Dr. Seuss Themed Christmas Tree
I love Dr. Seuss……. ANYTHING!
So, it is probably no surprise to most that I would do a “Dr. Seuss” themed Christmas Tree. Specifically “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”.
I love how in the cartoon and the movie alike, they had random things on the trees. In the cartoon, they even had presents. I couldn’t pull that off, but it gave me the idea to put random things, like silk flowers.
But, not just any silk flowers.
The “loudest” and most “sparkliest” of all flowers.
Most of the ornaments, I have collected over the past few years. However, every year, I add to it a little.
I love ornaments, but picks are what give my tree the look I wanted. I got these in a kit from Sam’s Club this season. They should still have some.
This is as close as I could get to putting actual presents ON my tree instead of UNDER it. I got these from Michael’s craft store three years ago when they went on sale. I think I ended up paying $.89 for them in the end. They also make a great idea as a present topper. One year, I wrapped all my presents in brown paper. I then embellished them with these picks and everyone thought they were so pretty, they didn’t want to open their presents and mess it up.
I also bought these at my local craft store 3 years ago. They haven’t had any since. I have gone back optimistically each year to hopefully buy more, but still get dissapointed. I call these my Peacock feathers!
This is what I found instead this year. The lighting in the photo keeps you from seeing the pretty sparkle these flowers have. I bought these and the blue one at the top from the craft store this season for 50 % off already. They are a little pricey, but are sturdy and worth it in my opinion. They were $5.99 each after the 50% off. Again, at Michael’s.
I bought a set of these, and…………..
these 3 years ago at Target. I think I’m addicted to GLITTER!
These green swirly picks were in the same kit from Sam’s Club and I used them at the top.
These snowflakes were in it too and I felt like it symbolized the Snowflake that Whoville was in.
Last but not least, these are the puffs in the tree. This is new this year for me. I really felt like this made my tree this year. This is a great idea to help hide “holes” in the tree. Picks are too, but these can hide so much more than they can. Plus it just really adds something to your tree. AND! It is ridiculously EASY!
I bought the fabric in a roll of 10 yrds. from Sam’s Club and cut every 1ft. or so. Then I just gathered all four ends and twisted a pipe cleaner I had cut in half to it. Puff it up and stick it in the tree! That’s IT!
SO! That’s it! Hope you like my tree and I hope I have given you some ideas to try out on your own!
-Esther
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Oh Christmas Tree!
Like most, my family was on the road this past Thanksgiving.
And also, like most, we always get our Christmas Tree right after Thanksgiving.
When we first moved almost 3 years ago, we couldn’t seem to find a Christmas Tree stand around our new house, which was completely crazy to me since there were probably Christmas Tree stands just about every 5 miles where we were from.
SO!
After the first year where I had to suck it up and go to Food Lion (which I will never do again)…….. (No OFFENSE Food Lion), and got a tree that DIED (I’m talking Brittle Dry Twigs People!) within the first week……
We decided that we would always get our tree while we were visiting home for Thanksgiving.
This year, I was VERY excited. This year would be the first year I wouldn’t have to measure anything. This is because our new house has 12 ft. ceilings. I know, I can hardly believe it myself.
I have NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER had a house with 12 ft. ceilings.
The kids on the other hand, just wanted to play hide and seek.
Aidan was really the first one. I lost him for a while, but thankfully he showed back up again before we were ready to leave. I know, great parenting.
Even Z was playing….. ok, not really.
Now was time to get down to business. Would it be that one?
Or that one? Or that one? Or that one?
And then, there I stood…. across the room grass. I could have sworn I heard music playing, something like “Why do birds…… suddenly appear….. everytime! You are near!”
“Just like me, they long to be, CLOSE TO YOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUU!” She was PERRRRRRRRFECT! Yes, SHE!
BUT! Then!……… DUT DUT DUUUUUUUHHHHHH! Would it go through the terrifying tunnel of Net?
So we held our breath……
And with a HEAVE!!!
And a HOE!
She came through!
Yes, we drove 3 hours home with her in the back and Yes, we don’t mind if you call us the Griswold’s. We will own it and be proud to bare the name.
In closing, we came! ……. We saw!……
And WE CONQUERED!
Have a great weekend!
P.S. I’m working on A LOT of updates of the New House. Stay tuned to Blog Posts on it coming soon……… Like Monday!
Shhhhh!
-Esther
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Pumpkin Bread in a Mason Jar
Happy Thanksgiving Week!
What are y’all doing right now?
Planning your menus, planning your diet and exercise regime for after your menus?
Maybe doing lunges or stretching out your muscles to prepare for the Black Friday Madness?
Well, I am making bread. That’s right!
Bread!
But not just any kind of bread. Pumpkin Bread!
This is a great Southern Recipe!
We are going to be on the road this Holiday and we always end up stopping along the way for breakfast. This usually consists of Bojangles.
Now, any good Eastern Southerner typically knows about “Bojangles”. The good ole Fried Chicken Restaurant.
I have decided this time will be something better. Pumpkin Bread!
I made them in Mason Jars, so the “Babies” can just eat their bread with a spoon in the car.
Hopefully, this means less clean up for Z and myself. I guess we will see.
The best thing ever is Fresh Canned Pumpkin. Store bought is completely fine too. I just happened to have a jar in my pantry that my mom had given me.
You can make this in a loaf pan, muffins, or even little mini poppers. I thought the mason jars gave it a fun twist. I sprayed the inside so that they wouldn’t stick.
Make sure you wipe off the rim of the jar afterwards so that the lids will seal.
A funnel is a great tool to use to keep batter off the rim.
I filled the mason jars about half way full and set on top of a cookie sheet.
I baked them at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, until a toothpick came out clean. Then I sprinkled additional finely chopped walnuts on top.
And sprinkled each one with a little powdered sugar!
While they were still hot, I topped each one with a lid/seal. They will actually seal on their own after a few minutes, just like the canning process.
Did you know they will last up to 6 months sealed ! ? !
However, these won’t make it past the morning!
When ready to serve, you can either run a knife down and around all the sides of the jar, and tapping the bottom a bit, it will come out as a “log”. Simply slice it and serve.
OR!
You can do my personal favorite and what we will be doing tomorrow morning.
AND…..
Taking a spoon…..
Sit down……
Open the lid/seal……
and go to town! Yum!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Recipe: Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients:
– 1 3/4 cup All Purpose Flour
– 1 1/2 cup Sugar
– 3/4 tsp. Salt
– 1 tsp. Baking Soda
– 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
– 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
– 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
– 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
– 2 large Eggs
– 1/3 cup Water
– 1 cup Fresh Pumpkin or Store Bought
– 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts, plus more finely chopped Walnuts for Garnish (Optional)
– Powdered Sugar
Directions:
– Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
– Combine all dry ingredients (except powdered sugar and walnuts). Mix well.
– In another bowl, conbine pumpkin, water, eggs, vanilla, and oil. Mix well.
– Add dry ingredients to mixture and beat thoroughly.
– Stir in nuts and pour batter into greased loaf pan or 1/2 way up greased mason jars.
– If using a loaf pan, bake 75-80 minutes. If using mason jars, bake 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into middle, comes clean.
– Cool 15 minutes in loaf pan and then sprinkle with powdered sugar. If using mason jars, sprinkle with finely chopped walnuts, powdered sugar and carefully put lids/seals on top and twist to tighten. *Jars are HOT! Be careful!
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The week of the “Ewws, Yucks, and Aahs!”
I’m calling this the week of “The Ewwwwws, The Yucks, and the Aahs!
Why you might ask?
Well, the answer is simple.
My house had a lot of Ewwwwws, a whole lot of Yucks and I hope it is now finally starting to have some Aahs. The Aahs are not completely finished yet. I still have some things to tweak. But, for the most part, I smile everytime I walk into one of the rooms we have updated. : )
Our first “Ewwww!” is brought to you today, courtesy of our Master Bath Shower.
I have to be honest. At this angle, it doesn’t look that bad. However, after trying to rip up the carpet in our Master Bedroom so that we could lay new flooring, we stumbled upon a nasty surprise. The shower had a crack in the floor and had been leaking into the bedroom on the other side of the wall.
Here is another Ewww. The corner where it was seeping into our bedroom. I thought that lovely mildewy substance on the bottom of the baseboard was simply something the previous homeowner had spilt once upon a time and didn’t clean up. It wasn’t until I rubbed my finger over it, that I realized I was VERY WRONG!
This is another angle of the same corner. (Another Ewwww!)
Now for the YUCKS! This is the wall on the bathroom side where it was seeping into the Master on the other side.
More YUCK! and YES! That is mold. : (
Straight on YUCKY view of the shower.
But WAIT! There’s more. Why not take a closer look?
Still not satisfied? You want me to go even closer?
Imagine my HORROR when I found out that the dark black stuff in the middle was actually H2O!
I promise this is all the pics of the Ewws/Yucks bathroom pics I am posting.
But!
Because I know you just had your breakfast,
I would like to post yet another picture. Maybe you think it’s an “Ewww”. Maybe you think it’s a “Yuck”.
I personally think it’s an “AAH!”
Meet my Halloween alter ego, “Earl”. The roughest, toughest, toothless, hairiest, deer shootin, beer drinkin Redneck out there!
Please don’t be mad because I’m prettier than you.
Jealousy can be an ugly thing!
Love,Esther
*P.S. – Aahs to follow soon!
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