TAX TIME!

When I get a handle on my taxes I’ll start posting next Christmas’ projects! Check back occasionally, should be a few weeks!!

Deck the Halls : Lyrics

[there is nothing worse than trying to sing a carol to your child and not knowing the words!! my little one LOVES Deck the Halls, I could remember the lyrics until I got to “troll the ancient Yule tide carol” my version was ‘something something Yule tide carol’    yeah, I know…..doesn’t really flow does it?]

The music to Deck the Halls is believed to Welsh in origin and was reputed to have come from a tune called “Nos Galan” dating back to the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century Mozart used the tune to Deck the Halls for a violin and piano duet J.P. McCaskey is sometimes credited with the lyrics of Deck the Halls but he only edited the Franklin Square Song Collection in which the lyrics were first published. The first publication date of Deck the Halls is 1881. The author is unknown but the words are said to originate in America.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

While I tell of Yule tide treasure,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

My Christmas Tree (and little elf)

Finally it is up! Still a work in progress, I’m trying to get the tree skirt done before Christmas!!

I will be working on a tree topper over the next year!

(I’m thinking angel, but we’ll see where inspiration takes me!)
If you look closely you can see some of the felt ornaments.

Tips on Decorating Your Christmas Tree – What To Do First

[I had to find this article today because I’m finally getting my tree up this weekend. Normally, I like to have it up the weekend after Thanksgiving but between traveling, my etsy shops picking up and prepping for a craft show, this is the soonest I could manage. I always thought garland went on last but followed this instruction last year and it went pretty well. The big question is how a 17 month old will act with a decorated tree. I’ll keep you posted!]

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(From About.com)

You’ve chosen your perfect Christmas tree, but now what?

Our tips on the next pages will give you ideas for setting up your tree, lighting it, keeping it fresh, and decorating it to be beautiful.

• Keep Your Tree Fresh and Green
  Cut the stump of the tree with a fresh cut and set it in water immediately. A fresh-cut tree will absorb several quarts of water right from the start. So it’s important to check and refill the water level several times a day for the first week. You can cut down on frequency later. Be sure to place you Christmas tree in a stand that has a large water reservoir and keep it filled.
• Christmas Tree Preservative
  You can prolong the life of your Christmas tree by mixing up a concoction of 1 quart water, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, and 1 teaspoon liquid bleach. You can also read information on caring for Christmas trees.
• Putting Lights and Decorations on the Tree
  When decorating your Christmas tree, put lights on first, then garlands, then the ornaments.
• Work From the Inside Out
  Start arranging Christmas tree lights on the branches near the base of the tree. Weave strings of lights along the branches “inside,” then move to the outer edges of the branches.
• Placement of Ornaments
  Don’t hang all your ornament on the tips of the branches. Place ornaments and other decorations ‘inside’ your tree to add depth and interest.
• Basic Ornaments for Fill
  Start by arranging the “filler ornaments” evenly spaced around the tree. This would include basic solid color balls that are easily found at discount stores in a wide range of colors to coordinate and enhance your decorating scheme. You’ll need about 20 “filler ornaments” for every 2 feet of Christmas tree.
• Special Themed, Collectible Ornaments
  Mix one-of-a-kind special ornaments between the basic ornaments. Plan to use at least 10 special themed ornaments for every 2 feet of tree. As your collection grows, put the special ornaments closer together.

cute sugar cookie lights

* Prep Time: 10 min.
* Bake Time: 45 min.
* Difficulty: Moderate
* Yield: Makes 18 cookies.

ingredients

* 4 cups M&M’S® Brand Minis Chocolate Candies
* 1 18 oz. roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
* 2/3 cup flour
* 1 16 oz. can vanilla frosting
* 1 14 oz. package red licorice laces
* Resealable plastic bags
* Drinking straw
* Christmas light shaped cookie cutter

directions

* 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
* 2. Knead the flour into the cookie dough until smooth.
* 3. Roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. By hand, or using a Christmas light cookie cutter, cut out shapes.
* 4. With a spatula, gently transfer the cookies to a baking sheet. Using a drinking straw, press a hole at the top of each cookie.
* 5. Bake for 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
* 6. Separate different colors of M&M’S® Brand Minis Chocolate Candies, and set aside.
* 7. Spread vanilla frosting on top of each cookie. Arrange a solid color of M&M’S® Brand Minis Chocolate Candies on top of each cookie.
* 8. Let the cookies dry for 30 minutes. Run licorice laces through each hole, connecting the cookies into one continuous strand.

Santa and His Elves being Forced Out of Business!!

Christmas will never be the same!! Santa and his elves will no longer be able to produce gifts for children under 12 years old due to new toy legislation scheduled to go into effect February 2009.

Please read the following article and write your Congressman and Senators to help save Santa and his elves and all the (responsible) independent toy makers in the United States, Canada and Europe!

http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

Great Activity for Kids!

One of my favorite children’s illustrators and blog, Jenny B Harris/allsorts, added this fun activity to her site! Check Out her blog while you’re there! And don’t get too addicted to decorating the house!!

Black Forest Cakes

Prep: 45 min.
Bake: 20 min.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup snipped dried cherries
• 3 tablespoons cherry-flavored brandy (kirsch) or cherry juice
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup chocolate-flavored syrup
• Truffle Frosting
• Powdered Sugar Icing (optional)
• Powdered sugar and/or cocoa powder
• Fresh Bing cherries with stems (optional)

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine dried cherries and brandy or cherry juice. Let stand for 30 minutes. Generously grease and flour six popover pans;* set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In another small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a medium bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until combined. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat just until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Stir in chocolate-flavored syrup. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir in brandy-soaked cherries and any liquid.

3. Spoon batter into prepared popover pans, filling each half full (a scant 1/2 cup each). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean (centers may dip slightly). Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from popover pans and cool completely on wire rack. If necessary, trim cake top edges so they are even with the sides.

4. Place one cake (smallest end up) on a large slotted spoon. Hold the spoon over the bowl of Truffle Frosting. Spoon frosting over the cake, letting it drip down the sides, until the cake is coated. Let cake stand on rack over waxed paper until frosting is set. Repeat with remaining cakes. If desired, place Powdered Sugar Icing in a sturdy resealable plastic bag. Snip off a tiny portion of one corner. Pipe small dots of icing on cake tops.

5. Sift powdered sugar and/or cocoa powder over dessert plates. Place cakes on plates. If desired, garnish each one with a Bing cherry.

6. Makes 6 servings

7. *Test Kitchen Tips: Nonstick cooking spray for baking really helps these cakes unmold easily. This product is designed to grease and flour baking pans in one step. Look for it with other nonstick cooking sprays in your supermarket.

You can use six 6-ounce straight-sided ramekins instead of the popover pans. Grease and flour the ramekins. Cut three 15×12-inch pieces of foil; cut each piece in half lengthwise to make a 15×6-inch piece. Fold each into thirds lengthwise and place around top of a ramekin; secure with tape. Set aside. If you use ramekins, increase the baking time to about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean.

8. Powdered Sugar Icing: In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing reaches piping consistency.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories 697,
• Total Fat (g) 36,
• Saturated Fat (g) 22,
• Cholesterol (mg) 146,
• Sodium (mg) 215,
• Carbohydrate (g) 88,
• Fiber (g) 4,
• Protein (g) 7,
• Vitamin C (DV%) 1,
• Calcium (DV%) 7,
• Iron (DV%) 18,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Christmas Centerpiece Ideas

Hassle-Free Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments

I just started offering these two gingerbread snowflake ornament decorating kits on my Christmas etsy site, bzlittlechristmaself. Save 20% off your decorating kits total by putting the code ‘wordpress’ in the message to buyer at checkout.(discount will be refunded via your PayPal account, discount does not apply to shipping cost)

Large Gingerbread Snowflake Decorating Kit

Small Gingerbread Snowflake Decorating Kit