Christmas Exchange Gifts

So received my gifts in the mail from Ashley this weekend!  So so so excited!  Here is documentation as promised :)

look at this sweet face on the note!! 

 Can you tell I'm overjoyed by the HUGE smile on my face?! ahah!  So excited!

 This necklace is gorgeous and matches my beanie I made this weekend.  Ashley and I are in sync :)

LOVE LOVE it Ashley, thanks again!!!


xoxox
Pam

Makeover Monday

Sorry I'm a little late, no excuses I just am.  Well there is actually an excuse, the 3rd edition of the Twilight Sage, Eclipse was released to Redbox, which we rented.  Clearly that took precedence.  Why I'm obsessed with pre-teen fictional characters I have not a clue.  Embarrassing but there it is.

For this week's makeover I made a floral sweater beanie, inspired by an anthro floral sweater headpiece. 

The beanie cost $1 and I had some left over fabric from my Cowls and these Sweater Rosettes.  So all together this project cost me $1!

Here is the before:

Here is the after:

  

Please take note how perfectly it matches the necklace that the beautiful Ashley sent me for the Holiday Christmas exchange!  Apparently Ashley and I are on the same wave length!  Grey and Cream are the new thing :)

 Matching my Grey and Cream Peacock Print Scarf I am obsessed with from Old Navy.  Got it for such a steal right after Christmas :)

Hope you enjoyed!

xoxox

Pam

Santa's Little Helper

One more attempt to get the perfect photo for this year Christmas Card. Is she cute or what! Love that little girl so much there aren't even words!  Love these pictures as well but I don't feel that any of these are quite the picture I'm looking for!

She loves the fireplace :) 

Christmas Teacher Treats

My sweet Wyndham attends daycare at a Christian Church close by.  To thank these wonderful women for loving my sweet Wyndham and teaching her wonderful Biblical principles while I'm not there to, I made them some Chocolate Pops.  Christmas Tree Chocolate Pops to be exact.  Really so easy and soo soo cute!  (You might remember the mustaches we had at the Pie Bake Contest, same concept!)

Items Needed: Wilton Christmas Tree form, Wilton's Melts (or white bark, or something of that nature), lollipop sticks and sprinkles/decorations.

For our Christmas Tree Pops I opted for red and green chocolate. I followed the directions for melting chocolate on the package and the re-warmed as needed at 30 second intervals.  While the chocolate was heating I put sprinkles and stars in the form.  Once chocolate was warm I carefully spooned chocolate into forms over top of sprinkles. Smooth out then I suggest tapping on the counter a few times to get out air bubbles.  Freeze for 5 minutes.  Pop out like ices cubes.  I opted to put in Ziploc baggies and add a decorative tag that says Merry Christmas   Love Wyndham.

So easy and super cute!  Have you ever made these before?  If so how did you decorate?  What forms have you used?

Changing Blog Name

Sooo... I'm thinking of changing my Blog name.  In lieu of A Few Of My Favorite Things I'm thinking of calling it The Freckled Pumpkin. 

My reasoning behind the change is this:

1- I have come across 3 other blogs with the same name (one of which I link up to a weekly Link Party, not good)

2- The two loves of my life (Ryan & Wyndham) are Redheaded Freckled beauties, which I call Freckled Pumpkin heads. 

3- I have the feeling all my chitlin's will be beautiful reds as it runs ramped on both sides, my mother, my granmother both reds.  My husband, both his brothers, his uncle, his Aunt all reds.  Love me some Red heads :)

Speaking of Redheads, have you seen the newest Harry Potter.  Is Ron not adorable??!!

Let me know what you think of the name!  Need some feedback!

xoxox
Pam

The Trick to Out-Of-The-Box Baking

Now I am not a cuisine Queen or connoisseur of baked goods, but I can
make some pretty mean out-of-the-box brownies, cakes and cupcakes~~
and truly I'm not one to brag so listen up!  Super easy trick passed
down from my all-knowing Momma (although she can whip baked goods up
from scratch, unlike me). If you are baking brownies add ingredients
as directed on the box, I usually opt for Betty Crocker triple chuck, 
my personal fav :) Then simply add 3/4 a block of cream cheese, mix
until well blended and then bake as directed. They will be the
gooiest most fudge like brownies ever! I promise you! I suggest
serving warm with 2 scoops of Peppermint Stick Ice Cream over top.
The perfect holiday treat and is beyond uuhh-mazing :) 

Now if using cake batter, follow directions in the back of the box,
then add 1 cup of Sour Cream and mix until well blended. Yes I said
sour cream people, not a typo, but I swear you will not taste it, not
one bit, my husband hates sour cream and there for I do not tell him I
do this and he LOVEEESSSS my cupcakes or as I like to call them
Pamcakes. Bake as directed. Cool. Frost and decorate to your liking
:)  I highly suggest my absolute favorite--
 

Side note, I usually use reduced fat or fat free Sour Cream and Cream
Cheese. You can't taste any difference when baked so why waste the
calories!

  

Hope this is helpful and you can possibly put this to good use with all of your Holiday Baking!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight! 

xoxoox

Pam

Craftaholics Anonymous Gift Exchange

You might remember the Handmade Gift Exchange I mentioned here.  I was paired with the beautiful Ashley from Count it All Joy where she blogs of her life with her Beautiful Boy Leyton.  Presh!!  These are the Christmas items I sent to Miss Ashley :) I'm linking to the Handmade Gift Exchange!

Every girl needs some headgear :)

  Some coastal ornaments, staying true to my Florida roots :)

 Christmas pillows!  Thought the Joy one was appropriate for Ashley!