Make: Hot Cocoa Stirrers

Again, another post on a Christmas gift I made this year (of course, the idea came from Pinterest and I modified it slightly)! For my first Christmas gift post (fleece scarves with a flower pin), go here.

Working at a school, you want to give a gift to those teachers that are on your "team": the ones you work with the most. However, you don't want to break the bank either! This is the perfect "sweet" sentiment to make for your coworkers:

I found these ADORABLE hot cocoa stirrers on Pinterest that were homemade. She made an assortment of chocolate and peanut butter stirrers and then added multiple ingredients to the top (chocolate chip, candy cane, marshmallows, coconut) to give them some flair.

I only created two different stirrers: a chocolate and a peanut butter. You melt chocolate and peanut butter chips in a bowl and then dip your spoon (plastic) into the melted goodness. Put on a sheet of wax paper and quickly add your extras before it cools!

We (because we made these when Sam and Scott were in town, so she helped!) put marshmallows and Hershey's candy cane kisses (zested, ha) on the chocolate spoons. To the peanut butter spoons, we added mini chocolate chips (it makes the spoon look like a chocolate chip cookie)!

After making the spoons and letting them harden in the refrigerator, it was time to package. I cut off the top of a Ziploc bag to get started.

I added three spoons to each package and tied with a string of jute.

Add this to a cute mug filled with packages of instant hot cocoa and you are all set!

I actually made some extras to keep at my house and they are deliciousss when stirred in with some hot cocoa!

See where I link up: Blog Hop @ Naptime Review, Tips & Tricks @ Stringtown Home, What I Whipped Up Wednesday @ Sugar and Dots, Craft-O-Manic Monday @ Craft-O-Manic, Link Party @ Uncommon, Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts, Show Me What Ya Got Linky Party @ Not JUST A Housewife, {Wow Me Wednesday} @ Ginger Snap Crafts, Link Party @ Destination: Craft, The Creative Spark @ Clean & Scentsible, Before & After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Weekend Wrap-Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello, What I Wore Wednesday @ The Pleated Poppy 

Make: Fleece Scarves with Flower Pin

Now that the time of giving gifts is over, I can share the gifts that I made for others this Christmas!

First up: fleece scarves with a flower pin

I found this tutorial on Pinterest that was SO easy and they turn out super cute in the end! In the tutorial, she used felt, but I said why not fleece? I would give step by step instructions, but her tutorial explains it better than I could!

Basically cut your fabric into a longgg strip (for the main scarf part). The only sewing that is required is for the buttons (which I will show you in a second). Cut two slits for the button holes. Cut out petals (however many you want) to build a flower. Assemble the pieces on a circle cut out. Hot glue the petals together and hot glue a pin to the back. Voila!

How the pins look from the front and the back (the beauty to homemade things is that there will be "imperfections" but that is what makes them original)! You can't get too OCD about it, although I did get pretty close!

Now, for how to wear it:

Wrap the scarf around your neck twice, floof (yes that's a word) it to your liking, and button (I promise there are buttons, I guess I just didn't take a picture of them).

Add the flower pin to the side of the scarf and you are done!

I made four: this beige color for my friend that works with me, a mustard yellow for my sister in law, a blue for my mother in law, and a rust orange for my mom. I hope they like them as much as I do!

See where I link up: Blog Hop @ Naptime Review, Tips & Tricks @ Stringtown Home, What I Whipped Up Wednesday @ Sugar and Dots, Craft-O-Manic Monday @ Craft-O-Manic, Link Party @ Uncommon, Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts, Show Me What Ya Got Linky Party @ Not JUST A Housewife, {Wow Me Wednesday} @ Ginger Snap Crafts, Link Party @ Destination: Craft, The Creative Spark @ Clean & Scentsible, Before & After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Weekend Wrap-Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello, What I Wore Wednesday @ The Pleated Poppy 

2011 Recap

I am jumping on the blogger bandwagon and doing a recap of my 2011 blog posts. I will be sharing the top post from each month (the post that received most comments, which, lets be honest, is like one or two... people, we all like getting comments)!

January
I shared about how disturbingly cold it was in Texas... 21 degree mornings, not okay with this Southern girl. Also, Oliver got a haircut and it was super adorable :)

February
I shared that my Kinder students were learning about duration of time and I posted their morning/afternoon/night timelines.

March
I joined a linky party that shared photo tours of classrooms: here's a wideshot of my classroom from last year!

April
Yes, another classroom post (hooray for teachers who share comments)! We were learning about the GREAT state of Texas and I shared all of the fun activities we did (created Texas animals, made a Texas book with our state symbols, created our state flag, and we even sampled Texas foods and graphed what we liked better)!

May
No picture for this post (I guess I was a bit busy in May and didn't share pictures...) but I posted about a stomach bug I had from one of my Kinder kiddos: this one student passed on a bug to me and eventually seven other kids!

June
We had a Pinterest Party! Wahoo (again, no photo)! We all shared each other's boards in the comment section so we could click and follow one another. Missed out on the fun? Leave your link in the comments section so you can get some new friends on Pinterest!

July
I shared my favorite thing (organizational-wise) about being a teacher, which is... labeling! Everything must have a label (and in a cute font too)! Many of you shared your favorite things in the comment section!

August
I shared my new classroom layout for the upcoming school year. Lots of photos in this one!

September
I shared some fashion inspiration I found via Pinterest for the fall weather: yay for boots and sweaters!

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October

I received the Liebster blogger award from Kristen over at Life with the Ellwoods! So I awarded this to five bloggers myself!

November
I shared this AMAZING Lemon Crinkle Cookie recipe I found via Pinterest that we made for the Thanksgiving holiday. These are so good and yummy!

December
I shared my new winter coat that I received for my birthday from my parents. So warm and toasty, yet fashionable!

2011 was pretty full and a lot of crazy/whack things happened in it... BUT I am so very much looking forward to 2012! A new job position for Nate, finishing up the year with my Kinders, plus we have THREE weddings of close friends to attend... it's looking to be a great year!

Happy Birthday to Us!

Happy birthday to me (the 26th) (and Nate, the 22nd): we usually have a joint birthday celebration since we are with Nate's family on his birthday and with my family on mine. Two birthday celebrations? Don't mind if I do!

Nate, me, my sister in law (Claire), and my brother (Michael): we had dinner at Benihana, which has THE best filet mignon ever!

 The December birthday babies

 The kids with my mom

 The kids with my dad

 Me and Pops :)

 My broseph and I

Afterward, we headed back to the house for some cookie cake (a tradition since Nate and I started dating) and Sam and Scott, the newly engaged couple (!!!!) joined us!

Happpyyyy birthday!

So blessed and grateful, ready to see what 2012 has to offer! Bring it, bringggg it on! :)

Merry Christmas!

 God bless us, everyone :)

Remember the reason for the season: the celebration of a little baby being born.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:10-12

A baby who was sent by His Father to live a sinless life, yet died as a man in order to rescue the world from death and separation from God.

Thank You, Father, for this beautiful gift.

Thank You for Your Son.

Thank You for Christmas.

Be with those of us who often get rushed by the hustle and bustle of the season, and that we may continually be reminded of this birth and precious gift all throughout the year. Be with those of us who continually question how we could be given such grace and mercy: we do not deserve these gifts at all, but through You, we are healed. Thank You for Your constant love and for Your goodness. We are not worthy, but You are. As Your word says, let Your power be made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 2:19).

Thank You, Lord. Thank You!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Our Wedding

So I've been doing some blog stalking researching and there are quite a few of you that have a tab at the top of your blog for your weddings...

Well...

I wanted to join in! So check out the new tab at the top of my blog: "Our Wedding". Includes some of my favorite shots from the day and has the links to the slideshows our photographer created (which are fantastic)!

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my best friend, Nate!

I hope you have the best, most wonderful day!

You are so good to me, you take care of me, put my needs above your own: you are my absolute perfect match and I love, love, LOVE you!

Things: Christmas Wrapping Scheme

Are you like me and like to come up with a "scheme" or "theme" for your gift wrapping?

No? Just me? Okay then...

Let's check out this year's wrapping, shall we? The scheme: red and green brightness :)

Red and white striped paper with a red/green/gold glittery ribbon

Bold print of holiday words with green and red stocking ribbon

(Isn't this paper fun? from Kohl's)

The first paper with the second ribbon :) We like to mix it up at Casa de Johnson

The cutest little helpers around! For some reason, they love to cuddle in our laps when we are busy doing something, i.e. wrapping presents :)

People Helping People

Just read this post over at The Lettered Cottage: Layla shares a project her friend is starting. She is raising money for a community of roughly 500 families to have a fresh water well. It costs $10,000 and they are about halfway there.

In a season where we can stress out over buying presents for those who have plenty, consider giving (even $1!) for those who do not have as much.

Here is a link to the direct site where you can donate. Pray and prepare your hearts, God may be calling you to give back to others!

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/flowerpatchfarmgirl/shannanmartinsfundraisingpage