Here's to a festive, restful, and beautiful holiday.
Merry Christmas, dear readers!




{image via danagraves}
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free and pretty printable gift tags

 
 by Eat, Drink, Chic

Because I won't leave the house to go Christmas shopping again and because we've got new ink in the printer - I'm going this route for tagging my gifts. And aren't all free holiday tags great? Just click on the link belonging to the tag(s) that wins your favor and follow instructions to download the printable/PDF format.

Happy printing!



by Blush Printables



by west elm



by Heather Powers



by notion: creative



by Marmalade Moon



by sweet jessie



by Sew, Mama, Sew!



by Paper Crave


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Thursday, a Christmas stocking, and Etsy

Image courtesy of TheFloatingWorkshop

When I was little, my favorite part of Christmas morning was going through my stocking. I loved that it was filled with treasures in miniature and chocolate and especially girly trinkets. Of course opening presents was a huge thrill too, but I always grabbed the stocking first....

This Thursday and Etsy comes just in time for the big day- a collection of Christmas stocking stuffers that is sure to brighten the morning!

To start - the stocking itself - there are so many fantastic stockings out there, but I am especially fond of these numbers- the Peekaboo and the Retro Santa. I can just imagine them brimming with treats.


cardinals, blue birds. peekaboo stocking courtesy of smidgebox


Simple Retro Santa Stocking courtesy of nissalynnhome


These finger puppets will be right at home inside any stocking:

Splish Splash Friends -Furry Fingers Finger Puppets courtesy of sweetmellyjane


For the girls - there is something sweetly special about this personalized pendant necklace:
Claire Loves Cherries personalized painted doll pendant courtesy of peanutbutterbandit


Some unique ponytail holders....

little friends ponytail holders courtesy of breadandbuttons


And some stuffed owlies for color-filled play the whole year through:
wee Liberty owlies courtesy of krakracraft


For the boys- what could be better than the superhero version of yourself?
custom superhero peggie courtesy of nakedpeggies


An intimidating and cool way to carry your lunch money....
A Monster Ate My Lunch Money courtesy of TheBurbs



And some fizzy Astro Bathstroids will liven up any tub:

Astro Wild Bathstroid Bath Bombs courtesy of jessicawelch


Everybody is creative in one way or another, so some sidewalk paint and recycled crayons will help them show it to the world:
Sidewalk paint party favors courtesy of SidewalkSensations


Crayon Butterflies-set of 6- courtesy of zeebree


Recycled crayon blocks and men -set of 8- courtesy of zeebree


A little something that is just for you....and your tree:

handmade wooden folk art ornament courtesy of mooshoopork

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Ornament courtesy of artagglomeration



A festive touch to top it all off...

Christmas Tradition Pinwheels-set of 12- courtesy of ElizabethSt



And no stocking would be complete without, at least a few, holiday sweets:

Large round Christmas themed chocolate lollipops courtesy of Candycassions



Peppermint Bark- Snowflake shaped - courtesy of cakesandmorewi

Fingers crossed that I find a stocking even half as cool on my mantel this Christmas!

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Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas

There are so many holiday specials out there. I can definitely take or leave most of them , but my very favorite is actually kind of hard to find in most line-ups. Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas is based on a Russell Hoban/Lillian Hoban (of "Frances the Badger" fame) story and has all the sweet natured charm and humor of the classic Muppets.
Jim Henson developed this " 'Gift of the Magi' with a twist" tale of Emmet Otter and his Ma and it should be a staple of the season. With all of the junky holiday television programming out there these days, it is just nice to see a production with some Christmas spirit....the furry Mupppets are a bonus!


Christmas is approaching in Frogtown Hollow, and Emmet Otter and his Ma hope to buy gifts for each other. Unfortunately, Emmet doesn't make enough from the odd jobs he does, and Ma doesn't make enough as a laundress. They decide to compete in the Frog Town Hollow Talent Contest in order to win money, but Ma will have to hock Emmet's tool chest to buy a costume, and Emmet will have to put a hole in Ma's washtub for his band!

Image courtesy of Google
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Holiday Mercury

Image courtesy of livingbettertogether


Every December I am enchanted by the array of mercury glass ornaments and accessories out there for the holiday season. This year I swear I am going to take advantage of those post Christmas sales and start a collection of my own. Then, one of these Decembers, I can admire my own mantel decked out in crackled, metallic beauty.

It also might be interesting to try this DIY project from Martha Stewart -making my own mercury glass....could mean the collection grows that much faster.


Image courtesy of southernliving

Image courtesy of potterybarn

Image courtesy of potterybarn

Image courtesy of shellsshabbyshack

Image courtesy of grahamandgreen.co.uk

Image courtesy of porchlightinteriors
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A very country Christmas

via pure country music

My mother, a seemingly very classic Northeasterner and city-dweller in both taste and style, has a major soft spot for country Christmas songs. I don't know how it fits into her love of Babs, opera, or weird European experimental music from the 60s, but there you have it.

Of course, whether genetically handed down or because my spirit was broken by its constant presence during my formative years, I too cannot get enough of Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers right now. As a kid growing up in New York, I loved all things related to the frontier life. I reread Laura Ingalls Wilder without pause, planned my Sunday afternoons around the two hour block of "Little House on the Prairie" and "Grizzly Adams," and, every December, made sure I did not miss "Christmas Comes to Willow Creek" (it stars Bo and Luke Duke, for pete's sake!) or Dolly Parton's "A Smokey Mountain Christmas."

And though I've always loved a country Christmas, now that I've married a Southern man - I've gone full tilt country. I'm openly listening to Dolly's "Hard Candy Christmas" on repeat (seriously, it's awesome and not only because it was sung in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas") and tracking Kenny's Christmas Tour even though, that Southerner of a husband of mine may now be at his country Christmas breaking point...
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Salt Dough Ornaments

In the window between Thanksgiving and Christmas I usually like to do some projects with my kids that will wind up being part of our gift to the grandparents. This year I am giving salt dough ornaments a try. I remember making these for our tree and for my grandparents and I'm anxious to have my little guys create their own. I found a very easy, step-by-step, dough recipe and pointers at Kaboose.com.


Although they note the project is for 7-year-olds and up, I really think if parents are handling all of the oven work (obviously) and monitor the painting- really even toddlers can participate (nobody wields a paintbrush like my 2-year-old!).

From Kaboose- This shiny Christmas dough ornament craft is the perfect finishing touch to decorating the tree. It can also be altered and made into lapel pins, magnets and gift-toppers.

What you'll need:
½ cup salt
1 cup flour
½ cup water
Rolling pin
Cookie sheet
Toothpick
Miniature cookie cutters: star and Christmas tree
Acrylic paints: green, yellow, and various colors of your choice for tree ornaments
Glitter glue or glitter paint
ribbon

How to make it:
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Mix together, salt, flour, and water until dough is formed.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour, this will dry out the dough and will cause it to crack before you get a chance to bake it.
4. Roll out the dough to about ¼” thick with a rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.
5. Use cookie cutters to cut out as many trees and stars as you want.
6. Use a toothpick to make a hole toward the top of the shape. Poke the toothpick into the shape, then holding toothpick straight up and down, make a circular motion as if you were stirring something. Keep circling until the hole is the size you want.
7. Place all shapes onto an ungreased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
8. Bake for 2 hours.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
10. Paint. ( When paint is dry, use glitter glue or glitter paint to put a sparkling cover coat on your ornaments. )
11. When dry, thread ribbon through hole and tie in a knot in the back.
12. Tie onto package.

Tips:
If your toppers are large enough, you can make two holes in each so that you can thread ribbon through like a button, only showing a small amount of ribbon on the front.
These make adorable pins to wear to school. Just don’t make a hole. Glue a pin back to the back of the completed ornament instead.
Uncooked salt dough doesn’t keep well, so only make enough dough for the ornaments you are going to make. If you are only making a few toppers, halve the ingredients above. The listed amounts will make enough ornaments for a classroom of 20.
While I was researching this project, I came across some sophisticated and intricate examples of salt dough ornaments that I just loved at katyelliott.com. These beautiful snowflakes are inspiring me to make some "grown-up" ornaments as well!



All images courtesy of google via salt dough ornament search at images
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Holiday Images

Around this time every year, I wish that Norman Rockwell still created magazine covers. I think his artfully captured marriage of the exaggerated and the familiar is unparalleled. His depiction of expressions and, equally impressively, an overall spirit or emotion, are accomplishments that remain admirable and incredible decades after his pencils and paints touched the paper.

If you ever find yourself around Stockbridge, MA- there is no excuse- you have to drop by the Norman Rockwell Museum. It is home to 574 Rockwell works and celebrates his tremendous contribution to American illustration.







All images courtesy of google

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Christmas according to Linus, the poet

Charlie Brown:



"I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about."

[shouting in desperation]

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

Linus:


"Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about."

[moves toward the center of the stage]


"Lights, please."

[a spotlight shines on Linus]


"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

[Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]


"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."


Here's hoping that despite all the madness of the holidays - you get a chance to rest, have plenty of laughter, and an abundance of love from the ones that mean most to you. Merry Christmas everyone!!



(sources: 1st image, text, 2nd image)
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Treats

Crackly Sugar Cookies courtesy of chow.com
This week is all about sweet treats around here. I decided to put up three favorites- some classic sugar cookies, Gramercy Tavern Gingergread, and a Christmas cocktail (for after all the wrapping gifts, making food, and hanging stockings with care).
Crackly Sugar Cookies
INGREDIENTS
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup sugar (sanding or granulated) for rolling cookies

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Combine butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl sides and bottom. Add yolks, vanilla, and salt and beat until smooth, about 30 seconds.
2. Add flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar and mix on low speed until dough comes together. Scoop dough by rounded tablespoons and roll between your hands until smooth.
3. Roll dough in sanding or granulated sugar to coat and place on parchment-paper-lined baking sheets. Bake cookies until they are golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center, about 16 minutes. Immediately transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Image courtesy of smittenkitchen.com

Gramercy Tavern Gingerbread
INGREDIENTS
1 cup oatmeal stout or Guinness Stout
1 cup dark molasses (not blackstrap)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of ground cardamom
3 large eggs
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
Confectioners sugar for dusting
Accompaniment: Unsweetened whipped cream
INSTRUCTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter bundt pan and dust with flour, knocking out excess. 2.Bring stout and molasses to a boil in a large saucepan and remove from heat. Whisk in baking soda, then cool to room temperature.
3.Sift together flour, baking powder, and spices in a large bowl. Whisk together eggs and sugars. 4.Whisk in oil, then molasses mixture. Add to flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
5. Pour batter into bundt pan and rap pan sharply on counter to eliminate air bubbles.
6.Bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out with just a few moist crumbs adhering, about 50 minutes.Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely.
Serve cake, dusted with confectioners sugar, with whipped cream.



Image courtesy of marthastewart.com

Candy Cane Cocktail
INGREDIENTS
Makes one cocktail

1 candy cane, crushed, for garnish
2 ounces strawberry vodka
4 dashes white creme de menthe
2 1/2 ounces cranberry juice
Ice cubes

INSRUCTIONS
Place crushed candy canes on a small plate or saucer. Wet the outside rim of a chilled martini glass with water. Holding the glass by the stem, rotate the rim to coat with candy.
In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, creme de menthe, cranberry juice, and ice; shake until well combined. Strain into prepared glass; serve immediately.

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