tied up with a bow

I took advantage of a morning full of holiday spirt (you gotta feel Christmasy after spending a morning with Santa and his elves) to tackle my mantel before I thought too much about it and psyched myself out. I found my inspiration and got an idea.<br /><br />I'll make all those hurricanes I have stashed in the basement useful and <strike>stick</strike> artfully arrange Christmas lights in there and make those suckers glow. But my big honkin strands of lights we use on the tree were not fitting into my little hurricanes.<br /><br />One trip to Hobby Lobby later and I had 4 boxes of the shortest strand of lights I could find - a white string of 25 for $1.99. Wahoo.<br /><br /><i>Lazy note/sign of a faux crafter</i>: There are serval tips on Pinterest about how to drill a hole in your glass to get the strand to feed thru the bottom so the cord doesn't show etc. However I'm of the opinion that if you are standing close enough to my mantel that you see little white cords popping from the top/back of my hurricanes and this horrifies you, you have yet to have enough cocktails. Sit down, I'll shake you another drink.<br /><br />So with my hurricanes all light up I started to play with my <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/11/who-doesnt-want-to-wear-ribbon.html" target="_blank">ribbon</a>. Tie it around the hurricane? Boring. Wrap it? Not without my glue gun. String it from the... huh? Yeah no, not working.<br /><br />It was about this time that I had to run some errands and being the excellent example and Mom that I am, I of course neatly organized and cleaned up my project before I left. Yeah right. When I came back though, I saw my 'clean up' stuffed in the hurricanes and thought, you know what, that doesn't look half bad. With a little fluff here and there, I ended up with this. (Sometimes a haphazard clean up pays off)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_DPpTQzs6D6tQnZrLVHSVlN2MVQIJyQXL5ug45hu4psIqPzj9wt4Eai-zIpUCzhwzizY1m9XU0DnXPgTBZj9qPKHhF6xHl8lMUdWlZ-QJp0Cr0HAARcet6hv0n-SeFjAaUUz-RMUqGVd/s1600/PC061701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_DPpTQzs6D6tQnZrLVHSVlN2MVQIJyQXL5ug45hu4psIqPzj9wt4Eai-zIpUCzhwzizY1m9XU0DnXPgTBZj9qPKHhF6xHl8lMUdWlZ-QJp0Cr0HAARcet6hv0n-SeFjAaUUz-RMUqGVd/s640/PC061701.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We call this casual ribbon placement</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xhfc9VBEehNCWoVZi7b3H_jnm2e0GV1djddlnEAyNsyIu-b0tITJMP-mOYcfMJGpclpHP3qTXwdx3cGki1C-uBU_-_WAwv8JZrj9vZ0Vc3htadRpuDz_QNFfFVwfFKg3tQZloR-6PIuD/s1600/PC061709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Xhfc9VBEehNCWoVZi7b3H_jnm2e0GV1djddlnEAyNsyIu-b0tITJMP-mOYcfMJGpclpHP3qTXwdx3cGki1C-uBU_-_WAwv8JZrj9vZ0Vc3htadRpuDz_QNFfFVwfFKg3tQZloR-6PIuD/s640/PC061709.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For shame - my cord!</td></tr></tbody></table>One piece down. A few more to go.<br /><br />I also wanted a bit of height and greenery. I'm not spending major duckets to pop those mamma jammas in front of my faux hearth. So I went with a scaled down version. And we will plant them in the backyard when we are done.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7CvhGJm0lMOv6vRefU3rJlRjF_WvNKdKcmFt0VmwKLET2Gov-Hxh6ZsfkqMVeGO6MqoZNW7NCW_6EBaYMXIgiZZx7-aEcfNyqJLTPtkxkr2vHW8WDayXiUNtZX06dyP-i5znf5bI1Peg/s1600/littleblackdoortreemantel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7CvhGJm0lMOv6vRefU3rJlRjF_WvNKdKcmFt0VmwKLET2Gov-Hxh6ZsfkqMVeGO6MqoZNW7NCW_6EBaYMXIgiZZx7-aEcfNyqJLTPtkxkr2vHW8WDayXiUNtZX06dyP-i5znf5bI1Peg/s640/littleblackdoortreemantel.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />I was feelin good, feelin pumped.  But that big black hole was sucking all the festiveness out of my progress.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFi_eLGponQf3quZmlW9G2cdpviRHddQcliTbYNLqg6rEwqQx3eXkfmtgZGV-nPdRLHK3jg9ne44MvrwOE8bW-tv7wfBcGcyinXGOHJvYyYJn_vFOrn90BYUag8wIkALn9GIhG0tADBNP/s1600/PC061685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFi_eLGponQf3quZmlW9G2cdpviRHddQcliTbYNLqg6rEwqQx3eXkfmtgZGV-nPdRLHK3jg9ne44MvrwOE8bW-tv7wfBcGcyinXGOHJvYyYJn_vFOrn90BYUag8wIkALn9GIhG0tADBNP/s640/PC061685.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlc1ZK4nN7T-djnU83y5Sojzh6ho8_sfrOgDW5xkr-_T1mzPAlJz56L58u6eoBE6jNaXBLCdqj2eJQLf794hyphenhyphenB1lhK4L38sLz6az3TE-GI-zG5S42v5J53SXTOQxjC0dRVl19YF3ECuHm/s1600/littleblackdoorchristmasmantel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlc1ZK4nN7T-djnU83y5Sojzh6ho8_sfrOgDW5xkr-_T1mzPAlJz56L58u6eoBE6jNaXBLCdqj2eJQLf794hyphenhyphenB1lhK4L38sLz6az3TE-GI-zG5S42v5J53SXTOQxjC0dRVl19YF3ECuHm/s640/littleblackdoorchristmasmantel.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">how <i>DO</i> you take a picture of a mirror without yourself smack in the middle?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I love this idea (if only my fireplace worked I would be all over some red wood).<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Great way to fill in the dead space in my fireplace. http://decorartsnow.com/2011/11/09/november-9-2011-store-tour-c-wonder-ful/" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/6896205649022807_cOFRPMGw_b.jpg" style="height: 241px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="253" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div id="PinActionButtons"><div class="colorlight" id="PinSource">From <a href="http://decorartsnow.com/2011/11/09/november-9-2011-store-tour-c-wonder-ful/" target="_blank">decorartsnow.com</a></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><a class="PinImage ImgLink" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205649022807/"> </a><br />So a few snips of wrapping paper and here we are. Thanks Target for making wrapping paper that satisfies my red addiction and my polka dot addiction all in one. And it sparkles too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYuU-af2VgvxYjEh_Cnp2sK9byVR5qdmfFpMGLE1nI6Gxvl7vtyrMRPJHW6JlcALPpEdg4Z_Rd6UyjN4Fu_ET4BwN74Te-wQiMgvYsZqNCzcgjlNpB8c3h11ClskNbrrCvGeGzidt1KSU/s1600/littleblackdoorwrappingpapermantel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYuU-af2VgvxYjEh_Cnp2sK9byVR5qdmfFpMGLE1nI6Gxvl7vtyrMRPJHW6JlcALPpEdg4Z_Rd6UyjN4Fu_ET4BwN74Te-wQiMgvYsZqNCzcgjlNpB8c3h11ClskNbrrCvGeGzidt1KSU/s640/littleblackdoorwrappingpapermantel.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Ewww. Ahhh. Ohhh.<br /><br />So there you have it. (I'll try to take some more moody night time lights pictures if I can figure out the while balance on my camera.) The mantel is done and I'm ready to move on to the tree. <br /><br />What have you done with your mantel? Do you have trouble getting your stockings to stay in place with little hands around? (we've had to take our down until the big night) Any holiday decorations you are excited about? It can't be just me people. C'mon!<br /><div class="ImgLink" id="PinImage"></div>

tied up with a bow

I took advantage of a morning full of holiday spirt (you gotta feel Christmasy after spending a morning with Santa and his elves) to tackle ...

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Hungry Girl 1-2-3: Fiesta Bites

These Fiesta Bites were a huge hit at the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/12/weekend-recap.html">cookie exchange</a>.  No one knew they were "diet friendly" food either, which I love :).  That little "secret" makes them all the more delicious, wouldn't you say?  I topped some with tomatoes and some without, since the chef doesn't eat tomatoes unless it's coming from a Heinz bottle!    <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQKkwF_BOg58C2FCjXQrKlJ1EgQqjc5y8hsSRWNZKznn2yRx6PolQAWTnlqyZx5IncxsWE1bC6BTga4ECHTsfJn6umcEnuGcJD0WcxFu0INUmFC2GzTqndrnMyYgaIV-a8cWTWECcJsA/s1600/cookie+exchange+013+redone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQKkwF_BOg58C2FCjXQrKlJ1EgQqjc5y8hsSRWNZKznn2yRx6PolQAWTnlqyZx5IncxsWE1bC6BTga4ECHTsfJn6umcEnuGcJD0WcxFu0INUmFC2GzTqndrnMyYgaIV-a8cWTWECcJsA/s400/cookie+exchange+013+redone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Please note my modifications that make them come out to 1 Points+ each.  Also, my version below is doubled.  In her book the recipe is halved - making only 12 servings. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID660/images/hungrygirl123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID660/images/hungrygirl123.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><u><b>Hungry Girl Fiesta Bites</b></u> (1 Points+ for one "bite")<br /><br /><i><b>Ingredients</b><b>: </b></i>  <br />-24 small square wonton wrappers <i>(I ended up using 30)</i><br />-4 tablespoons taco sauce<br />-2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese, room temperature <i>(I used WW block cream cheese)</i><br />-2 teaspoons dry taco seasoning mix<br />-Two 9.75-ounce (or 10-ounce) can 98% fat-free chunk white chicken breast in water, drained and flaked<br />-1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed<br />-1/2 cup corn, thawed from frozen<br />-1/2 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese <i>(I used 2% shredded cheddar)</i><br />-2 plum tomatoes, chopped<br />-Optional: salt and black pepper to taste <i><b><br /></b></i><br /><i><b>Preparation: </b></i></blockquote><blockquote>Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br /><br />Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray. Place each wonton wrapper into a cup of the muffin pan, and press it into the bottom and sides.<br /><br />Lightly spray the wrappers with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven for about 4 minutes, until the corners begin to brown. Leaving the oven on, set muffin pan aside to cool.<br /><br />Mix taco sauce, cream cheese, and taco seasoning together in a bowl. Add chicken and stir until coated. Add beans, corn, and cheddar cheese. Stir well. If you like, season to taste with salt and pepper.<br /><br />Evenly distribute mixture into the wonton shells, about 2 tablespoons each <i>(Note: I only used 1 Tbsp for each won ton, which seemed to be plenty!)</i>. Return pan to the oven and bake for about 8 minutes, until the chicken mixture is hot.<br /><br />Once cool enough to handle, remove the filled wonton shells, and top evenly with tomato. Serve and enjoy!<br /><br />MAKES 30 SERVINGS</blockquote>Have you had these before?  What is your favorite Hungry Girl recipe?

Hungry Girl Weight Watcher Recipes Hungry Girl 1-2-3: Fiesta Bites

These Fiesta Bites were a huge hit at the cookie exchange .  No one knew they were "diet friendly" food either, which I love :).  ...

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