A Fun Family Party Activity

Money Cakes!

We had "Money Cakes" at my in laws for a family party.

My mother and sister in law baked chocolate cupcakes, steam ironed money, folded them really small, wrapped them in tin foil pouches, stuffed them into the cupcakes and then frosted over the top.

There was a tray of cakes at each table.

Some cakes had $1's, some had $5's, some had $10's and there was one $20!!!

Everybody loved this activity......obviously......there was money involved!

There was a lot of hollering as each person opened their cake.

It was sooo fun!

Guess who got the $20?

:o)

I linked up here!

Cressman's Holiday Bazaar

We had a great time today!

The antique barn at Cressman's is amazing.

Delicious food, great friends, fun music & tons of handmade gifts.

Ridgetop Farmstand Holiday Products

Darling Gourds & Shabby Chic Items

by

Tracy Vandenack

Holiday Honey Bears

by

Logan's Honey House

Children's Tye Dye Clothing
by
Kathy Donahoo


Beautiful Bags, Bows, Checkbook Covers & Aprons
by
Emma's Room

Iron Works
by
The Long Family

The Cressman's Kitty

Angel

The absolutely amazing antique barn.

So much character.

It was so fun just being inside.

It was a fun day!

It was like a scene from the movie White Christmas.

We threw open the barn doors to this......

Thank You so much to all my dear friends & all my new friends for coming out to support all our local artisans and businesses!

Your support means so much.

Love Me Some J!

Here's just one of the reasons why I love her!

She indulges me in my whims.

Snow that was up to her knees.

And sometimes her bottom.

Just a little chilly.

She clearly loves me. :o)
On Thanksgiving morning!

And again with the love!

And we got the truck stuck in the snow. Ooops.

I owe my husband big time.

But just wait till you see how amazing her photos turn out!

She's the best.
:o)

Handmade Gift Idea #4

Some things in this house go horribly wrong.

If you know of anyone named Leon, I can totally hook you up with Christmas gifts! :o)

I was a little tired by the time I got to the last of the soap making on Sunday.

I flipped these over, popped them out of the mold, and.......oh!

Let me just say that I really hope I can find someone named Leon.

Other things in our house go incredibly right!

One thing in particular, my son shares my love of cooking.

He decided to prepare our entire Thanksgiving meal by himself, from scratch.

(It's a project for school but I am still really really proud of him)

Last week he roasted 12 pumpkins, made 8 cups pumpkin puree and 2 cases of pumpkin butter.

Tonight his latest masterpiece.....Cranberry Preserve.

Here's his recipe!

Put 3 lbs fresh cranberries and the juice from 9 oranges in a large pot and cover.

Cook over medium heat for about 15 mins until the fruit is soft.

Stir in 6 cups of sugar and the zest from 6 oranges,

cook over low heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Increase the heat and cook at a full boil for 3 -5 minutes.

Ladle into hot sterilized jars and process in a hot water bath for 20 minutes.

This recipe made 5 pint jars and 1 half pint.

Plenty for gift giving!

So easy and it's sooooo YUMMY!!!

It really truly was the best I have ever tasted.

I am not just saying that because my son made it.

I really am thinking of all the things that I could make to use this on.

Proud!

I would totally want this as a holiday hostess gift!
Nothing better than homemade cranberry goodness.

I can't even begin to say how cute this is!
So proud!

Farmstand Holiday Fun!

Here's a peak at what we have been working on for the past couple of weeks!

All of the holiday products will be available for a limited time.

Holiday Soaps $5.00

Gingerbread

Christmas Spice

Winter Forest

Snickerdoodle

Oatmeal Almond

Spiced Apple

Soap Gift Idea
Packaged Soap $5.25

Soap & Lip Balm
Packaged $8.50

Sample Pack Holiday Variety Soaps

3-2oz mini soaps in a cute gift bag $9.50

Mini Holiday Soaps 2oz.

Only available in the sample packs.

New Snickerdoodle Lotion!

Lotions $10.50

With Gift Wrap $11.50

Soap & Lotion Gift Pack $15.50
With Gift Wrap $16.50

Brown Sugar & Spice Scrub

$6.50

Scrub with gift wrap $7.50

Some fun holiday scented soaps!

These cuties will be available at Bubba Lu's

after Thanksgiving.

I have 4 upcoming holiday shows, so stay tuned for details.

Cressman's will be having a Holiday Boutique & Open House on Saturday, November 27th

There will be Christmas trees for sale, food, crafts & music!

Come and join the fun.

If you live out of the area & would like to purchase some of our fun holiday products, visit my online store!

If you order now, there's plenty of time to ship before Christmas.

Just in Time for Christmas -- Silhouette Giveaway {worth $300}!!

Just in Time for Christmas -- Silhouette Giveaway {worth $300}!!

Mac N Cheese

Ok, so, I got sidetracked.

Matt and I spent the whole day on new holiday product

(I will blog on that tomorrow) and mass producing lotions.

We are both sooo tired.

I didn't have time for my gift idea today.

So instead, I have a recipe!

I had this blog mostly prepped ahead of time.

Homemade Mac N Cheese for Kids!

Preheat your oven to 350.

You will need 1 lb cooked pasta.

I found these super cute "turkeys" at World Market.

Melt 1 stick of butter in a large pot.

Add 1/2 cup flour, cook for 2 minutes stirring with a whisk.

Add 4 cups milk (I use fat free) and whisk for 2 more minutes, until thick and smooth.

Turn off the heat and add 7 cups of cheese (I used sharp cheddar).

Season to taste with salt & pepper.

Add your cooked pasta and stir together.

Spoon into a casserole dish or individual ramekins.

Sprinkle the tops with additional cheese.

Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

Enjoy the tasty cheesy deliciousness!

Handmade Hijack...

When Amy asked me to be a guest blogger, 

I have to admit.

I was GIDDY-as-if-on-oprah's-favorite-things-episode and NERVOUS-as-in-jeopardy-topic-i-know-nothing-about.

Not that I don't know anything about handmade.

But nervous because it's HER blog and I don't want to be a dork.

However, after I tell you this story your mind will be forever made up.

(about the dorkiness that is...)

I have a hard time posting a blog without a story.

And even though this doesn't have much to do with my actual "handmade," 

it's a story and it must be told.

When I was 8 I bought a box of Plaster of Paris and some cheap molds.
I poured and set molds for about 3 days straight.
Dried and cured them.
Painted and sealed them.
I then announced to my parents that I was going to open up my own business.
"The Popcorn Kid"
(what the what??? i know. dork)

Then my dad taught me my first lesson in self-employment/business.

He asked, "Why would someone want to buy those?" 
[not in a mean hurtful way, but in a thought provoking-lesson learning way]
"I dunno" my eight year old self replied.
"Would YOU buy these?" he quizzed.
"Ummm, uhhhhh, no." It was my honest response.
"Why?" He was really just trying to make me think through my marketing strategy I'm sure.
However, what it really came down to was this:
"They are ugly. *sniffle sniffle*  And, I'm pretty sure they don't do anything!" I emotionally blurted.
That my friends was the end of "The Popcorn Kid".

I'm pretty sure I learned a little something from my eight-year-old trials.
Give people something that you would want.
Usefulness is a good thing.

So here is my contribution to THE 12 DAYS OF HANDMADE
digital delightfulness in the form of a FREE DOWNLOAD!

Copy this .jpg version and glue to a bottle of super yummy Trader Joe's Sparkling Lemonade.
Give it as a gift (cuz it's THAT good!) or make them for your holiday party.
Either way, it's awesome and useful.
Two important things I have learned!!

{here is an example of one i did for my sister-in-law's baby shower}

Enjoy! If you ever need any custom labels done for your next fancy pants shindig...contact me over at

::from the catbird seat::  or my etsy shop ::heartpressed designs::

Smiles!

Joni Lane

Handmade Gift Idea #2

First off let me say that I GET TO SEE

GREG MORTENSON TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those of you that know me, you know this is a BIG deal for me.

He is my hero!

Hopefully I will have pictures to post tomorrow.

On with the post! :o)

Here's

My Vanilla Day #3

Here's my gift idea!

Tropical Sunrise Granola
Heat your oven to 325.
Spray a cookie sheet with non stick spray.
In a large bowl combine 1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup light brown sugar & 6 Tbls. melted butter.
Add 4 cups oats, 1/3 cup wheat germ, 1/2 cup sweetened coconut & 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts.
Stir until well blended.
Spread the granola on baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes and then toss.
Bake for 10 more and then toss again.
10 more minutes and then remove from oven.
Let cool & then add 1/2 cup finely diced dried pineapple
Put granola into a pretty container and label.

I had this for breakfast this morning and it was YUMMY!
This makes a great gift for anyone.
Matt & I love granola.
Especially when backpacking or hiking.

I am linking up to: