really good snickerdoodles

This is our go to cookie on Sunday night when we want treats. I am surprised I haven't shared this recipe until now. Truth be told, I think this cookie recipe is what sealed the deal with my husband when we were dating. I am serious. When I was 16 years old, I was asked to make these for all the men in our congregation for Father's Day. That was a ton of baking, but worth it. I found this recipe when I was really young in the PTA cookbook for our elementary school and changed it quite a bit. So, I guess it's my own. I am not creative enough when it comes to baking to come up with much more, so snickerdoodles it is.

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tarter
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream margarine, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour, baking soda, cream of tarter and salt. Roll into balls and roll in 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Yield: 3 dozen.

just thinking of christmas gift ideas

The weird thing about having a blog in which your friends and family read is that you can't post anything that you are working on. So, really it looks like I could be twiddling my thumbs around this place. And, perhaps, at times I am, but really I have been working on some fun things that I cannot show at all. So, that got me thinking that I might want to share some things that I am not working on, but think you all might want to. Last year my mom sent the grand kids these wonderful Christmas pillow cases for them to open on Christmas Eve and put on their pillows to have magical dreams. She also wrote a great poem to go with them and sent two books - Snowmen at Night and another one along those lines. I thought this would be a great gift for families. This year we are picking family names instead of individuals on my husband's side of the family and it would be great to make these for each child in the family we pick. Here is a tutorial for a fancy pillow case from Kirsten Can. In the mean time you can decide who you are giving these to and print up this cute poem.

Each Christmas Eve I lay in bed
I cannot fall asleep
'Cuz Santa and his elves will bring
some toys and games that beep!

My brain is in a thinking mode
I wiggle and I giggle
Then I get my MAGIC CASE
And slip it on my pillow.

I close my eyes and start to dream
Of gifts and sugar plums.
Then all at once my mother's voice
Tells me that Santa's come.

When you can't sleep on
Christmas Eve
You toss and turn and wiggle
Just slip this MAGIC PILLOW case
Over your soft pillow.

i'm a little slower at these things

There is a great thing that I am getting myself in to and I didn't even mention it over here until now. Sometimes I am a bit slow at things. When Melissa (of The Polkadot Chair) called on Friday and said, "I'm pushing Publish Post now about our new shop, are you ready?" I thought, "Yep, go ahead. Pretty cool." But, then I didn't even mention anything here. I could tell you all of the things that are keeping me busy and slighty insane, but that would bore you (two birthdays and parties, hair cutting incident of a 2 year old, Primary Program, etc.).



So, what I mean to tell you is that my friend and I are opening an esty shop called May and Mae very soon. Her new logo for all the amazing things that she makes is called
I love this logo and my little old stuff will have the amazing mae tag on it. So, together we are May and Mae. I am sending you over to her blog to read more about it since she wrote about it so nicely. I will be putting just a few things here and there since I can't stay on one project long enough to make more than a few. And, although I am a bit slow at mentioning it, I am so happy to have a friend that inspires me and gets me motivated to create!

Clementine Purse Giveaway

photo from pick up some creativity

Christine over at Pickup Some Creativity is having her first giveaway tomorrow, Friday the 20th. She has come up with a clever purse for her niece that can be used as a dolly diaper bag.  This giveaway has two chances for winning.  Not only is she giving away a Clementine purse, she is also giving away a PDF pattern for the purse.  Awesome.  She will be selling these patterns soon, so head over to her blog tomorrow and enter.  I know my name is going down on those comments!!

for bug's baby boy

My little sister, Caitlin (I call her Bug) , is pregnant with her first baby.  She is expecting a boy and today her husband's family is throwing a baby shower for her. I wish I could be there, but since it's in San Diego and I am in Louisville, it's not going to work out.  I hope she likes the gift we sent along for the shower. 

a few ornamanets to work on

Each year I enjoy making a few ornaments to add to the top of gifts and to our tree as well. I found a few that I am going to get started on.
photo from martha stewart living
These cute elves were in December's Living and you can find instructions here.

photo from martha stewart living
I saved these directions last year and didn't get around to them, but really want to try again. This idea is also from Martha Stewart. I have tons of buttons and now I just need to get them sorted for these cute guys.

This cute gingerbread man is from elsie marley and I made just one last year. Now, I need an entire league of half eaten gingerbread men on my tree.

new apron for a friend

Hi. Remember me? I used to write blog posts for this blog. I used to get a lot more done and life didn't seem as chaotic as it does right now. But, I think I am ready for some changes and ready to dive in to some Christmas projects. I did manage to get this apron made for friend for her birthday. I got the pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing that I picked up Half Price Books (one of my favorites) for $10. I like how this apron fits and it's reversible. I just beefed up the width of the straps and lengthened them so that they would be long enough to tie in a bow around the front. No pockets. I can't decide if pockets are necessary on an apron or just cute. Are they worth the extra effort? I don't think I use my pockets on the aprons I wear. Just me thinking out loud. Oh, does any one have a Christmas project that they are excited about this year? Just trying to get the wheels moving.