Day 15: Little Trees

I hope you find time this year to decorate more than just one room in your home. This is the first year we've put a little tree in the girls' room and next year we'll add one to Sam's too. I can tell the girls have already moved some of the ornaments around, as it's a bit bare in the front. I found this little tinsel tree at Target for under $10. For lack of a better idea this year (or time to hunt down the perfect ornaments) I bought a few basic bulbs from Target ($5) and then just tied ribbons into bows and added a fabric remnant (Heather Bailey's Freshcut to match their room) for a tree skirt. They love having this in their room.

Day 14: The Vintage Pearl

Need a last minute gift? Purchase a gift certificate from my friend Erin at The Vintage Pearl. She'll e-mail you the certificate to print right away. What could be easier than that? Your friend or loved one will enjoy picking out their own special treasure after Christmas. And right now she is running a special, for every $25 gift cert you purchase, you'll receive a $5 credit to use in 2010. See here for more details.

While you're at it, run over to her blog today and enter to win a necklace of your choice, as she is debuting this lovely new font called "whimsy."

Day 13: Ornament Wreath

I saw this craft posted and thought it was so pretty. Looking at it, I would have no idea it was made this way, so I thought you might enjoy looking under the hood too. I'm tucking this one away for next year. You can find it here by Eddie Ross.

Day 12: Dreamy Hot Cocoa

Oh me, oh my! If you love chocolate, then you have to make this. It's seriously better than anything you'd get at a coffee shop. You won't have to brave the cold weather or fork over your life savings for it either. You can make it whenever you like and chances are you have everything you need already in your pantry/fridge. It'ss ridiculously easy to make. You will never go back to Swiss Miss again.

Dreamy Hot Cocoa
⅓ cups Cocoa Powder
⅔ cups Granulated Sugar
⅓ cups Boiling Water
6 cups Milk (whole If You Have It)

Add boiling water to cocoa and sugar, in a saucepan. Whisk until fully combined. Then bring to a boil. Lower heat and add the 6 cups of milk until scalded. Don’t let it boil or it will get a yucky skin on top. Keep warm on the stove. Makes 6 cups.

Garnish options: whipped cream, mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, crushed candy canes, mini Andes mints.

*For a printable version of this recipe, find it here at Tasty Kitchen.

Day 11: Pretzel Wreaths

OK, so I'm cheating here a little and posting this recipe from last year again. I actually got the idea from Kacy's post last night. My Thursday didn't go quite as planned so I couldn't finish what I had in mind for today's real post. But that's ok, right? It probably just means I'll end up posting more than 12 days. And these really are a fun treat to make with kids of all ages.



*Previously posted on December 10th, 2008.

"This morning the girls and I started making gifts for our neighbors. This year we are giving them bags of the yummiest pretzel candy treats. I chose them for how kid friendly they are to make. And it was fun to talk to the girls while we were "baking" about why we give gifts at Christmas.

If you've never made these, run right now to the store and whip some up tonight. They are super easy and oh so yummy. Just remember when you eat one that you are eating a whole Hershey's kiss...it's easy to forget and 20 or so later...yeah, been there, done that.

You'll need
1 bag of ring pretzels
2 bags of kisses (hugs are fun too)
1 bag of M's
2 cute helpers don't hurt either

Helper #1



Ok, so the "don't smile at me...you better not smile at me" trick works. But now I just need to get them not to open their mouths with every smile.

Helper #2



Getting ready...



M's make a great diversion to keep the kisses from being eaten.



Now line your cookie sheet with pretzels and top each with a kiss. One bag of kisses will fill one sheet with 25 to spare.



The perfectionist in me only allows me to use the most perfect looking pretzels (and I even make sure they are face up). The rejects all end up here ready to be crushed for Strawberry Pretzel Salad.



Bake for 5 minutes at 200 degrees. The kisses won't change shape, but they will be melted and ready for you to push an M into the top to make it fill up the pretzel.



Put in the fridge to cool. Then hide them or they will be gone too soon!"

Eggs and Bacon alternative
Place 2 small pretzel rods a bit apart. Top with a white chocolate candy. Melt and press only yellow M's into the chocolate candy.

For an easy-to-print version of this recipe, find it here on Tasty Kitchen.