the glittered nest

Healthy and Yummy!

Ok...one of my favorite gifts I received this year was the Magic Bullet.  My kids and I love making smoothies in them.  You can get the Magic Bullet at Walmart/Target/bed bath and beyond.

Throw in some frozen fruit, vanilla yogurt,apple juice and top it off with Flax Seed.  You can't taste the flax seed and it is sooo good for you. Click here for information on the benefits. You can find flax seed in your grocery store...usually near the health food section. Enjoy and have a great and healthy new year!

Gingerbread days

 

Doesn't this look like something out of Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory?  My daughter Madi had a blast making this one.

 

Have a very yummy holiday season!  Next post will be the best fudge cookies ever! Stay tuned. 

Relax Your Tired Soul!

 

Ok...exhausted from Xmas shopping/wrapping etc.  Now it's time to sit, curl up in my favorite blanket, get out my new favorite book(Also today's post) and light a yummy candle!  Please give yourself some downtime this holiday season and enjoy some quiet.

New Favorite Book

I just received my copy of Alicia Paulson's Stitched in Time .  I have looked at the pictures over and over b/c they are so beautiful.   She is such an incredible photographer who has amazing ideas for making sentimental stitched sussies for family members to share and keep forever.  Please take a look at her blog...you will become addicted.   rosy little things She blogs about sewing, decorating and cooking.  SHe has had some great recipes on her blog and always something wonderful to look at.

 

I can't wait to make my own nutcracker doll shown here.  She also shows you how to take your baby's clothes and turn them into a beautiful keepsake quilt.

The Best Gingersnap Cookies Ever!

Ok..I have used this recipe for years and I want to share it.  It is from Betty Crocker's New Christmas Cookbook 1993.  I love this book and pull it out every year.  You can find gifts to make and give from your kitchen as well as great recipes. Click Download Gingersnaps  for the recipe.

     

This is definitely becoming our little Christmas tradition!  We end up eating more than we make!

 

Ok now for the cookies....

 

   

Your kids can roll these into balls and dip them in the sugar.  The great thing about this cookie is that it doesn't have to be perfectly rolled.  It still comes out a round yummy cookie!

   

This is how I boxed them this year.  You can get inexpensive white cardboard boxes in the holiday isle at walmart.  The burlap strip can be purchased at Michaels.  I have the burlap strips wrapped in my trees this year for a rustic feel. I found these pearl letters at Michaels in the dollar bin....every family received one according to last name.  Happy Baking! If you have a favorite gingersnap recipe, please email it to me!

 

Silent Night Beautiful Night

      I wanted to share how beautiful the tree looks tonight.  Also the iron lamp candle holder to the right is a fun salvage piece I found at the best little antique store in Georgetown Tx.  The name of the store is Gatherings.  I could walk around for hours.  It really reminded me of the best antique district in Franklin Tn where we just moved from.  I miss the shopping there.  This store will be my connection to my memories of shopping in Franklin.

    Don't you just love staring at the tree during the holiday season?  I can't wait for Xmas morning when we are gathered around it eating sticky buns and drinking cofee while watching my chidren's faces light up when they see that Santa has arrived. Happy Holidays.

 

One more photo of my fabulous lamp.

Wrapping Day!

 

I have so much fun wrapping gifts as I do buying them!  Buy inexpensive ornaments to use on your packages...I'm a big sale shopper and like to stock up on ornaments to use throughout the year.  THese butterflies found at Michaels can be used year round and they are so pretty and glittery!

 

This bag is so cute from Pier 1.  It's made out of recycled material and can be used as a little shopping bag.  The poinsettas are 60% off at Michaels and they look vintage with gold beads in the middle. Put your gift inside and it's like a gift within a gift!

I am notorious for adding bears to packages.  I don't care how old you are, it's always fun feeling like a kid every now and then!

 

Here's our tree this year.  Pink pears/silver butterflies/silver and tourquoise balls.  I just added the silver tinsel garland this year and love it!  We used to put this on the tree when I was little.

Cute gifts for kids!

this is the cutest little bag from Ann Millie.  It's only 10 dollars and it is made out of recycled materials.  I am using it as a little gift bag to hold a present for my girls and friends.  It has a cute travel theme.  Check out her website for other patterns.ann millie

    

These are the cutest ornaments you can give as gifts or on a package at anthropologie

They are all on sale right now!

This adorable kids shirt is on sale atgypsyville.com

More shopping to come...hinojosa bake fest this weekend....we will be making lots of cookies!

Pink Snowballs

 

Today my girls had a little sweet holiday craft time with their friends after school.  They ate pink snowballs(do you remember those when we were little...yum) and drank hot chocolate while making cute little gift tags with buttons, stamps and glitter.  We are going to use them as our gift tags for Christmas Gifts.  I love getting my kids involved with decorating packages.  They love to see how excited a family member gets when they find out they made them something special.

 

I found these Xmas Tree plates at Dollar General!  You can afford to buy a lot of these for a Holiday Party!  The santa pencils are from Michaels in the dollar section.

  

Here is our sweet friend Emily busily making her tags. Having the kids work on foil helped with the glitter clean up.

Here are some of the tags they made.

 

This could be a little gift in itself if you put 8 or so in a cellophane bag...everyone needs cute tags for Xmas gifts. 

Have a wonderful and crafty Holiday Season...check back for more holiday baking/crafting etc.

Xmas shopping ideas!

I'm loving this belt buckle for gifts for friends for Xmas!  (I threw one in for myself!)

Check it out on gypsyville.com    36.00

Also the cute petticoats that I bought for a girly Franklin picture are on sale for 50 dollars! They have them in children's sizes for 30 dollars.  How cute for a mother daughter picture!

 

 I have this on my back patio and just love it!  Great gift for only 30 dollars!

Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays!