Incredible Holiday Edibles

Brandied Raspberry Jam mirasolfarm $7.00	Ground Ethiopian Coffee RedRoosterCoff... $10.99
Almond Pecan Cookie Spirals,... YummyAffair $7.95	One Dozen Lemon Biscotti cafejoy $10.00
Pure Raw Chunk Honey Pint honeyrunfarm $12.00	Caramel Corn - 1 Pound HeavenlyCrunch $13.95
Fabulous Fudge Bliss Brownie... BlissBrownies $15.95	Blooming TEA - 4 assorted bl... TableLabs $6.80
Chocolate Butter Fudge Truff... BizzyBetty $13.00	Handmade Lemon Meringue Mars... GlitterCitySwe... $5.75
licorice caramel chews 4oz sweetniks $8.00	Handmade Twisted Lollipops -... FusionSweets $21.00
Oh Yum Candy Cane Brittle- 8... tookies $12.00	Loaded Carrot Cupcakes DesignsbyAshle... $30.00
English Toffee with Almonds ... ChocolateMadne... $11.00	Giant Chocolate Pretzels whe... PernillasSS $7.45

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What would the holiday season be without the FOOD?

All treats featured in this post are part of my newest Etsy treasury! The images are LIVE LINKS - click to browse, shop and enjoy!

It's almost here

Tree decorated. Holiday music playlist in constant rotation. Shopping done. Wrapping almost complete. Ingredients for dish for Christmas dinner ready and waiting. Plans for day after made.

It's almost here...

Photo credit: me! ©2008 apt3 design + photography.

Santa for Soldiers

While researching on e-How.com for a Christmas craft project, I came across this article about How To Play Santa for Soldiers. My husband, a number of the men in my family, as well as a handful of our friends, are veterans. These are simple and effective things almost anyone can do to encourage and brighten the holidays for those that protect our freedom.

1. Donate to Operation Phone Home (AT&T and the USO) and give troops the chance to make a free call home over the holidays.



2. Serve a specific soldier. AnySoldier.com provides directions to donate care packages to soldiers in any branch of the military that are stationed in harm's way. They have helped about 93,861 service members to date. The website provides a list of soldiers' names and their wants and needs and will walk you through the steps to get your care package or letter of encouragement into the hands of a soldier.

3. GoodSearch is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates 50 percent of its revenue--about a penny per search--to listed American charities and schools designated by its users. The donated money comes from the site's advertisers. If the charity you like to support is not listed, you can add them on GoodSearch's homepage.

4. Many organizations that provide care packages and letters of encouragement to soldiers have enough donations for goods, but lack the postage necessary to ship the packages to Iraq or Afghanistan. In some cases, the organizations spend more than $10,000 a month on postage. Consider donating an amount specifically for postage to defray these costs.


Image - Mark Glenn Studios, New York

5. Canine soldiers are the often forgotten heroes of war. They sniff out bombs and mines, build morale, relieve stress and provide comfort to men and women fighting abroad. These dogs need a variety of equipment while stationed at these desert locations to keep them comfortable and to help them do their jobs and keep the troops safe.

Some of the top-requested items for dogs supporting U.S. troops include dog brushes; water bowls (including collapsible bowls); large dog beds; latex toys and refillable Kong toys; dog snacks and treats; unscented dog shampoo; and veterinarian-type dog scales, which can be found online.

An RPCM Chilly Dog Cool Vest, which dog handlers recommend to help keep the dogs cool in 135-degree summer heat. Dogs pant more when they are hot, which diminishes their ability to detect explosives and puts military members' lives at risk.

Click images for photo credits--donation info via e-How--find more ideas here: How to Play Santa for Soldiers.

Holiday Decor: Advent Calendars

DIY Printable (PDF) Advent Calendar - Homemade Happiness.


Farmhouse Garland Advent Calendar Kit - Hello Magpie.


DIY Advent Tree - Image credit + instructions via Sunset.

Simple, modern twists on a classic childhood decoration--I like them all!

Spiced Pine Cones

1. Buy a bag of pine cones or gather your own. Scrub the dirt off the pine cones as you rinse them under warm water and stack them.

2. Place the pine cones on an old baking pan with two inches between the pine cones on all sides.

3. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Slide the pine cones into the oven and set the timer for one hour to kill any bacteria. When the timer goes off, remove the cones and place onto newspaper.

4. Collect the spices that you want to use as seasoning for your pine cones. Popular options include ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground clove.

5. Sprinkle the spices onto the pine cones. Coat them well by turning the pine cone over and sprinkling spices on all sides. Tap off excess spices.

6. Allow cones to dry then tuck them into a basket and place near your fireplace.

Crafty idea via how to - image credit © Julie Magers Soulen, 2010.

Holiday Sale 2010 - 15% OFF

New in shop! 1950s Jumbo Handmade Santa Doll - $60

HOLIDAY SALE 2010: 11/26 - 12/3* receive 15% off items in my sale section - NO CODE NEEDED*, prices shown include the discount* (mailing is not included).

WE SHIP WORLDWIDE + combo mailing on most orders.

View my shop policies for details and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

***Updated as of 11/28/10 @ 11:00 AM PST

Doors and Windows - The Holiday Collection

Evergreen Holiday Wreath Door2Door $55.00	Winter house --- little cabi... Cookstah $45.00
Rudolph Classic White Reinde... Middleburg $69.00	Girl at the window - ACEO - ... SmallPaintings $4.00
The What'll I Do Pup - 5... chelebert12 $21.00	Vintage Pewter Candle Holder... LillyQueenBead... $15.00
Greeting Card Set - The Nutt... elr104 $12.00	Red Door says... Christmas..... papermadeneces... $25.00
Winter Photographs and Vinta... PicsandPanes $80.00	One of a Kind Natural Advent... DearAdam $82.00
Frost Feathers - 5x7 inch ic... LittleOddMe $6.75	White house with pine tree i... Pinderella $11.95
SPARLKLE 5 x 7 Photographic ... hlkparis $10.00	holiday double decker bus f... mummysam $8.50
Miniature Christmas wreath cinen $11.50	12 inch Christmas Photo Adve... MadeCreatively $9.95

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Southern Gothic - A Winter Collection

Tea Dyed Heirloom Scarf GreenTrunkDesi... $77.00	like a virgin MademoiselleCh... $8.00
Darkling Tangled Collar DarkRide $34.00	Graveyard Flower Garden - Fi... littleshopofph... $15.00
GINGERDEAD MAN PERFUME - Gin... solsticescents $9.00	Steampunk Deer ring chinookhugs $29.99
bandwidth neck cuff quarks $30.00	CHRISTMAS CROW print Jim Sm... jimsmeltzgalle... $3.00
Silvery Icicle Crown SEStudio $120.00	Shadows and Graves - 11 inch... digitalartist $60.00
Creep - clear resin bangle f... ParAmourDesign $35.00	Romantic French Quarters Boh... bayousalvage $150.00
Dark Attic-11x14 duskflyer $25.00	Jesus sculpture plaque yosalvovendo $5.00
Gargoyle Tags for Scrapbooki... MissTeacherLad... $3.25	haunted drive series- the tr... nidodigazza $15.00

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