Snowman Soup

We have made snowman soup so many times over the years for teacher gifts and gift's for my daughter's friends. It is such a cute gift and inexpensive when you have alot of gifts to give. My sister in law and my oldest daughter are both nurses and they said they might be giving Snowman soup to their coworkers this year for Christmas. So if this idea works for you...go to the dollar stores now and get your snowman mugs before they sell out!

Snowman Soup Recipe

1 individual packet hot chocolate mix
2-3 chocolate kiss candies
10-15 mini-marshmallows
small candy cane

Assemble all in a celophane treat bag and put bag into a mug (preferably one with a snowman on it)

Attach a tag to it with one of the following poems that you handwrite or print from your printer:

SNOWMAN SOUP

When the weather outside is frightful, Snowman Soup can be delightful.

May it warm your spirit and your soul.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

When you feel a chill or 'brrrrrr', Use the peppermint stick to stir.

Add hot water and sip it slow.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

SNOWMAN SOUP
Was told you've been real good this year. Always glad to hear it!

With freezing weather drawing near, You'll need to warm the spirit.

So here's a little Snowman Soup complete with stirring stick.

Add hot water, sip it slow. It's sure to do the trick!

Have Fun!
Darlene

Hey Cookie....

Just a little reminder......

I am hosting our 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Recipe Party every Friday the month of December until Dec. 25th. Please come share a Christmas Cookie Recipe at our linky party on fridays in December. Our first party will be December 4th...so please grab this button and spread the word.

Just save the photo as and post it on the sidebar of your blog.

I'm Thankful For You!

Wishing all of my blog friends a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for all of you! I will be taking a few days off to spend time with my family, but I'll be back Monday. Until then here's a great poem I recently found on being thankful. I hope you enjoy it...I really did!

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know somethingFor it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes they will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.

God Bless You!

Darlene

Make a Pottery Barn Stratton Bed

I have been wanting the Stratton Bed from Pottery Barn for our master bedroom for awhile, but not willing to spend $1000 for it! I knew it would be something hubby could make (if he had the time).

Well I just got a friendly email from Ana who is a furniture designer that creates plans to make furniture knockoffs from Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Restoration Hardware. She has all the plans to make the PB Stratton bed on her blog for FREE!!! This $1000 bed ends up only costing $200 to build! WooHoo!!!

I think with that kind of savings I can talk hubby into building this for me...maybe as a Christmas present for me! Hint Hint Hubby (just in case you read my blog) LOL

and in case you haven't heard......

I'm hosting the 2nd annual Christmas Cookie Recipe Party!

It will be held the every friday in December until Christmas.

Please take this button to put on your blog to spread the word.

Thanks!!

Darlene

Your Invited to a PARTY!!

I am hosting our 2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Recipe Party every Friday the month of December. Please come share a Christmas Cookie Recipe at our linky party on fridays in December. Our first party will be December 4th...so please grab this button and spread the word.

Our New Blog Button

I just finished working hours and hours on this little blog button...boy do I hate html!!

Will you be so kind to post our blog button on your blog??

We would be so happy & grateful if you would!!!

<center><a href="http://www.ourcreativelife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k52/ideamom/blogbutton-2.jpg" /></a></center>

Just copy and paste the html code onto your sidebar of your blog.

Thanks!!

Darlene

Our Confused Christmas Tree

The holiday season is upon us and our super busy time for our business!! We get so many orders for custom rugs...(if you need one, get your order in now) so between rugs and our animal print ornaments we stay busy, busy busy!!

Since our prelit tree had only about 1/3rd of it's lights working last year, hubby said, "I don't have time to fix it this year...just go buy a new tree." So I obeyed! LOL

Our new Bethlehem Lights Tree came on Tuesday, so we put it up to test it. Instead of putting it back away for 1 week, we decided to leave it up. So now our Christmas tree is decorated for Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving is over all I have to do is remove the fall leaves and add my gold and white christmas decorations to the tree.

Our Jumbo Size Animal Print Ornaments come in Leopard or Zebra in sets of 4 for $32.99, so if you want some for your Christmas tree... click here to order

How's that for my shameless plug?! HaHa

Go check out Between Naps On The Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Be Blessed!

Darlene

My Favorite Things

Don't ya just love watching Oprah's Favorite Things show? I know I do. It has become something I look forward to every year and every year I try to figure out how to get tickets for that particular show. LOL

320 Sycamore is hosting a "My Favorite Things" party! Ok, time to party!

My favorite makeup is Everyday Minerals. It is like the popular brand Bare Minerals except without the harmful bismuth oxychloride and alot less expensive. It's awesome...just try it!




My favorite candy is Brown & Hayley's Almond Roca. It is soooo yummy!!! In case you've never had it...it is buttercrunch toffee covered in chocolate & almonds. You need to try it if you haven't already!!




I started drinking coffee about 2 years ago (never liked it before) and now I love it! I have found some great flavored coffees from Gevalia. They have a great promotion going on where you can order 3 coffees or teas for $3!!! You even get a travel mug with it for free! I got the Mocha, Irish Creme, and Chocolate Rasberry. Hurry, go order yours now...HERE!! This would even be great as a gift with a nice coffee cup! Just think it could even be 3 gifts!!

I LOVE soft cuddly blanket and found this blanket last year at Kohls. It's big and super soft! It is on sale for $19.99, but go to http://www.retailmenot.com/ and find some coupon codes to get it even cheaper! That is what I did and got mine for $11!


The perfume that I like is usually clean, fresh scents, and there is one perfume that my hubby LOVES! In 21 yrs of marriage he has only ever commented on Dream Angels Heavenly from Victoria's Secret. So since hubby loves it...I must keep wearing it! LOL


Anyone that knows me knows that I treat myself to bubble baths everyday. A bubble bath that I buy myself every year at this time of year is from Philosophy. Every year at Christmas time QVC sells a large Philosophy bubble bath. I wonder what the scent will be this year? I'm sure whatever it is I'll love it!
Last Christmas I bought myself a Kitchenaid Artisan Mixer is Gloss Cinnamon and have to say, "I Love It!! If you love to bake like I do, put this on your christmas list!!

I love to make my house smell good so I use the home fragrance oils at Bath & Body Works and here is one I love for Christmas.

Now what are your favorites??

Darlene

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

Are you hosting Thanksgiving at your home? Do you have your table centerpiece/decor chosen yet? I was going through some photos on my computer that I had saved for inspiration and thought I would share them with all of you. (I do not remember where these photos originated from, so if you know...tell me so I can give that person the credit for the photo)

Here's an easy one, just put acorns in a glass cylinder vase and top with an unscented candle.

How dramatic is this?! Little white pumpkins in a vase with white flowers and branches...beautiful!

This is stunning! Who said you had to put a turkey on the table? This rooster looks perfectly at home on this Thanksgiving table!


Same principal as the white pumpkin tablescape, but done with crabapples and flowering white & red branches.

Phesant Feathers in a Vase...super easy!


Old world style vases with fall colors and fruit, pumpkins on the table

Oh and here's mine...

Go see other creative tablescapes at Susan's from Between Naps On The Porch Mr Linky Party, "tablescape thursday"

A Child's Thanksgiving Tree

The leaves are almost all off the trees and Thanksgiving is just 1 week away. Are you ready?

I am almost ready. Just need to do some grocery shopping for the big dinner. Oh and decorate our Christmas Tree. Yes, I said Christmas Tree. Actually we just bought a new prelit tree last night and had to put it up to make sure it worked. Instead of putting it away for 1 week, we decided to just leave it out and put some of our fall-ish looking ornaments on it for now. I'll show you as soon as it's done.

But for now...how about a Thanksgiving craft for your little ones?

Just mentioning the word "Thanksgiving" often conjures up memories for many. Traditions are relived and new ones are born on this joyous family holiday. Why not start a new one with your children with this fun and simple activity.

To make your own Thanksgiving Tree you will need the following:

Materials

sheet of white poster board

pencil

tempera paint, markers or crayons

construction paper in red, yellow, green and orange

markers

scissors

glue or tape

glitter glue (optional)

Variation: This project can also be easily adapted to a cork board (see photo) by simply using colored push pins to match the leaves. Use brown construction paper to make the tree trunk.You may draw the tree trunk freehand or print out our template

At the top of the posterboard, entitle your tree "Smith Kids Thanksgiving Tree", inserting your family surname in the title.

With a pencil on poster board, draw a basic tree with a branch for each child in the family. If you only have 1-2 children, it might be fun to include two or three branches for each child. Using tempera paint, markers, or crayons color the tree trunk brown. On red, orange, green and yellow construction paper, trace 10 copies of each child's hand. Cut out and give each child their "leaves". Each child writes one thing that they are thankful for on each leaf (grown ups can help if needed!). You may decorate the leaves with glitter glue if you like. Next, tape or glue the leaves onto their designated branches. This makes a great activity to keep kids happy during a large family gathering. Hint: Make the base ahead of time for quick start up. Hang up the Thanksgiving Tree where the whole family can see it. Makes a great conversation piece! Later, after dinner, have the children present their tree to the family gathered around. Each child tells what they are thankful for and why. For added fun, make additional posterboard bases up ahead of time so that the rest of the family can add their leaves as well. Have supplies at the ready!

Here's a GREAT DEAL for all you Tablescapers

Stock up now for your 4th of July Tablescape!! These bowls and cups are on CLEARANCE and I also have a $10 off coupon for you, so is that a GREAT DEAL or what??!! Hurry, stock up now!!! Just go here. $10 off coupon code is: GR8VALUE
It expires 11/23

Set of 4 flag bowls/flag cups are $4.99 before using the coupon!!

HERE

Can't wait to see your tablescapes next June/July!!

Have a great day!

Darlene

Amazing Song Sunday!

This is my new favorite song!! So powerful!
Hope you are all blessed by it!

Jesus, the most beautiful
Name of all names
Jesus, the only name
That brings healing and strength

When I speak Your name
Mountains move, chains are loosed
When I speak Your name
Darkness flees
It has no hold on me

Jesus, most beautiful name that I know
You're the exalted One
Jesus, You have the power alone
You lift the lowly one, Jesus

Jesus, the most wonderful
Name of all names
Jesus, the only Name
That brings freedom and hope

When I speak Your name
Mountains move, chains are loosed
When I speak Your name
Darkness flees
It has no hold on me

Jesus, most beautiful name that I know
You're the exalted One
Jesus, You have the power alone
You lift the lowly one, Jesus

Be exalted
Be exalted
Be exalted higher and higher

Life Is Short...Eat Dessert First!

It's Foodie Friday again and time for another recipe that I'm making for our Thanksgiving dinner. Oh my...I just realized all of my recipes have been desserts. Oh well, what's that saying...."Life is short...eat dessert first." Yeah, that's it and it sounds good to me!

Ha Ha

What's better on an apple pie than cinnamon ice cream....NOTHING!!

So get out your ice cream makers & whip up this delish ice cream!

1 cup whole milk
3/4 c. sugar
pinch of salt
10 cinnamon sticks broken up
2 cups heavy cream
5 large egg yolks

Warm the milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon sticks and 1 cup of the cream in a medium saucepan. Once warm, cover, remove from the heat, and let step at room temp for 1 hour.
Rewarm the cinnamon infused milk mixture. Remove the cinnamon sticks with slotted spoon and discard them. Pour the remaining 1 cup cream into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer on top.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm mixture into the ehh yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as your stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula. Pour the custard through the strainer and into the cream. Stir until cool over an ice bath.
Chill the mixture throughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according the manufacturer’s instructions.

What are you making for Thanksgiving??

Have a great weekend!

Darlene

A Fall Tablescape

I had to participate in Tablescape Thursday today since I just finished my dining table redo (it use to be golden oak). It looks so much better & updated. Click here to see the table before.

So on to the tablescape....I got the glass hurricane candle holder at a garage sale this past weekend for $2. Perfect with pinecones and some Pottery Barn faux acorns as a filler. Oh and the black frame around the centerpiece that was a hideous gold frame that I sprayed black. I actually used the frame last yr for my thanksgiving tablescape as well. Just love the look of the square frame on the table, it's unexpected!

How do you like my wine glasses? I just got those today at the Dollar Store. I love that they are green on top with a clear stem and for $1 each I couldn't pass them up!

The napkin rings I got a few yrs ago at a discount store for around $3. Some have pumpkins on them and some have gourds/squash.

Pumpkin salt & pepper shakers were found last yr at our local flea market for a whole $3. Can you tell after this post that I am a bargain shopper?? LOL! I love finding a bargain...it's the thrill of the hunt!



Be sure to go check out all the other tablescapes at Susan's blog-Between Naps On The Porch

Have a blessed day!

Darlene