Pucker Up

Is it too early to talk about Christmas decorations? I mean, all the retail stores started putting their stuff out before Halloween so, do you hold a firm position that you will not think about Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving?

If that's the case then you can gather up your supplies and make this after you've stuffed your faces with turkey and fought the Black Friday crowds. Oh, I do hope you will open your hearts to today's crafty project because I have been waiting and waiting to share it with you and I can't wait anymore!

You may or may not know this about me but I'm a blog addict. There I said it. I'm not trying to recover from it. I embrace it. And, I steal all of their great ideas. (Insert evil laugh here.)

Okay, not really steal because I am giving them credit. And they put it out there for us, right?

Brief background. This past summer I saw a Pomander Ball on a design blog. There was more than one and they were so beautiful. I googled "How to make a pomander ball" and watched a video. I was in love but really, I don't have a reason to make a Pomander Ball with real flowers on my budget. Pfft!

Then, the wonderful folks at Once Wed shared a tutorial on this Pomander Ball and my dream was alive once more! This I can do. And it won't die. And while there's is beautiful all in brown, I really wanted to see it as mistletoe so I can chase my boys around with it and kiss there sweet little faces. Or, maybe you're just one of those lucky types that will just be able to stand under it whenever you want your sweety to kiss you.

Let's get ready to pucker up, shall we?

Gather your items:
5" Styrofoam ball
roughly 7 yards of seam binding (or ribbon or fabric)
roughly 4 pages of 12"x12" of card stock paper (I used two different colors. The light green was a glitter page. The dark green was just a regular textured page.)
A flower punch
Straight pins with the round heads on them. I lost count but I used somewhere between 140 - 150.
A ribbon
Scissors

Punch about 70 flowers from each of your card stock colors. Just consider it a little arm workout. Set them aside.

Take your Styrofoam ball and your binding and start wrapping around the ball. Secure it with a pin. It's a bit tricky at first. You have to figure out a criss-cross pattern but it will probably be easy for you.

I left a little seam binding at the top but wished later I had left one fluid piece that you use to hang the ball with. Just pin it in place.

Now the fun part. Take a flower of the dark green paper and a flower from the glitter paper and thread them on to the straight pin.

Then stick that into the Styrofoam ball. As instructed I started in the middle and made a line around the ball but I think if I do it again I might start at the bottom and work my way up so the bottom is really full.

I placed my flowers pretty close together. I wanted it to be full. I may have used more than 140 flowers. I lost count.

Once I got the ball full of the flowers, I adjusted the flowers so that the petals were offset and stuck a second pin to keep them from moving. This is where we go astray from Once Wed's design. Mistletoe has lots of white berry's. I added three large pins in some flowers and 2 large and one small in others. Willy nilly, all random like.

Ooh! Isn't it pretty? Take your ribbon and make a bow. Attach the bow to the top. Just tie it on.

Hang it and stand other until someone gets the hint.

Maybe I need to make a 3" mistletoe ball and whip it out when I see someone cute. That doesn't scream desperation, does it? You could do this for any special occasion you're having. A baby shower with pinks or blues; Reds for Valentine's; Pastels for Easter; Wedding showers in the brides colors.

Okay but wait. Today is your lucky day. They're so easy to make I'm giving this one away. One entry per person. All you have to do to enter is to go to the comment section and tell me this:

Describe your favorite kiss.

All entries should be entered by 8:00 pm CST, Saturday, November 21st. The winner will be announced on Monday.

Snack Throwdown Updates:

We begin voting today for our favorite dish in the Tortilla Challenge. And Katie has the poll up for voting for the next ingredient. And, I trust my HLA team will correct me in the comment section if I'm wrong.

Signing off until tomorrow....

Psst...

"Jingle all the Ray"

Yeah, yeah, yeah,  I know.  I'm stuck.  "It'll be fun" she said.  "Come on, the kids will love it."  I knew I was going to get stuck.  Now, the kids are hysterical.   They think I chased Santa up the chimney to get his toys.  Claudia's trying to calm them down.  One of them was trying to hit me with the fire poker.    

I should be half way through my second Bloody Mary by now.  How does she rope me into these things?  Every holiday it's the same old story.....just five minutes here or an extra mile there.  I still have paper cuts from all the wrapping.

It all started out fine.  I'm on the roof, rope in hand.  I tie off the rope and start my descent.  I worry about scuffing my boots and lung cancer.  I'm making good progress and I actually believe that this time, everything is going to be OK.  Then it happens, I spot a big roach crawling down a brick after me.  I yell at it.  Unfazed, it leaps from the brick and floats downward, landing on my Santa beard.  I scream like a girl and thrash around trying to dislodge the roach.  I begin to fall and am grateful.  Then I stop falling.  Somehow my belt has gotten hooked on something.  I try chewing the beard loose.  I frantically chomp and spit and shake my head.  I hear crying.......it's not me.  I've done it, the beard has fallen.  I'm free of the beard and the roach but the kids are horrified.  They'll need some kind of therapy after this one.  This is not my fault.

Anyone out there have a similar story?  What worked and what didn't this year?  What was hot and what was not?  Go on, let's hear it.  I've got all day.

Show time...

It's here!

It must have been every hour on the hour yesterday that Matthew asked how much longer until Santa comes.

The irony.  For me, today will fly.  Minutes will tick away like seconds, as I race around hoping to beat the clock.  So many last minute details and so little time.  For Ricky and Matthew (Jack's still too little), who are filled with anticipation, each minute will feel like an hour and each hour will feel like an eternity.  Santa's sled is moving in slow motion and, in their minds it seems, might never touch down at 4012 Harvestwood Court.

So what's the feeling in your house?  Calm and relaxed?  Frenetic?  Anxious? Or, controlled chaos?

In the spirit of Highlowaha, let's have some fun with this today.  How about using the prompt below to let us know what you're up to and how you're feeling...

Twas the night before Christmas...

Here's my shot at it...  Don't over think it.  I'm not.  Just go for it.  Freewheeling.  No pressure.  

Twas the night before Christmas 

much left to do

Wrapping, assembling, and of course

some hot glue...

You're turn.

Oh, and one more thing.  While McDonalds, Wendy's, Target, and most other retailers are closing their doors tomorrow, Highlowaha is open for business.  Maybe you'll consider sharing your "presence."

Until then, signing off...

Thank You Cards and... A Special Invitation

Tera and Richard... brown sugar is the secret ingredient with which you are working for this week's Throw Down.  Remember, the Green Bay game is Tuesday, December 30.  I recommend (due to the holidays) getting your item in the mail no later than Friday, December 26, in the a.m..  Christmas Eve could be better.  Good luck and may the best recipe win. 

Good morning, everyone.  This is the last weekend before Christmas, so for many of us it will be filled with last minute shopping (as shocking as that might seem to many of you), baking, and wrapping.

Free time is a hot commodity, so I'll be brief.

Today we're talking thank-you notes.  If you have kids, this is the perfect kind of project to do this weekend.  Set your kids at a table with paper, glitter, glue, and scissors and let them design their own thank you cards while you are in the kitchen baking.

Nan Anderson, an occasional visitor and "visiting craftswoman" on our blog, is the inspiration behind today's idea.  Nan also has three kids.  She is VERY creative and, on top of it all, she is an impressive photographer.  Which is to say... Nan aptly photographs many of her children's creations.  Earlier this season, she showed me how she uses her children's artwork to create fun stationary.

As if on cue, Matthew showed up at home today with an envelope of Christmas projects he made in school.  To be honest, none of them are so great (or truly original works of art) that I feel compelled to keep them.  Normally I would use them to decorate his bedroom door for the holidays and then get rid of them (yes, toss them in the garbage) at season's end.  Last night I did hang them on his door.  And, yes... I will thro

w them away at season's end.  

BUT... this year I also photographed the projects.  This year - in honor of Nan's suggestion - I will also use Matthew's Christmas decorations to create personalized thank-you cards.  Here they are before and sometime this weekend I will post the after (I learned my lesson about promptness last weekend).

Enough about thank you's.  Now let's talk invitations and then I'll be off for the day.

I love this.  I am so excited about this, I have to share it with someone.  If you love it too, feel free to steal it.

Yesterday - out of nowhere - Matthew said he was going to invite Santa Claus to his birthday party (in April)!  Did you hear me?  Matthew wants Santa Claus at his birthday party!  Then it hit me.  We can  do that!  Last year the beach.. this year the North Pole!  That's it!  This year, the theme for Matthew's birthday party will be a winter wonderland.  We will visit the North Pole.  Hot cocoa, snowman sundaes, scarves, Christmas invitations, holiday party plates, cups, decorations, a decorated Christmas tree, holiday games and a craft, and yes... Santa Claus will show up!  Surely I can hire a Santa Claus 

in April (what else are they doing?).

I love this idea and Matthew will think it is magical.  I'd love to sit and chat, but I have to go.  There are sales going on right now and I have to stock up for a birthday party in April!

Signing off until Monday... or actually until now, Sunday night at 9:23, when I return to post a picture of some of our homemade thank you notes.  They're kind of fun in person.  Don't get me wrong, we won't be putting Peggy out of business anytime soon, but Matthew loved seeing his "art" turned into real life cards.  We could have had a field day with lots more colored paper, glitter, and stickers.  Maybe next year.

Overall, I am a believer in the idea of transforming all kinds of my kid's artwork into thank you notes.

Now I'm signing off until Monday... for real.

Free For All Friday: Stockings Were Hung By the Chimney With Care

Announcements at the end, including voting for the next Secret Ingredient.

Recently Peggy, Maureen, and others exchanged memories (or lack thereof) of their Christmas stockings.  The exchange was particularly interesting to me, because my fire place growing up didn't have a mantle and consequently, stockings were never part of my family's holiday tradition.

Nonetheless, I am obsessed with Christmas Stockings.  If I could, our family's entire Christmas exchange would revolve around exchanging only gifts that fit in Christmas stockings.  Is it that I inherently want what I didn't have or is it the creativity required in finding meaningful treats that must fit within specified dimensions?  Whatever the reason... I love Christmas stockings!!!!!

For the many years I worked on college campuses, I would interrogate every student I could get my hands on about their Christmas stockings.  What was the best thing they ever got in their stocking?  Was there something they expected to find in their stocking every year?  When did they open their stockings?  Who filled their stockings - Santa, mom and dad, or various family members?  Coal or no coal?  Did they have one stocking they used their whole life or did stockings change with fashions?  Trust me, I could go on.  I love stockings.

So today, if it's ok with you, I would love to hear what you have to say.  What were/are you traditions around stockings?  Is there one thing in particular you love finding (or placing) in Christmas stockings?  I'll spend the rest of my life feeling like a "stocking-novice," because I grew up without the familiarity of them as a kid.  Help me get it "right," so my kids have sound Christmas stocking memories!    

Indulge me in a little story about our family's Christmas stockings.  

I'll try to be brief.

I spotted this Santa stocking in 1992 while living in Oxford, Ohio.  I LOVED it and (due to my compulsion with stockings) immediately decided to buy it for my boyfriend, Hunter.  He was living in North Carolina, so filling it with thoughtful treats would be the ultimate Christmas gift.

I bought his stocking in October.  In November I thought, "What if he's the one?  I love this stocking.  If he's "the one," I'll need the Mrs. Claus stocking too."  Off I went to the little boutique where I found it to buy Mrs. Claus.

I sent Hunter his stocking in December and in February we broke up.

Yikes, now I have Mrs. Claus, but no Santa.  Back to the boutique, where of course they have no more stockings.  I plead with the owner to help me track down another Santa, so when I get married, I can have (in my mind) the ultimate Christmas stockings.  In November of the following year I got my replacement Santa stocking.  In December I moved.

Eight years later, while living in Texas (the first time around), I meet Richard.  We went on our first date in November, got engaged in May, and got married in November. 

Finally I get to use the coveted Christmas stockings I've been lugging around the country with every move.

Oh no!  What about Ricky?  When I married Richard, I also became a mom.  Ricky was five turning six at the time.  He needs a stocking.  In July (just weeks after getting engaged) I contacted the talented mother of my friend Debbie to see if she would make me a Christmas stocking to match my Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

A walking angel on earth, Mrs. Barbara not only sent one stocking, she sent me THREE!  Three?  Is she crazy?  What the heck will I do with three (and all boy elfs, to boot)!?!

April 2004, elf #2 gets claimed.  Thankfully Matthew complied and was a boy.  A perfect match for his stocking.

July 2006, find out I am pregnant with Jack.  Contact Mrs. Barbara to put her on-call for a girl elf stocking - should it be necessary.

March 2007, Jack arrives and boy elf #3 gets claimed.

That's my great stocking story.  To the average eye, just a set of five stockings - no nicer than any other stockings.  To me... GOLD!  The only thing that could make this story better is a matching reindeer.  May Day, our dog, is patiently waiting.  Maybe I'll contact Mrs. Barbara in time for Christmas 2009.  Stay tuned until next year and see what happens.  

Announcements

• Super Bowl Snack Throw Down:   Today we start voting on the Playoffs - Tera vs. Richard.  What secret ingredient will they cook with this week?  Place your vote...
  

Cumin or Brown Sugar?

• Winner of Ray's Ornament: I didn't forget about making this announcement, but I do try to limit the number of days we have a long list of housekeeping-related items.  Fridays seem appropriate.  The winner of Fun Family Story from Tuesday is Kristen and her fabulous rhyme.  The "mystery" reference is from his summer's Peanut and Shell game, where we learned that the peanut is a symbol of mystery and anticipation.  One more note about this.  This ornament was donated by a reader for the express purpose of sharing it with one of you.  Thank you all for your continued generosity and thoughtfulness.
  
• Baker Ray is looking for his next destination: Baker Ray (or should we say Sugar Ray) has been hanging out in New York for the past couple of months.  He just finished spreading good cheer and is ready to move on.  Do we have another taker?  It means using all the supplies provided to bake a batch of Ray cookies to be shared with other people who we think might like learning about Highlowaha. Takers, takers?
  

Signing off until tomorrow...

Santa Claudia's Top Kid Picks

What a week last week was.  I feel like 1,000,000,000 great ideas for gifts were generated and swapped among readers.  Thank you, everyone for generously giving your gift of creativity.  I picked up a few fun ideas that I think I'll try this year.  Let's make a deal.  If you give a gift recommended by someone at Highlowaha, how about posting a comment and letting us know how it went?  It will be a fun way to let one another know the difference you make in each other's lives.

Today.  Today we begin a week of Claudia's Top Kid Picks.  It's a little self indulgent, I know.  I'm not a toy consultant, a toy maker, or Oprah who - though, not an expert - would at least be giving one of everything she talked about to each of her loyal viewers.  No.  It's certain, I am no Oprah.

But, I am mom.  I love giving gifts.  And, I especially love giving gifts that capture the imagination of kids.  AND, I have a lively, engaged, and creative community of readers with whom I engage each day.  So, I am CERTAIN, that between you and me, we will have a fun week rediscovering Christmas through the eyes of kids!

Don't have kids?  I work hard at trying to be relevant to as many of our readers as possible and I can't help but think my suggestions will be as good coming from an aunt, uncle, cousin, brother, sister, babysitter, or even anonymously from one of Santa's secret elves.

Today we're talking books.  I love sharing books with kids at Christmas, because unlike a plastic, battery operated toy, the image of a book can last forever.  Books help create the sense of anticipation that makes Christmas feel so magical.  Hearing about Santa Claus, while looking at pictures of his toy shop or his reindeer, makes the wonder of this holiday seem palpable... even believable.  Each Friday, for the next three weeks, I will steal away 20 minutes of my morning to share a book with Matthew's class.  Here are my top picks.

How Santa Got His Job

By: Stephen Krensky

This clever book tells of all the jobs Santa had leading up to his most important job as Santa Claus.  None of his jobs, including such things as a chimney sweep, postman, or circus performer ever worked out.  It wasn't until he met a group of elves who helped him use all his special talents, that Santa was able to find his dream job.   Approximately 30 pages.  $6.99. 

Idea: I will start out by asking each child in Matthew's class what they want to be when they grow up.  Maybe I'll record what they say and present it to their parents as a keepsake.  Also, This could be a fun gift for someone graduating or for someone who works with college aged students (as, "What should I do with my life?" is often a question asked).

Snowflake Bentley

By: Jaqueline Briggs Martin

As someone who loves history, I am in LOVE with this book!

Based on a true story, this tale tells of Wilson Bentley who - often misunderstood in his time - took pictures that even today reveal two important truths about snowflakes: no two are alike and each one is beautiful.  It is a great story of a young boy who is not only exhibits perseverance, but who also has passion for nature.  It is laced with facts about Wilson Bentley's life, while at the same time tells a great tale.  Approximately 30 pages.  $16.00 in hardback.  

Idea: After reading this book, I will have each child make a paper snowflake, so we can see how each is different.  I could also bring snowflake cookies or snowflake ornaments.  Let's see how ambitious I am.

Santa Claus

By: Rod Green

This book is nothing short of magical!  It is a pop-up interactive book going into great detail about everything from the North Pole, to Santa's House, the elves, the mail room, Santa's work shop, the essential elements of Santa's suit, how his sled works, and how he delivers his presents.  

Idea: I am going to a dinner party next weekend and the hostess has three children.  I will give her a copy of this book.  I love it so much that last week I anonymously left a copy (with chocolate chip cookies and a note from Santa) for a family at my son's preschool.  It is $19.99 and worth every penny.  

Announcements

• Congratulations, Lori:  After much tasting and re-tasting, the Struble bar flies voted Lori's mustard recipe yesterday's winner.  December 30, Richard and Tera face off for what will mark the beginning of Snack Throw Down, Round Two.
  
• Owl' Nest: Thank you to all the North Texans who were able to participate in this weekend's event.  Heather shopped for Lily and for Stacie and the nine-year old girl for whom Stacie is seeking a gift.  Heather and Stacie are both are the recipients of our prize.  Each of them wins a personalized lap desk in the color of their choice.  Stacie, I will email you color choices and you can let me know whose name you would like on it (in addition to graphics.  ie. flowers, basket ball, zebra stripes, etc...).  I will reveal some of our finds as the week goes on!  Heather took pictures, so you'll get visuals too.
• Festival of Lights:  Kudos to all of you who got your trees up this weekend.  Remember one week from yesterday, Sunday, December 16 at 8:00 CST, we will host our First Annual Holiday Celebration.  All are invited.  To "attend," simply submit a photograph of you and/or your family in front of your tree, menorah, or another holiday decoration of your choice.  Submissions due Friday, 12/12, by 9:00 p.m.  To participate in the Ornament Exchange simply do the following: (1) Purchase an ornament.  (2) Take a picture of it unwrapped.  (3) Take a picture of it wrapped.  (4) send both photographs to cspgradstudent at kkolkmeier@gmail.com.  Photos must be received by Friday night at 9:00 p.m.
  
• Cassie's Great Santa Claus Adventure:  It's not too late to make the day of a son, daughter, niece, nephew, neighbor, or even a child in the hospital.  Simply send Cassie P. a holiday card (postmarked 12/12) and she will hand deliver it to Santa Claus, Indiana for a magical postmark on Monday, December 15.  Her mailing address is Cassie Patterson, 103 Meadow Drive, Sellersburg, IN, 47172.  Check in later this week to find out what fun things we have planned for Cassie on her road trip.
  
• Letters to the North Pole:  Looking for a place to mail your child's letter to Santa?  Try: Santa Claus, 41 North Kringle Place, Santa Claus, IN 47579.  They have volunteers who reply to letters FREE!