New Years Eve Decor

Here is my New Years decor for this year! I used my Silhouette to cut out the letters {Happy New Year} and hung them from the shelf in our kitchen.

I then used my Silhouette to cut out {2012} and added it to this frame. The snowflake ornaments hung from the frame and the shelf above are from the dollar tree.

I then filled a vase with silver ornaments and white snowflake ornaments from Crate and Barrell

DIY Earring Holder

Here is a very simple project that would make a great gift for someone else or yourself!

Take a picture frame (found mine for 25 cents at a thrift store) and paint it whatever color you like. Then staple porch screen to the back of the frame. I have also seen on Pinterest where someone used burlap instead of screen and it turned out really cute!

 Finally, find a frame stand that is the right height and add your earrings!

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Here is a simple but delicious holiday snack! All you need is some Wax paper, pretzels, white chocolate and sprinkles.

I used a fork to dip the pretzels in the melted chocolate. Let dry on wax paper.

DIY Gift: Mocha Cocoa

Here is a recipe for Mocha Cocoa in a jar. A great DIY Christmas gift for just about anyone on your Christmas list!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 1/2 cup espresso powder
• 1 cup powdered milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate or miniature chocolate chips 

Directions: Layer the ingredients for homemade cocoa in a jar, add a ribbon and a tag, and you have a simple but stylish gift. This mix will fill a 1-quart jar (12 servings), but if your containers are different sizes, just keep the ratio of ingredients constant. On the back of the tag, write: "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in airtight container."

 

Winter Wonderland DATE NIGHT

My husband and I have been married one month! So, I wanted to plan a special date night for him. He went over to his parents house for a little while so I had time to set up!

I put in a DVD of a fireplace burning and turned on some Christmas music. I then used my Silhouette to cut out some snowflakes (or you could cut your own) and taped them to the ceiling.

I then made a little pallet of pillows and blankets to watch a Christmas movie after we ate dinner. Just found a movie in the $5.00 bin a Walmart.

When he got home we ate dinner by candlelight..Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings! You can find the recipe HERE.

We then got some wine (Moscoto D'Asti is our favorite) and played a couple rounds of Sorry!

Ellie then got sleepy and made a little spot on our pallet. So we put in the movie and enjoyed the rest of our date :)

DIY Gift: Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar

Here is another simple gift idea that included things I already had at home!

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup (6oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Place in jar. Layer remaining ingredients in order given.  Clean inside of jar with dry paper towel between each layer.


Instructions to put with jar: 
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together 2/3 cup softened butter or margarine, 1 egg, 1 tsp water and 1/2 tsp vanilla until light and fluffy.
2. Add contents of jar and mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

* Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Ornament to Remember our Honeymoon!

My husband and I spent 7 wonderful days in the Bahamas for our honeymoon!!

So, I wanted to make something that we could remember our honeymoon by. I got an ornament from hobby lobby and filled it with sand and shells from the beach our resort was on. I then tied a ribbon to hang on the tree and hot glued the blue ribbon to the top of the ornament.

 

DIY Xmas Gifts For DAD

I decided to make two gifts for my dad this year. The first one is for any pistachio lover! The idea came from Pinterest. I got this Christmas Tin at Hobby Lobby and cut a piece of cardboard to fit in the middle. I then filled one side of the tin with a 1lb. bag. The side with the pistachios is bigger, but that's ok because the empty shells wont take up as much room.

I then made a sign for each side. (To Eat, To Toss)

The second gift is a frame with a picture of our father/daughter dance at my wedding :) The frame is in the Christmas section at Hobby Lobby. I used scrapbooking stickers for the words and then hot glued a ribbon on.

DIY Gift: Cinnamon Vanilla Bath Scrub

It's finally the Christmas season and I am all about DIY Christmas gifts this year!It's our first Christmas as a married couple so we don't have a lot of money, and homemade gifts make gift giving much more fun and meaningful!  I got many of my ideas from Pinterest (my new addiction).  The first gift I am going to share with you is a homemade cinnamon vanilla bath scrub.  This was super easy to make and smells great! :)

Ingredients: 
1 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Cinnamon (I just sprinkled until I thought it was enough)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well blended.

Directions: 
Make sure to stir well before using! Scoop a teaspoon or two of scrub on your hands and gently massage onto your skin. Leave on 3 to 4 minutes before rinsing.

I made a little tag to put on top of my jar and then added a spoon for mixing and a luffa.