YUM

Look what my sister Carianne sent to us! I LOVED every single thing about it, the packaging especially, and it all tasted great!!

white christmas

Paper chains galore

We did it! It took lots of taping and cutting, and cutting and stapling, and cutting, but we did it! Buddy the elf would be proud. We feel quite festive when we go in this room.

New comforter

This year I knew just what I wanted to get my husband as a gift! I am really happy with how it all looks together. (Even though that one painting is crooked.) :) I added the "belly button" to the white pillow for an extra touch!

Book paper, paper chains

We made these book paper, paper chains just today. This is just the beginning I hope to fill the room to over flowing in true Buddy the elf style. Below is a little story to explain the "Christmas'y" posts that will likely continue for the next week.

I was raised in a very christian family where my parents would try hard to create a magical but reverent Christmas. In fact, my mom announced one year when I was young, that Santa was coming on New Years Eve from then on. We all went along with it and even embraced it. For example on Christmas Eve we acted out the nativity story, and on New Years Eve we would put out milk and cookies. We exchanged home made gifts from each other on Christmas. Then on New Years we received presents from Santa, usually store bought from after Christmas sales. Now were grown up and we're still continuing the tradition in one way or another. Now as we're getting ready for New Years we pull out all the stops and go overboard! I love it! Thanks for letting me share one of my unique traditions with you.

Girls bead kit

I have been looking everywhere for wooden die cut beads like this for forever. I finally found some necklaces at a novelty toy store but they were quite expensive. Then lo and behold I found these two adorable bead kits, and at the dollar store of all places! I just love the dollar store for reasons like this.

Vanila "Cocoa" with peppermint

Here is a great holiday drink I sort of made up the other morning. It is very yummy! Stephen's Gourmet Hot Cocoa has a lot of flavors and one great one is French Vanilla. I thought I would prefer actual chocolate over this but when peppermint is added it is really delicious. I'm not a big fan of peppermint flavor it's always been a bit too strong for me. But when it's mixed with the creamy French Vanilla it transforms! In fact I am officially addicted!!
All you need is hot water and two mini peppermint candy canes. And of course French vanilla hot "cocoa". I added lots and lots of spoonfuls of this because it has sort of a mild flavor. This makes it very creamy! Oh and don't forget marshmallows!

When you stir the candy canes in, your yummy creamy colored drink turns PINK! :)

Marshmallows add the final touch! And a great extra creamy flavor.

I think I'd better go and make myself another cup! Yum yum yum! Hope you try it out it really is lovely! And aren't those pearly white candy canes just the prettiest?! They lost their stripes when I stirred them into the drink. Have a happy vanilla peppermint day, and a Merry Christmas!