Wrapping paper for the rest of the year.

Day 20

Today I paid a visit to Michael's and checked out the Christmas stuff already on clearance. I looked through the wrapping paper, which was 60% off and found some rolls that were solid colored or otherwise non Christmas looking. We've had a plethora of Christmas wrapping paper around here (which I've been happily using up this year) but basically none for birthdays or other occasions. Now we have some! It doesn't look like Christmas paper, but it's got holly on the label so it's gotta go. I bet it will probably get even cheaper as we get closer to Christmas. Maybe even cheaper the day after. But you can't wait too long, they're pretty serious about moving stuff out at the craft stores. The plain paper might go quicker as well. However, if you just need to stock up on Christmas paper, there will be lots of it at lots of places, discounted now as well as after Christmas.

Share the Love

Day 19

There are so many ways to help out at this time of year. Drop some change in a Salvation Army kettle. Buy some toys for tots or adopt an angel. Food drives abound. Cake wrecks is doing a charity a day for the second year in a row. There are many ways to help even with very small amounts.

Don't Forget Exercise

Day 18
My goal for this month is to not gain any weight. I'll get back to trying to lose weight in January. I'm trying to be realistic here. In order to not gain weight despite all the yummy treats, I'm trying to get a workout in five days a week, every week. Exercise isn't just for weight loss or maintenance though. It can help you reduce your stress and lift your mood. Who couldn't use some of that at this time of year? Try to squeeze in some exercise, it's good for you!

Oreo Truffles

Day 17

I first saw this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens magazine last year. I made some last year along with some other stuff for goodies to give away. This year I decided to specialize and just make these. It was easier, and I think people like these better than blah cookies, or caramel corn that got soft because it was wrapped up with baked goods.

I lost the recipe I'd cut out of the magazine, but I found another version online. This is the recipe I used slightly altered from the version I saw online.

1 bag of regular oreos

1 8oz brick of cream cheese, softened

1 12 oz bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

Crush oreos as finely as possible in a large ziploc bag. Pour most of the oreo crumbs into a mixing bowl. Keep about 1/2 to 3/4 cup in the bag (it depends on how much you want to sprinkle on the top at the end). Mix softened cream cheese into oreo crumbs until a doughlike substance forms. Roll the dough into about 48 one inch sized balls and place on wax paper or a cookie sheet. Melt the chocolate chips using your favorite method. Roll each ball in the chocolate with a spoon until coated. Scoop up and let excess chocolate drip off. Place on wax paper or cookie sheet and sprinkle with remaining oreo crumbs.

My three year old helped me quite a bit with this recipe. She helped me crush the cookies, roll out the balls, and she sprinkled them with the crumbs as I put the freshly coated ones down.

I put some in these two little ceramic Christmas tree dishes I bought on clearance at Michael's, wrapped them in plastic wrap, and stuck bows on top. My oldest gave these to her teacher and bus driver.

The rest got sent to my family and eaten by us.

Initial Ornaments or Stocking Tags

Day 16

A couple years ago I bought some stockings that are all pretty much the same (some red, some green). There used to be an eve

n number, but the year someone got sick Christmas morning meant losing the balance.

I haven't put people's names on them. Last year I made little paper tags for them but I don't know what happened to those. I decided to make something a little more permanent this year.

This was a fun project for the whole family to participate in. I got a package of red Crayola Modeling Clay. This is the clay that air dries. We rolled out the clay and using our alphabet cookie cutters, we each cut out our first initial. Then we used some plastic gem stickers I got from Oriental Trading Company for some other reason to add a little bling. The sticky of the sticker combined with pressing them into the clay has held them in tight. I used a toothpick to make a hole to tie them up with. We let them dry over night and then I turned them over and let them dry a bit more. When dry, they're kind of soft like foam. I thought it would be a good material for stocking tags since they would be within kid reach and handled quite a bit on Christmas.

I got the clay at Michaels with a coupon of course! They even had multipacks with different colors there. I bet you could make a lot of cute Christmas ornaments with the modeling clay.

Gift Idea- Family Photo Calendars

Day 15

For the past couple of years, I've made photo calendars for the members of our extended family. The first year, I had empty calendars from Stampin' Up. I had to stamp in all the dates, months, birthdays, and holidays. It took a while, but I started in May. I also had to glue in paper and pictures on the blank pages.

The past couple of years, I've used make your own calendars from Michaels. All I had to do with these ones is add pictures and birthdays.

I've considered using online sites like vista print or snapfish to make calendars but haven't yet. The upside to using an online calendar maker would be less pictures to get printed out, less adhesive to buy, and less time putting pictures in. The downside is less variety (if you give duplicate ones instead of making unique ones). I'd have to pay shipping, but I could ship it directly to the recipient.

As far as what kind of photos to use- I've always gone with pictures of the kids and cousins. A family reunion could be a great place to take calendar photos of everyone. Use people's photos on the month of their birthday. You could also ask members of your family to send you digital copies of photos they've taken. I've also included funny quotes from the kids and I've also had them draw pictures in them as well.

Paper Advent Village

Day 14
Last year I made a paper house advent. I made a little paper house for each day of December before Christmas and put one up each day. I used Christmas colored cardstock and some bits of matching stickers (to make doors, windows, little trees). I even made a little church. The kids helped me decorate the roofs with "snow" (salt). You can see my little display with white Christmas lights. (I forgot about that part until I found the picture for this post!)

This year I've been a little lazy. I decide to do a 12 days of Christmas village instead.

I got this led paper tree light decoration at Ikea. I thought it would make a good backdrop. Last year I used house patterns from bhg.com. This year, I just googled paper house patterns and found one that had a little brick pattern, doors, and windows included on it. For the snow this year I used salt and some white glitter mixed together. Last year my secret to making lots quickly was using tape to keep them together instead of glue (you have to hold glued pieces together until nearly dry I've found). I also made a row of townhouses near the end! I modified one of the house patterns for that.

These would also make good ornaments and you could potentially make a garland out of them.