A Little Cuisine... Pomegranate Pie

Do not be alarmed!  This is the best pie I have ever eaten!  And it is also the easiest pie I have ever made.

Pomegranate Pie Recipe
1 ready-made graham cracker pie crust
1 package of Raspberry Danish Dessert
1 pomegranate

Simply follow the Pie Filling directions on the Danish Dessert box.  Add the pomegranate seeds.  Pour into  crust and let it set up for 4 hours in the refrigerator.

When serving, first cut slice, then add a dollop of whipped cream.  Refrigerate leftovers (don't leave it sitting out for more than a few minutes for the crust gets gooey).

Enjoy!

A Little Crafty... Free Christmas Fonts

Making a Christmas Card?  Looking for a fun Christmas font?  There are so many options at dafont.com.  Just search for "Christmas."  Here's what you may find.

Merry Christmas!

A Little Giveaway... Awkward Family Photos Board Game {Closed}

The Winner is GOJENGO!  Congratulations!  email alittlegreat@gmail.com to claim your prize.

A giveaway just in time for Christmas!  We all know and love Awkward Family Photos.  And now there is a board game!  And one lucky reader will own it.  $48 Value!

So here's how to win...
1. Leave a comment on this post.
2. For an additional entry "Like" A Little Great on Facebook.
3. Share this link on Facebook or Twitter.
4. Leave a comment about which of the above you things you did.

The winner will be announced Monday the 19th at 8am MST and I will send it just in time for you to play it around the fire with your own awkward loved ones.

Oh, and please enjoy this little video :)

A Little Decor... Christmas Time

Welcome to Christmas time at my house...

The living room and mantle.

Handmade stockings, thrift store picture frames and fish spray painted white.  I made the stockings last year, adapted from this Martha tutorial.

Sofa table in living room.  Large vase filled with fresh greens, hydrangeas, and faux pussy willows.

Kitchen hutch topped with greens and handmade mercury glass (tutorial).

Close up :)

Entry table.  I love my simple monotone nativity scene.

Last but not least, the tree.  This year it's in the front room.

Merry Christmas!  from my home to yours.

A Little Cuisine... Coconut Syrup and Free Printable Label

Click here to download

My friend was making coconut syrup and wanted me to design a label.  This is what I came up with.  She is working on creating her own recipe but there are several out there, though I can't recommend any because I haven't tried them yet.  I may have to since this label is so cute.  Please feel free to download.  A cute bottle of coconut syrup would make a great Christmas gift.

A Little Crafty... DIY Mercury Glass

I love the look of mercury glass and I wanted to add some to my Christmas decor, but I didn't want to pay the price.  Enter this tutorial.

So far I have tried it out on some old jelly and baby food jars.  I plan on hitting up the thrift store for some large glass vessels, but until then, I wanted to share it incase you want to do it for the holidays :)

Start with the Looking Glass spray paint.  I hear it can be hard to find but I got it at my local Super Wal-Mart for about $8 a can (spendy).  Spray the inside of the glass.

Now, it was cold in my garage and it was taking forever to dry, so I busted out the blow dryer.

The only other thing I did differently from the tutorial that I linked to above is that instead of a paper towel I wore a surgical glove and just rubbed the inside of the bottle with my finger.  I feel like it offered better control.

And here is the finished product!  When I get around to doing some big pieces I will be sure to post those too!

I really feel like it needs more distressing next time.  I think I will use this tutorial... maybe some rub 'n buff (that stuff is super cool).  Stay tuned.

A Little Shopping... Black Friday Strategies

It’s the one-day marathon that shopping fanatics look forward to all year long, and it’s almost here.  And with every major retailer advertising unbeatable bargains this Black Friday, how do you know where the best deals really are? 

Service strategist John Tschohl, author of The Customer is Boss, offers these suggestions to make Black Friday a little bit more manageable:

·         Know exactly what you want, because the best deals are in very limited supply, which is why you should never enter a store and just be “window shopping.”  Have a detailed list of everything you want to get.  To save valuable time, make sure you know ahead of time the differences in models, if you need to purchase any add-ons or accessories and always have a backup store if your first stop runs out.  

·         Getting online is not enough.  While many shoppers will find some incredible deals online, many retailers are offering even more special discounts to those consumers who follow them via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Make sure you’re following all the stores you plan to visit.

·         Times are changing.  It used to be 6am, 4am, and then Midnight, and now we’re seeing more stores opening Thanksgiving night.  Don’t only know what time your favorite stores are open, but those blowout prices on hot-ticket items are sometimes only good during certain times.  Walmart, for example, might open at 10pm, but the big midnight madness deals on electronics don’t start for another two hours.

·         Don’t go it alone.  The competition will be fierce, so take the team approach.  Shop with a spouse or friend.  While you tackle one area of the store, your shopping companion can hit a different department within the store.

·         Don’t forget about Small Business Saturday.  Many people don’t know about this 2^nd annual event to support small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year, but everyone should check it out as many smaller stores in local communities across the country will be participating and offering some incredible deals. On this same note, don’t forget about Cyber Monday for some incredible online deals.

·         If you don’t get the deals you want on Black Friday, wait.  Retailers usually run special sales the first two weeks of December.  Prices generally go up closer to Christmas for those who wait until the last minute.  If you’re eyeing something for yourself, many retailers also run deeply discounted after Christmas sales to reduce their inventories. 

Hope you can use these tips from John Tschohl.

http://www.johntschohl.com/

A Little Holiday Cheer... Oh Sweet Sadie

Are you in the holiday shopping mood?  Well, this will get you there!  The Oh Sweet Sadie Art & Gift Show is going now... just until Saturday.  (How to get there)

Here is a peek at the shopping goodness...

 Mama Bird pendants.  An egg for each of your little ones.

 Wish my daughter was little enough to wear these darling lace pantaloons.  :(

 So many jewelry options.

 I bought this teal cardigan (only $25!)

 Home decor galore!

 Wish I needed a lamp!  The big orange one is only $35.

Jewelry made from real butterfly wings!  Seriously cool.

These are just cute.

Here are my favorite booths...

 Loved this one!  Lizzy, the cute lady you see gave me her card so I could link to her etsy shop but now I can't find it!  So Lizzy, if you're reading this, leave a comment with your shop link!

Cute stuff.

 You are sure to find lots of happy shoppers...

...including myself.  Love this purple fringy scarf I picked up ($16 BTW).  Aren't I the best photographer ever?

Don't forget the yummy treats.  This is pretty much the best salsa ever!

So, don't just sit there!  Go!  You can thank me later.

A Little Organization... for the Holidays

I love the Holidays!  But you know as well as I do that they can be super hectic if you aren't properly prepared.  It's okay to take a little help from your friends...

In this free webinar professional organizing experts Jennifer Ford Berry, author of Organize Now! and Organize Now! Your Money, Business & Career, and Susan Fay West, author of Organize For a Fresh Start, answer your specific organizing questions and offer easy- to-follow tips guaranteed to help you keep your schedule and home organized before, during and after the holiday season.

• Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2011
• Staring time: 2 p.m. Eastern/11 a.m. Pacific
• Presenters: Jennifer Ford Berry, author of Organize Now! and Organize Now! Your Money, Business & Career, and Susan Fay West, author of Organize For a Fresh Start
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Price: FREE!

REGISTRATION FOR THE LIVE SESSION INCLUDES:

• Participation in the Live presentation and Q&A session
• Access to the webinar recording to view again as many times as you like
• A PDF of the presentation slides for future reference

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Anyone interested in organizing his or her home
• Anyone organizing and hosting holiday celebrations

Limited to 1,000 Seats!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS FREE WEBINAR

A Little Treat...Pretzel Rolos

I’m baking a ton lately.  You too?  Holiday treats for work, school, church, parties, neighbors… and I can't make just one thing, I have to offer a variety.  Enter Rolo Pretzels.  You can pop these babies in the oven while you are baking something else. 

I topped mine with holiday M & M’s but you can leave them plain or drizzle them with melted white chocolate.  You can also use different shaped pretzels…it will still taste like salty, chocolaty, caramely goodness!

Here’s how you make them:

1.       Line a cookie sheet with wax paper.

2.       Place pretzels on the paper.

3.       Top each pretzel with one unwrapped Rolo.

4.       Bake at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes.  You want them to just get soft.

5.       Top each Rolo with an M & M or whatever you want.

6.       Let cool.

7.       Chow down.  Or share.  Or hide them in your closet for when you need a break from company.

A Little Christmas... Gift Idea

Having a hard time deciding what to give friends and neighbors this year? Well, I love steamed milk with delicious flavoring. But they could also use this with coffee, chocolate milk, hot cocoa... so yummy. The milk frother makes it "so coffee house". Your friends will thank you for saving them four bucks a pop at Starbucks.

Now, go spread some Holiday Cheer!

A Little Christmas... Advent Calendars and Advent Activities!

I love advent calendars.  I love Christmas.  I found this lovely post about some really beautiful advent calendars, and this precious post about some amazing ideas to put in the advent pockets and make some magic memories.

Go Ice Skating
Watch It’s a Wonderful Life, make spiced cider.
Exchange gifts
Make Christmas Cookies for friends.
Find Mistletoe, hang it in our house and kiss under it.
Address and Mail Christmas Cards
Go to Borders and Pick out one new Christmas CD.
Go to The Nutcracker
Handel’s Messiah Sing Along
Leave out wooden shoes on December 5
Make Thick Hot Chocolate and Homemade Marshmallows
Host a Christmas Sweater Party
Put up a ribbon sash for Christmas cards
Donate canned goods
Give neighbors a present
Put up a wreath
Make a Gingerbread house
Make a popcorn garland
Make hot chocolate and read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Sing (or listen) to favorite Christmas songs
Drive around to see neighborhood lights
Go out and see public light display
Open a gift (new stocking or pajamas or pillowcase)
Make a family traditional dessert
Eat out at a festive restaurant
Go to a seasonal movie
Tell stories of childhood Christmas around the fire
Have a romantic candlelit dinner by the Christmas tree
Make decorative sugar cookies
Sign up to purchase gifts for a needy child
Host a Christmas dessert party
Write out a Christ-centered goal to start early for the New Year
Have a movie party (classic Christmas clips)
Go to a Christmas Concert
Attend City tree lighting event
Have a full traditional breakfast while listening to Christmas music

Enjoy these fun ideas!  I sure did.  Merry Christmas!

A Little Gift Idea... Photo Books

(book photo from Blurb website)

I used to scrapbook. I was a minimalist scrapbooker. Get it matted, journal and done. No cutesy scrapbook pages for me...I didn't have time. Now I really don't have time to scrapbook at all. My sis-in-love tuned me into photo books. She originally did one of her blog for the year. Then she made the most darling one of her 9 year old son pulling funny faces. Each page was a different face with accompanying "happy face", "surprised face", "smell-something-bad face", etc. It was a gift for his little sister who was at the perfect age to love picture books.

I recently completed a "year in review" for my grandmother. She lives clear across the country. She doesn't need another sweater or trinket. Her favorite things are pictures. Well, she will receive 30 pages worth! Each page was journaled with where/who/what/why. Some were running shots of face expressions that were priceless. From start to finish it took me less than two hours to put together. It turned out so well that we ordered more for my husband's parents and mine as Christmas gifts.

Blurb is my choice, although other places like Snapfish, Wallgreens, Costco Photo, and Flickr also have their own. Prices for Blurb start at $12.95 for a small square book. I like to use the standard landscape books starting at $19.95. It's incredibly easy to use: you download their free software, plug in your photos, and send it off for printing. There are tutorials so you will have all the knowledge you need to create a fabulous book. If you want to ship it by ground, you need to order by December 12th. If you procrastinate, you still can ship it next day air as long as you order by December 19th. FYI: order before December 10th and GET FREE FLAT RATE SHIPPING! Woot-woot! Use code FESTIVE when you order in the USA. I would like to say I arranged that fab deal for you, but actually it came in my email three days after I ordered mine. Sad for me, great for you.

Photo journals, family cookbooks, storybooks with your kids dressed up as the characters, even your own family version of "The Night Before Christmas"....seriously, whatever theme you invent will be wonderful.

A Little Crafty... Silver Antiqued Ornaments

Years ago I saw directions for silvering glass ornaments in Martha Stewart Living and since I love mercury glass our tree has since been decorated with silvered ornaments. Three moves, four kids later we need more ornament (they reflect the light beautifully.) I went to the Martha Stewart website and could not find the directions anywhere; luckily I remember how I did it last time (I think.)

You need a box of glass, not shatterproof, ornaments, ammonia, water, a glass measuring cup, and a small funnel (if you have it.) Carefully remove the ornaments from the divider and take out the clip in the top. Place the ornaments back in the divider facing top up. (Ammonia is a chemical and the instructions on the back should be read and followed.)
Fill half of your glass measuring cup with ammonia and half with water, you need a 50/50 mixture.
Fill the ornaments with the ammonia/water mix and leave overnight.
The next day pour out the chemical and rinse carefully under cool water. you may want to place a paper towel in the sink to catch any paint that comes off the outside of the ornament. You should have a nice cloudy effect that resembles an antique ornament. Not all ornaments work and each ornament has a different effect.
This year I used Walmart brand silver ornaments, I realized they are already silver, but I wanted antiqued. I used the silver ornaments because the clip was silver and not gold. Thrift store ornaments work great because it doesn't matter if they are scratched. See the cloudy, not overly shiny, uneven silver color? That is what I love.
Every ornament reacts differently, this is a try at your own risk project, but for around $2 a dozen I'm okay with that. And sometimes the ones that don't work out have a nice effect.