Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Let's Make Festive Christmas Brownies for National Brownie Day



How to Make Festive Christmas Brownies

There’s something magical about the holiday season, and National Brownie Day happens to arrive during that time, (December 8th) so it becomes a happy excuse to make festive treats! These brownie triangles are decorated as Christmas trees, cheerful snowmen, and adorable reindeer making them the perfect dessert to make for National Brownie Day! They’re charming, easy to make, and ideal for parties, cookie plates, or cozy weekends.

Let’s dive into how you can make your own magical holiday brownies at home.


What You Need:

For the Brownies

  • Your favorite brownie recipe or boxed mix

  • 9x13-inch baking pan

  • Parchment paper (optional, but helpful for easy removal)

For Decorating

  • White icing

  • Red candies (like M&Ms or gumdrops) for noses (you could also use red icing instead)

  • Mini pretzels for reindeer antlers

  • Star-shaped sprinkles or other candy for tree toppers

  • Food coloring (green, red, orange)

  • Assorted sprinkles

  • Small pretzel sticks or candy canes (tree “trunks”)


How to Make Holiday-Shaped Brownies

1. Bake the Brownies

Prepare your brownie batter and spread it evenly in the pan. Bake according to your recipe’s instructions. For best results, use parchment paper so you can lift the brownies out cleanly.

Allow them to completely cool before cutting.

2. Cut Into Triangles

This is where the holiday magic begins!

  • Cut the large brownie slab into long strips.

  • Cut each strip into triangles.

  • For trees: Add a pretzel stick at the bottom.

  • For reindeer: Keep the triangle point at the top.

  • For snowmen: Use the tall triangles and frost most of the surface in white icing.

3. Decorate!

Now for the fun part.

Christmas Trees

  • Use green icing to pipe a zig-zag “garland.”

  • Add tiny colorful sprinkles to mimic ornaments.

  • Finish with a star sprinkle or candy on top.

Snowmen

  • Cover the top with white icing, leaving a bit of brownie showing for the hat.

  • Pipe on eyes, a carrot nose, and a smile.

  • Add a scarf using colored icing. You could also use candy, like Twizzlers for this.

Reindeer

  • Add mini pretzels at the top for antlers.

  • Pipe eyes, and use a red candy or icing for the nose, to create a Rudolph look.


   Not only are these brownies delicious, but they spark creativity and are the perfect dessert idea to bring people together. Kids and adults will love decorating them and they add instant cheer to any holiday table. So gather your supplies, pour some hot cocoa, and let your kitchen become a winter workshop of sweet ideas!! 𐂷☃𐂂

Getting Into The Christmas Spirit Watching Christmas At The Cabin

   It’s almost Christmas time which means the holiday movie watching starts now!! Why not watch a heartfelt movie to get you into that holiday spirit?! 

   Christmas At The Cabin is a family film that is packed with chaos, emotion and humor. It's set around a married couple that is looking forward to a peaceful, holiday getaway together, at their remote family cabin. Their plans change unexpectedly when the wife’s sister decides to go along on their trip and and a surprise guest, the husband’s old college friend, is already at the cabin upon their arrival. The four become trapped at the cabin due to a snowstorm and all chaos resumes. The tension builds between characters and the wife’s need for control and perfection has caused her to storm off, getting lost on her own, but that brought just the reminder she needed... That Christmas isn’t about flawless plans but about love, grace, and forgiveness. This movie blends humor, heart, and faith, sharing a little reminder for all of us, that sometimes the most meaningful holidays are the ones that aren’t based on a perfected check list.


   I love watching Christmas movies that are comforting and have that feel good vibe. Christmas At The Cabin has a great backdrop to start the story off…snow covered mountains, a cabin to spend Christmas in, decorations displayed, and even down to the cute Christmas pajamas worn; You can feel the cozy holidays emerge! The film’s faith centered themes and warm holiday setting make it a sweet choice for viewers who love heartfelt Christmas stories. While the wife’s character and some of the dialogue felt a bit over-the-top for me, I can appreciate the story’s reminder that even imperfect holidays can bring healing and hope.


If you enjoy heartfelt, family friendly Christmas movies with a message of grace, you will wanna see Christmas At The Cabin! Purchase your tickets today at christmasatthecabin.com because this movie will be in theaters starting November 14th!! 


* Now for the Giveaway: One reader has the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Enter the giveaway below and leave me a comment telling me what your best advice is for staying calm during the holidays! :)





Many thanks to FaithChannel for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own. #ChristmasAtTheCabinMIN #ChristmasAtTheCabin #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Tough Cookie - A Christmas Story Book

 
Are you looking for a fun Christmas themed children's book? Check out "Tough Cookie - A Christmas Story" by Edward Hemingway. It's about a little gingerbread type cookie that is trying to find its place in life. He doesn't understand why he is salty and not very tastable, so he befriends a fox and begins his journey to figure out just who he is. The illustrations are adorable and the story line is sweet with an excellent ending. They also include a couple of recipes in the back of the book, so that you can make your own tough cookies or cute lil ornaments. You can also combine this book with a fun gingerbread craft your little ones will enjoy! Check out these paper gingerbread guys here.

You can find Tough Cookie available on Amazon or in a bookstore near you. 




Little Gingerbread People Paper Craft For Kids

 

      Making Crafts during the season of Christmas, is so much fun! 

   An easy one for your little ones, is to make these fun Gingerbread People! For older children, they can draw their own gingerbread, but for younger, you can print off a pre shaped gingerbread character to trace. Use either brown construction paper, a paper store bag, or the packing paper Amazon delivers their gifts in (basically any brown paper you can use for this, but bonus points for repurposing!) and cut out little gingerbread guys. Have them draw designs with white paint or marker, and give them facial features with markers, stickers, beads, glitter ect. This project is so versatile! There are many options you could do to bring the craft to life. 

   Once the front of the gingerbread is dry, flip it over and glue cotton balls on and add glue to the sides, then place another piece of gingerbread cutout on top and smoosh it all together for a puffy gingerbread man! Another option would be to punch holes around the gingerbread siding and have them lace string through the holes to close it up. And if you want to make this activity even more fun, pair it with a good book about Gingerbread men! You could also stuff the gingerbread with little treats or candies, instead of cotton balls… the options are endless and it will look so cute any way they do it!






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Decorating For Christmas With Pre-Lit Pine Garland

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.
 
 
   I love decorating for the holidays, and having a staircase and a mantel to decorate for Christmas makes it all the more fun!! I've been looking for garlands for that reason, so I'm happy to come upon this set. I like that it can be two 9 foot garlands, or one whole garland at 18 foot. 
 
   A nice feature is that these pine garlands come prepped with lights already intertwined so it saves time and money, but still gets the job done right. I do wish they were a bit thicker but that doesn't stop them from being beautiful! I draped one Garland across my mantel and it looks so nice! Still trying to figure out where I want to hang the other one, due to plugin set up in the house, but I know I will find a place soon and it will look so good! These garland's are affordable and really add that extra holiday spirit to your home. I love that they can be hung literally anywhere, above windows, across the mantel, around poles and stair railings, and so much more. I highly recommend!

 
 I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.  
 
 

Wooden Standing Trees for Winter Decor

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.

   I love the simple decor for holidays, and this stand of trees does not disappoint! It's very cute and looks good as is or painted. I like that it's ready to paint or even stain, depending on your preference. You can really just make this piece personal to match your decor and it will look cute any way! The wood is soft and sanded well so there are no slivers or sharp pieces sticking up. And the bottom you can see where each tree was screwed in, so you could probably remove some if wanted, or take it apart for easier storing. I love the simplistic feel to it. And it looks so cute displayed on my for Christmas!

These adorable wooden standing trees are available for purchase at Walmart, in their Plaid Holiday Decor!
 
 
 I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

DIY Christmas Cardboard Gingerbread House Garland


     I'm a big fan of making your own decor so you don't have to store a bunch of stuff, that only gets used once a year. So when I was trying to think of some cute Christmas decorations, I came across the idea to make little Gingerbread Houses. This idea is so easy and it makes a great looking holiday Garland, just using what you have on hand. For this project, I gathered the supplies I needed. Cardboard, scissors, string, and white paint. 
 
   I cut the shapes of houses I wanted, some with rounded roofs, some with pointy ... then I began painting. I gave each house a different design of windows and doors. Once the paint dried, I hung each house onto some string, using mini clothespins I had, but you could also hole punch the tops or just thread some string through. I put the newly made garland on my wall and I'm really pleased with how cute it turned out! And once the season is over, I can either choose to hold on to these little houses for the next year, because they're thin and really take up no space, or I can throw them away and if the desire strikes, I can make them again next year!


Holiday Decor on a Budget : Thanksgiving Style

 
   If you like to decorate for the Holidays, but hate spending tons of money on items that only gets used one month out of the year, or maybe cant quite afford the price of decor...I totally get it. It's costly and takes up space for the other 11 months that it is not being used. Because of this, I try to use what I have on hand, to make my holiday decor, or I look for items that can be reused, fit more holidays than just one, and also fit the budget! So I will share with you a list of budget friendly ideas to decorate for the holidays. 
 
* Make a diy Thanksgiving Garland using only what you have on hand. Check out what I made here, and it didn't cost me a thing.

* Use brown paper bags as table coverings or place-mats for the kids to draw hand turkeys on. Doubles as decor and fun!
 
* Frame up some free printables to match the holiday theme. A few places you can find them are at: How To Nest For Less, Juggling Act Mama, and Today's Fabulous Finds just to name a few.

* Forage in the great outdoors for leaves and branches that can be dried out and used as decor. Branches work great in a jar or vase, and dried leaves can be used to make garlands, table decor, and more! 
 
* Hunt for the best deals! I am part of several Facebook Groups that share deals on holiday decor and more, so you really can get up to 90% off on some items, and save big time.
 
* And last but not least..purchase retail end of season decor on mega sales, to enjoy for the next year!
 
Have any tips you think I should add to this list? Feel free to drop me a comment and let me know! 




Stocking Stuffer Customized Socks as SockThat.Co + Discount

 

* * *

 Christmas will be here before we know it so better get on those gifts and stocking stuffers! Why not design some fun socks to fill up those stockings with?

 Check out all the fun sock options at SockThat! 


You can get your own customized socks at sockthat.co 

Use code: Amanda$5 for a discount! 

 

Quality Sprinkles: Christmas Green Holly & Red Berry

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.
 
 
It's almost that time to make Christmas desserts!! I was testing out these adorable Christmas Holly sprinkles I received, and sprinkled them in some Apple Spice Oatmeal Cookies. In the future, I think they would look excellent on frosted cupcakes! 
 
 

I love that these sprinkles are made with natural colors, and nothing artificial. They are Gluten, GMO, Soya, and Dairy free; Made without hydrogenated fat and are kosher, halal, and vegan. They make all your desserts look extra festive, and add a bit of crunch to each bite!
 
 
 
You can find the Christmas Green Holly & Red Berry Sprinkles available, as well as other beautiful sprinkles, at qualitysprinkles.com
 
 
 
I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.  
 
 

Chill Boys Soft Bamboo Boxers Giveaway - Winner Chosen!

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.


One of the most comfortable boxers my husband has owned, Chill Boys brings all the important qualities needed in a pair of boxers!


   If you remember awhile back, I reviewed a couple of different types of Chill Boys Boxers: the Performance Wear and Soft Bamboo. Well we recently got to try the new Chill Boys boxers made with 95% Viscose from Bamboo, and 5% Spandex. They are so silky soft and provide plenty of breathing room. The elastic band is stretchable and does not dig into the waste. Each pair is lightweight and dries quickly for plenty of wear. These boxers provide everything you need in an undergarment. They are available in the colors, black, blue, or gray and range in sizes from Small to X-Large. These boxers would make an awesome gift for the men in your life! 


Visit Chillboys.com for more information and products, where you can make easy purchases with free shipping over $25. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.


   Want to win your own pair of Chill Boys Boxers? Enter through Rafflecopter below. There will be TWO Winners. Giveaway ends 8/22 Good Luck!!!




 I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.


Hormel's Curemaster Reserve: Vermont Maple and Campfire Ham

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.


   I recently had the opportunity to try Hormel's Curemaster Reserve Campfire Ham, Vermont Maple Ham, and their amazing glazes. Both of these hams arrive frozen, precooked and presliced, so when you're ready to serve dinner to your family, the hams take a fraction of the normal cooking time! And everything is there for you, with easy to follow directions, and three different sauces to choose from. This is so great, especially for big holiday get togethers! 


   The Campfire Ham is by far the best ham I have ever tasted. It was so easy to cook and the Cranberry Chipotle Glaze made the flavor spectacular. The ham was tender and juicy in all the right ways and it gave off a very delicious aroma. I loved that the ham was precooked and presliced, making it such a time saver! If you're looking for the perfect ham for the holidays, I definitely recommend this one!


   The Vermont Maple Ham was very tender and juicy, releasing all the flavors to make a delicious main course. I used the Honey Dijon Glaze but I think the Cranberry Chipotle Glaze would have been a better choice. The Dijon flavor was very strong and didn't quite mesh well with the Maple flavor. It did give the ham a great glaze and color though!




If you're on the hunt for a delicious and easy to cook ham, I highly recommend the Hormel's Curemaster Reserve Hams. They are perfect for holidays, family dinner nights, or even when you're just craving a juicy ham. Check your lcoal stores for these products, and visit hormel.com for more information and products.



I received a complimentary product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.


Streaming Games from the Songmics Racing Sport Gaming Chair

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own.


   If you're a gamer or a blogger, you know having a comfortable chair to work from is one of your top priorities before getting started. There are several chairs on the market to choose which one is right for you, and because it's a big purchase, you want to make sure you get one that will last. We've gone through our fair share of computer chairs so it was due time to get a new one. My husband has been wanting a gaming chair to sit in comfortably, and needed something supportive as well as stylish. We were pleased find the new Songmics Racing Sport Gaming Chair!

   The Songmics Racing Sport Gaming Chair is made with comfort in mind and the ability to adapt to your body with its wide backrest and soft foam side padding. It includes a removable cushioned headrest and lumbar support to provide extra cushion when needed. The foundation of the chair itself is made of strong steel with anti-loosening screws to keep it secure over several long periods of sitting in, holding up to 330lbs. The outer fabric is made of wear-resistant PU-Cover with a nice white/black two-tone design, making it look modern and sleek for your space. This chair is very adjustable, being able to lock in 13 different positions, including raising up and down, and lying all the way back at a 150 degree angle. The armrests can move up and down to suit your needs, as well as swivel to the left or the right. This is perfect for reliving fatigue in your arm posture. There are so many great mechanisms this chair holds, making it ideal for bloggers, gamers, and someone just looking for a new comfy computer chair! 


   We have been using the Songmics Racing Sport Gaming Chair for about a week now and love the amazing functions it has. It's not only very comfortable, but the adjustments you can make to support your posture and wrists are amazing. The added lumbar support is very nice as well, keeping your back straight and supported for as long as you are sitting. The wheels also glide really well, whether it's on a hard surface or carpet, they seem to roll very easily. We currently have our chair on an area rug that sits on top of the carpet and it rolls perfectly. Our previous chair would get stuck rolling so having this new concept is amazing. My husband has commented several times how much he loves this chair and the comfort it brings him. He would experience a lot of discomfort with our previous chair, a regular office chair, so being able to compare a gaming chair versus an office chair, we can really see the benefits! It wasn't too hard to put together, see pieces and parts below :)


 
    I would really recommend this chair if your looking for a new one. It would make a great gift for a gamer in your life. You can find the Songmics Racing Sport Gaming Chair available on Amazon at a great price. Songmics has a lot of great products so be sure to follow their Pinterest Page as well as their Facebook for products and inspiration!


This post is made possible by Songmics, in providing me the products to review. All opinions my own. 
 

One Christmas Bear - Book Review

Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my review. All opinions my own. 


One Christmas Bear by Anne Vittur Kennedy is a sweet little Christmas book to read to young children. From one to ten, your little one will count down each adventure the polar bear has with all of his arctic friends. They experience a land of Christmas Joy filled with ginger cookies, crunchy candy canes, and angel in the snow, plus so much more fun and excitement! 

I love the illustrations in this book. They are colorful and friendly, each page ready for more. It is such a fun story to read to your little ones and will quickly become a holiday favorite. As your children read along, they will enjoy the sites of holiday goodness and it will help bring in that holiday spirit. This is a great one to have in your stack of Christmas books!!

You can find the board book of One Christmas Bear available for purchase on Amazon for under $10


This review is made possible by BookLook Bloggers,  in providing me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Personalized Message From Santa At The Portable North Pole

   Want another fun and exciting way to keep the Christmas spirit alive for Santa and your kids? The Portable North Pole (PNP) offers several products ranging from a personalized video or phone call from Santa, an interactive letter, stickers, door hangers, nice list certificate, books, puzzles, place mats, and more! Everything is sold at decent prices with 5% of the proceeds going towards the Children's Hospital Program. They also have a standard video for free that you can personalize for your children. You can the free video and other products to purchase at their online store.

    I was given the chance to experience the Portable North Pole with 'the Personalized Premium Video package, which features exclusive video sequences, a personalized Christmas carol with your child or children’s names, photos of your children and a several surprises from Santa and his helpers!' As well as a personalized Phone Call from Santa. Santa has a very important greeting and he will pick up the phone and call directly to deliver his personalized message, which runs about two minutes. Personalized messages can include a night-before-Christmas salutation or even a gentle warning to stay off the naughty list!'

    I went ahead and personalized the premium video for my son, while he was at school, so when he came home, I could act as if Santa had left him a message in my email. He was so excited to hear Santa had left him a message, because just last week, he had sent Santa a letter in the mail and kept wondering if Santa had received it or not. When my son watched the video, his eyes were wide with excitement and holiday spirit :) He loved that Santa called him by name (Even though Santa had a slight accent ;) because they didn't have my son's name pronunciation) And he loved that he could pick his name out of Santa's books on the bookshelf. My son was excited that Santa knew he is 5 and in Kindergarten. The personalization of the video makes it so much more meaningful. This video from Santa really made my son's day...leaving him saying "I didn't know Santa would do that! I didn't know he'd make me a video!" it has put him in the Christmas spirit all day..He made himself a Christmasy lunch while watching Christmas movies, and singing the Jingle Bells :)  He's going to be extra excited when he receives his phone call from Santa too! Thank you PNP for making my son a memory he is sure to never forget.




This post is made possible by Child's Play Communications in providing me a free code towards the Portable North Pole products. 
 
 

iCaught Santa On My Couch

iCaught Santa on my couch!!! :) :) :)
He's in our living room! :)

iCaughtSanta is a great site that allows you to post Santa into your photo to enhance your child's imagination and happiness!! Can you imagine how happy a child who believes in Santa, to see a photo of him in his/her very own home??? iCaughtSanta will do just that. You can purchase photo's and even videos on icaughtsanta.com with 3 easy steps, CAPTURE the photo you would like Santa to appear in, CREATE your Santa in the photo, and SHARE that photo with your loved ones! Easy as that.

I get to pick 5 Winner's who will get to make their own photo for FREE!!
All you have to do to enter is
"like" iCaught Santa on Facebook!
Make sure you leave me a comment letting me know you "liked" them on facebook and leave your email address so I can email you if you won!
2nd Entry: Leave a comment telling me who you want to catch Santa for.

I will pick a winner before December 20th!

Good Luck! :)




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.