Recipe: Rice Krispie Red-Nosed Reindeer Treats

(Photo & recipe courtosy Rice Krispie.com)

Red-Nosed Reindeer Treats

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) JET-PUFFED Marshmallows
• (KICRecipeIngredient-91202)
• 4 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
• (KICRecipeIngredient-91205)
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal
• Canned frosting or decorating gel
• Food coloring
• 12 regular pretzel twists
• 12 red gum drops
• Directions:
• 1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
  
  2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
  
  3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut twelve 2 1/2-inch circles and twelve 1 1/2-inch circles. Frost the tops of the 1 1/2-inch circles.
  
  4. For each reindeer use frosting to attach one 1 1/2-inch circle, frosting side up, to each 2 1/2-inch circle. Use scraps of the cereal mixture to shape into twenty-four ears. Use frosting to attach ears to each reindeer. Break pretzel twists into pieces. Push two pretzel pieces into each for antlers. Decorate with frosting and gum drops. Best if served the same day.
  
  
  MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 through 4 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
  
  
  Notes:
  For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
  
  1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
  
  Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
  
  Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Recipe: Rice Krispie Trimmed Christmas Tree Treats

(photo & recipe courtesy of www.ricekrispies.com )

Trimmed Tree Christmas Tree Treats

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) JET-PUFFED Marshmallows
• OR
• 4 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
• OR
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal
• Canned frosting or decorating gel
• Assorted candies
• Directions:
• 1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
  
  2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
  
  3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut into Christmas trees. Decorate with frosting and/or candies. Best if served the same day.
  
  
  MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
  In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
  
  
  Note:
  
  For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
  1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
  Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
  Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Recipe: Rice Krispie Tree Trimmer Treats

(Photo & recipe courtesy of http://www.ricekrispies.com )

Tree Trimmer Treats:

Ingredients:

• 12 (6-inch lengths) red or black string licorice
• 12 JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) JET-PUFFED Marshmallows
• OR
• 4 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
• Frosting
• M&M'S® brand chocolate candies
• Directions:
• 1. Fold each licorice piece in half and push ends through centers of 12 miniature marshmallows. Set aside.
  
  2. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add 10 ounces marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
  
  3. Using 1/2-cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into 12 portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into ornament shape around licorice ends. Cool. Decorate with frosting and M&M'S® brand chocolate candies. Best if served the same day.
  
  
  MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 through 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
  
  
  Note:For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
  
  Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
  
  Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container.

Watch Santa's Reindeer

Hi all!!

Elfie here to tell you about this awesome site!

reindeercam.com

You can watch Santa's reindeer all day (and night) long!!

And every day Santa makes an appearance!!

Go on and check it out!

Share the magic with your kiddos and family.

Love always,

Elfie

(Elfie Selfies blog has no affiliation with reindeercam.com We are simply sharing because it's magic and we love to spread Christmas magic. We are not being endorsed or paid to share the awesomeness that is reindeercam.com with you. We hope you enjoy.)

Just Hanging Around

Lanie has observed that Elfie doesn't go far from the Christmas tree. On many occasions she's comment on this and expressed her hopes that Elfie would hide further from the tree. Tonight her wish came true and boy will this one stump her. Or at least I hope it will. Elfie has found himself inside one of the many paper lanterns hung in her room (from her Rapunzel stage and 4th birthday party decorations). Let's see how long it takes her to find him tomorrow. #elf #elfie #elfontheshelf #christmas #traditions #hideandseek 

Salt Dough Ornaments

There's so much you can do with salt dough,

but in this post we are going to focus on Christmas tree ornaments.

If you didn't catch our last post,

here's 2 recipes for salt dough.

We love these stamped ornaments we found at Our Lake Life

Love the stamped letters on this hand print keepsake ornament we found at blog 

Your So Martha

Another awesome ornament found at Confetti Prints

And of course you can let the kids imaginations run wild:

Found at Choices For Children

Dear Elfie

Dear Lanie,

I miss you too! I've been really busy helping Santa here at the North Pole. My job here is almost done and I will be returning to you soon. Please make sure your good and that you listen to mom and dad, do your homework, keep your room clean and be kind to everyone. See you as soon!! 

❤️ Elfie

Salt Dough Recipes

(Learn how to make these ornaments at Blog Our Lake Life)

Salt Dough is relatively cheap to make and so much fun for everyone.

There is so much you can do with salt dough.

Make hand print or foot print keepsakes.

Ornaments to hang on the tree.

You can make pretty much anything with salt dough.

The best part is that it's easy,

non-toxic,

and as I mentioned,

cheap!

Here are two easy to follow recipes to make your own salt dough:

Recipe 1:

1 cup salt

1 cup flour

1/2 cup water (may need to add more)

1) Combine salt and flour in a large bowl

2) Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the water

3) Knead until smooth and shape into a ball

4) When not using wrap in plastic or store in an air tight container

Hint: For softer dough you can add more flour. More salt will give it a granulous texture.You can color your dough using food coloring in the batter. If your going to paint it you don't need to use food color. 

Recipe 2:

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 teaspoons veggie oil

1) Combine salt and flour in a mixing bowl

2) Gradually add water until the mixture becomes elastic

3) Add veggie oil

Hint: If your dough is too sticky add more flour. If it's too crumbly add more water.

There are 2 days to cure your salt dough creations.

1) Your can let them air dry. This could take a day or two depending on the thickness of your creation. 

2) Bake at 200 degrees F. It's much faster to cure this way.

(Note: I've had a few creations get pockets of air in them and break from not using a rolling pin. Its always better if you can flatten out the air with a rolling pin so this doesn't happen to you.)

Thanksgiving Hat Crafts

Remember when you were young and made those paper hats to wear for Thanksgiving?

Well we have fond memories of them so we thought we'd share some craft ideas.

You can click on the links with more on how to make each craft.

Love this turkey day hat we found at Preparing For Peanut

Check out this tutorial on how to make a pilgrim hat we found on The Uncoordinated Mommy.

We can't forget about the bonnet! We found a great tutorial at GRKids

Thanksgiving Turkey Crafts

What we love most about this Thanksgiving Turkey is that kids write what they are thankful for on the feathers. Found this at iVillage 

We love any craft that requires hand and foot prints because they make great keepsakes that show just how little your little one was once upon a time. This great craft was found at Babble

Check out this neat turkey and many other Thanksgiving crafts at Totally Tots

This craft is on our families todo list for this year. Found at Tip Junkie

Handmade Ornament Craft Ideas

You can do/use just about anything to make an ornament.

Here's just a few super neat ideas,

Super easy craft for anyone.

You can't paint a glass or plastic bulb,

or get one already the color your wanting,

then decorate with foam stickers.

I love making ornaments with hand prints and finger prints.

They make great keepsakes.

These finger print reindeer are super adorable.

Hand print snowman 

Love the hands cut out and made into reindeer.

Super easy and fun glass bulb ornaments.

Love this for the knitter.

Salt dough ornaments are so much fun.

Salt dough or even paper

Halloween Learning Activities

Found at Child Care Land Blog,

this activity is great for fine motor skills

and counting.

I just love this Halloween activity.

Found at Teachers Pay Teachers

You can get these free worksheets at 

http://teachingfirst-abc.blogspot.com/2014/10/october-freebies-galore.html 

Found this cool worksheet on Pinterest

Elfie 3 Fun Halloween Crafts

Elf-O-Lantern found at Elf Magic

Love these candy filled Witch legs I found at Melanie Schulenberg's Blog

This would make neat Elf's legs as well!

We Love this skeleton game found at Activity Village.

Another craft that can be turned into an Elf game.

Craft: Toilet Paper Roll Elf

This toilet paper Elf is super easy,

and SUPER cute!

Found on a Google search.

Image says its from Sassy Dealz

But Google says its from Crafty Morning

Craft: Movable Elf

Here's a fun easy craft for everyone.

Make your own paper Elf with movable arms and legs.

I found this neat template over at Artist Helping Children's Blog.

I thought it was super cute.

In just a few easy steps you'll have a cute paper Elf.

1) Print out this template

2) Let the kids Color

3) Cut out the pieces

4) Use brass paper fasteners to attach the arms and legs.

 Done!

Elfie's Story

Like all Elves,

Elfie was born at the North Pole,

where he lived until Santa assigned him to a family.

Our family.

He came to us one night in December of 2013.

Our two kids were excited to meet Elfie.

They had seen the movie so knew exactly why Elfie was there.

Elfie reminded them daily to be good kids.

He moved every night,

always doing something different.

Sometimes spreading awareness,

taking selfies on my phone,

or just leaving the kids presents.

The kids got to see first hand what happened when you touch Elfie.

Elfie became very sick.

We made him a bed under the Christmas tree,

where he could rest until his friends came to take him to the North Pole for cinnamoncide.

Cinnamoncide is a very potent medicine that restore the Elves magic after they've been touched.

We cannot wait for Elfie's return after Thanksgiving.

I wonder what he's been up too.

Here's some pics from last year:

December 2013 When Elfie appeared. Sister and Brother were so excited!

Here's Elfie wearing a turquoise ribbon to spread awareness about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) what brother was born with.