Today we are absolutely honored to be having Marie Porter from Celebration Generation guest post for us! Marie is one awesome chef/baker and has been featured in magazines such as Every Day with Rachel Ray and Wedding Cakes. I highly suggest you check her out! Can't get enough of Marie's blog? Don't worry, she's published a few totally awesome Celebration Generation cookbooks (with more on the way!). Without further ado...Marie from Celebration Generation with Confetti Bars... Photo credit goes to Michael Porter Confetti Bars! (Butterscotch, Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Bars)Growing up as a kid on the Canadian prairies, confetti bars were a common offering at social occasions. Whether Christmas, birthday parties, wedding socials, or first communions - if there was a spread of food to be had, you could bet that these bars were somewhere on the table. Of course, I’m not able to take any credit for this recipe - it’s one of those things that you’re just taught when young, … [Read more...]
Year Of The Paper Christmas Tree–Christmas Mishap
1983, the "Year Of The Paper Christmas Tree" is a Christmas I will treasure for the rest of my life. It is both one of the saddest and funniest Christmases I have experienced (so far). It started a few weeks before Christmas when we went to pick out our "fresh cut" Christmas tree. It was perfect! In the weeks leading up to Christmas our perfect tree began to lose some needles, but what real tree doesn't lose a few needles-right? Christmas Eve brought a terrible snow storm and some of the coldest temps on record. It also brought a sound, then a site, that horrified my mom... She awoke to what she thought was the sound of running water. She followed the sound into the living room where she witnessed what she calls "a shower of pine needles". Almost every needle was falling off our Christmas tree in one big cascade. She had never seen anything like it before. My sister and I woke shortly after my mom and freaked out when we saw what was left of our beautiful … [Read more...]
Snowflake Suncatchers Using CDs
Early last month I posted a tutorial on how to make rainbow fish sun catchers using old CDs. We had them hanging by our patio door for an entire month and go tons of compliments from people who saw them. December came, however, and the rainbow fish really didn't fit into my winter/Christmas decorating scheme. I got the brilliant idea to make snowflake sun catchers using old CDs! Those have now replaced the fish and fit perfectly into my current decorating! Here's what you'll need: White paper 2 CDs per snowflake Glue Scissors String/ribbon This is super easy to do yet my girls had a ton of fun with it! Step 1) If you are using regular 8.5 x 11 paper, fold one corner to the edge. Cut off the non folded edge to make a square. From that square you can make a circle or just leave it square like my girls chose to do. Step 2) Have your kids fold their circle or square however they want. You'll want them to fold it at least 4 times. (At this point in time, my … [Read more...]
Russian Tea
I was a bit of a tomboy growing up but every now and then I liked to be girly and invite my friends over for a tea party. My favorite tea that my mom made was Russian Tea. My friends loved it too! Here's what you'll need to make Russian Tea for your little girl's tea party (or just for yourself!): 3 cups powdered orange drink (such as Tang) 3/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup instant tea 2 packages lemon jello 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves large mixing bowl air tight storage container The above recipe makes quite a bit of tea so if you don't think you'll drink it very fast, I would cut the recipe in half. Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Make sure to mix well. Store the powdered mix in an air tight container. Serve 3 tsp mix per 1 cup of hot water (or mixed to taste). That's it! Super easy and super yummy! … [Read more...]
Ice Box Pudding
Don't let the title fool you...this is NOT pudding! It's a desert made by layering Lady Fingers with rich chocolate filling and served with whipped cream. Ice Box Pudding has been a family tradition since well before I was born. It's been handed down from my Great-Great-Grandma, to my Great-Grandma, to my Grandma, to my dad mom, and now to me. Traditionally the desert served for the men's birthdays (instead of cake), in my immediate family, it is the desert served on Christmas Eve. You see, my dad's birthday is Christmas Eve. My Grandma was adamant that on Christmas Eve they celebrated my dad's birthday and not Christmas. Thus Ice Box Pudding is served on Christmas Eve. Somewhere my mom has the recipe written in my Great-Grandma's handwriting but unfortunately, she couldn't find it in time for this post. Above is the recipe that was handed down to me. Written in my mom's handwriting, laminated, and ringed into a small book full of other family recipes. For such … [Read more...]
Magic Reindeer Food
Are your kids worried that Santa doesn't know how to find their house? Do they feel bad that Santa gets sweet cookies and milk but his reindeer get carrots? Try this fun Magic Reindeer Food activity to help ease their minds! I was introduced to Magic Reindeer Food last year by a parent from Nutty's swimming lessons. She was giving it out as an advertisement for her photography business and I thought it was so cute! My girls had a ton of fun sprinkling it on the snow Christmas Eve too! Here's what you'll need: 1/4 cup raw, uncooked oatmeal 1/4 cup sugar A sprinkle or two (or more) of red, green, or silver sugar crystals (for cake decorating) Small plastic baggies Paper (preferably cardstock) Printer or markers to make your own tag Stapler with staples or ribbon 1) Make a tag that labels the reindeer food and has the instruction poem on it (make your own, find one on the internet, or attempt to download mine--sorry, I don't know how to make it … [Read more...]
