As you spend today celebrating the birth of Jesus listen to this song with your family and be reminded that Jesus was born long ago for you and I.
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Merry Christmas From 24/7 Moms.
As you spend today celebrating the birth of Jesus listen to this song with your family and be reminded that Jesus was born long ago for you and I.
Joy to the world
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| Star Mask - Susan Bartolini - Jingle Masks Background Mask - Susan Bartolini - Jingle Masks Word Art - Penny Springmann - Joy to the World |
My digi Christmas card, using my own bokeh!
Christmas Gift Labels - FREE
Here is my stand by Gift Label list:
Delight.com has an fun assortment of FREE labels. Click here to go there now.
Holly Jolly FREE gift labels. Click here to get yours now.
The Paper Seed free gift tags. Click here for free tags.
Track Santa On Christmas Eve
Where oh Where is Santa tonight? Track Santa's journey as he travels around the world in his sleigh with the Norad Santa Tracker . Click here to track Santa now
Don't Forget Santas Reindeer - DIY Reindeer Food
It's Christmas Eve and your children are ready to place either plate of cookies and glass of milk out for Santa but what about those hard working Reindeer? I think they might get a bit hungry tonight and need to nibble on something while Santa unloads his sleigh at your house tonight.I found a DIY (do it yourself) recipe for Reindeer food over at Today's Creative blog. Your kids will love making this and you can even make a few extra batches to share with your neighbors if you choose. Click here to get your DIY Reindeer food recipe.
Night Before Christmas Kit
The excitement is escalating in my home as I am sure it is across the world in many homes as we count down the hours till Santa arrives. A fun way to get your kids through the night of waiting is to create a Night Before Christmas Kit.
Creating a Night before Christmas kit may also be the beginning of a new annual tradition of allowing the kids to open one gift on Christmas eve.
To create your families kit first you will need either a box or gift bag - this can be a one time use or one you purchase that is used year after year by refilling it.
Now it is time to fill your Night before Christmas kit, Some ideas are:
Santa's Cookie plate and Milk Glass ( this can be the same one you use each year).
Hot Chocolate mugs along with instant hot chocolate.
The Christmas story in book form or printed out on nice paper (scroll look).
Santa's magic KEY - if you don't have a chimney in your home purchase a special key and hang it on your front door for Santa to use ( not a real house key).
Movie - choose a new one or one that has become a tradition that you only watch on Christmas eve.
Game - purchase a new game that the entire family can participate in and play on Christmas eve or place a pack of cards and instructions to a new card game you find on the internet.
Treats - place a few new special treats in the package to eat while watching a movie or playing a game.
Crafts - place a simple craft project in the package you can pick these up inexpensively at the Dollar stores, Wal-mart or Target.
Nativity set - Make a tradition of setting up the nativity set on Christmas eve while telling the Christmas story.
Christmas Printables - Make your own activity book be printing of free Christmas printable and stapling the together from coloring sheets to mazes and word searches. Find free printables from Kaboose by clicking here.
The goal is to fill your Night before Christmas kit with items that will create both family fun and memories as your family waits in anticipation for Santa to arrive.
Million Dollar Carmel (Rolo) Cookies
Kids and adults will love the chewy candy surprise inside these tasty treats
(Makes 4 dozen)
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar, plus 1 Tbs
- 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 1⁄2 cups flour, plus 1⁄4 cup
- 3⁄4 cup cocoa
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 Heath candy bars
- 1 bag Rolo chewy caramels
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl, beat butter and sugars until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla and beat well.
2. In a separate bowl, mix 2 1⁄2 cups flour, cocoa, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture a little bit at a time and blend well. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle in a little extra flour. Cover and chill dough in fridge for about 30 minutes.
3. Chop Heath bars into small pieces. Place in a small bowl and toss with 1 Tbs sugar.
4. Once dough has chilled, wrap a piece around each caramel, forming a 1-inch ball and covering the candy completely. Dip top of the dough ball into the candy topping and place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes. Cookies will look quite soft, but do not overbake. Cool in pan slightly, then move to a rack or the counter to finish cooling. Store in a covered container.
FREE - Christmas Activty Sheet Printables
Keep your kids brains thinking during their Christmas break with the FREE WOO! Jr Kids activities fun and free math, mad lib and other brain thinking printables. Click here to go there now.
We will be using the Christmas mad libs during our Christmas Eve meal time as a fun activity.
French Breakfast Puffs - Our Christmas Brunch Tradition
French Breakfast Puffs
Last year began a new tradition in my home of French Breakfast Puffs. You can make these are and place in the freezer for Christmas morning. re-heat in the microwave after they are thawed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/3 cup shortening
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
-
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons margarine, melted
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups or line cups with paper muffin liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, cream together 1/2 cup sugar and shortening. Beat in egg. Stir flour mixture into shortening mixture alternately with milk. Beat well. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. While muffins are baking, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Remove muffins from oven and muffin pan. Immediately, dip the tops of the muffins into the melted margarine, then into the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Repeat with each muffin, until all muffin tops are covered. Serve warm.
Last-Minute Gift Coupons
By Cathe Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right gift for that special someone, and sometimes you just run out of time! In a pinch, you can print out customized gift coupons in lieu of a store-bought present.
Gift coupons can be written to promise favors, chores, projects, handi-work, dinner, lunch, baby-sitting, a movie, or pretty much anything you want. Click here to read the rest of this great IDEA by my friend Cathe on the SC Johnson Family Economics site.
While at the SC Johnson Family Economics site you can also get some great organization tips by reading my ( Trisha's) Getting Organized articles that I write each week.
One Last Christmas
Can you imagine being told by Dr's that your child wouldn't live to see another Christmas? This was the journey Julie Locke faced . After Julie Locke’s infant son Dax was diagnosed with cancer, she spent a year helping him fight it at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. When Dax’s doctors told her he wouldn't live to see Christmas, she decided to decorate for the holiday two months early. When his story appeared on CNN, thousands of people around the world put up holiday lights for Dax. Julie is now working to raise $1.6 million to run the hospital for a day in Dax's honor.Singer and songwriter Matthew West has joined the Locke family in raising funds to support their dream with The official music video for “One Last Christmas,” the latest in a series of story inspired songs from GRAMMY ® nominee Matthew West, is resonating with viewers online where it has received over half a million views on YouTube and over 140,000 shares on Facebook. The video and song tells the story of a two year-old Leukemia patient named Dax Locke who inspired people all over the country to decorate early for Christmas before he passed away in Dec. of 2009. With the video and song, West is uniting with the Locke family to raise enough money to fund St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, where Dax received care, for one day in his honor.
In addition to all of the proceeds from the sale of the “One Last Christmas” video on www.matthewwest.com, the singer/songwriter is also announcing a benefit concert in Dax’s hometown of Washington, IL on Dec. 30. The show will be held at Five Points Washington, and will begin at 7pm with doors opening at 6pm. Gold circle seating is $20, and general admission will be $10 at the door. For the latest information on the benefit concert, stay tuned to www.matthewwest.com.
The story also garnered the attention of Lifetime Television who will be featuring Dax’s mother, Julie Locke, as the “Lifetime Remarkable Woman of the Month” as well as posting the video on their website, www.mylifetime.com.
West released The Story of Your Life in Oct. of this year. The album was inspired by 10,000 stories he received from listeners nationwide and 20 countries internationally. He then spent two months in a cabin reading the letters, and writing songs based on the stories.
www.matthewwest.com
www.myspace.com/matthewwest
www.facebook.com/matthewwest
www.twitter.com/matthew_west
Christmas Holiday Spending & Retail Buying Trends 2005-2010 - Sales Predictions
Five-year Comparison of the NRF BIGResearch Christmas Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, 2005 - 2010: from Microsoft Office
$688.87 - 2010
$681.83 - 2009
$694.19 - 2008
$755.13 - 2007
$750.70 - 2006
$734.69 - 2005
$681.83 - 2009
$694.19 - 2008
$755.13 - 2007
$750.70 - 2006
$734.69 - 2005
Average Amount Consumers Planned to Spend for Christmas or Holiday Decorations
$41.51 - 2010
$40.70 - 2009
$42.90 - 2008
$46.01 - 2007
$44.11 - 2006
$40.67 - 2005
Average Amount Consumers Planned to Spend for Christmas Holiday Food
$86.32 - 2010
$90.14 - 2009
$79.26 - 2008
$87.55 - 2007
$86.54 - 2006
$87.34 - 2005
Percentage of Consumers Planned to Spend on Non-Gift Purchases For Themselves
57.1% - 2010
52.9% - 2009
56.6% - 2008
56.0% - 2007
56.7% - 2006
52.9% - 2005
Total Amount Consumers Planned to Spend for Winter Holiday-Related
$688.87 - 2010
$681.83 - 2009
$694.19 - 2008
$755.13 - 2007
$750.70 - 2006
$734.69 - 2005
Percentage of Consumers Who Planned to Celebrate Winter Holidays or Participate in Halloween Activities:
91.7% - 2010
93.2% - 2009
93.6% - 2008
90.2% - 2007
93.0% - 2006
93.0% - 2005
Create A FUN Christmas Table With Chalkboard Chargers and Placecards
A super simple and fun Entertaining idea that can be used all year round!Chalkboard Chargers - from Tatertos and Jello
Click here for complete instructions and ideas for year round use.
Another chalkboard paint idea -- from Tatertots and Jello
Make an Ornament Place CardPaint a rectangle on an ornament with chalkboard paint.
These can be used over and over! Click here for complete instructions.
Peppermint Pie For Christmas
Peppermint Piefrom : Nestle
Indulge in a soon-to-be holiday favorite with this taste-tempting dessert. Whipped topping borders a chocolate cookie crumb crust that serves as a delightful base for a festive peppermint ice cream pie.
Preparation Time: 15 minFreezing Time: 3 hr 15 min
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- 20 chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 carton (1.5 quarts) Peppermint DREYER’S or EDY’S SLOW CHURNED Light Ice Cream or Peppermint DREYER’S or EDY’S Limited Edition Frozen Dairy Dessert
- 1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
- Small candy canes (optional)
- Chocolate syrup or hot fudge sauce (optional)
Instructions:
COMBINE cookie crumbs and butter in large bowl. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Freeze for about 15 minutes or until firm.* Place ice cream in refrigerator for 15 minutes to soften.
SPREAD softened ice cream evenly into frozen crust. Pipe or spoon whipped topping around border of pie. Arrange candy canes on top of pie. Freeze for several hours or until firm.
TO SERVE, cut pie into 8 wedges. Place on dessert plates and drizzle with chocolate syrup.
* 9-inch prepared chocolate cookie crust may be substituted.
6 Days Of Centerpieces -Cranberries & Candles
from: Budget Wise HomeCranberries are such a beautiful way to decorate for the Christmas. The gorgeous color is perfect for creating a stunning and easy centerpiece. All it takes is a vase (any shape or size will do), candles, and cranberries. To keep it budget friendly, use a vase you already have and head to your nearest dollar store for candles. Place your candle inside the vase and then surround it with cranberries. You can adjust the amount of cranberries, depending on how high you want the candle to be. For added sparkle, pour sprite or any other clear carbonated beverage into the vase after the candle and cranberries are in place. For added drama, group multiple vases in varying heights together. Enjoy!
9 Great and Clutter Free Gift Ideas For Kids
Do your kids have more then enough toys, games and gadgets?We have 9 clutter free gift ideas for your kids, many of which also create family bonding time.
1. Memberships to the local aquarium, zoo, children’s’ museum, science center or YMCA.
2. Tickets to the movies, a concert, an amusement park, a sports event, a play.
3. Magazine subscriptions! Sports Illustrated For Kids, Ranger Rick, National Geographic Kids, Humpty Dumpty, Highlights, High Five, Zoo Books, Your Big Backyard – just to name a few. Check out Amazon.com or BestDealMagazines.com for terrific prices.
4. Photo “Brag Book”. A simple scrapbook of loved ones near and far for them to cherish and flip through without worries about smudges and fingerprints. There are “Toddler Photo Books” available with chew-proof pages, ready for you to insert your photos. Sassy, Baby Einstein and Gund all make books such as these.
5. A disposable camera, a gift card for processing fees, a simple photo album to display their photos in. Kids love to take pictures of everything!
6. Stationery, stamps, address labels, stickers and art materials to mail letters, notes and artwork to loved ones. Even the youngest child likes to do this, and everyone loves to get mail!
7. Gift cards for movie/game rentals rather than a new game or video.
8. Gift cards for their favorite restaurant, arcade, or family-fun place.
9. “Coupons” for their favorite activities; A Saturday Morning Bike Ride, Etc. Time spent with you is their favorite thing.
(Author Unknown)
6 Days Of Center Pieces -Painted Pine Cones
From: Budget Wise HomeAll you need for this east Christmas centerpiece are pine cones and spray paint. Gather pine cones from your yard or purchase inexpensive fake ones at a craft store. Then spray paint each one the color of your choice. Gold, silver, red, and white work great for Christmas and look great when mixed together. When the paint is dry, toss the pine cones in a bowl. For extra warmth, place a lighted candle on each side. If your table is long, alternate with a bowl of pine cones and a candle down the entire length. Enjoy!
Decadent!
6 Simple Sweet Christmas Treats To Make
Sweet #1
Easy Chocolate-Dipped Ginger Cookies
from: Nestle, Very Best Baking
Dipped in a melted chocolate mixture and decorated with an assortment of toppings, such as crystalized ginger or sweetened dried cherries, these cookies are a tasty way to embrace the holiday season in style.
Estimated Time(s)
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 1 min
Refrigerating Time: 20 min
Yields 36 cookies
Ingredients:
* Wax or parchment paper
* 1 (4 ounces) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® CHOCOLATIER 62% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar, chopped into small pieces
* 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
* 36 gingersnap cookies
* 2/3 cup finely chopped assorted toppings (such as crystallized ginger, sweetened dried cherries or cranberries and/or pistachios)
Instructions:
LINE tray or baking sheets with wax paper.
PLACE chocolate in glass measuring cup and follow instructions on package for melting in microwave oven. Stir in oil.
DIP one side of each cookie about halfway into chocolate mixture; allow excess to flow back into measuring cup. Place on prepared tray; repeat with remaining cookies and chocolate. Sprinkle with chopped assorted toppings.
PLACE dipped cookies in refrigerator for about 20 minutes to set chocolate. Remove from refrigerator and store in airtight container at room temperature (prolonged refrigeration is undesirable as it will cause the cookie to soften).
Cook's Tip: 2/3 cup NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels may be used in place of bittersweet chocolate baking bar.
Sweet #2
Holiday Pretzel Treats
from: Family Fun Magazine
Salty pretzels combine with sweet chocolate for these fun treats that make a yummy gift few can resist. (In fact, you may want to make some extras for yourself!)
- Ingredients
-
- Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
- Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug
- M&M's candy
- Instructions
-
-
Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.
-
Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.
-
Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.
-
Sweet #3
Crazy Dipped Pretzel Rods- 1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Milk Chocolate or Premier White Morsels
- 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
- 16 pretzel rods
- NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels and/or sprinkles, (optional)
- Additional NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Morsels for drizzling, (optional)
Directions
LINE baking sheet with wax paper.
MICROWAVE 1 cup morsels and vegetable shortening in small, dry, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.
DIP pretzel rods about 3 inches into melted morsels, tilting bowl to easily dip. Use side of bowl to remove excess. Sprinkle with morsels or sprinkles. Place on prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until set. Store in airtight container at room temperature. Best when eaten within a few days.
FOR A FANCY DRIZZLE:
MICROWAVE 2 tablespoons of each desired morsel flavor in small, heavy-duty plastic bags on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 30 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from each bag; squeeze to drizzle over already dipped pretzels on baking sheet. Refrigerate and store as directed above.
TIPS:
• Pretzels may be dipped and drizzled in any variety of melted morsels for different looks. For example, dip them in semi-sweet chocolate and drizzle them with melted white morsels. Or dip them in milk chocolate and drizzle them with melted semi-sweet chocolate.
• Above recipe can easily be doubled, but we do not recommend microwaving more than 2 cups (12 ounces) of morsels at one time.
Sweet # 4
Berry Chocolate Cookie Tartlets
from: Nestle, Very Best Baking
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups (about 1/3 tub) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Tub Dough, slightly softened
- 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries, chopped
Directions
PREHEAT oven to 325º F.
COMBINE cookie dough and flour in large mixing bowl. Divide dough into 24, 1 1/4-inch balls. Press dough into mini-muffin cups.*
BAKE for 10 minutes or until light golden brown around edges and puffy.
REMOVE tartlets from oven and immediately fill with morsels and cranberries. Cool for 10 minutes in muffin cups. Carefully remove to wire rack, do not invert; cool completely.
*If making tartlets in batches, keep extra dough in the refrigerator.
TIPS:
• Tartlets may be filled with your favorite combination of morsels.
• Dough can be made in advance and refrigerated.
• Create three types of Christmas cookies from just one tub of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Tub Dough. Make this recipe along with two other 12 Days of Christmas Cookies recipes.
• Recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger batch.
Sweet # 5
Sweet Carmel Crispix Treat
Warning: This treat is addictive.1 pound butter
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 boxes of 14 oz Crispix cereal
Almonds or pecans (optional)
Heat all ingredients until glossy. Pour over 2 boxes of Crispix cereal and nuts. Mix well until coated. Divide in 2-3 pans and bake in oven at 225 degrees for 1 hour mixing every 15 minutes. Spread to dry on wax paper.
Sweet # 6
Make-Ahead Chocolate Soufflés with Peppermint Bark Ice Cream
from: Nestle, Very Best Baking
Baked to perfection and topped with a scoop of peppermint bark ice cream, these chocolaty soufflés are the perfect addition to any gathering.
Preparation Time: 15 minCooking Time: 18 min
Refrigerating Time: 24 hr
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Granulated sugar
- 2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 1/4 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 container (14 ounces) Peppermint Bark HÄAGEN-DAZS Ice Cream (optional)
Instructions:
SPRAY eight 6-ounce ramekins or custard cups with nonstick cooking spray; coat lightly with granulated sugar.
MICROWAVE morsels, butter and baking cocoa in large, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Stir in egg yolks and vanilla extract.
BEAT egg whites in large mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 1/3 cup granulated sugar until stiff peaks form. Stir one-fourth of egg white mixture into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining egg white mixture gently but thoroughly. Spoon into prepared ramekins, filling about 3/4 full. Cover soufflés individually with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
PREHEAT oven to 400° F. Remove plastic wrap from soufflés. Place soufflés on baking sheet. Bake on center oven rack for 18 to 20 minutes or until puffed and center still moves slightly. Serve with scoop of ice cream. Serve immediately.
Cook’s Tip: If you wish to prepare batter and bake immediately, reduce bake time by a couple minutes.
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