Inexpensive Home Fragrance
Here is a great way to keep your home smelling delicious during the holidays!
Directions
- Bring a saucepan full of water to a boil, then add the ingredients from a recipe of your choice. Bring the water and ingredients to a boil, maintain the boil for a few minutes then turn down the heat and simmer all day. Just be sure to add water as needed.
- Caution: Set your timer for 30 minutes so you remember to top up with water. You don’t want the pot burning dry. Do not leave the house with this left heating on the stove.
Recipe 1- Christmas Potpourri Simmering Pot
3 sprigs evergreen or handful pine needles
2 cinnamon sticks
2 TBS whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 pieces orange rind
2 pieces lemon rind
Recipe 2-
Cinnamon sticks
Apple peels
Orange rinds
Whole cloves
Recipe 3-
Peel from 1 lemon
Peel from 1 orange
2 bay leaves
3 cinnamon sticks
2 TBS whole cloves
Recipe 4-
Apple juice
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Recipe 5-
Whole cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
Recipe 6-
5 to 6 cinnamon sticks, broken
1 tbsp. lemon peel
1 tbsp. orange peel
1/2 c. whole cloves
1 tbsp. nutmeg
1/4 c. whole allspice
1 tbsp. bay leaf pieces
2 slices dried apples, optional
Recipe 7-
Peel from a whole orange
Whole cloves
2 Cinnamon sticks
Recipe 8-
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 c. whole allspice berries
10 (2″) cinnamon sticks
2 tbsp. whole cloves
1/4 c. canella or nandina berries
10 sm. pinecones
7 drops cinnamon oil
Recipe 9-
6 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp vanilla
Recipe 10-
2 sticks cinnamon
Peel from one lemon
Fresh rosemary
Whole cloves
Adorable Post-it Note Holders
Look at how ADORABLE these custome post-it note holders are! I absolutely love this idea becaue it is inexpensive, practical, and SO cute! Check out the full tutorial at sistersstuff.blogspot.com, and if this isn’t enough, make sure to check out Whitney’s cute cookie mix neighbor gift idea.
Pottery Barn Inspired Wreath
I know, I know, how GEOURGOUS right? Well, if you have an extra $80 buckaroos to smack down at the Pottery Barn, this little beauty can be all yours!
Yeah, me neither!
Well, another alternative I found is this STUNNING d.i.y. version.
Head over to Made with Love and Glue to see the tutorial. She managed to make hers for a budget friendly $4.00!! I would TOTALLY spend that to have something so fabulous hanging on my front door!
Oh, and a side note. I know I have already posted about the gifts in a jar, but I found this cute idea to go along the same lines:
Click HERE to see the full story!
Filed under Christmas | Tags: Pottery Barn Wreath | Comment (0)AH-Some Carmel Sauce!!
How cute are these?! I think they would make great gifts, paired with a bunch of apples, or even some ice cream. Who doesn’t love carmel sauce. Michelle over at This Crazy Life, made these adorable labels that you can download and print for free! She also included the recipe for some sweet and tasty carmel sauce. Seriously it just doesn’t get any better.
Filed under Christmas | Tags: Gifts in Jar, Neighbor Gifts, Teacher Gifts | Comment (0)Gifts in a Jar
It seems like every year I end up spending more time trying to find simple gifts for my neighbors, kids’ teachers, and co-workers thank anything else. I always want something inexpensive yet cute or practical. Gifts in a jar are great ideas! They can be as individual and unique or simple and cost effective as you want to make them.
I found some great ideas at Organized Christmas.Com
Here are a few recipe ideas :
Brownies in a jar:
Description
Gooey and sweet, these Brownies In A Jar from Hersheys.com make an easy holiday gift. Clear layers show off the triple-chocolate ingredients in this fudgy treat.
Brownies In A Jar makes a great Secret Santa or 12 Days of Christmas treat! Use our free printable gift tag to make the gift special.
Ingredients
- 1 c flour, all-purpose
- 1⁄2 t baking powder
- 1⁄4 t salt
- 1 1⁄2 c sugar, granulated
- 1⁄3 c HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
- 1⁄2 c HERSHEY’S Mini Chips Semi-Sweet Chocolate
- 1 c REESE’S Peanut Butter Chips or HERSHEY’S Premier White Chips
Instructions
1. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
2. Layer the ingredients in a clean 1-quart glass canister or jar in the following order (from bottom to top): sugar, cocoa, flour mixture, peanut butter chips and small chocolate chips. Tap jar gently on the counter to settle each layer before adding the next one.
3. Cover jar and attach free printable gift tag. Makes 1 gift jar.
Blizzard Bites in a Jar:
Description
Crunchy and sweet, this no-bake snack mix in a jar is easy to make and fun to give.
Layer crunchy cereal, pretzels and peanuts with tangy dried cranberries and candied pineapple, then add meltable white-chocolate chips.
A great gift for teachers, Secret Santa exchanges or 12 Days of Christmas activities. Make it easy with a free printable gift tag!
Ingredients
- 1 c Rice Chex-brand cereal
- 1 c pretzel twists, small
- 1⁄2 c dry-roasted peanuts
- 1⁄3 c sweetened dried cranberries (craisins)
- 1⁄3 c dried pineapple, coarsely chopped
- 1 c white chocolate chips
- 1 canning jar, quart-size with lid and ring
- 1 food storage bag, small
Instructions
Layer cereal, pretzel twists, peanuts, cranberries and dried pineapple in a quart-sized canning jar.
Place white chocolate chips inside food storage bag, and place on top of layered ingredients.
Seal jar, and attach a printable gift tag with recipe instructions.
Makes 3 1/2 cups snack mix.
Notes
To prepare:
Remove white chocolate chips from jar. Empty remaining jar contents into a large mixing bowl, and mix thoroughly.
Place white chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir until melted. If additional time is needed, check at 15 second intervals. (You may add 1 teaspoon solid shortening to thin chocolate mixture, if necessary.)
Pour melted white chocolate chips over snack mixture. Stir until snack mixture is evenly coated. Spread mixture in a single layer over waxed paper, and allow to cool completely.
Break mix into smaller pieces, and store in zipper food storage bags or an air-tight storage container.