Christmas in July day 5- Christmas Cards

I like making cards, sending cards, and getting cards in return. Christmas cards are my favorite for many reasons. I love the colors, I love the themes, and I love the letters & pictures that come inside the cards  So today I am sharing some of the Christmas cards I have made in the previous years. I had hoped to make my 2011 Christmas card today but the alternator in my van had other ideas. Enjoy!

Send a card today to someone.

Christmas in July Day 4- Movies

There are several movies that I would look forward to seeing on the television at Christmas time. My poor children will never know what it means to wait for something to come on TV since DVD's, streaming video, and on-demand videos are the norm now. So here are a few of my favorites from my childhood.

What is your favorite Holiday movie?

Christmas in July Day 3- Making gifts with gifts- Fabric

I have always believed that the best gifts are those that you make yourself and sometimes you have to use what you to have or can get with little cost. My mother and grandmothers often sent homemade Christmas gifts. Some of the most cherished gifts I have received were made by people I love. So for this Christmas in July day we are talking about making things with what others have given us.  My older sister Holly has a beautiful Geisha themed quilt that she made (I wish I had a picture of it to show you its amazing.) I had been admiring all the wonderful fabrics that she had used in her quilt and I had an idea. I called my sister and asked if I could have the remnants from her quilt for a project; being the wonderful sister that she is she agreed and sent me several pieces. With these remnants I made several sewing projects. Below I will show two of them, the others cannot be shown as they are gifts for my sweet sister I mentioned before (that's right Holly you'll just have to wait and see =)

This is a cute zippered cosmetic bag I made.

This is a matching pocket tissue holder.

This is where I got the pattern for the pocket tissue holder just in case there are some sewers out there who want the pattern:

Pocket Tissue Holder by Skip to My Lou

Look around.  What do you have? What can you make for someone else?

Christmas in July Day 2- Music Round 1

From time I was small, music was a part of my life. My mother played the piano and music was played in the house and in the car. I owe my love of music to my parents; its one of the most wonderful gifts they have ever given me. I grew up and learned to play the piano, flute, and piccolo. As a musician I gained an even deeper appreciate of music. Christmas time was enhanced for me by the music that I listened to.

Here are a few that I truly loved, these are all videos on You Tube:

Handel's Messiah

O little town of Bethlehem

White Christmas

Sleigh Ride

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

 What is your favorite Christmas song? 

Christmas in July Day 1

The Christmas in July sales remind me of Christmas, so I thought I would spice up my July by taking about different things about Christmas. I love Christmas because it reminds me of so many fond memories. I almost feel like a different person during Christmas; I bake more, make more crafts, I like to do things for others, and in general I just feel happy. I decided I would try to capture this Christmas feeling in July so that I could feel that love for more of the year (who knows maybe it will last until Christmas.)

Today I want to talk about two things: a gift given to me and how it became a Christmas cookie for my Christmas 2011 cookie.

My sweet husband David gave me these:

While I love Chocolate so very much, I wanted to share these with my children as well. I was staring at the bag of Hershey's Kisses and noticed a recipe on the back. Fate was on my side because it was a cookie recipe I had always wanted to try. So I recruited my children to help me make them. The recipe is below.

Hershey's Kisses Peanut Butter Blossoms

48 Hershey's Kisses

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons of milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour 

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

Granulated sugar (for rolling the cookie dough in)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degree F. Remove wrappers from the kisses.

2.Beat shortening and peanut butter in a large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup of granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well.

3. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

4.Shape dough into 1-inch balls, roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.

5.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie; cookie will crack around the edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes 4 dozen.

Here are my cookies:

 

Oh no I'm melting!

Are you hungry for cookies now? I sure am. I will be sharing all kinds of things this month so come back each day.

Question of the day: What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

New Blog Look

Yup it was time for a change. I love the black and red its so fun!

My life is a Zoo

My youngest girlie Anaya had her class field trip to the World Wild Life Zoo recently and I was able to go with her. Here are a few shots from the Zoo.

This is Miss Anaya and I before we left for the Zoo.

Seriously, who doesn't love Meerkats?!

Anaya with the Meerkats.
(It wasn't really bright outside, so I dont know why Anaya is squishing up her face.)

Anaya feeding the giraffes.

Anaya and I looking at the exotic birds.
(Okay. Why is Anaya always making that squishy face?)

Anaya with the sting rays at the aquarium. At first she didn't want to touch the rays, slimy things bother her but she did it and said, "Wow, they're cool."

Miss Anaya with the Penguins.
(Again, what is with my daughter's face?)

Rhinos

Capuchin Monkey


 I fed the sting rays while at the aquarium and I may post those another day but I wanted to share the fun we had.