It’s everyone’s favorite time of year…..our Elves on the Shelf will be arriving soon!  I like to prepare in advance for his arrival so I am not scrambling each night to think of something for him to do.  I have some fun tricks up my sleeve this year! Check out some of my ideas below and stay tuned for more ideas to come!

Christmas Cookies

Melissa and Doug Christmas Cookie Set

Similar Mixer

Christmas Sensory Kit

Christmas Play-Doh Scents

Mini Christmas Trees

Mini Presents

Cookie Cutters

Pipe Cleaners

Christmas Tin

I’m Back

When Jingles, our elf arrives he likes to bring some fun things for the kids to do and wear throughout the Christmas season.  This year he is bringing each of the kids pjs, holiday shirts, Christmas Hot Wheels and a Cabbage Patch for Stella!

Jolly Shirt

Ride or Fly Pajamas

Gingerbread Pajamas

Candy Cane Lollipop

Felt Christmas Tree

I found this giant Christmas Tree that you can hang on the wall and I thought it would be great especially for Stella to put ornaments on the tree.

Christmas Tree

Holiday Pajamas

Boys Holiday Outfits

Girls Holiday Outfits 

Boys Holiday Gift Guide

Pacman Arcade Game

Walkie Talkies

Laser Tag

Hot Wheels Garage

Drawing Pad

Electric Dirt Bike

Electric Scooter

Osmo

Girls Gift Guide

Purse Kit

Microphone

Little People Frozen Set

Kindle

Pizza Play Food

Barbie Dream House

Doll

Kitchen Play Set

Men’s Gift Guide

Ugg Slippers

Grilling Set

Wireless Charger

Spicelogoy Rubs

Griddle

Bose Speaker

Traeger Smoker

Women’s Gift Guide

Wine and Kendra Scott Necklace Gift Set

Magnolia Table Cookbook

Crockpot

Airpods

Cosmetic Case

Diamond Initial Necklaces

Makeup Gift Set

Parents/In-Laws

Men’s Slippers

Women’s Slippers

Echo Dot Smart Speaker

Custom Grandchildren’s Names Pillow

Wine Gift Set

Throw Blanket

Digital Picture Frame

Anthropologie Candle

Women’s Finds

Zella Jacket

Zella High Waist Pocket Leggings

Jeans

Booties

Beauty Favorites

Supergoop

Trish McEvoy Perfume

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Set

Home Finds

Blanket

Kids Favorites

Boys North Face Jacket

Girls North Face Jacket

Women’s Finds

Zella Jacket

Zella High Waist Pocket Leggings

Jeans

Booties

Beauty Favorites

Supergoop

Trish McEvoy Perfume

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Set

Home Finds

Blanket

Kids Favorites

Boys North Face Jacket

Girls North Face Jacket

Frozen Rose Cocktail

Frozen Rose

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

Summer Berry Trifle

Ingredients

1 Fresh Angel Food Cake, cubed into bite size pieces

1 Pint Blueberries

1 Container of Strawberries, sliced

1 Vanilla Pudding Mix, prepared according to package

1 Container of Cool Whip

Directions

1.)  Prepare vanilla pudding according to package and place in fridge to set

2.)  Slice strawberries and cut angel food cake into bite size pieces

3.)  Begin layering Trifle with angel food cake, pudding, cool whip, strawberries and blueberries.  Repeat layering until you end with Cool Whip on top.  Then create design with fruit on top

Red White and Blue Fruit Cookies

Ingredients

1 Package Store Bought Sugar Cookie Dough

1 Container Cool Whip

1 8 oz. Block of Cream Cheese

1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Cups Fruit of Choice (I used a mix of Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries)

Directions 

1.)  Bake Sugar Cookies according to package and let cool

2.) Mix together Cream Cheese, Cool Whip, Powdered Sugar, and Vanilla using a hand mixer

3.)  Spread Icing on the Cookies and Decorate with Fruit of Choice

You know I love a good party and a reason to entertain.  Just because we are at home in quarantine doesn’t mean you still can’t throw a little party at home.  In our house tonight we are having a video game party with homemade pizza and appetizers!  The kids love it!  I have been trying out new recipes lately and here are a few of my favorite party food recipes!

Plus a party at home especially in quarantine is not complete without a fun cocktail and dessert!  Check out my single serve Prosecco Pink Lemonade drink!  For dessert we are going to have an ice cream bar!  The kids love making their own sundaes!

Mexican Corn Salad

Ingredients

1 Bag of frozen Sweet Corn

1 Small Red Onion, diced

1 Red Pepper, diced

2-3 Jalapeno’s, diced

1 Bunch of Cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup of Queso Fresco Cheese, crumbled

2 TBSP. Olive Oil

Dressing

3 TBSP. Sour Cream

2 TBSP. Mayo

Juice of 1 Lime

1/2 tsp Cumin

1/2 tsp. Paprika

1/2 tsp. Chipotle Chili Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

Directions

1.)  Heat Olive Oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add corn and cook until golden brown (you can also grill corn cobs) about 10 minutes

2.)  Chop Red Onion, Red Pepper, Jalapenos and Cilantro.  Add to a medium bowl and add Corn and Queso Fresco Cheese

3.)  In a separate bowl mix all dressing ingredients together.  Whisk until creamy

4.)  Pour dressing over corn mixture and mix all ingredients together

5.)  Top with additional crumbled Queso Fresco

6.)  Place in fridge until ready to serve (you can serve hot or cold)

**Serve as a side dish when you grill out or would be great served as corn salsa with chips

Prosecco Lemonade Punch

Ingredients

1 Can of Frozen Pink Lemonade

1  2 Liter Bottle of Sprite Zero

1-2 Bottles of Champagne (I used 2 Bottles of Prosecco)

1 Bag of Frozen Strawberries (they add flavor and act as ice)

**To make an individual glass of this punch follow this recipe

1/2 Can of Sprite

1/2 Cup of Pink Lemonade (Ready to serve juice)

1 Cup of Prosecco

Handful of strawberries

Arancini (Rice Balls)

Recipe from Joanna Gaines

Magnolia Table 2 Cookbook

Ingredients

1 Bag of Rhodes frozen Bread Dough or Rolls

10-12 Slices of Sandwich Pepperoni (or a bag of pizza size pepperoni)

1 Bag of Grated Mozzarella Cheese

2 TBSP. Melted Butter

1 tsp. Garlic

1 tsp. Italian Seasoning

1 Jar Pizza Sauce

**NOTE:  You can also use Refrigerated Pizza Dough, and other toppings

Directions:

1.)  If using frozen dough let it thaw and knead it into a ball

2.)  Flour rolling pin and roll out dough

3.)  Once dough is rolled out sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni

4.)  Tightly roll dough into a jelly roll log

5.)  Melt butter and mix in garlic and italian seasoning

6.)  Baste butter and seasonings onto the top of the dough

7.)  Gently cut dough into 1 inch pieces and place on baking sheet

8.)  Bake at 350 Degrees for 15-20 minutes (you want to make sure the dough is golden brown)

9.)  Serve with your favorite pizza sauce

Ingredients

1 Box Lucky Charms Cereal

1 Bag of Marshmallows

3 TBSP. Butter

Directions

1 Cup White Chocolate Chips (Optional)

1.)  Melt butter and marshmallows on stove top then pour over Lucky Charms and white chocolate chips

2.)  Press into a 9×13 pan and let cool

3.)  Cut into squares

By now you know I love to put together fun and creative food and desserts for parties and holidays.  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner I made a dessert board that would be a great addition to your Galentine/Valentine’s Day parties!

All of the cookies were super easy to make and I added some of the kids favorite candy too!  This is your chance to be creative and design a fun platter of your own!

**The XoXo gummies are from Trader Joes and the heart gummies are Valentine’s Day Sour Patch Kids

**I also used the leftover vanilla chocolate to make chocolate covered pretzels

Strawberry Cookies

Ingredients

1 Box Strawberry Cake Mix

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup of Vegetable Oil

1 Bag of Ghirardelli Vanilla (or Chocolate) Melting Wafers

1 Container of Valentines Day Sprinkles

Directions

1.)  Mix Strawberry Cake Mix, Eggs, and Vegetable Oil together using mixer

2.)  Once mixed scoop dough into 1 inch round balls and place on baking sheet

3.)  Bake at 350 Degrees for 10-12 minutes

4.)  Remove from baking sheet and place on cooling rack

5.)  Melt vanilla wafers in microwave until smooth

6.)  Dip half of the cookie into the chocolate, place on cooling rack and add sprinkles

**You can also frost the cookies with Vanilla or Chocolate Frosting and add sprinkles

Cake Pops

Ingredients

1 Box of Funfetti Cake Mix (You can use chocolate or vanilla too)

1 Container of Vanilla Frosting

1 Bag of Ghirardelli Vanilla Melting Wafers

1 Container of Valentine’s Day Sprinkles

1 Bag of Baking Sticks (Or I used festive straws here)

Directions

1.)  Bake Funfetti Cake according to box in 9×13 baking pan

2.)  Once cake is cool crumble cake

3.)  Add 2-3 Tablespoons of Vanilla Frosting to cake crumbles, Mix together with handheld mixer

4.)  Roll into 1-2 inch balls

5.)  Melt vanilla wafers in microwave until smooth

6.)  Dip the end of the sticks into white chocolate and place into the center of the cake pop

7.  Place cake pops in fridge 30 minutes to allow the pops to harden

8.)  Dip cake pops into the white chocolate and add sprinkles

9.)  Let cake pops harden 20-30 minutes

Heart Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 Cup of Butter flavored Crisco

1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup of Sugar

1 Egg

2 Tablespoons Milk

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 3/4 Cup of Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

Pinch of Salt

1 Bag of Reese’s Valentine’s Hearts (or Hershey Kisses)

Directions

1.)  Using a mixer cream together, Crisco, Peanut Butter, Sugar and Brown Sugar

2.)  Add in Egg, Milk, Vanilla, and mix together

3.)  In a separate bowl mix together Flour, Baking Soda, and Salt

4.)  Slowly add in dry ingredients to peanut butter mixture

5.)  Once combined roll into 1 inch balls

6.)  Roll cookie balls into sugar and place on baking sheet

7.)  Bake at 350 Degrees for 10-12 minutes

8.)  Remove from baking sheet and place onto cooling rack and gently press chocolate hearts into cookies

9.)  Let cool and harden for 30 minutes

Valentine’s Day is next week and my kids have their outfits ready for their school parties!  I linked some of my favorite Valentine’s looks for your kiddos!