Last Minute Gift Ideas

I've been gifted some great gifts this past year!  If you still have some shopping to do, I wanted to give you a few last minute ideas!

Cozy Pajamas

I've really grown to appreciate a nice, warm, cozy pair of pajamas!  There are days I stay in my pjs longer than I care to admit, and having an actual set of cute pajamas makes that seem a little more acceptable!  I should mention, the biggest reason I probably don't own many pajama sets is because the pants are never long enough #longlegproblems.... but my sweet friend Amy ordered me some from kohls.com that came in a "long"!  I was (and still am) over the moon with them!

Heated Blanket

I can't remember if I've talked about the love I have for my heated blanket.  Kevin gave it to me I think two Christmases ago.  I use it every night!!!  I must have the worst circulation, because I'm always cold.  It doesn't matter how many layers I wear, my feet and hands are always chilly.  When I put the kids to bed, I usually turn on my heated blanket to the "3" setting (it goes from 1-5).  A couple hours later when I'm ready for bed, I get to melt into my warm, cozy, comfortable bed.  Think warm-towel-when-you-get-out-of-the-shower kind of feeling.  I don't care if it raises my energy bill, it's worth every penny!!!  And guys, these are super affordable!!!  You can get this for yourself for Christmas, and I won't judge.

Lots of cute options on line - mine is like the $20 Target one and it works perfectly.  It's so warm and cozy, so don't feel like you need to spend tons of money to get a good one!

Ornaments

Ornaments are some of my favorite gifts to give during the holidays.  I love personalized ones, but if that's not an option, Hallmark always has adorable ones!  Hobby Lobby usually has a good selection too.  Or you could always make one... tons and tons of ideas on Pinterest!  For our cousin Christmas gift exchange this year, I made initial ornaments that will double as a gift tag. 

Cute personalized ornament from my friend Amy!

Cute Necklace

My friend, Whitney (that lives in NY), brought me home the sweetest gift for my birthday.  It's a little pearl necklace from a company called Dogeared.  It's so dainty, and cute, and matches everything.  I've literally worn it every day for the last month because I'm obsessed with it!  The company makes all kinds of cute necklaces, and seem to run really good deals around the holidays!  If you have time to get one shipped before your next gift exchange, you should do it! 

Hope that gives you a few last minute gift ideas!  6 days to finish that Christmas shopping!  If all else fails, you can't go wrong with a giftcard!  :)

New Little Chalkboard

We have a cute wooden personalized plaque that's been in our family room for years.  I've looked at it several times and thought about taking it down since it seemed a bit out dated (we've added two kids to the family since!) but always felt like I shouldn't since it was a gift.

The last month or so I've been on a cleaning and purging spree and trying to reorganize things along the way.  Amidst all this cleaning, I finally got the boost I needed to transform this plaque!  We no longer have a chalk board in our living room/dining room area, and I love having one to write seasonal messages on... so I decided the cute outdated plaque needed to be transformed into a little chalk board.

I went to the barn and got some sand paper to begin.  I'm not sure if the letters were painted on the wood, or if they were vinyl cut outs, but it didn't take much sanding to get the wood smoothed.  Once it was smooth, I cleaned it off with a wet rag, then added the black chalkboard paint.  It took three coats to get it just right, but dried quickly.  Once the paint was dry, I took the sand paper to rough of up the edges and expose some of the brown of the wood.

 The little chalk board is right back where it started, but I love the little face lift it got! :)

I'm challenging you to look at what you have sitting around your house... Is there anything you don't love?  Anything that's outdated?  What needs a face lift?  What needs to go?   Do it!  You'll be glad you did! 

Chatbooks

Do you have chatbooks?  I don't, but I'm seriously considering getting the app after seeing their commercial.  I was waiting for a youtube video to play this weekend, but got stopped by one of those annoying ads - this one just happened to be for chatbooks.  Well, the ad was soooo hilarious, I couldn't stop watching it.  It's very effective advertising!  It's just over 3 minutes long, and you need to watch it if you haven't! :)

Has anyone used this app?  I'm wondering what people think of it.  Sounds like an easy and cheap service, and a cute way to print your photos...

Christmas Hand Print Craft

It's been a good couple years since we really dove into Christmas crafts, so this year I knew we were over due for something!  I saw this cute craft on Pinterest a few weeks ago and knew I wanted to make a similar one with my kids.  I wanted to do all hand prints, so I knew ours would look a bit different.

The chalk board we had hanging up in the dining area came down last week when Kevin hung my new angel picture.  It was a 24x24 square, and I didn't know what I was going to do with it.  I ended up having Kevin cut in for this project!  

The wood piece we used was 10x24 and fit 4 hand prints perfectly!  I set up a little hand painting station, and got a hand washing station ready.  We stamped hands oldest to youngest, and they all watched me paint on details.  They kept ooing and ahhing when I'd add another detail and it was so cute.

We got to this point in the project and I said out loud, "Hmmm what does it need?"  Hayden commented the sleigh needed a bag and Santa needed to be saying, "Ho Ho Ho."  I thought both suggestions were perfect!

A close up of the Santa

A close up of the reindeer

I did add the year to the back, and I'm trying to decide if I need to add names on the front to the hand prints.. even though they are in order of oldest to youngest!

Vanilla Bean Caramels

Are you looking for a fun recipe to try this Christmas?  Put these caramels on that list!  I was emailed the recipe last week and knew I was going to be making them asap! 

My pictures aren't nearly as good as the site I got the recipe from, so if you want to make them, go to her site, read the recipe a time or two, then try to make them.  I've always read that the thermometer shouldn't touch the bottom of the pan, but for me/my pans/my thermometer, it should.  My first batch ended up in the trash and I blame it on my thermometer.  I could smell the sugar mixture burning, but according to the thermometer, I still needed it to raise another 20* before turning the heat down.  My second attempt, I placed the thermometer at the bottom of the pan and my batch turned out perfect!  I'd recommend buying enough ingredients to make it twice the first time in case you have a mishap like I did!

In the original recipe (linked below), she talks about using real vanilla beans or pure vanilla extract, so you'll have to decide which you want to go with.  I went with something in between and used 3/4 Tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, but added it at the very end like she recommends doing with the vanilla extract.  I also didn't add salt to the top of mine.  At the very bottom you'll find the version I used, but read the original recipe first!

Find the recipe here at Mels Kitchen Cafe...

The kids came in the kitchen while I was packaging these and thought it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen.  I let them try them and they were in love.   These little treats will be added to my yearly holiday baking!  I'm planning on doing another batch next week!

I love those little specks of vanilla!

Copied/Pasted from the original with the few changes I made!

 

Ingredients

• 3/4 T vanilla bean paste
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 1/2 cups (18.75 ounces) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse, kosher salt

Directions

1. Butter the bottoms and sides (get into the corners, too!) of a 9X9-inch square baking pan. Set aside.
2. Place heavy cream in saucepan. Heat over medium heat until steaming. Remove from heat, cover and let sit (for at least 20 minutes) - go ahead and start making the caramels while the vanilla cream steeps.
3. For the caramels, in a large, heavy-bottomed pot (at least 5- or 6-quarts), stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and water, taking care to not splash the mixture up the sides of the pot.
4. Clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan/make sure it's touching the bottom of the pan.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat WITHOUT STIRRING or moving the pan. Right as it starts to boil, fill a cup with water and use a pastry brush to wash down the sides of the pan so there are no granules of sugar sticking to the sides of the pan (you probably won't need to repeat this after the sides have been well-cleaned).
6. The sugar mixture will bubble and start to darken. If you haven't already, take the vanilla bean pod out of the cream mixture so it's ready to go once you need it.
7. Cook until the mixture registers 325 degrees F on the thermometer, about 25-30 minutes.
8. Slowly and carefully pour the steeped cream mixture into the caramel - it will bubble and produce a lot of steam! Add the butter and salt. The mixture will have expanded during this step but will "fall" back to a lower level as the temperature lowers due to the added ingredients.
9. Stir the caramel with a clean heatproof wooden spoon or spatula (if it's the one you used in the 3rd step, be sure to wash it to avoid introducing sugar granules to the caramel), avoiding scraping the edges of the pan, and continue to cook, stirring constantly and slowly, until the mixture reaches 245 degrees F, about 10-15 minutes (you can go as high as 248 degrees F for a firmer, but still chewy, caramel, and even take it off earlier for a softer caramel; 245 is perfect in my book). Remove from heat, then add in the vanilla bean paste and stir well.
10. Immediately pour the caramel mixture into the prepared pan.
11. Let the caramels cool completely. I use a large, metal spatula to peel the whole slab of caramel out of the pan and onto a cutting board (or parchment paper).
12. Cut into squares using a sharp knife or bench scraper, wrap in wax paper, and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Pepperoni Pasta

This meal is so easy, and it gets rave reviews from every member of my family!  The kids want seconds and thirds, Kevin loves it leftover for work the next day, and I love that it's a quick meal I can throw together on busy nights!

The recipe came from a magazine at my mom's house many many years ago.  I've changed it a little from the original, so here's how we make it..

Ingredients:

16oz pasta (I use mini penne)

1 package turkey pepperoni (regular pepperoni is too greasy)

3 1/2 C hot water

2 C heavy whipping cream

1 1/2C freshly grated parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

(I use my electric skillet, but I'm sure you could make this on a stove top with a large pan as long as it has a lid!)  In a skillet, add pasta, pepperoni cut in 4ths, and water.  Turn heatt to about 375*, (I'd say that's medium high on a stop top) and cover.  While the pasta is cooking, grate your block of fresh parmesan.  Using fresh parmesan is what makes this recipe so tasty, so don't skip this step!  While grating your cheese, stop one or two times to give the pasta a stir.  It will stick to you skillet if you don't.  After 12-15 mins your pasta should be cooked and all the water absorbed.  Add in the whipping cream, cheese, salt and pepper.  Stir well then serve immediately.  Serve it with a salad to get your veggies :)

The original recipe calls for adding it chopped chilies when you add the cream and cheese, but we prefer it with out them.  If you like things spicy, make that change!

Enjoy!

HBD to Me!

What an amazing birthday I had yesterday!  One word to sum it all up:  perfect. 

I had lots of texts, messages on Instagram, a few calls, a cute video from my niece, an email - all from people wishing me a Happy Birthday.  It was SO sweet.  I promise that alone made my day great!

But Kevin went to so much trouble to make sure I had the best birthday.  Last week when he got off work, he told me to go shop and pick out a few things for myself.  He specifically told me to get some cute new boots, so I did.  (Can I just insert kid free shopping is a gift in itself!  I mean, I love those little boogers, but trying on shoes or clothes with kids isn't fun.)  And I got a few new tops from Target.  I'm hard to surprise because I take care of the finances, so I know when money is going out and where it's going.... but he sneakily opened up a Dillard's card and got me a new Michael Kors red purse.  He also got my mom a gift and wrote her a sweet card and left it on her car so she'd find it that morning.  Who does that?!  He had several ladies at Dillards wishing he was their son in law!  It didn't stop there.  He went to one of my favorite cake shops in town and ordered me a birthday cake in my favorite flavor (strawberry).  I had every intention of making my own cake, but he didn't want me to that.  His thoughtfulness was just through the roof, and I felt so lucky!

Satchel bags with long straps are my favorite style right now.

I was torn between two pair of boots.  The other pair had lots of cute cream colored fur at the top, but I figured these would wear better over time.  Plus they are narrow!  (I have a super narrow foot.)

Strawberry cake with strawberry icing

Several months ago I saw an angel canvas that I fell in love with.  My parents always ask for birthday and Christmas ideas and I told my mom I needed this canvas and was hoping she'd give it to me for my birthday.  She did and my dad delivered it :)  Kevin hung it for me as soon as it was delivered.  It's one of my favorite things hanging in our home.  I just adore it.  The painter is probably my all time favorite.  I follow her on instagram and love to see comments on her painting because everyone interprets them differently.  I looked at my painting and saw my 4 kids.  Another lady looked at it and saw her and her 3 grandkids.

I need to make the kids start posing in this order - Krissy/Hayden/Allie/Austin bc that's how  I see them in the pic!

Posing with some of my gifts before dinner :)

Kevin's parents gave me the perfect birthday gift - money!  They told me to get something I wanted.  I have some bracelets I'm wanting to buy this Spring, so I'm putting that money in my bracelet fund!  

Back to my actual birthday, Krissy, Austin, and I went to the mall for lunch.  We had Chick Fil A, I let the kids play at the play place, and we had an m&m cookie from the cookie place before we left.  After that, we went to the elementary school to refill Hayden and Allie's lockers with snacks and deliver a little gift to Allie's class (she's star student this week).

Austin ate what Krissy didn't finish!

He had so much fun

They loved this slide.

My favorite cookies

I had planned to go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, but when I called they said they'd have to split up our party of 10.  I said no thanks and picked O'Charley's who had no problem accommodating us.  I mentioned I had a strawberry cake and my dad hates strawberry cake - but if you didn't know, Wednesday you get free pie at O'charley's, so he got to enjoy apple pie while we all had cake.  And kids eat free all day, everyday.  Since when?!  So, all the kids ate for free and that was a wonderful surprise.  Everyone enjoyed all their food and we were "accidentally" served rolls twice (BRING THEM ON)!

Our attempt at a family picture...

Our group

Krissy fell asleep on the way home and we put her straight to bed.  Kevin went to bed as soon as we got home too (because he's working day shift this month and waking up at 4:25am).  The other kids put on their pjs and we turned on Hairspray Live.  I realized pretty quickly it wasn't really appropriate for kids (which disappointed me), and put the other kids to bed. 

Like I said, an all around perfect day!  Thanks to everyone that took time to wish me HBD!

Christmas Lake Overnight

Some of our favorite yearly Christmas traditions take place at my parents cabin at Christmas Lake Village in Santa Claus, Indiana!  Usually around my birthday, we shoot down mistletoe from my uncle's trees and I also mail our Christmas cards from the Santa Claus post office.  We also try to spend the night at their cabin, but some years we've missed that part.  

When we went up to the cabin in middle November for Christmas card pictures (another tradition we started back in 2012), the kids were so disappointed we didn't spend the night.  I promised them we would soon, so we did last weekend.  We kept it really simple - got dinner at the local grocery store, made chocolate lava cakes for dessert, and made an easy breakfast in the morning.  The best part was we packed really light (pillow/blankets/pjs/toothbrushes for everyone and that was it!).  I kept commenting on how nice it was to pack so light!  It's the first time we've gone and not had to bring diapers or a pack and play or a baby gate or anything else baby/toddler related.  The kids sat by the fire, watched Christmas movies on cable tv, played with all the toys, and it was actually relaxing and restful!  

I didn't snap as many pictures as I would have liked to but here are a few from the little overnight stay :)

Kevin, my dad, and Hayden shot down and collected the mistletoe.  One of the branches came down and they brought that back for me! :)

Kevin drove his truck up and we got this cute picture of him and Hayden by the main lake before we left Saturday.

This is where I did Christmas card pictures this year, so I wanted another picture there with their grandparents in the back ground. 

Sometimes unposed/candid shots are my favorite :)

Hayden found this little nest and "baby pumpkins" when he was getting mistletoe.  We've since clear coated it so it stays together and he can keep it!

Chocolate Lava Cakes

This past week, Momma was wanting some chocolate.... ever have that feeling or is it just me?  I had decided I'd make chocolate chip cookies, but was really sad to discover I only had about 1/4 of a bag of chocolate chips left.  I scrapped that idea and tried to come up with something else chocolatey I could make.  Then I remembered chocolate lava cakes and all the recipes I've seen for them.  Usually they make 2-4 small cakes, and I was thinking I probably had enough chocolate to make some!

There's about a million recipes for these cakes, but I went with the one from Pioneer Woman, because I always enjoy her cookin!   I should mention the recipe I've linked with is slightly different than the one I used.  I saw a few different variations of it (some use all bittersweet chocolate, some use 3 egg yolks, etc - but I'm sure the final result of all of them is delicious).

A couple notes... I love how fast this recipe is to whip up.  It literally takes a couple minutes.  You only use one mixing bowl too, and the dish doing hater in me loves that!  I also have these ingredients on hand 99% of the time, so you probably do too!  One thing you may not have are the ramkins, but you can use small glass bowls.  I splurged on some last month when I was on a pot pie kick, and I secretly love I can use them for this recipe too!  I bought mine at TJ Maxx, but you could probably go to any local goodwill/thrift shop and pick you up some too.  Or you could try coffee cups.  I've seen them used before.  I also used my food scale to measure out my 2oz of chocolate.  They are like $10 brand new and I promise you'd use it more than you thought, so add one to your Christmas list!

I haven't figured out how to serve them pretty yet - I always pull the bottom of the cakes off and out comes the chocolate lava!  This one baked 13 mins and it's a little runny for my taste..

Here's the recipe that I made!

Ingredients:

1 stick salted butter
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (approx 1/4C - I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips)
2 ounces semisweet chocolate  (approx 1/4C - I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips)
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
2 whole eggs 

2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray four glass cups with baking spray and place on a baking sheet.

Microwave the butter, bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl on high until the butter is melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until the chocolate is also melted. Stir in the sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs and egg yolks, then add the vanilla. Stir in the flour. Divide the mixture among the cups.

Bake until the sides are firm and the centers are soft, 15-16 minutes. Let stand 1 minute. Invert on individual plates while warm.  Serve with vanilla ice cream, whip cream, fruit, or whatever your little heart desires.  I love them most with fresh strawberries and whip cream!  They are amazing!

Right out of the oven

This one baked 18 mins and there wasn't much lava...

I made these for the kids this past weekend and they loved them!  (Krissy was busy making strawberry chocolate chip cookies and homemade bread - haha!)

Kids Christmas Tree

When we set up the "play room" for the kids, I decided it would be a great time to set up a Christmas tree for the kids.  I remember growing up, we had a small tree at the top of the stairs to put our ornaments on, and it was one of my favorite things!  I haven't taken the time to set up a tree filled with the kids ornaments for I'm guessing 3-4 years.

I had a pre-lit artificial tree in the garage, and I knew the lights were dead, but I decided I'd pull it out, take the dead lights off and that could become the kids tree.  I had no idea what an undertaking it was to pick lights off pre-lit trees.  I spent hours working on it (the problem was eachbranch of the tree had two little green snaps that connected the lights to the branches.  Each branch x2 is a lot of little plastic snaps!)  Kevin surprised me with my favorite Starbucks drink and that helped perk me back up.  My fingers were so sore, so when I thought I had finished, I was so excited to get the tree inside (I'd been working in the garage) and get the new lights on.  My joy was short lived because I spotted about 100 lights that I had missed.  But... I got them off, added the new lights, and the tree is beautiful!

I can't say that it was a fun job, but I didn't want to pay for a new tree when I knew the one we had was pretty.  I also decided I'd have a hard time ever buying a pre-lit artifical tree again!

All the ornaments are ones the kids have collected over the years!

Our "angels" on top were made back in 2010 (that was the size of their hands and feet that year!) - so it's probably time to update them and include 2 more angels!  I actually have a sewing project in mind, just don't know that I'll get it done before Christmas!