::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~DIY Galvanized Metal Bunting via Unskinny Boppy

~Toddler Room Makeover via a POP of pretty

~Outdoor Holiday Display via Clean and Scentsible

~Ribbon Embellished Candle Holder via Graphic Made

~And Me? This week featured:

• A Season of Serenity at Home (Christmas series)
• Comparison vs. Joy This Christmas Season
• Ribbon and Envelope Advent Calendar
• Edible Popcorn Snowballs

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Edible Popcorn Snowballs (Kids' Christmas Recipe)

I have a super cute and fun Christmas Kid Recipe and Activity for you today. Kelli from Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM is one of the most creative and fun moms I know! Please welcome her to the blog for today's Season of Serenity at Home post.

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Hi everyone! My name is Kelli, and most days you can find me blogging over at Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM! I am a wife and stay at home mom of three boys. I love to be crafty, make yummy food, share pictures of my cute boys, and blog about the every day happenings of my life as a supermom! I am SUPER excited to be sharing a fun and easy recipe with all you Serenity Now readers today! Thanks so much for having me over, Amanda!

Snow is a rare thing where I live. I've seen snow at my home three times in my 30 plus years living in South Mississippi. And it can sometimes be difficult to get into the holiday spirit when it's 70 degrees outside and everyone is wearing flip flops. :) So I decided that since my boys rarely get to play with real snowballs, it might be fun to make some edible Popcorn Snowballs instead!

I started by gathering my ingredients: two bags of microwave popcorn, a 16 oz bag of mini marshmallows, half a stick of butter, some flake coconut, and some white sugar sprinkles:

First, pop your two bags of popcorn and put them in the biggest bowl you have. I ended up using the top to my cake keeper because it was bigger than any of my bowls. After the popcorn cools a little, dig through and pick out any of the popcorn kernels that didn't pop. I learned the hard way that unpopped kernels in your popcorn snowballs is no fun!

Melt your butter over medium heat...

...add your bag of mini marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted.

Pour the melted butter/marshmallow mixture on top of the popcorn:

Then stir, stir, stir! Mix it until all the popcorn has been coated in the marshmallow. Then, let it cool for about 5 minutes.

While the mixture is cooling, give each of your kiddos a piece of parchment paper and spray their hands with a little bit of cooking spray.

Carefully scoop up some of the mixture and give it to your kiddo. Let them use their hands to form the popcorn mixture into a snowball. At this point you can have plain popcorn snowballs....

...or you can make them fancy by rolling them in flake coconut...

...or white sugar sprinkles!

These were really fun to make, and {other than the messy bowl and a few messy fingers} they were really easy to make too! Now my boys can enjoy snowballs in the winter anytime they want....even if it's 70 degrees outside and we're wearing flip flops!

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Don't those look tasty? I know my girls would have a blast making these. Thanks, Kelli, for sharing this simple and delicious treat idea with us!

Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM is a treasure-trove of fun, family-friendly crafts, recipes, and activities. I love reading about Kelli and her three sweet boys. Please hop over to say hi to Kelli if you're new to her blog.

Do you have a favorite treat that you make with your kids at Christmastime? 

Click here for a round-up of all the posts in this series.

*My weekly Weekend Bloggy Reading link party is on for tomorrow at 8 am ET. Bring your best post of the week to share with my readers, and be sure to check out some of the other amazing projects linked up. Home Decor, Crafts, DIY, Recipes, Tips and Tricks, Party Ideas, and more!


If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 

DIY Ribbon and Envelope Advent Calendar (Christmas Advent Activity)

I wanted to show you a craft tutorial for my simple Ribbon Christmas Advent Calendar and Advent Activity Ideas before December gets too much closer. This is a very easy afternoon craft project, and you may already have many of supplies on hand. My kit was an old MOPS craft that I never got around to making, but after seeing how excited the girls were, I wish I'd done it sooner! (Disclaimer: pretend like you don't see the white drywall "mud"--we're still in the midst of DIY work)

Supplies you'll need:

-25 mini envelopes (they sell them at the craft store)
-50 squares of coordinating scrapbook paper, sized to fit your mini envelopes
-Length of ribbon (will depend on the size of your envelopes)
-Scissors
-Glue stick
-Ruler
-Pencil
-Colored pens (optional)
-Stamps and ink (optional)
-Tape (optional)

Here's how to make your own:

1. Cut your patterned paper to fit your envelopes.

2. Glue one square to the outside of the envelope, on the front.

3. Cut 25 plain white cards (for writing on) and size them just a bit smaller than your patterned paper. Run some colored ink along the edges for embellishment.

4. Glue or tape the white cards onto the front or back of the paper to go into the envelope.
I ended up taping them to the back of the patterned paper so I can switch out the writing from year to year without messing up the patterns.

5. Your patterned paper with the attached white card will go inside your envelope.

*I had some darker/solid patterns that I wanted to use on the outside of the envelopes, so I made sure to use some little white squares on the outside for the dates:

You could do one or two patterns, but I had a few more:

6. Stamp or write a number on each of the 25 outer envelopes, 1-25.

7. Print out your "master list" of Advent activities and plan which day of the month you want to do each activity.
Write the activity for each day on the blank card you included in each envelope. You could just decide the night before and put your activity in the corresponding envelope then.

I used small wire Command hooks to secure our completed advent calendar to the wall. I tied a knot to hold the ribbon on each end, and I looped the center over a hook in the middle because I wanted a "curvy" line without sagging. I also created a quick little paper Christmas sign with PicMonkey to cover the hook in the middle.

You'll have to excuse the poor photos...it has been rainy and COLD...bad lighting makes it hard to get good photographs!

Michaela Byrd spent most of Tuesday playing with some nesting dolls and eyeing the project on the wall, wondering what I could have put in the envelopes. Luckily, Natalie was at school all day, so she couldn't sneak any peeks.

I did a lot of Googling to come up with our activities, but I wanted them to be simple things that wouldn't cost a lot of money or cause a lot of extra stress on my part. We already do many of these things, but it's fun for the kids to be surprised with an activity for the day:

Letter to Santa
Make Christmas Cards for Teachers
Wrap Gifts for your family
Help decorate the tree
Get hot chocolate and drive to see Christmas lights
Make pine cone bird feeders
Christmas Movie Night!
Fancy Dinner
Read the Christmas Story in the Bible
Build a Gingerbread House
Go Christmas Shopping for daddy
Choose your favorite Christmas books for story time
Bake Christmas Cookies
Visit Santa
Help Mommy with the Christmas Cards
Make a list of 10 things you are thankful for
Get dressed up and go to Christmas Eve church with candy canes
Color some Christmas pages for the fridge
Make paper snowflakes for the windows
Have a picnic by the Christmas tree
Take a plate of Christmas treats to the neighbors
Tell us about some of your favorite Christmas memories
Look at old Christmas pictures
Celebrate Natalie’s Birthday with dinner out!
Have a Christmas Tea Party

Does your family have an Advent calendar? What are your favorite activities?

*This post is part of my Season of Serenity at Home Christmas series. Click that link to find out more about the series and to see all the links for the series posts!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 

Comparison vs. Joy This Christmas Season

I am honored to welcome one of the kindest and most gracious bloggers I know to Serenity Now today. My friend Richella from Imparting Grace agreed to share with us about how comparison during the holidays can rob us of joy. I asked her to talk about something that any busy reader might be inspired by, and she really came through!

Please help me welcome Richella to Serenity Now today.

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"Joy to the world!" rings the sound from the CD player. The Christmas season is upon us, and my heart swells at the sound of every carol.

I find myself wishing that I could sustain those feelings. I want the joy of Christmas to pervade every part of my life. Yet as I sit at my computer and browse through all the beautiful images, I feel my joy fade.

I see the beautifully decorated houses, and my own home seems plain and boring by comparison. I get a glimpse of heartwarming family celebrations, and in comparison I feel cold and disconnected. I click through photos of amazing crafts that someone created, and my efforts seem pitiful by comparison.

Even the good things I do seem to pale in comparison to others' work. I hear that someone has raised thousands of dollars for a charity, and my gifts seem paltry by comparison. I try to make Christmas merry for my kids, but then I read about the piles of gifts that some parents provide, and I feel stingy in comparison.  Or else I read that some parents give their children only three gifts, and in comparison I feel extravagant and embarrassed. 

Suddenly I realize that I'm doing this to myself. I'm comparing myself to others at every turn. Instead of gathering holiday inspiration online, I've gathered reasons to feel inadequate. Rather than embracing the beauty of the season, I've turned it into a kind of competition.  

Am I the only one? Or have you done it, too?

There must be an alternative to the endless comparison game, and I think it's found in gratitude and blessing. If I concentrate on being grateful for what I have, there won't be much time or energy left for concentrating on what I don't have. Filled with gratitude for my blessings, this year I am choosing to pray for others instead of comparing myself to them. This Christmas, every time I am tempted to compare myself to someone else, I'm going to stop and pray this simple prayer:

"Dear Lord, please bless ___________ with her beautiful ____________. Thank you for giving her beauty to share.  And please help me to share the beauty you've given me."

That's it. Nothing profound or deep; just a simple prayer of blessing. But I think its effect on me might be profound.  

This Christmas, rather than concentrating on how other people outshine me, I'm going to remember that we all shine because God has given us light. If someone shines more brightly than I do, that's okay. There's much darkness to overcome.  Someone else's bright light doesn't eliminate the need for my little light.   

There's plenty of room for all of us to shine our lights, 

reflecting the glory of the One whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.  

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Thank you, Richella! Your words were the perfect start to this series. What a fantastic reminder to focus on thankfulness this Christmas.

I hope you'll take a moment to leave some comment love for Richella today. What do you struggle with during the holidays?

Imparting Grace is a delightful mix of home, family, and faith. Richella's posts are uplifting, encouraging, and a breath of fresh air. Be sure to visit her and say hello! She's also running a Christmas celebration link party this year, Home for the Holy Days. Be sure to link up on Monday, December 17th, and share some ways you keep Christ at the center of your Christmas!

Stay tuned for more Christmas-themed posts and projects this Christmas season in my Season of Serenity at Home series.

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. 

Linked to Grace at Home

A Season of Serenity at Home (Christmas Series)

Today, I'm introducing a new Christmas series that I'll be running here at Serenity Now throughout the Christmas season. I've got Christmas projects, tips, recipes, activities, and more to share. Everything in the series is designed as a way to inspire you without overwhelming you. I want my focus on the important things this holiday season, so we're keeping things simple. Join me and some completely fabulous guest posters over the course of the next month for this year's series: A Season of Serenity at Home.

When I think of traditional Christmas, I think of spending time with my family, wrapping gifts for loved ones, sending out holiday cards, and singing Christmas carols while I decorate my home and bake goodies.

I try not to think about waiting in line at the post office, stressing out over trying to keep up with other bloggers, keeping family commitments, or the awful Christmas-tree-lights-debacle from last year that had me throw a tantrum in front of my kids that has probably scarred them for life. Words were said and things were thrown.

Yet, those mishaps have a way of becoming reality, don't they? I have, on occasion, found myself wondering why exactly I stress out over creating the "perfect" holiday. Am I celebrating the true spirit of the season? Is my focus on my family and the One whose birth we honor on December 25th? 

Sadly, I spent my fair share of holiday seasons wondering if various projects might be a hit with readers. I worried over not having enough extra money to buy new accessories to keep up with all the creations pouring into the blogosphere. I spent too much time messing around on blog posts and not enough time enjoying the season with my kids and husband.

This series is as much for me as it is for you. I love trying new crafts, recipes, and activities. But I don't love stressing out about spending extra money on expensive supplies, fitting everything on my "perfect holiday list" in, posting about it, and feeling like I just don't measure up.

Won't you join me for a season of Serenity? 

Fill your home with love, and joy, and maybe a few cute Christmas crafts that won't break your budget. I appreciate you understanding why I'm bringing in some guest posters this month. I love sharing creative ideas with you all, and I also love enjoying the holiday season without spending extra time on the laptop. I have a great line-up of posts for you: recipes, tutorials, activities, and more. You won't want to miss it!

I'll be using this post to catalog each post, so be sure to Pin or bookmark this URL to have a little library of Christmas fun!

• Post 1 Comparison vs. Joy This Holiday Season
• Post 2 Ribbon and Envelope Christmas Advent Calendar
• Post 3 Edible Popcorn Snowballs
• Post 4 DIY Holiday Ornament Frame
• Post 5 Holiday Cookie Exchanges: A Great Time and Budget Saver!
• Post 6 My Christmas Tree and Holiday Home Decorations
• Post 7 Salted Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies
• Post 8 Host an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (with Tacky Gift Exchange)
• Post 9 Holiday Photo Tips and Inspiration
• Post 10 Chocolate Brownie Trifle (Easy Holiday Dessert)
• Post 11 DIY Christmas Card Holder (Simple Christmas Craft)
• Post 12 Free Christmas Printable: Keep Calm and Jingle On
• Post 13 Holiday Hair Tips (Your Style Guide)
• Post 14 Series Wrap Up

*You can also find last year's Christmas series here.

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+.

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.

*Today is the last day to enter to win the Silhouette Studio Designer Software and the Martha Stewart Discbound Notebook Giveaways!*

On Saturdays and Sundays, I like to share fabulous projects from the link party with my readers. I add many of these Features to my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to link back in your post!

Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye.

~Antique Dresser Makeover via Elegant Nest

~Chevron Reindeer Games Sign via DIY Showoff

~Cranberry Orange Cheesecake (Gluten Free) via The Life of CK and Nate

Link Up Your Best Post!

Happy Saturday! Are you here for my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party? It's open for new links through tomorrow night. Please stop by and link up your best post of the week: Home Decor, Crafts, Recipes, DIY, Tips and Tricks, Party Ideas, and more.

I'm taking a break today, but will be back with a list of Featured links from the party tomorrow morning.

Don't miss my two awesome Giveways this week: a Martha Stewart Home Office Discbound Notebook and a copy of the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition Software, along with a fantastic Silhouette promotion running this weekend.*

Have a fantastic Saturday!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

*Don't miss my two awesome Giveways this week: a Martha Stewart Home Office Discbound Notebook and a copy of the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition Software, along with a fantastic Silhouette promotion running this weekend.*

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Forcing Paperwhite Bulbs for the Holidays via Satori Design for Living

~DIY Tabletop Chalkboard for Seasonal Displays via At Home in the Northwest

~Basement Makeover via No. 29 design

~Modern Kitchen Makeover via This Little Estate

~And Me? This week featured:

• Embellished Christmas Tree Shirt Tutorial
• Martha Stewart Discbound Notebook Giveaway
• Our Thanksgiving Menu
• Silhouette Black Friday GIVEAWAY and Promotion!

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Silhouette GIVEAWAY and Black Friday Deals!

As I teased on Monday with my Embellished Christmas Tree Shirts, the folks at Silhouette are joining the Black Friday shopping fun with some fabulous deals today! I'm also giving away a copy of the new Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition software! Keep reading to find out more and to enter!

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Silhouette always offers the free software when you purchase a Silhouette machine, but the new Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition software allows so much more flexibility with your designs. You can see a side by side comparison of it with the regular software here. It has the ability to cut .svg files, transfer any of your designs into rhinestone templates (this was a biggie for me), convert designs into sketchable art, clip designs using different patterns, modify designs with an enhanced eraser function, and more!

Here's a video that also shows some of the differences between the original software:

I'm giving away 1 copy of the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition (MSRP $49.99)

-UPDATE: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED-

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter before 12 am ET on November 26, 2012:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't wait? From today until November 30th, 2012, if you visit this Silhouette page and use the code SERENITY, you can get:

• 1 Silhouette CAMEO® plus 1 copy of Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition (MSRP $349.98) for $229.99

• 1 Silhouette Portrait™ for $179.99

• 40 percent off at silhouetteamerica.com (Offer only valid at silhouetteamerica.com. Expires November 30, 2012. Rain checks not available. % discount excludes Silhouette CAMEO®, Silhouette Portrait™, downloads, download cards, subscriptions, and gift cards).

*Don't forget to use your code SERENITY for your discounts to apply!

If you haven't had a chance to try out the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition, it is really cool!
If you have a Silhouette machine and enjoy creating with it, adding the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software to your Christmas list is a great idea!

Happy Shopping...I'm heading out for some Black Friday fun today, but be sure to check in at 8 am (ET). My Weekend Bloggy Reading party will be live for you to share what you've been up to this week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My family is enjoying special time together today, feasting, parade watching, and (above all) giving thanks to the good Lord for the many blessings He has given us! 

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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My Weekend Bloggy Reading link party will go up as normal tomorrow morning at 8 am ET. I will share at least one "Features" post over the weekend, so be sure to link up your best post of the week (Home Decor, Crafts,  Recipes, Tips and Tricks, DIY, Party Ideas, and more)!

Our Thanksgiving Menu

Call me nosy, but I am always curious as to what other families have on their Turkey Day menus. I'll share our Thanksgiving Menu today, and I'd love for you to leave me a comment with your menu. You never know; maybe I forgot something important (turkey, anyone?). {wink} 

I'm pleased as punch to be hosting this year...we're going with my nice dishes, good crystal, and a tablecloth!

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My sis-in-law and nephew are coming by tomorrow morning to watch the parade with the girls and me while T and my brother go out shooting. We'll have some cinnamon rolls and apple cider as a parade treat. No lunch plans, maybe a sandwich to tide the girls over...but the real show starts at 4 pm: Thanksgiving Dinner!

My mother-in-law is sharing some of the cooking responsibilities with me. That makes things so much easier, doesn't it?

Our Menu:

Fried Turkey (in-laws) 

Smoked Turkey (in-laws)

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Wild Rice

Roasted Butternut Squash

Cornbread Stuffing

Sausage Stuffing (you can find my recipe here)

Sweet Potatoes (in-laws)

Green Beans (in-laws)

Gravy (in-laws)

Hot Rolls

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Trifle

I'd say we're looking good! I'll be preparing a lot of these dishes today and prepping them to go in the oven tomorrow. I love make-ahead items. My in-laws, T's grandma, and his work friend will be joining us tomorrow. Should make for a delightful meal. We have a lot to be thankful for!

What's on your Thanksgiving Menu?

Martha Stewart Discbound Notebook Giveaway!

The holiday season is a joyous time, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming if you let things get out of control. One way I try to stay on top of things is by working on Organization. And we all know that organizing is more fun when it's stylish, right? Today's Giveaway for a Customizable Discbound Notebook from the Martha Stewart Home Office line with Avery (available at Staples) will help you stay on your toes this holiday season! Keep reading to find out more about this cool organizing tool and to enter to win!

Embellished Christmas Tree Shirt (Christmas Craft)

I don't often share Christmas projects or posts before the Thanksgiving holiday, but I got so excited about a big Silhouette Black Friday Promotion, that I decided to partner up with them and create a cute Christmas craft to show you guys. You can check in here on Friday morning for the big promo, but for today I hope you'll check out this Embellished Christmas Tree Shirt I made using the flocked heat transfer material. Only very basic sewing skills required (needle and thread).