Kitty Christmas Photo Shoot

I did a photo shoot with the fur babies to use for Christmas cards! Here are some of my faves!

 {om nom nom nom}

Easy Fudge Recipe

One time I made "No Fail Fudge". I failed.

Since then, I've been using this easy peasy recipe! No thermometer. You can make it in the microwave. You can easily customize it to make different kinds. Fast. Easy. Delicious. No failing.

The recipe calls for 3 cups of semi-sweet chips - I didn't have enough so I added peanut butter chips to make up the difference.

{wow, hubs, you've got some pouring skillz}

{every last drop.}

I melted it all in the microwave. There's directions for stove top as well with the recipe. It will be glossy and smooth. Then pour it into a parchment or foil lined pan. Refrigerate for a couple hours until set.

Here's the recipe:

(F'real) Foolproof Chocolate Fudge

(From Eagle Brand Recipes)

Ingredients:

3 cups (18 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk

Dash salt

1/2 to 1 cups chopped nuts (optional)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

Line 8- or 9-inch square pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan.

Melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt in heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in nuts and vanilla. Spread evenly into prepared pan.

Chill 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan by lifting edges of foil. Cut into squares.

Microwave Method:

Combine chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt in 1-quart glass measure. Cook on high (100% power) 3 minutes or until chips are melted, stirring after 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Proceed as above.

Check out all the other variations here!

{Love me some bakery twine!}

White Elephant Gifts

Last week Friday we had a Christmas party with my church's 20's/30's Bible study group and we did a white elephant gift exchange.

Just wanted to share some of the ridiculousness!

Bahahaha this is the gift my husband got. A "lovely" macrame frog wall hanging.

I stole this next one from someone just so I could get my hands on the frame. I've got plans for this one!

Bonus! There was another print in it too.

Do you do any white elephant like gift exchanges? What's the most ridiculous thing you've gotten or given?

Soft Molasses Cookies Recipe

Anyone else doing any cookie exchanges? If so what are you making?

My husband and I made these molasses cookies for a cookie exchange at his work. I'm looking forward seeing and eating all the kinds of cookies he'll be bringing home today! Yum!

I don't have as many in process shots, but it's a pretty straight forward recipe!

{sugar, spice and everything nice!}

Here's the recipe!

Soft Molasses Cookies
From Kay Galbraith - In the 1997 Wisconsin Electric Cookie Book

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, plus sugar for garnish
1/2 cup dark molasses
2 eggs, lightly beaten
4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In large mixing bowl, cream butter and shortening until well mixed. Add sugar and beat until light-colored and and fluffy. Mix in molasses and eggs until smooth; set aside.

In another large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. Gradually mix dry ingredients into creamed mixture until dough is blended and smooth.

Roll dough into 1 1/2" balls. Dip tops in granulated sugar. Place 2 1/2" apart on a greased or parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for about 11 minutes. Do not overbake or cookies will lose their chewy interior! Remove from sheets to wire rack to cool completely. Store in tightly covered container. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Enjoy and happy eating this holiday season!

No Sew Fleece Blanket

Anyone else tired of the knotted fleece blankets? Need an easy handmade gift idea? I spotted this braided edge tutorial on Pinterest and I think it's so much classier than the knots!

 This is for a single layer of fleece, but I wanted to see if it would work for two layers. (She does have a newer tutorial for two layers, but I like the look of using the original tutorial and using 2 layers instead of one.)

Here's how it looks for me! I'm purposely not showing very much since I'm making it as a gift for someone who is probably reading this ;)

I Heart Faces: Furry Face Challenge

I haven't entered an I Heart Faces challenge in awhile, but I have plentiful furry faces photos for this week's challenge!

This is my favorite photo of my fur babies, Jake and Elwood!

Craft Fair Recap

Last Saturday my sister and I did our first bigger craft fair!

It was a little stressful leading up to it because we didn't have a ton of time. I broke two sewing machine needles. Pricked my fingers countless times. Unknowingly left my glue gun on a long time (I'm too ashamed to say how long).Threaded my machine and bobbin in record time and sewed like there's no tomorrow.

Ah it's good to be busy making things!

Overall it was a success! Some things didn't go flying out of our booth as we thought and some things went that we didn't expect. You never know!

{this is the way to travel!}

{We didn't sell a one of these tote bags?!?! Doesn't everyone love and need tote bags?}

{bomber hats made by my mom and sis - hahahaha we got asked if those newborn hats were for dogs a couple times}

Getting to spend the day with my sister made it more awesome!

On My Playlist This Season

Here's what I'm listening to while sipping hot cocoa.


Check out the rest of Sufjan Stevens' Christmas stuff as well. They have tons!



Really listen to the lyrics on this next one! Love the last two verses:

We’re so much more than blood, we’re more than names
We’re bound by bonds that only God sustains
But this time of year we all gather here
And I always know I’m home

There are voices now where silence was
The subtle signs of growing up
Where one is born, another leaves
Branches on the family tree



Seriously gorgeous a cappella harmonies in this next one. Swooning.







Couldn't find these next two on youtube. Hope these work!

Christmas Must Be Tonight - Bahamas
Christmas Must Be Tonight (Album Version)

Silent Night - Zach Gill
Silent Night

What are your favorite Christmas songs?