Christmas Advent Calendars - An Age Old Tradition

 In the United States, we've seen advent calendars before but these aren't your typical American Advent Calendars. These are European Advent Calendars or Danish Designs to be exact. 

My Mother-in-Law started me  out on this tradition many years ago and it's one of the things I appreciate the most about her. She brought a wonderful holiday tradition into our house and we still practice it about 40 years later. 

These are cross-stitched, sewed, or even appliqued designs she perfected as presents for each of us. The kids grew up loving this tradition and they still open the presents every morning during the 24 days of Christmas. 

If you'd like to hear more about this Scandinavian tradition, just click on my Youtube Link and read - or watch - all about it :D

And, if you have an Advent Calendar, share your comments in the box below. I'd love to hear how you celebrate Christmas. 

VLOGMAS 2020!

 Welcome to Vlogmas 2020!

If you haven't heard about Vlogmas, let me tell you a little bit about it...

Vlogmas is a way to celebrate the 25 days until Christmas, with Video blogs every day. It's sort of like an elongated version of the 12 Days of Christmas but instead of a song, this is a video celebration of the  build up to Christmas.

So, after that longwinded explanation, here's my first-ever Vlogmas post: just click here

https://youtu.be/f9vCaehsh00

An Attitude of Gratitude

It's really easy this year to be discouraged, frustrated and angry but at this time of the year it's important to remember all the things we still have to be thankful for. So take a moment ...

And think of all the big and small blessings you have in your life then nurture that attitude of gratitude. It's like watering a garden, with a little effort you'll see beautiful things start to grow.

And always remember to smile.

I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving filled with great food and family. And even if you can't all be together, take time to talk, laugh and remember to nurture an attitude of gratitude. 

THANKFUL THOUGHTS

 Hope is  like a flower

It begins in a small, tentative way...

Then it starts to bud

After a bit, it begins to peek out and show itself

Then it opens up to the world

And with hope, you can't stop it from growing

It soars for the sky and stars . . . 

So, remember to be hopeful and nourish your thankful thoughts

Makeup for Older Women

#DIY Dragon Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween

 

Have you ever wanted to have a pet dragon? Well, this is one EZ way to do it. Simply create your own.

And it's super simple to do.

First, you need to try to pick out a pumpkin that vaguely has  the shape of a dragon head.

After you've selected a pumpkin, start drawing, painting or cutting out the face you envision.

After you've painted/colored or cut the design you want, you begin assembling some thumbtacks to give it the impression of having scales. (I've done this on a previous blogpost for Dragon Eggs).

Then you insert your wings. (If you want to see how I did it, watch this one minute Youtube video)

And in the end, you'll have a fun fairytale character to display in your yard or on your porch.

And, if you make a dragon jack-o-lantern, please let  me know because I'd love to see it. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

#DIY - Bake a Fun Halloween Cake

With an October birthday, I wanted to make my son a fun Halloween themed birthday cake. So, I pulled out some white chocolate to make some ghosts and tombstones for the top and then I made some black and orange buttercream frosting and went to work - well of course I had to bake some cakes first.

I baked four 6" wide and 2" tall cakes - I cake was a fail so this is three of those cakes stacked one on top of the  other. 

Then I did a crumb coating on the cakes and...well, if you want to see how I did it,  check out my YouTube video on the process:

And, let  me know if you have any questions or ideas about how I could have done a better job because I'm not a professional baker but I sure love to make treats, snacks and fun eats :D

Plus, here are a few photos that aren't on my Youtube channel:

Because One Cake is Never Enough

And two cakes does not a meal make :D

Luke was a good sport humoring his old Mom :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!