Other uses for tree ornaments
If you have more Christmas tree ornaments than you use, consider giving them to family or needy, or:
tie them with a pretty bow and attach to a garland or wreath. One or two ?ball-type? with bow would be nice on corner of mantle, medicine cabinet, or mirror.
Candy/cookie list
For making favorite candies or cookies, check the recipes first, then make a list of all ingredients you need to buy, and BUY them on your next grocery trip. Check that you have a good candy thermometer, enough baking sheets, wax paper/plastic wrap, and shipping containers.
Deck the halls with boughs
For warm and happy rooms, string lighted garland all around your den, family/living room and/or kitchen. About 2 inches down from ceiling, screw in appropriate sized ?cup? hooks (these can be left up all year if bought or painted in color of walls). The longer the lights/garlands, the less ?connections? you have to make; use only the mini lights for safety.
Christmas Card list
With this little book, you should have no problem keeping track each year of names/addresses and sent/received records. Go to:
http://currentcatalog.com/productDetail.asp?superprodid=2004&oduid=614902
for the Christmas Card Record Book (prod. #SKU071406)
Little BBQ Sausages
Depending on the number of guests, you will need one or two packages of the little sausages. Heat these in saucepan with 1 cup BBQ sauce per package. Serve in a fondue warmer-pot with fork.
Too hard to decorate the tree
If you find it harder each year to decorate a Christmas tree, consider buying the fiber-optic type; lights already there and no need for ornaments. Keep some of your beautiful ball ornaments and place in large clear vase as table decoration, crowned with small greenery.
Trees for bed-and-bath
What a pleasant surprise for guests to decorate their bedroom and guest bath. We can buy (or make) small Christmas trees to use here. I also put up a bow & ribbon garland around the window (love the ?wired? ribbon) and the medicine cabinet.
An original gift wrap
Don?t always think ?paper? for gift wrapping. Look through scrap materials that are on hand, or check cloth stores for ?scraps?; usually priced cheap. Be sure cloth is ironed flat before wrapping. Special patterns for special people!
Safety First
Watch those gifts small children receive: do they have parts that the child could pull off and swallow? Either exchange the gift, or pull off the part and discard...better safe than sorry! AND...discard ALL plastic-wrap safely; away from child?s reach!
Flour Tortilla Spirals
Quick, easy, make-ahead snack is the keyword for these really good ?snacks?:
2 pkgs cream cheese softened
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1/2 cup chopped black olives
1 Tbsp chopped chives
1 Tbsp finely chopped jalapeno (toss away the seeds)
1 pkg flour tortillas (large size)
1/2 cup finely chopped pieces of ham (optional)
Mix first 5 ingredients by hand; spread onto flour tortillas about 1/4" thick then roll up. Chill for about 1 hour; just before serving, slice into approximately 1/2" ?spirals?. Can be rechilled, but too long in refrigerator can cause tortillas to become soggy.
Best way to shop for gifts
For Holiday giving, start with a list of all those people you want to give gift(s) to. Beside each name list 2-3 items they might enjoy/need. If buying clothing, be sure to get the right size listed. You will avoid ?guessing? when at the stores.
The right ribbon #2
Kids love the curly-streamer type bows. Be sure you have the thin type ribbon that curls when ?stropping? with a scissor blade. Tie 14" lengths of different colored pieces together in center, then ?curl? away...the heavier the pressure when ?stropping?, the tighter the curl.