Christmas {baking}...

Well, I don't know if you can really call it BAKING!...but you do use the oven for a few minutes!  ;)  I had been wanting to make some faux turtles with pretzles, rolos and pecans.  I really wasn't looking forward to unwrapping 40 rolos but I was going to.  Then I saw these Rolo minis at Target and thought, hmm...wonder if these would work.  They are already unwrapped and ready to go! 

You start out by lining a pan with parchment paper.  Lay out your mini twist pretzels and place a Rolo on top of each one.   Then place in a 350 degree oven for 3-5 minutes. 

Take them out of the oven and press a pecan half on top.  This will flatten out the Rolo onto the pretzel.  Let cool and store in an airtight container.  {Don't eat them all at once!  ;)}

Here are a few more of my favorite holiday treats that require very little {baking}...microwave peanut brittle, lazy man's toffee and cinnamon sugar pretzels.  Yummo!

Christmas card photos {displayed}...

Decorating the new house for Christmas was fun because I got to start from scratch basically, finding new homes for all my holiday goodness.  It was a good chance for me to weed through some of it and pick out my favorites.  Even though we have more space in this house, it seems I have less surfaces to display things on.  Which I am fine with...less is more, right!  

One thing I had to figure out was where to display Christmas card photos as they come in the mail.  I had always hung a card holder from a shelf before, but the shelf is now being used in my closet so.....

Remember the frame redo I did for my craft space.  Well since that space is open into the living room, I thought the frame would be the perfect place to display the photos!

So I cleaned off what was hanging there and started displaying the photos as they came in!  Love it!

To make it a little more festive I took some red and white striped washi tape and covered some of my mini clothes pins.  This was super simple to do and I love what it adds to the displayed cards! 

How do you display your Christmas cards?

stocking stuffers...

Since we are just over a week away from Christmas I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorite things right now that would be good ideas for stocking stuffers...or teacher, friend gifts, etc...

If you are a paper crafter, you have probably heard about washi tape....well it really is awesome!  You can use it for all kinds of things, and it is super easy to use!....just pull, rip or cut and apply!  I used it to make some wall decor for my craft room.  Who wouldn't love some of that for their stash?!  How about this chevron kind in all the yummy colors!

Another one of my loves is chapstick!  I always have several tubes within reach wherever I am.  My current favorite is Nivea... A Kiss of Smoothness.  

Essie Nail Polish is another thing that I love.  It is fun trying out different shades!  Saw this Winter collection of mini polishes at Ulta the other day and thought I heard it calling my name.  ;)  Also found it here on Amazon. 

Scarves are another thing that I don't think I could ever have too many of.  They are affordable and add so much to an outfit.  Love the pattern on this one...and the price is right!

What are your favorite stocking stuffer gift ideas?  I would love to hear!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday ~ pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans

Tuesday ~ chili, pb sandwiches, fruit

Wednesday ~ pasta, salad, bread

Thursday ~ meatball stew, toasted cheese, fruit

Friday ~ honey cococut salmon, rice, corn

Linking up with Org Junkie...check them out for more recipes.

preschool {christmas} activities...

We have been in full swing Christmas mode at preschool for the past 2 weeks!!!  Here are a few of the Christmas activities we have been doing in class...

Size sequencing with triangles to make a Christmas tree...

Sorting pom poms and jingle bells by color using bamboo tongs...

Decorating a small Christmas tree with a variety of ornaments {I added small candy canes and bells in with the present ornaments}...

Christmas card puzzle {I simply cut the front off a Christmas card and then cut it into several pieces.  I outlined where the pieces go to make it a little easier for the kids to put it back together}...

Pom pom Christmas tree {the kiddos use their little pincher fingers to pick up the pom poms and place them on the green/gold dots}...

We also have done paint chip coloring matching using the red & green.  Next week we will add threading white and red pony beads on a pipe cleaner and using clothes pins to hang mini stockings on a string.  I also hope to make some peppermint playdough for the kiddos to have fun manipulating!!!

What fun hands on activities have you had success with?

Menu Plan Monday

Monday ~ taquitos, burritos, chips & cheese, fruit

Tuesday ~ crock pot pork chops, rice, salad

Wednesday ~ scrambled eggs, bagels, sausage

Thursday ~ pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans

Friday ~ chicken parmesan, salad, bread, corn

Linking up with Org Junkie...check them out for more recipes.

Christmas time is here....

We were driving in the car the other day and listening to Christmas songs on the radio.  I don't remember what the song was but it said something like "Christmas time is here or it's Christmas time...."   Little Bit then said "It TOTALLY is Christmas time!"....LOL!  I chuckled to myself.  This time of year is special...and a time to be celebrated.  We love to do extra special things to help ring in the season. 

Last year I put together this advent calendar for Little Bit and she loved it.  She was so excited to get up everyday and pick a card to see what was on the agenda for that day.  This year we are winging it a little more.  I still want to have fun activities to do together but didn't but up the advent calendar. 

The past couple years I have seen the lego advent calendars and thought they would be fun when Little Bit got older.  Well I saw a good deal on this Smurf one and decided to try it out this year.  The only problem is it's not here yet.  So we will start a few days late on that one but I don't think she will mind playing catch up.  She loves building!

I also wrapped all of our Christmas books and have them in a basket by the tree.  Little Bit can unwrap one each day til Christmas and we will read the story together.  This is something that I have worked over the last couple years accumulating books.  We still don't have 25 yet, about 18 I think, but I know we will pick up a few more before the season is over and we can read our favorites twice if need be!  A few places we have found reasonably priced Christmas books in the past are...Scholastic book orders {they always have a few selections for only $1!}, local library book sales, Goodwill, and clearance sales after Christmas.  I got the hardback of Llama, Llama Holiday Drama for a steal at Target 2 years ago!!!...love that series!

Pinterest is another great place to find ideas to do over the holidays.  I just came across this spot the difference printable that Little Bit and I can do today!

What traditions or plans do you have for celebrating this holiday season?!