A Unique Valentine's Day Craft Giveaway

I worked up the sample of the Valentine's Day Craft for my Valentine's Day Dessert Swap for next Saturday.

I LOVE IT!!!!

It took about two hours to make, but was worth it at the end! How beautiful does it look!

Moose even loved working on the craft!!!

Items Needed:

1 eight inch heart wired wreath
53 12 by 9 inch tulle pieces
1 piece of 30 by 9 inch tulle (for the holder)
Floral tape

I had such a fun time making this craft and I want you too share in the fun too!

Rules for the Giveaway

1. Current followers will get two entries..thank you to my current lovely 21 followers!
2. New followers get one entry. (I get so excited to see new followers)
3. If you re post this on your blog you will get three entries..just provide a comment below and provide the link to your re-post
4. You will get one entry per person for leaving a comment of your favorite valentine's day memory.


Pretty easy right? If you are not crafty and the winner I can also make the wreath for you and send the completed craft out to you!

The Giveaway will close Tuesday at midnight EST.

The package will ship on Thursday!

Homemade Granola

Now I do not know about you but I have to say there are a bunch of things that I just did not think you could make before and that had to bought in a package.  The main one was corn bread, but now I think homemade is the only way to go!

The recipe I am going to share with you today is another one! Granola -- Now I think I am selling my self short by saying that Granola can only be bought in a can, but more or less maybe my perception was it is easier to buy it from the Grocery store.  But after you try this recipe you will never go back to store brought Granola.  I now think I am a Granola SNOB

Ingredients that go in the Oven:

3 Cups of Oatmeal
1 Cup of Nuts (I used a mixture of pecan bits, whole pecans, slivered almonds, and walnuts)
1 Tablespoon of Vanilla
1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
1/3 cup of Brown Sugary
1 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup.

1.  Pre-Heat the Oven to 325 degrees.
2.  Dump all of the above ingredients in a big enough bowl, and mix well.

3.  Line a cookie sheet with foil, and spray with butter flavored Spray

4.  After all of your ingredients are mixed well spread onto the cookie sheet, making sure all areas are covered.

5.  Bake for 20 minutes and than stir the granola around, so that other areas of the granola will get toasted. 

6.  Make for about another additional 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

7.  Allow to cool completely, and than put away.  My pieces stuck together a bit, so I had to break them up.

I ate this granola over yogurt you can also mix in some dried fruit before serving.

I ate 1/2 a cup of granola mixed with a half container of yogurt for breakfast.  The first day I was starving at 10:00 am.  The second day I did the same mixture, and I was full.  I think the difference with the two days, was on the first day I ate at 5:30 am, and the second day I ate around 7:00 am.

Enjoy!

Does size matter????

Well according to Americans it does...

I have been doing some research, and have read the bigger the tree, the more affluent you are. 

Now how many of us feel that the the Christmas tree is the center of our Christmas?

To be honest, I have not put up a Christmas tree this year, Mr. P and I are debating real or fake?  I am pro real, and he is pro fake.  Now our reasoning for each differ, and I am not sure what team will win!

I can only speak to mine, but I want that real tree, I want the smell--and not the bath and body works Christmas Tree scent that I usually spray, I want a low key Christmas, I do not want to un-package all of my Neiman Marcus Christmas ornaments, I want a tree that speaks to how I am feeling this year:  real and chubby!

My fake Christmas tree ornaments have a pink and green motif, which I love.  I love the tree, from the ornaments, to the satin ribbon, to the glass ornaments, to my Neiman Marcus day after Christmas ornament finds!  However, I am just not feeling it this year:

I am feeling that the homemade/real tree is more my speed this year, compared to some transitions I tried to make this year for our home:

fresh made bread vs. the typical store brought,
homemade organic heirloom tomatoes vs. canned crushed tomatoes
Growing flowers for your home and others vs. the Grocery store flower Arrangement.

Well I will post who wins, and it is really not a matter of winning per say.  It is more like who has the time and energy to pick out the real tree vs. let's get the tree out of the garage  and decorate.
Also, the entire house needs to be cleaned to get the tree in the location.

Below are some beautiful Christmas trees that I snapped during our trip to Germany:

BMW Welt Store Tree

Brenner's hotel Lobby in Baden-Baden, Germany

Outside trees in Baden-Baden, Germany

 

Icicle tree in Stroudsburg, France

Chriskindlemarket Tree, Munich, Germany--The biggest tree we saw at the biggest Christmas Market!

Now what type of tree is in your home this year??