Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
christmas glass etched ornament 2010
Sharon and the Chocolaterie December 23, 2010
I got this pretzel making chocolate mold from my mother in law and thought I would give it a try. 
Dont let the santa and the snowman on the far right fool you, mine came out nothing like that. In fact after I burned myself on the white chocolate out of the microwave I pretty much gave up on the mold idea all together and melted the rest of the chocolate in a double boiler. 
I decided to just dip the pretzels in chocolate and add some nuts and some heath bar bits and then color them with the red and green chocolates for Christmas, this was much faster, easier and actually tastier (word check)
The end results were cute.
But this one was my favorite.
Ohhh the weather outside is frightful December 22, 2010
but the fire is so delightful. 
This is the gorgeous stone fireplace at work in the clubhouse.
Thats a Wrap! December 21, 2010
Saturday I went out to finish all the holiday shopping and I wanted to get everything all wrapped and under the tree. 
So i put on one of my favorite holiday movies “Miracle on 34th St” 
and I got down to business. I really can’t believe I have lived 33 years without buying on of these little babies! 
The pop up tape dispenser makes wrapping so simple. You just strap it on to your hand and then pull off little perfectly portioned pieces of tape. I LOVE IT!!!
I got a little crazy with the wrapping paper and before I knew it the living room had exploded with paper and ribbons and boxes and bags, oh my. As always my girl Penny was there to help and roll around in the tissue paper. She loves the yoga matt and does a little doggie yoga with me. 
I love wrapping, it is actually on of my favorite parts of present giving. Merry Christmas!
Friday Night at the Ice Rink December 18, 2010
I used to love to go ice skating at St. George’s Ice Rink in Middletown RI. I think I went every friday night for 3 years straight. Well it looks like the tradition is alive and well in Worcester MA. Brittany and I strapped on some skates and took to the ice last night. I was having some serious flashbacks of boys, skating and my 1st pair (and probably only pair) of Bauer Hockey Skates. My brothers and I used to skate at a big frozen puddle behind our house. I swear it was not at all a lake or a pond it was a big ol’ puddle. I had a great time and only fell once on the last time around the rink I left Brit and in dust so I could “go really fast” and totally ended up wiping out on the last turn when I tried some fancy foot work.
I think me and Ron are going to try and go in January, Who’s coming with us?
Crock Pot Christmas Party ~ The Parks House 2010 December 16, 2010
This past weekend was Em’s holiday “Sunday Dinner” ~ The pot luck style dinners Em has once a month always have a theme and this time it was bring a Crock Pot Dish. Everyone brought some wonderful yummy and mostly WW Friendly recipes.
Plenty of people were worried about blowing a fuse with all this crock pot power. 
There was no room for the lids on the table so they were all stored neatly under it~
After Chow Time it was yankee swap time, everyone had some really cute and creative gifts. I love presents. 
I picked the one with the cute felt reindeer bag, I always save my bags and am a total “re-bagger”
It was 2 lovely scented candles~ perfect! The fir-tree one is smelling up my house now.
Then it was time for some desert and my crock pot dish. I brought a little make your own hot chocolate bar. The hot chocolate recipe was really tastey but the toppings were the best part. Toffee, Peppermint, Fluff, marshmallow, Peppermint schnapps, butterscotch Schnapps, Bailey’s, and the new alcohol Infused Chocolate Whip Cream. YUM! 
Emily made an awesome crock pot dessert that was kinda like a bread pudding with cranberry and white chocolate. Sooooo Yummy & extremely festive.
Really cute napkins and plates and Jen’s fruit and pudding dessert topped with raspberries. 
I can’t wait for the Park’s next sunday dinner! I think the theme will be breakfast and wear your PJ’s. Love it.
Hot Chocolate for a Group Crock Pot Recipe
Makes about 25
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/4 cups cocoa powder
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup hot water
1 gallon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
In large saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa and salt. Add hot water slowly, mixing well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil and stir 2 minutes. Add milk; heat to serving temperature, stirring occasionally. DO NOT boil. Remove from heat; add vanilla, cinnamon if desired, and whip with a whisk. Serve hot, with whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.
Yoga December 14, 2010
What i am working on for my Yoga practice right now is Crane Pose (Bakasana)
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STEP 1: Put your hands flat on the ground. Lift your heels and shift your weight to your hands. |
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STEP 2: Lift your feet and keep your balance on your hands. Try stretching your back in order to keep your chest free. Breathe in and out quietly and concentrate on a spot in front of you. As you progress, try to keep up this exercise longer and longer and to work out the stretching of the back further and further. |
This asana is not only a position of power and balance, but it also gives an active stretching to the back. Try to let go of the tension in the back, to let your back lie deeper and deeper and to lengthen the back towards both the chin and pelvis.
SOURCE:http://www.abc-of-yoga.com
I WILL GET YOU BAKASANA !!! I WILL!
Quick and Easy Hot Cocoa Favors
I made these fun Hot Cocoa Packets to go to Em’s Party with since I was bringing a crock pot full of hot chocolate I wanted to make a take away for everyone. These were really simple and very inexpensive to make. The idea came from a bridal shower we did a Winter Wonderland theme for a very long time ago.
Start with some pretty ribbon and clear goodie bag
Then add some Schnapps. I used mint but butterscotch, Baileys or Kaluha mini’s would work
a hot chocolate packet
a few marshmallows
and a couple mini candy canes
add all the ingredients into the little packet and tie a pretty bow
You can make these without the booze for a kids party or for your kid’s classroom and decorate them with different ribbon or snowflakes and tags. The best thing is that there is no baking and they are REALLY inexpensive to make. A box of 10 hot chocolate packets for $1.00, the marshmallow package was $1.49 and the candy canes were 2 boxes for $1.80. I made a bunch for the party and some left overs for quick gifts for friends over the holidays!
The great debate…White Lights or Colored Lights? December 11, 2010
Why not both!
Here are the lights around the book-case and the colored lights around the window 
I hung large ornaments from the ceiling over the couch on one wall
and the hand-made knitted Stockings that my grandmother made on the other wall
My House is ready for Santa Claus to come to town.
Cards, cards, cards, cards, signed, sealed, stamped and in the mail December 8, 2010
I finally finished my Christmas Cards. hand-made 60 cards. A preview. 
Coming Soon to a Mailbox Near You! Merry Christmas, I’m done!
