A Memorable Christmas, 2012

Homemade Limoncello

During Thanksgiving, my in-laws brought up a giant box of their home grown lemons. I knew immediately those perfectly virgin rinds would make a perfectly flavored limoncello.


I took que from CHOW and Martha Stewart and made this wonderful liqueur as gifts for friends on Christmas.

With an ingredient list of only 4 items, how could you find an excuse not to make it? Keep in mind you'll need a week to let the lemons and vodka do their thing, so plan ahead if giving it as a gift.


Why do you need limoncello in your freezer? Because it's good. How do you serve it? Traditionally, served up neat, in a chilled cordial glass. But I like it mixed with a chilled cava. Or with orange juice and seltzer.


The process for making it is really quite easy.

1. Peel about a dozen lemons, trying to only take the yellow part of the rind. Too much white rind can make it turn bitter.

2. Stick those rinds into a big jar. Pour in a bottle of Everclear 151. The higher proof the better.

3. Give a little shakey-shake (with the lid on of course) and store in a dark, cool place, like your cupboard. Shake and burp (open the lid) once a day for a week.

4. Mix 3 cups sugar and 3 cups water in a saucepan for about 5 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and it's thickened up a bit. Let cool.

5. Strain your jar of lemon vodka through a cheesecloth lined fine mesh sieve. It will take a little time to let it all strain through. Be patient. You want a nice clear liquid in the end.

6. Take your lemon liquid and your simple syrup and mix together. Pour into decorative jars (or one big one for yourself) and dress it up with these labels I made for you.

7. Store in the freezer and give when you need an elegant, original gift, or pull out when you're having friends over for brunch.

Our 25 Days of Christmas

Here's the final look at our 25 days of Advent Activities.

These are definitely ones we can repeat for years to come, so I plan on recycling this for next year and am excited to track the progress of the kids' involvement and abilities.

One thing that I did notice in Tayden that I wanted to share was how his creativity and imagination really took flight after doing something stimulating every day. I was astounded at the difference in just one month of diligently engaging with them in these small ways.

I'm excited in this next year to keep on this track as the oldest is reaching "pre-k" age (we're planning on homeschooling) and will be looking to take ideas from you parents on techniques or activities that you have found work with your littles.

Merry Christmas and here's to looking forward to the new year!!

Merry Christmas & 2011 Review!

Thank you all for a most terrific year here on the blog! I'm extremely excited for what's to come in 2012. If you have any recommendations on what you'd like to see here in this next year, as well as the things you've enjoyed so far, please leave a comment below.

Without further ado, here is the 2011 Waller Christmas card!




{our card from 2010}

A Last Minute Ornament That Will Last a Lifetime

{today's post is from Melissa at daily-ish mel. a place to enjoy such weekly posts as wordless wednesday or crafty friday. 

she's my crafting partner in crime and I'm so happy to have her share a hand embroidered felt ornament with us today. 

be sure to stop by her blog and say hi!}

The idea for this ornament came from the festively fun book Fa la la la Felt. I love working with felt for many reasons, mainly because it doesn't ravel when cut and makes for a perfect canvas for embroidery projects.


The beading was very time consuming but really added the delicate detail I was looking for.


From earth-friendly felt, eco-felt to bamboo felt, crafting with felt can be green. Start yours today for a lifetime of Christmas enjoyment!

Gallery Wall for Artwork and Christmas Cards

{I am giddy with delight for today's guest post from Abbey over at Aesthetic Outburst.

you can find her amazing handiwork gracing pages all over the blogisphere. from the creative art in her shop,
to  making and styling costumes for Parents Magazine, and everything in between! this is a blog you'll want to bookmark and visit daily.

here today she is sharing a tutorial for a gallery wall. use it to hang art work or for displaying Christmas cards. thanks for the great idea Abbey!}

Hi, I’m Abbey Hendrickson! I live with my little family in rural upstate New York. We recently purchased an old, abandoned farmhouse and have spent the last few months working to make it our own. When I’m not tearing down walls or refilling sippy cups, I write a blog called Aesthetic Outburst and work as a freelance craft stylist. Thanks so much to Christen for inviting me here as a guest blogger!


One of the first things we did when we moved into our house was to make a gallery wall for our kiddos (ages 2 and 4). They’re both quite prolific and love to see their artwork displayed. Making a gallery wall is simple, and kids of all ages will love having a spot to hang artwork, photos, or important reminders. You’ll need:

screw eyes
wire (I used 18 gauge)
wire cutters
a level and/or measuring tape
clothespins
artwork




Instructions:

1. Mark the spot where you want to put your first screw eye. Using a level or tape measure, mark the spot where you want the matching screw eye. Mine are about 3 feet apart.
2. Twist the screw eyes into each mark.
3. Secure wire around the first screw eye and stretch the wire to the other. Wrap wire around that screw eye and cut off any excess wire.
4. Continue for each level, being sure to take into account the average size of your artwork and keep enough space in between.
5. Hang your artwork!

Making a Difference Around the Globe

{please join me in welcoming Courtney from See Jane Advocate to the blog today.
she's here to share her heart, passion, and terrific ideas on how to make a difference in other people's lives this holiday season.
be sure to show her some love by leaving a comment below as well as visiting her website. thanks, Christen}
I'm so honored to be guest blogging here today! My name is Courtney, and I am extremely passionate about advocacy and helping people in need around the world. I know I'm not the only busy mom who wants to make a difference, so I created a blog called See Jane Advocate where moms (or busy people in general) can find quick, affordable and practical ways to make a difference.

Since the idea of finding ways to make a global difference in your daily life is one of my biggest life principals, it makes sense to me to incorporate those values into our Christmas celebrations. So I wanted to share 4 easy ideas on how to do that.

1. Stocking stuffers of cash to be spent on an online relief gift catalog

This has become one of my favorite parts of Christmas. Two years ago we started replacing stocking stuffers for our families with envelopes of $15 cash to be spent together on the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog or World Relief's Catalog of Hope. So on Christmas day, in that lull between gifts and lunch, we all get online and everyone spends their $15 (PS. You can do SO much for $15! Did you know you can feed a hungry baby for a WEEK for $9???). It's a win-win for us because it gives us an activity to do and it's crazy awesome to see the difference that our Christmas celebration makes for people in developing countries.


2. Make or Give an Operation Christmas Child Online Shoebox

If you aren't familiar with Operation Christmas Child, I would strongly encourage you to check it out. You can now make and send a shoebox gift online for $35 or pay for a box and send it to someone else to let them fill it and send it. This would be a great way for a family to do something awesome together on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Elementary aged kids would probably get especially excited to put this box together on the website (they can even upload a photo of themselves and write a note for the receiving child!). I also love this as a gift for families who don't live near you.


3. Buy just ONE gift that makes a difference

I know it's late for gifts, but just ONE gift that makes a difference can change someone's life in a developing country. Here are couple of my favorites that are pretty mainstream so you don't have to worry about shipping in time for Christmas:

FEED Bags. Fabulous bags (I use mine as a diaper bag!) that provide food, vitamins and other essentials for children in developing countries. You can find them at Whole Foods, Nordstrom, Gap and tons of other retailers.

TOMS (both the shoes and their new eyewear). Since they are super hip these days, they're pretty easy to find! Here's where you can find a retailer for their eyewear or a retailer for their footwear. They also offer gift cards!

West Elm has a whole line of products called Handmade in Haiti that are made by Haitian artisans attempting to rebuild their life after the earthquake. The products are RAD and support a great cause. Here's where you can find the nearest store.


4. Send a Christmas card to your sponsor child (and if you don't have one, get one!)

This idea started last year when Abreham, our sponsor child in Ethiopia, sent us a Christmas card with a drawing of an Ethiopian Christmas tree and it looked nothing like ours. Joelle (my oldest) was intrigued, so we sent him a card with a drawing of OUR Christmas tree...and it has now become a tradition. It's been a great way to get my kiddo involved in something meaningful that is also fun for her (even if she wouldn't show her face for the photos)! If you don't yet have a sponsor child, it's really one of the best things that we've done and I would encourage you to find a child to sponsor. We go through Food for the Hungry because we got to see their amazing work first hand in Ethiopia a few years ago, but you could also go through Compassion International or several other great organizations.


Ok, so these things might not change the WHOLE world. I do realize that. But they will deeply effect the life of at least one person in need and at least one person close to you (you, your child, your family, your friends). The point is: Do what you can. Even if it's a little thing, it can make a big difference to someone else.

I hope these things inspire you to find meaningful traditions that will work for YOUR family. Please let me know if you have any questions!

And if you have any ideas to add to this list please share them with us in the comments!!! I hope you all have a very merry and blessed Christmas! Thanks for having me here!

Menu Monday, Christmas Week

Instead of my usual weekly menu, I thought I'd share some of the food traditions we do for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with some links to recipes, for you to try too (just click on the photos to take you to the recipe).

Christmas Eve has always been a tamale dinner, ever since I can remember. Our next door neighbors would wheel a wagon full of steamy hot, homemade tamales, with all the sides, to our house and we'd devour it in no time flat. I love those memories, and so it continues on with our family here. We all gather for a homemade tamale dinner and do an ornament white elephant exchange, to get us in the Christmas spirit.


It also wouldn't be Christmas Eve without making sugar cookies for Santa. We'll make a variation of these two this year.




I make monkey bread for Christmas morning. I prep it the night before so I can throw it in the oven first thing in the morning, and still be a part of all the present-mayhem. The warm, gooey, cinnamon pull apart bread is perfect for sneaking a quick bite in between gifts.


Then my mother-in-law is in charge of Christmas brunch. Because she does it the best. She's been making eggs benedict since my husband and his siblings were wee ones. It's nice to sit back, relax, and stuff my face. The one day a year I allow myself to eat eggs. It's that worth it.


And we'll bring these mimosas with homemade limoncello we made.


After substantial resting from the adults and playing of new toys from the kids, we like to sit down to a quiet dinner at home, and enjoy the peace that Christmas brings.


I look forward to these food traditions all year. What do you and your family do? Will you start a new tradition this year? I'd love to hear your ideas below!

Favorites Friday, Trees!

A few years back I started collecting snowmen. Their cuteness is irresistible (and I'm not a collector...too much clutter).

But lately, I've found them a bit too cute. You know what I mean? I'm definitely finding favor with the humble Christmas tree. In all forms.

Check out some crafty finds I've rounded up. Trying to decide which one to do this year, they're all so fun. The ice cream cone trees would be super fun to do with the kiddos, in lieu of a gingerbread house. Same with the pine cone & pom pom "tree", it's only 2 ingredients (Kiwi Crate has a whole 2 ingredient series that's definitely worth checking out)!

What collection do you fancy for Christmas decor? Leave your comments below!


{1: wood pallet tree, 2: candy cookie trees, 3: vintage ruler tree, 4: piñata tree,
5: felt trees, 6: wood block tree, 7: pine cones & pom-poms}

Imaginative Play, Kitchens

Our big gift to the kids this year is a play kitchen and all the accessories and play food. These mini little kitchens are everywhere right now, and for good reason. They are so fun. Spark creativity. And develop imaginative play.

We decided to make our own from an old tv stand, so we could do it on the cheap, and have exactly what we wanted in it.

Here's the stand we picked up for $5! Aka, the "before".


I also went to thrift stores and the dollar store to pick up a lot of the accessories like towel racks, dishware, faucet, etc.

The most important part of the kitchen is the food. We got a variety, but if you too are looking for a good resource, start here.

I also rounded up some inspiration, whether you'd like to buy or make one yourself. I'll also be sure to post our "after" pictures...if it gets done in time for Christmas. Wish us luck!


{row 1: 1, 2, 3}
{row 2: 1, 2, 3}
{row 3: 1, 2, 3}