December 18, 2007

Santa's ButtonsOne of my family's favorite cookies is also the easiest for me to make this time of year. All you do is take prepared sugar cookie dough, roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and then roll into red and green colored sugar.

 

Bleu Cheese Spinach SaladBreak spinach in bite-size pieces. Cut onions; dice 4 eggs, not too fine. Crumble cheese. Mix with the dressing as much as you want. Two eggs, cut in quarters and garnish salad.

 

Pimiento Cheese Sandwich SpreadMix well; chill before serving.

 

Italian Cheese BallBlend cream cheese, blue cheese and butter. Add chives and olives. Mix well and form into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill a few hours or overnight. Roll in chopped walnuts before serving. Serve with Wheat Thins or other crackers.

 

Holiday PuddingCrush vanilla wafers or graham crackers and sprinkle them on the bottom of an oblong pan. Next, add a layer of English walnut pieces. Now make a pudding of the following:

 

Holiday Brownie Berry BowlStir boiling water into dry gelatin in medium bowl at least 2 minutes until completely dissolved. Add ice; stir until ice is completely melted and gelatin starts to thicken.

 

Minute MuffinsIn a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients, blend until smooth. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown.

 

Tips For Mailing GoodiesDivide layers of holiday cookies/cakes/candies etc. with coffee filters that you plan to ship by mail in a large coffee can. If your foodies need cushioning, use marshmallows and add a small pack of homemade hot cocoa mix.

 

Plastic Bottle Caps as Cat ToysMy four cats were constantly losing their store bought toys under the appliances and furniture, and down the basement stairs. One day I realized they got the exact same amount of joy chasing a plastic bottle cap around.

 

Craft: Four Homemade Christmas OrnamentsHere are Christmas ornaments that I made at different items. For the icicle, take a white or silver pipe cleaner as long as you want. Take the crystal beads and start with the smaller ones on the bottom.

 

Give Love Instead of Presents This YearA tip for avoiding stressing during the holidays from the ghost of Scrooge! Tell every member of your family and all your friends that you are broke and will not be buying any gifts this season, and possibly many seasons in the future; but you love them all very much and you wish them all a Happy Holidays.

 

Recycled Baby StockingSomeone gave me a floor mat for my baby to play on that was missing some toys that dangle. Instead of throwing it away when I got a better one, I decided to cut it up and make a stocking! I made a pattern out of a large piece of drawing paper that I drew a freehand stocking on.

 

Juice Can Lid Christmas MagnetsCute, quick and frugal gifts or decorations! The magnets are used canning jar lids and smaller ones are from frozen OJ concentrate can ends. Base coat white or brown and paint faces.

 

Delegate Christmas ResponsibilitiesRelieve stress like you would if you were a manager or executive at work, delegate, delegate, delegate. Have others, both family and friends, help decorate, wrap and contribute to Christmas dinner. Don't sweat the small stuff, everyone will be happy to be together even if you forget to put out the napkins or cranberry sauce!

 

Helping 95 Year Old Mother with Christmas GiftsMy 95 year old Mother found buying and wrapping gifts for her 50 descendants was too big a chore. We took a picture of her on her birthday and printed 50 wallet size photos and bought her Christmas cards and postage stamps. Now we will enjoy sitting with her and helping address the cards. She loved the idea.

 

Francis (Beagle)Francis is a 3 year old male Beagle. We adopted Francis from a family through our local Freecycle in September.

 

Keeping a Cutting Board from SlippingI knead my bread on a wooden cutting board, but the board was always slipping. I happened on the solution one day by chance.

 

Wrap and Stack Children's Gifts TogetherLike most grandparents we always go overboard on gifts and want the packages to be spectacular and mainly recognizable.

 

'Fix A Chip' to Repair Chipped Counter TopMy son dropped a hammer on our counter in the bathroom (new home). It chipped the counter top. Most places I called (home repair, hardware stores) said I would have to replace it. It was too much money for a small chip.

 

Organizing Barbie Clothes PatternsAs I create and sew Barbie doll-size fashions, I came up with a way to keep my patterns organized. For each outfit of the pattern set, I use a 6 1/2-in x 3 5/8-in regular envelope.

 

A Santa Theme Christmas LuncheonWith the holidays almost upon us, I like to give my girlfriends a little time off. So I invite them all over for a little holiday luncheon that is a fun way to take a break from all the baking and Christmas shopping.

 

Elegant Clamp Jar For Gift GivingMy daughter and I found a whole box of these clamp jars at a yard sale this summer and thought they would be perfect for Christmas so we put them away. She had the idea that she would fill them with candy or nuts for her in-laws, since her father in law loves honey roasted peanuts.

 

Little Christmas DeerMy little deer at our family Christmas party with a whole plate of Christmas cookies.

 

Nativity Made From Medicine BottlesI was thinking I wanted to make a nativity when I saw my husband's empty medicine bottles. I thought these would make neat people. Then the idea came to me.

 

Cat Froths at the Mouth When Given Medication?My cat froths at the mouth when I give her medication. I need advice!

 

Recipe for Dark Chocolate Covered Maple Creams?I am looking for a recipe for dark chocolate covered maple creams. It's my favorite candy and I really want to make them. They are so expensive to buy!

 

How Do You Care for a Mohawk?How much care does the average Mohawk need? How often do you put it up/retouch, how much spray/gel do you use, etc.? I'm a girl considering one, but I need to know what I'm getting myself into!

 

Has Anyone Used Cashcrate.com?Does anyone out there go online to try and bring in extra money? I've heard a lot of buzz about cashcrate.com. I went to the site and tried to do some surveys. Don't think I actually filled out a survey. Had to sign up for a bunch of junk email that took about 10 minutes of my time to get paid 40 cents.

 

Scarf Made with Round Knifty Knitter?I am new to Knifty Knitting. I would like to know how to make a scarf with a round Knifty Knitter.

 

BBQ Food Suggestions?I need some suggestions for wedding food to serve at my wedding in 6 days. Yes, Dec. 23rd. We are having our wedding outdoors by the lake and we want to do a BBQ What sides should we serve?

 

1800's Craft Ideas to Sell at Historical Club Fair?I am needing some ideas for craft items to make and sell. The items HAVE to be 'old time'. Our family just joined a historical club. Several times a year they have events were we can have a booth and sell our crafts.

 

Organizing for Two Children to Share a Room?I just found out that I'm pregnant with our 2nd child. At the moment, we live in a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, single wide trailer. This little one will need to share a room with their older sister, she will be around 20-21 months at the due date.