Couponista Queen ~ Saving, Eating, Crafting
Saving, Eating, Crafting
Cookie Cutter Snowman Art
Fingerprint Snowman Scene
Mason Jar Snowman
Snowman Washer Necklaces
Ziploc Baggie Snowman
Coffee Cup Snowmen
Make-Up Snowman
Spin Art Snowman
All the gifts I meticulously shopped deals to get, and so nicely wrapped, are all over the house. The kids rooms are messier than ever before, so is the rest of the house, and this momma is exhausted from the run up and then cooking all day. But I can’t rest. Not yet. Not until my house is decluttered and everything is organized – especially the toys! Here are my five best tips for organizing toys after Christmas:
Pitch it: Explaining to your child that her barbie with no hair and one leg is trash can be heartbreaking, and more tense than international negotiations. The best day to do this, (besides when she is NOT AROUND!) is the day shes occupied with her new toys. Sift through the toy box, and be brutal. Gather everything that is broken and missing pieces, and toss it in the trash! You will feel awesome.
Rotate it: Kids don’t need 20+ toys to play with every single day. In all honesty, the more toys a child has, the less likely they are to play with them, or appreciate what they have. Keep 10-15 of their new and very favorite ones out and box the rest. In a month, when they have become bored of the toys you left out, put those away and bring out the ones you put away. It will feel like Christmas morning every time you rotate a box.
Sell it or Donate it: Make a big pile of toys that are in great condition that you child has grown out of or totally lost interest in and find a local charity to donate them to, or list them on local buy/sell/trade sites. I love including the kids in the donation, because it’s easier for them to give their toys away if they know a new child is going to get to love them! We do this BEFORE Christmas, and we do it again AFTER!
Rearrange it: Sometimes a quick rearrangement of existing toy storage bins can make all the difference. Move the toy box to a different area. Remember, if you can’t close the toy box, that means there needs to be more in the donate or rotate box.
Label it: I love labels. I would label everything in my house if it wouldn’t look silly. You can use word labels for older kids, or picture labels for younger kids. Showing your child that everything has a place and everything should be in it’s place will help save your sanity and keep the toys organized. Make them help clean up and care for their playthings so that they will mean more to them.
What toy organization tips do you have?
Yields: 1 dozen
INGREDIENTS
24 Nabisco Ritz crackers
12-15 caramels, unwrapped
1 Tablespoon whipping cream
11 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-1/2 teaspoons bourbon (I like using a good bourbon. Don’t cheap out on this. Airport bottles are a good and cheap way to get good liquor without buying the whole big bottle.)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS
1. Line a large baking sheet with wax or parchment paper.
2. Lay 12 of the Ritz crackers on the lined pan, spaced apart by at least 2 inches.
3. In a microwave safe bowl, add the caramels and whipping cream. Microwave for 20-30 seconds and stir. Continue to microwave and stir, in 15 second increments, until smooth and fluid, taking care to not overheat.
4. Allow the caramel sauce to cool for 10 minutes.
5. Place 1 Tablespoon of the caramel sauce on top of each cracker on the baking pan. Place the remaining crackers on top of the caramel (like a sandwich) and chill for 30 minutes. It’s fine if some of the caramel oozes out the sides.
6. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips over low/medium heat, stirring occasionally and taking care not to overheat. Once melted and smooth, add the bourbon and stir well to incorporate and heat an additional 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
7. Dip each chilled sandwich cookie into the melted chocolate. I transferred my chocolate to a warmed smaller bowl for easier handling. Coat each cookie completely and place back on the baking sheet.
8. Sprinkle with pecans and chill for 15 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden.
9. ENJOY!!
You can store these cookies in an airtight container for up to one week. They will not last that long in my house! These are good.
Servings: 2 dozen
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups Nabisco Nilla wafers-crushed
1 cup powdered sugar plus 1/2 cup for rolling in
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Hershey’s dark cocoa powder
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup light corn syrup
3 Tablespoons honey
1/4 cup Bacardi (or good light) rum plus 2 Tablespoons
DIRECTIONS
1. Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper and set aside.
2. Add the Nilla wafers to a food processor and break the cookies down into small crumbs.
3. Pour the wafer crumbs into a large mixing bowl. Add the powdered sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, pecans and salt. Whisk to combine.
4. Add the corn syrup, honey and one 1/4 cup of the rum. Mix until a crumbly, stiff batter forms. If your batter is a bit too dry, add additional rum. I added an additional 2 Tablespoons and that seemed to make the batter perfect. Cover and chill for one hour.
5. Remove the chilled batter from the refrigerator. Roll into one inch balls and place on the lined baking sheet. Cover and chill for 10 minutes.
6. Place 1/2 cup powdered sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll each chilled rum ball into the powdered sugar, covering each one completely.
7. ENJOY!! These do pack a punch with the alcohol so don’t let the little ones indulge.
*Store the rum balls in a single layer in an airtight container in the coldest part of your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The rum flavor intensifies with each passing day!!
Yields: 1 1/2 dozen
Ingredients:
8 oz brick of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened at room temperature
1 large egg
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons rum extract
1 Pillsbury Golden Butter cake mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese and butter. Cream until smooth.
3. Add the egg and nutmeg and mix well.
4. Stir in the rum extract.
5. Add the cake mix and baking powder and stir until all of the ingredients are well incorporated.
6. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes for easier handling. TIMESAVER: You can make this dough the day before if you like!
7. Once chilled, roll the cookie dough into 2 inch balls, and then roll them in powdered sugar. Place on the lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart.
8. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. Do not allow the cookies to brown. They should be soft and a bit gooey on top when you take them out of the oven.
9. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Sprinkle additional powdered sugar on the cookies, if desired.
11. ENJOY!!
*Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
1. Vicky Barone – Snowman Mason Jar
2. Twin Dragonfly Designs – Melted Snowman Ornament
3. Craftaholics Anonymous – Cute Button Snowman Frame
4. Eclectic Momsense – Button Snowman Gift Tags
5. Raising Little Superheroes – Snow Play Dough (Edible)
6. Kid’s Craft Room – Tin Can Snowman Craft
7. Simple Fun For Kids – Handprint Snowmen Christmas Ornaments
8. Gift of Curiosity – Plastic Bottle Snowman Craft
9. East Coast Mommy Blog – Snowman Door
10. The Cards We Drew – Snowman Holiday Card Holder
11. Twin Dragonfly Designs – Snowman Magnet Craft
12. Typically Simple – Snowman Ornament
13. Easy Peasy and Fun – Cotton Ball Snowman Craft
14. Craftaholics Anonymous – DIY Toilet Paper Roll Snowmen
15. Artsy Craftsy Mom – Paper Plate Snowman
There is nothing more satisfying than a bowl of chili. These are all easy to make and feed a crowd or a just a few (freeze those leftovers). These chili recipes are sure to inspire you to add some new eats to your Fall and Winter lineup! Happy noshing!
