by Natalie | Dec 22, 2018 | Recipes
Making gingerbread houses is a well loved tradition in many homes. Originating in Germany in the 16th century, Gingerbread Houses eventually made their way into being a Christmas activity.
The original houses were adorned with foil and gold leaf – and probably much more ornate than what we do.
Since our family was looking for Christmas activities for children, we tweaked and streamlined until gingerbread decorating was as fun and stress free as possible.
Graham Cracker Structure
It’s a common practice to use graham crackers for your gingerbread house structure. Did you know the better tasting Honeymaid brand is more brittle, making it harder to build with?
Save those expensive crackers for eating and buy a few boxes of the cheapest brand, we had best luck with the Kroger Store brand. It was a little more forgiving.
When making the roof, attach the two pieces together and let harden off of the house first. Once it’s good and firm place it on top with more frosting to hold it in place
When Preschoolers are involved you may want to build a simple structure ahead of time so they can just glue on candy. It makes the gingerbread house tradition much easier.
This year my daughter built her own, with just a little help from me, she was ecstatic.
I let my kids use as much autonomy as possible to increase creativity and problem solving skills.
The Secret to Acquiring All that Candy
There is so much sugar in our society, too much really. I started using candy from trick-or-treating in gingerbread house making to reduce the amount we are buying and eating. Read here to see how I make it acceptable for our children. 😉😅
Decorate with candy on hand.
Tricks for Cutting Edges
This little trick will make it easier to define the edges of your crackers. Beware, it does not cut straight through a cracker, a serated knife will help with that.
If you just want a smooth edge, or an angle, use scissors to trim Graham crackers for your gingerbread houses.
Using scissors to trim, cuts down on unwanted cracks and breaks.
Building base
I used to stress (a bit 😉) about cutting out carboard, wrapping it in tinfoil… This year I just said, “hey everyone if you want a tinfoil base come make it.” Then I pulled out paper plates for everyone else. 😂😂 So much easier and one less thing for me to do, I love it. ☺️
When you want something quick and easy, use a paper plate, turned upside down and a flat roof.
My son made gingerbread kids having a snowball fight, while being yelled at by the preacher. 😂 He is very committed to his chapel theme.
The Best Glue Frosting
My favorite gingerbread house frosting by far. You know it’s good frosting glue if it can dry quickly and hold pieces together.
There are several different recipes out there with varying levels of egg white, cream of tartar and powdered sugar.
Less is more with this recipe, kind of like super glue, if you put too much on it takes longer to dry.
Gingerbread House Frosting
3 Egg Whites
1 lb Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar
Beat the egg whites till frothy. Fold in powered sugar, vanilla and cream of tartar.
Place in a zip lock bags and also rubberband the top closed. Then trim a very small hole off one corner . You can always cut a larger hole later if it’s too small, but start on the small end.
And you’re good to go.
What other Gingerbread House Hacks have you tried? Share below.
What do you wish there was a hack for? 🤔
Take care and happy building.
by Natalie | Dec 14, 2018 | Personal Development
There is something magical about Candy. If a game is a bit boring, add candy and voila! It’s now a family favorite.
Which is exactly what happened to us. ☺️
When we decided play Candyland with real candy it quickly became a family tradition. You may have already read about our Candland tradition, along with our other favorite Christmas pass times.
Once I introduced this idea for Candyland, our children wanted to play with real candy all the time.
We found we needed some house rules to turn Candyland into the coolest cooperative game ever known to man.
These simple rules made the game play more smoothly, encouraging everyone along the path to King Candy. 😊
Items Needed To Get Started
affiliate links in this article are meant to create quick, easy purchases for you. I will make a small percentage on items sold at no additional cost to you.
Candyland game – we have the 2002 edition, other versions may use different candy stops
Gingerbread people – for the gingerbread tree.
Peppermint (or candy canes) – for Mr Mint
Gum drops (or fruit snacks) – for Gum Drop pass
Licorice – for Lord Licorice
PB cookies or candy – for Gramma Nutts
Lolly pops – for the Lolly Pop Forest
Frosted animal crackers or mints – for Princess Frostine
Chocolate for Gloppy in the chocolate swamp
M&M’s for King Candy’s finish line.
Why Candyland House Rules
This year when we played I realized I needed to share our ground rules. If you try out the Candyland tradition I want you to experience the game in its full glory. These additional rules keep things sane and fun.
How to Create Candyland Anticipation
Only do it once a year – for two reasons, scarcity- it keeps it special and reason two – time, who has the time to constantly get all the right candies? Am I right? Just tell your kids it’s for their own good, you love them so much you want to keep some traditions special.
No Hard Feelings or Whining
Start with the reminder that no one gets upset. Since this is for fun and to bond as a family, being upset kind of ruins it if anyone is whining. A simple reminder usually gets everyone on the same page, kids and adults.
Candy at Every Stop
One piece of candy for passing the candy image and two pieces if you land right on it. If you get sent back all the more time to gather candy.
Candyland Time Limit
Set a time limit, like 10 minutes, 15 if you’re brave. Remember, it’s still a simple game and kids start to get anxious about getting to the top where the M&M’s and stack of chocolate sticks are. A time limit helps kids stay focused.
How to Split up the Leftovers After a Game of Candyland
Setting a time limit means there’s usually still candy on the board. We split up the rest by taking turns one piece at a time (usually trying to go as fast as we can) until its all gone. This way players get to take the candies they like most and the game ends on a high note.
Pre – game set up
Gingerbread men
Since I’m pretty passionate about this whole candy authenticity thing 😉, we usually make gingerbread men earlier (like the week before). Then save some for gingerbread houses and some for the game.
Because you need to something to collect when you pass the gingerbread tree, it’s important.
Peanut butter candy
We make peanut butter candy for the Gramma Nutt stop. You can also just purchase or make peanut butter cookies.
The rest
Any other Candyland bliss, I buy at the store or you can following the affiliate links above for easy purchases.
Have a great time playing and Merry Christmas! ❤️🎄🤗
by Natalie | Dec 7, 2018 | Personal Development
Traditions can be the perfect glue that brings families together during the holidays. Providing anticipation in a mutually enjoyed event and peace in a well refined routine.
The best way to make traditions that fit the role of bringing loved ones together, is first to pick events that everyone enjoys (for the most part) and second the understanding that traditions can outlive their usefulness. There may come a time that you need to lay a well loved tradition to rest, but it’s ok, you can pick others that fit your new situation in life and move forward.
Today I want to share our well loved Christmas traditions in case you are looking for something else to add or try. Please don’t feel like you should do all or any of them. But I hope you will find something that inspires a family gathering.
Ours basically revolves around the advent calendar and started with the desire to not have everything be candy or a toy. I began to look for events or activities that the kids could open and be excited for.
The Christmas pajamas
We switched up the well loved tradition of pj’s on Christmas Eve and started giving them the first day of December instead. I mean kids grow fast and they need pj’s, I want them to wear Christmas themed for at least a month before it’s out of season (who am I kidding, they wear them all year anyway 😁).
Seeing Santa
This has required alot of flexibility through moving and kids getting older. While we have spent our time in long, insane lines, we have found it really adds to holiday angst and definitely does not increase family bonding. If we see a long Santa line we run the other way.
Thankfully we have found a beautiful old frontier Christmas near by with a quick visit to Santa, handbell choir or orchestra and serving of hot chocolate, every member of our family is happy.
I absolutely love it!
This year the park also told Christmas stories by the fire in an old frontier cabin. It was a perfect way to start off the season.
Gingerbread cookies
I spent a number of years being frustrated with my kids for playing with the cookie dough and making it tough. By reminding myself why we have traditions, I decided to give each child their own portion of dough and let them create to their hearts content. I reserved a portion for myself to make nice soft cookies. All frustration is gone and cookie making is fun for everyone.
There are a few community events we let come and go depending on our desire to leave the house. These range anywhere from art projects at the museum to hearing Handel’ s Messiah. My advice here, make sure traditions aren’t causing more stress by purposefully leave room to let some things slide.
Candy Land with real candy
While this was my brain child, can I really take credit for something that is practically begging to be done? It’s called Candyland for a reason and has been one of our absolute favorites. I track down all the candy one might pass on their way to King Candy and place it on the board, we all take turns collecting gingerbread men, PB cookies, candy canes, chocolate, gum drops, twizzlers, mints, lolly pops and M&M’s.
You can find the Candyland – with real candy – Ground Rules here.
Ride the Polar Express
This is the easiest, and newest tradition. I don’t know how long it will stay, but for now it’s a winner. When the kids open the advent calendar they each get a ticket to ride the Polar Express. Our son has seriously taken his ticket to school in his pocket and kept it with him all day, to make sure it doesn’t get lost. Add a hot chocolate bar and you are the most awesome parents around.
My husband makes the tickets and punches them once the movie begins.
Visit a Live Nativity
Many year ago, we were invited to attend a live nativity. It turned out we were the last car before a shift change and everyone slowly walked behind our car as we passed. We figured they were just changing shifts, but it felt like we were being surrounded by zombies. It was so funny we’ve kept going. 😂😂
Of course with the move we couldn’t find a live one near by, but we did find a Creche exhibit that is nice and I enjoy seeing all the different art forms.
Gingerbread houses
If you’ve read my other posts, you may know we save the over abundance of our kids’ Halloween candy to make gingerbread houses. I love this for two reasons, the kids still get candy, just not at much and it saves money.
Win win. 😊
See the lights
While driving around to see the lights we found it was easier to keep our kids focused and enjoying the lights if they had a goal. So before we start we let everyone pick which lit up item they are going to count, with the goal being to pick the item that has the most that year. It might be snow flakes, Santa Clause or candy canes. It makes it very exciting as all the kids are searching for their item.
Family nativity re-enactment
This has been one of my favorites, especially when the kids were younger. I’m a little sad that this may be one we outgrow soon, it doesn’t seem to be as tender when the older kids are acting it out. They are more silly and it’s best to just read the story by that point.
Homemade presents
Also one of my favorites because we love to make things. We each draw a family member’s name and make a gift for them. The gifts are usually very creative and the first to be opened Christmas morning. Go here for more homemade present ideas.
Illustrated Nativity Book
This one doesn’t happen every year, just when we feel like it, but the kids love to see how their art work has progressed. We write a simple story of Christ being born and let the kids illustrate each page. We then laminate pages, give it an official cover etc. and gift copies to grandparents.
I’m sure as the years pass we’ll add a few more traditions to replace the ones that need to go. But for the time being, I’m loving where we’re at.
Please share some of your well loved traditions. Or what is a tradition you’ve always wanted to try?
by Natalie | Oct 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
This will be short and sweet – it’s just candy. There are so many ideas on what to do with all the Halloween candy. A little candy is ok, but Halloween can so easily put us over the sugar edge.
There are several ideas out there, send it to the military, sell it to your dentist or buy it from your children yourself.
I had a different idea. Decorate gingerbread houses!
A few years back, to help our children monitor their sugar intake, I started giving them a sandwich bag. Any and all candy that could fit in that bag they could keep. They could eat it all at once or savor it one piece at a time. Either way, I didn’t have to worry about sugar over-exposure.
When we make ginger-bread houses, sometimes we buy a small amount of Christmas candy, but usually we just use the Halloween stuff. These examples are pretty un-glamorous, but it is what it is, this is the reality of our gingerbread houses 😂.
Ok in our defense, we’ve had better ones, but I can’t find the pictures.
You’ll just have to take my word.
What do you do with your kids’ extra candy? Share below.
by Natalie | Jul 12, 2018
ALL the projects that I have completed and documented. Here’s what I have so far.
Kitchen Projects
Basement Projects
Furniture Projects
Energy Efficient Projects
Outdoor Projects
Personal Development
Recipes
Desserts
Christmas
Halloween
Birthdays
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