Dear Santa, What Do You Put On Cream Cheese?

Dear Santa, I need your definition of "naughty" ASAP...

just in case I need to clean-up my act!

I love all the different ideas for appetizers that show up at parties this time of year. 

Like...cranberry salsa or jalapeno jello on a slab of cream cheese. 

What would you put on cream cheese for an appetizer?

I visited two Christmas parties at quilt stores today. 

One at Quilted Works and one at Dave's Bernina...lots of fun and yummy food!

While I was partying, I picked up a little applique/machine embroidery package to play with. Now I just have to figure out how to do it. I know how to applique and I know how to machine embroidery, but I don't know how to put them together. Should be interesting!

I've been busy sewing on some Robert Kaufman Kona, so don't think I've been goofing off.

Waking Up To Kona starts on January 7th and the elves aren't stepping up to help me.

I'm on my own with the Kona fabric!

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe? Share it on my virtual cookie exchange

HERE.

Looking for a giveaway? Go check it out

HERE.

 

Sugar and Spice Christmas Cookies

We woke up this morning to snow which got me a little closer to being in a Christmas mood!

Perfect day for baking, don't you think!

Sugar and Spice Christmas Cookies

Mix until creamy:

1 1/2 cups butter or margarine

2 cups sugar

Add and mix:

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

Add and mix:

4 cups flour

4 teaspoons soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 1/2 teaspoon ginger 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Form dough into walnut size balls (or use small cookie scoop) onto greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes (not much longer or they will be hard when they cool.)

Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

Sprinkle powdered sugar over the tops when slightly cool.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

This was a similar recipe my mother-in-law made for years and is one of my family's favorite Christmas cookies. She said the original recipe came from Betty Crocker and used 1/2 shortening and 1/2 butter instead of all butter. 

I love using a cookie scoop to get the perfect size cookie

Yes, that's a purple cookie turner

Sprinkled cookies, ready to eat...so yummy!
I wrapped up some of the extra dough and put it in the freezer to slice and bake later.

Getting In The Mood For Christmas Giveaway

I'm not in the mood for Christmas.

I don't feel like decorating the house.

I don't feel like shopping (gasp!)

I don't want to listen to Christmas music...well, maybe a little Josh Groban.

I needed a pick-me-up so....

I went out with my sister this morning and stopped by Quilted Works. 

There's something about a quilt store that makes me feel so good!

While I was there I picked up a little something to help me get in the Christmas spirit.

I think it's working!

Yep, it's definitely working!

IT'S A...

GETTING IN THE MOOD FOR CHRISTMAS

GIVEAWAY!

Need to feel a little "Surrounded by Love" with a Moda charm pack by Deb Strain?

That's what I will send the winner of my giveaway.

The usual giveaway rules...fa-la-la-la-la

1. Leave a two word comment or tell me what country you are from.
2. One entry per person.
3. It can be mailed anywhere...yes, even to the other side of the world.
4. Giveaway ends at 6 p.m. PST on December 8th. Entries after 6 p.m. PST on December 8th will not be included in the giveaway.

Don't forget to share your cookie recipes at my

Just A Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Linky Party!

Really, I need all the baking inspiration I can get!

Click HERE to join the party.

Just A Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Party

An InLinkz Link-up

Ritzy Christmas Mint Cookies

The very first Christmas cookie exchange that I went to had some amazing cookies, but the one recipe that caught all of our attention was the thin mints Susan made....out of Ritz crackers.

Yes, you read it right---RITZ CRACKERS! 

I'm sure the recipe was on a Ritz cracker box, but I'd never seen them.

 Really, they were so good! 

Here's the recipe for these Ritzy Chocolate Mint Cookies:

1/2 lb semi-sweet dark chocolate chips
2-3 drops peppermint extract
1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers
Some crushed candy canes

Melt dark chocolate over low heat or in a glass cup at 15-second intervals in the microwave (stir after each 15 seconds.) Stir 2-3 drops of peppermint extract into the melted chocolate (don't use too much peppermint--the 2-3 drops is plenty.) Using a fork or dipping tool, dip each Ritz Cracker in the melted chocolate. Place on a foil covered cookie sheet making sure they don't touch each other. Sprinkle each chocolate dipped cracker with a small amount of crushed candy cane. Chill. Eat. Enjoy.

She Who Sews...Doesn't Let The Door Stop Her!

I love this new fabric from Quilting Treasures.
Janet Wicker Frisch did a great job on the artwork...so fun!

There's going to be a blog hop using this fabric.

Whoohoo!

You can find a panel of it over at Thearica's store...here.

This blog hop has a twist. There will be TWO, yes, TWO, blogs hops in one! She Who Sews and/or Don't Let the Door Stop You. Wow! Check out how to join in the fun over at Sew We Quilt.

Aprons And Black Tie Boogie

Happy Day Before Thanksgiving!

Things might look a little off on this post due to posting from an iPad.

Just pretend everything is centered and you like turning upside down and sideways to read.

I never knew about this, but it is a great idea:
www.apron memories.com

Look who's doing the Black Tie Boogie today:

November 27

How Art you?

Living with Purpose

Sew many yarns

Grandmama's Stories

Social Media Overload...Or Is It Just Me

I can't seem to keep up with all my favorite places to visit on the internet. This became even more evident while I was moving and when my laptop decided last week that it wanted to breakdown just a little (I only slightly melted down over this...okay, so maybe it was more than a little meltdown.)

In the beginning of my blogging life...

(This may have been just a "few" years before I started blogging,

but it was the first picture I used for my avatar.)

...I would go to my blog's dashboard to visit blogs so I could see what everyone was making or cooking. It was so easy to "follow" people around by clicking that cute little box with faces (I love that little box!) 

I always had lots of time to leave comments and enjoy reading the posts.

But...then...along...came...

Facebook (great place to keep track of family and friends)

Instagram (love the pics that show up here)

Google+ (I'm struggling on how this works and haven't totally figured it out. yet)

Bloglovin' (a way to follow you around)

Feedly (another way to follow you around)

Twitter (never used this)

Pinterest (very addictive, but love it!)

AARGH!

I like simple.

I'm sure the overload thing is just me.

I'll try to get focused a little more and get used to the NEW technology stuff.

What is is simple for me? Visiting the blog hops.

Look who's hopping today:

November 26

Sew Mollie Sue, Quilt Much?

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Bumbleberry Stitches
Words & Stitches
Quilting, paper piecing and crafts

My Baby Is How Old? Really?

It's my youngest daughter's birthday today. She made this cup for me several years ago....yes, I still have it (she must have known I loved purple.)

I used to call her my "Angel" (she's still my angel, but now I have to share her with her husband and those sweet Monkey Boys.)

She's really funny, especially around that husband of hers. I keep telling them
their face is going to freeze like this, but they just don't listen to me!

She's really talented, too. She decorates cakes that taste as good as they look
and she sews when there's not a Monkey Boy hanging onto her legs or in her arms.

Sometimes I'm taken aback when I realize that I have children who are all grown up.

I can't possibly be THAT old....can I?  

Have you been checking out the Black Tie Boogie Blog Hop?

It's been such cocka-doodle-do fun!

November 19

Selina Quilts

Sew Peace To Peace

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
The Quilting Queen Online
Marla's Crafts

November 20

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Seams To Be Sew

Robins Fabric Nest

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle

November 21

Pigtales and Quilts

Just Let Me quilt

Quiltscapes

Life on the Farmlet

November 22

Vroomans Quilts

Meadowbrook

Janes Quilting

November 25

Stitchin by the Lake

Georgia-Girl Quilter
In the Boon Docks
More Stars in Comanche

November 26

Sew Mollie Sue, Quilt Much?

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Bumbleberry Stitches
Words & Stitches
Quilting, paper piecing and crafts

November 27

How Art you?

Living with Purpose

Sew many yarns

Grandmama's Stories

November 28

Celtic Thistle Stitches

Crafting 365 Days

Hill Valley Quilter

Thimblemouse & Spouse

November 29
Sew Incredibly Crazy

Lixie Makes It

The Quilted Cat

Sew We Quilt

There's a new blog hop coming, too!

A Class With No Exam Just Fun

I made it through my classes yesterday...whoohoo! Both classes were held at Dave's Bernina and were taught by Sandra Larson, a really great teacher for Bernina. Luckily, there weren't any tests so I didn't ditch leave in the middle of it.

The first class let us all sew on new Bernina 780's...wow! That is quite the machine! The kit we received included a premade bag that had been opened on one side and at the bottom. We learned to applique/embroider a flower on the bag, do a little machine embroidery, and add a zippered pocket with Wonder Tape. The zipper method was pretty cool! Once we were done, we sewed up the two sides with a serger. It's not spectacular or perfect, but I learned a few things while making it.

The next class was using the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator)...no pics for this one!

I have a lot of practicing to do so I can free motion quilt using that interesting tool.

I think I might just have to sign-up for some more classes!

I Feel Like A Schoolgirl Again!

I never liked school. I was one of those that found ways to ditch miss classes just so I didn't have to sit in a classroom. Dean Mannion knew me by my first name.

So, what the heck was I thinking when I signed up for a couple sewing classes at a local store...

for today!

It's raining...maybe I shouldn't go.

I have a stomachache...maybe I can't go.

The dog is laying on my lap and doesn't want me to go...maybe I should stay home.

The toilet needs cleaning...maybe...never mind...I'll just go to the classes. 

I'll try to be respectful and not ditch leave in the middle of things. Really, it should be fun.

Hopefully. LOL