After Christmas Tips

The gifts have all been given and your house is a disaster  (at least mine is) I'm left with the task of trying to figure out where the hell I'm going to put all this new stuff??  It's time to get things in order and I'm here to help...at least a little.  Here's a few tips for getting through the post Christmas chaos

1. Don't get your lights in a bunch

Much like your panties it's not fun when your Christmas lights get all in a twist.  Last year when I was taking down my lights I wrapped them around cardboard that I cut notches into.  Insert the plugs into the notches to hold it all in place

It made it super easy to decorate this year.  I just plugged them in and unraveled them around the tree.  No long strands to try to hold onto, just walk around the tree with your cardboard

2.  Label and date your gifts

Name and date! Name and date! Do I sound like your 3rd grade teacher? I'm not saying to go writing in the label of that sweater grandma gave you....but if you want to go knock yourself out.  I like to label all my keepsake type gifts with who I got it from and what year.  Especially for things like ornaments and seasonal decor that get packed away and not seen for months at a time.  It can be harder to remember.  And even if I do remember who gave it to me it's nice to see exactly what year it was

3. Save those bags and boxes!

This seemed like an obvious one to me until I realized that not everyone does this.  Why spend the money twice when you can just save what you already have on hand.  And if it's because you think it's borderline hoarding just pack it away with the rest of your Christmas stuff. Out of sight out of mind until next year.  You don't have to save everything....just the boxes that are still in nice shape and uncrinkled bags.  Plus, if you save all the ones you received gifts in it's like getting brand new ones without spending extra money. By doing this I only spend a few bucks a year buying boxes and gift bags

4.  Use up those candy canes

There always seems to be an excess of candy canes after Christmas that somehow sit around for months on end.  Here's a delicious recipe that my family always makes that will solve that problem 

Peppermint Frappe

5. Put away those seasonal mugs and cups

I pack away all my Christmas mugs, plates, cups, hand towels, etc with all the other decorations.  Not only will it save tons of space in your cabinet all year long but it will keep them novel, especially if you have kids.  The novelty of these items sort of wear off when you're drinking out of a Rudolph cup in June.  Packing it away will make it exciting when you get to use them again

6.  Organize NOW for next year

Nothing puts a damper on your Christmas decorating then being part way through decorating the tree and realizing you need another string of lights.  Or having everything thrown into boxes with no rhyme or reason to slow you down.  Replace those lights now or at least make notes of what you need so you'll be able to take care of it as soon as you get started next year.  Keep your boxes of decorations as organized as possible.  All the outside decorations in one box, lights in one, ornaments, inside decorations, or even broken down by room to room if you decorate the same way every year.  I know it's tempting to just throw everything in a box when you just want it done and back to normal but you will be glad next year when you bring it all back out

7. Stock up!

Everyone knows after Christmas sales can be great.  It's the perfect time to get new plastic storage bins, ornament hooks, lights, a new tree, or ornaments at a great discount.  The selection may not be as great but you'll be ready to go


There ya have it!  Just a few things to keep you organized and get you through the after Christmas chaos and transition you into the new year

Christmas 2013 Recap

I'm not sure many people are all that interested in hearing about my Christmas....but this is my blog and I do what I want damn it!  ;)

First off....here's a peek at our Christmas card picture this year.  For this first time I didn't get the actual  card emailed to me as an image and I couldn't save it onto my computer so here's the picture but not the card....booo!

The caption said....

"Mo! Mo! Mo! Merry Christmas"

Get it?.....get it? Cuz our cat is named MoMo.   I thought it was funny =)

Anywho.....we started off our day by opening gifts here at home.  Then, we ventured over to my in-laws house for lunch.  My favorite gift from them was Mickey's Christmas Carol on DVD.  I looked for it in years past but never could find it.  Come to find out this was the first year it was ever out on anything besides VHS...so that explains it!

Then we ended our night over at my sisters house with my side of the family for dinner. The Boy made a delicious and very festive pork loin stuffed with spinach, cheese, and red peppers

We also had little baby steaks which were the cutest things ever! Along with asparagus, rolls, and a baked potato bar

We don't mess around!

And some donut bread pudding

Then it was gift time of course!  The little girls loved their American Girl doll accessories I made them.  Here's a sneak peek of just some of the stuff I made....posts to come soon!

 It seems like every year I have that one person that I have a million gifts for.  Whether I mean to or not I just keep finding stuff for them and either can't help but keeping buying them stuff or forget what I already have and get more.  Well this year that person was my niece Katie.  She is a HUGE Batman fanatic and here is one of the many Batman gifts I gave her

Overall it was a great Christmas.  I was so happy to have the day off from work this year which was all I really wanted!  Hope yours was great too!

I'm such a Christmas freak I have a really hard time letting go.  As I type this I have a Muppet Christmas Carol playing in the background and I'm wearing Christmas jammies...I'm just not ready!

I'll be posting a lot of New Year/ health/ fitness posts within the next week or so.  Can't wait to share with you all

Kids Christmas Sleepover Party

For a couple of years now I have been dreaming of having a Christmas extravaganza sleepover with my nieces.  Prior to this year though I worked two weekends a month and you know how quickly those go by in the month of December....not to mention that one weekend is always my birthday weekend so it really only leaves one.

Well, just a few months ago I got the amazing opportunity to get a Mon-Fri schedule with a new  position and jumped at that chance.  That means this year would finally be the year for the festivities I had been dreaming of!

Let's get started......

The first thing I did was save the date with their parents in like....September lol.  Maybe I was a little eager beaver but I know that month is hectic for everyone and the schedule fills up fast.  Then, about 2 weeks before I sent out official invitations

Sure I could have just called them and invited them, but what kid doesn't love getting mail?

 I put together a package of "Sleepover essentials" that I wrapped up as gifts for them to open upon arrival.  Each kiddo got a mug for cocoa, a Christmas plate, an apron for crafts, a snack bucket, a chocolate bar, and a box of gummy lifesavers

See MoMo supervising there?  She just wanted to be a part of things

After a few minutes of play time and loving on the cat, we started our first activity: Snoopy gingerbread doghouses

But first they had to put on their aprons

Then they set to work on their houses

I really liked this particular kit. They each got their own little house and with them being smaller everything was a little easier to handle and faster.  I think if it had been bigger and just one big house and not their own they would have lost interest much sooner

Then it was about tome for some grub! I kept it super simple and made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.  A general crowd pleaser for kids and minimal effort on my part.

But I just can't help myself and cut them into Christmas shapes....it had to be done

While our tummies digested we had a Christmas Tree Scavenger Hunt.  It was such a big hit!  Even more than I expected it to be.  Go HERE to read a full post on it.

They loved it so much we ended up making more "I spy" games using all the Christmas decorations around the house.  It was so much fun!

Then it was time for present making.  I bought some really cool mason jar mugs with straws at 99c Only and a bunch of enamel acrylic paints.  I gave them some brushes and let them have at it

It was late by then and time to start winding down.  I set up a hot chocolate bar with marshmallows, whipped cream, and mini candy canes.  I also put a spread of snack foods for them to create their own movie munch mix.  

Chex mix, peanut M& Ms, popcorn, pretzels....and more

This way they got to use the mug and bucket I gave them.  All set for movie time!

This one ^^ stayed up with me pretty late.  The other two however were out just a few minutes into A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Around midnight (yep...midnight) we finally called it quits

In the morning I made pancakes for breakfast with some subtle Christmas sprinkles for extra jolliness

Last but not least, before their parents came to pick them up we wrapped the mugs they painted.  I had baked and cooled them the night before to set the paint

We went through an obscene amount of tape but I really wanted to give them free rein when it came to the wrapping.  I think it's cuter that way ;)

Well that's the extent of the sleepover.  They had a lot of fun and so did I. Although I did need a 2 hour nap after they left....but it's all good!

Merry Christmas!

Using Old Christmas Cards

There's lots of different things you could do with all those Christmas cards you receive.  There's the obvious one where you keep them....maybe put them into a keepsake box or even make an album.

I've seen that some people cut them up and create their own Christmas tags....also a genius idea.  And then there's the one I came up with....turn it into a Christmas deco ration

I received a card that was from A Christmas Story....one of the best movies of all time!  It was way to cool to put in a box or throw away so I decided to frame it

It's so simple I didn't take any pictures...but I just bought a dollar store frame and painted it green.  then went over it in 2 coats of green glitter paint (using only 2 coats shows serious restraint on my end)  Then put your card in it.  This card was large so I cut it to size, but if your card is small you could always mat it to cardstock or a piece of paper before framing

That's it!

This about sums up our Christmas In July Week.  Hope you got some ideas rolling around for the holiday season ahead

Christmas Tree Scavenger Hunt

Sorry I've sort of been sucking on this Christmas in July Week.  I know I've complained before....but my job has been super stressful these days so it's hard to keep up with my bloggin life the days that I work. But I'm off the next 2 days so I should be able to catch up and finish out my planned posts

Today I have an activity for the kiddos.  And it takes little effort from you....just printing out a list.

One of my favorite things as a child at Christmas time was ornaments.  Even though I saw the same ones year after year I used to love sitting by the tree just looking at them all.  And when we went to other peoples houses I loved to inspect all of theirs....it gives you a good glimpse into peoples personalities.

Like for a example a tree with all balls and fancy ornaments....means yous boring.  Ok, so maybe that's a little harsh of me.  But I prefer to see trees with meaningful and fun ornaments that really describe each person and families personalities and interests...it makes for a much more eclectic and personalized tree. 

So basically the seed of my ornament hoarding was planted as a child and my obsession with them continues today.  Since I have soooo many I got the idea to use them in a scavenger hunt.

Just print out a list and give it to the kids to hunt around for. I made some straight forward (find an icicle) and some where you had to put more thought into it. Like "Something vampires hate"  so you would look for a garlic ornament.  (yes I have one) 

It's a good way to keep the kids occupied during your Christmas festivities and I've never met a kid that didn't love a scavenger hunt

Christmas Photo Props

Back in Christmas 2011 I was on a real photo prop kick.  My wedding had just passed in November and I had made a bunch of photo props for my reception which you can check out here and I wasn't ready to quit the prop madness just yet

I hosted Christmas at my house that year so I thought the kiddos (and me of course) might enjoy some Christmas themed photo props.  So Christmas Eve I was up all night doing my usual....wrapping presents, baking Christmas crumb cake, simmering posole, and then just to make things more hectic....making the props

Luckily it's a super quick and easy project.  Just cut your shapes out of craft foam and hot glue them to wooden dowels.....easy peasy

The kids really liked them and it made for some good pictures. Here's Brooke as Rudolph....hoof in the air

Elsa as Santa Clause.....she looks super confused and her hat is falling off

And Katie....the big girl whose never too cool for a Rudolph nose

Apparently nobody wanted to be the snowman with a carrot nose?  Or maybe I just don't have any pictures??

The cool thing is you can keep these year after year to get some real use out of them.  I think this year I may add on to the collection with some elf ears and hat and maybe some reindeer antlers.  We'll see if I get around to it before 3am Christmas morning this time around

Personalized House Ornament

So my dear seester Kinsey and her boyfriend (now fiance..woot woot!) bought a house and moved in in mid January.

As a housewarming/ late Christmas gift I made them an ornament to look like their new homestead.  Since it was past Christmas time I never blogged about it....that is until now

It's pretty simple...I started out by cutting pieces of felt out to look like the house and layering them with hot glue to hold them in place.  I used stitches for windows and to replicate the panel look of the garage

It was cute but needed a little more dimension.   So I cut a piece of poster board (or use cardstock) and folded it in half

Then glued the house to the top part, and created a yard and driveway for the bottom

Glue on some ribbon and you have yourself an ornament

It looks super cute on the tree

Here's a side by side (or I guess top to bottom??) so you can see the inspiration

Makes for a quick and easy gift that's both thoughtful and personalized.  And you could make it for most anyone because I don't think there too many people out their with ornaments of their house....unless of  course I've missed a trend?   

I might just have to make one for everybody on my list this Christmas

Great......  Now everyone will know what I'm giving them this year.  Then again they have 5 months to forget

MoMo Monday Week #14 Christmas in July Edition

It's Christmas In July Week....so this weeks MoMo Monday posts is no different.  It gets a dose of holiday cheer!

MoMo is alot like her mama....shes's pretty much a Christmas freak.  And she dresses the part most of the month of December

Check out her cool Christmas garb

She looks intense here because she was supervising a gift wrapping session...she wasn't pleased with my skills.  My sides are never even and they come out crinkly....MoMo was appalled.  Or I guess I should say aPAWlled.   Merp! ;)

 And here she is laying amongst her gifts Christmas morning.  All wrapped in kitty wrapping paper of course

 She can't wait for another visit from Santa Paws.  Only 5 months to go!

Christmas In July Week

Welcome to the start of Christmas In July Week over here at The Busy Broad

Because if you're anything like me you already have Christmas on the brain....and even if you're not like me....come check it out anyway.  You can never start gathering ideas too early...right?

DIY Disney Ornamnets

I am a self proclaimed ornament whore

I love them....can't get enough of them....I start buying them in July....I'm a freak

Whenever we go to Disneyland we always buy one ornament

I wish I could buy dozens but the goods ones range anywhere from $12-$18 a pop....so that could add up rather quickly

And I'm cheap as Fuuuuu@$ so that's a no go

But I have a money saving alternative for ya!

I like to buy all the cute antenna toppers they have and make them into things.  In THIS POST you can see how I turned them into refrigerator magnets

Well, I found this badass Mickey Gingerbread one and instantly knew he had to be made into an ornament

I just hot glued some ribbon to the sides

 Then I came across this cool Perry and decided to make it for my nieces since they LOVE him

(In fact my niece had a Phineas and Ferb party....you can see all sorts of Perry posts like THIS Perry gift wrap and this Perry cake )

For this one I used a needle and thread and threaded straight through the brim of the hat...easy peasy!

Our last ornament comes courtesy of my inlaws.  They went to Disneyland for Christmas and one of the gifts they brought back was this cute classic Minnie key chain

This was an super easy one because I just changed out the chain for some ribbon

The even cooler thing is that she's bendable so you can pose her however you want! Pretty awesome!

When you stop and think about how these key chains and antenna toppers only cost a few dollars you realize you can make like 5 ornaments for the cost of one!

That's a cheap ass Disney lovers dream!

Well...sadly this post concludes Disney week....but don't worry, I'm sure I'll have more soon

Here's a few links to Disney themed posts from a while back that weren't a part of this weeks round up

Like this DIY Disney Autograph Book 

And this Disney Vacation Countdown