It's Official!

We're dorks!  Yep, it's official. We are now the proud owners of a car top carrier.  It is a lovely addition to our mini-van.

And,  that's all I have to say about that.


Melissa

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 9

Today's gift idea is the bee's knees.  It's fun and functional.

Take a looksy-

What we have here is a color your own t-shirt (Hybrid Apparel) complete with washable markers.

My sweet daughter found this at Kohl's last month while shopping with her home girls.

 

A couple of her friends bought one of these shirts too, so they must be trendy tees.


The cool thing about these t-shirts is that you can color them a different way each time you launder them, because the washable marker washes out.

If you want a purple robot instead of a green robot, just wash it and start again.  If you like pink stars instead of yellow, wash and color.

Hey, wait a minute, maybe this tee is the ticket to getting your teen to do some laundry.  This t-shirt could change your life. You should by a least a dozen =).

Changing lives one laundry load at a time,

Melissa

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

Here at the hacienda we are passionate about chocolate.  Passionate I tell you!  It is our love language.  We speak it to our friends and family members during the Christmas Season when we gift them homemade hot chocolate mix.

Let me share this language of love with you in the form of a recipe. And then, feel free to spread the joy that is chocolate to those that you love.

Here are the ingredients that you will need:

Measure out 4 cups of powdered milk.

Mix in 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa.

Add 1 cup of granulated sugar.

Mix all of the ingredients together all nicey, nice.

Fill a recycled glass jar 3/4 of the way full with the magical mixture. 

Add a couple of heaping handfuls of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Now, don't be shy.

We were able to fill two 24 ounce jars almost to the top with this chocolate concoction.

Add some festive ribbon for the final, finishing touch. Aren't they fun?

Now, give, give, give.  Treat the teachers in your life.  Make your mailman's day.  Become your great auntie's favorite family member.  Niceify your neighbors.  The language of chocolate is one that must be spoken to many.

The receivers of this gift will have their hearts and tummies warmed by this labor of love.  Just tell them to add 3 tablespoons of the mixture to one mug of hot water or milk.

Oh, and make sure to save some for yourself. I recommend that you have one or two or three mugs of this per day.  It is good for the soul.

Cheers,

Melissa

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 7

How can anyone start a new year without a new calendar?  It would be like having ice without the tea.  A shake without the milk.  Fries without the French.  Okay, this is lame, but you get the point. 

One can not move forward into a new year without a source of organization.  You have to have your ducks in a row.  You need a calendar.  Work with me people.  Work with me. 

But, one can not move forward without just any run of the mill calendar.  Nope.  You have to have a calendar that inspires you visually.  A calendar that inspires you mentally.  A calendar the inspires you spiritually.

And I know just where you can get the perfect calendar.

Just look at these gorgeous pictures.

This calendar is chock-full of lovely photographs and mini monthly missions that will inspire you.

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These beauties were designed by a mama who lives in Portland, Oregon.  Her name is Sayward, and she is a scientist, writer, and urban farmer extraordinaire.  She is one busy and talented gal, who knows the importance of keeping organized with a calendar.  You can order her calendar creations at her website Bonzai Aphrodite.

Getting my ducks in a row,

Melissa

Away in a Manger with Animal Crackers

Our monkeys were in a Christmas Pageant this morning at church.  There were angels with halos, shepherds with staffs, Mary with Joseph, baby Jesus with swaddling clothes in a manger.  Ah, and yes, there was this cute little man.

Stop!  Wait a minute!  Let's zoom in a little closer here.

A little closer still.

Do you see what I see?  Is that kid eating an animal cracker during the peformance? Why yes, I do believe he is.

But wait, I am pretty sure that Away in the Manger does not go like this-

"Away in the Manger, no crib for a bed.  The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head right into a pile of Animal Cracker crumbs."

And, I am almost positive that none of the Harold Angels shouted out to the shepherds in the fields, "More Animal Cracker!" on that first Christmas.

And, I am quite confident that there were real animals in the stable on that miraculous night, not Animal Crackers.

And, I know for sure that baby Jesus did not start pitching a fit right there on stage in front of the whole congregation when he realized that he did not have another Animal Cracker in his pocket.  And that  
His mother did not have to whisk him off of the stage.

Whose kid was that anyway? 

Laughing all the way,

Melissa

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

If there is anything I like more than handmade gifts, it's unique, handmade gifts.
 

And, if there is anything I enjoy more than unique, handmade gifts, it's unique, handmade gifts from different parts of the world.

And, if there's anything I adore more than unique, handmade gifts from around the world, it's unique, handmade gifts from around the world that make a difference in people's lives.

These are a few of my favorite things from, HeartCraft one of the most wonderful companies on the face of the earth.

HeartCraft provides genuine business opportunities for community development, as well as builds a network of support for the artisans who work in these businesses by giving them an outlet to sell their handcrafted products. These products represent a lifeline to financial stability and personal dignity as a means to provide for their families and preserve their traditional arts.

I know the founder of this company personally, and she has such a beautiful story to tell about the birth of HeartCraft and her journey with the company. 

Speaking of birth and beginnings, HeartCraft has a sweet selection of handmade baby quilts, wall hangings, and dolls that would make unique baby shower gifts.

It is so amazing to me that purchasing a gift like one of these wall hangings for a new baby, gives an artisan in another country a new beginning.

 

This is truly a company with a heart for people.

Uniquely yours,

Melissa

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

Nothing brings out the creativity in kids quite like candy.  It must have something to do with the sugar that begins coursing through veins and up into their craniums.

Neurons firing off at the speed of light result in ideas that pop into their brain like Pop Rocks.

Their mind power is magnified by M & M's.

Their noggins are nurtured by nougat.

And then the creative juices begin to flow forth, right along with copious amounts of frosting.

And a cornucopia of candy.

And before you know it, those pint sized Michelangelo's have sculpted a sugary statue that would put Mikey's David to shame.

A true masterpiece, I tell you.

So if you really want to help the children in your life reach their full artistic potential, you must shower them with Sugar Baby's.  Blow their minds with Blow Pops.

Or, you can buy them a Ginger Bread Kit from Wilton's (I bought ours' at JoAnne's) and let them have at it.  It's fun for the whole family.  That is until clean up time. Blasted Pixie Sticks!

Have a hyper holiday,

Melissa