Wrapping with Ribbon...

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is having the chance to wrap to my little hearts content. Yes, wrapping with a whole lot of color, bows and ribbons...it makes me so happy.

The other day I made some goodies to give to some friends, and decided to get a little creative with the ribbon. I mean, hey, I figured if the cookies were a bust than at least I could rely on the presentation?!

The key to any good ribbon wrapping is layering. My mom is the best at this. Start with the solids, and your least favorite ribbons (the ones without the patterns) and than top it off with the polka dots and glittery ones! You can never have to much ribbon, that's what I say! I also love adding a special "do-dad" like an ornament, or candy cane...or glittery snowflake. It's like the cherry on top!

So hopefully these give ya a little inspiration for your holiday wrapping!
***I got the boxes at Michaels Craft Store in the baking isle!

all ya need are a few boxes and ribbon (and some extra "do-dads" for somethin' special...)

 Line your goodies with a cute tissue paper...^^^

a whole lotta chocolate...

Saturday night, Josh and I hosted a Christmas party for all the teens he teaches in early morning seminary (and when I say early, I mean like Josh is out the door by 5:30 AM...it all seems like a dream by the time I wake up with my kids ha) 

There was pizza, games,  a whole lot of chocolate,  and of course ugly Christmas sweaters (p.s. if any of you are in need of a good ugly Christmas sweater...EBAY has superb ones!). I'm actually so bummed because amongst all the craziness I forgot to snap a photo of everyone in their holiday outfits :-(.

There are a few things I learned last night. One,  that charades is hilarious when you play with a bunch of sixteen year olds. Two, that hot chocolate is way better when you add a ridiculous amount of whip cream and mini chocolate chips with a heaping spoonful (thanks to my 3 year old) of colorful sprinkles on top! And, lastly that I am just getting old considering by the time everyone left (10 PM) I was beat. Like really, truly beat. ha.

The colorful cocoa bar was a hit, and also might I just add, so were my homemade carmel bars (I mean you can't go wrong with butter, chocolate and caramel?! recipe below.)

I had a little mishap in the midst of baking...

I tend to forget that you have to start off mixing SLOWLY otherwise this happens

but it was totally worth it...because well, I mean just look at them

Cocoa bar included:

marshmallows

mints

mini chocolate chips

sprinkles

reddiwip whip cream 

1 gallon of whole milk with 8 packets of hot cocoa powder 

My mom's famous Caramel Bars

1 1/2 cup cold butter (cut into sections)

2 cups quick oats
2 cups flour (plus 1/4 cup to mix in with caramel)

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 (12 oz.) jar of caramel topping (I like Mrs.Richardsons butterscotch)

In bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. But butter in until crumbly and the dough all starts sticking together. Set half of the dough aside for topping--and press the other half on the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. In the meantime take your jar of caramel topping and add 1/4 cup flour to thicken it. After the 15 mintues...sprinkle the chips and drizzle the topping all over and lay the rest of the dough on top (I flatten it between my hands and lay it on top). Cook for another 18 minutes.

a colorful home tour with Mary...

My sweet friend Mary was nice enough to let me snap some photos of her beautiful home a few weeks ago. She has put so much thought, time and COLOR into each and every room; it's simply amazing! She, and her husband Craig, have created such a fun space for their four children (and all the neighborhood kids who love to hang out at their play pad...I wonder why?! ha)

They've transformed one of the stair cases into a slide, created a "secret passage way" in one of their closets; added a swing right in the middle of their family room and made their dining room one huge, fantastic play area! I mean talk about thinking outside of the box.

One of my favorite things Mary has done throughout her home is added spritzes of color everywhere. From eclectic wallpaper in the most unexpected places, & cheery fabric for window treatments...to painting her office chair neon green and reupholstering a love seat with geometric fabric using a hot glue gun!

She makes me feel like if I wanted to put a bath tub in my entry way, shoot, it would be ay-okay. It's quite refreshing to be in a home where you feel like anything is possible!

So, if you're scared to add a bit of color to your decor...just take a peek at these photos and you'll realize there is no need to be afraid!

Thanks Mary for letting me crash your casa for a bit :-).

family room

Cozy and I had a go on the swing for a bit (...just couldn't resist)

kitchen

laundry room

play room (originally dining room)

craft room

man cave

a cheery closet and fun hallway nook

this is the love seat Mary reupholstered with hot glue!? It think the pup approves :-)

upstairs bonus room area

boy #1 room

 boy #2 room

 Mary said, "he chose the curtain fabric". I love that she let him choose it!

 the twins room

upstairs hallway:::art nook

We love bookstores...& pantone colors

The other night we went to the bookstore to get a few new reads. I stumbled upon these flash cards... and my two year old LOVED them; and ok I'll be honest I loved them even more. How cute these would be taped on a wall...all eighteen of them?!

Plus, I love fun ways to teach little ones about colors.
Especially when it teaches them pantone colors :-).