Menu Plan Monday is here.
Welcome!
So glad you dropped by, come on in and make yourself at home while I tour you around my living room. The living room is the only room in the house we decorate because I’m lazy like that I like to keep things simple. This year we have some special guests coming for Christmas (my parents) and so my husband decided that only a real tree would do. He really doesn’t like the artificial one we put up when the snow is too deep to go looking for a real one. This year we beat the snow and got us a mighty fine tree. Take a look:
One of my favorite ornaments on my tree is this one I made a couple of years ago out of safety pins and beads. This bell ornament was super easy to make and I am so happy with the way it turned out.
And last year I was inspired by Barb to make this little star ornament guy. Barb made it look so easy and she made a gazillion of them. I was really thinking I would too. Ummm, yeah no, this little guy took me about two weeks to do and I was too pooped after that to make him any little friends. Poor guy.
Next up is one of my favorite Christmas decorations. This snowman I purchased at a craft’s fair many years ago. He greets everyone as they come in the door and is very friendly!
A closer look at my banister all decorated in pine cones and holly.
Sitting next to my Christmas tree is an angel my mother in law made for me. Isn’t she sweet. I love homemade gifts! The snowflake headband is my own dorky touch. I couldn’t resist.
This year we are continuing with the Jesse Tree tradition. I use willow branches in a vase filled with glass beads for our tree.
Last year I attempted to make cookies for all of you who so kindly visited and I ended up burning them. This year I practiced and excitingly enough made some VERY delicious Minty Holiday Candy Cookies to share with you. They are actually a “gifts in a jar” recipe and the recipe is below just for YOU!
Minty Holiday Candy Cookie Mix
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup holiday-colored candy-coated chocolate pieces
1/3 cup chopped peppermint candy
1. Layer ingredients in 1-quart food storage jar with tight-fitting lid in the following order: granulated sugar, brown sugar, combined flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; chocolate pieces; and peppermint candy.
2. Sear jar. Cover lid with fabric circle, if desired. Attach gift tag and fabric to jar with raffia or ribbon.
To prepare:
1 jar Minty Holiday Candy Cookie Mix
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
2. Place contents of jar in large mixing bowl. Using fingers, work butter into flour mixture. Combine eggs and vanilla in small bowl. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; stir until dough forms.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place balls 3 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are golden. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets. Slide parchment paper and cookies onto wire rack. Cool completely. Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks to Boomama for hosting.
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Lovely pictures of your home!!! Everything is so cute! Your cookies look delicious too, thanks for the recipe!!:-)
I think that your home looks lovely! I love all of the personal touches, and your ornament is beautiful! That cookie recipe is a definite one to try, too!
Merry Christmas,
Andrea
How festive. Those cookies look great.
You have a beautiful tree and home!
The few out of your window is extraordinary!
I just love the Jesse Tree! I can’t wait to start that with my girls next year!
Your Living room is lovely! Love the big snowman. Thanks for the recipes!
Love the idea of a cookie recipe in a jar – what a great gift.
You angel by the tree is adorable, and the headband is the perfect touch.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Lovely home! I have been discussing oragnization, the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly on my site’s weekend post. Wonderful site! I’ll be back.
Blessings,
Lysa TerKeurst
Thank you so much for opening your home to us, you truly do have it beautifully decorated. Like you, I love homemade gifts:-)Those cookies look delish, thank you so much for sharing the recipe with us! Merry Christmas to you and yours! xo
What beautiful decorations! I love the angel and the santa and snowman candles. I’ll add the cookie recipe to the ones I’m making this week.
Lovely home! Thanks for sharing! The cookies look so yummy, the tree so pretty and is that REAL snow out the window???
julie from Pensacola, FL
How nice! I love homemade holiday decorations, too. I so look forward to the day when our home is flooded with things made by our kids. What could be sweeter?!
I didn’t know about this tag going, but I shared some of my favorite ornaments on my blog, too, yesterday.
Your home looks so comfy and cozy. Nice decorating! And those cookies make me really want to eat some…well, cookies! ;)
I like the willow tree tradition.
Mine’s posted. I have two versions.
A thumbnail short version
and
a
slide show long version.
What a beautiful tree :) I just love decorating the house, but like you I keep things consolidated to one room (the livingroom). Now I DO put lights and garland outside – white lights only – which gives me an extended holiday feeling, LOL.
Your living room is so festive. LOVE your Jesse tree.
And your cookies look yummy.
Merry Christmas!
You have a beautiful home! And I love the Jesse Tree! I always wanted to make one, but well…I’m lazy too. Maybe next year I will gather some ambition, although not likely.
Blessings!
Everything is beautiful!! Those cookies look divine.
Everything is just lovely. Thanks for the recipe, too!
Beautiful :-)
love the snowflake halo! cute! wonderful job on the handmade ornament – I’d be proud, too!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, and thank you for that wonderful cookie recipe. Everything in your home is beautiful. Blessings, Karen
Wow! A real tree! With even more real trees in the background! With real snow! All so very lovely.
Your tree is beautiful and I love the snowman. Your MIL made that angel? Very talented! Thanks for the tour and the cookies. They were yummy!!
Home-made ornaments are my fav!
I love mint–I’ll have to try out your recipe for sure.
Come check out my post:
Oops….
http://circleoflifeblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-home-tour-07.html
I love your angel.
Your tree is so pretty and the view is spectacular! :)
I also especially like your Jesse tree. We did that a few years ago; I think we’ll need to do that one again maybe next year.
Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
Those cookies look delicious! I love your cheery snowman.
Fun, fun, fun! Your recipe looks great…everything I love in one cookie.
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the cookies they were tasty.. Your house looks great.. You’ll have to stop by my place for some pie soon.
I just love your Jesse tree! It all looks so beautiful and warm! Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the recipe, and for sharing your beautiful home!
The cookies are looking yummy, Laura! Your decorations and tree are so nice and how exciting that your mom and dad are coming!
Everything looks wonderful…so fabulous and festive!
Merry Christmas blessings,
kari and kijsa
I’m so glad that I’m not the only one that only decorated the living room :). Your home is beautiful!
I love a real tree, we just never have one thanks to asthma and allergies in the house. Your’s looks lovely. Enjoy the visit from your parents, and thanks for opening up your home to us today!
Jen
Merry Christmas! Love your Jesse tree, our church has one, but I never thought of doing one myself. Thanks for inviting us in your home. : )
Your decorations are great. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Yummy cookies. Thanks for the wonderful tour!
Merry Christmas!
I so enjoyed all of your handmade gifts!! Are you willing to share how you made the safety pin/bead ornament?? ;-)
And the cookies look and sound absolutely scrumptious!! Thanks for the recipe!
Lovin all the homemade decorations. Merry Christmas
Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
Love the decorations. Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Jennifer :-)
Everything looks so great. Thanks for sharing and I’m so glad your parents are coming this year….verrrrry exciting!
beautiful!
what’s a Jesse Tree?? i guess i could try and look it up online, but i’m sure it’d be nothing compared to your telling of it.
i think it’s so cute how everyone who is playing along makes cookies for their “guests”, too ;)
I love your snowman! He is friendly! Thanks for the recipe as well. It looks great!
I love your banister decorations and your tree is so cute.
I’ve updated my post to include the Jesse Tree link. Each day there is a specific devotion and ornament for the tree leading up to Christmas day. A great way to keep focused on the reason for the season.
So, cute!
Love the pine cones and holly!! The snowman is super cute too. Some of my favorite decorations came from craft fairs. They always seem to have special things!
I do love the bead and safety pin ornament!
What lovely ornaments! May God Bless you and your family!!
Holly
Your decorations and tree look great, and the cookies look very yummy. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the cookies! Love the beads and safety pin!
I love it! And, I never heard of the Jesse Tree tradition. Thanks for sharing. I might just add that to my collection of trees!
Your tree is wonderful! Merry Christmas!
Everything is very lovely! And the cookies are magnificent! Thanks!
what yummy looking cookies!!! Thanks for the reciepe! Your decorations are beautiful!
Thanks for inviting us in.
Merry Christmas
cool!
I love how you decorated your banister! thats awesome!
I’m inexplicably hungry for cookies. :)
Merry Christmas to you, sweet girl!
Thanks for opening up your home. I must find my way back here and get some organizing tips. I have an amazing husband and my siliest fear is that an organized woman will someday steal him from me..hee hee. I need HELP in that area!!
Merry Christmas, Joanne
Your home is lovely for the holidays. I am still in awe over the snow in your yard behind your Christmas tree. That is the one thing I miss since I moved to Georgia…snow at Christmas! :(
Thank you for the wonderful tour! Your beaded ornament is so cute! Merry Christmas.
Your Jesse tree is just darling. Love the snow as the background for your Christmas tree. :)
I love your Jesse Tree. Great idea!!
Thanks for sharing with us.
Robin
Very cozy! I like handmade stuff too. Merry Christmas!
The snowman is so cute. Merry Christmas!
I like the looks of artificial trees for the holidays. But somehow you managed to make that tree work just fine!
Great little touches all over. Lovely. Homemade ornaments are the best.
The cookies look yummy, look forward to trying the recipe.
Love the bell ornament! Can you share how you made it?
Jolanthe
The best ornaments are the homemade ones even if some of them turn out “quirky”. Thanks for the tour and for the delicious cookies.
Thank you for sharing! I love your little snowman and the homemade angel!
:- )
Merry Christmas!
Erica
That angel is so cute! Merry Christmas!
i think that little star turned out awesome!
I may have to try those cookies!!!
Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the recipe–those cookies look great! Your decorations are so pretty. I love homemade ornaments!!
Merry Christmas!
Your home looks great. I love the decoration! And those cookies, they make me hungry. ;-)
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas!
BTW, I’m FINALLY done with my living room (from the 30 day Organization Challenge): http://mayogiathome.blogspot.com/2007/12/update-living-room.html In case you want to have a look at it.
Take care!
LOVE the way you’ve done your Jesse Tree. I’ll be filing away that idea – so great!
Thanks for doing this!
Your Santa star is adorable. I can’t believe you made ONE Santa star. You did a great job though…cute as can be.
Thank you for sharing your home with us. I’m so jealous of your real tree.
Cute decorations. Cute site. Merry Christmas!
Laura…all is lovely, I may drive over and have a cookie!! or two or three!! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and nice New year…found a nanny but thanks for your help! Blessings
Laura it’s beautiful, I LOVE your tree and the ornaments are so cute :)
I’ll have to give those cookies a try, they sound soooo good :)
Hugs,
Sandra?
Thanks so much for the peek into your home! Looks so pretty! Enjoy the holidays!
Ann told me of your Jesse tree – what a great idea! I love it!
I don’t know if anyone else is still having this problem, but your site takes forever for me to load it. Just me? I’m not sure. It’s worth the wait though.
I’m gonna try that gift in a jar recipe – I love those things!
I love the idea of using willow branches for the Jesse Tree! And I LOVE the little angel … headband and all!
Way to go on those cookies!
hey laura, nice post! can you pls let me know if you get this comment in an email. thanks! :)
Loved your Jesse tree…makes me want to do one next year. Thank you!
#339 on boomama’s tour
Thanks for sharing! Loved the willow tree idea!
Merry Christmas
Love your Jesse tree! So pretty! Your home looks very inviting. Thanks for sharing!
http://ponderedinmyheart.blogspot.com/2007/12/oh-theres-no-place-like-home-for.html
The snowman on your stairs is adorable! And the cookies look delicious.
lovely. Seasons Greetings
Thanks for the wonderful Cookie recipe!
Thank you for sharing! I like the angel with the headband.
The cookies sound great and easy too! Thanks.
Merry Christmas!
Alyson
LID 01/27/06
i like what you’ve done
.: Interesting Christmas decorating idea~~ Handmade craft sure brings more Christmas spirit in the house~~ Blessings to all of you~~ (^v^) ;.