Football season ends

So, my family is kinda nutty about Super Bowl. As I sit in my recliner watching a pretty horrible football game, I'm grateful for the yummy snacks and rockin' decorations.

Super Bowl Decorations

I make team pennants every year. I started off making the two teams that were playing in the Super Bowl but after the gazillionth time the Giants made it to the Bowl, I started just making other NFL teams.

This year I made the Broncos, Browns, and Chiefs.

I also have the football field pennants. Tutorial here.

I also have my football felt coasters. Maybe someday I'll inflate my vintage football.

Even the top of the piano gets some love. I adore the referee plates.

 

The Food

Since the game is played in New Jersey this year, our food theme is Jersey shore aka boardwalk food.
Tomato pie.

Popcorn (I make it on the stove with olive and coconut oil.)

Taffy and cotton candy (actually it's cotton candy taffy.)

Corndogs

 

Chips and salsa with cream cheese (this is more of a Grow family thing.)

And, orange and blue jell-0 jiggler helmets.

My mum's friend asked what she could bring to the party so I sent her a link to Martha and her chocolately pretzel peanut cookie bars.

 

Oh, and lemonade served in Mason jars which originated in New Jersey.

 

 

Okay, I need to get back to the game. Have a great day. Go team!

American Flag Collage

We are very patriotic at the Grow Home. Maybe you've seen how we decorate around here for the 4th of July here or here. This year my sister completed our newest American decoration.

It's a 40" x 30" collage made up of 50 stars made from items like seashells, dominos, and buttons on a blue sea of ribbon, cutlery, and paper, 13 stripes of torn patterned paper with silk flowers, beads, dice, Christmas ornaments, game pieces and more.

My mum wrote a fun little I Spy game to go with our custom collage. You can enlarge the above picture or look at the smaller photos to see details and play along.

I Spy 4th of July

I spy a mouse, a rabbit, a hog

an elephant pin and a print of a dog

I spy a knife, a spoon and three more

2 pencils, a sword and two closed yellow doors

 

I spy the queen, her guard and a bus

a bridge and a crown of silver for us

I spy santa, 2 stockings, and a present that’s blue,

An ornament, a tree and a gift bag for you

I spy a strawberry, and a measure for heat

a Band-Aid, a lion and 2 shoes for your feet

I spy a crab, a pepper, a button shell

cotton candy and a blue devil from hell

white stars against a blue night sky

bottom left

top right

bottom right

Let me know if you play along. For more fun I Spy fun, check out this website.

Welcome December

It's all about the advent around here. My mum put out her beautiful advent calendar today. Every morning the niece opens a door to find a piece of the nativity and a treat.

The niece opening the first door this morning. She found an angel and a chocolate.

This is what it will look like on Christmas Eve.

And, we started a new tradition this year. Dana from Made posted about wrapping up 25 Christmas books and having her kids open one every day until Christmas. So, I raided my mum and sister's bookshelves and found 25 Christmas-themed books for my niece to read.

Some are fun

 Some have a good message

And some tell the true story of Christmas

I have a few favorites

 I wrapped them up and put sticky letters and numbers on them.

 Every day the niece will choose a book to read. I'll let her choose if she wants to start with 1 (the calendar day) or 25 to count down to Christmas.

Some are a little long so I put a shorter book the following day so the niece could finish the previous book. I tried to alternate the fun with the more faith-building so there is a good mix. The niece loves to read and open presents so I think she will enjoy this.

Thanks for stopping by today. If you have time, stop by my other blog, The Vintage Sheet Blog, I'm doing a little gift guide and giveaway link up party.

Three Easy Candy Cane Treats

Welcome to day three of We Grow By Our Dreams' Red and White Week. Today I will show you how to make three yummy treats using only 3 ingredients. Hello quick gift idea.

The three ingredients you will need to make all three treats are:

• Candy canes (I used regular size but small would work too)
• Pretzel Rods
• White melting chocolate (it goes by many names)

J.O.Y Candy Cane Letters

Inspired by the L.O.V.E. letters on the Make and Take blog, the J.O.Y. letters add a festive Christmas touch.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Break and arrange 4 1/2 candy canes like the picture.

Bake for 5-7 minutes. The candy will flatten slightly and the broken pieces will meld together. Remove from pan when cool.That's it!

Red and White Candy

This is a variation of my pink candy recipe. To make Red and White candy you will need:

• a half a bag of white chocolate melting chips, melted according to package directions
• 2 crushed candy canes

Spread the melted white chocolate in an even, thin layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the melted chocolate while it is still warm.  Allow time for candy to cool before lifting it off of parchment paper and breaking it into pieces.

 

Dipped Pretzels

You will need:

• 1/2 bag of white chocolate chips
• 2 candy canes, crushed into fine pieces
• 1 bag of Pretzel Rods

Sprinkle the candy cane pieces on top half of parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Dip whole or halved pretzel rods into melted white chocolate. If you use halved rods, dip the broken end into the chocolate.

Roll the dipped rod into the crushed candy canes and allow time to cool on the cookie sheet.

They look great displayed in an ice cream glass along with peppermint taffy and red and white kisses.

There you have it, three easy red and white treats using only three ingredients. Save yourself time and melt the whole bag of chocolate chips at once. And, crush the candy canes for the Red and White Candy and Dipped Pretzels at once.

If you missed the previous Red and White Week posts, check out the Curtain to Cute Apron Transformation and the Homemade Gift Guide. 

Come back tomorrow for more red and white fun. I have more edible treats, an origami creation and some fun thrifted finds to share this week.

Welcome to my holiday open house

Several of the Stamp Shack ladies are participating in a holiday open house. I'm just one of the stops along the way. Here are some pictures of my home and family that I hope you will enjoy.

If you didn’t join the Open House Around the World at our very first stop you are now invited to visit Far North in Alaska http://farnorthdesigns.blogspot.com/

If you have already visited her blog you are invited to return to the Stamp Shack. http://stamp-shack.com/