New Year's Eve Potluck Recipes

Last year's New Year's Eve party was epic.  Please check it out!

With so many new babies in our group of friends, this year will look quite different. I'd be surprised if we even last long enough to see the ball drop.

But if you are headed to a house party...you've got to check out my latest post to get some recipe ideas! 

Have a tasty, safe, and fun New Year's Eve everyone! 

DIY Idea: Plaid Coasters

Every year I like to make something homemade to give at Christmas.  

(Here's a post about the pesto I made 2 years ago. And here's a post about the apple butter I made last year. )

This year I made coasters. 

And they were surprisingly quick & easy. Here's the DIY instructions: 

Supplies needed: 

Cork boards

Felt in 2 colors

Tacky Glue

Rotary cutter

Cutting mat

 1.  Cut cork boards into 4 inch squares using rotary cutter and cutting mat.  

2.  Cut 1 inch x 5 inch strips of felt.   Cut 4 strips of 2 colors. 

3.  Starting in the corner, glue the strips in place. Overlap each strip to make a plaid pattern with the alternating colors.  Put glue between each layer.

4. When all the strips have been glued into place, turn the coaster over. Use the rotary cutter to cut the excess felt around the sides. 

 

5. Ta-da! 

I made a few different sets with different colors of felt -- and forgot to take pictures!

They were quite cute when tied up with bow -- which I also forgot to take pictures of. 

If I wasn't a busy, sleep deprived new mom, I would have paired them with a bottle of wine or some coffee...but alas that did not happen this year.  

Merry Christmas!

Our 2011 Christmas Card

Wishing all my readers the merriest of holidays!

Thank you for sticking by me this year! Love to you and your family. 

photo by Philip Dhillon

Cookie Party How-To's

Cookies are the perfect reason to throw a party during the holidays. 

My friends and I usually get together and do a cookie baking party.
(You can read about the last couple here and here.)

I wrote up how we do this for Celebrations.com -- check it out!

You can also do a cookie decorating party.  (Sometimes this is included in our cookie party too!) 

I wrote about how to do this for Tablespoon -- check it out!) 

And of course, the most popular way to do a cookie party this season is a cookie exchange.  (My mom and her friends have been doing one since before I was born!)  A few of my fav bloggers had some great inspiration for throwing a lovely cookie exchange.  (See here and here). 

How do you celebrate cookies this time of year?

DIY Idea: Holiday Wreath & an Introduction

Introducing: Mia Danielle

Born on Thanksgiving day...we are so thankful!

What a crazy whirlwind these last couple weeks have been.

I won't leave you completely hanging while I'm in baby land though...

Here's a fun idea for a DIY wreath! This one is super easy -- even a brand new mom can do it!

Check out all the details here.