What a day

My parents have some friends who own an awesome cabin and a huge chunk of land up Spanish Fork canyon. Every year they invite us up for good food and some seriously fun sledding and tubing. That's not all. He also owns a snow cat (If you don't know what that is see the below picture) and after we have dared the huge sledding course, we are picked up by the snow cat and dropped off at the top again. We went up and down, up and down until we were all worn out. SO FUN. We ate, talked, played games and of course went sledding. The drive home was wonderful too because it was dumping snow, it's such a sight to see.

Winter wonderland

Here we are on our cold vacation and loving it! We have been here a week and have had so much fun. Our activites have included:

Shopping (Of course)
Snowboarding (Dave)
Eating
Movies
Wrapping gifts
Visiting with friends
Sewing
Driving in huge snow storms (Scary)
Late night trips to walmart
Scrabble
Baking

And I know there is more I just can't think of them right now! It's supposed to snow today, tomorrow, the next day, and the next day! That means hopefully we will have a WHITE CHRISTMAS! My parents are such great hosts. Keslee is so generous to give up her bed for us. It feels so good to be relaxing and not worry about work or studying! We are so excited for Christmas day!

(25) Merry Christmas

25 days of Christmas ideas and I think I am completely out! I think these frames from Brocade Home would be perfect to put some christmas photos in. This website also has a lot of way cute damask wallpaper and other fun goodies. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

(24) Pipe cleaner garland

Sara and I went in this huge antique store here in Orange and saw this cute little garland made out of shiny pipe cleaners priced at $14.99. I made my own for about $3.00 in 10 minutes. Just cut the pipe cleaners in half, bend into a circle and twist together. So easy. I thought it should be hung on a Christmas tree but it also looks cute hanging by itself as a garland.

(23) Did you forget someone?

For a teacher, bus driver, or neighbor. A festive spatula tied with a pretty ribbon and attached is one of your favorite recipes. $6.95

I got these dish towels for my Mom and sister. I thought they would be cute to wrap around some home baked goodies and tied with a ribbon. Only $4.95 each

What woman doesn't love delicious smelling soap? Especially cute soap! $1.25
It's a quaint, not too bold holiday decoration. And it's useful. Snowflake trivet $9.95

Here are a few gifts to keep around for this holiday season just in case you forget someone (Oops) or need something last minute. All under $20.00 and all found at the wonderful Crate and Barrel.

(22) Gingerbread houses

I think almost every family (Especially those with children) make gingerbread houses every year. I prefer the already put together and easy to make ones from Costco. But if you are feeling a little more daring and creative this year, click HERE for some great gingerbread house ideas.

(21) Button wreath ornaments

These would be such a cute little gift to go along with your Christmas cards to friends and neighbors. For instructions click HERE.

(20) Fancy schmancy gift tags

Over at Your heart out they have gifted us a free gift tag template so we can top all of our fabulous gifts with them! Click HERE to download.

Gotta love Southern California

Only in California would the ice cream man still be serving up cones and popcicles in the middle of December (Besides Hawaii and the Caribbean). I witnessed it yesterday. Nothing beats California weather, I love it.

(19) Caramel popcorn

I got this recipe from my darling girlfriend Hayley. You're going to love it.

Ingredients:

Melt 1 cube butter, then add:
2 cups brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup corn syrup

cook over low heat until soft-ball stage (Around 120 degrees), should take about 10 minutes. Pour over 3 bags popped corn, stir to cover evenly.

You can make into popcorn balls, wrap and gift, or just pour it onto the counter and let your family go to town. Thats how we do it!

(18) For the monsters in your life

I know I encouraged you all to use socks instead of stockings this year but.... I thought these stockings would be perfect for little monsters like my son and nephews! Find them at Craftyrobot.com aren't they silly?

(17) Christmas breakfast

For those of you who were at my baby shower last December you will know how yummy this Christmas morning breakfast is. Because you had it!

Waffles with caramel syrup topped with strawberries and cream
Ooooh yummy!

We use Williams Sonoma "Bellegem" waffle mix

Then top with this syrup:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cube butter
Mix all together in saucepan until it boils

Then top with whipping cream and sliced strawberries. You will definitely please the crowd with this one! Enjoy and happy Christmas!

(16) Modern paper ornaments

All you need to make these darling paper ornaments is paper and a stapler (and scissors of course). You can hang these anywhere from your tree, to the window, or above the dining table. For instructions click HERE.

(15) Our family traditions

We don't have many traditions in our family, but the ones we do have are good ones!

First tradition is our ornament exchange
My Mom, Carli, Keslee, and me each get each other one new ornament each year and we open them on Thanksgiving day. It's a fun way to get excited about the holidays! Here are the one's I got for them this year.

Second is our Christmas eve gift
I know a lot of people do this one but I just love it! We get to open one present on Christmas eve and it's always pajamas, and usually really cute ones. One year not too long ago my mom called me and asked for all my measurements. I had no idea what she was buying. But after I opened my pajamas that year she informed me that she sent my dad to the Gap and made him measure the pajamas so they would be sure to fit. I will never forget it, they put so much effort into those pj's! thanks Mom and Dad!



Third is Christmas breakfast
I always look so froward to eating after I have opened all my gifts because Miss. Nancy makes one seriously good Christmas breakfast! We have waffles with caramel syrup covered in strawberries and whipping cream and usually bacon too. Oh man is it good! Watch for the recipe posted in a couple days!

And the winner is.....

Alise! Thanks to everyone for all your comments! You have given me some great tradition ideas to start with my own family!

(14) Apple cake

This recipe is so yummy.
It will warm your tummy on a cold day. Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
6 small or 4 large baking apples

Sauce ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cube butter

Mix all cake(Except apples)ingredients together and beat for 2 minutes. Add apples. Pour into greased 9 x 13" pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

In saucepan mix all sauce ingredients together and bring to a boil. When cake is finished baking, pour sauce over individual slices of cake.

(13) 12 days of Christmas

Origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

The above song to most people is just a nonsense rhyme set to music. But it is more than just a repetitious melody and had quite a serious purpose when it was written. Roman Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited from any practice of their faith by law in private or in public. It was in fact a crime to be a Roman Catholic.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "Catechism Songs" to help secret young Roman Catholics learn the tenets of their faith. The poem was a memory aid for those unenlightened times when to be caught with anything in writing indicating adherence to the Roman Catholic faith could not only get you transported to a nasty place such as America, but also imprisoned, beheaded or hanged.

The song's gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptised person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ and the two turtle doves are the old and new Testaments.

The other verses represent the following:

3 French Hens are Faith, Hope and Charity,

4 Calling Bird are The Four Gospels,

5 Golden Rings are the first five books of the Old Testaments,

6 Geese A-Laying are the six days of creation,

7 Swans A-Swimming are the seven gifts of The Holy spirit,

8 Maids A-Milking are the eight beatitudes,

9 Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit,

10 Lords A-Leaping are the Ten commandments,

11 Pipers Piping are the eleven faithful apostles,

12 Drummers Drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.

Find these 12 days of Christmas ornaments at Crate and Barrel.

(12) Personalize it

I found this letter (B for Booth) at Paper source and thought it would be a perfect addition to our tree! It weighs only a couple ounces so it won't weigh down the branches. They come in plain brown and it's up to you to give it a holiday touch. I used modge podge and paper to cover mine, but I also thought it would be fun to cover it in red or green sparkles! they only cost $2.85 each so you could make it a family night, one for each family member.

(11) Gone long

Does anyone have a really cute jacket but the sleeves are only 3/4 length? So the jacket isn't realistic for a cold winter day right? Well I have just the solution. Tall mittens, cute, stylish and warm. I found these at Nordstrom. They also look cute over long sleeves.

(10) GIVEAWAY!

I am giving away a little holiday gift to one lucky winner.... just because!
You have until midnight PST on Wednesday, December 5th to enter, and all you have to do is leave a comment (On this post) about your favorite holiday tradition! Please only one entry per person. Winner will be randomly picked and announced Thursday.

We've been elfed

We "Elfed" ourselves and want everyone to see it! Click HERE. And when you're done... elf yourself! (It takes a minute to load, but it's worth the wait!)

(9) Snow and Graham

Snow and Graham makes some of the cutest paper items I have ever seen! They letterpress all there items so everything has a fresh, vintage look. I found this darling calendar at paper source (Which would make such a cute Christmas gift) and the holiday card at Luxe paperie.