it’s not too late! | advent calendar | DIY idea

Are you like me… and JUST NOW realized you never made an Advent calendar?? Well… that’s ok. Traditional Advent calendars are 25 days… but who the heck is traditional anymore?? It doesn’t matter if it’s 25 days, 10 days or even 5 days… the point is to have fun and give the kids something to look forward too, add anticipation for Christmas Day.

I seen these Advent calendar’s on Etsy, so here is my take!

Easy way:
Hang numbered envelopes from clothespins and twine! That’s it. I mean.. if you’re super limited on time, but wanted to add something fun for the kiddo’s, that’s literally all you have to do… buy some fun colored envelopes and add numbers.

If you want to get all fancy:
And I did, you could make your own envelopes out of Christmas cardstock. I have a scoring board, so this was simple, if you don’t know how to make an envelope, check out this picture.

Note: I didn’t have Christmas cardstock on hand. So I just Googled Christmas paper, and printed off some images that came up. (Is that legal?).

Wondering what to put in side such envelopes? 
Here are a few things we did: silly bands, family Wii night, Gingerbread house night, cookie decorating contest, fun stickers, slumber party/movie night. As tradition, the last one will have a note saying where a bigger present is, which of course will be their Christmas PJ’s for Christmas Eve.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

# kristanlynn
xoxo

This post was sponsored by The Shutterbug Eye.

DIY Burlap Pennant Banner | a tutorial | Party Decor

This is probably the easiest and fastest (yet cutest) birthday banner you could whip up. It took less than an hour. It’s super simple. So if you’re a last minute gal like myself.. here ya go.

Supplies:

• Burlap
• Paper Letter Stickers (or just letters cut out of cardstock)
• Hemp Twine
• Mini Clothespin
• Sewing machine (and it’s normal supplies)

 

Let’s craft!

Start by making a pennant template. I did this by folding, and refolding, a piece of plain paper into a triangle, until I got the shape I wanted. Then trace the pennant onto the burlap. One pennant for each letter.

Peel off the backing to each letter and stick in the middle of pennant, then just sew a straight stitch to secure. If you don’t have stickers, you can use stencils and pretty cardstock to make your letters, then just hold in place until secured with the sewing machine.
(I have no idea where these sticker letters came from, they were part of an amazing baby shower gift I received while pregnant with Adelyn. But they are A.W.E.S.O.M.E! They’re like sticky- note letters. hah.)

That’s it.  No measuring, no complications.

Then, using the mini clothespins, just pin them onto your twine, and hang. I laid the pennants out and measured the twine that way, to make sure I didn’t cut it too short.

I love it. So simple, but it looks so pretty. You’ll surely get some compliments. I think I might just have to make another one that says Merry Christmas, then another that says Happy New Year… and so on and so on. HAH.

This banner + a bag of balloons is basically all we needed for Stone’s 1st birthday.

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

Peanut Mallow Clusters | recipe

Growing up, we had a neighbor who would bring us this huge concoction of homemade goodies every December. It is what I looked forward to all year. I mean, this was the jackpot of jackpots of homemade goodness! Candies, homemade dips, treats. Not just a small basket, we’re talking practically a huge crate full of dozens and dozens of treats! Every thing in the basket was pure heaven, but there were two things I went for first, the cheese dip (which I havn’t had in years because I don’t know the recipe) and the Peanut Mallow clusters. mmmmmm… peanutmallow clusters.

After I moved to TN,  no more goodies for me, so I searched and searched for a good recipe to match those clusters I longed for each winter. And I’ve come close to duplicating hers. Everyone loves them around here. And I hope one day, to delight my neighbors with goodies, like my old neighbor did us.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 bag  Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 Sqaure Unsweetened Chocolate (chopped)
• 2 Eggs
• 1 1/4 C Powdered Sugar
• 1 TBSP Butter
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1/2 TBSP Salt
• 2 C Mini Marshmallows
• 2 C UNsalted Peanuts

Mix it Up:

Beat the eggs until foamy. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix.

In a separate bowl melt the chocolate chips and chopped unsweetened chocolate. Then melt the butter. mix the two (it’ll get clumpy.)

Pour the egg mix and chocolate mix together; add salt. Add in peanuts and marshmallows.
Mix it all up until peanuts and marshmallows are covered.

Drop by rounded tablespoonful's onto waxed paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

ENJOY!

We never keep ours refrigerated. I always wonder how they don’t make you sick with the raw eggs… but Craig eats them by the dozen and he’s never been sick.  Idk. Keep em in the fridge if you want. hah.

# kristanlynn
xoxo  

Hot Cinnamon Milk | recipe

When the weather gets cooler, there are tons of things we look forward to. Hot cocoa is definitely up there on my list! I’m always craving hot beverages, but I try not to drink coffee after 5PM. So hot chocolate is my go to. Last winter I found this recipe over on Spatula and Spoons and it’s replaced my hot chocolate. It’s creamy, yummy and a nice break from the normal hot chocolate. Perfect for this fast approaching holiday season!

Ingredients: (Makes 1 Pint)

• 1 C Powered Milk
• 1/2 C French Vanilla Cremer (I love Great Values, it seems to be a tad creamier tasting)
• 1/2 C Sugar
• 3/4 tsp Cinnamon

Just mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, then pour into a pint jar. That’s it.

Enjoy a cup by mixing 1/3 C of Cinnamon Mix with 1/2 C of hot milk (or water).

Tip: Add a scrap piece of square fabric to the lid, under the band. Then attach a cute tag with “Wishing you the warmest of holidays” and the mixing instruction’s. Hand out as gifts this holiday season. This is what our close friends and neighbors received from us last Christmas and it was  HUGE hit!

ANOTHER TIP: Change up your coffee routine. Use a few tablespoons in your morning coffee instead of your creamer. It’s DELISH!

# kristanlynn
xoxo