Holidays | All Things Gwen

Posts Tagged ‘Holidays’

Holiday How To: Baked Christmas Ornaments

December 27, 2010

This Christmas, my goal was to make homemade ornaments — for myself and for friends and family. The main reason was that this was our first married Christmas, and I wanted to do it up and have “stuff” to remember it years from now. That, and I wanted to give thoughtful, economically-friendly gifts that people could use.

Here’s the recipe for salt/dough baked ornaments. It’s a fun thing to do by yourself and with kids. You’ll need:
• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Rolling pin
• Cookie sheets
• Toothpick
• Acrylic paint – I used the $1 sets that have about five little multi-colored mini pots
• Paint brushes
• Puffy paint
• Glitter glue
• Ribbon or string
• Jewels, sequins
• Craft glue
• Triple shine spray

Place flour and salt in a bowl, add the water and oil, then stir until blended. Once the dough
holds together, make it into a ball and knead it with your hands to make a smooth texture.

Sprinkle some flour on the countertop and roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Cut out
the ornaments with cookie cutters, design your own using a blunt knife, or shape dough with
your fingers. Use a toothpick to carve a hole into the top of the ornament to thread a string through to hang the decoration.

Bake at 250 degrees until hard — one to two hours.

Once cooled, paint and decorate. Thread a string or ribbon through the hole and hang the decoration on the tree or elsewhere in your home. Spray with triple shine spray, and you’re done!

These ornaments can be reused year after year. They are great for all holidays, just use different colors, shapes and designs.

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Sweets!

December 12, 2010

I’ve never really been into baking. My mom doesn’t bake much, so I never really grew up around desserts and sweet treats.

One time, when Billy and I started dating, his mom was making a pudding-filled cake. I actually made a comment about how many Snak Paks she must have opened. (NO IDEA you could make pudding! … or whipped cream — which I would soon discover.)

Over the years, Billy’s mom taught me how to make a lot of great meals (like homemade pizza and shrimp parm) and desserts. We’ve had a lot of good times in the kitchen and around the table. One birthday, she made me a gigantic cupcake cake! Another time, she made Billy an ice cream cake; and she even made trays of cookies for my bridal shower. And, a few weeks ago, we made mini apple pies in a mini mold together. [Follow the link at the end of this blog post to see more pics of Marie's goodies/the treats I just described!]

Marie has definitely inspired me to get into baking, but so have some of my friends. Here are some really yummy and sweet recipes; Chinese Haystack Cookies (recipe from Ashley) and Pineapple Stuffing (recipe from Kathy). ENJOY!

Chinese Haystack Cookies
Thin, chow mein noodles – available in the ethnic/Asian section of the grocery store
Bag of butterscotch chips
Bag of chocolate chips

Melt the chips in either the microwave or on the stovetop, using equal parts of butterscotch and chocolate. Add noodles and use two forks to cover with melted mix. Move small bunches of covered noodles onto parchment or wax paper. Let them cool and dry on the counter or in the fridge. (This is an easy recipe that would be great to give away to co-workers and friends as holiday “gifts.”

Pineapple Stuffing
2 – 20 oz cans of crushed pineapple
8 eggs
2 sticks of butter softened
2 cups of sugar
10 slices of white bread

Blend everything, except bread, together with mixer. Fold in bread. Place in a greased 10”x17” baking dish, 350 degrees for one and a half hours.
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Ten “Sexy” Exercises for Fun and Fitness

February 13, 2010

Sometimes, being “sexy” and feeling “sexy” is a state of mind. It’s true … when you look great — you feel great! In honor of Valentine’s Day, get a little flirty, fun and playful with your workout routine.

Here are some creative fitness moves you can do at home. All you’ll need is a chair, music of your choice and good attitude.

Hip roll, head roll – Stand behind your chair. Roll your hips to the right and to the left. Then, roll your head to the right and to the left for a quick stretch. Keep one or both hands on the chair for balance. Suggested: Do one to two sets of 15 reps.

Long stride, short stride – Take a sexy walk around your chair. Try big steps and work your way around with just five steps. Take small steps and work your way around with 10 or more steps. Suggested: Go around the chair a total of 10 times, alternating your stride (5 steps – 5 times; 10 steps – 5 times).

Close-open, close-open – Sit on your chair and open and close your legs. Make your movements slow and measured to really work your inner and outer thighs. You can also add your own “resistance.” Focus on squeezing your outer thighs with each “open” movement, and squeeze your inner thighs as you bring your knees together. For an extra challenge, keep your feet off the ground and grip the seat underneath you for balance. Suggested: Do three sets of 15.

Flirty kick – Sit on your chair and move forward so you’re on the edge. Lean back and grip the seat underneath you. Lift your legs up, squeeze your abs tightly, keep your knees together and kick — tiny little kicks — to work your abs. Suggested: Do three sets at 30 seconds each set.

Drop it like it’s hot – Sit down on your chair and stand up — to work your quads, hamstrings and glutes. Concentrate on that squat position to make a 90⁰ angle with your lower half and squeeze your glutes tightly as you stand back up. Suggested: Do three sets of 15.

Dip, baby dip – Stand with your back facing the front your chair. Grip the edge of the seat and keep your fingertips facing toward you. Bend your elbows to make a 90⁰ angle and bend your knees to make a 90⁰ angle. Lift and lower — keeping your hips up — to work your triceps. For more of a challenge, do the same arm movement and keep your legs straight and extended. Suggested: Do three sets of 15.

Sexy lunge – Stand behind your chair and push one leg back, squeezing your glutes. Bend your front leg and make sure your knee is on top of your ankle at a 90⁰ angle. Hold on the back of the chair and slowly pull your back leg up to meet your front leg to work your legs, hamstrings and glutes. Suggested: Do this 15 times each side — two to three sets.

Lean back – Sit on your chair backwards. Hold on the back of the chair and lean back to stretch and exercise your back. Shake your head to toss your hair! Do three sets of 15.

Step-up and walk away – Place one foot on the seat of your chair. Push though the heel of that foot and step up to pull yourself up and work your quads, hamstrings and glutes. Step down and walk away. Do this 15 times each side — two to three sets.

Open and up – Lay with your back on the ground in front of your chair. Stretch your arms out to the side or keep them under your hips. Open your legs to be on either side of the bottom of the chair, then bring your legs together to work your abs. Do three sets of 15.

If you want, show your “honey” these sexy fitness moves … and enjoy your night!

This blog was also featured on MrsMosNJ.com. Photo by B G.

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