Christmas 2014

Picking out our tree.

Two visits to Santa both resulting in this...

 Cookie decorating party at a friend's.

Our tree once it was decorated.

Waaaay too many presents.

The exterior of our house.

We hosted one of the family dinners that week.

And then we hosted Christmas morning breakfast.  

Blake and my grandma MiMi.

Taking a break in her car seat wearing her new boots and hanging with her new Elmo.

Me having a little rest after the chaos before the next family function.

Christmas night.

Checking out lights on Kyle's aunt's amazing street.  It was freezing so we got really bundled up.

Homemade Apple Butter

This year's Christmas craft is apple butter.  I was shocked at how many people didn't know what I was talking about when I told them I was making it.  I grew up on the stuff.  To clear things up if you don't know what it is...
1. No it is not apple flavored butter
2. It's like jam but apple and cinnamon flavored
3. You can use it on toast, for pb&j, on vanilla ice cream, in oatmeal.  The possibilities are endless.

• 12 apples- peeled, cored, and sliced (an apple slicer makes this really easy)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp all spice

Step 1:  Throw everything in the crockpot on low and cook over night.  I let mine go until the apples were really soft and falling apart.  I left it on low all night and most of the next day.  

Step 2:  Crack the lid or remove it and turn crockpot up to high to cook off the water and thicken it up.

Step 3:  Put in blender and blend until smooth.

Christmas Candy

It's that time of year again.  I'm making holiday English Toffee for gifts.  This year I used walnuts instead of almonds because they came already chopped at Target so it saved me a step :)
My recipe is here.

DIY Mug Cozy

I have been seeing these mug cozies everywhere.  They are so wintery and cute for a cup of hot cocoa.  I was at Hobby Lobby the other day and came across a long garland of cable knit sweater material.  I wrapped it around a cheap plain mug and secured it with some holly berries on wire.  I would have done buttons but I didn't have any and I didn't want to have to sew anything.  If you can't find the sweater material at a craft store, you could always cut up an old sweater. 

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse ;)

My inspiration

My version.  Not too bad for a 5 minute craft :)