MONDAY

You like the new look!? I do!! So not embarrassing.  Take a button!  {Remember - it's not embarrassing anymore!}

AND read yesterday's post {click here!} if you are interested in FREE advertising at Toady's Top 20!

Sew This

Aren't these dino hats sweet?  Kara made them for Christmas gifts.  And these look super warm!

This is quite possible the cutest birth announcement I have ever seen.  I'm smitten by it.  OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder (Even her name is creative) made it.  And the polka dot dress in the picture matches her gift.  Way cute.

You know you want to head over to Quaint and Quirky to learn how to make this adorable little doll.  Yea.  You know you want to.

I'm loving the fact that kids can make these!  I think Josh will most def. be making some book marks.  And they will probably all be green. :) Speaking of green.  These are from the site Pink and Green Mama.

Here is another kid friendly sewing idea.  Bed Bug Hand warmers.  I think these are adorable.  Se7en has a great blog full of kid friendly ideas.

Craft this

Housewife Eclectic made this super cute melted snowman ornament. 

I'm loving this.  For real.  I wish I had this.  Jane of All Crafts has her how to.

Isn't this pom pom garland pretty?  Moore Minutes made it and I just really want one. 

My son sooo needs this hat. The stingy stitcher did a great job!!

Aren't these cool? Ice wreathes.  And free!  On the V side shows you how to make them.  And she's got some great how to tips!

Print this

Christmas cards for your hubbies!! I found these from the Happy Home Fairy on  Love, Actually.

So this isn't really a printable, but I wasn't sure where to put it.  Urban Comfort has a really cool journal idea.  And it looks so pretty.

It's a Crafty life made this cute printable.  I love the color!

The crafting chicks have this cute reindeer noses printable.  Just add red and green m'&'m's. 

The crafting chicks also have this Santa key and poem for you too!  We need one since we are without a chimney.

Eat this

Not so much a recipe but Iron Violet Design made cute tags that said Thought we'd be an angel and give you a little more dough.  Easy neighbor gift!

Aren't these hot chocolate on a sticks adorable?  You can find out how to make them on Make & Takes!

Vanilla sugar?  I had never heard of it.  But I LOVE vanilla.  {I totally said that like Buddy the elf would say I LOVE Christmas!} Clean Mama tells you how to make it!  Mmmm....I'm thinking vanilla sugar to use making our cinnamon buns.  YUM.

I present to you Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies.  Yea. You heard me.  Three Baking Sheets to the Wind is an AWESOME blog for really cool treats. 

Picky Palate has these super cute little kiss pies.  They're cute.  Way cute.  And super easy.

Cha Cha Cha Changes - plus my blogs pretty now!!!

First.  Look at my blog!  Pretty huh?  SOOOO much prettier!  Lindsay from Happy Housewife Designs did an awesome job...I'll be using her for sure for my other blogs!  Thanks Lindsay! (P.S. right now she's offering half off blog designs better sign up soon!)

Second.  I know it's not Christmas, but Christmas is a third of the way done at my house so I feel the need to slightly move forward. (Just Christmas at my mom's and then well Christmas Christmas).  2011 is the year.  THE year people.  Year for great things.  And the year for (cue music) cha cha cha changes.  {I totally wish this was like a greeting card...you know you read the front..open it and it plays the music...that would be awesome.}  There are going to be BIG things coming for my little blog.  I'd like to start advertising in 2011 - and although my numbers are good to me I'm no blog superstar.  So if you would like some FREE advertising.  Yes, free advertising.  And would be willing to put my (new, pretty version) button on your blog I'll do the same.  And you can be my "sponsor".  I'll even do a sponsor highlight on ya. These are good for 1 month. I've got a magic number in my head and when I hit that I will begin to charge (a very small fee!)  I'm only taking 6...so email me quick!  amandaandandy@yahoo.com (I know.. ridiculous amounts of a's, n's, and d's.  I thought it would be easy...amanda and andy but I guess I didn't think about it...)

Third.  Blogger of the week is obviously no more.  Really, it is too hard to highlight one/week.  So I'm doing 1/month.  Starting January 2011 -- Blogger of the month.  Would you like to sponsor?  If yes...and you know you do...you get all of this:
1. a large ad prominently placed (meaning up top!)
2. And your ad will be placed at the bottom of each post (Blogger of the Month is sponsored this month by -your ad here-.
3. I will do a free product review of your shop
4. On Blogger of the month announcement day I will do a store highlight.

That's a heck of a lot of exposure!!! And who knows what kind of exposure you will get from the recipient's blog! What do you need to provide?  2 items from your shop (must be at least a $15 value). 1 for the product review and 1 for the prize. (I will email you the name and address on where to ship the prize).  That's it. 

Fourth.  If anyone is still reading.  I am starting a blanket drive for 2011.  I've been wanting to do this for about 2 months now.  But I thought new year would be a great time to start.  Plus, it has a story behind the drive.  And I've been writing...rewriting.  And trying to figure out my words.  So even if you don't donate a blanket keep in mind it would be wonderful to help get the word out.  More on this later. 

I think that's it.  Whew.  I know.  A lot.  Leave a comment if you actually read this! :) Just bc I'm curious.  Do y'all read or just scan pictures? :) he he!

I'm just going to say....

First hooray news: I am a winner.  Not just A winner.  But a winner multiple times over.  I never ever win.  I won a blog design (coming soon - I saw it and it looks so pretty!), I won Amy Butler fabric to make a bag, I won a $20 gift certificate to a way cool Etsy shop, I won a $30 gift certificate to Sew Mama Sew, a pretty little owl bag, an ornament, some fabric and a years membership to PMQG. Yea I know.  I should have started entering giveaways a long time ago!  Merry Christmas to me!!  I'll show you all the cool stuff I get when it arrives. 

Now.  Today's news.

Plan - You know assorted boxes of chocolates.  Well that's what I wanted to do --  with cupcakes.  Had bakery boxes.  Yesterday baked 7 types of cupcakes.  Had 4 left to do.  I had 3/4 of the Faith Cake in the freezer.  Just had to make 1 more layer.  Went to bed at 2 this morning.  Woke up at 7 to finish.  Uhhh somehow...I'm not sure how...my fridge got turned up.  ALL THE WAY UP.  My milk, and eggs are frozen.  My whipping cream - FROZEN.  I don't know how! Needless to say...plans change.  Sorry In law family you don't get cupcakes.  I'll finish them (and freeze the cupcakes I've got) and take them up to my family's Christmas next week.  And hopefully....if nothing else screws up (didn't have enough chocolate cake so I broke into the cupcakes...one cake cracked and broke and so on NOT HAVING ANY LUCK IN THE KITCHEN) I will have a pretty faith cake.  Hopefully...

BIG changes are coming with 2011.  Are you ready?  What are you doing to prepare for Christmas?  Are you done? If so -- don't tell me.  I'm up to my eyeballs. 

Amanda

Friday!!!

Sorry this is a little late today.  I woke up feeling good ya know.  By 8:30 I had unloaded the dishwasher, loaded it, folded and started laundry, made 1 (of 12) batches of cupcakes.  And had 3 days worth of posts ready to go.  Or so I thought.  Power went out.  It was not saved. Lost 60 features..UGGGGG.  But have no fear...I re-did them!  Andy's family Christmas is tomorrow!  OMG.  HELP! :)

Sewing

How cute is this?  Dressing Heidi Sage made this shirt...and I think my son would LOVE it!  So very Boden! :)

Sew Much Ado has a printable pattern for this apron.  Are you loving that model?  What about that fabric.  I think I squeeled when I saw it (and I may have clapped my hands)....All you mom's of boys know that when you find cute boy fabric...you snatch it up!!!

Sew can do has a mitten tutorial.  I need to make a pair to go with Josh's hooded scarf!

Christina from 2 little hooligans made this super cute apron from thrift store toddler dresses.  I think it's super cute.

How cute is this?  I love the skirt....I love her big bow on her head...I love the bow on her shirt...but besides the skirt...my fave detail is this

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? This is too cute...{It's from the fabulous blog What Allie's Making Now}

Crafts

Modern Country Style made this table piece (or wreath if you hang it) out of cinnamon sticks.  And she says when you light the candle in the middle it heats the sticks up so the whole house smells yummy.  I can't wait to try this!!

I think this is super sweet and all the colors -- it would have looked great in my house this year... but it will have to wait until next year...Bursts of Creativity did a great job showing each step in making this snow village.

Still need a quick, cheap gift?  Mom Endeavors has this recipe for Holiday Spice Bath Salts.  Just sounds like it smells super!

Looove this.  Who doesn't wear a bow at some point on Christmas.  This hair bow is so festive. Attempting Aloha is one of my new fave blogs -- she's just amazing!

This little guy from Crafts and such was just too cute not to post!

Print this

Ahh blogging delima.  Do I post about the lids...or the cupcakes?? How about both.  Kelly made red velvet cake with green frosting...and put it in a jar ... topped with a cute free printable lid! 

Whisker graphics has these tags.  I love the antlers and santa's belly!

Here are some more tags!  These are from Eat, Drink, Chic. 

Want those photo letters...for FREE?  Go visit Craftily Ever After!

Cap Creations made this card for you to make your own Inn Keepers Key.  I love this little but so meaningful gift!

Food

Alright. 1 week left to go.  We need quick and easy .  We need yummy.  We need good to make in huge batches.  Here is one.  Peanut Brittle from Made by Me. Shared with You.

And another.  These Rolo pretzels are from the Gaines Gang. 

Madigan Made awesome Peanut Butter cup cookies!!

Just for luv made Super easy peppermint patties!

 

And last , but so not least, Hallelujahs by Holly made Butterfinger Wannabes.  5 easy fixes to bring to a holiday party!