S.a.h.m.

[faithmom]

So....here are the Christmas gifts I made from home, if it helps anyone who is stranded, but has a lot of craft materials around, or access to some of the stores nearby. A sewing machine is good to have too.

Fleece blankets (I made ones with pine-cones on one side, and a solid brown back ground the other direction).
Other than sewing together, you don't need to edge these, either cut fringe and tie them together (also can use if no sewing machine), or use a pinking shears or scalloped rotary blade to make a decorative edge. Fleece doesn't fray (don't confuse with flannel! Which does, and felt, which isn't washable)

Candles from Christmas tins....you do need to buy wicks, wax, and fragrance....a book on how to make candles helps. I bought the Christmas tins at thrift shops, and had a few around from previous Christmas's as well.

I used leftover fleece from making blankets to make neck warmers. Make sure the streach goes around the neck, not up and down. PM me if you need more detailed instructions. ( I can give you a rough measurement, and how to sew...you will probably need a sewing machine for this).

Quick mini-gifts for Sunday school kids , teachers, etc. We put one packet of hot cocoa mix, 1 candy cane, a pair of disposable hand warmer packs and a nice thank you note into a disposable hot beverage cup with cover. We skip the hot hand warmer for any little kids. You can decorate with bows, stick-on snowflakes, etc.

Ensemble gift....burn a Christmas CD, scan the cover and music onto card stock, cut and tape into a cd folder. Give it with cocoa packets, candy canes, home-made cookies/candy, and a candle. If you do have fleece, these are nice add-ons to a tie blanket, etc..

Just some thoughts. Hope it helps!

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

for homemade gifts i scrapped and framed some photo's for my mum and sis. And this week I'm going to make a stack of coconut Ice, biscotti and something else to go with it.

 

[faithmom]

Coconut Ice sounds good...especially if you stack it, but what is it?

 

[marezee]

nice ideas faith and Leisamd

 

[Menuet]

My infant has colic every night from 7-10 pn
this is hard but she'll grow out of it..watching what i eat helps some..poor thing she kicks and kicks

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

poor thing menuet, having a crying baby is hard. My son is/was a bit of a crier, but not 3hrs straight like that. Hope she grows out of it quickly. My son is 4mths old and has been much better (apart from the odd bad day) since around 3mths.

Coconut ice is a sweet made out of dessicated coconut, condensed milk, icing sugar, rosewater and copha. Usually half or a part is coloured pink so it's pink and white. I love it, it's one of those special treats from when I was a kid that I haven't had for ages! Oh I meant a stack - a lot - of it! It's not really meant for stacking! I plan on using different shaped cookie cutters to make lots of nice small pieces. I made some shortbread yesterday, today I'm going to dip half of it in chocolate and maybe sprinkles... then try and hide them from my daughter!!! I love being a SAHM, I can do lots of cooking!

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

coconut ice! I think it's a pretty australian christmas thing, cos it's summer here! mmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[faithmom]

Do you freeze it? Is it more like a candy or like a cake?

(I love food....can you tell this has me totally intrigued?)

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

hehe, I love food too!

No you don't freeze it, with the copha it sets really quickly at room temp, though you do refrigerate it.

It's more cakey I suppose, the mass of it is mostly coconut, so it's like moist coconut slice... it's very sweet - small pieces!

here's a recipe:

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

5 minutes

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 125g copha
• 250g desiccated coconut
• 500g pure icing sugar, sifted
• 2 egg whites, lightly whisked
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 drops red liquid food colouring

Method

1. Line a square 20cm (base measurement) cake pan with non-stick baking paper, allowing it to overhang the sides. Melt the copha in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and set aside for 10 minutes or until cooled to room temperature.
2. Combine the coconut and icing sugar in a large bowl. Add the copha, egg white and vanilla extract, and stir until well combined. Divide coconut mixture in half. Press half the coconut mixture over the base of the prepared pan.
3. Add the red food colouring to the remaining coconut mixture and stir until well combined and evenly coloured. Spread the pink coconut mixture over the mixture in the pan and smooth the surface. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour or until set.
4. Remove the coconut ice from the pan. Use a sharp knife to cut into 16small squares to serve.

Notes & tips

• You can make the coconut ice up to 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. Copha is a solidified coconut oil that gives recipes a subtle coconut flavour.

 

[marezee]

My infant has colic every night from 7-10 pn
this is hard but she'll grow out of it..watching what i eat helps some..poor thing she kicks and kicks

awwww...so sorry for you and your little one! I remember those days! Jake is 2 now, but he was very colicky, so was Stephen. There wasn't much I could do for them. but they did eventually grow out of it! Sometimes removing dairy, and watching what you eat helps. But sometimes...they just cry! I pray the angels watch over her!

My son stephen (4yrs) burned his hand on Wednesday! He touched a coal stove while at a friend's house on a playdate. He got 2nd degree burns, so it hurt bad. his little hand blistered. The doctor said it will heal fine, but wants to check him next week for scaring.
When I asked him what happened, he said, "I just wanted to see how hot the stove was!"
I guess he found out!

 

[marezee]

hope everyone's christmas was blessed!

My boys were spoiled by grandma again!

Stephen's hand is much better...thank goodness!!

I love Christmas, but I'm soooo glad it's over. I secretly cannot stand all the gift-giving! Don't tell my DH LOL!

Now to find a place for all their new toys!

 

[KristiLee]

Ours was certainly blessed! We found out that I'm pregnant on Christmas Eve. YAY!

We are happy it's passed too. For all of last week we were so out of our regular schedule (as random as even that can be) that the day after Christmas when we were finally at home again it was INSANE! LOL Back to regaining order around here! haha

But yes, couldn't have been more blessed for Christmas than news of a new one on the way!! We are so excited!

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

Wow Kristilee, huge congrats!!!!!

Yeah, I'm glad it's over too. But we did have a lovely Christmas.

 

[KristiLee]

Thank you!

 

[marezee]

Ours was certainly blessed! We found out that I'm pregnant on Christmas Eve. YAY!

We are happy it's passed too. For all of last week we were so out of our regular schedule (as random as even that can be) that the day after Christmas when we were finally at home again it was INSANE! LOL Back to regaining order around here! haha

But yes, couldn't have been more blessed for Christmas than news of a new one on the way!! We are so excited!

congrats kristilee!! That's great news!

Happy New Year to all SAHMs!!
We got about 6inches of snow...with more on the way!

 

[KristiLee]

We have snow too! We have about a foot so far! I've gotta get out there to get a picture... everything is a soft fluff of white! LOL

Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe today is the last day of 2007... crazy crazy! Any monumental things happen for you ladies this year?

 

[marezee]

monumental? well...Jake is in a big boy bed now, and we just got rid of our gates on the stairs!

We've had a gate on the stairs for 5years now! It's so nice to be able to go up and down without hooking a gate!

 

[CoolMom6]

monumental? well...Jake is in a big boy bed now, and we just got rid of our gates on the stairs!

We've had a gate on the stairs for 5years now! It's so nice to be able to go up and down without hooking a gate!

Now that IS a big development, I remember. Thankfully, we did not have stairs with the last one, but I did go spastic over the porch steps; lol.
And still am!!!

 

[marezee]

Now that IS a big development, I remember. Thankfully, we did not have stairs with the last one, but I did go spastic over the porch steps; lol.
And still am!!!

LOL! you're funny coolmom!

 

[CoolMom6]

So...
This is weird. My h's ex-w sends with my stepson a piece of paper with a phone number and a name of a former employer, "so I could get a job." How d'ya like that? I mean, I had a career when I had my first son.
I prayed about it, and even though I battled with God some years later after I was divorced from their dad, God has always assured me that I was in the place He wanted me to be; home with them.

I felt offended.
I neither am friends with her, nor asked for her advice, and I *hope* my hubby did not either.
How would you all feel?