Kid-Made Holiday Gift for Parents

Source: marthastewart.com via Jen on Pinterest

I have THE hardest time each year coming up with a gift for all of my students (28 now) to make for their parents. It needs to fit these requirements:

1) Be cute.

2) Be somewhat useful/functional

3) Not be too Christmas-y as not everyone celebrates the holiday.

4) Be very inexpensive to make. (Remember, I have 28 of these that need to be created, even $5 a piece is too much).

5) Be doable for kinders (with some help) and not overly time consuming!

See what I mean? I'm considering these calendars....

Holiday Programming!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I had such a restful break, then returned to the classroom to a snowfall of new challenges. Luckily, our Christmas cards got ordered the weekend (after 4 hours of work - what is wrong with me?) However, my pumpkins and scarecrows are still gracing the doorstep! I think I can get away with my Fall decor until December 1st. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon I can 'winterize' a bit.

Another holiday project I took on in my spare time last weekend was organizing my holiday programming. I don't watch a ton of TV usually, but love to indulge in Christmas movies and specials. I have a big fondness for Hallmark movies. Here are some of my favorites - mark your calendars!

Trading Christmas - new movie based on book by Debbie Macomber. Just saw it last weekend, and very cute. Similar to 'The Holiday.' Friday, Dec 2 at 8:00 p.m.

The most wonderful time of the year - another rom com worth watching. Next showing, Dec 2 at 10:00 p.m.

The Christmas card - my favorite! I'm telling you, this one is high quality. December 8th at 7:00 p.m.

Now, here are some HGTV specials!

Sarah's Holiday Party - Could not confirm time on this, however, the episode is available on the site.

HGTV Holiday Block Party - 12/24, it premiered last weekend and I can't believe they aren't going to show it again until Christmas eve!

If you are a fan of Design on a Dime and the Hi-Lo Project, they have special episodes too. Set your Tivo's!

Stationery card

Classic Initials Christmas Card

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Happy Thanksgiving Apple Dumplings!

A few years ago in my days as a fledgeling cook. (Oh who am I kidding, I still am a fledgeling cook.) Anyway, super-fledgeling cook me was paging through Rachael Ray's magazine and decided to give Angela Kinsey's Grandma's Apple Dumplings a try. They looked just easy enough for me.

Once again, they will be my contribution this year. I may know a few more recipes, but sometimes you've got to hold on to tradition! Get your fledgeling (or not) hands ready to try this quick dessert.

Source: beckybakes.net via Jenny on Pinterest

Apple Dumplings

4 servings

Ingredients:

Flour, for dusting

one 8-0z can crescent rolls

1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 8 wedges

1 stick (4 0z) butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinamon

3/4 cup mountain dew

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a surface dusted with flour, unfold the rolls. Place an apple wedge on the wide edge of each piece of dough and roll up; place the dumplings in an 8-inch square baking dish.

2. In a saucepan, melt the butter with the sugar and cinnamon over medium heat. Stir in the Mountain Dew. Pour the mixture over the dumplings. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remvoe the foil and bake for 15 more minutes.

Source: oneshetwoshe.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: oneshetwoshe.com via Katie on Pinterest

Farewell, Pirahnas - may you always be 'on the attack!'

Saturdays just won't be the same
Without a 10 or 2 o'clock soccer game
Families yelling, 'yea, pirahnas,' or 'go pink!'
The season went by in a blink
The girls passed, blocked, and scored
There was never time to be bored
The season ended, it's time to celebrate
The Pink Pirahnas Team, Under 8!

Proud players!

Proud dad!

Baked Pumpkin Risotto

I have pumpkin fever! I'm guessing we'll be doing pumkin for the next week, right on through Thanksgiving. Tonight it's pumkin ravioli, earlier this week it was pumkin risotto. I love risotto! I combined a couple of different recipes and was pretty happy with the results. Ed liked it too.

Needed - 2 casserole baking dishes, one with a lid

Ingredients:

olive oil
1 3/4 cups arborio rice
4 cups of chicken stock
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 can of pumpkin
1/2 sliced onion
1 chopped garlic clove
salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat casserole dish with olive oil. Pour rice into dish and cover with chicken stock. Add some salt, stir, and cover.

Empty a can of pumkin into another baking dish. Add onion, garlic and salt.

Place covered rice dish in oven for 45 minutes or until rice is tender and most of the stock has been absorbed. Pumpkin mixture should cook in the oven for same amount of time on the shelf underneath the risotto.

Five or so minutes before items are finished baking, melt the butter on the stove in a small sauce pan, until it browns. Take out risotto and pumkin, and add the pumpkin into the risotto dish. Top with parmesan cheese, and finally the burnt butter. Voila!

AG Fashion Show

Last Friday morning, Paige got an unexpected call inviting her to model in an American Girl fashion show! Just like in the movies, someone got sick, and fortunately, we were in the right place at the right time. (And we had a connection, her cousin Caitlyn -- pictured above).

We weren't allowed to take pictures during the show (lest the models be blinded by all the flashing ), so I had to settle for these shots 'out back.' Paige modeled Bitty Baby sleepwear with her new friend above. They bonded over a little potty talk.

The fact that Paige hadn't rehearsed and didn't know what direction to go didn't dampen the cuteness. Nor did the fact that she and her friend ended their runway walk by laying on the floor in a sleeping pose. This appeared not to be part of the planned act and the girls were prompted by the emcees to 'wake up.'

We haven't received any offers to do any catalouge shoots yet. But, the fashion show folks (Palo Alto Auxiliary) did say they'd invite us back next year!