Just because it's pretty...

The original website for these lightbulb vases seems defunct...I found it on Pinterest, here.

P.S. Happy New Year :)

24 ideas to make your life easier

The new year is coming up sooner than later...why not start if off with the intent of making life easier?! Thanks to my Mom for this one. Enjoy!

Christmas B•O•N•K•E•R•S

I thought I had things under control up until last night...not that I'm super organized to begin with but I was hoping a few would have been done by now things done by now:

• Christmas cards mailed
• House cleaned
• Laundry put away
• Grocery shopping done
• All simple, but thoughtful gifts bought/made and wrapped
• Basement reno done (this one's sorta out of my control)

What to do first, right now? Nothing. That's right. I'm done. This afternoon I'm going to try and take a nap. I have 1 hour and 50 minutes until my daughter  comes home from preschool. I'll get back to the list tonight after the kiddies are in bed...

So, from now until after the holidays are over here please feel free to check out the Christmas Posts from the past (there are some good ones, including my Grandmother's Carmel Corn recipe)...as I'll be sporting a rubber glove on one hand, an oven mitt on the other while the hot glue gun is heating up next to the cookies to be iced on top of the grocery list -BUT HEY - these are all good "problems" to have...and for that I am really grateful. 

Happy holidays and see you in the New Year!

P.S. Dear Mom, I now fully understand why your Christmas list had "A Clean House" on it...XOXO

Watercolour Icing

I made some shortbread cookies for Christmas and decided to ice them in buttercream (my favorite) with my Wilton Gel Food Colouring (12 pack from Walmart - so good). I had planned to ice each cookie with one colour but, of course, ran out mid way...so I started combining colours and voila a happy accident - watercolour cookies. They are more impressive in person and almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

Lindsay's Buttercream Icing Recipe

1/2 c (or one stick) softened margarine + icing sugar + splash vanilla

Just keep adding icing sugar until you get the consistency/flavour that makes you give yourself a mental high five.

Make it chocolate buttercream by tossing in some cocoa, add instant coffee grinds to chocolate to make mocha.

Can be flavoured with any flavouring (coconut, peppermint, etc.) instead of, or in addition to, vanilla.

Elf Chocolate Hunt

Our three daughter had SO much fun searching for Easter Eggs last year that she still talks about it.
Well, I had an idea the other day, why not hide chocolate kisses on Christmas morning "from Santa's Elves"? I think it's gonna be a big hit...and it's another way to get my husband involved in the fun and tradition - he can be the one to hide the chocolates on Christmas Eve :)

Ways to wear a scarf - again!

Remember this post...12 ways to wear a scarf?

Up'd.

Check out this video: 25 ways to wear a scarf in 4.5 minutes. So super cute and well done.
She also has a website and youtube channel - happy browsing!