Elfin Magic

Christopher Pop-in-kins spent the Christmas season hiding in various spots in our house.  Like Elf on the Shelf, this little fella appears in children's homes and keeps a watch on their behavior, reporting back to Santa!  My son loves this tradition! 

Christopher left him small treats in our various advent calendars for him to find each morning...like this one:

And of course we had to get the Elf on the Shelf DVD, this year because my son's so into elves. 

So when it came time for baking, I had an idea!

These jolly North Pole Christmas elf cookies were perfect!   He loved their crooked little smiles and happy expressions! 

A simple and cute way to add a little elfin magic to any holiday celebration!

From my home to yours

From my home to yours...

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Today I'll be in the kitchen, finishing my baking...

immersed in flour, icing, and sprinkles!

I hope you're {nearly} ready, too :)

Gobble Gobble Turkey Cookies

Take time to savor the moments this Thanksgiving.

Laugh often and out loud.
Smile widely.

Listen to the whispers of children and the wisdom of the old.

Give everyone big, warm arm-stretched hugs.

Relish your favorite foods with delight.

Count your blessings ~ you'll likely be surprised at how blessed you are!

Enjoy the lovely sites, delicious smells and familiar sounds that surround you.

Savor this holiday and those that are celebrating with you.

For this Thanksgiving will never come again.

Cherish every blessed moment of it.

Glad Tidings

I've been soaking up every blessed minute of this Christmas season ~ this is what life is all about...rejoicing in life's simple pleasures, indulging in all that we love, surrounded with our family and friends, fondly remembering year's past while hopefully looking to the New Year ahead :)

Christmas 2010 was filled with sweetness and joy in our household.  Pure bliss! 

For Christmas time is magical ~ the lights, the sounds, the sweet smells, the smiling faces, the unexpected surprises all adorably wrapped up and waiting to be opened.   I don't care how old I get, I always feel like a child again at Christmas. 

People often ask me why I go through so much hassle ~ as if turning our home into a Christmas wonderland for the joy of my son can be considered work!  

To the naysayers, I ask what could possibly be more important 

than bringing happiness to a little one?!?  

Seeing those little eyes light up ~ the excitement, the anticipation....truly nothing on this earth is anywhere near as important! 

 

I decorate inside and out...trees in nearly every room.  Little seasonal splendors tucked into virtually every nook and cranny ~ holidays soaps and towels in the bathrooms, candy cane holders for guests to take home a treat (or two), holiday DVDs, Christmas books, freshly baked cookies and treats, holiday candles in peppermint, Christmas Cookies, pine and sparkling cinnamon, fresh greenery, cheery snowmen, warm cozy throws...

Our home gets turned into Christmasland 

each and every December.  

And I wouldn't have it any other way :)

A giant Santa airblown in our front yard.

~ Sharing Christmas Love ~

On Christmas Eve, I finished up my baking, 

carefully wrapping up boxes of cookies 

to give as tasty & thoughtful little gifts for neighbors, friends and family.

A variety of delicious handmade cookies tucked into darling gingerbread boxes.

Who wouldn't like to receive a box of homemade Christmas cookies?!?

Then my son and I made our annual perfectly imperfect gingerbread house,

getting messy and sticky with icing and candies,

laughing and sharing memories together :)

And we finished up the afternoon baking his cookies for Santa.

What sweet memories in the making...

learning at my hand just as I did from my mom.

Both of us wearing our matching gingerbread aprons.

The special Santa plate and key we put out each year.

My husband went outside to light the traditional white paper bag 

luminaries that line our walkway, 

and turn on our Christmas lights...

while my son sprinkled reindeer food (oats and Christmas sugars) on the lawn.

An early gift on Christmas Eve!

It's a tradition to open one early gift on Christmas Eve,

A Frosty the Snowman,

a Frosty recordable storybook,

and new Christmas pjs!

Once the little guy is tucked into bed,

it's time for Christmas magic to begin!!

Christmas morning bounty waiting to be discovered!

Wrapping paper flying

discarded boxes and bows

A piping hot pot of coffee brewing,

fresh cinnamon rolls baking away in the oven...

Ahhh, Christmas morning!!!

I love every blessed second of it!!!!

Entertaining special company throughout the day,

playing with our new treasures...

watching favorite Christmas specials and movies.

It makes all of the planning & all of the prep 

SO worth it!

For dinner, I made a savory beef roast,

with succulent herb-roasted seasonal vegetables,

and homemade melt-in-your-mouth buttery-softened dinner rolls.

I hope your Christmas was filled with wonder and delight,

and I wish all of you 

a joyous, prosperous, and healthy

2011!

Frosty, Merry, and oh so Sweet!

Want a quick, adorable, and satisfying little treat for the kids this season?

I whipped up these  

frosty little smiling snowmen cupcakes

for my son's preschool class last week.

Using snowman cupcake liners,

I baked simple chocolate cupcakes

and frosted them with decadent buttercream frosting,

and dusted them with icy sugar crystals.

I added chocolate chip eyes (or you can use M&M candies)

gumdrop noses cut like carrots,

gumdrop earmuffs,

licorice whip bands,

royal icing smiles,

and I sprayed their little cheeks with food coloring spray

to give them rosy cheeks.

So simple,

so cute,

and so sweet and merry!

Your little ones will positively adore these jovial, 

colorful little snowman cupcakes!

For more Christmas Cookie ideas,

visit my 2009 post:

Christmas Cookies!

♫ Christmas Caroler Cookies ♪

Bundled up for the cold to spread their Christmas cheer....

these cute little Christmas Caroler Kid Cookies are ready to sing your favorite carols!  

♫ Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All the Way... ♫

The perfect holiday cookie for children,

(particularly preschoolers)...
these cookies can be customized to resemble your children and their little friends.

 The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Imagine a welcoming platter of these adorable cookies,

served with mugs of piping hot chocolate

after a frosty evening out caroling in your neighborhood!

* Tip:  Any basic sugar cookie recipe will work for the dough.

You can add food coloring or cocoa powder to give the children different complexions. *

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• Paste or liquid food coloring
• Small candies for decorating (optional)
• royal icing

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.

Divide dough in half. Shape each half of dough into a 6 inch roll. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour or until dough is firm.

Step 1.) Once the dough is made and chilled for about an hour, 

roll it out, and using a biscuit cutter or round cookie cutter,

cut the shapes for the children's faces.

Step 2.)  Roll small bits of dough to form a nose.
Press the nose gently onto the center of the cookie.

Step 3.) Using a straw, create a little oval-shaped, open mouth on 

each unbaked cookie to give them the appearance of singing.

Step 4.)  Once all of the mouths are done,

the cookies will look something like this.

Step 5.)  Using paste food colorings,

tint smaller batches of sugar cookie dough for hair, scarves, earmuffs and hats.

Step 6.) Using a clean garlic press,
force a tablespoon of colored dough through to make hair.

I have a new garlic press that I use only for this purpose.

Step 7.) Once the "hair" comes out,
gently lift it and press onto the heads of the cookies.
Use other small bits of tinted dough to form earmuffs, scarves and hats.

Like this...

Now your carolers are ready to be baked!

Step 8.) Pop the cookies into a 375 degree oven for 6-8 minutes.

Step 9.) Let the baked cookies cool on the cookie sheets
for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 10.)  Once the cookies have cooled,
you can finish decorating them with royal icing and candies.

Step 11.) To give their cheeks a rosy appearance as if they've been out in the cold,

fill a small cup with a couple of tablespoons of water 

and add a scant drop or two of red food coloring or paste.

Step 12.) Use a clean paintbrush to lightly apply the diluted coloring 
to the cheeks of each cookie.

* Tip: the brush should be nearly dry.  
Keep a paper towel nearby to rub off the excess before applying to the cookie. 

Step 13.)  Attach mini chocolate chip eyes using royal icing
or other candies as you'd like!

Voila!


Individually packaged with musical note tags,
or set on a platter or in a box wrapped in sheet music,
this little cherubic chorus of one-of-a-kind faces is sure to be a crowd pleaser!