Countdown to Christmas Day 25...Snowman pancakes mmmm mmm!

Who likes pancakes?? We do!!! Last year when I was on the hunt for some activities to put on our advent calender, I came across this (http://mommysavers.com/christmas-breakfast-recipe-santa-reindeer-pancakes/)

I thought it was super cute, so it went straight on our advent calender. Here is my attempt!!

Yep, it totally does not look as good as the picture I found. But they were still delicious and most importantly the kids loved them!

What you need:

 -Ingredients for your favorite pancake recipe (here is a great one for fluffy pancakes http://www.somewhatsimple.com/pancakes/)

-Strawberries

-whipped cream 

-M&M's . 

Instructions:

1. Make your pancakes as per recipe instructions. Be sure to make some large and small ones.

2. Cut 1 strawberry in 1/2, to create the hat.

3. Cut the remaining half in half again, using one of these halves to become the mouth.

4. Place 1 small & 1 large pancake on plate as displayed. 

5. Arrange M&M's and strawberries as per photo. 

6. Pipe the whipped cream on, to create the scarf.

If you check out the original post site that I shared with you at the top of the page, they also have a really cute santa and reindeer pancake designs too.  

We will definitely be making them again this year...they are so much fun!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 26....Free printable gift tags & labels

With Christmas just around the corner, it time to start thinking about wrapping your gifts. Here is a round up of some gorgeous free printable gift tags and sticker labels. For best results, be sure to print the tags on card stock. 

http://momsbyheart.net/100-days-of-christmas-day-96-4/

http://blog.worldlabel.com/2014/printable-christmas-gift-tags-and-labels.html

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/amandas-parties-to-go-3876991/free-christmas-gift-tag-printables-3888339217

http://blog.worldlabel.com/2013/treetop-glisten-free-christmas-labels-digital-scrapbooking-papers.html

http://ourbestbites.com/2014/12/free-holiday-printable-gift-tags/

http://www.belvederedesignsblog.com/2010/12/free-printable-holiday-gift-tags.html

http://deluxemoderndesign.com/2014/12/free-chic-holiday-gift-tags/

http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2012/12/free-printables-gift-tags.html

http://www.skiptomylou.org/free-christmas-printable-gift-tags/

http://www.classyclutter.net/2013/12/free-christmas-gift-tags/

Please remember that these lovely people have designed these tags for personal use only. Please do not print and sell these items.

Enjoy!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 27....Candy Cane Fudge

This recipe is so easy and very yummy! Candy Cane Fudge...Anything can be made Christmassy if you try!

Ingredients

1.5 cups of White Chocolate melts

1 can of condensed milk

7 candy cans

Instructions

1. Line a 20x20cm tin with baking paper.

2. Place the candy canes in a ziplock bag. Cover with a tea towel and crush with a meat mallet.

3. Place condensed milk and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and melt in microwave for 1 minute.

4. Stir and return to the microwave for another 45 seconds.

5. Once completely melted, pour into tin (make sure you do this quickly, as the fudge starts to set fast)

6. Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.

7. Place in fridge for 2 hours or until set.

8. Cut into pieces and store in the fridge.

Original recipe found at  - http://thefrugalgirls.com/2015/11/candy-cane-fudge-recipe.html

Enjoy!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 28.....100+ Free Christmas Printables!

When I decorate for Christmas, I like to decorate my whole house. I love the whole feeling of Christmas! One thing that I have become a little obsessed with this year is printables. I love the convenience of downloading something and printing it out immediately. Actually just this morning my hubby wanted photo booth props for a Hawaiin themed youth camp that he is running this weekend. It cost me $5 to download a whole set and print them out. It took all of 10 minutes and for $5, it was a complete bargain! The net is full of Christmas printables. Some you need to pay for but many have also been made free for personal use.

Here are over 100 awesome Christmas printables that are free!

 http://littlegoldpixel.com/2014/12/free-christmas-printables-holiday-decor/

https://sevenlittlemonkeys.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/subway-art/

http://www.moritzfineblogdesigns.com/free-christmas-home-printables-friday-favorite-5/#_a5y_p=2956994

http://www.thedatingdivas.com/holidays/christmas/12-ways-to-keep-christ-in-christmas/

http://mountainmodernlife.com/3-free-christmas-printables/

http://www.oneperfectdayblog.net/2013/12/24/free-christmas-printables/

http://refreshrestyle.com/christmas-printables-blue/#_a5y_p=1099973

http://www.karriedrakeblog.com/2013/12/santa-claus-free-printable.html?m=1

http://carriethishome.com/2013/12/o-holy-night-printable/

http://www.reasonstoskipthehousework.com/neutral-christmas-printables/

http://akadesign.ca/11-free-christmas-printables/

http://tatertotsandjello.com/2014/11/34-free-christmas-gift-tag-printables.html

Enjoy Decorating!

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 29....Choc Dipped Candy Canes

I was recently involved in a Christmas themed fundraiser. My sisters & I ran a Christmas stall and one thing that we were really keen to have, were some cheap yummy things for the kids to buy. This is one of the things that I made and my daughter is now going to make them for her school friends. It is just a yummy twist on a candy cane!

This is what you will need

1. Place the chocolate in a microwave safe container and melt in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir & then return to the microwave for an extra 30 seconds or until completely melted.

 2. Tear the plastic wrapper back to where you would like the chocolate to go to. Not only does it leave a straighter line, but it also means that you are not directly holding the candy cane. 

3.Dip the candy cane into the chocolate. Depending on how deep the container is, you may need to use a spoon to scoop the chocolate onto the candy cane (much easier when you are not trying to take a photo at the same time!) Allow the excess to drip off.

 4. Now dip the candy cane in the sprinkles. Once again, depending on the depth of the container you may need to scoop the sprinkles on. Make sure you do it quickly, so that the chocolate is covered in sprinkles before it sets.

  

5. Place on a tray. When you have made them all, or the tray is full, place the tray in the fridge until they are all completely set.

6. Remove the plastic wrapping from the top of the candy cane, place them in self seal cellophane bags and they are ready to go.

Enjoy on their own or stir them into your hot chocolate!

It’s a quick, easy and a kid friendly activity for all the family.

Kylie xx

Countdown to Christmas Day 30.....Advent Calenders

I love, love, love Christmas. So I thought why not start a 30 day countdown to Christmas! Today is day 30 and I am kicking the countdown off with Advent Calenders.....................

            There are so many wonderful things to see and do leading up to Christmas. A few years ago I made this Advent Calender out of Scrapbooking paper and I still love it. We kick off on the 1st of December and go through to Christmas Eve.

 Each year I print out the activities and blue tak them on the back of these cards. 

Then I blue tak the cards to the wall in the shape of a Christmas tree. There is no order to the cards, they just get placed wherever I decide that year. If you would like to make one similar to this, the instructions are at the end of the page.

But most importantly is what activities I choose for my family to do. I have compiled a list of activity ideas below. One rule I try to remember when choosing or creating ideas, is to be realistic. If your child is at school all day and then has a sporting activity on in the afternoon, then trying to fit Christmas craft in to the busy schedule may not work. It is all about spending time & having fun together in the Christmas season.

On to the list.....

* Bake Christmas cookies

*Christmas Craft

*Go to Christmas carols

* Write Christmas cards to your friends & family

*Have a Picnic under the Christmas Tree

* Go look at Christmas lights

*Cook Christmas gifts for your neighbors

*Make paper chains

*Decorate the Christmas tree

*Hang the Outdoor Christmas lights

*Christmas party with friends

* Make a gingerbread house

*Make snowman pancakes for breakfast

*Do Christmas treat cooking

*Read Christmas stories around the tree.

*Go Christmas shopping

*Wrap Christmas presents

*Go to a Christmas concert

*Make Christmas decorations

*Have a red & green dinner

*Make a Christmas wreath

*Watch a Christmas movie

*Play Christmas Minute to Win it games

*Make a gift for your teacher

*Clean out & Donate your old toys to charity (Make sure they are still in good condition)

*Read the Christmas story from the Bible

*Make snowman pizza for dinner

*Take family Christmas Photos

*Have Santa photos taken

*Make a special Christmas Drink 

*Play Christmas Bingo (kids version coming your way very soon)

*Make Christmas shirts

*Go shopping for a new Christmas outfit

*Listen or dance to Christmas music

*Bake a birthday cake for Jesus

And if your lucky enough to live near snow....

*Build a snowman

*Go sledding

*Go Ice skating

*Make snow angels

*Have a snow ball fight

Remember to tailor your activities to fit your family. 

Instructions to make Advent cards - 

1. Gather a few different scrapbooking papers.

2. Cut 25 Rectangles (10x7.5cm each)

3. Cut 24 circles (I just traced the bottom of a tealight candle).

4. Print numbers 1-24. My numbers are white with glitter on them, but I would suggest doing them in black or another dark colour, as the white ones are a tad hard to see from far away.

5. Glue a circle onto each rectangle. It doesn’t need to be in the same spot each time. I mixed mine around a little. Make sure that the circle is made from a different paper to the rectangle that you are sticking it on.

6. Stick number 1-24 onto your circles and decorate if you like.

7. Print Activities and blue tak to back of each rectangle. Remember to check the date that you are attaching it to and make sure it is an activity that you can fit in that day.

8. Blue tak to the wall, in whatever shape you desire. I don’t put mine in order, but that is completely up to you!

Here are some ready to go free printable Countdown cards that I found on the net - 

 http://simpleasthatblog.com/2014/11/free-printable-advent-calendar-christmas-countdown-tags.html

http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/free-printable-vintage-christmas-advent-calendar/

http://www.thedatingdivas.com/just-the-two-of-us/christmas-countdown-printable-packs/

Enjoy planning!

Kylie xx