Showing posts with label adorable baby clothing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adorable baby clothing. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Spring 2014 Color Trends for Clothing

 The fall and winter colors for clothing were dominated by jewel tones and vibrant colors.  Metallics also played a big part in fashion during the winter.  Spring is bringing a lighter, more earthy range of colors, with metallics still factoring in as an important element.


Pantone, the leading authority on color trends for more than 20-years, has surveyed the top fashion designers to give us all a sneak peak of what's to come for Spring.  Their results revealed that pastels ranging from blues, to violets, and every shade of green will be complimented with the colors of "sand" and grays.  These colors are calming, and seemingly a welcome to the coming of spring weather.  The pastels work extremely well too, with the neutral shades of khaki and grays, and create a sophisticated palate that works well for virtually anyone.  

Not all the colors are pastel though......you'll be finding punches of vibrant reds, yellows, oranges and violets that will
work very well whether combined with  their pastel counterparts, or used in conjunction with the neutral colors.  The more vibrant colors can add that "spice" to any one's wardrobe that takes it from ordinary to extraordinary.  Oh--and metallics are still going to play a very important role in Spring wardrobes too!


At Adorable Baby Clothing, you'll find clothing for children that is classic in it's style, but complimented with the most sought after colors and fabrics.  The detailing in our clothing is what makes them even more special, and as we like to think, "picture perfect" when your little  ones are wearing them. 


We invite you to visit the website, and see for yourself what beautiful clothing is available. 
Whether it's a new Easter dress or suit
we offer some of the most beautiful, and 
high quality apparel for children you'll find any where.

http://www.adorablebabyclothing.com 

As always, we offer free priority mail shipping on 
any order of just $50.00 or more within the USA.

Posted first on AdorableBabyClothing.com Blog


Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Choosing the Colors, Lengths & Styles of your Flower Girl Dresses



For years, the color of a flower girl's dress was white or ivory.  Typically very understated, and more of a dressy dress than anything.  In today's world of what seems to be unlimited color selections that rule no longer "rules"!  Brides today can express themselves in whatever way fits what they have in mind.

 

 A few key points to keep in mind are.......

 

 Choose colors that compliment your over-all theme.  That doesn't mean they have to be the same as the bridesmaids dresses, it means you
http://www.adorablebabyclothing.com/Flower-Girl-Dresses/BL203R.htmlwant colors that compliment one another.  That can mean that the flower girls can wear a "pop" of color that accents all the other colors, or you can use a sash or headpiece with complimentary colors.  Try to imagine how those colors are going to look together in a picture.  For instance, if your color scheme includes, let's say peach.......there's nothing that says the flower girls sashes could be turquoise for contrast, or even dark orange to add some "zing" to those pictures.




http://www.adorablebabyclothing.com/product/BL220I.htmlChoose the length according to their ages.  If you've chosen toddlers, you'd do well to stay away from floor length dresses, because they're just more apt to trip on them than older girls.  If you're having junior brides maids, they open up a world of possibilities when it comes to length.  Just keep in mind their body frames and comfort levels before you choose the dress.  It might be a good time to consult with the mother, or if they're old enough, the girls themselves.  At Adorable Baby Clothing, most of the dresses range from infant sizes to a girl's 12 or 14, so you can create uniformity in style, but choose colors to delineate the ages.



http://www.adorablebabyclothing.com/Flower-Girl-Dresses/BL228B.html 
 Choose a style that compliments your own dress.  There have been many weddings where the flower girls were dressed in what appeared to be a mini version of the bride's dress.  My personal opinion is, that this is your day......you deserve to stand out, and be recognized for it.  Although there's no set rule for the style of the flower girl dresses, why not let them express their "cuteness" in their own way, and become that special compliment to you. 



At Adorable Baby Clothing, you'll find a large variety of styles, colors, sizes and fabrics.  Virtually all them give you the ability to either choose the color of the dress, and/or sash and flower embellishments.  Each one is carefully crafted here in the USA, and you'll even find crinoline slips sewn in to each skirt to help retain their fullness while they're being worn.  We invite you to come and see for yourself, what a wonderful selection you'll find, and at such reasonable prices.  

As an added bonus, we offer Free Priority Mail shipping to anywhere within the contiguous United States.  
Below is our new video that will give you a little peek at our beautiful selections!


Monday, January 6, 2014

When is something too good to be true?


One of the things that bothers me the most about having an online business, is unscrupulous practices of websites.  They mark an item WAYYYYYY up and then supposedly mark it down to make it look like you've saved a whole bunch of money.  The fact of the matter is, if a deal looks too good to be true.....
it probably is.  

Every business has to make a profit, that's the bottom line.  However, making a profit honestly is different than making a profit by misleading a customer about the actual price of something.  At Adorable Baby Clothing, we try very hard to give all our customers a fair price, offering excellent customer service, and excellent quality in all our clothing.  

The dress below is listed on another website (which shall remain nameless), and they really expect you the consumer to believe this dress retails for $149.99.......and, I suppose it could if no one cared what anything costs, but in reality, this is the furthest thing from the truth.  Even with their markdown, and offer of $5.00 flat rate shipping within the US, it is still just about the same price you could order it from at Adorable Baby Clothing.   We even offer FREE Priority Mail shipping of any order of just $50.00 within the USA.

So the long story short, it you're looking for quality, style, honesty and integrity, shop at Adorable Baby Clothing.  We won't embellish the truth about anything on our site, and we promise to give you the very best price we can on everything on our website.


Ivory Lovely Taffeta Pick Your Sash Multi Layered Flower Girl Dress (Sizes 12months - 12)
Ivory Lovely Taffeta Pick Your Sash Multi Layered Flower Girl Dress (Sizes 12months - 12)
List Price: $149.99
Sale Price: $44.99
You Save: $105.00 (70%) <---Seriously?!
 
Our price on this dress  always starts at $56.00 which includes FREE Priority Mail Shipping 

Friday, January 3, 2014

DreamsitesStudios.com .......they can make your dreams come to life!

As a website owner, one of my frustrations has been my lack of technical 
knowledge when it comes to making major changes to my website.  I'm perfectly capable of doing the day-to-day changes, but when it comes to html.codes and "css" and all the other stuff, you might as well talk to me in Greek.....consequently, I've kind of been at the mercy of whomever I'm working with.  Most of those experiences have not been positive ones, and left me feeling like I should have taken the money I spent and just set it in a pile on my driveway and had a nice little marshmallow roast.  

However, I have met one incredibly talented and even more importantly, knowledgeable and honest man, named Jeff Davis.  He's been in the business for 16-years, and is the owner of a website called DreamsitesStudios.com, and seemingly can to do just about anything you want from creating a website, to improving your existing site, to creating amazing videos for your site.........well, let it suffice to say, Jeff can do it all.  

 

What I particularly like about Jeff, is he really listens.  He doesn't give you what he thinks you should have.  He takes your ideas, and then makes them even better.  His goal is to improve and embellish whatever your concept is, and then make it a product you're proud to call yours.  

Jeff and I started by changing some obvious elements on my website, and within a matter of a few days, I was startled to see how much better it all looked.  He even added what's called a "slider" on my storefront, which gives a potential customer, a sneak peek of what's on the website without ever leaving the front page.



 After that, he created three amazing videos for me, and as far as I'm concerned hit the proverbial "nail on the head".  I just sent him my ideas, we talked on the phone, and then VIOLA!  He was sending me the videos.  I immediately started looking at other videos on You Tube, to compare what he sent me, and was over-whelmed at how much more professional and comprehensive his work is, than what I was seeing elsewhere.  


We're now working on the SEO of my website, which honestly, just baffles me.  I look at my analytics, and my eyes glaze over.  Jeff starts looking and explaining what he's seeing and it makes perfect sense.

So--if you own a website, and you want it improved and optimized to it's fullest potential (CORRECTLY!!!), you'd do well to get in touch with Jeff.  He won't disappoint, and I'm betting your results will be just as rewarding as mine have been.  Tell him I sent you!

DreamsitesStudios.com on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dreamsites
DreamsitesStudios.com on Twitter - @dreamsitescom
DreamsitesStudios.com - http://dreamsites-studios.com/

Check out the videos he created for me below!

Monday, December 30, 2013

2 Sisters & A Brother

The Christmas holidays for 2013 are over, but  oh the memories that were created in every family!

I received this today, and it warmed my heart to see little Ben, Lily and Evie all dressed in their Christmas outfits from Adorable Baby Clothing.

Ben is wearing the Red Plaid Vest and Pant Set (LTC565) which comes in sizes 6-12M up to a Boys 7.  It's an awesome little set that includes everything except your little guy. 

Lily and Evie are wearing the coordinating traditional styled Red Plaid Dress (LTC813) that has a gorgeous black velvet sash at the waist and comes in sizes from 4 to size 12.  

Both the vest set and dresses are also available in a green plaid.  No matter the occasion, at Adorable Baby Clothing, you'll find a large selection of clothing for both boys and girls that can be color coordinated or uniquely their own.  Every season brings a new array of amazing suits and dresses.

We invite you to come and visit the site, to see for yourself how dressing your little ones 'picture perfect' can be so easy!  Click here to visit now  Adorable Baby Clothing.
You can also preview our line at one of our new videos below!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Introducing another of our new videos - "Timeless Boys Suits"

We're proud to introduce another of our new videos, and we're already planning for the next one!  

However.....we need pictures........
so, if you've purchased one of our suits 
for your little guy, send us a picture 
and we'll feature him in our next video!
(customercare@adorablebabyclothing.com)

Then, you can download the video and have a keepsake of your little guy all dressed up!  

We'll also send you a Gift Certificate 
for $10.00, to spend on our website.



Saturday, December 21, 2013

Last Minute Stocking Stuffer Ideas

 Where has the time gone!!??  Here we are....4-days until the great anticipated event and maybe like me, you've found yourself still lacking a few fabulous gifts to stuff those Christmas stockings.  The temptation is run to the local pharmacy or discount store and buy the really cheap stuff.  But wait!!  Why shouldn't the little gifts in those stockings be just as meaningful?  Here are some ideas that might help..........



  Sweets........now most people love some kind of candy.  These days you can find everything from singles to bulk quantities of just about everything.  Consider buying a few of the singles (you know it always tastes better when there's a limited amount !) and put them scattered throughout the rest of the little gifts in the stocking?


 Miniatures..........I don't mean live things here!  How about miniature bottles of someones favorite liquor or liqueur?   If they are a cook, the little tiny bottles of wine or liqueurs can be just the thing they'll need for one of those fabulous recipes they make and invite you over to share!



  

 
Sparkly!  Who doesn't love something sparkly.........and the possibilities are endless--especially with all the sales going on right now.  Look for something unusual (not white elephant gift unusual!) and wrap it to put in the stocking.

Something to wear.........okay, this is where you put the socks and scarves!  Even in  Florida, we have a few days every year where a scarf is a must have, or gloves or fabulous warm socks.  Choose according to the personality of the person you're giving to, and it's sure to be a hit.

 
Beautification products.......you know they say, you can never have too much money, or too much fingernail polish or lipstick!  I'd think the lipstick is kind of hard to buy unless you know exactly what that woman wears, but fingernail polish......the sky's the limit.  There's every color in the world available, and here's a great opportunity to give them something they might not buy for themselves.

Travel sized games........these are great for the person who's on the go and may end up sitting in a terminal somewhere killing time.  They're easy to stuff in a purse or pocket, and great when you are bored out of your mind.......and again, these days there seems to be a pocket size version of so many games.  This is also a great way to maybe share a gift certificate for a game app for their smart phone or I-Pad or Kindle!

Gift Certificates.......I know, I know.......the poor gift certificate gets "poo-pooed" a lot, but honestly, what a great way to give something they can use to buy what they want!  Just be careful that if you choose this option, you know what the exchange policies are, and whether or not there's an expiration date.  You can always include these details in a little note with the GC.


Perfumes & Colognes........if you know the kind they love then get one of the little bottles of their favorite scent and wrap it up.  Also, most major perfume companies sell a huge variety of scented accessories to go with their perfumes........like candles, body lotions, soaps......just amazes me how many ways these companies think of to sell their products to us!  But this is good at Christmas time because you can be creative...... a word of caution......most people are very particular about the scent they wear, so don't go buying some "new fabulous" smell just because the ad on tv told you to.......again......make it personal and stick with what you know they like!

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TJBdesignsHobby & Craft items........I can't think of a better way to tell someone how much you admire their talent in a particular hobby or craft, than by giving them something to help them when they're working on that project!  If they're into needlework, check out someone like TJBDesigns for accessories that will not only make the next project easier, but they'll be thinking of you when they're using it!  No matter what they love to do for a hobby or craft, this is the perfect opportunity to give a really special gift that they'll remember you always for.


The main thing is.........think outside the box when it comes to stocking stuffers.  Don't think $1.00 item necessarily, but rather "special & unique"!

Merry Christmas everyone!!




Thursday, December 12, 2013

Holiday Drinks for Everyone!

Winter and the holidays brings a plethora of seasonal drinks everyone loves.  In this post you'll find a few of the favorites with the recipes to keep and share!  Some may be familiar, and some new, but there's something for everyone!
Enjoy & if you have a favorite, share with us!



Wassail Recipe  (The Original Recipe)
from The Williamsburg Cookbook

As traditional and familiar as most any English Christmas carol, the song is among the season's more anachronistic, an evocation of a holiday custom that pretty much puzzles modern celebrants: wassailing. 

For a complete history of how this came to be, visit here--> http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/holiday06/wassail.cfm

(20 servings)

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
3 lemon slices
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice
6 cups dry red wine
½ cup lemon juice
1 cup dry sherry
2 lemons, sliced

Wassailing is an ancient English custom, part of the feasts and revelry of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, which have been revived in Colonial Williamsburg. The master of the English household drank to the health of those present with a bowl of spiced ale, and each in turn after him passed the bowl along and repeated the Saxon phrase “Wass hael,” which means “be whole” or “be well.”

Directions:
Boil the sugar, cinnamon sticks, and 3 lemon slices in ½ cup of water for 5 minutes and strain. Discard the cinnamon sticks and lemon slices.

Heat but do not boil the remaining ingredients. Combine with the syrup, garnish with the lemon slices, and serve hot.

Hot Chocolate Ingredients
  • 2 cups Milk
  • 2 cups Half-and-half
  • 1 cup Good Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar (optional)
  • VARIATIONS: Orange Rind, Orange Syrup, Cinnamon Sticks, Raspberry Syrup, Abuelita Chocolate, Mint Extract, Peppermint Patties, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Shavings (
  • See a full discussion at "The Pioneer Woman"  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/12/delicious-hot-chocolate/ )
Preparation Instructions
  • To make the basic hot chocolate, combine milk with half-and-half in a small saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat, then stir in chocolate chips. Stir until melted (though there will still be lovely particles of chocolate throughout.) If it's too chocolatey for you, splash in a little more milk. If it's not quite sweet enough for you, add 1 teaspoon sugar. Serve in mugs with whipped cream.
    VARIATIONS
    Orange Hot Chocolate: Add 4 slices of orange rind as you warm the milk mixture. Add a splash of orange syrup if you have it, but it isn't necessary.
    Raspberry Hot Chocolate: Add 3 tablespoons raspberry syrup to the hot chocolate. Drop a couple of raspberries into each cup.
    Mint Hot Chocolate: Drop 1 to 2 miniature peppermint patties into each mug before adding hot chocolate. Stir to melt.
    Mexican Hot Chocolate: Substitute 2 discs of Abuelita chocolate for the chocolate chips. Simmer cinnamon sticks in the saucepan with the hot chocolate. Add 1 cinnamon stick to each mug before serving.
    Garnish any and all variations with whipped cream or chocolate shavings.


    Hot Apple Cider Recipe
    2 quarts 100% apple juice
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    1 apple, unpeeled and cut in half
    1 small naval orange, unpeeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
    2 tsp. whole clove
    2 cinnamon sticks
    1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
                                                          1/2 tsp. allspice
    Directions Carefully insert the whole cloves into the apple on both the flesh and skin sides (see picture above).
    Heat apple juice over medium heat in a large pot or dutch oven. Once heated, add the brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer and let simmer for 15 minutes.
    Promptly remove the apple halves, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and any clove remnants from the pot.  Serve hot.
    Enjoy!

    You can see a full discussion of this recipe at "a sweet pea chef"  http://www.asweetpeachef.com/drinks/hot-apple-cider-recipe/

    Hot Buttered Rye

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1/4 cup rye whiskey 
    • 6 tablespoons hot water
    • 2 tablespoons ginger liqueur
    • Freshly grated nutmeg

    Preparation

    1. Beat heavy cream and maple syrup with an electric mixer at medium speed 2 minutes or until consistency of softened butter. Cover and chill 1 to 24 hours. Pour rye whiskey, hot water, and ginger liqueur into a 6-oz. heatproof cup. Top with about 1/4 cup maple-cream mixture and freshly grated nutmeg.  

    Featured on Southern Living's My Recipes http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/hot-buttered-rye-50400000117974/

    Merry Berry Christmas
    Make the kids feel like a part of the festivities with this mint and berry "mocktail." With fresh raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, Merry Berry Christmas! party beverage is great in the summertime as well, but its vibrant red color makes it ideal for Christmas.

    Ingredients

    • 5 fresh raspberries 
    • 4 fresh blueberries 
    • 2 fresh blackberries 
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons light agave nectar
    • 5 fresh mint leaves
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
    • 1 cup crushed ice
    • 6 tablespoons water
    • 2 tablespoons ginger ale 
    • Garnish: halved fresh raspberries and blackberries (optional) 

    Preparation

    1. Muddle 5 fresh raspberries, blueberries, 2 fresh blackberries, light agave nectar, mint leaves, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Stir in crushed ice and water. Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (7 to 10 seconds). Pour mixture into a 16-oz. glass, and top with ginger ale. Garnish, if desired.  

    See this and more at Southern Living online http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/our-editors-top-10-holiday-cocktails-00400000034206/page6.html
    EspressoMartini
    Legend has it the Kahlúa Espresso Martini was created in the 1980s by a London cocktail guru late one night for a famous supermodel. The mixologist had the brilliant idea of combining a shot of espresso and vodka with our coffee and cane spirit to create a martini like no other. Perfect for a brunch with friends, an after-dinner cocktail or before a big night out.

    Ingredients

    1 1/2 parts KAHLÚA
    1 part Absolut Vodka
                                      1 fresh brewed espresso

    How to mix it

    Fill a shaker with ice, add Kahlúa, Absolut Vodka and a fresh brewed espresso. Shake vigorously, and strain into a chilled martini glass.



    Pearman's Toddy 

    Laced with cinnamon, lemon, and Angostura bitters, this gin-based drink from Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue is a brisk, warming twist on a toddy.




    Ingredients (MAKES ONE COCKTAIL)

    • FOR THE CINNAMON SIMPLE SYRUP:
    • 1½ cups sugar
    • 4 cinnamon sticks, plus one for garnish

    • FOR THE COCKTAIL
    • 2 oz. gin
    • 1 oz. cinnamon simple syrup
    • ½ oz. lemon juice
    • Dash Angostura bitters

    Instructions

    1. Make the syrup: Combine 2 cups water, sugar, and 4 cinnamon sticks in a 2-qt. saucepan; simmer for 10 minutes until sugar has dissolved. Discard cinnamon sticks and set syrup aside. Makes about 1½ cups; syrup will keep, refrigerated, for up to two weeks.

    2. Make the cocktail: Heat gin, syrup, lemon juice, and 2 oz. water in a 2-qt. saucepan. Remove from heat and add bitters. Serve in a mason jar with a cinnamon stick as garnish.
     
    This recipe and more featured on Savuer  http://www.saveur.com/article/recipes/pearmans-toddy
     

    Angel's Delight

    Cream, triple sec and gin combine for an interesting cocktail delight. The Angel's Delight is a wonderful dessert cocktail to serve at a dinner party. The one caution I have for this drink is to be sure not to over do it on the cream because just a little too much can easily ruin an otherwise great cocktail. The pale pink color is a result of the grenadine, which you can make your self.

    Prep Time: 3 minutes  Total Time: 3 minutes  Yield: 1 Cocktail

    Ingredients:

    Preparation:

    1. Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes.
    2. Shake well.
    3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

    Find this recipe and more by mixologist Colleen Graham at  http://cocktails.about.com/od/atozcocktailrecipes/r/angl_dlt_cktl.htm
     Eggnog

    Eggnog dates all the way back to the 17th century. In Britain, it was a drink for rich landowners, as they had access to milk and eggs from their farms that city dwellers in London didn’t have and couldn’t afford. The American colonists, however, had plentiful access to farms, and therefore milk and eggs, so the drink became more popular here and eventually transformed into a holiday staple.
    The following recipe can be used with any type of alcohol, though I don’t recommend clear liquors like vodka, gin, or light rum. A cup of dark or spiced rum, aged whiskey, or brandy (or combinations of them) all can make this drink shine.
    • 6 eggs
    • 3/4 cup of sugar
    • 1 quart of half & half
    • 1/2 cup bourbon
    • 1/2 cup brandy
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
    Separate the eggs, set whites aside. Beat the yolks with a mixer with 1/2 cup of the sugar, then stir in the half & half, bourbon, brandy, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with 1/4 cup of sugar, until it thickens and you get “stiff peaks.” Fold the whites into the yolk/booze mixture, then refrigerate. When ready to serve, spoon into a mug and sprinkle nutmeg as a garnish.
    If you’re looking for a tasty variation on traditional eggnog, try the Tom and Jerry. It has nothing to do with the cartoon cat and mouse. Rather this classic drink was invented in 1821 by journalist Pierce Egan as a way to promote his book with one amazingly elongated title: Life in London: The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn, Esq. and His Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom, Accompanied by Bob Logic, The Oxonian, in their Rambles and Sprees through the Metropolis. Warm, whipped, and made with brandy and rum, the Tom and Jerry was a holiday staple and popular wintertime belly-warmer up through the 1950s. Because the batter that makes up its foundation is more difficult to produce in a pre-packaged, ready-to-serve form, it was supplanted by eggnog which could be easily sold at the local grocer (though you can sometimes still find Tom and Jerry batter for sale in the Upper Midwest). But if you’re looking for a unique and classic drink to offer your guests, it’s a recipe worth dusting off and serving up in its traditional vessel — a gold-rimmed mug emblazoned with the Tom and Jerry name.
    Obligatory warning about raw eggs: if you don’t want to use raw eggs, you can buy pasteurized eggs, which have all the scary bacteria neutralized. If you want to use raw eggs, use fresh, unblemished eggs with a thick shell.

    See this and more at "The Art of Manliness"  http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/11/19/5-classic-holiday-cocktails-and-drinks-to-warm-your-spirit/

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

December Holiday Newsletter - Crafts & Food

The holidays are a time to celebrate our families and friends.  Unfortunately with the push to buy, buy, buy.....and run from one activity to another, sometimes we forget the simple things that mean the most.  Included in this newsletter, you'll find a few crafts, a few recipes (all very simple for the most part)......so make the time to share making them with your kids, or friends, or how about your kids and their friends!  The time you spend with them will become those treasured memories for the future.

Strawberry Santas!

This is so cute, and a great little finger food if you're having guests over, or just want to surprise the family with an extra special treat!   Wash the strawberries and remove the leaves.  You may want to cut the top off to leave a flat surface so they'll sit up right!  Then, cut the tip off, and using the canned whipped cream, squirt just a little on the bottom half and gently place the remaining top on top of the whipped cream--press very gently.  After that, using just a little whipped cream, put the pompom on his "hat" and a little button on his tummy.  Using black or brown gel icing in a tube, place a small dot for his eyes and you've got a nutritious and yummy little delight for whomever you're serving this to!



Window Ribbon Ornaments


Do you have one of those windows that you're never quiet sure how to decorate during the holidays?  Maybe it's big and wide and you feel like it would cost a fortune to fill it up?  Or you've been looking for something original that your friends and neighbors will "ooo and aah" over when they see it?  Here's a great idea.  Using different lengths and colors of ribbons, secure glass ornaments in a variety of colors.  the easiest way to hang them, rather than one by one, is go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy an old fashioned yard stick.  Wrap the ribbon around the yardstick then secure it with a staple....or if that hot glue gun is still warm, a little dab will do ya!


 Footprint Snowmen

This is so much fun to do, and a great gift idea for grandparents!  Using either card stock, or a tightly woven fabric as your display area, and water based paint, have each member step on the display area (not to heavy though so their toes don't end up running together).  By the way....be prepared for a lot of laughing, and have lots of paper towels ready to wipe off the paint.  This is one I'd probably do in the bathroom so you can stand them in the tub and wash their feet off after they've made their print.  Once the paint is dry, decorate to your hearts content.  If your kids are a little older, you might want them to do the decorating.  Be sure to label each footprint with each person's name. And, don't forget the year!!


S'mores Gift Bag
                                             
Looking for a simple last minute gift?  Here's an adorable idea for those that love chocolate and s'mores!  You can get the little gift bags at Party City, or any craft store.  Using graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars, layer the ingredients, and tie it off with the ribbon of your choice and a little label.  You could even include this with decorative mug filled with ingredients for hot chocolate.  Every one will love this, because it has what most people love......chocolate, easy to make, and originality!  The key here is making it personal.



                                                   hot cocoa dippers

 Who doesn't love a hot cup of cocoa on a cold winter day or night!?  Here's the perfect accessory for the cup.  Using a pointed knife, gently make a hole about half way through each marshmallow.  Insert your candy canes into the hole.  Remember, marshmallows are sticky by nature on the inside, so they should grip the candy canes with no problem.  With a basting brush, very lightly brush the bottom of each marshmallow with a tiny bit of water, and roll in red sugar sprinkles. 

Salt Dough Ornaments 
 (this is really fun and inexpensive--even the little ones can join in on this)

1.) How to make salt dough:
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup plain flour
  • Up to 1 cup of water (add gradually)
  • Optional - food coloring and glitter (add to your preference while mixing--but remember, if you add color now, that's the color you have to work with....unless you're making more than one batch)
  •  Combine the salt and flour then pour in the water gradually, stopping when it has become dough-like and not too sticky. There should be no residue left on your fingers when you touch it. Knead it on a floured surface for a few minutes to make it soft, workable and stretchy, like you would with any dough. Roll it out, using a rolling pin till its about 1/8" thick.
Using your choice of  cookie cutter shapes, simply cut straight from the dough. Christmas shapes like
trees, stars and hearts are always popular. Using a drinking straw poke a hole through the center, near the top, of each shape so that ribbon can be threaded through later.  This is also a great way to make an imprint of their little hands......simply use a bowl, or glass big enough to cut a circle larger than the children's hands.  Have them push their hands into the dough and viola!

Lay them on some greaseproof or baking paper and on a baking tray. Cook them on a VERY low heat (around 100 degrees C/ 202 F) for up to 3 hours. If the shapes are over 1cm thick then they will probably need to be turned over during cooking.  Let cool.  

Paint them with any water based paint, and allow to dry.  Once the paint has dried, you can glue on buttons, shapes, or add more glitter.....let your imagination (or the kids) run wild.  Allow everything to dry for several hours, then using ribbon, thread through the hole and hang on your tree.  (By the way--keep these in a sealed zip lock bag after the holidays when you're storing them.  This way moisture and or bugs won't have an opportunity to ruin your masterpieces!)  You can also spray them with any sealer to help protect them through the years.

Well....all this work has made me hungry, so how about a snack!?

Christmas Tree Brownies

This is pretty self explanatory (because I know all you reading this are far more talented at making these than I am!)  Using your favorite cakey brownie recipe, cut into triangle shapes after they're cool, decorate with gel icing, sprinkles, or M&M's and add a small candy cane as shown for the trunk.  This would be a great treat for the kids, or maybe even they're school party.  Who doesn't love brownies! 

What's that....you're still hungry?!  How about this.........




Reindeer Cookies (no bake--whoohoo!)

This are amazing easy to make, and so much fun.  Everyone loves these.  Using the Nutter Butter
cookies, mini pretzels, M&Ms and white icing.  You can see how to put these together.....the kids will have a blast assembling their own team of reindeer!  The question is......how many will be eaten......and how many will you get to show off?



Decorate your walkway!

 For those of you that live in the parts of the world with ice and snow, this is an amazing fun way to mark your pathway, or line the patio during those cold winter months.  Fill latex balloons with water, adding food coloring when they're about half full.  Place them where you want outside, and just wait for Mother Nature to finish the project for you.  Once they're frozen, take a sharp small knife and peel off the balloon.  I think these would look great with some kind of lighting to highlight them at night!




Candy Cane Stars

I thought this was so clever!  Made purely of candy canes and peppermint candy, you have a clever and original decoration you can use any where.  I suggest you lay out the candy canes on a flat surface (use a sheet of foil under them). and once they're in the shape you like, use a hot glue gun to secure them.  The peppermint candies are hot glued to each point, as you see, and finished off with a bit of red ribbon (although you could use any color you want).  Let the glue harden, then using a nylon thread, or piece of ribbon, hang where ever you want to display it.  Watch out though......you may find them eaten at some point.....



If you're going to a special event during the holidays, remember, Adorable Baby Clothing can dress your little ones "picture perfect"!  We invite you to take a look at all the beautiful girl's dresses, and boy's suits, as well as our beautiful line of christening gowns and suits.  In case you didn't know, we also offer FREE Priority Mail shipping on any minimum order of just $50.00, within the USA.