What an oh so clever use for an orange! The creative mom from “Mom in Madison” gives us the easy step-by-steps and accompanying photographs for making your own orange peel candles. And, I’ll say it again (apolgies for sounding like a broken record to those who regularly read my column), once again, this blogger demonstrates the importance … Read More ...
Celebrate Mardi Gras – DIY Party Ideas
Celebrate Mardi Gras at Home: Easy Food, Colourful Crafts & Festive Ideas for a Joy-Filled Night In
If you’ve ever craved a bit of sparkle in the dreariest part of the year, Mardi Gras is your excuse to go all-in. A few years back, my girlfriends and I threw a little last-minute Mardi Gras night in (picture teenagers rolling their … Read More ...
Plan Your New Years Party
Visit Hostess {with the Mostess} for party inspirations. Their New Years parties are up and running. Their themes provide decor, menu, drinks and tabletop ideas. (The image is from their “Candlelight Countdown” party).
Find tons of New Years Party ideas from celebrations.com. They have a long list of parties from which to choose: traditional Chinese, posh, chic … Read More ...
There’s Still Time! Last Minute Food Gifts
Check out these quick recipes (with my own packaging suggestions) from Real Simple Magazine‘s site for last minute Christmas gifts. Recipes include these sugarplums, rosemary-olive oil bread (would be nice packaged in a nice bread pan, wrapped in cello, and with the recipe attached), nutted popcorn (wrapped in a popcorn container and with a gift certificate to a … Read More ...
BitterSweet, Part One
These Christmas trees made from chocolate cake, mint frosting and sprinkles are just too cute. BitterSweet tells us how to make them from cone shaped paper cups (not waxed). And now, check out my next post, BitterSweet Part Two. I had to devote two entries to this blog so you wouldn’t miss out on all the great things offered.… Read More ...
Hanukkah Party Goodies
Make this cute dreidel box to fill with nuts, candy and other goods from Martha. She includes a free downloadable template. And give away these “glittered” sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts…in keeping with the tradition of eating fried foods for Hanukkah). Recipe and packaging how-tos on Martha as well. 
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Make Your Own Marzipan
I’ve worked with marzipan before, molded it, shaped it, even painted it. But I’m almost ashamed to admit I’ve never made it. After reading how the self-proclaimed holiday grinch of Velvet Lava Cafe commited to the task, I’m REALLY ashamed I’ve not made it. Even with the admitted difficulties of working with marzipan, the photos on this site are so … Read More ...
Chanukah O’ Chanukah (desserts and more)
Find all kinds of inspiration for Chanukah from BetterRecipes.com. They have ideas for food, entertaining, decorating, games, songs, and gifts and a bit on the traditions and history of Chanukah. Follow links to Better Homes and Gardens for this dreidel cake. 
Or to the cookies you see above. And for Sufganyot, seen here. 
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Homemade Cocoa Mix (as Promised)
Making some homemade marshmallows for gifts or for yourself? These recipes and packaging tips for hot cocoa mix are the perfect complement. First, find mini cocoa gifts from the blog of Cathy Filian, as seen on Creative Juice on HGTV and DIY. Next, learn to make these hot chocolate cones from the crafty blog, “about a girl.” 
And … Read More ...
Marshmallows! (Coming Soon…the Cocoa)
It’s definitely turning to winter here in DC, even if there isn’t any snow on the ground. (Sigh. I wish it would snow.) What’s better this time of year than a steaming mug of hot chocolate? A steaming mug of hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows. Here are three blogs with three different recipes.
First, pictured above, “The Homesteading Housewife… Read More ...
Fun Christmas Snowman Treats You Can Make In Your Kitchen
Better Homes and Gardens has a set of 9 super cute snowman-inspired sweets so you can honor Frosty, including the egg nog bowl pictured, cupcakes, ice cream in white chocolate cups, milk glass with donut hole heads (also pictured), Sno-balls and mints.
To answer the comment below about the failed link, no! you didn’t do anything wrong! Because this is … Read More ...
Make Rugelach
Rugelach, a traditional Jewish crescent-shaped pastry, hails from Eastern Europe (Americans added the cream cheese to the recipe). My limited research found several Yiddish interpretations for rugelach, including “little twists” and “royal” and I won’t claim to know the answer. Here are a few recipes to make your own. First, find chocolate cherry rugelach from Family Fun (pictured above). Find … Read More ...
Red and White Inspiration
How ridiculously cute is this curly-cue candy cane? The blogger at SugarEd Lagniappe did a great decorating job on this cookie (find the cutter at Country Kitchen Sweetart). 
Find more red and white inspiration at SugarEd, like these white chocolate-dipped marshmallows covered in peppermint crunch and peppermint powder (also at Country Kitchen Sweetart). 
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Handmade (Edible) Christmas Gifts
There is an infinite source of material for a Handmade Christmas Day post in the world of edible crafts. Just about any fun food can be packaged as a gift. And so, I searched for sites that included just that… packaging. Martha has a couple features with great edible gift ideas and equally great packaging ideas, including detailed instructions and … Read More ...
For the Cupcake Lover…
Check out all the cool cupcake gear out there. Perfect gifts for cupcake loves. Check out the cafepress store of “No One Puts Cupcake in the Corner” (an all around great blog found here) for cupcake clothes, bags, buttons, stickers and other goodies with designs like the one above.
Find these cupcake tea lights at Urban Outfitters. 