Spreading Cheer: Crafting the Perfect Holiday Lights Drive-Thru Basket for Families
‘Tis the season for spreading joy and creating magical memories with loved ones! One delightful way to enhance your family’s holiday lights drive-thru experience is by preparing a festive basket filled with delightful goodies. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through assembling the perfect basket, complete with a scrumptious cookie, take-and-go hot chocolate, reindeer food snack mix, and a charming free printable ticket.
The Sweet Touch – Festive Cookies
Start your basket on a sweet note with homemade or store-bought festive cookies. Whether it’s classic sugar cookies shaped like snowflakes or gingerbread men adorned with icing, these treats will add a touch of sweetness to your holiday lights adventure.
Combat the winter chill by including packets of take-and-go hot chocolate. Opt for individual servings or create DIY hot chocolate cones with layered cocoa, marshmallows, and festive sprinkles. Your family can enjoy a warm cup of cocoa while marveling at the twinkling lights.
Reindeer Ready – Snack Mix
Fuel your holiday lights tour with a playful and delicious reindeer food snack mix. Combine pretzels, chocolate-covered candies, and Chex Cereal and peanuts , then package it in festive bags or a cute snack cup. Not only is it a tasty treat, but it also adds a touch of whimsy to the evening as your family munches on this reindeer-approved snack.
Admittance Granted – Free Printable Ticket
Add an extra dose of holiday magic by including a free printable ticket to your lights drive-thru. This not only serves as a creative touch but also adds an element of anticipation for your little ones. I laminated mine so we can use it for years to come.
Add other surprises like a stuffed toy, binoculars, camera to capture the lights or more treats!
As you embark on your holiday lights tour, armed with your festive basket, you’re sure to create lasting memories filled with warmth and joy. From the delightful cookies to the cozy hot chocolate and whimsical reindeer snack mix, every element contributes to the magic of the season. So, bundle up, grab your basket, and get ready for a night of enchantment and family fun!
Magical Elf on the Shelf Fun: DIY Snow Globe Activity with Free Printable
Embrace the enchantment of the holiday season with a delightful Elf on the Shelf activity – “Do You Want to Build a Snow Globe?” This easy and festive DIY project promises to add a touch of magic to your home, creating memorable moments for your kids. To make it even more accessible, I’ve included a free printable to guide you through the process.
Supplies:
Mason jar, baby food jar, or snow globe jar
Water
Glycerin or clear glue
Glitter
Figurines (preferably your child’s favorite characters. Dollar Tree has a bunch of different ones!)
Hot glue gun
free printable (scroll down for download)
Instructions:
Begin by using a hot glue gun to secure your chosen figurine to the center of the jar lid. This will be the star of your snowy spectacle.
Carefully fill the jar halfway with water, ensuring not to overflow.
Add approximately 1 teaspoon of glycerin or clear glue to the water and give it a gentle stir. This secret ingredient will help the glitter create a mesmerizing snowfall effect.
Sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of glitter into the jar. Feel free to mix different colors for a dazzling display.
Continue filling the jar with water, leaving just a bit of space at the top.
Apply hot glue to the inside of the lid and securely screw it onto the jar. This step ensures a watertight seal, preventing any glittery leaks.
Now, the magic begins! Give your snow globe a good shake and watch as the glitter dances around your festive scene. It’s a winter wonderland in the palm of your hands.
This Elf on the Shelf snow globe activity is a delightful way to bring holiday cheer into your home. Whether you’re creating these with your little ones or surprising them with a magical display, the joy and wonder it brings are bound to become cherished memories. Download the free printable to make this enchanting DIY project even more accessible. Happy crafting and may your holidays be filled with sparkling moments!
When it comes to holiday baking, there’s nothing quite like the joy of crafting delicious and visually appealing treats. This year, we’re bringing a twist to the classic cherry cream cheese danish by transforming them into candy cane shapes. These festive pastries are not only a delight to your taste buds but also a feast for the eyes.
Ingredients:
To make these cherry cream cheese danishes in candy cane shapes, you’ll need the following ingredients:
For the Pastry:
1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
For the Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cherry pie filling
For the Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and well combined.
Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet into a rectangular shape. Using a candy cane cookie cutter, cut out each shape until all dough is used.
Spoon a small amount of the cream cheese mixture onto one end of each strip and top it with a spoonful of cherry pie filling.
Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the pastries are puffed and golden.
While the pastries are baking, prepare the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.
Once the pastries are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly.
Drizzle the glaze over the candy cane-shaped danishes.
These cherry cream cheese danishes in candy cane shapes are the perfect addition to your holiday dessert spread. Their delightful appearance and scrumptious taste will impress your guests and add a touch of festive flair to your celebrations. With this easy-to-follow recipe, you can create these treats with confidence and share the joy of holiday baking with your family and friends.
Elf is a heartwarming holiday classic that has captured the hearts of many with its whimsical storyline and the lovable character Buddy the Elf, played by the talented Will Ferrell. One of Buddy’s most iconic culinary creations is his famous spaghetti pancakes, where he combines spaghetti, maple syrup, and candy. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to recreate Buddy’s delightful Elf Pancakes using pancake mix instead of spaghetti, all while celebrating our affection for the movie that has become a cherished part of our holiday traditions.
Creating Buddy’s Signature Dish with a Twist:
Buddy’s unwavering love for all things sweet, combined with his unique culinary tastes, has made him a memorable character. To recreate Buddy’s signature Elf Pancakes with a twist, follow these steps:
Ingredients:
Pancake mix
Maple syrup
Candy (e.g., M&M’s, marshmallows, and chocolate chips)
Pop tarts (any flavor)
Instructions:
Prepare the pancake mix according to the package instructions. Drizzle mix onto heated griddle.
Cook the pancakes on a griddle or non-stick skillet until they are golden brown.
Once the pancakes are cooked, stack them on a plate.
Drizzle a generous amount of maple syrup over the pancake stack.
Sprinkle an assortment of candy on top of the pancakes. Get creative with your candy choices, using items like M&M’s, marshmallows, and chocolate chips.
Crumble up Pop tarts on top of dish.
Serve your Elf Pancakes and enjoy this delightful treat that captures Buddy’s unique culinary spirit.
Elf is a film that warms our hearts, and recreating Buddy’s iconic pancakes is a delicious way to pay homage to the movie. This activity is perfect for enjoying with loved ones during the holiday season. So, get your pancake mix, maple syrup, and candy ready, put on the movie, and savor the magic of the movie while indulging in a plate of Elf Pancakes. As Buddy would say, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”
I’ve grown up with so many great holiday traditions. There are some I continue to do, and there are new ones I’ve created with my little family. I love seeing what families all over share so I decided to compile all of the traditions I have, old and new.
Feast of the Seven Fishes
Christmas Eve dinner is my favorite meal. As Italian Americans, we usually have 7 (or more!) meals that consists of seafood. I remember being a kid and starting our meal at 4pm and did not finish our last course until 10pm. Last year was the first year I recreated our famous recipes. This is a meal I will continue to make every year.
Christmas Poppers
This is such a fun activity to do right before we sit down to eat on Christmas Eve. I have been doing these Christmas poppers since I was a kid and love sharing it with Franco. He gets so excited when it it time to pop them!
Christmas Butter Cookies
I eat all different types of cookies throughout the holiday season, but nothing beats my Nana’s simple butter cookies. Just looking at them I can picture being at her apartment on Christmas and eating these. When she passed, I made sure I had the same cookie press gun to make an exact replica of them.
Visiting Santa
Can this picture get any more awkward?
Ever since I rescued Dutchess, I have been taking her to visit Santa. Does she absolutely hate it? Yes. Do I continue to bring her? Yes. I have some pretty funny pictures of her with Santa and I always say if Dutchess can sit on Santa’s lap I can get through anything. When Franco was born I made sure both would go see Santa together and it makes my year, Since we added our new pup Doug this year, I got the crew together to see Santa. Yes it was chaotic and included a giant load of poop, but I will never miss a year.
Elf on A Shelf
I think this is a tradition our generation has taken on whether we like it or not. I enjoy doing it if Franco likes it, and surprisingly he loves it. Some days the elf just sits there, some days Franco will wake up to it being very silly. It’s all about balance! I created a bunch of letter board messages that I print out and use and thanks to Sweet T’s Cookies there are days where there are pizza and pie deliveries!
This is a tradition I just started last year and probably one of my favorites. I make a basket of things to do on Christmas as Eve such as a game, pair of socks, popcorn, hot cocoa, reindeer food a book and more.
If motherhood has you stressed and you feel like you’ve lost your creativity, I am here to help! Here you will find easy recipes, simple DIY’s, affordable styles, and what to read next. I believe we all have a creative side, some of us just need a little help to find it. I will help inspire you to have creative expression without standards.
