New Years Resolution Free Printable


Here is a free printable for you to start off your New Year right!!!

Know someone who works at Disneyworld?


Call me lame, call me cheap...call me what you will!!
My husband and I will be in Orlando for 2 days and we'd love to go to Disneyworld.
I was told that if you can find someone who works at Disneyworld, they have so many free tickets per year and many times they go unused. Not sure if this is true or not, but I thought It wouldn't hurt to ask!
So..if you know someone who works there can you email me at
senderikaaletter (at) hotmail (dot) com.
A very special prize will be in store for you if you can get us the connection.
Thanks everyone!!

Fabric Ornaments


Small scraps of fabric torn into strips
Mod Podge
Foam Brush
Any round Ornament
1-Tear your fabric into long strips
2- Apply a generous amount of mod podge on your ornament.
(Any round ornament will do)
3-Quickly wrap the fabric around your ornament before the mod podge dries. If you need to you can apply it as you go.
*You can also do a final coat of mod podge over the fabric if you'd like to seal it. But it doesn't keep the soft fabric texture look.
Enjoy!

Introducing The "12 ways of Christmas"



Amazing Andi over at LDS Creativity Corner is the inspiration behind the 12 "ways" of Christmas where you'll find inspirational gospel messages that will include 12 ways that we can increase our Spirituality and help to bring our hearts closer to the Savior.


I'm honored to be working with all of these amazingly talented women.

Melaine from LDS Handouts
Rachel and Robyn All LDS Freebies
Laura from Got Chikin
Melanie & Melissa from Green Jello With Carrots
Summer from Summertime Designs

Day 1 is hosted by Andi. She has inspired us with the Theme of "Seek"
to view her post please visit HERE!





Day 2 is hosted by me! My Theme is Service and sharing.







Download the free Family Night Lesson Here
Download the free 12 Way's of Christmas Service Chain Activity HERE








Click here to go to Robyn's blogs HERE or HERE


Go to Robyn's blogs HERE or HERE











Go to Laura's Blog HERE




Go to Andi's Blog to HERE


Go to Melanie's blog HERE


Go to Laura's Blog HERE

Go to Rachel's Blog Here to Download



Go to Rachel's Blog HERE




Go to Melanie and Melissa's Site HERE

Guymon Family "Christmas Pickle" Tradition


For those of you who didn't know, we actually live in North Pole. I promise, no joke! We live in North Pole, Alaska. It is a cute little Christmas town all year round. We even have candy cane light posts through the town.

With that said, we also have "The Santa Claus House" which is open nearly every day of the year. You can visit Santa and pick through the plethora of ornaments. We chose this fun pickle ornament here at the Santa Claus house.
WHY A PICKLE ORNAMENT?

The Legend Of The Pickle
"A pickle used as decoration on a Christmas Tree seems odd at first, but it is an old German tradition. It is customary to hide a pickle among the branches of the tree on Christmas Eve. The first child on Christmas Day to find the Christmas pickle receives an extra gift! The reason for the different sizes of the pickle is for the age of the children. The largest pickle is for the toddler. As children grow up the pickle gets smaller."
If you'd like me to pick you up a pickle, just email me at senderikaaletter (at) hotmail (dot) com.


This is the kids Christmas tree. The pickle is in plain site right now, but come Christmas morning it will be hidden in the deep boughs of the tree!

**PS: For those of who who like to watch Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives should watch this Friday and Saturday. It features our little town of North Pole.

"Guy Fieri heads up to North Pole, Alaska, for all kinds of Christmas favorites: Holiday ham with wild Alaskan cranberries; Reindeer hoagies; Santa burgers; and desserts that look good enough to put under the tree. Plus, northernmost holiday classics from a brewery, a barbecue joint and a Chinese restaurant."

Dec 11, 2009
9:00 PM ET/PT
Dec 12, 2009
12:00 AM ET/PT
Dec 12, 2009
6:00 PM ET/PT



Eye Spy Ornaments


1 large clear glass ornament
25 small trinkets (preferably Christmas related)
Rice
List of trinkets
Fill your ornament with small trinkets and rice. Put the topper/lid back on the ornament. Attach the trinket list with ribbon.
Update: Jill had a great suggestion to use the clear stuffing pellets
(the kind you stuff dolls, etc. with)

Guymon Tradition (#2)



First off...is it Wassil or Wassail?
Don't mind the spelling errors, I've seen it both ways!

3 1/2 c. sugar
2 qts. water
(Boil about 5 minutes and turn off heat.)

Put the next ingredients in a sack cloth, cheese cloth, or even a clean pair of nylons or knee highs! (This used to freak me out...still does...but it works!)

2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. ginger
Soak the the spices (that are held my nylons, cheese clothe, etc.) into the water/sugar syrup for
1 1/2 hours.

Add:

4 qt. apple cider (pre-made)
2 qts. orange juice (pre-made)
juice of 4 lemons (or 1/2 can lemonade concentrate..not mixed with water)

Mom would leave a few slices of lemon and let them float. Heat and serve hot.

Christmas in my house growing up brings happy memories of mom making hot wassil, Grandma Gunnersons Ginger filled cookies, sugar pops, peanut brittle, toffee, caramel popcorn, and sugar cookies. What a happy childhood I had. My kids LOVE this tradition.

This makes A LOT! So be prepared to either half the recipe, serve at a holiday party, or share with your neighbors! Enjoy!

Salt Dough Ornaments




(Recipe from Sunday School Ideas)
*She has other great tips, hints and tricks on her website


1 c. salt
1 c. warm water
2 c. flour (use only plain all-purpose flour)

Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl or kitchen aid. Slowly add ½ the water while stirring. Slowly add more water and continuing to mix and blend, until it creates a ball of dough that is firm and just soft enough to knead. (The exact amount of water will depend on the moisture content of the flour as well as the general humidity in your home as you prepare the recipe.) Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Use cookie cutters and other shaping materials to shape and cut out the dough. Use a straw or wiggle a paper clip into your dough to make a hole in the center for hanging.

"Bake at 250 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 1/2 to 3 hours. The lower the temperature the longer, but with the higher temperature you run the risk of browning. Of course, there’s no harm in browning them if you don’t mind the color, or if you are going to cover them completely with paint. "

Once they are out of the oven let them cool. I like to sand the edges a little with some sand paper. May sure you brush away all of the crumbs.

We like to use a glaze as a beautiful finishing touch to the ornament. Sculpy makes a shiny and matte finish glaze, or you can also use mod podge or a epoxy resin.

*Remember that the dough will begin to lose its ability to hold fine detail after about an hour.

**Every year our little family likes to handcraft and paint ornaments. We do everything from the sculpy clay ornaments, salt dough ornaments, cinnamon ornaments, to the little ceramic ones you can buy at the store. My children always look forward to it!

Give Thanks Kit

Photobucket

As many of you know I'm trying to earn money for our little Anniversary Trip in January. I'm trying to find a few unique ways to do this. So here is my Thanksgiving Digi Scrap kit for only $3.50. Look for a Christmas Digi Scrap Kit coming soon.

*Please include your email that you'd like the kit sent to. Although I'm a constant email checker, It may take me a few hours to get back to you. Thanks!