Fudge!

This is what I'll be doing this weekend...making lots and lots of fudge! I use an easy, foolproof, no-need-for-a-candy-thermometer recipe that I tore out of a Woman's Day magazine eons ago. I personally prefer to make milk chocolate fudge. I fill clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon and topped with jingle bells to give as gifts.

Fudge

1 12 oz. package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 12 oz. package of milk chocolate chips

(OR 2 packages of one variety)

1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

2 tbsps. cream or milk

2 tsps. vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

In a saucepan, over low heat, melt semi-sweet chips with 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1 tbsp. cream or milk, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup nuts if desired. Spread evenly into a foil-lined 9" square pan. In another saucepan, over low heat, melt the milk chocolate chips with remaining sweetened condensed milk, 1 tbsp. of cream or milk, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Remove from heat and add remaining nuts if desired. Spread mixture over the top and chill two hours. OR forget the nuts and use one variety of chocolate chips like I do, and voila, perfect fudge every time. One tip: Never stop stirring because even on the lowest setting, the chocolate mixture can burn. (Makes about 2 1/2 pounds.)

And here are a few more homemade goodies to inspire you to whip up your own batch of goodies this weekend for all the people (and animals) on your list.

Sugar Body Scrubs & Peppermint Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

Lip Exfoliator

Homemade Dog Treats & Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats & Homemade Kitty Treats.

Maple Granola, Spiced Coffee, Mulling Sachets, and Bath Salts—oh my!

Body Butter

Enjoy!

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Dear Santa

Don't you just love this jolly old fellow? If you've followed my Christmas posts in the past, he probably looks familiar. A friend of mine had an old painting of Saint Nick that everyone admired. She had several oils reproduced by a friend of hers and gifted one to me. My mother, who also loves Christmas, had to have one as well, and she took both of our canvases to get framed. This painting hangs proudly in my family room every Christmas.

Christmas is certainly much more than Santa Claus. But to me, he represents that happy childhood feeling that makes Christmas even more special than it already is. I can still remember writing my letters to Santa—so excited to think that he would read mine, and that all my dreams would come true. I still believe.

Well, Santa...I'd like to write a different kind of letter now.

Dear Santa,

Who knew that when I grew up I would have the three children I asked for? I guess you did. Who knew that I would meet the man of my dreams and that we would literally build a life together so full of love? You again? And who knew that those three children would turn out to be such caring, loving, funny, and kind people. I'm guessing you did. Motherhood is the single best decision I have ever made in my life and I thank you for giving me this amazing gift.

Thank you Santa for filling my childhood with great wonder and joy. Thank you for making me believe that good always triumphs over evil, and that even though the good guy might not always win, it's still worth trying for. Thank you for making me realize that the traditions I grew up with should be passed down to my own family. They have made our lives that much richer.

Thank you for giving me the gift of time with my children. If I could ask for only one thing, it would be more of the same. Please continue to fill our house with giggling girls, my sons wicked sense of humor, and smiling faces. Let our children come home as often as they'd like, whenever they'd like, for as long as they'd like—and yes, I really mean that.

Thank you for keeping the spirit of Christmas alive in me for all these years. And to steal a line from that other letter...While you're flying around the heavens, Santa, make sure God has heard these prayers of thanks, I think he's partially responsible, too.

(Read this sweet letter from a father about his son.)

Update: If you would like to write your own letter to Santa, here is the address: Santa Claus @ 325 S. Santa Claus Lane, North Pole, Alaska 99705. Thanks, Wendy!

All Things Merry and Bright

Simple things you can do to make your home merry and bright this holiday season. Like this hot chocolate station. I have a jar of candy canes in a glass hurricane on my kitchen counter for anyone to grab for a quick treat or to use as a stirrer for just about any drink you can think of. Check out this easy recipe for hot chocolate here. (Great gift idea: Set of mugs, homemade hot chocolate mix, cellophane bags each filled with candy canes, mini marshmallows, chocolate kisses, and/or sprinkles.)

Snow globe tutorial can be found over at Pink Pistachio. You don't even need electric lights. Place a grouping on a table with candles and watch the magic happen. I use kosher salt sprinkled or mixed with white glitter for my snow.

Homemade edible glitter. Use it to top cupcakes or sprinkle it around a cheese platter.

What's Christmas without cookies? These adorable gingerbread men are even gluten-free. Find the recipe on All Day I Dream About Food.

Don't forget to deck out your car when you're decking the halls. I have a wreath with a pretty red bow on my bumper.

Homemade ornaments. These lovely trees are easily made from copies of sheet music (tea-dyed if you'd like) cut into tree shapes and painted with glittery edges. Top with a pretty bow and you're done. Makes a great gift tag too!

Movie night...and make mine a classic. I know it's long, but how can you not watch It's a Wonderful Life at Christmastime? Throw in a bowl of popcorn, turn on the Christmas lights and I'm there.

  

Images not credited via houzz.com, johnlewis.com, its a stamp thing

Tags: holidays, Christmas, tradition

Falling Behind

Guess what I'm going to do with these goodies? I don't know either. I have somehow fallen behind on my Christmas decorating this year. I don't have much more to do, but besides getting a jump on putting up the outdoor lights, I have not yet put together my greens, decorated my little shed, or finished unpacking a few ornaments. What? It's only December 6th? Sorry, but that's late for me and I'm starting to feel the pinch. This is why I was so inspired by the following posts this week.

Get through the holidays with a little help from Elvis, Martha and a Notepad.

Do you need to finish a little holiday shopping? Try this gift guide, or for the book lover, this gift guide, or for everyone, this gift guide and this one.

One thing I did get early this year was my box of Christmas Crackers. It's tradition in this house to wear a ridiculous hat while eating your figgy pudding. (And I have the video to prove that you don't necessarily need alcohol to play a whistle off key—you know who you are.)

Crafty? Then head on over to Brooklyn Limestone and make a Santa Sack. I'm putting it on my list for next year. (Hint: Don't overwhelm yourself with more things to do when you are already behind.)

Let us all Unwrap Holiday Stress.

And because I have been teaching a class all week, and I'm really, really tired, I probably won't get to half the things on my list....but I will end up vegging out in front of the television watching another Hallmark movie.

Happy weekend!

Is Your Skirt Showing?

The great Christmas tree debate...what do you use, a tree skirt or something else? I fall into the something else category. My many trees are topped with stars, angels, snowflakes, and even birds, but the bottoms are skirtless. In my bedroom tree, I wrap garland around the bottom to hide the stand. In my den, I use a cranberry crate and then fill that with pine cones to hide not only the stand but part of the trunk that shows because it sits on top of a table and not on the floor. Smaller trees, like my jingle bell tree in my kitchen, are potted in an urn. And in my family room, the only live tree in the house, I use a couple of artificial wreaths (cut on one side) to wrap around the base. Is your skirt showing? I'd love to hear what you use.

I'll Have a Glam Christmas

Want to go glam this year without going over the top? Then check out these finds over at Domain Home where actress Jessica Biel and the DH staff created this oh, so divine mix of elegance and cozy, with a touch of drama thrown into the mix.

If it's time to cull your book collection, think twice before getting rid of those hefty coffee table books and create a coffee table instead. Whether you choose a piece of salvaged stone as they did here, or a piece of glass or wood, you'll be left with a signature piece that everyone will talk about. Black and white always looks right, but it doesn't have to be boring. Add a touch of color, but keep to one or two analogous (colors that sit side by side on the color wheel) hues and you'll instantly warm up the room. Oh—and those rugs! Kilim rugs work perfectly as wall coverings/art and bring in the decorator's trifecta—pattern, color, and texture. Divine indeed.

By now you should know how I feel about using natural elements in your home, and I'm a huge fan of mixing both real and faux together, as long as it's good quality. This table filled with silvery shimmer also gets a touch of gold to once again warm up the display. Yes, you can mix silver and gold together, even if only in tiny amounts. Fill glass hurricanes with mercury balls or get out that can of mercury glass paint and have fun reinventing all sorts of finds.

Go check out the Domain web site and find even more inspiration.

Shop Local

Books at the local bookshop—check. A scoop of lavender and a cake of creamy soap—check. Candle, decorative matchbox—check. These are just some of the things I've purchased here in town. Bowerbird and Friends is a group shop that caters to all tastes. Decked out for the holidays, the evolving décor is perfect for those of you who like to find the unique, but purposeful gift. I fell in love with the feather trees and a Dash & Albert rugs on this particular trip, but sadly left them behind. Owls seem to be all the rage these days and I spotted these candle holders as well as a couple of glass necklaces. And speaking of jewelry, you can find both new and vintage finds that will suit all age groups for a very nice price indeed. Check them out on your next visit to our town. (Perhaps after you've attended a workshop.)

Sweet Paul magazine available here, too!