Update: Gave these to Kasandra for Christmas 2016, an extra Christmas gift.
Monday 24 October 2016
Slouchy hat, infinity scarf + handwarmer kit
I FINALLY finished my infinity scarf, handwarmer & slouchy hat kit. Had to wait for buttons from China! couldn't find any around here . Had a hard time taking my pics with my phone.
Monday 25 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 25 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 25
CIJ day 25 / jour 25
Merry
Christmas in July!!! Only 6 more months
until Christmas J
Have a cup
of hot cocoa and work on your Christmas tradition list.
Thank you
all for joining me in CIJ 2016.
Sunday 24 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 24 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 24
CIJ day 24 / jour 24
Angel
wings.
There is no
tutorial but it can be easily drawn freehand and made into a Chrismtas ornament
for the tree. You could even add a name-tage if you have a special angel in your family.
Saturday 23 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 23 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 23
CIJ day 23 / jour 23
Cranberry – orange muffins
NGREDIENTS
·
2 cups Flour
·
¾ cup Light Brown Sugar
·
2 tsp Baking Powder
·
2 Eggs
·
¾ cup Orange Juice
·
1 Tbsp Orange Zest
·
⅓ cup Vegetable Oil
·
1 cup chopped Fresh Cranberries (or 1 cup dried, if
you can't find fresh cranberries)
INSTRUCTIONS
1.
Preheat oven to 375.
2. Line muffin
pan with paper liners (if you want to skip the liners, you can - just spray the
muffin tins with non-stick spray)
3.
Mix together flour, brown sugar and baking powder. Set aside.
4. Beat together
eggs. orange juice, zest and oil.
5. Add wet
ingredients into the dry ingredients just until moistened.
6.
Fold in cranberries.
7. Spoon into
prepared muffin pan.
8. Bake for 20
minutes or until golden brown.
9. Cool on a
wire rack.
Friday 22 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 22 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 22
CIJ day 22 / jour 22
Friday
night at the movies. It’s
a Wonderful Life
A movie
with James Stuart about an angel that helps a compassionate but despairingly
frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never
existed.
It’s a 1946
movie in black and white but it’s got a lovely Christmas spirit.
Thursday 21 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 21 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 21
CIJ day 21 / jour 21
Large
reusable Christmas gift bag.
This one is
great but I don’t have the tutorial.
However you could use one of the tutorials on here to make it http://so-sew-easy.com/fabric-gift-bags/
A tutorial
can also be found here
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 20 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 20
CIJ day 20 / jour 20
Gifts for
men.
They are so hard to buy for! I know mine is as is also my son.
Got lots of
ideas from here http://heavy.com/social/2015/06/best-gifts-for-men-guys-gift-ideas-him-fathers-husband-boyfriend-guide-presents/
Slim wallet
Wi-fi
speaker
Wireless
headphones (oh WE love that he wears those! Haha)
Cool
cufflinks – these can be found really cheap on AllieExpress and added to the
stockings
Tools!
A telescope
($$)
Sports cap
(as if they didn’t already own tons of these!)
Smart home
wall controller ($$) – this would be awesome
Perfume – I like Aqua de Gio de Armani
Portable
phone charger… hummmm I think I’ll look up this one for my son
Faux book
safe
Go pro
camera
Turntable –
I know dh would like that
A drone
Hammock
Hot-dog
toaster
DVD – James
Bond collection
Breakfast
maker machine (bought that last year and the boys use it!)
Tuesday 19 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 19 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 19
CIJ day 19 / jour 19
A healthier
Christmas dessert today.
Dark chocolate sea-salt almonds
Source : http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2015/08/24/healthier-treat-dark-chocolate-sea-salt-almonds/
Ingredients:
·
6 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet high
quality chocolate
·
sea salt
·
turbinado sugar (or any coarse/raw
sugar)
Directions:
1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Set aside.
2.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or
(carefully!) use the microwave. For the microwave, place the chocolate in a
medium heat-proof bowl. Melt in 30 second increments, stirring after each
increment until completely melted and smooth. Alternatively, you can temper the
chocolate. If tempering, do not store finished nuts in the refrigerator.
3. Stir the almonds into the chocolate, making sure to coat each one. Using
a dipping tool or a fork, lift the almonds out of the chocolate one by one or
only a couple at a time (you don't want them all sticking together!), gently
tap the tool/fork against the side of the bowl to release excess chocolate, and
place onto prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining almonds.
4.
Sprinkle almonds with a little sea salt
and turbinado sugar, then allow chocolate to completely set. I placed the
baking sheet in the refrigerator to speed it up!
5.
Store chocolate covered almonds in the
refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
Additional
Notes:
For extra flavor, try toasting the almonds first! Simply spread
them out onto a large baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes at 300°F (149°C).
Allow
to slightly cool before coating with chocolate.
Enjoy!
Monday 18 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 18 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 18
CIJ day 18 / jour 18
Champagne Jello Cups
I’m
thinking this would be great on New-Year’s Eve
Ingredients:
1ST
CHAMPAGNE LAYER
1 & 1/2
cups champagne
1/2 cup
boiling water
1 gelatin
packet
CREAMY
LAYER
1 can
sweetened condensed milk
1 cup
boiling water
1/2 cup
cold water
1 gelatin
packet
2ND
CHAMPAGNE LAYER
1 & 1/2
cups champagne
1/2 cup
boiling water
1 gelatin
packet
FOR THE RIM
gold
sprinkles
corn syrup
Directions:
Gently pour
the champagne into a mixing bowl.
Measure out
1/2 cup of boiling water in a separate bowl then add 1 gelatin packet to the
water, gently stirring.
Once
combined, pour the water/gelatin mixture into the champagne and gently stir.
Divide the
champagne jello into glasses. If you want the jello to set at an angle, place
the glasses in a muffin or mini muffin pan at an angle to set in the refrigerator.
Once the
champagne jello has set, begin to prepare the creamy layer.
In a mixing
bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and 1 cup of boiling water. Stir to
combine.
In a
separate bowl, combine the 1/2 cup cold water and 1 gelatin packet. Stir to
mix. Allow the gelatin mixture to set for 2-3 minutes.
Pour the
gelatin mixture into the sweetened condensed milk mixture and stir to combine.
Divide the
creamy layer into the glasses. If you want the jello to set at an angle, place
the glasses in a muffin or mini muffin pan at an angle to set in the
refrigerator.
Repeat the
instructions for the champagne layer to add the final layer to the cups.
Use a small
amount of corn syrup and your finger, a small metal spatula or a small new
paint brush to dab a little bit of corn syrup all around the rim of the glass.
Then turn
the glass upside down into a shallow bowl of sprinkles, moving it around until the
rim is covered.
Serve the
jello or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Sunday 17 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 17 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 17
CIJ day 17 / jour 17
Party looks
Also on my
pinterest boards: https://fr.pinterest.com/LucieElf/christmas-clothes/
I’m not one
to do my nails but I like these:
This look
is really Christmassy
Classic
Shoes…
weird ones and nice ones
Saturday 16 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 16 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 16
CIJ day 16 / jour 16
Decorations
Wishlist
A lighted
tree skirt!
More red /
white themed throws and pillows
A Christmas
comforter!
Christmas
shower curtain
More
candles
A Santa
frame
A Christmas
dollhouse (one can always wish!)
I’ve got
lots of decorations I like, pinned here: https://fr.pinterest.com/LucieElf/christmas-decor/
Friday 15 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 15 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 15
CIJ day 15/ jour 15
Another Friday at the movies for CIJ!
I was thinking of a Charlie Brown Christmas. It is one dvd I do not have yet but have watched it on tv.
You can buy it on Amazon at : https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Brown-Christmas-Remastered-Deluxe/dp/B001CO42J8
Here's the synopsis: Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be twinkling red and green, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. To get in the holiday spirit, he takes Lucy's advice and directs the Christmas play. And what's a Christmas play without a Christmas tree? But everyone makes fun of the short, spindly nevergreen Charlie Brown brings back – until the real meaning of Christmas works its magic once again.
I know I love the Charlie Brown tree!
Thursday 14 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 14 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 14
CIJ day 14 / jour 14
Christmas
magazines
I love to
have Christmas magazines! In fact I
receive some magazines but only keep the Christmas ones (the others I donate
after looking at them).
The one I
receive every year is Coup de Pouce. When I receive it it gets me in the Holiday
Spirit instantly!
I also have
a few Martha Stewarts that I bought at the thrift store. So Martha Stewart is also a good choice
There are
also a few others
What
Christmas magazines do you look at during the Holidays?
Wednesday 13 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 13 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 13
CIJ day 13 / jour 13
Skor’s bar
recipe
I have made
this a few times and it’s a hit every time!
And so easy to do. Can be frozen. I cut it up in small squares as it is very
sweet.
YIELD24-36 pieces
1package
skor toffee pieces
1box Ritz
cracker (orignal flavour)
1can
condensed milk
DIRECTIONS
Crush the
Ritz Crackers.
Mix with
the other two ingredients.
Pour
mixture into a buttered 9x9 pan.
Press
firmly.
Bake at 300
for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool
and slice while still warm.
Tuesday 12 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 12 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 12
CIJ day 12 / jour 12
Secret
Santa
My son did
this when he was in primary school.
Wikipedia
says: members of a group or community are
randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously give a gift….. okay…. So that’s the way we do our sister/brother
exchange then.
But that’s not exactly
how they did it at my son’s school. They
had to buy a gift or gifts to a person (anonymously) and give them over a
period of time. Let’s say they had 10 days..
they could either give just 1 gift or more and give them during that period of time.
My son received a burned Christmas dvd one day, a candy cane another day
and one other trinket. They were really
small items they could buy or preferably make.
I like this secret santa variation much better!
Ideas for 10 days of
secret santa:
Grinch poop
Reindeer
food
Snowman
soup
Candy cane
Candy bar
with Christmas wrapper
Burned
Christmas dvd
Nail polish
Donut seeds
Soda bottle
Flashlight
Lottery
ticket
….
Have fun!
Monday 11 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 11 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 11
CIJ day 11 / jour 11
Christmas
coloring books
There are
now LOTS of different coloring books for adults – it’s the Zen thing to do
these days. Here are a few Christmas themed
coloring books… would be nice to do this with the Christmas tree lights on and
some soft Christmas music in the background.
Here are
the top 13 Christmas coloring books for adults. (Source: http://coloringbookaddict.com/top-10-christmas-coloring-books-adults/
)
I’ll just
post a few of them but you can see them all in the link above. Don’t forget to get nice colored pencils!
You could
also frame some of your drawings for the Holiday Season and why not use them to
wrap gifts? Or use Kraft paper and draw
on that before wrapping your gifts.
Sunday 10 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 10 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 10
CIJ day 10 / jour 10
Twelve days
of Christmas
I have
never done this but have seen this go by… especially on Pinterest!
According
to Wikipedia:
It is a festive
Christian season to celebrate the nativity of Jesus. In most Western Church traditions Christmas Day is
the First Day of Christmas and the Twelve Days are 25 December – 5 January.
When I was younger, I
know that for us January 6 was the Kings day (Ephiphany) and ended the
Christmas season. We don’t celebrate it
here anymore. There was a cake with a pea in it and the one who got it was King
or Queen for the night. AND we did not
take down Christmas decorations until January 6th.
Lots more facts here http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/12daysofchristmas.shtml
Every one of those 12 days celebrate a Saint.
Song about the 12 days
of Christmas:
What is the religious symbolism of the 12 days of
Christmas?
|
Here is one rendition on what the religious
symbolism is for the Twelve Days of Christmas:
1 True Love refers to God 2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments 3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues 4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists 5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace. 6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation 7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments 8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes 9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit 10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments 11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles 12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed |
Nowadays, mostly people
give small gifts the 12 days leading to Christmas. Usually, it is Christian-based gifts or gifts
that refer to the song.
Here’s some RAK ideas
Some small
gift ideas for the 12 days of Christmas can also be found here
Saturday 9 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 9 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 9
Christmas
sweaters
Here are a
few pictures of Christmas Sweaters. They
are not all ugly! I would love this – in
fact I WILL have one!
Now this
one is ugly!
I would
also want a vest like the mom in Christmas with the Kranks – a diy project to
add to my list!
Friday 8 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 8 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 8
CIJ day 8 / jour 8
Friday
night at the movies – Fred Claus
Santa’s
bitter older brother is forced to move to the North Pole (Vince
Vaughn). A nice Christmas movie.
The only
thing lacking is a ‘cute’ Santa. I find
the Santa is not the best-looking but Santa’s brother is hot! J
Thursday 7 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 7 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 7
CIJ day 1 / jour 1
Every year I send out some Christmas cards. Some are for family and some are for my MHH friends. I mail around 20.
I always say I’ll make my own cards, but I’ve never done it yet.
For my MHH friends I always add a little something to the card (something thin because mailing costs are prohibitive!)
Here’s what I did in previous years :
* 2010 : Recipe
* 2011 : Christmas coupons (Tags)
* 2012 : Grow your own tree
* 2013 : Tea with poem (in a ribbon pocket attached to the card)
* 2014 : Felt holly leaves
* 2015 : ugly christmas sweater (felt ornament)
More ideas for small things to add to Christmas cards :
Christmas printables
* Christmas paper dolls
* Bookmarks
* Subway art
* Game
* Tags
Picture
Quote / poem
Felt ornament
Crochet ornament
Recipe
Wednesday 6 July 2016
Christmas in July 2016 day 6 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 6
CIJ day 6 / jour 6
Self-Christmas
presents
Why not
make a list of things I’d like for Christmas.
I usually make one and buy some of my own presents.. that way I get what
I want J
*
A
sweater ( I ALWAYS want and need new sweaters! Haha)
*
Body
cream
*
Dark
chocolate with hot pepper
*
Pedicure
*
Anything
that comes from Renaud/Bray store http://www.renaud-bray.com/accueil.aspx
*
A
12 X 16 portfolio to store my drawings
*
Tea
*
Salt
lamp
*
DVD
series – Roots
*
Pook
mittens, hat and scarf
*
Hunger games dvd
*
Simply
tai-chi dvd
*
Woodless
colored pencils
*
Paintbrush
case
*
MP3
blue-tooth
*
Blue-tooth
speaker
I’m sure
I’ll think of more ideas until then.
What would you like to receive for Christmas?
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