Peppermint in a Jar (diy)

Peppermints in a Jar- diy by Via Bella

Again, the simpleness of this means anyone can do this. 

I did this because I had few decorations and I love love love these kind of decorations as much as any fancy Christmas item because of the practicality of it. 

Later, you can take it out, reuse and repurpose the jar later.

Peppermint is one of my favourite things- peppermint mochas, peppermint lip gloss, you name it. 

Go Peppermint!

And I caught a kid sneaking a peppermint too- it must be hereditary! :) 

Hope you enjoy as much as we have. 

Materials:

1 Jar with cork top

Peppermint Candies wrapped

25" Red Yarn String

Directions:

1. Get your materials together

2. Fill the Jar with peppermints

3. Cut the yarn

4. Try different designs as above to decorate your peppermint jar- You can tie a bow, you can circle the top and just do a quick tie, or criss cross back or front.

5. Tie once you like and decorate!

Peppermints in a Jar (diy) by Via Bella

Christmas Q tips Boutique (Diy)

Christmas Q Tip Boutique  (diy) by Via Bella

So, being tight on funds, it is so important to be able to make decor with what you have. 

My daughter and I were at the dollar store and we needed q tips. We were originally get orange and red- her colours. But, it dawned on my while I was there, that red, green, and white was better. You know, tis the season. 

I got home, and wanted to put them in something because when they fall, sometimes the q tips fall out and over the floor rending them useless. So, I wanted a small bunch in a jar and that is how I got this idea. The container is a tea light glass and is perfect.

The nice and awesome thing- it brings the Christmas spirit in a small and practical way that you will use past Christmas. Yay!

Christmas Q Tip Boutique (diy) by Via Bella

Materials:

1 Votive candle holder

Red, Green, and White Q tips

1 7" Red Yarn piece

1 15" Red Yarn Piece

Directions:

1. Gather your Materials.

2. Alternate the colour of qtips (one red one in, one green one in, one white one in- repeat). Do until full.

3. Measure 7" red yarn and cut

4. Wrap the piece around the bottom and tie

5. Measure 15" red yarn and cut

6. Wrap around one side, criss cross it, and tie

7. Clip the access string

Christmas Q Tip Boutique (diy) by Via Bella

Happy Holidays!!!

Happy Holidays to Everyone! 

So I will write about what I did and how I did for Christmas but for now, I will be enjoying my family for Christmas day!

May you and yours have a beautiful day- whether you be sleeping in and watching movies all day, going to the spa by yourself, spending time with family or friends- however you celebrate, have a beautiful.

Cheesy Carrot Potato Soup

We had loads of carrots by loads I mean Costco size bag of carrots. 

Yep. 

We had them frozen, so we had to peel the skin off (and if you freeze your carrots, they will look like they are browned, that is just like the banana when you freeze it. Just peel it). 

And then follow the directions.

This was so good that the kids and the hubby were going back for more.

With the ginger, add as little or as much as you want. 

With having family members sick, it was a great way to catch the vitamins needed (ginger, too) in the soup to give everyone. 

Serves 14-16 (8-ounce) servings

Ingredients:

10 pounds carrots

7-8 cups water

1 1/2 large onions

2 large potatoes

1 tbsp chicken stock mix

1/2 tbsp sea salt

1/2 tbsp pepper

1/2 cup milk

1 piece ginger grated

2 cups sharp cheddar

1 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1. Peel carrots, chop and put in the pot

2. Add the onions chopped

3. Add the potatoes chopped

4. Add all the water, stock mix, and the salt and pepper

5. Boil for 20 minutes then add 1/2 cup milk and cheese

6. Turn to medium heat and use a masher as cooking for another 20-30 min

7. Take mostly mashed and add to the Magic Bullet or other blender, mix and add back to pot

8. Add the rest milk and the ginger and put on low

9. Enjoy

If you are watching calories:

218 calories per serving

37 Carbs

6 Fat

8 Protein

10 Fiber

27 Calcium

Enjoy this on a good winter's eve!

Second Day of Christmas: Ice Skating

We went to Herbert Wells Ice Rink in PG County in Maryland for the second day of Christmas. 

We went with my son's cub scout pack- Pack 33. This was our first time going with the pack during their annual ice skating event. This also was only our second time ever going skating.

 So worth it. 

Honestly, I had just as much fun. My son Avi, wanted to watch the boys who knew how to play hockey and was not wanting to learn so much how to skate. He did eventually. And I am so proud of him. 

My daughter Via, had it come more natural to her. She was doing so much better once she tried and fell a few times. She was so proud of herself that you could not help but smile big. 

My little boy, Kai, was not liking the skates at first. He spent most of the time sipping hot cocoa. But he eventually got onto the ice and held both hands of mommy and daddy and did it. By the end of it, he wanted to get back on the ice and was upset that it had ended. Well, typical, right?

We had a good family date especially first full day back as a family after traveling and being apart.

Happy Second Day of Christmas!

First Day of Christmas

Can you believe how fast Christmas has snuck up upon us?

Do you celebrate the 12 days of Christmas?

Though there be many traditions, we have amorphous traditions. We honestly do celebrate 12 days of Christmas but the way it looks every year varies. 

For the First Day of Christmas, we decorated our Christmas tree.

Honestly, I have my tree up all year, but I do not light it up until Christmas. Living in the city, I like a little green in my space. I just transform the tree into a 'house tree' during the year and back into a Christmas tree during the holidays. 

You are asking- you don't do it the day after Thanksgiving?

Yes, but even if I do, I reserve special ornaments for a special family time celebration. 

And this year, we were not back right away since we were visiting family. So making this a first day of Christmas activity was an easy go. 

We had Pandora streaming us Christmas music for us while we decorated. We had hot cocoa while there was remenant snow on the ground. It was awesome! Even it if were 60 degrees outside though, we would still be doing hot cocoa and decorating. Just saying- because we can.

And thank goodness for my mother in law for passing along my husband's birth year ornament, also a few little wooden ones and 5 non breakable (with kids a must) ornaments we apparently gave her when we moved to the East. So thank you mom. Otherwise, we would have a boring tree. 

Can't wait to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with my family!