Free Christmas Coloring Page

With Christmas just 9 days away, half the country in a major snow and freeze and kids inside wondering what to do I made a fun free Christmas coloring page " Visions on Sugar Plums" to sparks some Christmas Eve dreams.

We used markers to color our pages but crayons, colored pencils or even watercolor paints would be fun.

Click here to print Visions of Sugar Plums Color Page

(Save it on Pinterest for later)

Krazy Christmas Balls with Krazy Glue

sponsored by Krazy Glue

Don't you just love going to all the fun Christmas parties with your friends and neighbors during the holiday season. Some of the funnest parties are the ones with everyone dressing up in their crazy ugly Christmas sweaters and exchange white elephant gifts and play fun silly games.

Inspired by these parties and the crazy Christmas sweaters, I created this fun new Christmas tradition that even your most craft challenged friends will have fun making because anything goes!

Krazy Christmas Balls are over the top glittered, ribboned, tinseled, rick racked, jingle belled ornaments. The key to getting all those layers of glorious sparkly bits to stick is the Krazy Glue.

Gather your supplies. Lots of them. The more and varied and holiday themed the better.

Supplies List:

• Krazy Glue
• Mini Wood Cutouts
• American Crafts Glitter Set
•  Essential Colors Glitter Set
• Christmas Ornament Balls
• Glass White pearl Ornament Balls
• Wired Tinsel
• Craft Scissors
• Tiny Jingle Bells
• Tiny Reindeer
• Paint Brush Set
• Nail Polish Remover (in case you glue some bits to your fingers or your fingers together!)

Now start creating. No reason to be intimidated or trying to make them perfect, anything goes! There are no rules. Just add Christmas bits to your heart's content.

To apply the seed beads, sequins and tiny pieces of glitz I used the Krazy Glue All Purpose No Run Gel. It's great for precise glue application without running. For adding the ribbons, tinsel and other embellishments I used the Krazy Glue All Purpose with the brush. The reason Krazy Glue is key to this craft is because it is fast-acting and dries so quickly and can be used on multiple surfaces including, glass, wood and vinyl.

This is a great craft for parties because of the quick drying glue everyone's ornaments will be great to take come with no drying time.

Be sure you have good ventilation in the area you are crafting with Krazy Glue.

Happy Christmas Crafting!

xo

Christmastime * Decorations + Baking + Trees and More!

FREE Christmas printable click here

Christmastime is here happiness and cheer... It really is the most wonderful time of the year. Magical and all. Traditionals and treats and spending time with family and decorating are all part of the joy. Here are some of our favorite Christmas traditions and post from years past. I hope you love them as much as we do!

Choosing a fresh Christmas tree is one of my favorite activities as a family. Here in this post we go over the types of trees and some tips to keep your tree alive and fresh throughout the holidays.

Here is a nice set of free printable gift tags. No need to buy any just simple print and cut out.

This is one of our most popular Sweet & Simple quick gift ideas perfect for a neighbor, co worker or even the mail carrier.

I love party food and a good cheese ball or tree is always a crowd pleaser.

Every year we make gingerbread houses. This cute cabin was from last year. It was the perfect centerpiece on our dining table. The snow and smoke from the chimney is white cotton candy!

Another very popular recipe here on Sweet & Simple magazine are these White Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Truffles. They are so easy to make and dreamy to eat #YUM


Merry Christmas!

Good Cheese Ball Recipe * Holiday Entertaining

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidayPartyPlanning #CBias #CollectiveBias #UncommonlyGood

What do you make to have on hand for family and visitors? Keebler® Club® Crackers are my go to for holiday entertaining and so is a good Classic Holiday Cheese Ball recipe.

I went out shopping at Sam's Club to stock up some entertaining essentials for the holiday season including treats, butter cookies, cheese, supplies for my cheese ball Christmas tree and my favorite, crackers. The Keebler® Club® Crackers come in entertaining sizes at Sam's Club too which is perfect to have on hand. My two college age sons can plow through a box all by themselves in one sitting so the big boxes are a must for us. You can find the Keebler® Toasteds® Crackers and
Keebler® Entertainment Crackers Collection in the entertaining sizes at Sam's Club too. Never hurts to have a good variety on hand for pop in guests. See all the  offerings at Sam's Club here.

Keebler® has a new app just in time for the holiday season to help you plan your festive party, the FREE Keebler® Party Planner Live App.  It's where I go my recipe for the Classic Holiday Cheese Ball. Rather than shaping mine into a ball I just shaped it into a Christmas tree and added sliced almonds for the tree branches. Same recipe just a different shape, easy peasy.

It's such a good recipe. Everyone loves it! I have been using the app to collect my ingredients while at the store. The list is there and ready for me so I don't have to make a separate list.
The app includes everything you need for planning a party from recipes to a party outline to printables. It even links to evite!
Go check it out and be sure to try the Traditional Cheese Ball recipe too!

Happy Holidays!
xo

P.S. Get a $1 off coupon for the Keebler® entertaining size Crackers in the Sam's Club Instant Savings booklet in store for details. Who doesn't love an extra discount!

Good Stocking Stuffers * Gift guide 2016

I've collected some wonderfully good stocking stuffers for your favorite people this holiday season. This edition of my Sweet Holidays Gift Guide is a collection of the best stocking stuffers most are on sale too!

for her...

Super cute in hearts and pink any girl would love the Too Faced Funfetti Set at HSN. It's the perfect starter set for a teen just beginning to use makeup your favorite friend or even your mom. I know I would LOVE it. The set includes a sweet blush in a heart shape, a set of 12 matte and shimmer eye shadows shadows, the prettiest mocha pink lip gloss and my all time favorite Better Than Sex mascara.

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at HSN

Pretty in pink and green and aqua and yellow and more, every girl will want the FUJIFILM Instax Mini 8 Camera. 

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Walmart 

This whole set of 10 festive Cheery elf Nail Polish colors is only $10 at Target. It's perfect for you mistletoes. 

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

MAC has the sweetest set of bright pink handled white makeup brush just for the Christmas season. It's called their Nutcracker Sweet Essentials Brush Kit. You can buy it online at Macy's.

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

for him...

The Braun Series 7 790cc-4 Electric Foil Shaver with Clean & Charge Station is perfect for your guy. And you can't beat this deal at Walmart. It's $120 off !!! 

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Walmart 

One trend I am loving right now are these large print paisley ties. This is the MICHAEL Michael Kors Men's Creston Paisley Tie. Macy's has a nice selection for Cyber Monday. 

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

With the new iPhone 7 requiring a wireless earbud, a good wireless earbud it a hot gift this season. The Beats PowerBeats2 wireless in ear earphones are a great stocking stuffer. 

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

for the home cook & baker...

The Prepara Swiss Kitchen Multi Tool is perfect for the home cook. It even comes in a festive green color at Target.

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

Every Christmas we get new glasses to share our favorite holiday drinks. The cute winter sweater themed glasses from UncommonGreen are so sweet!

Check out their constellations and city etched barware too!

Hearts are my favorite and these Love Beyond Measure measuring spoons are so sweet with a dash of love, a spoonful of laughter and a heart full of stamped on each one, found at Bed Bath and Beyond for only $2.99!!

FREE Shipping!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Bed Bath and Beyond

Copper measuring cups are so pretty you will never want to hide them away in a drawer. They also make a lovely gift for your favorite baker. These are from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's.

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

Happy Holidays!

Celebrate * Home & Food

The holidays are all about celebrating. Celebrate family, friends, Christmas, and the New Year with a cup of cheer. Libbey believes every occasion, be it big or small is an opportunity to celebrate life and we do too.
Adding a bit of holiday cheer to your Christmas and New Year's parties with a bit of bubbly is one of our favorite family traditions.
We put together a quick and simple gift giving idea for your party host Most of the items are things you already have on hand. We simply went out into the yard and gather some cedar boughs for the greens and used gift tags and ribbon from our stock for holiday gift wrapping. It adds a sweet touch to your gift too.

Cedar Decorated Gift of Cheer:

• 1 bottle of your favorite sparkling beverage
• Set of 4 Libbey® Glass Perfect Signature™ Auden Flutes
• Cedar Bough Clippings
• Holiday Ribbon
• Floral Wire
• Faux Holly Berries
• Festive Gift Tags

• Cut 3 pieces of cedar about 5-6 inches in length. 
• Layer the cedar pieces then the berries and wrap tightly with floral wire. 
• rim the wire leaving about 3 inches on the end. 
• Cut a piece of ribbon long enough to make a bow with tails. 
• Find the center of your piece of ribbon. Wrap the end piece of wire from the bundle around the center of the ribbon. 
• Tie the ribbon about the bottle in a knot then into a beautiful bow. 

With your stemware in one hand and your festive bottle in the other you are ready to celebrate the holidays!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

xo

Christmas Storytime Bedding * Christmas Family Traditions

As Christmas is approaching we have been thinking about our favorite Christmas family traditions and thinking of new traditions to start this year. Every year I gather all my Christmas books and place them in a basket under the Christmas tree. I have a collection of fine Christmas plush toys that sit next to the basket of books. The kids are only allowed to play with the plush toys if they sit quietly under the tree and read a book. Everyone loves this special family tradition.
This year Pottery Barn Kids has a collection of Christmas themed bedding and pajamas that go along with some of our favorite Christmas books.

I just adore the Santa's Sleigh set that goes nicely with my all time favorite Christmas book, The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore. I can just imagine aa a kid I would have layed in bed looking at this print of santa taking off in his sleigh and how he would be coming to visit me soon.

1. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Pajamas
2. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Sheet Set
3. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Duvet Cover

Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer has been a memory for Christmas for as long as I can remember but what I remember most about Rudolph is trying to memorize all the names of the reindeer as I sang the song over and over again in the car. This original print is from the 1948 short film by Max Fleischer in 1948. Your kids will fall asleep practicing all the reindeer names in these sweet Rudolph pajamas and comforter set.

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer® Flannel Sheet Set
2. Buffalo Check Flannel Sheet Set
3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer® Flannel Pajama

The good ol' Grinch. Dr. Seuss brought him to life 1956 in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and still after all these years kids to love to read about him and all the Who's in Whoville. Maybe it's the rhyming of Dr Seuss or the funny sweet characters or the grumpy silly Grinch that gets us but he always comes back to us every year.

1. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Sheet Set
2. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Pajama
3. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Duvet Cover

Check out more sweet holiday bedding on Pottery Barn Kids.

Sweet holiday dreams to you all filled with visions of sugar plums!

Thanks to Pottery Barn Kids for sponsoring this post. 

Macy's Holiday Event Salt Lake City * Home & Entertaining

It's the most wonderful time of the year full of delicious foods, family activities and holiday traditions. I believe that traditions are very important part of family life. Most of our family traditions began 20 years ago when my family first began. We always go together to pick out a fresh Christmas Tree.

Our traditions officially started with one of our beloved traditions of reading Clement Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas in our new Christmas pajamas around the Christmas tree.  Each year we've added to the collection of The Night Before Christmas books. Everyone chooses one to use to read along. As my kids grew we added taking Christmas light rides while listening to classic Christmas songs.  As the kids got a little bit older we added watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on tv and waiting to see the Santa Claus.

Then came making candy covered gingerbread houses out of graham crackers while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's Christmas Time again Charlie Brown while sipping hot cocoa.
We always fit in a Christmas play or two and a Christmas musical performance.
We still do all these cheery holiday activities as a family. Do you have a favorite Christmas time tradition?

An old tradition is back in Salt Lake City, the Christmas Candy windows. This holiday season Macy's is having my very most favorite Christmas character Snoopy, in candy!

This coming November 19 join me at this free event...
Macy's Candy Window Unveiling
Macy's City Creek in Salt Lake City
Thursday, November 19 at 6pm
S. Main Street Candy Windows

"Starting at 5pm bring the family to the women's department on 2 for festive activities like hot cocoa, face painting, balloon artistry, letter writing to santa, and much more! Plus don't miss an exclusive sneak peak of the Pioneer Theater Company's production of It Happened One Christmas. Then, just before 6pm, follow the cast outside to the Candy Windows of S. Main Street for our grand unveiling along with our very own Holiday Ambassador, Snoopy!"

 Visit Macy's Holiday Events for more info

Thanks to Macy's Department store for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine #macysbelieve