brown sugar pecans

warning: these are very, very addicting!

i am blessed to have so many wonderful people in our day to day life!

i love to give each of them a little gift, so i try to come up with something simple but special!

this is what i came up with this year!

red and white houndstooth cones with a "merry christmas" note filled with the sweetest treats!

brown sugar pecans!

here is the recipe, but dont say i didnt warn you!

ingredients:

16 ounce package pecan halves

1/2 cup of butter

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. while the butter is melting, preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spread the pecans in a foil lined 9x13 inch baking pan then set aside. add the brown sugar, vanilla, and salt to the melted butter and stir for 1 minute. remove from heat and keep stirring until the sugar dissolves. pour over the pecans and stir to coat. place in the oven for 25-35 minutes stirring every 10 minutes. cool the pecans on a sheet of wax paper.

heres where it gets tricky!

divide them into pretty bags and give them away!

enjoy!

*julie

christmas candle

saturday night we were invited to a party!

i was excited about this one!

it was kid friendly and involved eating comfort food, roasting marshmallows, and a lighted boat parade!

i forgot that i wanted to make a hostess gift until it was almost time to leave!

so, i took what i had and made this simple but festive candle in a matter of ten minutes!

i found everything at the dollar store!

religious candle (blank), white satin ribbon, green faux pine stems, twine, and jingle bells!

i hot glued the white ribbon onto the candle, twisted the stems into a wreath and hot glued it onto the ribbon, and tied the jingle bell onto the wreath with some twine!

and there you have it!

a quick and i think, beautiful gift!

i had other plans for all these items but now i think i will be making some of these for my home!

stay warm!

*julie

i joined the party at tatertots & jello homemade gift ideas and shabby nest frugal friday!

check it out!

winter mantel

the mantel!

our "snowy" christmas!

a dream for my florida cuties!

ok, and for me too!

glittery houses, bottle brush trees, tiny wreaths, and a little silver tucked in!

it is very simple but hopefully not boring!

i love it!

i think i might add some faux snow!

what do you think?

more christmas pictures to come!

*julie

in the process...

i am in the process of decorating for christmas!

my plan!

to be done by monday!

i want to be able to enjoy it for the whole month of december!

i better get going!

have a great weekend!

*julie

organic vanilla sugar

i thought i might show you an inexpensive and yummy gift you can put together in a matter of minutes!

this is perfect for anyone!

it can be used in their favorite coffee or a favorite recipe!

you will need some organic sugar, vanilla beans, and a glass jar!

i picked up mine at world market but just found a smaller version at the dollar store!

just fill the canister with the sugar and stick the vanilla beans in making sure that it is mostly buried in the sugar!

close the lid!

soon the sugar will soon be infused with the yummy vanilla!

make a cute tag and attached it with some twine!

and there you go!

give it as a hostess gift!

or as a christmas gift for a friend or teacher!

enjoy!

*julie