DIY: Personalized Gift Tags

Aren't these such a great ideas? Just make some copies of photos of your family when they were young, trace a pattern on the back, cut them out, attach the string and there you go! What a wonderful change for the usual!

Yarn Snow Men

Aren't these cute? Found them, and all sorts of other wonderful things here on Spidatter!

Modern Christmas Decor Ideas

Here are all the modern decor ideas I promised you!! There are some really fun ones in here I think I'm going to try! A few DIYs for you too!

Happy decorating!

Daily Worth: Give Like a Celebrity

Another great email from Daily Worth that I just had to share with you guys! I think giving and donating is hugely important, even more so over the holidays and this post is full of all sorts of options!

Enjoy!

Happy giving!!

It's that year-end tug-of-war: With so many priorities putting pressure on your cashflow—gifts! parties! resisting the temptation to buy stuff for yourself!—how do you set aside money for causes you care about?

We have two answers for you:

Make It Fun. Crowdrise, the brainchild of Hollywood producer Shauna Robertson ("Super Bad") and her partner Ed Norton, is like

a philanthropic Facebook designed to help you get a charitable life.

Join Will Ferrell and others: Set up your own giving page, pick your charities—or find your friends and join their causes—and use social networking to raise cash. (All the charities are 501(c)3 organizations; donations are processed through Network for Good.)

We like Millennium Promise and Invisible Children.

Think Small. There are more children living in poverty now, owing to the recession, new research shows—and the Tory

Burch Foundation aims to be part of the solution by providing microloans to working moms in the United States who want to start their own businesses.

You can donate directly or purchase one of Tory Burch's signature items; all profits benefit the foundation. And check out some of the entrepreneurs TBF has helped (like Cousin & Co., a handbag company in Brooklyn).

Two-in-One Holiday Bar

The recipe listed below is a Pillsbury recipe but for some reason when I searched for it I couldn't find a thing on it! I ended up finding the photo and another recipe for it here, but I thought I would still type out the recipe I used because I know it's great.

I promised I would post this recipes because you ladies loved it so much at the info desk and in the nursery (at my church, the two of 3 areas I volunteer in) so here you go! I hope you enjoy it!!

Rating: I give these a 5! (1 being "I'll never bake them again" and 5 being "They are now one of my favorites")

Base:
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 cup diced mixed candies fruit
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I prefer slivered almonds)

Glaze:
1 cup icing sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk

Heat oven to 350F
Combine sugar, butter and beat until it's light and fluffy.
Add vanilla and egg; beat well.
Add flour; mix well.
Spread dough in ungreased 15x10x1 inch baking pan.
Sprinkle half of the pan with the candies fruit and the other half with the chocolate chips and nuts.
Press toppings lightly into the dough.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges are brown.
Cool for an hour.

In a small bowl combine icing sugar and milk. Add additional milk if need be.
Blend until smooth.
Drizzle over cooled bars.
Let stand until set.
Cut into bars.

Yields: 48 bars

Christmas Decor Ideas

So I thought seeing as Christmas is coming I'd do a little more to get into the Christmas spirit. Here are some fun picks for Christmas on the more traditional side. I'll be posting a more modern selection soon!

You could make your own decorations!

Christmas decor isn't just about the tree in the living room, don't forget about the kitchen!

Oh if we had trees like this I would LOVE to have them lit!

A little much for me but it sure looks Christmasy!

What to Where to the Christmas Party?

I found these great photos that have all that you need for a good color themed outfit for any upcoming holiday party! I love it when ideas are just put together some perfectly for me!

Enjoy!

Happy partying!

Christmas From Around The World

Seeing as I can't travel this Christmas (not that I really would want to right over Christmas, I love my family and all the things we do!) I thought I would share with you what the rest of the world is up to!

Source

Paris

Germany

Russia

Tokyo, Japan

Thailand

South Korea

Beijing, China

Bethlehem

This is at a US Air Base in Afghanistan

India

Melksham, England. Crazy right? They must really love Christmas!

Christmas Wish list

I am in love with each of these candles from Bath & Body Work! Specifically, the most: Chocolate Mint, Twisted Peppermint and Winter Candy Apple! Oh my gosh yum!!

Tzaziki Dip Mix! I want to get seriously into Greek food soon and I think I'll need this to help me along!

I love Epicure, and I want this dip! Sun-Dried Tomato & Herb? Doesn't that sounds great?

Oh yum, Roasted Red Pepper Dip! Yes please!

This would be so helpful in all my baking!! A must have I think!

I so want AND need one of these!

I would love some more of this wonderful lotion!

Some new leather gloves would be great, something that could handle the -40!

New scents from Bath & Body works, I'm running low

A few verities of Yakee candles, yum!

This one is the most of a practical gift that I'm asking for this year. Mainly because I've been sharing with my mom and now her's is beyond repair and I've got no other option really then to get a new one.

Of course a couple of bracelets would be nice. I still haven't gotten my Tiffany's one and now I've added a little John Hardy too.

I'd love to get a layered ring made as well. Something between the two of these.

A collection of Desert Essential products would be great! They are my favorite organic brand!

Oh and I have to have my favorite Christmas candy!

Oh and a little chocolate fix

Some new night stands would be nice

Every year my mom and Marshall both buy me a new ornament so that's just a give in, don't even have to ask for it anymore.

I'd love a proper and big book shelf (not that we have the room)

A few more ornaments that I really like

The game that I am still yet to get. I just can't justify spending $30 on a game!

A $200 gift card to the Ten Spa would be WONDERFUL!

Oh and of course my newest and most wanted item on the wist list, these beauties!