Worry Beads

I'm one of those fidgety people. I'm a nail biter, and a finger popper. By the end of church services, the bulletin will be rolled and my Bible pages will be curled. 

While I'm at home, I have to be doing something with my hands. I guess that's why I take so much pleasure in painting or crocheting.

I'm not really that big of a worry wart but I do worry about the safety of my daughter out on her own in this mad mad world. But that's not constant. I'd be sick if I let that bother me so much.

I'm just fidgety. That's when I discovered worry beads. It only took me one look at these in shops around the internet world to realize I can just make my own. So that's exactly what I did. I also made a couple more sets for my own shop.

Let me just say, I am not one of those people that believe in special powers of meditation, stars, minerals or rocks. My power and relaxation comes from God and prayer.

Worry beads are also called Begleri.

Begleri is a Greek name for a beaded toy you twirl between your fingers with a technique you have to learn. Its brings relaxation and stress relief.

Worry beads also have another name called Komboloi. 

Komboloi is also a Greek name for a strand of beads used to pass time. This is more of what I have made. The toy "Begleri" is longer and usually has less beads so they are easily flipped around and over the fingers at fast speed.

These are not prayer beads. Prayer beads are used in religious traditions. Worry beads have no religious or ceremonial purpose. These are just something I can fidget with instead of continuing to destroy pen clips, paper clips, earrings and the charm on my necklace. 

Speaking of beads on a string? Who remembers these old toys? 

My Grandmother had a couple sets of these glass Klackers. I loved playing with them when she'd let me. They were later outlawed. Ok they have no relation to the beads I'm talking about in my post but I had to mention them. They wouldn't relieve worry, they caused it. ha!

Do you worry? Are you fidgety? What are ways you relieve your nervousness or anxiety?

Last Walk of The Year

With all the Christmas decorations taken down and put away, Me and Nick venture out for my last walk of the year. I work until dark all week so the weekends are all I get right now but that will soon change once the days start getting longer.

 

As we stepped out for a three mile walk, the weather was wet, muggy and 70 degrees. With a mist in the air, we could hear the birds singing and bullfrogs chirping as if they were confused by the weather. This is not the normal temperature for the end of December here in North Carolina but I'll take it. Just like the birds, I pretended it was spring too as I wore my shorts and t-shirt. I was not a bit bothered by the rainy mist. I still thought it was a beautiful day.

Mother nature seemed a little confused by the unusual warm weather too. While we were walking, I could not help but snap a few pictures of signs of spring in December.

Dandelions along with many spring onions are filling the yards that need mowing.

 

Bright green moss was growing on the sidewalks

The rain drops on these leaves look refreshing.

 

The Daffodils think its April

and this rose bud is hanging on as if its doesn't want to let go of summer.

Now this tree shows that Mother nature has a since of humor. Do you see what I see?

 

Its back to work tomorrow after four straight days off. I'm going to miss the time I got to spend with my Daughter and Husband during the long weekend. Time to get back to reality as the cold weather suppose to creep in by New Years morning but still giving unseasonal warm afternoons. 

The Good ole Days of Christmas

Its early and Im already up. I get just as excited about Christmas morning as any kid. I cant sleep, and then Im up early with anticipation. Ok, maybe that's due to all the sweets I ate last night at Mom and Dads but still.

As I sit here having my coffee and breakfast, old time memories flash through my mind. I remember how me and my siblings would open a few gifts on Christmas eve from friends and family and on Christmas morning we would jump out of bed before the sun came up. We would run down stairs to see what Santa brought us. It was always a surprise to know Santa actually thought I was good and left me toys. I never took for granted he would come anyway like kids do today. I really thought if I was bad, I wouldn't get anything.

As we would get to the den, there would be piles of gifts! Santa didn't wrap presents, he would just lay toys and bikes in separate areas for each of us. We always knew which pile was ours. It didn't really matter because we would end up playing with each others toys anyway. It was always so fun.
Then we would all pile in the station wagon and head to our Grandmothers house for dinner. I sure miss those days.

I have always tried to carry on that tradition with my daughter. The only difference is , Santa would wrap most of her presents with his own pretty (usually tacky) paper and leave only a couple bigger things unwrapped.

Things change when they get older. Once Santa was caught using OUR wrapping paper, the Santa situation begun to get harder to play off. Ashley must have been about 12 when she learned that we were actually Santa's. She looked up at me with a sweet little voice and said "well, can we still pretend there is a Santa?"

She is now 24 and Santa still leaves her surprises under the tree on Christmas morning. She lives out on her own but comes to stay with us a few days. She still has her old room and bed. She will be up in a few minutes and the fun will start. She will march down the hallway in her tacky pajamas and have that child like excitement when she enters the room. Later, we will head over to Nicks family for Christmas dinner. His parents passed away a few years ago and the boys still plan a big dinner just like their mom used to do. Its always delicious as we set around the table a talk more...About the good ole days.

 

"Go tell it on a mountain that Jesus Christ was born!"

Merry Christmas Every one!!

Cookie Baking and Delivery

Winter is here and Christmas is just two days away. I have been working in the kitchen making goodies to pass out to my wonderful neighbors. This is one of my favorite things to do.

I will find a recipe to experiment with but I usually stick to basically my favorite cookies to make.
Italian Almond cookies (AKA snowball cookies), Fudge and Biscotti are my in my safe zone. Well, except I did burn the Biscotti this time. Not good.

This year I experimented with making another Italian cookie called Crostoli , also known as Chiacchiere or Galani.
My husband is always talking about a lightly sweet cookie that his Italian grandmother used to make every Christmas. The story of how good they are is always brought up this time of year. I set out to find the recipe to this cookie since obviously his grandmother kept it in her head and to her grave.

He doesn't know what they were called but I searched until I found what seemed to be pretty close to what he has explained. I'm sure mine will not be as good as hers but it was worth a shot and it gave me an excuse to try something new. They turned out delicious but he said " These are close, but still not the cookie Grandmother made." It was hard to get them rolled out thin enough to turn crispy. That was the texture he was looking for. Ill give it another shot another day.

While I was baking, Nick was laughing from across the room. I kept asking "what is so funny?"
It was the chef hat on my head. Yes I felt like wearing a chef hat. I meant business! As I was mixing and patting, he sent this text picture to my phone.

Now I know why he was laughing. Yes, I love Lucy. This went on the whole time I was in the kitchen. I don't know who had more fun, me or Nick.

I gently packed each tin with cookies and ventured out into the freezing cold and snow to deliver the cookies.

Just kidding!!!! Its in the 70's today here in North Carolina. With thunder storms. Doesn't feel like Christmas weather at all!
I will not complain. I love the warmth.

My Daughter will be coming home again soon to spend Christmas with us. She usually helps me bake but she has to work. Even though she's only 30 minutes away, its always exciting to me when she's home. She still has her room and loves sleeping in her old bed. She will be working on Christmas Eve but lucky for her, she can remotely work from home in her Pajamas on that day.

Now that all the goodies are delivered and the shopping is complete, I can set back with a cocoa and cookie of my own and relax.
I think me and Ashley will be going to the nail salon for a quick manicure too.

This will be my last post before Christmas. With that being said, I wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas!

German Pancake

When Sunday morning rolled around I decided to try a new recipe. "German Pancakes". These are also called baked pancakes or bubbly pancakes. Did you know my maiden last name is German? Of course not, you don't even know my Maiden name. But yes, its was originated in Germany, but I'm not German.

My daughter came home so she could go to church. We listened to the Christmas cantata with a following covered dish dinner. I think I ate a little dab of everything. Its always so good. There are a lot of good cooks in my church family.

Every morning that my daughter is here, I always make her breakfast. I do not think she has ever waken up at home without a breakfast from the day she was born. Usually its a cooked breakfast because Its my favorite meal to fix and its also the most important meal of the day.

This recipe was really delicious and easy. While cooking, it begins to look weird and then started to bubble in the middle and the sides start to come over the edge of the dish as they stop just in time with a golden brown trim.  

Ok, when I just said that it bubbled in the middle, I could not help but think about Stymies surprise cake from the little rascals.

Once the pancake is finished, you cut and dish it out like pie and add your favorite toppings. I used powdered sugar. I tried it with syrup also and it was still a win.

 

Today I am going to share this recipe with you. It will be perfect to fix on Christmas morning for the family. I may make this again along with my sausage balls.

German Pound Cake

• 6 Eggs
• 1 Cup Milk
• 1 Cup all purpose Flour
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter

Mix well in blender and pour into a buttered 9x13 pan.
Bake 400 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cut and serve warm with powder sugar, syrup, cinnamon your other favorite topping. 

Enjoy



 

Shopping Complete

Finally. I think I have my all my Christmas shopping finished. "I think", "No, really I'm done". "Pretty much".

Me and my husband would venture out to the shops. Then we would separate. I'd go my way and he'd get his exercise in by walking laps around the mall while I shopped. Walking into the mall one day I noticed a little old man sleeping in the car next to us. I knew he was just waiting on his wife while she shopped. I nudge my husband, did a little giggle and said, "That's going to be you one of these days. needless to say, he agreed then jokingly said "no, that will probably be you."

I like to start my shopping early. The last family birthday of the year is my husbands which is the middle of October. After that date, Its time for me to start thinking about Christmas shopping. Yea, just thinking about it ,not actually doing it. But then by the first of November I'm ready to hit the stores. I have my daughter send me her Christmas wish list and I begin looking. Without a lot of success in getting all the things she mentions on her list, I think I do pretty good to accomplish a couple of them. There are things I cant find or afford and have to put them off. But she has always been a grateful person and accepts what she gets without complaining.


Our family, between my brothers, sisters, in-laws, aunts and uncles, we have decided to skip gift giving to each other for the simple fact that everyone has everything they need and it ends up just being a big money swap. We made an agreement to just buy for our parents and the smaller kids in the family and enjoy Christmas without the hassle of adult gift buying.


Me and My Husband have even agreed not to buy for each other. Instead, we do something special together or buy something for our home to enjoy together. ...Ok honestly, we just want it to hurry up and get by so we can move on to summer! We like to save our money to enjoy on our beach trips during the spring and summer. I'm ok with that!


So yes, my shopping is now complete. There is always that one more thing I would like to get my daughter but I have to throw in the towel some time or ill over do it. I have to finally hault.


Now I can just tidy up the house, relax and enjoy the sweet things in life such as Christmas baking and sharing my goodies with friends and neighbors. This year, I plan to make Crostoli, Italian Wedding cookies, and biscotti.

Do you procrastinate? Do your shopping last minute? or do you get ahead of the game and knock it out early?

Nutrisystem Cookie Sandwich

If you have been following me, you know I have been on Nutrisystem. Its been almost a year now and I still receive food shipments. Why? Because I like it. I lost below my goal weight and lost a total of 47 lbs. Im trying to loose three more just to claim a 50lbs loss but either way, Im at a size I like of 121 lbs. Nutrisystem helps me stay on track. While I eat a lot of regular foods now, I like to have the Nutrisystem meals to fall back on or for the simple fact of convenience.

Anyway, I do get bored of the foods at times and always looking for new ways to eat them. I discovered a delicious way to revive the Nutrisystem White Chocolate Chuck Cookies.
Here goes.

First I crushed the cookies as fine as I could get them without using a food processor. You can do this with a nut chopper or rolling pin, your choice. I just think its a waste of mess to pull out the food processors for a cup of cookies.

Spray the crushed cookies with spray butter. Zero Fat, Zero Calories. This is so they will stick together to form a crust.

Put half of the crushed cookies in a small ramekin, mug or shallow cup. A measuring cup would even work just fine. Press the buttered crumbs to the bottom.

Add a layer of sugar free cool whip, Reddi Wip or other whip cream.

Add the remaining other half of cookie crumbs to the top and lightly press, then place in the freezer for about 45 minutes.

Pop it out, and there you have it. A delicious cookie sandwich.

You can use ice cream if you wish but I love love love whip cream of any kind.

This counts as a Nutrisystem dessert plus one extra.
If your not on Nutrisystem, you can do the same thing with any of your favorite cookies.

Enjoy.

That Cookie Contest

So I hear there is a cookie contest held by the towns local newspaper. I have never entered anything ive made into a contest. Who me? Naw! I'm not that good at anything to be in a competition.

After giving it some thought, I grabbed one of my favoite cookie recipes and started baking. I thought, "why not, its just cookies, nobody can mess up a cookie even if its not prize material. It will at least make me happy to bake something sweet for a change and I dont even have to eat them"....  

OK, there were several broke ones that I just could not put on a plate to be judged so I ate a few of those and put the rest of the ugly ones in a bowl right beside the coffee pot. Why? Because I made an Italian cookie, Cranberry Almond  Biscotti. The word Biscotti means twice baked and that's why they are hard and crunchy, perfect for dipping in coffee. 

This morning the judging begins. I called into work to let them know I'd be a few minutes late and drove my cookies to the destination. As I made my way across the parking lot, I noticed more mature ladies making there way to the door.

"Oh no, I cant compete with that!" I somewhat felt guilty knowing these ladies had a lot more flour on their hands than I ever had!

I made it to the lobby and was greeted by some very happy, peppy employees. I mean, Id be nice and peppy too if I knew Id be eating cookies all day at work.

There ended up being 34 entries! 

The day is coming to an end as I sit here at work wondering if I won or not. I don't mind either way because it was all out of  fun, but I still wonder.....{waiting}

While I wait. Here are a couple Tweets I've seen so far....

"I want to taste that one again." Cookie judge Ken Lemon from WSOC-TV. Gazette Cookie Contest. #GazetteLife.

Gazette Cookie Contest Judge Heidi Flick: "It feels like a hug from your mama." #GazetteLife.

{still waiting}

I just learned that the winners and their recipes will be announced in the food section of Wednesdays newspaper so I'm out to get the paper.....

Wait for it....

Wait for it.....

The verdict is in......Drum roll ...............
....
....
....
....

I did NOT win.

BUT.....My recipe DID make it in the paper as one of the 5 superlatives. My cookies were voted "Most Unique"

(source)

It was fun to have the chance to share some of my baking talent with others. I'm sure it was a difficult decision for the judges. These Biscotti are still a winner in my kitchen and I plan to share a fresh batch with my family and neighbors soon.

Click HERE for the recipe to my cookies plus the other wonderful recipes.
Click HERE to see the three winners and their recipes.

Banana Bread in a Mug

I was craving some nice warm banana bread but since Im still watching what I eat, I didn't want to make a whole one. I've not baked any kind of cake or bread since January! WOW. Knowing if I would have made a big banana bread, I would have eaten the whole thing in a day or two. I still doughnut trust my willpower....Wait did I just say "doughnut?" Just another thing I've stayed away from. Ha.

Anyway, I found a recipe for a banana bread in a mug. Single serve, one cup sweet treat. Made right in the microwave in less than 3 minutes!

 

I caved. I had to make one. In fact, It actually made two. I shared one with my husband which gave it a snarl but ended up eating it. It was not to bad. Surly not as good as my mommas banana bread but it did the trick to cure my sweet tooth at the moment.

 

Now I will share the recipe with you. So grab your favorite mug or ramekin, spray it with cooking spray, and go at it.

BANANA BREAD IN A MUG

 

4Tablespoons- Self Rising Flour

2 teaspoons -sugar

2 Tablespoons -brown sugar

Pinch.- baking soda

1 egg

1/4  teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon milk

half a ripe banana, mashed

 

Blend flour, sugars, salt, baking powder & baking soda.

Add egg & mix until all the dry ingredients are incorporated.

Stir in vanilla, oil & milk, then mashed banana.  

Microwave 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave.

 

I was able to get two ramekin size cakes out of this recipe for some reason. It may rise over the top of the mug as it's heating, don't worry, its goes back down a little when you take it out. Use a tooth pick to check center. If it's still runny it's not done yet.  But be careful not to overcook!  

 

 

It taste better cooled.

You can also add some nuts or cinnamon to the batter (optional).

 

Enjoy

 

Christmas Card Time

Tis the season I take time out of my busy schedule to sit a write out my Christmas cards. 

This somehow became my job. Every year I question if I should send them out or not. I mean, do people really care? Do they just toss them in the trash or do they display them? I used to mail out about fifty but my list has dwindled down to about thirty. 

See my rule is, if I dont get a card in return after two years I mark those people off the list unless its imediate family, they will get one as long as Im welling. Then of course there are former work employees and church members that are no longer in the picture. There is also the ones that have passed away. Some of those are the ones I enjoyed writing too the most. 

My husband and I enjoy getting cards in the mail and pick on each other on who gets to open the next one. I display them all on a hallway door and occasionally stop and read them over and over. We judge which one is the prettiest and which one is the ugliest etc. sometimes it makes us talk about the sender and how grateful we are for friends. So, yes we enjoy every one of them.

Its nice to get a real letter instead of emails or text which is what everything seems to be going to. It lets you know that someone took some time to think about you.

Do you send Christmas cards? How do you display the ones you receive?

Little Vintage Tree

I can hardly wait til Thanksgiving night to put up the tree. My husband will climb to the attic and take down the boxes of decorations which seems a box is added every year.

This year I decided not to put up our big tree and just use a small tree on a table. Unfortunately, we never have visitors and I live on a dead end road where only about 6 neighbors will ever see my tree in the window. My daughter has her own place and therefore, its just me and Nick left to enjoy the lights. This does sadden me. I miss Christmas with a child in the house. A lot of joy leaves when they leave.

We first purchased a small white 4 ft. tree to use. We got it at a 2nd hand store for nearly nothing. As I sat sorta saddened about such a small tree, I was determined to make it look 6 ft. tall from the window. That's when my husband said "Well, I do have an old  6.5 ft. aluminum tree in the attic Dad gave us a few years ago. I can bring it out and we can take a look at it". Woohooo! I was so excited. I can make it work! Whites and silvers were the look I was going for this year anyway. Each branch was delicately wrapped to keep it in mint condition as we carefully put the tree together. It took us like 3 minutes. ha.

Anyone older than 50 may have just had one of these in there home at one time or another. This was the tree used when my husband was a child. I'm sure it brought back some memories. My grandmother used one but I'm to young to remember [smile].

You cannot put lights on these trees for they are made of aluminum which is a fire hazard to electricity and the branches are as fragile as aluminum foil so you have to add light weight ornaments to them. That's why they had "color wheels" to use to illuminate the trees.

Unfortunately, we didn't have that part, but no worries. Nick found a light that changes colors and applied it above the tree to give it the same effect as the color wheel would do. I added a few plastic dollar store balls. Its now PERFECT as the tree changes colors for a fantastic light show of sevral color changes. I tried to add a video of the effects but I just couldn't get it to work for me.

In case your wondering what I did with the little white tree, It sits on the nightstand of my daughters bedroom. This will eventually be our Christmas tree when we move to a little house on the beach one day. [smile].

"No matter how small a Christmas tree is, 

they are all 8 feet tall in the eyes of a child"

 

Thrifty Christmas Stockings

I'm excited to share with you my latest craft, DIY, recycled project. You see, I really really like those cozy looking knitted Christmas stockings hanging in the Christmas shops. I just can't find reason in spending so much money on them. They can cost you around 35.00 each! That's when I got the bright idea to just make my own and it only cost me some pocket change.

I went to the local Goodwill store,  I love thrift stores. I found just the right sweater in white. I chose white  because I plan to do mostly white colors this Christmas. I think it will ad some light on the dreary days we have been experiencing lately. 

I didn't give much planning on how I was going to accomplish making these. I just had a shape in mind and started cutting. By the way, I washed the sweater first because you just never know. I cut the stockings in a position where I only had one seam to sew up.

Then I used a sewing machine and stitched them it up. Ok, these may be a little sloppy but I'm definitely not a seamstress and barely even know how to work a sewing machine. I can do one stitch, that's it. You can also sew them by hand using yarn or thread if you wish. I actually like the imperfect homemade look about them.

I created a couple pompoms and....

wah lah! 

Now I have two high dollar, over priced looking, knitted Christmas stockings that only cost me 2.99. That's a little over 1.00 for each stocking. Win!

Oh but that's not all. I used the sleeves of the sweater and created sweater covers for the a wine bottles. 

That's right, no more hiding the wine when the preacher visits! Ha!

Now I have to go back and purchase another sweater to make a third stocking. Then they "will be hung on the mantel with care, in hopes St. Nick will soon be there."


Tis the season


I've shared this at:
cooking-crafting-j-j-link at pluckys-secondthought
two-uses-tuesday at sarahcelebrates
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
romantichome.blogspot.com/

DIY Christmas Card Coasters

Last year I decided to keep all of my Christmas cards in hopes to find something to make with them this year.

I also happened to have a box of ceramic tiles left over from some repairs we had to do years ago.

1.) I figured out something useful to make with them,

And 2.) No, I'm not a hoarder.

My daughter came to visit and I know how she likes to make things with me so I suggest we make some coasters with those Christmas cards I had been saving.

She was all for it so I grabbed some tiles, the cards, felt (for backing), scissors, glue and modpodge.

First we glued felt to the backs to protect the furniture. 

We chatted up the girl talk as we carefully chose and cut our cards then we glued them onto the tiles. 

After the pictures were in place, we painted a layer of modpodge over the whole thing to seal it. Just like if you were to seal a puzzle. 
If you don't have modpodge, I read where you can water down some Elmer's glue and it will work just as well.

Within 30 minutes we recycled those Christmas cards and tiles into little pieces of art.

I will be using these during the Christmas season and she had a set to take home for herself. I always enjoy time spent with my daughter. We laugh and talk like best friends. We share stories of our week and plans for the future. We had fun making this quick little craft together.

 

These would also make nice little gifts for the office, neighbors, friends and family.

Stay tuned, I cant wait to show you my next project I will share soon!

Ive shared this at:

comshow-and-tell-friday at romantichome

thursday-favorite-things at katherinescorner

cooking-crafting-j-j-link at pluckys-secondthought  

amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome

romantichome.blogspot.com



Can We Just Have Christmas?

Its not even Thanksgiving yet and the Christmas season seems to have already begun and with that comes people that are already finding ways to ruin Christmas for those who celebrate it. I think we should at least get through Thanksgiving first,

But any who....

Whether you believe in it or not, Christmas is a day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. No matter what religion you are, where you are from or how you believe, Christmas is Christmas.

I really don't care if the local mall makes their Santa display a glacier or a field of daisies, Its just a photo booth. Take your tot to another mall that has the look you want. Don't just stand there snapping photos and writing a journal, just go shop where you feel the joy of the season. 

I don't care if a company sells drinks using of a red cup, blue cup or a white cup featuring some creepy looking goddess, its just a cup. Its used then thrown away.

I don't care if you say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holiday", I will politely smile and say "Merry Christmas" right back. As far as I'm concerned, your saying "happy holy-day" anyway.

I don't care if you play Christmas music in your store or if you choose to play rock and roll. Its just music and if the music interferes with my shopping experience I just make it a quick one.

I get it. Even though most people say they are Christians, many are not "born again" Christians, therefore people have different views, different faiths or no faith at all. Everyone gets offended one way or another. No wonder the traditions are fading and non-believers never believe. Because everyone argues about every little thing. No one is getting the true picture. There is more problems in the world that we need to be worrying about.

Cant we just have Christmas?

My home and family will be filled with Christmas joy of giving, loving and sharing the true meaning of Christmas. We will turn off all the negativity the world is throwing at us and celebrate the birthday of our Savior.
I will go to church on Christmas Eve, 

I will have a Christmas tree and walk through Christmas lights holding hands with my husband reminiscing about the good old days. 
We will be playing Santa as we place presents under the tree for our grown daughter just so we can hang on to those childhood memories. 
I will watch all the Christmas and Hallmark movies I can watch.
My car and office radio will be playing all the Christmas music I can find whether it be "Away in a Manger" or "Jingle Bell Rock". 
So instead of finding something wrong with every little thing that has to do with Christmas, sit back and enjoy what we still have left.

Can't we just have Christmas?

Instead of arguing about everything that offends you, just ignore it. Christians have to do this every day. Let it go. 
Instead of worrying about who wants to celebrate Christmas their way, Celebrate your way. 
Instead of worrying about the music that's played, stick in your earphones and play the music you like. 
and for the love, If you don't like the color cup a coffee shop uses, take that cup and fill it up for a homeless man that will be more than grateful to have a drink.

So Can we please just have Christmas?

Now excuse me while I drink my coffee from a Dixie cup.

Crochet Ice Cream Cozy

I married into a family of former Ice Cream shop owners. It was before my time when my Husbands grandparents came over from Italy and opened up "Dimeos Ice Cream Co."

It was closed in the 70's as I was just a tot. We have lots of memorabilia that I try to hang on to . From tiny ice cream spoons to vintage milkshake machines.. I will admit however, that im not a big ice cream eater. Its not that I do not like ice cream, I just despise the cold frost on my teeth and the chill I get when holding on to the container.

Well, I had this bright idea to fix one of those problems so I headed over to Pinterest online to see if someone has already thought up the idea. The idea of an ice cream cozy. Sure enough, they were a few smart thinkers like myself. ha.

You curl up in your chair, turn on a movie, grab your blanket and container of ice cream. No more having to grab a napkin or towel to cover the container to keep your hands warm and dry as you indulge in some delicious cold yum yum .

I found a free pattern here which was fairly easy and looks great on the cup but I just didn't like the way it looked around the bottom and it required more stitches that I had in mind.
I wanted to come up with a more simple shape and form. And I did.

Here is a look at my own version of the ice cream cozy.

It didn't take me long to come up with my own pattern for this cute fuzzy sleeve to hold while scooping out the nuts and cherries from the ice cream.

This will be another item I will be selling im my Etsy shop as I try to make some Christmas money.
So, head on over and purchase one of these as I will be adding more as the weeks go by.

Facts about me and ice cream:
I don't like it plain. I want it to have something in it.
My favorite is butter pecan, rocky road or chocolate mint.
I chew ice cream ( I guess that's why it hurts my teeth).
I hate to hear people talk while they eat ice cream.
I  prefer a sugar cone over a cake cone.
Id rather have a little scoop in a big sugar cone.
and the very last bite of the cone is the best.


Ive shared this at :
cooking and crafting with jj at pluckys-secondthought.com
two-uses-tuesday at sarahcelebrates.com
inspired-features-and-link-party at elizabethandcovintage
the-wednesday-showcase at asavoryfeast.com
worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog.com
link-and-share-wednesday at oombawkadesigncrochet.com
thursday-favorite-things at katherinescorner
show and tell friday at romantichome