Recipe for a Happy New Year

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve whole months.

Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness,

hate, and jealousy.

Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.

Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or thirty-one different parts,

but don't make up the whole batch at once.

Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.

Mix well into each day one part of faith,

one part of patience, one part of courage,

and one part of work.

Add to each day one part of hope,

faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.

Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation,

and one good deed.

Season the whole with a dash of good spirits,

a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play,

and a cupful of good humor,

Pour all of this into a vessel of love.

Cook thouroughly over radiant joy,

garnish with a smile,

and serve with quietness, unselfishness,

and cheerfulness -

You're bound to have a happy new year.

-- Author Unknown

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

God has blessed us with this new year.  Let's use this new year to serve Him, to glorify Him, and become more like His Son.  Happy New Year!
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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours!

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Snowman Snacks

You can't resist cute snowman snacks!  White bread peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut in rounds and topped with raisin eyes and mouth plus a carrot nose.

Little white donuts make cute snowmen!  Little Debbie works, but Hostess would have probably been rounder and less likely to fall apart.  Oh, yeah!  No more Hostess :(.  Little Debbie worked with mini chocolate chip eyes and an orange slice piece of candy (cut) for the nose.

And a friend also made these cute snowmen cupcakes!  They had mini chocolate chip eyes and I think orange Skittles or M&M's eyes.

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Veggie Christmas Tree

For our elementary youth group party, I looked up photos of Christmas themed food.  I saw a vegetable Christmas tree and decided to make one to serve.  I wasn't sure the young children (Kindergarten - 5th grade) would be too excited about eating veggies, but they were!  They did have an option of Ranch dip to go along with the veggies, so some probably liked that part, too.

Almost too pretty to eat, huh?  I used broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and yellow bell peppers.

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Peanut Butter Balls

If you like chocolate and peanut butter together, you'll want to make these delicious candies.  I remember making "gobs" of them for gifts and parties for several years.

1 pound (4 sticks) butter (real butter)
3 pounds powdered sugar
4 cups peanut butter
2 - 12 ounce packages chocolate chips
1/4 pound parrafin or 2 tablespoons shortening

Melt butter.  Stir in peanut butter and powdered sugar.  Mix well.  Roll into 1-inch balls.  Melt chocolate chips and parrafin or shortening in microwave safe bowl. Be careful not to burn the chocolate.  Cook at quick intervals, stirring well between cooking times.  Dip balls in the melted chocolate using toothpicks.  Allow to harden on waxed paper.  Store in airtight container.  May be refrigerated, if desired.
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Elf on the Shelf Ideas

It's as much fun for parents and older children to see what their "Elf on the Shelf" has been doing as it is for the younger kids who he is specifically visiting during the month of December.  If you don't have an elf in your family, consider getting one.  They're lots of fun to have around!

Our elf, Buddy, has been up to some pretty mischievous things during the night.  This time he toilet papered the candle chandelier over the dining room table.

Buddy read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to some little friends.

 He stuffed himself inside Jacob's stocking!

 He helped himself to some hot chocolate and marshmallows.

He went for a ride in a little toy collectible car and rode around on the play-town rug.

And apparently he decided he wanted a red nose like Rudolf!  He took the "Let it Snow" block letters I have and spelled out NOSE....made himself a red duct tape nose, and hung out with the stuffed Rudolf all night long!

Wonder what he'll be doing tonight?

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2-Sided Hanging Party Decorations - Simple, Easy, and Cute!

Paper plates and tulle.  That's all you need!  Oh, and duct tape :).  Don't forget the duct tape! The idea for this decoration came to me in Hobby Lobby.  I stood there thinking that the paper plates would be simple, easy, and CHEAP, but didn't appeal to me on their own.  The tulle made it just perfect!

I don't know how to say it, but it's just inside out duct tape, I guess.....around the inside edge of the bottom back of a paper plate.  If you need extra stability, use hot glue....but it will take a LOT longer!

Make loops of tulle all around the plate, attaching the inside loop to the duct tape.  IMPORTANT STEP:  I didn't show this step, but duct tape all over the bottom part of the tulle and over the other duct tape, taping it to the inner part of the plate.  Tape another plate to the back of the first plate, and you're done with the two-sided decoration!

Attach a longer piece of tulle to one of the top loops and hang your decoration.  Think of the possibilities!  One of my sister-in-laws mentioned that a sunflower or ladybug would be cute!  

 The party plates can be your inspiration, just as they were for me!  Tulle and plates can be found in all sorts of colors and at very reasonable prices.

To finish off the decorations, I asked for empty boxes from Facebook friends.  I got a lot of them!  I wrapped the empty boxes with matching/coordinating wrapping paper, and they presents served as centerpieces on top of the colored tablecloths.

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