Gift Wrapping Ideas

Christmas wrapping paper comes in many sizes and styles. It might also be printed on both  sides. No matter what style of Holiday paper I use I have discovered some fun ways to use it to embellish the Christmas boxes.

For example, if you are out of traditional ribbons, you can create fun Christmas packaging by creating borders and/or bows using leftover paper scraps. which is something I save for just that purpose. It also comes in handy for smaller gifts as well.

This very large box below was in need of a bow, a BIG Bow, and also some bling to make it pop. My first thought after wrapping it was, "how in the world could I spruce up such a big box and make it look a bit more special"? Then I puzzled about it while I wrapped a few more gifts.

Since I did not have an x-large bow in my stash that matched the wrapping paper I decided to try and make one. So, while we were sitting around visiting, I began cutting and folding a piece of coordinating wrapping paper, making it up as I went along. After adding a few more strips of paper and curling the edges the BIG bow was complete and attached to the top. Mission accomplished! Next, I decided to make an accent border by cutting a scalloped edge piece of wrapping paper to slide under the overlap to match the bow. SUCCESS!! 

For this package I simply cut a straight strip of coordinating paper, wrapped it around the width of the box and taped it on the back to finish it off. Easy Peasy! And . . .

. . . that's a Wrap!

Christmas Morning Rainbow

May your Christmas sparkle with joy, laughter, and cherished moments.

 Blessings,

Notre Dame Football Cookies & Wings

There is nothing better than BBQ'd wings for a snack during college football so that is exactly what Mr. Wonderful made to share with his buddies at our neighbors Notre Dame watch party.

He also requested some frosted sugar cookies so,

 while he was grilling I was baking.

If it had been my choice I would have gone all out 

on the cookie decorating, however, I aim to please

and these were just what he asked for.

Quick & Super Simple!!👍

No Fuss, No Muss and they taste just the same as if they had taken hours to make and decorate.

Mmm, mmm GOOD!

Go Notre Dame!

Christmas Baking

HOMEMADE

Swedish Cardamom Bread

This sweet bread is one of our favorites, so . . .  

. . . I make it every December. 

The recipe makes three loaves. 

One for us and two to give away. 

Christmas baking and happy hearts, 

this is how our holiday starts! 

HAPPY Tuesday!!

 

Christmas Chalkboard 2025

Our December chalkboard is finally finished.

It took a little longer than usual to narrow down my ideas so I just started with a few words, three to be exact. Once those were in place I added some clouds and then later a border around the outside edge. It was stop and go, however, after several more days of work on it, our chalkboard was ready to hang back up. Now, on to some Christmas Baking!

Have a Merry Monday!🎄

Fun Classroom Painting Projects

Last week our class finished some projects for the holidays.

The kids used watercolors to paint their snowflake. A red bow was added to each one to complete the ornaments. 

We also had our class make Salt Art Pictures.

Each student painted a canvas. While it was still wet we sprinkled salt over the top and then set them aside to dry. The next day we scraped off any excess salt and then framed each of them to make their beautiful art ready for display.

Fun and easy HOLIDAY CRAFTS for kids!

Happy Saturday!

Simple November Chalkboard

This is my November chalkboard as it was when I originally made it. However, after looking at it for about a week, I realize now that I would like it even more if the words were reversed. 

So I did just that. The lighting was not great as the sun is shining bright today and makes my chalkboard look more like a “blue” board in the photo. Not a big deal but that is why it appears that way.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.   ~ Calvin Coolidge

Happy Tuesday!

Come closer…if you dare!

Halloween 2025 is in the books and did not disappoint!

This year the hubs wanted to dress as a Scarecrow and gathered all the parts he needed for his costume as well as picking up some bales of hay for decoration. I helped with some of the details such as drawing his Scarecrow face, stuffing him with hay, and porch decorating, to name a few.

Once we had our supplies we went to work. It didn’t take long before his costume and the porch were ready to go.

The chalkboards were easy since I had made the large one at the beginning of the month and just added the easel. 

The little one did not take long either so it was a nice way to make the porch festive.

Our hydrangeas happened to need a fall trim so we filled crates with the beautiful pedicels to use on the porch as well. They are so rich in color that I could not let them go to waste so they are now inside and will be used to make arrangements for this month.

It was a dark, cold, rainy night but that did not stop the fun. The kids and adults were out having lots of fun. Once we heard the voices outside the hubs got dressed and then we stuffed him with hay. He grabbed his basket of candy and got situated in the old rocking chair on the porch just in time for the first trick or treaters.

He could see just enough through the burlap to tell who was coming up for candy which was fun although, he was careful not to startle or scare the little ones or those he did not know.

It was surprising how few figured it out.

Our “Scarecrow” fooled a lot of kids and adults too.

In spite of the heavy rain it was another 

FUN HALLOWEEN!

Happy November

Halloween Chalkboard

It's Halloween! It's Halloween!
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can't be seen
On any other night!

Jack Prelutsky

🎃

Be Safe, Have Fun 

And have a

Happy HALLOWEEN!

A Pumpkin a Day means . . . .

. . . . . Halloween is on its way!

Friends are the treats in life’s 

trick-or-treat bag, 

Always sweet and never a trick!

Happy Sunday,

Quick and Easy Rice Noodle Stir Fry

Our quick

Traeger Chicken stir-fry!

Easy Peasy Friday night dinner.

And delicious left~overs!

Happy Friday!!

A Taste of Autumn ~ Homegrown

There is nothing better than a meal made with fresh from the garden produce.

A few of our brussels sprout stalks fell over this week on one of the rainy days. The leaves are so big and sturdy they act like buckets and collect the rain until they become too heavy and then down they go. I decided to pick one of the fallen stalks for dinner and stake up the rest. One stalk is plenty, especially since I am the only one that likes LOVES them. In fact, I think they are great no matter how they are cooked, even just steamed. YUM!

The first evening I made loaded quesadilla's, which included brussels sprouts. Easy Peasy! 

They also went well with our homemade marinara sauce (made with our homegrown tomatoes) over cheese tortellini and topped with grilled chicken. 

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Have a Great Saturday!!