last minute teacher/neighbor gift

At 6:45 last night I realized that WHOOPS, I needed a teacher gift STAT for Jacob to take to preschool in the morning. We whipped up a quick batch of minty marshmallows, and I took some store bought (shhhh) mint hot chocolate and spooned it into a glass jelly jar. I printed a sticker in a Christmas pattern to cover the ugly lid, tied on a bow with directions and VOILA - done! It's not a Target gift card, but I think it's cute and something I'd love to get.

minty marshmallows

I saw the idea in a magazine - I'm pretty sure it was the Dec 08 Better Homes and Gardens. Mix 1 cup of sugar and 3 T of water to make a glaze. Dip the bottom half of a large marshmallow in the glaze, and then roll in crushed candy canes. Let them dry on waxed paper. Voila! The kids loved to do it (and lick their fingers after), and it makes a quick gift - perfect in hot chocolate!

Magic Reindeer Food

This was the perfect thing for Jacob to take to his preschool friends today. We had everything to do it at home and it took 15 minutes from start to finish.

I used glitter glue in a baggy (I didn't have sparkle sugar or regular glitter) and mushed it up with oats - I did a batch of gold oats and a batch of sparkly green oats. After they dried, I put a small scoop of plain oats in a snack sized bag with a bit of gold sparkle oats and green sparkle oats, then stapled the label on and wrote Jacob's name. DONE! and Jacob and I are both excited. The poem on the back says

Sprinkle on your lawn Christmas Eve night,

The moon will make it sparkle bright!

As Santa's reindeer fly and roam,

This magic food will guide them to your home.

and Jacob is sure this is going to work.

I got the idea and the FREE download for the label here.

Idea for a neighbor (with small kids) gift: take one of these baggies, along with some "human reindeer food" (Muddy Buddies in a bag with a pretty bow and a tag). Food for the people and the reindeer!

(almost) homemade bowl

1 white ceramic serving bowl
+
porcelein markers
+
2 eager girls
=
(almost) homemade to the max

.

(forgive the color palette, I didn't have it in me to argue with 2 preschoolers)