Kids Craft Flowers @ EVMG

My post for East Valley Mom Guide is live!

Check out the simple tutorial HERE!

Family Friendly Festivals @ EVMG

My post for East Valley Mom's Guide shows you 5 family friendly festivals you can attend this spring in the Valley.

Check it out here!

 

Giant Krispie Kisses @ East Valley Mom Guide

My January post is up on East Valley Mom Guide!

Just in time for Valentine's Day:

Giant Krispie Kisses!

It's a great gift for teachers, co-workers or yourself!

Get the full instructions HERE.

Countdown2Xmas: Set 4 Review

Here's a review of Set 4, the final grouping in our Countdown to Christmas online advent calendar!

Day 19:

Today Annie, from MontgomeryFest, brings us

Hand-drawn Holiday Gift Tags

Free printable gift tags to brighten up your presents and make your holidays a little sweeter.

DAY 20:

Tricia from The Good Mama has

The BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe Ever

Need a recipe for your Christmas cookie tray? These are easy to make and come out perfectly every time!

DAY 21:

Breanna from Faith 'N' Coffee shares her recipe for

Christmas Cocoa

Every year our family puts Christmas Cocoa in a pot and sits down to write letters to Santa.

 

DAY 22:

 Ashley from Taylors4You brings us a recipe AND free printable for

Reindeer Food

Add a little magic to your Christmas with reindeer food for your kids to make.

 

DAY 23:

Alexis Krystina shares her family's traditional

Christmas Eve Box

A great way to enjoy some nice family time before Christmas is with this Christmas Eve box filled with goodies that the whole family will love!

 

DAY 24:

A delicious recipe from Cream N' Crumpets called

Christmas Eve Honey Rolls

I have many fond memories of Christmas Eves and mornings eating these rolls.

  

Thanks for following along on our countdown!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Countdown2Xmas: Set 3 Review

Here's a review of Set 3 of our Countdown to Christmas online advent calendar!

Day 13:

Life according to Lina shares her favorite Christmas tradition today.

My Ornament Collection

 

Start this fun personalized ornament tradition with your kids while they're young- they'll be able to have their own collection by the time they're ready to move out!

Day 14:

Miranda at Love Life Simplified shares an idea today.

A Christmas Issue: Stuff VS Experience

A Christmas issue that we have every year is about buying our children more toys and gifts they don't need. Come check out our solution to this problem.

 

DAY 15:

Jen Street is kicking off Week 3 with
Holiday Crafting for Kids 

Christmas time is all about spending times with loved ones and creating memories. Holiday crafting with friends satisfies both of those! 

 

DAY 16:
Christine from Choosy Kids shares
Choosy's Holiday Tale

Kid-inspired character, Choosy prepares for a healthy holiday season with friends, family, and fun traditions! Video version included!

DAY 17:
T.J. from Sugar Blossoms is taking your family on
A Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt

Print it out, grab some friends, and hit the road!

DAY 18:
Burlap and Babies shares an adorable and simple craft.
DIY Burlap Christmas Trees

Add some holiday cheer with these trees that anyone can make!

Be sure to follow along on Whimsicle
for new posts every day until Christmas!
You can also follow along on Intagram, Twitter or Facebook and join in with the hashtag #Countdown2Xmas

Christmas Tradition: Light Display Photo Scavenger Hunt

It's that time of year again: the tradition-rich holidays!

One of our absolute favorites is A Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt.

PRINT IT HERE!

 

Grab your cameras or cell phones, invite a couple other families, print out a list for each car, split up into separate neighborhoods, set a timer for 30 minutes and GO!

 

Find as many items on the list as you can, take a picture of each one and meet back up with the other families/teams to compare your findings and enjoy some creamy cocoa and pumpkin cookies.

 

This is a game our entire family enjoys! I love seeing what the other "teams" find.

There are always "The Perfect Picture" ones:

 

And then there are these:

 That's Rudolph. I promise!
This is what happens when your overly-competitive husband won't slow down for you to take pictures. =)

Find more holiday fun at Whisicle's Countdown to Christmas! You can also follow along on Intagram, Twitter or Facebook and join in with the hashtag #Countdown2Xmas

What's YOUR favorite holiday tradition?

Countdown2Xmas: Set 2 Review

 Here's a review of Week 2 of our Countdown to Christmas online advent calendar!

DAY 7:

This week's final post from casa de la Cargill looks AMAZING

Blackberry Sour Cream Bread Pudding

This sweet and tangy bread pudding can be made the night before. It is perfect for Christmas morning or any holiday brunch. The longer it sits before baking the better it gets!

 

Day 8:

This day's post is brought to you by Holly at As Cute as a Bug's Ear.

Mason Jar Gifts

Gifts in a jar for the holidays, hostess gifts, and teacher appreciation days. Five easy to make recipes that look as good as they taste!

Day 9:

Mindy from Mindy Alyse Celebrations takes the lead today.

How to Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange Party

(Including FREE Printables)

Inspiration to throw an amazing Holiday Cookie Exchange Party! Including FREE Party Printables.

Day 10:

Shambray brings a little something for your littles.

 Shapes Christmas Tree Craft

 

The BEST last minute Christmas craft to do with you toddlers and kids! Just 3 items that you already have at home to put together this fun craft. It will teach your kids shapes matching & recognition as well as motor skills.

Day 11:

Today's tasty post is from Heather at My Life Well Loved.

Healthy Hazelnut Cookies

 

These paleo, healthy cookies are so delicious your family won't even know that they're good for them! These all natural cookies are delicious and simple so they make the perfect Christmas treat!

Day 12:

We're getting crafty today with Anne of Under the 'Brella.

"Merry" Mantel Sign

 

Fun, Quick and Easy sign to make to add to your Christmas mantel. You can then add your own special touches to the word you choose or the embellishments you add to the letters.

 

Be sure to follow along on Whimsicle for new posts every day until Christmas

 

Frozen Ornament @ EVMG

My post for December is live on East Valley Mom Guide!

Get the full instructions for this Frozen inspired ornament

HERE.

Countdown2Xmas: Set 1 Review

In case you missed any of the posts from the first week,

here's a recap of Countdown to Christmas online advent calendar:

 

DAY 1:

Our Countdown organizers at Whimsicle start us of with

Grandma's Lemon Bars

Tart and sweet, these lemon bars are the perfect thing

to bring to holiday gatherings or use in a holiday cookie tin.

 

DAY 2:

This post comes to us from Deal Finding Family.

Fireside Coffee

If you like chai, here's another drink that tastes like Christmas.

You can either make this for yourself or package it up as a gift.

 

DAY 3:

Our 3rd day of the Countdown comes from Ready... Set... Parenthood!

Christmas Eve Tradition

Every Christmas Eve, my parents always let me and my sister open one present.
Do you have a Christmas Eve tradition or want to start one?

 DAY 4:
Angela from Popsiculture bring us today's post.
Fun, Festive Holiday Traditions

Some Christmas traditions are Elf on the Shelf and St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. While it’s fun to create new traditions for your family, you may enjoy leaving others behind. 

DAY 5:
Marie from Mom Gets Real explains how she is finding the holiday joy through her teens.
Christmas Lost, Christmas Found

As our kids get older, do we lose the Christmas spirit?

DAY 6:
This adorably edible post comes from Ellen at Young Love Mommy.
Egg Snowman

With all the sweets out there this holiday season,
here's a very cute, non-sweet treat for a party.

Be sure to follow along on Whimsicle for new posts every day until Christmas!

Maple Bacon Snickerdoodles

 ♫♪ It's the most wonderful time of the year! ♪♫

I absolutely love the music, the decorations and the baking that The Holidays bring.

 

Here's this year's

NEW COOKIE RECIPE:

 

I know, I know

I just made a sweet treat with maple and bacon,

{check out my apple bread recipe here}

BUT

it's an amazing combination and I can't get enough!

 

Here's how I do it:

 

Here's how each step looks: 

They work best when baked on parchment paper but a greased baking sheet works just fine.

Now go get this maple-bacon goodness into you!

Be sure to check out the 40+ cookie recipes from
The Great Cookie Exchange going on now!

 Happy Holidays!