Christmas – Page 2

SimplyFine Design Holiday Gift Guide

December 15, 2012 by dailygnome Leave a Comment

My talented clients are cranking out wonderful things in their workshops this holiday season. Presenting my first annual SimplyFine Design Holiday Gift Guide! There’s something for everyone on your list…

Marushka Chocolates

Portland Chocolatier and Pastry Chef Leila Ellis {formerly of Pix Patisserie} knows her stuff. She makes fine artisan chocolates by hand in Portland, Oregon using ethically sourced chocolate and only the finest ingredients. Sample her Favorites Collection or just in time for the holidays, Christmas Mendiants. Sweet yumminess you can feel good about.

Justin Jude Music

Multiple-award-winning singer-songwriter Justin Jude delivers a stunning, stripped-down collection of songs on his new acoustic EP 5 Kinds of Rain. Equally awesome is his previous It’s Love It’s Love It’s Love. Pop Americana. Acoustadelic and gospelicious. And at under $5, the perfect stocking stuffer!

Listen and purchase here.

Craigmore Creations

Receive 20% off your order by using code WARMREADS through December 19th.
Based in Portland, Craigmore Creations celebrates Earth through art and storytelling creating graphic novels and picture books. Their books make time travel possible. For the science/history/comic-book kiddo, I recommend Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm. Vew their entire store here.

EcoVibe Apparel

No Sales Tax + Free Shipping!
Grounded in a commitment to providing socially conscious and contemporary fashions for the everyday lifestyle, EcoVibe Apparel offers clothing and accessories for those seeking the perfect blend of style, functionality and sustainability. Shop online here (gift certificates, too!) How stunning and classic is their Ethos Paris Marilyn Dress. {I’ve been extra good this year.}

BeerColors™

Cute, funky, playful and cool BeerColors™ decorative art prints are created from paintings made with beer. These unframed 8”x10” giclée prints range from paintings of endangered species to whimsical and humorous expressions of animals engaged in human activities. My favorite is his “Geesers” series where he pays homage to Rodney Dangerfield’s Caddyshack character. Did I mention they’re made with beer? Microbrew. Birds. Quirky. 100% Portland.

DIY Advent Calendar + Christmas Cheer

December 10, 2012 by dailygnome 5 Comments

Being out of our house during this festive holiday season without a place to trim a tree, our Christmas decorations packed away we Needed a little Christmas, right this very Minute!

After spotting this DIY reusable Advent Calendar post on Design Mom I knew it would be a good tradition to start. I didn’t get the idea until November 30th so there wasn’t time to cut out canvas bags and make them all at once {cutely tied up with baker’s twine}. Which is working out fine, since I can cater the surprise to what we have going on that day.

Each morning a numbered paper bag appears at the breakfast table containing some holiday cheer. A treat, an activity, a holiday event…big or small, it doesn’t really matter. A bit of Christmas Magic. Carson opens the even day bags, Hadley the odd {and if it contains a note she hands it over to big brother to read aloud}.

So far here’s what each bag has contained. I’ll be adding the new one each day so be sure to check back!
1. Christmas tree lighting on Mississippi followed by a cozy evening watching Christmas movies
2. Jason’s company family-friendly holiday party
3. Hot chocolate with marshmallows for breakfast!
4. Holiday window gel clings
5. Baking cookies with GaGa
6. Dinner downtown and a viewing of the Gingerbread display in the Benson Hotel lobby.
7. Holiday candy
8. Christmas cookie assortment (I attended a cookie exchange cocktail party the night before)
9. An evening drive scoping out Christmas lights while wearing jammies (and licking candy canes cranking holiday tunes)
10. Baking mini gingerbread muffins.
11. Hello Kitty hairpins {Hadley} and a Slinky {Carson}
12. Viewing of the the Christmas Ships and party at Oaks Amusement Park {an annual tradition – thanks Jim!}
13. Hanukkah dinner and candle lighting with friends and neighbors
14. Bagel run for breakfast
15. Ornament making
16. Breakfast with Santa!
17. Glow sticks
18. Lunch out with mama {pickup from school}
19. Elf on the Shelf!

Picking out her candy cane at Hattie’s Sweet Shop before our Christmas Lights Drive {sugar plum, please}:

DSCN0029 — Baking Christmas cookies with Gaga!

Visiting the Benson Hotel gingerbread display:

Decking the Halls:

Kids Artwork Calendar

December 23, 2011 by dailygnome 2 Comments

We have folders overflowing with the kids’ artwork. With grandparents on the other side of the country {and locally} asking for their little masterpieces an art calendar made the perfect Christmas gift this year.

I ordered blank calendars on Vistaprint, including important family dates {like their birthdays!}, then simply adhered their artwork with spray glue. Many of the pieces were already 8.5″x11″ and for those that weren’t I simply trimmed them down. I tried my best to match up the artwork with the seasons {there was no shortage of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Valentine art), and for a few months the kids were happy to break out their art supplies and create a custom piece.

He’s The Domestic One

December 21, 2009 by dailygnome 4 Comments

I’ve always loved ginger cookies this time of year. To me they are the quintessential Christmas cookie. So when I overheard Hadley’s music teacher raving about a ginger cookie recipe I had to inquire. Turns out it’s her good friend’s recipe. A recipe that was the recipient of Good Morning America’s Christmas Cookie Contest a few years back. I couldn’t wait to try it out. I was putting together a Holiday gift for the kids’ teachers and thought the cookies would be the perfect addition.

I envisioned myself in my grandmother’s apron, Bing Crosby crooning on the iPod, Carson and I singing along as we mixed the ingredients together and Miss Hadley at my feet clanking measuring cups.

In real life: I started the project, Hadley had a meltdown, Carson quickly lost interest, I needed to rush downstairs to make a work deadline, and Jason stepped in. Baking them to perfection.

We delivered the packages last week and as Carson presented the gift bags to his teachers he promptly informed them of the contents.

There’s cookies in there!

There are? Did you help make them?

I did! With my dad! Mama didn’t help.

Just as with the fruit preserves, rocking chair, onesie gifts and countless other projects I embark on with the best of intentions, Jason bailed me out once again. As hard as I try, I can’t compete. He’ll always be The Domestic One. But I can still make a mean smoothie.

The cookies really are melt-in-your-mouth fabulous. They will definitely be my go-to recipe. The key is not to over bake them. I did end up rolling and baking a pan myself, so I can speak from experience.

Crinkle Top Cookies
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups granulated sugar (divided)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp.salt
1/4 cup dark molasses
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground ginger (more if you’re a ginger junkie like myself)
1 tsp. ground cloves
2 cups all- purpose flour
1 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the shortening, 1 cup of sugar and egg. Add the molasses, salt, baking soda, ginger, clove, flour and raisins. Cream together. Form into walnut size balls, roll in remaining sugar and place on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 min. Be careful not to overbake. Better to underbake than overbake. They should be chewy. Remove to rack after baking to cool. Enjoy!

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