A New Post Is Up On The Etc. Lists!

It is Christmas in April! Head on over to The Etc. Lists to check out Part 2 of my Christmas 2012 recap.

I'm All Up In Your Hizzie: Holiday Edition #3

I showed you Mary's Christmas Tree Extravaganza a little over a week ago. We took a look at Becca's Peacock Palace last week. Now, it is time to head on over to Richmond, VA to take a peak at Deanna's Kitschy Creations!

This is a photo of Deanna's front porch from a few years ago.

Deanna is by far the most creative person I know. Ideas are constantly spewing out of her brain about fun decorations, unique businesses, inspiring art, and everything else. I asked her to send me a few photos of her decorations this year and she did not disappoint. But considering how much she loves the holidays, the photos below are not her normal holiday-wild-crazypantness. 

Deanna's holiday cards are always something to look forward to. They are super duper unique and make you do a little laughing out loud. This year she figured out a way to send one of my very favorite parts of Christmas in the form of a holiday card. She sent an awesome mix of holiday music. The envelope was the CD cover. You have to see it to understand how awesome it is. So, here you go:

She knows how to make a holiday playlist! Hers included many of my favorites, which you can check out here.

Deanna has a photo blog. Check her out... she's neat!

Here is her beautiful tree! So much color! It makes me smile and say wheeee!!

Check out the awesome stripes and tree on the wall in the background. Someone is going to have to get a for real "I'm All Up In Your Hizzie" sometime soon!

Deanna just bought the Santa coming out of the chimney decoration from an antique shop.

Isn't it fun?

Here is another shot of the mantel. It makes me want to watch A Muppets Christmas or the Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer movie!

More color on her banister! I'm impressed that all three of my house crashees have decked out their banisters!

I stole this one off Deanna's blog.

A candy cane covered in googly eyes! Who wouldn't want that on their tree?

This one is also from her blog. Actually, from here on out all of the photos were pilfered from DeannaDoesDrawing.

Deserves an Awww Bahhhh!

Her mini dog loves the holidays too!

Eeeee! What a cutie. And so well-behaved!

A lighted pic dressed as Santa... perfect!

A beautiful tangle of lights!

An adorable DIY ornament!

And one more photo deserving of an Awww Bahhh! 

So pretty and such a great idea. 

Let's take another look at her front stoop!

Isn't she creative? She was probably the only person I knew who had a bedroom in high school as crazy as mine.

The holidays are so stinkin' close I can't even believe it!!! Are you all in the holiday spirit? Are you holiday crafts done? Cards sent out? Pickle ornaments hidden?

Christmas Tree Treats!

Yes, that is what we are working with today. Christmas Tree Treats.

I had planned on writing about easy and delicious (delicious-looking, anyway) food that you can make for the holidays. But after taking a look at what my internet stalking turned up I realized that to me holiday food means desserts in the shape of Christmas trees. So, that is what you fancy folks get to take a gander at today... Christmas Tree Treats!

Four of the ten evergreen goodies don't quite meet the "treat" criteria. But they are shaped like Christmas trees so why not! 

Now let's check to see if your drool machines are in tact.

For some reason, icing is better when it comes in the form of a tiny tube line. 
And, that is a fact!

TheFabWeb.com


Make some cake. Powder 'em up and play stacking rings with them!

source

Cut a pineapple into a cone and toothpick those perfectly iced strawberries on!

Taste.com


I present you with Pesto Pizza with Red Peppers and Pretzels!

LiveBetterAmerica.com



Fact #1: Rice Krispie Treats are yummy!
Fact #2: When they are stacked up like a Christmas tree and decorated with candy, they become irresistible.

source



Christmas tree pancakes with cream. Try and stop me from going to town on them!

SouthernLiving

The time has come for us to talk about cheese.

CabotCheese

I know I haven't fooled anyone into thinking that this one is a Christmas Tree Treat. 
But it is a pretty adorable veggie tray!

BettyCrocker



Browines, strawberries, icing, generic M&Ms.
I didn't know it until now but I think my dream has come true!

MaddyCakesMuse.com

It is pretty handy that Christmas trees are in the shape of pizza so everyone can have their favorite food on Christmas!

Spoonful.com

Now, all of you crafty chefs out there get to work! I want to hear about at least one Tannebaum Treat on your table just 6 days from now!

If you still can't believe that Jolly Ol' Saint Nick will be coming down your chimney (or vent system if you don't have a chimney) check out some of my other holiday posts. They will surely get you in the spirit:

• 21 Awesome Advent Calendars You Can DIY
• 22 Funky, Unusual, Alternative Christmas Trees
• 16 Ideas For A Slightly More Traditional Tree
• Holiday Wreaths
• DIY Gift Ideas
• Some holiday playlists as well as all of the holidays posts to come
• Tree Toppers
• More Christmas Decorations
• Holiday Traditions
• My Christmas Tree Topper
• DIY Ornaments
• Holiday Card Display Ideas
• Mary's Beautiful Christmas House
• Becca's Beautiful Christmas House
• DIY Food Gift Ideas
• One More DIY Food Gift Idea

And a photo for the Grandparents!

This post isn't over yet!! It is time for 

Wednesday's Weekly Would You Rather Question!

WYR... 

be able to control stop lights so you never ever have to stop at one again

or

have hair that you get complimented on by strangers at least 4 times a day?

ha! Such a random question. I want some answers, people!

One more thing: an update on the Hot Nuts from yesterday. It turns out that they are even better served cold. They were in the fridge over night and I had one in the morning... delicious! I know you were wondering. So, you're welcome!

Another DIY Food Gift. Cookin' With Chris: Hot Nuts

Earlier today we looked at some DIY Food Gifts. Now, this afternoon a little something called Cookin' With Chris is coming back on the scene!

Recently, Scott made some delicious spiced nuts. They were fantastic straight off the stove top. And they were still pretty tasty when they chilled out a bit. So, I asked him to make them again so I could take photos and do my best to capture the recipe.

In case you hadn't guessed, the recipe I am about to show you is my attempt at a DIY Food Gift. You could package it up in something pretty like the box below. And add a homemade tag like I showed you this morning.

Del's Food

Hot Nuts Recipe (or, as Scott called it later, "How To Make Nuts Taste Worse." He is wrong- he never says good things about his cooking. I think the nuts are delicious!)

He put a teaspoon or less of canola oil on a Skillet and swooshed it around. I would picked olive oil. But I don't know what I'm doing- Scott said to use a bland oil like canola so it tastes more like nuts.

For a small batch, throw in about a half handful of walnuts, another of pecans and another of almonds. Or use whatever nuts you want.

Do a little nut toss and shake your pan around.

Then he added a smidge or cinammon and a smidge of 5 spice.

Did you notice that the spice jar he's holding says Nutmeg? That's how we make our lives easier- we keep cinnamon in the nutmeg jar.

Time for a little more tossing.

Then he added a smidge of brown sugar

Another toss. You have to keep those nuts moving so they don't burn. The whole process probably took 3 minutes. 

And that was it! The hot nuts were done. 

Tricked you- we could have stopped there but we decided to keep going!

I tried them and said I thought a little salt might be good. 

It was!

Then Scott added a little hand squeeze orange juice. Yummy!

A steam party happened. I'm not quite sure how.

Scott said that you can add whatever you want- raisins or rose water to make them rosey nuts. I wouldn't suggest the rose water though. Scott bought some a few years ago because he loves the smell of rose and rose water has done NOTHING to enhance any of our food thus far.

Scott also added a little honey and some sesame seeds. 

I liked better without sesame seeds. With or without honey was fine with me.

And here they are, in all of their hot nut glory!

Check out that fantastic festive Aussie napkin in the background! Animals with santa hats = the best!

DIY Holiday Food Gifts

This post is for all of you last-minute-Lisas who are still lolly gagging around trying to finish up your holiday gifts. A couple weeks ago, I gave you some ideas about DIY presents. Now, my friends, we are going DIY FOOD presents! Get ready... things are about to get all spicy and chocolate-y in the kitchen! This aternoon you are going to get a second post. So make sure to check back to see ol' Cookin' With Chris make another appearance to teach you how to make another DIY Food Gift Option: Hot Nuts!

Without further ado, here they are in all of their deliciousness...

HOLIDAY FOOD GIFTS!!

Sunshine in a box! What a brilliant idea... especially or someone who lives in a super cold place (Michigan?) or someone who might be going through a hard time.

They painted the inside of the box yellow and added this cute card.

The contents include lots of bright yellow!

How happy!

A Taco Box Kit! 

It includes everything you need to throw a fiesta at home.

If you are looking for a fiesta recipe, just you wait because soon I am going to let you in on how I made some yummy enchiladas.

Mmmmmmmmmmm

Who would not love some candy-coated chocolate pretzel sticks? 

Seriously, I am about to jump through the computer screen to eat those!

Sometimes the gift is all about the packaging. 

These S'more kits look pretty cool all boxed up like this.

Here is another option for s'more packaging.

Caramel apples are pretty fantastic!

Make a DIY caramel apple kit so your recipient can get all goo-ed up at home.

You could even make it unique by adding a little toffee or another fun topper!

Ice Cream Sundae In A Box!

Go ahead and leave the cones out though... everyone knows that the dish is the way to go!

Give the gift of delicious movie goodies! You could buy a Redbox gift certificate to go with it!

I have recently discovered the yumminess of peppermint bark. 

Package it up in a pretty carton and put a tag on it.

Tada! Instant neighbor or co-worker gift!

Carina Gardner has even made things super easy for you! Click here to download and personalize the cute tag below for FREE!

Go ahead and preheat your oven. Start printing your food gift tags. It looks like you are about to finish off your whole holiday shopping list!

sources: smores, box of sunshine, s'mores, cinnamon sugar popcorn, taco box, salted caramel sauce, movie, ice cream, peppermint bark, pretzel sticks, tag

I'm All Up In Your Hizzie: Holiday Edition #2

Last week, I got all up in Mary's hizzie to help get you into the holiday spirit.
Today, we are going to take a look at another holiday hizzie.

You might remember Becca from her big win on the the grocery challenge! Wooo Hoo- considering she is a very impressive audiologist I am not sure that it was her biggest accomplishment! You also got to see a photo of her in high school here!


I knew that Becca was going a little holiday wild this season so I asked her to send me some photos of what she had been working on! 

She is quite the spirited little lady! 

Becca's house is awesome! You can tell a lot of thought has gone into everything she has done with it and it has turned out fantastically! Hopefully, you are going to see more of Becca on NL when she lets us in on some of her super secret house projects!

Now, off we go to Becca's peacock paradise!

Becca went with a blue and peacock theme. She made most of the decorations herself or with help from her mom. The rest of them she tweaked to make them more her style. They are beautiful! Go ahead with your bad self, Becca!

Check out her gorgeous tree! Apparently, Becca knows how to work her ribbon!

Here are some closeups of her peacock tree.

She even sewed some Christmas stockings out of burlap and ribbon.  

She recommends a cross stitch for sewing burlap.

I have no idea what that means but I thought I would pass it along!

Look how fancy she got with her homemade reversible table runner. 

Even her presents are pretty! 

Mine are basically wrapped with newspaper and Becca's giftwrap matches her tree!

And guess where the famous reindeer, Prancer and Dancer, like to hang out when they aren't cruisin' the clouds? You guessed it... Becca's house. 

I'm pretty sure she can read the minds of animals. 

Did you see the pink bows on their antlers? That is what animals want in life!

She made a lovely centerpiece by throwing ornaments into a glass jar!

I love the ornaments in a jar look! You can check out some similar ones here .

Becca turned mason jars into vases with a little spray paint.

She painted a wine bottle with chalkboard paint and turned it into a festive vase!

Becca and Mary must have been inspired by the same photo on Pinterest!

One more shot of her pretty tree! 

There you have it folks!

Now, you have have seen two of the most fabulously decorated houses around.
Really, what more could you ask for?!?!