10 Great Holiday Decorating IdeasWritten by Kathleen Wilson
1.First things first. Set a plan or a theme for your Christmas decorating. It doesn’t cost a thing to have a good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look purposeful, and personal. Some theme ideas for Christmas? The rustic lodge xmas, a toyland xmas, countries around world, Victorian, country, santa, snowmen, old fashioned, list goes on and on!2. Make garlands out of felt scraps. Cut Xmas shapes out of felt in miniature, mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens, and string together with needle and floss or strong fishing line to hang all over house. Remember when you string each shape, tie a knot on both sides of shape to hold it in its place. You can add more dimension to shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, them sewing two together. Glue would work also if you aren’t a sewer. Saved used dryer sheets are perfect for this kind of stuffing, or even tiny fabric scraps that are too small for other uses. 3.Drop a tealight candle in your cleaned out glass mayonnaise jars, tie a holiday ribbon around neck, and you have a beautiful candle with xmas charm. You could nestle candle in peppermints, nuts, or even sand if you wish. Try grouping several together for a dramatic evening effect. These also make great luminaries. 4. Start a Christmas collection. This can be a great tradition to initiate in your home. My girls and I starting collecting Santas 3 years ago, and it’s something they look forward to, choosing our yearly Santa together. I know it will be a fond memory for them, and I plan to let each child choose a Santa to take with them when day comes that they leave nest and start their own home. By way, this doesn’t have to be expensive, or even store bought. Try sewing or crafting a new decoration each year together for even more memories! Or check out your dollar store…they have some really cute ceramic holiday decorations for a buck or two. Remember, it’s memories you’re interested in here, not a collectable based on monetary value. 5. If you are looking to do a toyland theme for your Christmas decorating this year, try searching out teddy bears and dolls at your local thrift stores. Wash them in a pillowcase and put them in your dryer for at least 20 minutes, then dress them up with ribbons and holiday fabrics. Group them under your tree, on mantels, and on windowsills. Stack small squares of cardboard together and wrap as a tiny present, then tuck them under a teddy’s arm, or wrap an empty box and use it as teddy’s seat by front door.
| | Texas Pecan TreatsWritten by Phyllis Staff
Come August, there is nowhere I'd rather NOT be than in Texas. Steamy, sultry, and hot, living in Texas in August is like trying to breathe in a tightly-covered pressure cooker.But in November, I remember joys of Texas. Cool breezes and balmy fall days refresh senses and invite us outside once again. On streets and in parks, pecans are ripe for gathering and shelling. Those of you who think pecans come in 6-ounce plastic supermarket packages have missed true texture and flavor of a real Texas treat. Best of all are small native pecans with shells like granite. But once you've cracked them, there are no better fall treats to be had. With holidays rapidly approaching, we want to share a couple of our favorite recipes using Texas pecans. Even if you're forced to use those supermarket replicas, these recipes are great! Texas Pecan Pie Prepare a pie shell and set aside, or use a premade pie shell. 1/3 cup butter 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 3 whole eggs one cup light corn syrup one cup broken pecans one tsp vanilla ¼ tsp salt Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Stir in corn syrup, pecans, vanilla and salt. Pour mixture into prepared pie shell. Spraying pie pan with PAM or a similar no-stick spray before placing pie shell can help keep pastry crisp. Bake in 375 degree oven for 30-40 minutes, or until just set in center. Cool completely before serving. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back in eighties, I spent an unforgetable Christmas with my daughter who was, at time, studying in Kyoto, Japan. Because of her love of pecan cookies, I made a double batch to take with me, fully aware that taking foodstuffs into Japan was not allowed. I figured I might lose cookies, but what heck? I might get lucky and sneak them past customs.
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