Mini Hot Chocolate Cookies

I saw these cute little Hot Chocolate cookies on thegunnysack.com/2014/01hot-chocolate-cookie-cups and I knew that I had to make them. I added a little heart sprinkle to each cookies. But a little Christmas tree or flower sprinkle would also look really cute. I simply used some melted white chocolate I used to adhere the heart sprinkle to the front of the cookie cup.

I used a homemade sugar cookie recipe to make the cookie cups but the recipe link suggested using the Pillsbury Sugar cookie dough.

Ingredients:

1 package Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons hot cocoa mix

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

12 mini pretzels

1 cup Jet-Puffed Mallow Bites

1/2 cup white chocolate


Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a mini muffin tin with a non-stick cooking spray.

Roll the sugar cookie dough into 24 1' balls and press them into the mini muffin tin.

Bake for 11 to 14 minutes.  Press the middle of the cups down again after a few minutes. The let them cool completely in the pan before gently removing them.

Make the chocolate ganache by bringing the whipping cream to a boil - stir in the hot cocoa mix. Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl and pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips. Stir until the chocolate chips are melted and smooth.

I put the cookie cups on a large piece of foil. Then spoon the ganache into each cookie cup and sprinkle with the Mallow Bits.

Break the pretzel into little handles. Melt the white chocolate and use it to glue the pretzel handles onto the cookie cup.

Then gently place the cookie cups onto a serving tray.

Should you eat this cookie with your pinky out?

I have made this recipe twice!

It's All About The Bling

I found these blinged out rhinestone lollipop sticks at Hobby Lobby and they elevate my simple Rice Crispy Treats to a whole new level! My Rice Crispy treats are ready for the holidays!

I am going to go back up and pick up some more of these lollipop sticks and use them for some sort of Valentine's Day project! Merry Christmas everyone!

Tennis Ball Christmas Tree ornaments

Tomorrow is our tennis team is having a holiday round robin and lunch. Fingers crossed - no rain and that the courts dry enough so that we can play. I made everyone a tennis ball Christmas ornament. But you could make these ornaments into almost any sport I could easily make them into baseballs, basketballs or soccer balls.

I was really looking forward to playing tennis today but the ladies that went to the club before me said that the courts had huge puddles. So our match against San Clemente was cancelled.

Supply list:

wooden round and heart shaped pieces

paint

large sponge brush

fine paint brush 

paint

paper clip

hot glue gun/glue

labels

pen

vinyl letters/sticker

Modge Podge

coordinating ribbon

I bought these wooden pieces at Michael's  I think they were something like .29  each.

On top of pieces of recycled cardboard - I painted the front and back of each wooden piece in yellow.

With a fine tipped paint brush I painted a white squiggle line.

On the back of each ornament I hot glue gunned a paper clip.

On the back of each ornament I Modge Podged a label with the club and team name.

On the front of each ornament I Modge Podged some vinyl letters and tied a ribbon onto the paper clip.

Here is picture of an ornament on my tree!

I think these ornaments came out really cute and they have that imperfect homemade look!

I made both heart and round shaped tennis balls!

Merry Christmas! I hope that between chauffeuring my son to basketball tournaments, games and practiced that I can still play a little tennis.

Handmade Charlie Brown Christmas Ornaments

One of our family's favorite Christmas movies is "A Charlie Brown Christmas." It is also the soundtrack that we listen to when we decorate the tree and open presents on Christmas morning.

 One year we took our kids to Knott's Berry Farm when they were very young. Before we left we took the kids into the giant gift shop and told them that they could pick out a treat. Our son picked out the Charlie Brown t-shirt and wore it until it was threadbare. At one point he refused to wear shoes - but I took him to Nordstrom and showed him the shoes that Charlie Brown wore and sure enough he wore his Charlie Brown shoes with his Charlie Brown shirt.

So I was looking on Pinterest one day and saw these adorable Charlie Brown ornaments on alittlegray.blogspot.com/2012/11/charlie-brown-christmas-ornaments.html. I fell in love with her felt ornaments and decided to make my own. The only problem was that she hand embroidered the faces but used a sewing machine for everything else. I do not have a sewing machine. So I hand sewed my entire project. I followed the A Little Gray's tutorial and improvised. I could have asked one of my friends if I could come over and use their sewing machine. Actually I think I only have one friend with a sewing machine (FYI it is Julie!). But I get frustrated with the needle and the bobbin and the curved lines of the faces would probably send me over the edge. If you want to learn how to make these ornaments - click on the above link. She even has the pattern you can download.

Just cutting out all of the pieces was a long process.

However,  I had a wonderful and relaxing time sewing these little ornaments. I worked on them for one entire rainy day (no tennis match) so I crafted all day! Plus I don't like to drive in the rain unless absolutely  necessary.

I went a little overboard and made a few extra sets to give away.

I just love it when Linus tells Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas. Because I sometimes (no I always)  think that the true meaning of Christmas is lost when everyone is shopping and running around. Instead we should have quiet time everyday to pray and reflect.

Hockey Stick! My little Charlie Brown is now 15 and 6 feet tall. He towers over his older sister. Where did the time go?

Hark the Harold Angels sing! Glory to the newborn King!

Handmade Music Themed Christmas Tree Ornaments

I made these Music Themed Christmas Tree Ornaments for Noelle to give to her music and choir friends at church. She sings in the choir at church and we always make a little music themed treat for everyone.

For this project you will need:

Music themed scrapbook or wrapping paper

Green card stock

Christmas Tree cookie cutter

Black pen

Sharp scissors

Modge Podge

Sponge brush

Rhinestone and Pearl stickers

Green 1/8" ribbon 

Trace and cut out some music paper Christmas Trees.

Then cut out some green trees out of card stock.  Using Modge Podge glue both pieces together. Then Modge Podge the front of the ornament with the music paper. Let dry. Then Modge Podge the back of the ornament with the green paper. Let dry. You might want to Modge Podge a few more times to make the ornament nice and stiff. Then decorate the music themed paper with the mini pearls and rhinestones.

Glue a ribbon loop to the back of the ornament. These ornaments were really simple to make - it just took a little time here and there for the Modge Podge to dry.

They would be cute for a piano recital, and any friends who are in orchestra or choir.

Felt Bell Christmas Ornaments

To make these felt bells you will need:

felt

bell shaped cookie cutter

black pen

sharp scissors

coordinating embroidery thread

hand sewing needle

cotton filling or sachet filling

jingle bells

thin coordinating ribbon

First trace and cut out the bell shape on the felt, cut out the bell shapes.

On the top piece of felt embroider a snowflake. On the top of the bottom piece sew a ribbon loop. Then sew the top piece to the bottom piece with a running stitch. Before the bell is completely sewn shut fill with cotton fill in or sweet smelling sachet filler. Then at the bottom of the bell sew a jingle bell.

These would make a cute hostess gift or they would be a cute addition to the top of a wrapped package. I like to add Christmas ornaments to my cookie plates that I make for my neighbors.

They say every time a bell rings - an angel gets their wings!

Mittens for Meals on Wheels

I started working on some of my Meals on Wheels holiday projects. Because ins't that what Christmas and Advent are all about?

So I bought 50 pairs of mittens a few days before Thanksgiving! So over the Thanksgiving holiday - I wrapped all 50 pairs of mittens and Noelle tied them with ribbon and we added a little ornament to each package.

So that everyone will get a little wrapped treat. And mittens in cold weather are a useful item.

On all of the packages I added a little sticker that says, "Stay Warm this Winter."

 In addition to the mittens I also made some Gingerbread Men little mini cards. They will get these a week or so before the mitten gift.

I wrapped them in plastic - so they wouldn't get messy when delivered with the food.

I also made 50 of these little cards. I wrote a note inside each card wishing them a happy holiday. The reason why I post these little Meals on Wheels projects is to inspire others to reach out to their local Senior Centers and Meals on Wheels.

My Thanksgiving Pet Peeve

I have noticed that the minute after Halloween was over - the stores started putting out the Christmas items. There is a holiday in between and it called Thanksgiving! I started decorating for Thanksgiving. I still need to polish the silver and get some fresh flowers.

I hope I will remember to post a picture once I have the silverware and glasses set out. But I will post my menu!

My Thanksgiving Menu 2014

Butternut Squash Soup

Green Salad with Feta and Dried Cranberries

Turkey, Gravy and Cornbread Stuffing

Twice Baked Potatoes

Asparagus

Apple Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are planning on going on a hike or playing a little tennis before we eat. 

Refreshing Water After the Tennis Match

Today i brought a big pitcher of water to the tennis match. To make the water look festive I added some orange slices, lemon slices, cranberries, mint and rosemary.

Whenever I make a special water for after the tennis match everyone on my team and the opposing team ask me the recipe. So today I made little bags so that everyone could go home and make festive water!

I placed two clementines, a lemon, 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries. a few sprigs of mint and rosemary. I tied the bag with a coordinating ribbon and placed all of the bags into a large shallow basket.

Guess what everyone loved them! These would make a perfect Thanksgiving party favor. The team that plays on Tuesday told me that they were going to copy the idea!

I wish I had taken a picture of the pitcher of water I made! Maybe next time!

Autumn Themed Rice Crispy Treats

This is a really easy project to make. You can use store bought or homemade Rice Crispy treats. I cut the Rice Crispy treats into 2-inch squares.

To make these cute treats you will need:

Rice Crispy Treats

Chocolate melts

Lollipop sticks

Autumn themed sprinkles

Cellophane bags

Coordinating ribbon

Parchment paper  or Silpat Pad

Melt the chocolate and lay the Rice Crispy Treats out on the parchment paper. Dip the top of the lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and twist it into the Rice Crispy Treats.

One the lollipop stick is set - dip the top of the Rice Crispy Treat into the melted chocolate and add a few sprinkles onto the warm chocolate. Set the Rice Crispy treat on the parchment paper to set.

Once the chocolate is set - package the each Treat into a cellophane or plastic bag and tie with the coordinating ribbon.

I made these fun treats to bring to my tennis match tomorrow. it is the perfect size for an after match sweet. These would also be a great treat for the classroom, sports team. They would also make cute place cards for Thanksgiving dinner.

Paper leaves Filled with Candy

 I started making some autumn themed treats. To make this fun and easy project you will need:

Leaf shaped cookie cutter

Pen

Scissors

Brown craft paper

Coordinating embroidery thread 

Needle

Small candies (m&m's, Skittles, Reese's Pieces)

Trace the leaf cookie cutter onto the brown craft paper and cut them out with some small sharp scissors.

Now sew two leaves together.  Before sewing the leaf completely shut fill with some small candies. I sued Reese's Pieces.

These would make cute party favors for a Thanksgiving or Harvest party. They would also make wonderful place cards.