Gingerbread House Party

Okay so they are not Gingerbread but graham crackers are just as fun to decorate...

We cut graham crackers into house shapes and used sugar cooked on the stove to attach all the sides together. 

*** cook sugar until golden brown and then use to attach pieces together. Reheat the sugar often to keep the sugar runny. 

The picture below pretty much sums up the fun my family had. There really is no need to say more.

But I will say a little more ;)

Making gingerbread houses has been a tradition in my home since my parents made their first gingerbread house the day they got engaged. There was only one year my family didn't make gingerbread houses and that was because my brother, who suffered from Muscular Dystrophy, was in the hospital the whole month of December and life was just crazy at my home. Luckily that year some kind stranger, not knowing our family tradition, left a gingerbread house on our door step to wish us a Merry Christmas and so the tradition lived on. As my family grows, into what is now 42 total, it gets a little harder to get us all together on one table so we usually have to do the gingerbread house decorating in shifts. I was so excited for the first year for Jaxon to participate even if most the candy went in his mouth or on me instead of on the house.

(The first half of the family decorating)

The finished product

Now we must wash all the candy down with some milk...

... and go for some more sweets :)

*** See more of the fun decor of this party here!



*** Remember the Missionary Munchies giveaway ends tonight!

*** This party is featured on Tatertots and Jello FB page.

“The Wedding Wish"

              Lala's Lens and Twigs and a Pearl Videography are collaborating this Christmas Season to give a deserving Bride a wedding of her dreams!  Do you know someone who has had a sudden financial struggle, someone that has had tragedy strike, or someone that is always giving of themselves but not getting much in return?  We are looking for those Brides that want the wedding of their dreams but won’t be able to have it otherwise!

We would love your help in spreading Christmas cheer this season!  Please join us in this great effort and post this on your Blog, Facebook, or Twitter in order to get the word out about this amazing opportunity!  Let’s work together in order to help grant A Wedding Wish!

What the deserving Bride will win:

Full wedding day photography coverage by Lala's Lens

Free Bridals and Engagements by Lala’s Lens

Free Wedding Announcement Voucher

Full Wedding day video coverage by Twigs and a Pearl

Free Love Story by Twigs and a Pearl

Free Bridals by Twigs and a Pearl

Free Raw Footage from the Wedding Day

And more wedding goodies to come!  

Totaling over $5,000 in free Wedding Awesomeness!

Please refer below as to how this will run:

Rules:

- You cannot nominate yourself or immediate family

- Bride's ceremony must take place within 80 miles of Salt Lake City

- The wedding must take place in 2012

- We (The Wedding Wish) deserve the right to select the Bride according to our digression.

  

How to nominate a Bride:

Send an email to theweddingwish@gmail.com with the following information:

1-    Your name, phone number, and email address

2-   The Bride’s name

3-   The Bride’s wedding date

4-   Why this Bride deserves this Wedding Wish

More info at Utahweddingwish.blogspot.com or The Wedding Wish on Facebook

Lala's Lens and Twigs and a Pearl will choose the winning Bride based on needs by December 31^st, 2011.

Once again, let’s join together this Christmas season and spread the word about this great opportunity!  We have included The Wedding Wish button and the links to our blogs and our Facebook Pages for more info.

Cookie Swap

The wonderful Jen @ tatertotsandjello hosted a fabulous cookie swap. This was my first cookie swap of what I say will be many because it was so much fun. I just can't believe I have never been to one before. I think this idea is GENIUS. I was able to meet a ton of great bloggers and taste a lot of scrumptious cookies... who am I kidding, taste.... I mean devour!

My Soft Gingersnap Cookies that I brought

Me, Jen and Lara from Less cake more frosting.

Thanks again Jen for opening your home to a lot of fans followers. I felt like when I was going into her house as if I had been there before since I see all her decor on her blog. Let's just say it's even better in person :)

***To get the recipe for my cookies click here.
*** To get the fun cookie swap free printable click here.
*** To enter into a 50 dollar Christmas gift basket including yummy treats from Kneaders bakery click here.

{giveaway}

I had a lot of people emailing me letting me know that they weren't able to write comments on my blog to enter into this giveaway. I have fixed what I think was the problem! I also want to share what this amazing gift basket includes:

includes

---

• Personalized Card
• 12-18 inch Christmas Tree on Stand
• Strand of Lights for Tree
• Decorations for the Tree
• (2) Large Fresh Baked Cinnamon Rolls from Kneaders Bakery
• Chocolate Orange with "The Christmas Orange" Story
• Tube of M&M's with "Nativity Legend" Poem
• Tube of Gummi Bears
• Christmas Sucker
• Hershey's Chocolate Bar in Santa Suit
• (3) Chocolate Ornaments
• Large Peppermint Candy Stick
• "Grinch Pills" with Poem (Tic-Tacs)
• (2) Giant Pixie Sticks

Now remember you don't have to currently know someone in the Missionary Training Center to enter. You can also enter to win this 50 dollar gift basket for yourself to keep or giveaway.

To enter see details in my last post or click here.


***They are also giving away 10% off at Missionarymunchies.com, with coupon code "grandopening"

{GIVEAWAY} Missionary Munchies

The day has final come where I am giving out my first giveaway. I could not be more excited about the company called Missionary Munchies. They make and deliver unique packages to missionaries of the Provo MTC in an inexpensive, timely, and reliable manner to brighten their time away from their families. Missionary's often get packages but not like these and with this Christmas package your loved ones will surely feel the Christmas spirit.


Missionary Munches is giving away the gift basket below, which is a 49.95 value for FREE. To see full details of what comes inside click here. Oh, and it get's even better, they will deliver it to the Provo MTC in time for Christmas. Now, some of you may be thinking that you don't know anyone currently in the MTC but if you live close to Draper or Bountiful I will personally bring it to you and you can give it to ANYONE you wish. Now this is too good to not enter.

HOW TO ENTER (4 ways to enter):

1. Like Missionary Munchies on their facebook and leave a comment that you did.

2. Follow my blog and leave a comment that you did. If you already follow comment that you do.

3. Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook, or twitter and leave a comment that you did.

4. Let me know what your favorite gift basket is from their website.

This Giveaway will end Tuesday @midnight Mountain Standard Time. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Please leave your contact info with your entries. 

***They are also giving away 10% off at Missionarymunchies.com, with coupon code "grandopening"


*** This giveaway is featured here

Chewy Gingersnap Cookies

I recently made these cookies for a cookie swap hosted by Tatertotsandjello.  I wish I could say it is MY recipe and it has been passed down for generations but once you taste the cookie you won't care where the recipe came from. However, I do want to give credit to my talented neighbor who was so kind to share this with me.

Ingredients

◦                      1 1/2 cups butter

◦                      2 cups sugar

◦                      2 eggs

◦                      1 cup molasses

◦                      1 teaspoon vanilla

◦                      4 1/2 cups flour

◦                      4 teaspoons baking soda

◦                      2 teaspoons baking powder

◦                      1 teaspoon salt

◦                      2 teaspoons cinnamon

◦                      1 teaspoon ground cloves

◦                      1 teaspoon ground ginger

              

Directions

1.            In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together using a hand mixer. Add other wet ingredients and mix.

2.            Add dry ingredients and mix. Dough should be easy to handle and not sticky. Add a little more flour if necessary. The dough should NOT be dry.

3.            Shape dough into one inch balls and roll in white sugar.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Remove immediately from cookie sheet onto cooling rack.

 Enjoy!

Santa's Cookies

This weekend I am doing a "letters to Santa" station for all my nieces and nephews (24 of theme total) and I am getting inspiration from all sorts of places. I love the vintage mail idea (see last picture) and make it look like letters sent from and to Santa. Another fun idea would be doing milk and cookies because we all know Santa loves that. The best part about that is then I can  reuse my son's birthday party stuff. It's always a good feeling when you spend a lot of time on something to be able to find another use for it. 


Some of my inspiration for the party.

To see more of my son's party click here

I love my vintage milk carrier and bottles. I must use these!

These red mugs for hot chocolate:

I love the vintage mail. I took this picture at the festival of trees. I am always look for inspiration and I found the whole idea for the party right here with this tree.

I am also going to be making these, and these for the party!




Pictures soon to come of my Letters to Santa station... wish me luck, I have to have the party first! ;)