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Photo Tour of my Santa Claus Collection
My Santa Claus collection puts me in the Christmas spirit the minute I open the boxes that hold these treasures. I started it when my daughter was a little girl and have added to it yearly. For those of you who do not know, I also have a website that features mainly seasonal and holiday […]
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How to Save Money on Holiday Gift Wrapping – Frugal Gift Wrap Ideas
Holiday gift wrapping Does not Mean that you must spend a lot of money on Christmas supplies. There are loads of ways that you can save money. Some take a bit of time and others just take thinking outside the box. There are many items that we have around the home that can be used […]
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Holiday Kitchen Gift Guide – 9 Super Kitchen Gift Ideas
Kitchen Gift Guide. Anyone who cooks normally also loves kitchen products and food gadgets, so I have created a Gardening Cook 2014 Kitchen Gift Guide. If you are looking for something special to treat someone that you love who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, this gift guide should give you lots of […]
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23 Favorite Holiday Fudge Recipes to Celebrate in Style
This round up features 23 of my Favorite Holiday Fudge Recipes. Some are my own recipes and others have been submitted by blogger friends of mine. The holidays are the one time of the year when I love making fudge and have it on hand all the time. I love it all year round, but my […]
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20 Tips to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
That dreaded 5 or 10 pounds seems to creep o this time of the year. Here are my favorite 20 tips to help you avoid holiday weight gain. The holidays are here, and for many this means week so entertaining, indulging and basically forgetting to eat well. Extra junk calories seem to be everywhere, from […]
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DIY Blue Spruce Stocking Wreath
Make your Own Blue Spruce Stocking Wreath. A great wreath makes a wonderful welcoming accent to your front door for the holiday season, as well as for other times of the year. This festive DIY blue spruce stocking wreath is quite different from the circular shaped wreaths so commonly seen at Christmas time and you […]
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White Chocolate Mosaic Fudge
This recipe for white chocolate mosaic fudge uses green and red cherries to give the fudge a mosaic jeweled look. This makes it just perfect for Christmas. I love making fudge. It is my favorite sweet treat. I don’t make it very often, since I try to watch my weight, but Christmas time is when […]
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M & M Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
These cute M & M Gingerbread Christmas tree cookies will make a great addition to your Christmas buffet table. They would also be great for your annual cookie exchange. Gingerbread is a common taste during the holidays. From cookies and houses made of gingerbread, there are lots of options. See my tips for the perfect […]
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Tips to Save during the Holidays – Frugal Entertaining
It’s an expensive time of the year! There seem to be so many uses for our dollars when the holidays roll around. These frugal tips will make your holiday season something to remember without breaking the bank. The whole essence of a successful holiday season does not lie in the amount of money you spend, […]
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Holiday Graphics and Fun
One of the fun things about the holidays is sharing with family and friends. These holiday graphics are a great way to do that. It’s fun to find images and then edit them to add a cute meme or saying. Here are some of my favorite holiday graphics. You may share them on Facebook, but […]
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DIY Miniature Gumdrop Topiary
This sweet DIY Miniature Gumdrop Topiary will be the center of attention on your Christmas table. The only problem will be keeping it decorated until the end of the evening of your party! Do it Yourself – Gumdrop Candy Topiary The project is fun and easy to do. Just assemble all of your materials. You […]
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Candy Cane Peppermint Kiss Cookies
These sweet treats are a variation on the normal kiss cookie that is so often seen this time of the year. These candy cane peppermint kiss cookies are lighter than the traditional kiss cookie but super festive. Perfect for a cookie swap or to take to your child’s school party. I love making cookies this […]
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Snowman Christmas Cake – Fun Dessert Idea
Your kids will love to make this sweet snowman Christmas cake. The cake will be the hit of your Christmas buffet. He is made of a chocolate base and covered in butter cream frosting and then decorated. The cake is easy to make and kids will love to help you decorate it with their favorite […]
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Holiday Pot Holder Mitt – Cute Hostess Gift
This holiday potholder mitt DIY project would make a great Kitchen decoration. It is also a great idea for a homemade Christmas Hostess gift for a person who loves to cook. The project is easy to make and uses some items you may already have on hand. Note: Hot glue guns, and heated glue can […]
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S’more in a Jar Party Favor – Recipe in a Jar Gifts – Free Label
Are you looking for a party favor gift for your favorite gal pals? This s’more in a jar project is the perfect project for you! We love making recipe in a jar gifts on the Gardening Cook. They are easy and fun to create and very personalized for the recipient. Today we’ll be incorporating everyone’s […]
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Hot Turkey Sandwich with Cranberries & Stuffing
Printable Recipe: Open Face Hot Turkey Sandwich with Cranberries & Stuffing With Thanksgiving and Christmas usually comes left over turkey and lots of it. I have a variety of recipes to use it up. I actually love left overs and buy a turkey much larger than I need so that I can make the taste […]
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4 Layer Mexican Party Dip
Printable Recipe: 4 Layer Mexican Party Dip This 4 layered Mexican dip is one of the easiest to make, but don’t let that fool you. The flavor is fantastic.I first got the recipe from my sister in law. I’ve made this dip with both full fat cream cheese and meat chili, as well as fat […]
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Easy Appetizer Recipes – Dips – Finger Foods and More!
These easy appetizer recipes are fun to eat and super simple for you, as the hostess to prepare. My favorite kind of party is one where there are finger foods. I enjoy this either as the host or as the guest. Easy appetizers are a great way to start your party on the right foot […]
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DIY Giant Terracotta Jingle Bells
Ring in the Festive Season with Terracotta Jingle Bells Christmas will be here before you know it. If you are looking for a special DIY Christmas gift for a gardener, these giant jingle bells will ring in the festive season in a natural way. They are easy to make and are a great gift idea […]
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Fall Table Decoration with Ghourds
This fall table DIY project was a special treat for me to do. It features a very special plate that was given to me last Christmas by my daughter, Jess. I love to reuse items to make them into new projects. It makes me feel thrifty and pleases me to get more than one use […]
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Pilgrim Hat Cookies
Perfect for Thanksgiving – Pilgrim Hat Cookies It is such fun to have some treats for the Thanksgiving table that the kiddies will love. These sweet Pilgrim hat cookies are the perfect choice to tempt the little ones (and the young at heart!) this Thanksgiving. They are easy to do and will have them wondering […]
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DIY Candy Corn Autumn Glass Decoration
This is the time of the year that my candy dishes are full of candy corn. Nothing seems to say fall like a dish full of the sweet orange, yellow and white treats. I decided to use the left over Halloween candy on a decoration that would take me closer to Thanksgiving. This candy corn […]
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Grilled Top Steak with Lime Marinade
At our house, we grill year round outside. So I am always trying new ways to grill steak. This recipe for grilled top round steak is easy to do. It does need marinating for at least 6 hours but you could do this over night in the fridge and then just throw on the BBQ […]
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Classic Tequila Margarita Recipe with Lime
One of my favorite cocktail recipes is a Classic tequila margarita. It is one that I choose just about every time that I go out. One would think it would be the same from restaurant to restaurant but this is definitely not the case. I once got one in a Chinese restaurant in Australia and they […]
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Mexican Chili Dip – A Crowd Pleaser
This Mexican chili dip could not be easier to make. It is one of my favorite “go to” recipes when I am invited to a pot luck party. The bowl is empty before the party even gets going. It is that delicious! Best of all, you can make it ahead of time and then just […]
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Beer Braised Pork Roast – Crock Pot Recipe
This beer braised pork roast is my latest in a long list of crock pot recipes. There is nothing like coming into your home after a long day at work to the aroma of a pork roast that has been simmering all day long. And if it has simmered in beer…all the better! Keep reading […]