Our Christmas

Our Christmas season was great!
Well... let me say that we were ALL sick as dogs the week before. Sam missed 4 out of 5 days of school and slid back into the last day before break but barely made it through.. It was the cold that never ended... again.. But by the weekend we were all feeling better, thank goodness.. and it was on with Christmas!!!

It was nice and warm... well... not 10 degrees this year, but in the 50's!

We didnt have any snow, and I was never more happy!

I made some homemade crafty gifts as I always do.

Pepperimint & Mistletoe Soaps all fancy with ribbon and tinsel.

I sold a few batches as well, it was a hot item!

As part of the teacher gifts this year I made homemade marshmallows, they turned out so good. See the previous post for the recipe

One of my favorite parts of making gifts is spending crafty time on the tags and decorating them with wrapping and ribbon and pretty things.

I really think Samantha enjoyed giving her gifts to her teachers and bus drivers

We made cookies, ginger, cutouts, and crescents. And fudge and marshmallows... I couldnt stop.

I think that 

Sweets were everywhere this season.

Our annual family round robin party was so much fun. 

The dessert house is always my favorite.

Cannoli Dip ... OMG.. We all just stood there and couldnt stop eating it!

It was such a wonderful and mild Christmas season.

Cousins 

The few days before Christmas I attempted the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

They were quite a feat, but so so worth it.

My little helper made sure we got the icing just right.

He loves pulling up his little chair to help Mama 

I froze two pans.. and gave away about 5.

Just something yummy for us and our friends and neighbors to warm up on Christmas Day or whenever..  I think Samantha really understood the whole "season of giving" as I tried to explain that it is just nice to do things just because ... and the reason we celebrate Christmas .... and its not all about the presents.. hopefully some of what I was rambling set in.. but i know, she's only 5.. ha!

Samantha got to have a little sleepover at Grammy's house the night before Christmas Eve. 

So Daddy and I got to treat this little guy to a fruit whip and a date with just us.

Santa delivered this year.

He was generous.

Before Christmas, I went up to Ikea Canada, and got the kids a ton of stuff to make their rooms more cozy.. (not pictured).. and Samantha got one of her big gifts.. a new big girl desk for her room. So the kids got a lot of gifts right before the big day.. lucky them, huh?

They loved everything under the tree, and Samantha really got it this year. 

She kept saying she was going to sneak out of her bed and check for Santa.. hahah.. I remember thinking the same way when I was her age too.. I love all the magic Christmas brings.

Christmas Day, like last year.. we opened presents and then headed to Ohio.

The roads were empty and the ride was smooth sailing.

We spent our time enjoying wonderful food.. and amazing cookies...

I could go on and on about the cookies and food.. I even have tried some of my MIL's cooking and have  tons of her recipes.. but for some reason it just tastes better when she makes it.. and youre at her house.. its good for the soul...

The cousins were reunited.. and cute as ever.

We originally planned on leaving on Saturday, but the weather was so nice, and we didnt have anywhere to be back home, so we stayed an extra day. We drove out to Trader Joe's .. the whole gang.. Baka and Papa too.. 

The kids had fun and there was a huge active construction site with cranes and all sorts of busy action for them to watch.. bonus!

The weather was around 55 and sunny, I got in a LONG run and it felt great after all the indulging I personally did while there..

Andrew got a new fisher price IXL from my Mom for Christmas and he loooooved it all weekend.

Sunday came and the kids were excited to get home and see Carl.

We gathered in the kitchen one more time all together 

And indulged... again.. 

Buckwheat pancakes and sausage.. mmmmm

It was such a nice visit and a wonderful Christmas that Im so so thankful everyone was healthy for.

Until next year! Now its time to take down all the decorations and make way for the next holiday.. another fun favorite.. Valentines Day! 

Hope you all had a great holiday season

xoxo

Homemade Marshmallows

I was a little intimidated by this recipe.. but seriously it is EASY!

My two little helpers were running around while I was making it, so if that's any indication. 

Here's what you need ... and you wont be sorry

Marshmallows in a bag.. yuch.. I'll be making these from now on.. well, when I can..

1 cup water

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 tbsp pure vanilla

generous amount of icing sugar (powdered) to coat the marshmallows, about 2 cups

You will need a 9x9 baking pan, buttered or sprayed

STEP 1:

Attach the whisk 

pour in 1/2 cup of the water, and sprinkle the gelatin over the water.

Let it soak in

STEP 2:

In a medium saucepan over high heat, add the sugar, corn syrup, salt and remaining 1/2 cup water. Bring to a rolling boil and continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

STEP 3:

Turn the mixer on low and mix the gelatin around once or twice to make sure it is combined. Slowly pour the hot sugar mixture down the side of the bowl, (you can see the mark left on the mixing bowl in the picture below... NO pics were taken before, because I was skeptical that I could make this recipe work!)

Slowly slowly pour, with the mixer on low... it will be hot and steamy! Good way to give your mixer a good facial.

STEP 4:

(finally a pic.. below)

Turn the mixer on high, and continue to whip for 10-12 minutes

Until the mixture doubles in size and becomes very very thick.

Scrape sides down to avoid overflowing..

Stop the mixer and add the vanilla, and then whip briefly to combine.

STEP 5:

Transfer mixture to the parchment sprayed/lined pan.

Spread with a spatula to make even.

STEP 6:

spray a piece of plastic wrap, flip it over butter side down, and seal the marshmallow in smoothly and tightly against the mixture. Let sit for at least 3 hours or overnight.

STEP 7:

Sprinkle a work surface, I used a deeper sheet tray I had., lined it with foil and dumped a bunch of powdered sugar. Run a knife along the side of the marshmallow to loosen it from the sides. 

Carefully flip it onto the sugar covered pan/work surface.

VOILA!

Scoop handfuls of the sugar and coat the whole top and sides really well

At this point I realized it was pretty much like a huge block of white jello.

It smelled pretty good too...

I cut them in 1 inch cubes

And they are appearing in our teacher gifts this year.

And in our hot cocoa

And just because they are so delicious by themselves too.. 

Next time I think I'll try coconut or another flavor.

After this, I was feeling confident as a marshmallow maker!

Two Recipes & Gifting Ideas

I love when I have these two yummies in my house.

All year I suppose

Homemade Hot Cocoa & Homemade Granola

Every year I forget someone.... or a few people.
I wrap these two yummies up in little bags, and tie a plaid ribbon around them.. done.

Granola:

5 cups old fashioned oats 

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

2/3 cup canola oil

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt ( I add about 1 tsp) - we like it salty!

1 cup pecans or walnuts (finely chopped) almond slices, - A mix of all, just one or two or just one of these.. however you like it.

Mix all in a bowl

Pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper 

Bake for @25 minutes at 325 degrees.

Break up the granola with a spatula when it comes out of the oven, turning a few times, then let sit and cool. 

Store in airtight container/canister

I eat it just like it is, with milk, over granola, so good. and healthy.

Homemade Hot Cocoa

4 cups powdered milk 

21.8 oz box of nesquick 

16 oz instant powdered coffee creamer 

1 cup powdered sugar

**** I did not add all the nesquick. Instead I added about 1/3 of the amount, and then added some sipping chocolate (see below)... mmmmm

a few heaping tablespoons (3-4 okay) ... of Trader Joe's sipping chocolate... so so good

Mix all in a bowl...

5 tbsp per cup of cocoa...

Coming soon... to go with hot cocoa, you have to have MARSHMALLOWS! 

I bought all the ingredients today and will be trying a batch of homemade marshmallows soon with pics and post. 

xoxo

Thanksgiving 2014 & A Wedding Shower

This year, we decided to stay home instead of traveling for Turkey Day.

We have not done this since 2010 I think.. So it was a nice break.

Every year we always go to Ohio, and to be honest, the last trip was a little hard on us. Plus Samantha came down with the worst bug ever ... and then brought it home for 3 more days.. 

We ate at my Aunt's house, everything was so delicious and beautiful

including the classic crescents that my family does NOT go without.
One year, someone hand made them, and there was a big protest... the next year it was back to the trusty ole blue can of amazing rolls ... 

The kids had so much fun playing with their many many cousins and toys of course.

It was a really wonderful Thanksgiving indeed.

Black Friday came and went... I dont get into that  at all, I think I did one year, and that was before I was married and had kids.. ha! 

Saturday we had a lovely wedding shower for my cousin Michael's fiance Ally.

It was at Pearl Street Brewery downtown, and it was such a fun day.

This cake was pretty fun too.

Raspberry Marble Cheesecake... mmmm

Lots of rustic details and mason jars, my kind of place

Sassy was such a little lady, ... well most of the time.. ha!

She enjoyed being a big girl, brought her little purse stuffed with girly things, and ate way to much sugar.. !

The rest of the weekend I got up this year's advent calendar. 

Its just a piece of wood that I painted grey with acrylic paint.

Then I wrote 1-24 in chalk and pinned the white bags tied with jute over the numbers.

Sass was back to school Monday, and Andrew and I hit the big mall for some Christmas shopping. 

We walked around Pottery Barn kids, and he stood here and played with this parking garage for 20 minutes. Santa may have this under the tree for him... for sure. 

We went to playgroup after not being there for a while, and he was so so tired he took a nap for sure that day. Oh yea, he's given up naps in his crib. Totally. He will only sleep at night in there. Otherwise he naps on the couch in the afternoon. I thought I would about die without him napping upstairs, but he's so well behaved most days, that anything I need to get done, dinner, laundry, crafting, etc...even blogging! - he lets me do, he either plays independently or almost always snuggles on the couch and falls asleep for 1.5 - 3 hours on average. So its not so bad.

Reading books with Sissy.

They are getting so much more closer the older Andrew gets. They hang out so much more together.. and fight of course, but they really enjoy playing .. and Samantha takes such good care of him and puts her "little mama" hat on and is so so proud to be a big sis

Decorating is very merry and bright this year. We have our small tree up, and about 1/4 of the ornaments.. Most of the bottom of the tree has Andrew's airplanes posing as ornaments.. and this year I really havent felt like going all out with decorations. Samantha has her tree in her room, and Andrew's was too bright.. so we took his out, (anything to keep that child sleeping!!!)... 

Add caption

I am more focused on getting my gifts made and bought and wrapped I guess this year.

I started making little christmas soaps... I colored & scented them peppermint and mistletoe.

Thank you to those who already ordered!! Im making more and shipping out the first of the orders tomorrow! 

Any q's about these just email me joellemalenic@gmail.com

Wheew... Thats a lot of catching up.

Im working on a couple more posts... so hopefully it wont be too long between breaks again.. 

Holiday Soap Sale

Holiday Soaps 

For Sale!

This time I made the size a little smaller.

They last a really long time.

Two Flavors

(below)

Left is Mistletoe - Smells like a christmas tree!

Right is Peppermint 

A little fancy extra 

sprinkled with gold and silver glitter 

All wrapped up ready for giving.

I am making a ton of these.

I have so many people to give to this year. 

I never thought to add Sam's bus drivers to the list this year, but they are each getting one of these pretties.

3.50 each - plus shipping - 

If interested, please email me at joellemalenic@gmail.com

Let me know

1. how many

2. what scents

3. an email address for paypal or if you are local, cash is fine as well

THEN ... I will send you an email with confirmation or invoice to your paypal account

They are so adorable with the tinsel 

I have around 25 finished, and I am making more... but I will be heading to the post office tomorrow, so they will ship ASAP. In case you need these very soon.