Happy Holidays!

To anyone who reads this blog, first- I'm sorry. Second thank you for taking time to read this tripe. I am looking forward to taking some time off this holiday season so Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, Happy Kwanza, Happy winter Solstice And a better New Year than the year we just had!

DIY Wrapping

I like to wrap gifts, but chances are if you get a gift from me there will be an element of garbage on it, just to make it look good. That's right- I said garbage!
I make bows (using Jessica's "How about Orange" Tutorial) This year I forewent the used Frito bags and just went with newspaper. The "ribbon" is also from the same batch of newspaper.
NEWSPAPER-

DUCT TAPE-

Now that there are so many different patterns to Duct tape, why wouldn't one find a use for it for wrapping. I wrapped my cousins' boys (whom I lovingly refer to as Huey, Louie and Dewey) with duct tape as the ribbon and a bow made from same said duct tape!
GIFT BAGS-

Sometimes it just calls for a gift bag. I bought these plain Kraft paper bags at Staples, and just apply a stamp to them and  a bow!
PHOTO TAGS-

This year I found these cool photo frame gift tags at the Dollar Tree, so I perused my family's facebook pages for pics and printed them out in Black and white! There are some really good old pics in there!

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS TREES Part Deux

Some more alternative christmas trees for you...
How about RENT A TREE?You pay $30-35 for a living Christmas tree, plud a small deposit, and the tree is planted after the holidays! Sounds like a win -win to me!

Plus some friends of mine whom are temporarily living outside the US, made this alternative-

My friends Kat, Michael and Graham's "Light tree"

Some folks make paper trees:

A Kid's paper tree

Kayla Aimee's Rolled Paper Centerpiece tree

And finally, RecycleArt's Natural driftwood tree

What Christmas Cookie Are You?

While perusing the Farmer's Daughter Christmas Cookie Blogswap, some one posted this "What Christmas Cookie Are You?" survey. I took it and it seems I am a Candy Cane Macaroon  While that sounds good, I am thinking I am more a chocolate chip and milk guy. But whatever... Have Fun!

Chocolate Covered Pork Rinds

1 Bag of Pork Rinds (Chicharrones)
1 bag of Milk Chocolate Chips

White Trash Kitchen is on the air. Now to make a delicious treat for the holidays! This is so simple... I just melted some Milk chocolate chips in a double boiler or whatever method you prefer . (A simple trick- I melt the chocolate in a mini crock pot) When the chocolate is melted I dip the Pork Rinds in the chocolate. Then place the dipped rinds on a tray lined with parchment paper and let cool. Eat and enjoy!!!

More fabulous cookies and such

At Farmer's Daughter!

REBLOG- Kitchen Christmas Wreath

Another Reblog, this time from 12/12/2009, 3 years ago to the day: I got inspired by the late great Ready Made to make a wreath for my kitchen made of a wreath form,a kitchen towel, some yarn, scouring pads and upholstery nails

A wreath for the Kitchen? Why not- a dish towel for a ribbon, holly leaves cut from scouring pads So inspired was I to make this wreath form the Dec/Jan Issue of Ready Made Magazine- I kinda like what I came up with! My berries are actually upholstery nails, and instead of string I wrap heavy yarn around my wreath form.

REBLOG: Homemade Vanilla For Gifts

Rebloged from November 26, 2010- I explore my craft yet chef side and make some home made vanilla for Christmas, as well as homemade vanilla sugar! 

 

I got 7 bottles of home made vanilla out of a 5th of bourbon! I got my small bottles today. So scratch 6 gifts off my list (Yes I have 7 bottles... you think I ain't keeping one?). I am giving these, along with a quart jar of vanilla sugar for gifts this year. Thanks so much to Abbie for this gift idea from her blog

Of course, as always I party with the best: