Busy Day Getting Ready for Christmas

This morning we baked our gingerbread cookies. We had made the dough yesterday, but did not have the time to bake them after it had refrigerated long enough. We used a recipe from Family Circle Magazine (a few years old). When I first made these cookies, my sister told me they were the best gingerbread she had ever tasted. We still have to decorate them after Hazel's quiet time.

My Memories Suite Review and Giveaway

I was recently given the opportunity to download My Memories Suite Version 3.0, a digital scrapbooking software, so I could review it. And they offered me another copy for a lucky reader. More details soon--I know I'm so excited for my first giveaway!

A lovely visit

Yesterday Hazel and I went to visit a good friend who I don't see or speak to enough any more. I use to live in her in-law apartment when I was single. I have to say I miss the country and living on a lake. Plus a few of the great discount stores that are there.

From: Something lubely everyday

Before we left, I had shown Hazel the pictures from Sharing Saturday from Something lubely everyday: Stick Reindeer. I asked her if she would like to look for sticks to make one while we were in the woods by the lake. And of course, she answered positively. She told me to pack her buckets so we could collect our treasures, which of course I forgot.

Luckily after Hazel met Diane and Jack, the dog, we went to my absolute favorite discount store, 135 Discount, and they had metal buckets to collect treasures for a couple of dollars. (Plus all their jewelry is $4.99 or $1 for pins and earrings and we are talking costume jewelry that you could get at Macy's.) They have a mixture of everything from party supplies, clothes, Tiffany style lamps, toys, house goods, etc. and it is always cheap. We checked out another store which is new and temporary and then went to my favorite Chinese restaurant for lunch. After lunch we went home to go walk by the lake. We put on plenty of layers since it is always colder by the water and took Jack out for the walk. We walked quite a bit collecting sticks, pine cones, a feather, birch bark, etc. Some ended up on Hazel's nature table.

Hazel's Nature Table

Another shot of the other side

We walked to where a neighbor had made a small beach. The lake and land around it is part of a closed state park, so it is a small beach, but he added some rock seats. Hazel had a blast throwing rocks into the water. Then we headed back and Diane offered to cut some greens for me so I could get the smell of Christmas in my house since we have an artificial tree--I really miss my real tree of my childhood, but Steve doesn't like them.

While we clipped various greens, Hazel chased Jack. She had such a great time running around and being free. Plus Jack is the most friendly dog and it was instant love for them.

Then it was time for us to head home. When we got home, we looked at our treasures and picked the sticks to make into reindeer. And with the glue gun we made them.

Finally something I made for Hazel's stocking. I saw this idea at Helping Little Hands. I wanted to get her a Curious George ornament but all of the stores that carry Hallmark ornaments are sold out around here, so I made her a book ornament. And while I was at it, I made an Elmo and Caillou ones too. Since they are her favorites I figured it would be a nice way to remember what she was into this year. On the first page of each one I wrote her name and the year. In the Curious George book, I also found some pictures from the story and included a couple pages.

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Happy Hanukkah!

I grew up in a town with a rather large Jewish population. Although I am not Jewish I have many friends who are. So in honor of them and to all of you who are I thought I would feature a few of our Sharing Saturday posts that are about Hanukkah. It begins tonight, Tuesday, December 20th at sundown.  Sharing Saturday is still open and there are new posts arriving every day, so please go check them out and let me know which ones you like best!

Monday = Preparations

Today is one of those days I'm suppose to be able to relax, but with Christmas this week, I'm running around trying to get things done. Hazel is over at my mother-in-law's for the day. We went to the post office this morning and mailed the last of our gifts including this felt dragon that I finished last night. I got the pattern from the most recent Living Crafts Magazine. An excellent magazine for anyone who likes to do handwork and all natural crafts.