Simple Winter Garnishes for Christmas Dinners & Gatherings

There is much feasting this time of year.  Potlucks, parties, get-togethers, open houses...  The main attraction is togetherness and food.  Here are a few ideas to quickly and simply add a little extra Christmas cheer to dishes served for the eyes to also feast upon.  Little touches like these contribute to the festive feel of a party.  Instead of just bringing a side dish because your last name begins with A-L, adding a little something can communicate gratitude to guests and a sense of "This gathering is special to me."  Here's to having fun playing with food during this happy season.

10 Healthy, Simple, & Festive Snacks, Lunches, & Treats for Wintertime

    

Fun food traditions don't have to be laden with toxic refined sugars and flours.  The kids and I are starting new wintertime culinary rituals that are fun and full of memory-making potential.  They've already made me promise that we do all of the following for winters to come.  Several of these were Pinterest finds, so I'll provide the link to each of those and a little note of how our experience turned out.

 My mom introduced us to these black olive penguins a couple years ago and have become a  wintertime staple ever since. My older kids (ages 10 and 12) help cut the carrots and our 6 and 9-year-olds can do the rest.  The 2-year-old more than happily helps eat them.  We give him a couple cream cheese balls and olives to play around with while the rest of us assemble them.

 We even roast chestnuts on a, well, closed oven.  We found a bag at Trader Joe's and have received them in our produce box before we started growing our own veggies.  We loved how they looked like little presents after roasting them.  Simply preheat your oven to 350º, cut a big "x" on the flat side of each one (I highly suggest adults do this part; it's tricky), and roast for 35-40 minutes.  Unwrap the chestnut presents while still very warm, but not too hot to burn little hands, and enjoy a warming, buttery treat.  Martha has some pretty yummy recipes for them if you have any leftover.

 This simple grape-and-cheese Christmas tree with a celery trunk (and little sprigs of thyme as pretty little dividers) was an easy and tasty snack that the kids put together themselves.

 We used our old hummus flower idea to make a Christmas star with hummus (here's a simple recipe) and heirloom carrots of different colors.  If you haven't grown your own, Trader Joe's has bags of them available.

 The most challenging snack were these snowmen.  The one I made with our 6-year-old fell apart, but our crafty 9-year-old pretty much mastered it.  There might have been some tears shed from disappointed little eyes after snowmen cracked and crumbled, but I think we might try them again next year.

 Homemade hot (or warm) chocolate is too simple not to make!  It's taste is far superior than powdered mixes, not to mention it's way healthier.  We rotate between Perfectly Frothy Raw Hot Cocoa and this Mexican Hot Chocolate.  When I'm really in a need for extreme chocolate, we pull out the Dairy-Free Sipping Chocolate Recipe.

 Need a little something more than chocolate to sip?  Indulge in this super-quick Egg(less) Nog.  It's a favorite.

 These Grain-Free Coconut Lace Cookies don't last long around here.  Buttery+thin+crispy= cantstopwontstop.

 Originally, I was shooting for a Paleo Peppermint Patty kinda thing, but I actually prefer these Paleo Bon Bons without the peppermint.

    I love recipes that are naturally grain-free without having to tweak anything.  These Gluten-Free Chocolate Cloud Cakes are a real show-stopper and simply delicious.

Happy festive, healthy kitchens, friends! xo

Wrap It! Gorgeous, Quick, Easy, Frugal Gift-Wrapping Ideas

Momma taught this girl how to get a good bargain.  After-Christmas sales are my jam.  When Jeremy and I were engaged, I hit those sales so hard.  Decorating for the following Christmas was like Christmas all over again.  Wrapping paper is always bought at those sales; I've never paid more than a dollar for a roll.  It doesn't get cheaper than that unless it's free.  This year, I'm wrapping for free and skipping those sales (except for a few colorful rolls the kids picked out and neeeeeded).

There are so many gorgeous ideas on Pinterest.  Knitted ribbons and bows?  Yes.  Mini, handmade wreaths as a present-topper?  All over it.  Except time?  Not enough.  So here is a collection of wrapping ideas that are quick, natural, free (or almost free, depending on what you have in your home), earthy, and beautiful.

Remember those candied orange disks from the Nature Nook?  They keep coming back because I'm crushing so hard on them this year.  They last all through autumn and winter and found their way in wreaths, fresh garlands, food garnishes, and now gifts.  Click here to see how they're made.

I'm always looking for more creative ideas. Share how you are decking the halls by using the hashtag #rlovechristmas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; I'd love to see!

Winter Nature Nook

As days grow shorter and the chilly air blows us home, it's nice to bring some of the outdoors in to admire by the warmth of the fire. The kids and I created a space in our cabin where we can study this season's beauty in the comfort of hearth and home.  We wanted our winter nature nook to delight all five senses.  There are cinnamon sticks and dried orange disks to smell and touch, warming candlelight, bright red Christmas Berries to look at, Paper Whites and Amaryllis bulbs to watch grow each day.

To make dried orange disks, simply slice 2 oranges as thin as you can, toss disks in 1/2 cup sugar, and dry in the oven or dehydrator at 200º for 2 1/2 hours.  We tried making a batch without sugar and what we got are brown disks pictured below (the brightness of the other disk was preserved by using sugar).

It felt good to step away from the business this season can bring, take a deep breath, and collect treasures from creation with the kids.  Their creativity was activated and a peace entered the house as everyone crafted elements of the nature nook.  We love how it all came together, and checking the bulbs' growth progress each morning has become a before-breakfast ritual.  I do think we have started a new family tradition.

Farm Stand Preparations

Preparations are well underway for our family to be a part of a wonderful bazaar our church holds annually.  This is no ordinary boutique.  Thousands walk the isles to browse the vendor's offerings.  My kids have begged to sell something, anything, for years, so I wrote it into our Homestead Day curriculum (more on that soon).  The hope is that the kids learn a thing or two about money: marketing, pricing, and economics in general.  It's been fun to watch their excitement rise, the closer it gets to setting up our little farm stand and revealing the fruit of their hard work.

Us grown-ups joined the fun, too.  My mom has made some gorgeous, hand-crafted woodworkings, a newfound love of hers, and she is good.  My dad helped our oldest son to make stilts, something he helped my brother and I make and sell when we were kids.  Oh, the memories that came flooding back!  We used to have countless races and tournaments on those stilts.  Any time friends came over, they would make a beeline to them and the championships would would resume.  I hopped up on an old pair we made as kids at my daughter's birthday party and became ten again.  I literally had to bite my tongue (as seen in the photo above) so as not to challenge the poor nine-year-olds to a battle.  I always win, you see.  Always.  I think I need to invite some of my friends over for a battle so I can dominate once again.  Fierce stilt competition is not something one outgrows easily.

Our oldest daughter and her friend have made some rad raw-hem tank tops that they designed themselves.  The last batch was just finished last night and they are so cute!  I'm really impressed.

Our younger girls and I have added several sourdough items to the farm stand, including (sour)doughnuts, loaves of rustic sourdough, and sourdough starter, all made with only spelt.  They will also help to ladle organic hot apple cider made from scratch into mugs for our customers.

If you are in the area, I do hope you stop by and say hello.  We'll be the booth with millions of kids and matching aprons that my mom made for us all.  Our little farm stand will be open for business this Saturday, November 22 from 3:00-8:00 at the Bethel Bazaar.  You can follow our progress on Instagram as we make the final push until the big day.

Over 50 Thoughtful Gift Ideas for the Whole Family

I put together a list like this a couple years ago (you can see it here) and still very much stand by those suggestions.  This compilation was created as a continuation of that list.  Everything on here has been personally enjoyed here in our home over the years and comes highly recommended.  How fun would it be to give a gift basket for the baker/gardener/cook/crafter/homesteader/coffee drinker/fermento/child in your life?  I guess I love themes.  Many of these suggestions would also make beautiful gifts or stocking stuffers all by themselves.  I like to veer away from just giving "stuff" that will likely fill the dump in a month or two and instead invest in one or two meaningful gifts that the receiver will actually enjoy, and is even inspired to go after their interests even more.  I hope you find this helpful.  Please add any suggestions you may have in the comments below.

For The Baker

• WonderMill ~ Mine is almost ten years old now and is going strong with heavy use.  Although it's quite an investment, you just can't beat the flavor that freshly-milled flour imparts to breads, cookies, and cakes; not to mention the major increase in nutrition and decrease in the cost of flour when you mill your own.  It has three settings for pastry, bread, and coarse and mills eight cups of flour in less than two minutes.
• Clay Bakers ~ Not only do these bring your bread-making game up to a professional level, you can craft some incredible roasts and whole chickens in these guys.  I do believe they are totally worth the investment.  Also?  They are a clean, non-toxic way to bake your food, and are naturally non-stick without any chemicals.
• Proofing Baskets ~ These babies are what take your loaves from just homemade to artisan.  You know those cool markings found on super-expensive breads you buy at high-end bakeries?  It's because they let the final rise happen in these proofing baskets.
• Danish Dough Whisk ~ I love using this especially for wetter doughs, like with spelt flour.  It's incredible how effective it is!
• Bowl-Scraping Spatula ~ This is my all-time favorite spatula ever.  It doesn't leave any of the precious dough behind in the bowl and it is effortless to use.
• Lidded Bowl for Rising/Souring ~ Even though they aren't nearly as pretty as a traditional bread bowl, I love these because no disposable plastic is needed to cover rising dough and the dough doesn't dry out like it can when using a cloth.  The lid does the trick!
• A good bread knife ~ Home-crafted bread deserves the courtesy of being cut with a good, sharp bread knife.  This is the one I have used and loved for years.  Once you use a well-made knife, it's pretty card to carve and cut with anything else.
• Tartine No. 3 ~ A very inspirational recipe book using whole grains, written by Chad Robertson, the legendary sourdough genius and owner of the famous San Francisco Tartine Bakery & Cafe.

For The Gardener

• Heirloom Seeds ~ All heirloom seeds are GMO-free and naturally genetically diverse and disease-resistant.  My favorite companies are Annie's Heirloom Seeds and Baker Creek.
• Garden Bucket ~ How fun would it be to make a gardener's "gift basket" with a five-gallon bucket lined with this caddy, filled with heirloom seeds and shiny new hand tools?
• Hand Tools ~ Mentioned above, but could also fill a stocking fast.
• Favorite Gloves ~ Nothing beats a good gardening glove (or two).
• Lasagna Gardening ~ My new favorite gardening technique.
• Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening ~ Simply a must-have.
• Vegetable Garden Problem Solver ~ Currently devouring this book myself.

For The Healthy Cook

• Nourishing Traditions ~ Another must-have for every healthy kitchen.
• Nom Nom Paleo ~ Probably my favorite cook book purchase this year.
• Truffle Salt ~ A delicious indulgence that brings "umami" to pretty much any savory dish.  A little bit goes a long way!
• Fair-Trade, Organic Chocolate ~ Can anyone say, "yummiest stocking stuffer ever"?
• 2-Ounce Angled Measuring Cups ~ I have three of these and use them all the time for measuring vanilla extract, sourdough starter, making salad dressings... I was surprised how often they're in use and really glad I have three because I go through them so often.
• Cast Iron Pots and Pans ~ These are a must when you're wanting to get away from toxic non-stick pans. These are naturally non-stick when seasoned properly and can go into the oven and on the stovetop; and campfire!
• Clay Bakers ~ These were already mentioned in the baker's gifts but are also incredibly valuable for roasting meats and veggies.  You'll never roast a piece of meat any other way!
• Ceramic Pots and Pans ~ The next step up from regular cast iron pots and pans mentioned above.
• Ghee ~ My favorite fat for stovetop cooking because of it's high smoke point (prevents fat from becoming carcinogenic) and nutrient density.  Also it's GAPS-diet and Paleo-friendly!
• Grade B Maple Syrup ~ I mean, I'd swoon with some of this in my stocking.
• Vanilla Beans and Vodka to make this gluten-free vanilla extract recipe ~ Whether you make a cute vanilla extract kit for your favorite chef or give it to them made by you, nothing beats a good vanilla extract.

For The Natural Crafter

• Organic Yarn ~ Nothing beets the soft, clean feeling of organic when your crafter is knitting or crocheting something cozy.
• Bamboo Crochet Hooks ~ Why use plastic or aluminum when there's beautiful, smooth,  sustainable bamboo?
• Bamboo Knitting Needles ~ Again. Natural is my favorite.
• Last- Minute Knitted Gifts ~ A gorgeous and inspirational book; so good that there's also a...
• More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
• Beeswax (for candlemaking) ~ A candle-making gift basket with the following three items?  Heavenly.
• Cotton Wicks ~ no toxic lead in these beauties!
• Candlemaking The Natural Way ~ A lovely, easy-to-follow book.

For The Flower Lover

• Favorite Flower Shears ~ Also great for cutting fresh herbs from the garden!
• Floral Foam ~ Shears, floral foam, and the book below.  I sense another stunning gift basket.
• The Plant Recipe Book ~ Recipes for impressive arrangements with flowers and clippings from plants.

For The Coffee Lover

• Home Roaster ~ Although this isn't the top of the line, it's been serving us well for five years and counting.
• Green Coffee Beans ~ You're gonna need some green coffee beans to roast, after all.
• Home Coffee Roasting book ~ ... and knowing how to roast the beans is always helpful.

For The Fermento

• Fermenting Crock ~ Pickles, sauerkraut, brines, oh my!  I adore my crock.
•  Celtic Sea Salt ~ Gotta have good salt for all that pickling.
• The Art of Fermentation ~ You wanna culture/ferment/make cheese?  I love this guide to it all.
• Beer-Cap Bottles ~ A must-have for bottling your own kombucha.

For The Aspiring Homesteader

• You Can Farm (and any other book by Joel Salatin) ~ He's my favorite farmer-philospher ever. He doesn't just write about it; he lives it.
• Keeping Bees ~ Ashley English's books make everything homestead feel attainable and intriguing for the novice.
• Home Dairy ~ Because cheese.
• The Backyard Homestead ~ Now this book will make you salivate for growing your own food and that's a fact.

For The Children

Ages 0-3

• Playsilk ~ Soothing for the baby and creative play for the toddler.  I love a toy that grows with your child.
• Natural Teethers and Toys ~ They can gnaw on them while teething and play with them as they grow.

Ages 3-5

• What's In The Bible? DVDs ~ Our kids have learned so much from these DVDs.  Even the older ones enjoy them.
• Waldorf Crafts and Books ~ Oh, the space creativity is given when children get to engage with these! (also suitable for older ages)

Ages 6-8

• William Joyce Books ~ Gorgeously illustrated and I won't lie.  They make me cry.
• Here Comes Heaven! ~ We loved going through this book during our nightly devotions.

Ages 8-12

• Origami Yoda Files ~ Our son devoured these books and has lent them out to several friends who did the same.
• Felting Starter Kit ~ A wonderful sensory activity while they listen to you read books.

Teens

• Darling Magazine (for young ladies) ~ My oldest daughter and I have really enjoyed reading through these together.  "The Art of Being a Woman" is their subtitle.  One read through their mission statement on the back of their publications and you will be hooked.
• Easy Carpentry for Kids ~ My brother and I actually worked through this book with my dad when we were kids.  So many beautiful memories!

Happy gift-giving!

Easy Mini Chocolate Cloud Cakes ~ A Naturally Gluten/Grain-Free Recipe

With a cake rich in flavor and light as a cloud in texture, it brings satisfaction without feeling like there's a lump of dough in your stomach.  These little cakes are gorgeous in presentation and delightful to sink your spoon into.  My pitiful camera doesn't do them justice.  Someday, maybe someday, I'll get a big girl one.  In the meantime, I plan on making these for the next dinner party as both children and grown-ups delight in these flourless, mini cloud cakes.

Ramekins are a favorite around here.  They are the perfect-sized bowl to hold soups and porridges for little children.  I use them as my ice cream bowl to keep from polishing of way more than I should.  If you decide to make these in muffin tins, I highly recommend using parchment paper (see collection of how-to pictures below) instead of cupcake liners because these cakes puff up quite a lot while baking.

No-Flour Mini Chocolate Cloud Cakes
Prep time: 20 minutes, bake time, 20 minutes, makes 18 mini cakes

For the cake:

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup coconut sugar or evaporated cane juice, divided
• 6 eggs, divided

For the topping:

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder

1. Get eggs out of fridge and set on counter to un-chill.  Preheat oven to 350º.  Line muffin tins with parchment paper or lightly butter ramekin pots.
2. In saucepan, melt chocolate chips and butter over medium/low heat.  Set side.
3. Separate 4 eggs and let whites fall into mixing bowl.  Put yolks in a different bowl along with 2 whole eggs and set aside.  Whip egg whites until stiff.  Slowly add 1/2 cup sugar as you continue to whip the whites until incorporated.  Scoop whites out into a bowl and set aside.  Now pour the other egg mixture (with the yolks) in the mixer and whip on high for about a minute.  Slowly pour in other half cup of sugar, then chocolate mixture into egg yolk mixture while whisking on medium speed until fully incorporated.
4. Very gently fold in the egg whites, at about one half of it at a time, until all folded in.  Scrape into  ramekin pots or lined cupcake tins, 2/3 full.  Smooth tops.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top doesn't wobble.  Don't over-bake!
5. While cakes bake, wash mixing bowl and put it in the freezer to chill (this helps the whipped cream set up).   Cool cakes on rack.  Don't worry!  They will fall.   When cakes are cool and you're ready to serve, put whipping cream in chilled mixer and whip until peeks form.  Slowly pour syrup and vanilla into the cream as you finish whipping.  Once cakes are cool, plop a dollop of whipped cream on top of each cake and sprinkle cocoa powder on top.

I'm sharing this at Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday,  Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Friday.

40 Natural, Tasteful Gift Ideas

Tis the season to think of others!  It is truly satisfying to give a well-received gift that won't end up at the landfills in a month.  A compilation of handmade gift ideas is soon to come, but here is a list of personally-recommended boughten gifts either cherished in our home or on our wish lists:

Stocking Stuffers:

• Soaps & Lip Balm from Graham Gardens
• Organic Mexican Chocolate for eating or making Mexican hot chocolate
• GMO-free vegetable wax candles
• Non-toxic nail polish
• Sling shot with a bag of marshmallows to shoot
• Natural teething toys for baby
• Organic tea

For the Kitchen (some items could be put together in a beautiful gift basket):

• Flour sack dish towels (easily embroider them for an extra personal touch)
• Adjustable measuring spoons
• Fun Measuring Cups (on my wish list)
• Wooden reamer for quick lemon juice for tea and soaking flours/nuts/seeds.
• Lettuce knife
• Pie crust covers
• Kefir, sourdough, vegetable, and other culture starters
• Apple peeler/correr/slicer
• Pretty glass jars for dry food storage (you can fill them with a homemade treat)
• Cast iron skillets (the sizes I use most are 10, 6, and 4-inch)
• Large stoneware bar sheet (I use them as baking sheets)
• Stoneware muffin pans
• Chemex coffee maker
• Iced coffee maker
• Raclette (on my wish list)
• Wusthof knives

For the Children:

• Organic Baby Gift Set
• Wooden Blocks (ages 0 and up)
• Playsilk (ages 0 and up)
• Lincoln Logs (ages 3 and up)
• Beeswax Candle Making Kit (ages 5 and up)
• Felting Kit (ages 8 and up)  

Books

• Candlemaking the Natural Way
• Soapmaking the Natural Way
• Nourishing Traditions
• Raising Organic Chickens
• The Backyard Homestead
• Back to Basics (a fun, family read)
• The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer (or any of Joel Salatin's books)

Big Gifts That Will Make Healthier, Higher Quality, Food & Save Time & Money:

• Excalibur Dehydrator for making fruit roll-ups, crispy nuts, apple chips, beef jerky, and dried fruit and berries
• Vitamix for smoothies, hummus, egg nog, hot cocoa, sipping chocolate, batters, baba ghanoush
• Food processor for grating cheese, mincing onions and peppers, making energy bars & pie crusts
• VitaClay Slow Cooker (on my wish list) 
• Coffee roaster for home-roasting coffee beans to get high-quality, Intelligentsia-esque coffee for the price of Folgers.

What would you add to the list?  

I'm sharing this at Monday Mania, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Real Food Wednesday.

Christmas Kittens

A couple weeks ago, we bundled up a lot more than usual and made our way to the snowy forrest with some friends, tree permit in hand.

We hunted and gathered this year's Christmas tree.  On the way home, we stopped at a little country cafe to warm up with some hot chocolate.  The kids spotted a sign on a thrift store next door and shrieked, "Free kittens!" Then came the big, begging eyes and pleads to take them home.  Once I saw my husband take one up in his arms, I knew it was all over.  We were getting kittens.

After all, we were looking for a couple barn cats and these were already vaccinated, wormed, and free.  We signed the papers and brought them home.  They are too small to be out in that barn just yet, so they are temporarily in our tiny cabin, receiving the royal treatment and being included in every moment.

In all honesty, in this season of life, I don't want any animals that don't serve a function.  Also, I don't want my home to smell like cat, so I've kept my distance while they're house cats.  But they've grown on me.

They've become extremely affectionate to everyone in the family (even the little ones who, well, tend to over-love them) and toward each other.  I fear if they don't get out to that barn soon, they might wiggle their way into our hearts a little too much and become house cats.  So out they go in the daytime, and in they come to the house at night.  For now.  The barn is in your future, dear Christmas kitties.  But we enjoy your company for now.

I'm sharing this at Gratituesday.

It's Not Too Late for a {Super-Frugal} Handmade Christmas!

It might be the first of December, but if you haven't started any handmade gifts, don't despair!  There's still time.  Even if you're only able to craft one or two gifts, they will be cherished by the one who receives them, and that just feels good.  Taking some time to sit and work with my hands, thinking of the person I'm making a present for, not only brings joy and peace to my spirit, it's a refreshing approach to the "hustle and bustle" of the holidays.  Let's get right to it then, shall we?  Here are some things I've done in Christmases past (I can't show you what I'm working on this year; I ain't no spoiler):

We made a few of these snowflake trees to decorate our house and to give as hostess gifts at Christmas parties.  Each one took all of 15 minutes to make.   Find the instructions here.  Cost: about 50 cents

Still have some pumpkins hanging around?  We grew several one year, and I brined the seeds (soaked them in water with 1 Tablespoon Celtic sea salt overnight) and dehydrated them at 104º to make them crispy but preserved their enzymes, then tossed them in olive oil and a mixture of seasonings (I think I used a salad dressing mix).  You can include a cute little note with ideas of what to put them in (eat them by the handful, toss some in salads...)  Cost: about $1 for spices and packaging

Every year, we gather walnuts.  Lots and lots of walnuts.  After shelling, we soaked them in salt water (see above) for 12-24 hours, dehydrated them, and caramelized them.  Oh my.  They were soverygood.  To caramelize the nuts, simply melt 1/4 cup butter with 1/2 cup sugar (muscovado, turbinado, coconut sugar {GAPS-friendly!}, honey, or maple syrup work best), 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a large skillet, add 1 1/2 cups walnuts, and stir on medium/high for 5-7 minutes or until they look really coated and smell delicious.  Store in an airtight container up to two weeks on the countertop before giving them, or in the freezer for a couple months).  These are super delicious by themselves or tossed in salads, on top of a squash or sweet potato dish, with ice cream, brownies, cakes...  The possibilities are endless, I tell you.  Cost of gift: about $1 per gift for caramelizing supplies and packaging

Did you save some seeds from your garden?  Make some seed packets out of  paper bags (find instructions here).  Doodle little sketches of the plants with simple instructions on the back, or you could always tape pictures of the plants on the packets.  I found these little Christmas pails at Target for $1 to "wrap" them in. Cost of gift: $1 for the pail

Ever had homemade vanilla extract?  It is thee best.  Treat that special cook in your life to some.  It's getting a little late for this, but what you can do is fill little glass jars this recipe and include a tag when to start using it (it gets better with time, but it should at least sit in a cupboard for two months).  Once the vanilla extract it ready, your gift recipients can scrape the beans from the vanilla pod to flavor ice cream, tea, coffee, whipped cream, or just about any baked good. Cost: about $2 per jar

Know how to crochet?  I just learned last year and now I'm completely addicted.  Google a "how to crochet" video if you don't know how (they even have them for fellow lefties).  I used a double stitch to make this cowl for my daughter (a very silly picture of her).  Cowls are faster to make than scarves because they don't need to be as long and you don't have to fringe them.  My daughter likes them better than scarves because they don't unwind and are super snuggly and warm.  You can probably find a pattern somewhere, but they're so easy, I just made one up. Cost: I spent $5 for a skien of organic yarn made in the USA

Doodle stitching is one of my favorite gifts to give.  What's doodle stitching, you ask?  Find out here, but here are a couple things I made:

I was so intimidated at the thought of making handmade gifts.  What if they come out ridiculous or have no taste?  I am so very glad I pushed through.  What a confidence booster and a sense of accomplishment when the projects come out good (which is about 90% of the time, so don't freak, the odds are good).  And what a difference sitting down and being creative makes opposed to surrounding myself with disgruntled crowds and standing in huge lines.  I choose peace!  If I can do handmade, you can too.  It's not too late!  Gather supplies, put the kids to bed, watch a Christmas movie with a cuppa, and get started!

I'm sharing this at the Gratituesday, Handmade Christmas Gift Carnival, Farm Girl Friday, Fight Back Friday.