Category: Christmas

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Christmas Dolly

Long, long ago in a far away land, there lived a little girl that got stuck with the part of a Christmas doll in Santa’s workshop. Now this part wasn’t so bad really–I mean, seriously, how hard could it possibly be for a 6 year old to stand very still in a box for about 10 minutes? Turns out it was pretty dang hard. In fact, from the very second that the curtain opened, it was as if teeny microscopic ants started crawling all over me. My nose itched. My legs itched. My arms itched. I tried so hard not to scratch, or move or blink even.

Then, as luck would have it, one of Santa’s elves came along and started painting my rosy dolly cheeks–with a soft, fluffy paintbrush. That was it. I couldn’t hold it another second and I busted out laughing. Well the previously sweet and gentle “elf” made a very scary, stern face at me and said, “Shhhhh!!”

The audience roared with laughter, but scared the livin’ daylights and all the giggles right out of this little six year old…

for about a week.

I have since recovered.

ho ho ho…

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Christmas Lights

Isn’t it funny how you can put up all the Christmas decorations that have been stored away for months–but that magical, Christmas-y feeling doesn’t really sink deep into your bones until the lights go on?  That’s when it really hits me that it’s Christmas time again. We’re still in the middle of the decorating at our place–but I’m excited to see the lights go up.

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Now We’re Talking…

Woke up to all this–at last, at last!

Finally, Mother Nature actually listened to my chanting and begging for snow—and turned Mr. Frost loose in our neck of the woods. Yee haw!

Of course, you know, my dream is to be totally and completely snowed in–when my whole family is home, of course. That way, we’d just sit around and play games, and cook ridiculously yummy things and goof around and be together.

You know, like the early readers always talked about in grade school.

“One very snowy day, Dick and Jane looked out the window. The ground was white. The sky was white. Everything, everywhere was white. There was snow, snow, SNOW! They could not go out. They had to stay in. There was too, too, too much snow!”

The perfect day for reading the new books in the basket,

doing a bit of old-fashioned Christmas card writing,

and especially dreaming of the jolly fellow with that big bag of toys.

“It’s the most wonderful timmmme of the year…”
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Soma Cube Tutorial

Have anyone at your place that loves a challenge? Here’s a fun little puzzle–called a Soma Cube that’s SIMPLE to make and not all that easy to solve. Luckily there are over 200 ways to form these blocks into a square cube, so it just may not ever go together the same way twice!

I’m thinking–perfect gift for all the wise guys in your world…think Christmas.

First step: Grab some unpainted wooden blocks–any size, you’ll need 27 of them. I used 1 inch, but you could go even smaller…or bigger.

Using wood glue– or regular white glue–start sticking your blocks together. I’ll show you the combinations below.

Be sure to wipe off any glue that squishes out–and work really hard to keep the squares even with each other.

There are seven groups of blocks that make up the puzzle. Are you ready?

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

You are positively welcome to leave your blocks their lovely natural wood color. It makes putting the puzzle together a bit more challenging, but if that’s your goal–then by all means leave them.

Otherwise, paint each set a different color and allow to dry completely.

Cover each set of blocks with a coat of Mod Podge and again, let them dry completely.

Check back tomorrow and I’ll show you how to solve the puzzle…

one of the ways.

 

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Cracker Barrel Holiday

 

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Ooohhh…I love this place! Incredible food, retro candy and toys and games that just can’t be found anymore. Here’s the good part…

If you are and avid “after Christmas Special” shopper–you won’t want to miss this!  After Christmas–Cracker Barrel puts all their Christmas everything–on sale for 70% off.  This is big news since the prices are already low enough to start with.

 

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This little blown glass snowman was 97 cents–before the sale.

I’m only letting you in on this well guarded secret because…

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people keep asking me where we get such pretty ornaments every year.

It’s getting to where–if I didn’t get it as a child, or make it myself…

then it’s a pretty good guess…

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that it came from Cracker Barrel. No, this is not a paid announcement. I just love this place.

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Some of these guys are even cute enough–or hairless enough–for the Bald Kid–which is saying something. His tastes in Christmas ornaments usually look something like…

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this.

Yeah, it’s Squidward…in a Santa hat and beard.

Definately NOT from Cracker Barrel.

I probably didn’t need to tell you that last bit. I’m just saying…

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So I’m doing you a big favor. Click here to see if there is a Cracker Barrel and all the Christmas stuff you’ll ever need for next year at 70% off–right by your house. If there is–go there. Go now.

You’ll thank me.