New Years Centerpiece

557192_492902850753602_329466776_nUse a large clear glass vase.Place four to six small gold/silver glass ornaments in the bottom (you can get these on clearance now). Put a toilet paper roll in the middle and place ornaments all around the toilet paper tube. This gives a round nesting area for the candle. On top of the toilet paper tube place silver.gold ribbons that you have curled. On top of that place a white (in glass jar) candle on top of the ribbons. The 2013 sign was created by cutting pieces of paper to fit the photo areas of the frame. each was hand written (or if you are computer savvy this can be done on the computer). Great centerpiece. (You could also try using all black and white ornament balls) (You can spray paint old ornaments to give uniform look also.)

Wishes For Everyone For A Perfect Holiday Season

Country-ChristmasMay everyone be surrounded by family, friends, good food and most importantly love this holiday season. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza and a perfect New Year! To America’s soldiers overseas I pray for a safe journey until you get home to your loving families. I want everyone to take a moment and think of someone outside of their normal holiday business – to a child or senior who has little in their life. Give a few presents to make life a little happier and if you can’t do that take some time and visit with someone in a who while you volunteer your time. If you love shopping and have the extra money find someone to “adopt” (Walmart has Senior angles – we adopted three this year). This season means so much than getting – give yourself, your time, and money if you can.

Peppermint Marshmellow Sticks for Coffee or Hot Chocolate

486313_10151339066406425_1999099939_nWhat a great treat to have with a warm cup of hot chocolate or coffee. Warm candy can tip over heat and push into marshmallow. Warm marshmallow and sprinkle red and green sprinkles on. Refrigerate so your creations will remain perfect until you serve them.

New Years Eve Fun

Whether you and your family view New Year’s Eve as a time for reflection or as an opportunity to have a huge party, it is a date steeped deep in traditions. This year, invite your clan to start a new first night ritual. Here are some ideas to get your creativity started:

1: Make and frame a photo collage of the past year’s events….. A poster sized frame can be obtained and everyone can have a hand in helping create a masterpiece to display all year around in an entryway, hallway or nook.

2: Deliver a plate of home made goodies to a neighbor… a great time to say hello and to keep up with current happenings in each home so that the other has ideas of what is happening at each others homes…. safety is always a big concern for all of us and if a neighbor knows some of what is happening in your home they know what to look for and vise-versa.

3:Make something old – new again: glue images cut from your old postcards/Holiday cards your family received onto postcard-sized pieces of posterboard or index cards, add a wish for the new year…. and mail them off to those you love.

4:Cover they floor with bubble wrap…. and have the family stomp their way into a new year…. while you start off that resolution to be more energetic and shed the extra pounds.

Paper Fortune Cookies

During the 15-day celebration of Chinese New Year, children and adults alike will take part in dances, feasts, and parades, all meant to clear the way for a happy and prosperous year ahead. One tradition families enjoy is writing and displaying chun lian, simple expressions of wishes for good fortune in the coming year. Your own well-wishers can easily create these colorful, fortune-filled paper cookies for their friends and family.

Materials
  • Paper
  • Paper cupcake baking liners
  • Markers
  • Craft glue
Instructions
  1. To make a batch, first help your child write a host of fortunes on small slips of paper.
  2. For each one, fold a paper cupcake baking liner as shown, slip the note inside, and apply a dot of craft glue to the bottom of the liner to secure it in place.