Christmas in July with Rudolph

I have been thinking about Christmas ...a lot....lately. I hate having it sneak up on me and not have presents ready for my family and friends. I want to make everyone a cute Christmas decoration or a personalized stocking this year.

While I was waiting for two youngest to fall asleep tonight I searched online for Christmas projects. Look what I found!



Who wouldn't want to cuddle up with this guy on the couch? I am thinking about making one for each of my youngest as a Christmas Eve present for their beds to cuddle up with waiting for St. Nick. The back of the pillow would be easy to personalize with a different fabric for each family member or you could quickly embroider a name to the pillow. I think I may add a pocket for the boys
to store a reindeer snack that could disappear at night when Santa arrives.

The tutorial is easy to follow with lots of pictures and a complete list of items . She uses transfer paper but I wonder if you could print to freezer paper and use that instead? I think I may try both and let you know what happens.

I would like to point out the cute red pillow in the background with the adorable. Looking at it gives me that nice warm Christmas feeling.

Here is the link http://www.cottonandcurls.com/2012/12/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-pillow-tutorial/

Don't forget to check out the rest of her blog for amazing accessory and clothing ideas too.

Drop Danish using Bisquick!

I have been using this recipe for over 20 years! I am not sure if my Mom and I first found it in a magazine or on the side of the Bisquick box. It is one of my to go to recipes when my sweet tooth is getting the better of me and I want something that is quick and easy.

You will need:

2 cups of Bisquick or any other mix of this kind
1/4 cup of margarine or butter, softened
2 Tbsp of sugar (I use 1/4 cup, don't hate me!)
2/3 cup of milk
1/4 cup of preserves or jam


1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or baking pan.

2. Mix Bisquick, sugar, margarine, and milk together until a dough forms. You do not want to make sure that all of the Bisquick is completely mixed, it is ok to have a few dry round pieces in the dough.

This is what mine looks like after I mix it together.

3. Using a spoon drop the dough onto your pre greased pan about 2 inches apart. I can usually get 6 on a pan. Using the back of a spoon form a well in the back. Make sure that it is not so deep that your Danish will break when you remove it from the pan. Place a spoon of your jam or preserves in the well.

4. Place in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.
(Sorry about the pictures my hard drive is going out, nothing is working quite including photo editing)

 

Glaze Ingredients

 

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbsp warm water

1/4 t vanilla

 

Mix together in a bowl until the mixture is smooth. Drizzle with a fork over each Danish after they are cool.

 

 

As you can tell they are a big hit in our house!

 

 

 

 

How to Organize!

http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/05/mail-organizer-tutorial.html

I have been going crazy trying to find ways to organize stuff in my house without paying a ton of money for it. I love this tutorial but I think I might change it up a bit to recycle some stuff I already have. I will try to post pictures as I go to let you know if using layers of cardboard will work for the back instead of a canvas. And  I would rather recycle some stuff that I do not wear anymore rather than spend more money on fabric. One of the reasons I love crafting is that I can find new ways to use things instead of purchasing more stuff!

Keep Your Cool Where it Belongs With This Jedi Trick

Fourth of July Eats

What says 4th of July fun more than food? I can't think of anything! Here are a few of my favorite online recipes for the 4th.


http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2013/05/easy-taco-salad-flag.html



http://www.plainchicken.com/2013/06/patriotic-deviled-eggs.html



http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/ranch-style-coleslaw-bacon-111386.aspx



http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/loaded-baked-potato-salad-124714.aspx


 
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/grilled-chicken-recipes/pictures/page-7.html?nl=FNW_070113_toprecipe2headline&sni_mid=86264&sni_rid=86264.501.437546&c32={78E046D9-47C9-4931-8356-7049D46797DB}




http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/smokn-barbecued-ribs-118555.aspx





http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/sonoran-style-hot-dog-119256.aspx



http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/star-spangled-stackermallow-treats-144612.aspx?cm_mmc=eml-_-rbe-_-20130701-_-1062&cm_lm=1FE7E724157E72407FE7089E5FCCEC71




http://www.justataste.com/2013/06/july-4-dessert-pinwheel-icebox-cookies/




http://what2cook.net/2013/06/25/red-white-n-blue-salad/



http://fancyfrugallife.com/4th-of-july-trifle-recipe/ This trifle gets gold stars because it is sooo easy!



http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/red-white-blue-jello-stars/




http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com/2010/06/smores-on-stick.html Smores on a stick!


http://www.nestofposies-blog.com/2012/05/red-white-sweet-blue-ice-cream/


I also want to throw in this website for more ideas http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/holidays-and-entertaining/holidays/july-4th-recipes.aspx. No I have no affiliation with kraft at all I just love their holiday recipes! They feature some main course ideas too such as a whole barbecued chicken. MMMMmmmmm.