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Whew! We could *possibly* be ready (we just saw that Santa is in South America!).
I am going to take some time off from this space between Christmas and New Year's to spend some time with relax a bit with family. Thank you all for taking the time to read, comment, and discuss everything that goes on here. I appreciate you all more than you know, and we're going to have some fun in 2012. Happiest of Holidays to everyone out there! Enjoy every minute!
xo,
Blair
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When I fold the laundry (which, truth be told, is not as often as it should be, a clean heap can usually be found on the chair in our bedroom, dubbed by the family as the "chair of shame"), I usually watch a few minutes of tv and on Sunday I was watching the Food Network, Barefoot Contessa in London. Ina Garten's recipes are very dependable for our family, I've never really made anything of hers that didn't turn out delicious without alot of crazy prep. On this show, she made white chocolate lollipops, and they looked so easy, I knew the kids and I would have fun adding them to our holdiay "baking" list.
I'm not a big fan of white chocolate, so I chose semi-sweet chocolate chips, and we picked to add to them: roasted cashews, dried cherries, candied ginger, toffee bits, miniature peppermint candy canes (these available at Home Cake if you are local, read a great write up about this store on Seattle Bon Vivant.).
We melted the chocolate in the microwave, then spooned the chocolate onto parchment in rounded globs. We inserted the lollipop stick into the center and gave it a little twist to cover it, then proceeded to add something to each on (or not, since we left some plain for Ian, the purist).
We made about 40 out of 3 bags of chocolate chips (okay, we did eat some of the chocolate). They set up at room temperature in about an hour, then we bagged them in cellophane and tied them with yarn.
Super easy!
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P.S.- Check it, I have a new header : D
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I like to think of myself as one of those people that sees some amazing display at a store like Anthropologie, thinking- as we all do- "Wow, I could so make that.", and then goes home and actually makes it. That doesn't happen as much as I'd like it to. However, my creative fires were lit during a recent trip. Those adorable little salt shakers recycled into sweet little Christmas shakers they are currently selling? Whoever created them did brilliantly creative job, I just couldn't afford to buy a dozen of them, as I would have liked.
Let's take the proverbial handmade by the hands, shall we?
These are a bit smaller, but the idea that I actually came home and made them is making me so very happy. About 5 minutes each once I'd gathered the supplies.
I found a set of lovely salt shakers with screw tops on etsy, but these are available at thrift stores. The tiny trees may be trickier to find, but they are out there. (The seller I found mine thru doesn't seem to have anymore, but do an etsy search for miniature tree.)
Other than that, I used Martha Stewart coarse white glitter, some tape for the inside of the top, a bit of craft glue, that was it. Make sure the inside of the salt shaker is clean, then dab a bit of glue on the bottom of the tree, stick it inside the shaker, and use a pencil or knitting needle to move it how you want it. Put some tape on the inside of the top to prevent the glitter from spilling out. I poured enough glitter inside to cover the wooden base of the tree, and that's it.
Disclaimer- While I did not choose to buy the lovely little Christmas shakers they had for sale and make my own instead, I did in fact buy 4 other beautiful things, spent too much money, brought them home, plopped them on Peter's office chair, with a sticky note reading "Santa should give me these".
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I love this project! No thinking (I can talk and work at the same time)... no fussy counting beyond my foundation row, which I did as a no foundation foundation chain. Pretty life-changing, that little trick! My colors ended up being very similar to the Purl version, I am using a neonish green Koigu Kersti and my favorite basic yarn, Cascade 220, in Aliki Beach (heather). Using these neutral shades with a shot of neon is really exciting me these days. Pure joy to work on.
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I met my big deadline, and life now enters a new, relaxed holiday mode. December was off to a rocky start... I really didn't have my schedule together and was a little scattered (what? dinner? you guys want dinner? from me?) but somehow, I found a rhythm that seemed to get me through.
And now? With deadline met, the wine tastes a little sweeter, sleep is a little less restless, and I can't wait to start a crochet project to carry me through the holiday break... the crochet project that I'll be doing just because I want to do it and no other reason.
I have some DIY projects to share here, but I think you may have to give me a minute. In the meantime, don't forget about those times I was stuck in the house during the holidays because of snow-covered streets, making things like the simple wreath of avoidance (love that one) or one of the products of my crochet-obsessed period, the crocheted granny square scarf that is a cinch to make it you are already a crocheter, perfect for anyone with a cold neck. Or the simple sewn scarf that is also perfect for a cold neck. And don't forget the tomorrowland holiday trees. Or crocheted candle cozies (these are all over our house right now, its so cold here everything needs a sweater).
And unrelated... maybe I'm just a little premenstrual, but this song makes me cry like a newborn right now.
Flat out.
Wet rag.
On the floor.
And also random, the deer are patronuses, thank you Nancy and Priscilla! How did I miss Harry Potter connection? That must be why I love them so much. Every day at 4pm, bam! Patronuses!
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a doe and a buck in my front yard. And now I have them. Thanks for indulging my corny request Peter!
Now to name them...
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Assemble is turning 2 years old, and to celebrate they are having a milk and bookies party this Friday night from 5-9:00 pm. Bring a children's book to donate and help my favorite little shop celebrate their birthday.
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Saturday's advent was decorating gingerbread houses. I knew there was not going to be much actual house decorating for the holidays until after the weekend, so just as I'd hoped, these kept the kids happy and occupied for most of the afternoon. Ian's house is a reindeer farm. (You knew there had to be one somewhere.) As he explained it, this is where Santa's reindeer are raised. The farmer is a frog, but you can't see him cause he's busy. (Course.) Each of the flags designate which country they will cover. Apparently, the US is well covered, as is Switzerland and Germany. The fate of the other countries rests on whether or not he can locate any other flag cupcake toppers in my baking drawer. Here's hoping...
I am joining lots of friends and posting photos over at habit all through the month of December. So much fun, be sure and check in.
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