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.

Turkey Necklaces for Meals on Wheels

I made some Turkey necklaces for my Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels project. I bought the Turkey Necklace kits from Oriental Trading Company and they were really easy to put together. I made 48 necklaces over a two week period.

Once I put all of the necklaces together I found some cellophane bags and scrapbook paper to make cute little packages.

I didn't have much going on today - so I packaged all 48 necklaces! 

These necklaces would also be cute hung on a doorknob or hook. 

I know that the Meals on Wheels recipients will enjoy these necklaces.