Eggnog Spritz Cookie Recipe

December 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

This is a recipe for Eggnog Cookies using a cookie press.  I only make them during the Christmas season so I look forward to them every year!  I don’t like drinking eggnog, but I LOVE the flavor of eggnog!

Eggnog Spritz Cookies
1 cup butter
3/4 cups white sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. rum flavoring
1 tsp. ground nugmet
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix the above ingredients and use in your cookie press.  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.

Eggnog Glaze:
OK, so I don’t measure this part.  Make a glaze using powdered sugar and eggnog.  When it is to a nice glaze consistency, dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze and dust with more nutmeg.  They are delicious!!!

Filed Under: Christmas, recipes

Christmas Gift Idea

December 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s my favorite time of year at Bath & Body Works!  Time for Twisted Peppermint everything!  I decided these yummy soaps would make cute gifts for people in hubby’s office and people at school.  So, I bought every soap they had (more than pictured here….yes, I am crazy!)

Then I bought these white dishcloths and sewed peppermint fabric and red ric rac on the bottom.  Super cute!

 I put them in cellophane bags and tied with a ribbon.  I would love to get this gift from someone – and I hope the recipients enjoy theirs!



Filed Under: Christmas, gift, sewing

Alpine Wonderland in the Making

December 5, 2012 by 2 Comments
I’m working on a quilt!  My friend and I decided instead of giving a Christmas gift to each other we would have a sewing day.  So we each ordered fabric from the Riley Blake Alpine Wonderland line, found a pattern, cut it all out & started sewing together.  So much fun!!!

 I found the pattern in Better Homes & Garden’s Quilts & More Winter 2010.  I like our fabrics better than the ones pictured 🙂
 It’s always fun to lay it out and try and figure out where all the colors should go.

 Here it is all pieced together.  Now I have to figure out what I want on the back.  I LOVE this pattern.  It is so much fun!

Filed Under: Christmas, quilt

Advent Calendar

November 27, 2012 by 1 Comment

This is our advent calendar that sits in the entry way.  It is an old Pepsi crate.  I have wrapped little ornaments in each space and every morning the children unwrap one.  Of course there are only 24 spaces so we count down to Christmas Eve.  My mom did this when we were little and now I have carried on the tradition with my children!

Filed Under: Christmas

It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

November 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 Yes I am one of those people who have to be fully decorated the day after Thanksgiving which means I have everything done the middle of November!  It was fun having Thanksgiving with Christmas trees everywhere!  Here is a little peek into a few trees.  I need to photograph the rest.

This is the Sugar Plum Tree in the family room.  I love that it is white and pink and happy! 

This is a little table in the hallway.  I love the fake rosemary tree with popcorn balls hanging from it.

This is my antique-y tree I have in the corner of the dining room.  It has white lace and pom pom trim and other “old” ornaments.  It’s all white & silver.  I love it!

 This is a smaller white tree I have in the family room by the fireplace.  It has vintage ornaments – I love it.  I wish I had more 🙂

 I made these vintage cat ornaments last year using THIS techinique.

The turquoise angel cat is my favorite ornament on this tree!
Filed Under: Christmas

Welcome Elf on the Shelf

November 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

 Thanksgiving night we heard a knock at the door.  When the children opened the door they found a mysterious gift on the porch.  They opened it and found it was an ELF!!!  Yes, the Elf on the shelf has arrived at our house!  We carefully unwrapped it, read the book, and gave him a name: Richard but we call him Richie for short.  My 4 year old was so into this.  She couldn’t stop talking about Richie and Santa and looking at him and talking about Christmas and asking so many questions – it was the cutest thing ever. 

If you don’t know about the Elf, you can go to the official Elf on the Shelf website HERE.  You can’t touch your elf because he is magical.  Everynight he flies to Santa using his magic and reports on what he’s seen all day.  In the morning the children have to find the Elf as he is always some where new and mischivious.

This morning Richie was found hanging in the Christmas tree holding an empty tube of toilet paper.  The Christmas tree was covered in TP.  Sally thought this was hilarious!! Everyday I hope to post the antics of our silly Elf!!

Filed Under: Christmas, Elf on the Shelf

Glitter Volleyball Christmas Ornaments

November 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 I needed a little gift for the girls on our Volleyball team.  Here is what I came up with!  I started with a chipboard coaster.  I got mine at Michael’s.  I spray painted them white.

Then I got out a gray Sharpie and had my daughter draw the volleyball lines.  These would be cute for any sports – basketball, baseball, soccer, etc.

 I cute out all the player’s names in red vinyl and punched a hole in the top.

 Then, my favorite part, the clear glitter.  I could use this stuff on everything I own.  It is great because you can see through it – but it gives it a sparkly finish.

 Get out the Elmer’s glue (or any similar) and brush over the top of the ornament – making sure to cover it completely.  Sprinkle on the glitter & now they are super cute!

 I attached a little ribbon and let them dry completely.
 They are pretty cute!

 The fun thing is I left the backs plain so the girls could all sign the back of the ornament.

Filed Under: Christmas, crafts, gift, tutorials, vinyl

Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins

November 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 For the past few months we have been calling Marbles a “Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins” from the movie “Elf”.  I couldn’t resist this elf costume!  In honor of the little Bengal I made this printable – perfect for your Christmas decor.  If you can’t download the printable, leave your email address in the comments & I will email you the original file.

 Sometimes we just call him “Ninny Muggins” for short.  It really suits him!!!

Filed Under: cat, Christmas, printables

Gold Spray Paint

November 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 My new favorite Christmas decorating tip is Gold Spray paint!  I have all these red berry balls that I use on my main Christmas tree.  This year I decided no red….but Gold!


 So I got out the Gold spray paint and went over each berry ball lightly and now I have berry ornaments I LOVE!!!  This technique works in silver too.  I have tried it on regular greenery and old Christmas picks… it just gives it an extra sparkle. 

 I am looking through all my Christmas boxes wondering what I can spray paint next!!!!


Filed Under: Christmas, paint

It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

November 9, 2012 by 1 Comment

‘Tis the season for decorating, Christmas music, cookies & hot chocolate!  I know – it’s only November!!  My daughter has been bugging me about that fact all week.  The truth is this is the only week I have to devote to decorating.  So it’s Christmas at our house!!  Right now it looks like a Christmas hurricane hit as there are boxes, tissue, and glitter all over the house.  Once everything gets put away I will post more photos.

Filed Under: Christmas