A Quick & Simple DIY for those Christmas Cards You Received

I am not a keeper of many things, but I can't stand just throwing all of those Christmas cards we get from friends and family every year. This year, I decided that instead of tossing them all in the trash, I would punch holes in each of them and let the kids enjoy them. I will keep them out for a couple more weeks, but then I plan to put them away and bring them back out at Christmas. I think it will be fun to make a book each year and then have them out at Christmas each year for the kids to enjoy looking back at.

It literally takes less than 10 minutes to put one of these little "books" together. Just punch holes in each of your cards, hook them all on a binder ring, and that's it. I added a twine bow on mine just to give it a little more pizzazz. 

 

This year, I started a Holiday Friends Card Exchange where I invited some of my Instagram friends to participate in a card exchange with our children. Each family participated made cards with their kids and then sent them out to each family. Our children had so much fun receiving cards from different places and looked forward to checking the mail each day as well. They love flipping through all of the cards they received.

I will actually be doing a Valentine's Friends Card Exchange also, for anyone who is interested in participating. This is a great opportunity for those families of children who are not yet in school or home schooled and don't get the chance to exchange cards with friends like so many children who are in school get to do. Space is limited, so be sure to follow me on Instagram and lookout for the sign up announcement.


                    

Christmas 2013

Since my parents are divorced, I celebrate Christmas with my Dad and Step-Mom on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my Mom and her side of the family. One day there will come a time when we finally live in a house big enough and we can be the hosts of our own Christmas get together, but until then we do it like this.

My favorite gift this Christmas? My Kitchen Aid Food Processor! I got a Kitchen Aid Mixer last Christmas and have really used the heck out of it in the past year, so I wanted the food processor to match it. I am already looking forward to growing our yearly garden and making salsa all summer long in it this year! I think we hit the nail on the head when it came to gift giving ourselves this year too. My Step-Mom stays home so TV and movies are important to her. We gave her a Roku and Netflix subscription for life and she couldn't have been happier! My Dad has even been enjoying it because of all the documentaries. He loves that kind of stuff!

It's not a trip to Grandma Darlin's and Poppy's without going outside to play in the yard. Even if it is freezing out there!

It's always a little more relaxed at my Dad's house, so I am able to actually pull out the camera and snap a few photos when I am there. I didn't have any recent photos of us together so I wanted to make sure that I got a few before we left...even if I decided at the last minute that I wanted to wear more comfortable clothes, and my hair looked a mess!


What was your favorite gift this year? What is a gift you gave that you were most proud of?


                    

Christmas Unwrapped at Crossroads Fellowship

The church our family attends had its huge Christmas event this past Wednesday. From the moment I found out about this wonderful family event, I knew I wanted to go. I text Amanda immediately to invite her and her family, and we made plans to attend together.

I can still hardly believe this was a 100% free event because of all it had to offer and the number of people who attend (close to 10,000 people). Our church truly is a church that loves to give back to the community. The kids had a blast and it was a wonderful opportunity for Amanda and I to spend some BFF time together.

Sometimes you have to throw all of your notions about great photos out the window and just enjoy the moment. These photos are horrible quality but I still love them. I didn't want this to turn into one of those times where the perfect photo was constantly on my mind. The lighting in the church was dim and my Canon doesn't have an on board flash, so I relied on auto for most of my pictures so I wouldn't have to be fiddling with manual settings all night.

In Candyland, the kids got to play games, received a bag of candy, and got their face painted. With as many people that were there, lines were surprisingly quick to get through. They even had fun playing with the nativity puppets. Check out Elijah sword fighting up there with the wise men staffs. Typical boy!

 

No surprise that one of my favorite little stops was at the Christmas Jazz Cafe where I stuffed my face full of cookies, brownies, cakes, and other treats. There were little red velvet cakes... enough said! And you can only imagine the sugar rush all of our little ones had after that! At one point I think they were all wrestling on the floor! Ha!

 

Gracie, Elijah, Phoenix, and Tyler made their own Christmas ornaments and got to meet The Grinch too, but another one of my favorite areas was the Dickens Village.  Everything was so well decorated and the Christmas trees were beautiful! There was so much more for us to see and do but we just didn't have enough time to squeeze it all in.

Lastly before we left, we had to take a few photos and made a stop at the beautiful Nativity scene outside. Sadly, Jason wasn't able to go with us because he is currently on active duty, but I am already looking forward to this event next year, and having him go with us. 

Head over to We Don't Give a Hoot to see more photos from the Christmas Unwrapped event that we attended! 

                    

Peppermint Coffee Drink + How to Make Milk Foam without a Frother

I love me some Starbucks, but at home, I typically drink my coffee black. However, sometimes, I do enjoy a delicious coffee shop-like beverage at home, but don't really feel the need to invest in all the gadgets for lattes and cappuccinos just yet.

This time of year when peppermint everything is available, I just all over anything to enjoy the flavor. Red velvet cake topped with crushed candy canes is my favorite, but when I can't have that, I love a peppermint coffee beverage.

Here is a quick and simple coffee drink that I have been enjoying lately.

 

Peppermint Coffee Drink

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You will need:

• Peppermint flavored coffee
• Peppermint mocha liquid creamer
• Peppermint liquid stevia
• Milk
• Candy Cane
• Jar with a lid

Before brewing your peppermint coffee, fill a large mug 1/4 full (more or less) of the peppermint mocha liquid creamer and about 20 drops of liquid stevia. Believe me, it might sound crazy, but it actually tastes better if you add your creamer and sweetener first, then brew your coffee over it. So, once you have done that, add your coffee.

Once you have brewed your coffee, add milk foam on top and add the candy cane to top it off.


How to Make Milk Foam without a Frother

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Fill your jar with approximately 1/2 to 1 cup full of milk. Shake the jar vigorously for about 30-45 seconds, and until the milk has become bubbly. Remove the lid and place in the microwave for 30 seconds. Once you remove the jar, you will see the froth on top and the milk is on the bottom. Scoop the foam off of the top and spoon it onto the top of your coffee.

 

Because I don't actually use the milk that I use to make the milk foam in my coffee (which you totally can! just make sure you pour the milk first by using a spoon to hold back the foam, then scoop the foam on top of the coffee), I have been making Elijah a hot chocolate and we drink our yummy beverages together. Don't want that milk to go to waste, right?


If you drink coffee, what is your favorite coffee drink this time of year?