Holidaze

I haven't been keeping up with my blog as much as I would like here lately. I've been in a "holidaze" trying to get everything finished. I have several neat ideas to share, but will have to wait until after Christmas since some of my followers will be receiving them as gifts this year!
So instead I decided to share a few simple snack recipes that are easy to make and take to any family gathering this year.

Reindeer Feed:

6 cups Rick Chex or Chocolate Chex cereal
1 bag (12 oz) white vanilla baking chips (2 cups)
1/3 cup coarsely crushed peppermint candy canes (14 miniature)

1. Line cookie sheet with foil or waxed paper. Place cereal in a large bowl.

2. In microwaveable bowl, microwave white vanilla baking chips uncovered on High for about 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 second, until chips can be stirred smooth. Stir in half the crushed peppermint candy.

3. Pour over cereal; toss evenly to coat. Spread mixture in single layer on cookie sheet. Immediatley sprinkle with remaining candy. Let stand until set, about 20 minutes. Gently break up coated cereal. Store in airtight container.

Snow Covered Crunch Bars:

If you love Muddy Buddies you'll love these!

1 pouch Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix 

1 cup butter softened

1 egg

1 pckg semi sweet chocolate chips

2 1/2 cups peanut butter

6 cups Rice Chex Cereal

1/2 to 1 cup powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 375. Spray 13x9" baking pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, 1/2 cup butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of pan. Bake 10 - 12 min. or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 15 minutes.

2. In large microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and remaining 1/2 cup butter on High about 1 1/2 min. stiring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth. Add peanut butter, mix until well blended.

3. Place cereal in 1 gallon reseable food storage plastic bag. Using your hands, gently break cereal into small pieces. Gently stir cereal in chcolate mixture until cereal is coated. Spread cereal mixture evenly over cookie crust; gently press. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until bars are set.

So bake away and enjoy the holidays!

Creativly Chic....and a little crazy

Love Grows On Trees

Last year for Christmas my family gave my grandparents a Memory Jar filled with all our favorite memories involving them. They loved it, and I've been wondering ever since then how we would top it this Christmas. I was looking through a magazine and saw a picture of a painting someone had done of their family tree. The more I thought about it, the more I thought, "I'm going to give it a try and see how this turns out."

Now, I'm not very good at painting - but Grandparents are supposed to love whatever their grandkids make, right? I figured if I could do this, anyone could! I decided to document the process and give you step by step instructions in case you wanted to create one for yourself or a gift!

I bought a 20 x 24 canvas. I went with a cheap canvas since most people don't know the difference. Then I put a base layer down, but didn't cover the whole canvas. I also stuck with acrylic paints. They are cheap, easy to use, and dry quickly.

I added a darker color and repeated the same process.

Next I took a pencil and outlined my tree on the canvas.

I put down my first layer of brown for my tree.

I added a second layer and expanded some branches.

I then added my leaves.

I went back in with a small brush and added a darker color of green to the leaves, and some highlights around the tree branches.

I went back with black paint and added dimension to the tree, wrote everyone's names around the leaves, and added "Our Family" at the bottom! This is an inexpensive, but priceless gift!

Creatively Chic.....and a little crazy

Spa-tacular!

This weekend I hosted a "Homemade Spa Day" at my house. I wanted to give my girls a chance to relax and pamper themselves in the midst of holiday madness. The recipes I found online were surprisingly easy and had great results. By the time we were finished we had smooth faces, open pores, and bright nails!

Below are some of my favorites from the day.

So if you're feeling the need to be pampered spread some goop on your face and relax! :)

Creatively Chic....and a little crazy

Oatmeal Honey Mask

¼ cup plain yogurt or buttermilk

½ cup oatmeal

2 tablespoons honey

Directions

Finely grind or process the oatmeal in a blender or food processor. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together honey and yogurt, and then add ground oatmeal. Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste consistency has been reached. Smooth over your face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes, and rinse off with warm water. Can be used daily.

Pour Cleaning Strips

This recipe makes a pore cleaning "strip" which works just like those sold in popular drugstores.

1 T Knox unflavored gelatin
1-1/2 T milk

Directions

Mix the two ingredients and microwave for 10 seconds to slightly warm. Using a clean cosmetic brush, apply to nose and chin area. Avoid delicate eye area. Rinse brush immediately.
Allow mixture on nose and chin to dry for 10-15 minutes.
Mixture will dry quite stiff and form a "stiff film."
Peel off the film and stare at all the little porcupine quills that used to be in your nose pores (one of the chief entertainment factors!).

Nail Brightener

1 denture tablet

1 cup warm water

1-2 drops essential oil

Directions

Saturate one denture tablet with a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Drop the tablet into a small bowl of warm water. Soak fingertips 10 minutes. Do no keep mixture. Discard after use.

Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant

8-10 Strawberries

2 tablespoons Apricot Oil (you may substitute olive oil)

1 teaspoon of coarse salt, such as Kosher salt, or Sea salt.

Directions

Mix together all ingredients into a paste, massage into hands and feet. Rinse and pat dry.

Note: In order to get a "paste like consistency" I added ground oatmeal.

Cooking Up Glamour

While browsing across Etsy this past week I stumbled upon a whole new world of Kitchen Fashion! I have always gravitated towards things that are different, unique and a little funky. So when these pieces appeared on my screen, my jaw dropped!

Now my love of baking and jewelry is no secret to those who know me - but I never imagined I could blend the two together. Talk about statement pieces!

Creatively Chic....and a little crazy

You've Been Stamped

Today as I checked my email, waiting for me in my inbox was an message about custom stamps. One click, and I was hooked. I was off browsing the web looking at all my stamping options! Who knew I could order such a variety of stamps. I can think of a million things to stamp my name on! Come close and I"ll stamp your hand "Friend of Jessica's!"

Now for all practical purposes I don't need 37 different types of stamps. But it's nice to know a girl has options. The one stamp I was particuarlly drawn to was an address stamp. I send lots of card and letters each month and I like the idea of a unique touch on my outgoing mail.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61522489/custom-personalized-wood-handle-address

I found this stamp on Etsy - which is just the coolest website ever. Hopefully someday I'll have some extra cash and order it. Until then....you'll be in my thoughts dear stamp.

Creatively Chic...and a little crazy

This Week's Gadget Topic: Clips

I love gadgets that make life easier. This week's focus is on cooking gadgets with clips. These pieces have been the objects of my desire for quite awhile, but I have yet to claim ownership with any of them!

First Up, a lid holder that clips onto the pot! One of the things that drives me crazy is when you lift the lid off the pot and the condensation spills everywhere.

Next up is the lazy spoons. I have perfected the art of getting my spatulas to balance perfectly on the handle - but this would be awesome!

The alternative to the lazy spoons is this pot clip that holds your cooking utensils.

And now for the pies-ta resistance! A hip towel clip. I usually tuck a towel in my back pocket - but what about all the times I don't have pockets!! I think this is a must have!

So add some gadgets to your life and get cookin'!

Creatively Chic......and a little crazy

That's the Way the Cookie Dissolves

Last night I embarked on a home-maid spa adventure. The focus of my attention was to make 'Spa Cookies!" The purpose is to put them in your bathtub and they slowly dissolve. Now, let me tell you - they look like cookies, smell like cookies but I don't recommend tasting them!

I used honey almond oil and they just smelled delicious! Helpful Tip: I made my cookies a little too large. Only half of it dissolved in the bath tub, so next time around I will make them much smaller.

My dog Petey was convinced these were cookies he wanted to try. He followed me into the bathroom and did a double take when I threw a 'cookie' into the tub! He kept watching it and looking at me in disbelief that I would waste a perfectly good 'cookie'!

So treat yourself to a sweet bath....relax, and enjoy!

Creatively Chic...and a little crazy

Bath Cookies

2 cups finely ground sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 T light oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil
2 eggs
5-6 drops essential oil of your choice

Directions
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Combine all the listed ingredients and form into a dough.  Using a teaspoon or so of dough at a time, roll it gently in the palm of your hand until it forms a ball.  Form all dough into one teaspoon balls, and gently place them on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Consider sprinkling the bath balls with herbs, flower petals, cloves, citrus zest and similar aromatic ingredients.   Bake your bath cookies for ten minutes, until they are lightly browned. Do not over bake. Allow the bath cookies to cool completely. To use, Drop 1 or 2 cookies into a warm bath and allow to dissolve. Yield: 24 cookies, enough for 12 baths.