Sharing: The Perfect Ornament!

I saw these yesterday over on  Live.Laugh.Rowe.  Are these just the PERFECT ornament?  I think so!!

A Little Red House!

Front Door Snowman

Here at the Little Red House one thing works in my favor - the house is RED!  Which helps out with Christmas decorating!

I seem to have a bit of the Christmas bug early this year - not sure why that is but none the less I am up at it with the decorating.

Front Door:

 I saw this on Pinterest and knew I HAD to do it!

I used a 12", 18" & 24" wreath sizes to create this.  I also did not have a perfect 'old black hat' laying around so I used weatherproofed black craft foam!  I stapled on the ribbon and berries.  The scarf is fleece from Joanns.

I think it came together rather nice!  Of course it may look better on a 'WHITE' door as it seems to blend in with my black but I love it.  I may keep looking for spray on snow for the wreath to highlight it more.  But all I can find for now is brush on flocking.  However, I do think it needs something to brighten it up a bit.

Fun and Festive!!



 
 
 

Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes

Today is a half day of school - the girls and I go out for lunch and a special shopping trip today.  It is one of my favorite days.

Even though I do not have to cook this year I wanted to share my tip for the most PERFECT Mashed Potatoes with you.

Go ahead and make your mashed potatoes the day before.  It is OK!  On Thanksgiving morning - pop them into  your crock pot and add a stick (yes, a Paula Deen stick) of butter.  And let them reheat up.

Something magical happens.... they turn into the best mashed potatoes ever.  My sister and I have been doing this for a few years now.

If you are running short on time on Thanksgiving day I suggest you give this a try!

HAVE A GREAT DAY WITH FAMILY!!

Dining Room Chairs: Redone

I wanted to share a change I made in my very small dining room.  When you walk into the Little Red House you notice my dining room first.  And it is what you see when you are sitting in the family room.  I try my best to keep it up to date.  I have noticed lately I have a little too much RED in the Little Red House!

It was time to update the chair fabric.  This is the chairs before:




I do love to handle the power drill!!


After some power stapling:

They are done!


I think it all comes together nicely now.  The colors have a more formal feel and blend better with the surrounding rooms.  And the BEST PART:  I used outdoor fabric - so they should hold up to the girls pretty well!

BEFORE & AFTER

Thanksgiving Centerpiece: Use What You Have

I had previously posted about wanting to update my table for a Thanksgiving Centerpiece.

I finally figured out what I wanted to do.  I chose to 'use what I have'.

I added some burlap that I had laying around as a runner across the table and assembled a collection of some of my favorite things on my round tray.

I think it is festive but not too much.  And the price was perfect!  That is my Waterford Wedding Bowl - a treasured gift from one of my oldest friends.  And my candles are burned down but that is a sign that we use them at dinner time.  A family tradition we started years ago.

 I also had the Glitter Pumkin that I made this year and the ribbon already and voila! This makes a nice statement too!

  My only other festive decorations for Thanksgiving are Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim.

NOW the best part is - I do not have to host Thanksgiving this year!  I get to visit with family at their homes. Ahhhhh!!  Have a GREAT Thanksgiving Day filled with football, food & family!

Christmas Twirl Skirt

OH I have my sewing mojo back!!

Elizabeth and I have been apart due to back to school, new schedules and excuses.  I finally made a sewing plan for Christmas and today was 'prototype' day.

I had this pile: 


and started laying the pieces out:

and with some gathering and sewing:

NOTE: I really am thinking it is time for a 'gathering foot'.  I wonder if it would have made this a tad easier or faster!?

and it starts to come together:

  I just love the Christmas colors and those doggies!

it is taking shape: 

AND a final product!

I am so glad I accomplished this today!  I even sewed in one of my new sewing labels.

And it is a good thing I made this prototype because it will be too small for the niece I made it for!  Now, my other lucky little niece will get it as a surprise on Thanksgiving.  I have fabrics all picked out for many more of these.  SO CUTE!


  
   

Favorite Baked Treat: Blondies

Outside of all the Bake Sale baking I have been doing I do have a favorite from scratch recipe I want to share.

Do you have this book?

I love this book.  I love how it has transformed my baking through explaining why things are the way they are in the recipe.  I have yet to make anything from this book that does not rock.  It is really a baking bible.  

Blondie Bars are a favorite of ours.  My mom makes these bars all the time.  She calls them Congo Bars.  But if they were truly Congo bars they would have coconut - mine don't.  

Here we go:

Brown sugar

 Prep your flour, salt & baking soda

Add melted butter then whisk together until creamy

                                                  

Homemade Vanilla and Eggs next.  NOTE: I am one of those who makes my own vanilla.  While this bottle is not in great shape - it holds the secret to all my recipes.

If you look closely you can see all that dark sentiment at the bottom... that's the GOOD stuff!!

 Fold in dry

 Add chips - chocolate AND white chocolate. Spread in pan, bake!

Finally, yes, I made them for one of my bakesales.  

Blondies
Adapted from the recipe originally published in the July 1, 2005 edition of Cooks Illustrated.

A note from Cooks Illustrated: Be very careful not to overbake the blondies; they dry out easily and will turn hard. Start checking the oven a couple of minutes before they will be done.

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (7 1/2 ounces)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar (10 1/2 ounces)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3  teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup white chocolate chips  & 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Bake 350 for 22-24 mins.  Do not overbake.   They are done when they just get shiny on top.  Cool in pan.