitter and then all of the apples covered in another kind of glitter and so on and so forh. Now you can use any color scheme you want.. you can stick to one color per fruit, one color all together, or mix it up some it’s up to you and your artistic taste. I like a combination of fruits but you can also use just a single kind of fruit if you so choose.

Put glue on your fruit and add the glitter as desired. Allow to dry. When you are sure your fruit is dry place it in your bowl with sticks of pine through out and you have yet another idea for a centerpiece.

This is one of the easiest centerpiece ideas I have come across and it brings beauty and color to any table.

You need:

One 8 inch or taller pillar candle

Holy or Pine needles ( either fresh or fake will be fine)

Plastic berries or pine cones

If you use the pine cones I always get some white glue and silver, green, red, and gold glitter

And Ribbon.. I usually go with red and gold ribbon

Tie a wonderful big bow around the middle of your pillar candle and place it in the center of a tray or platter. Surround your candle with fresh or artificial holiday greens. Place artificial berries throughout your greens and you are done. If you would like to use the pine cones with or instead of the berries I cover the cones in white glue and roll them in glitter on a paper plate so that it doesn’t make a mess. I let them dry and then lay them in my greens to add some sparkling color.

Well I happen to love plants.. I may kill them quite easily but I love them all the same. This is an Idea to make a Candy Cane Planter that I got from Betty Crocker years ago.

Supplies: Candy Canes about forty, an empty can like from a pumpkin filling can, Soil, A plant of your choice ( I prefer Ivy, I’ve had more success keeping it alive :O ), Glue Sticks, Glue Gun, and Ribbon.

First things first, Clean out the can you are going to use. Becareful you don’t get cut on any sharp edges.

Next you put the glue sticks in the gun and put glue on the back of a candy cane with the paper still on. Place the candy cane against the planter verticle, hook facing toward the out side of the planter, and hold it on to the can until it sticks. Move on to the next candy cane and repeat. Continue doing this until the entire planter is covered in candy canes. Cut a strip of ribbon large enough to tie around the planter and make a bow with it. Decorate your new planter. As I said before there is many kinds of plants to add to your planter but I prefer Ivy. Fill your planter about 3/4 of the way with recommended planting soil and place your 3-4 inch plant in the planter covering the roots with soil. This is a wonderful centerpiece or party gift for the holidays.

Ok I really like this idea and think I’m going to make these to give to my friends and family. This is a simple wreath that would make a lovely addition to anyones home in the fall.

Supplies:

1 foam or wooden wreath from your craft store or the craft department in your favorite store

4 or 5 small apples

Lemon Juice to sprinkle on the apples to prevent from getting brown

15 large cinnamon sticks

Ribbon

Scented Pine cones ( optional )

Hot glue gun

Glue sticks

Directions:

Slice the apples from top to bottom

preheat oven to 200 degrees

place on a baking dish

dip apples in lemon juice to prevent browning

cook for 2 hrs and remove baking dish to cool

Let the apples dry

Tie together some cinnamon sticks with the ribbon making a bow

Glue the apples around the front and sides of the wreath

Attatch the cinnamon sticks as you desire

Add the pine cones wherever you would like and allow to dry.

There you have it, I beautiful decoration for your door or a gift for your friends and family.

One more recipe from Jiff. I love these and the kids get to add the finishing touch.. If they can keep from eating the Hershey Kisses in the process.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Ok more fudge because this is a wonderful desert as well as a wonderful gift for almost everyone on your list. Jiff has some excellent recipes and this is just another one.

Ingredients:

Crisco butter no stick cooking spray

1 (12 oz) package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (16 oz) container of Pillsbury Fudge Icing

2 c mini marshmallows

1 c chopped nuts ( your choice)

Directions:

Line an 8×8 inch pan with aluminum foil and spray with non stick cooking spray.

Melt chocolate chips in large pot until smooth. Remove from heat and add the marshmallows nuts and frosting. Spread in prepared baking dish and refridgerate until firm.. approximately 2 hrs.

Remove fudge from pan by lifting out and off of the foil. Cut into squares and you are ready to eat your fudge. If giving it as a present it’s always a nice touch to get that colored plastic wrap and ribbon to tie it with.

Again, this is an easy enough recipe that the kids can help as long as they stay away from the pan while it’s hot. They will love being a part of making this for the family and your friends.