Well Hello — Anyone out there? It seems like everyone is busy prepping for the holidays or playing on Pinterest. So much inspiration to be had over there!
Did you have a nice weekend? It whizzed by here — as always. I had a few work friends over on Friday night for dinner. We had a “Favorite Things” party. Have you heard of them? I read about them one day, after a little blog hopping from this post. It’s based on the Oprah’s Favorite Things shows she did every holiday season. Only we don’t have an Oprah budget. Everyone brings a favorite thing, in the $5 – $10 price range for everyone else at the party. It was lots of fun to learn a little more about each other. Some of the favorite things were Thiorlo Socks (love those things! — purchased on sale to meet the budget), a box of tea and a movie ticket (“we” were her favorite thing, so “we” will all be going to a movie together soon), a Barnes and Noble gift card (books are her favorite thing but she wanted us to choose), a book from a favorite series, and a super cool travel mug.
For my favorite thing, I baked up some of my favorite cookies (as always, credit goes to Ms. Farmhouse!)
and packed them into my favorite obsession — those glass jars that are great for holding most anything. (This size is $7.50 at Wal-Mart — what a bargain!) Anyway, we had a great time and the favorite things were a really fun idea — I think everyone really enjoyed it.
Today was gingerbread making day here in ThimbleannaLand. There’s a reason they say “slow as molasses”. It took forever to get the molasses out of those bottles.
If you’ve been a reader here for awhile, you know that we have an annual gingerbread house competition in our family. I always try to get the gingerbread parts done several days in advance so they can dry out a bit.
Our competition will be on the 23rd this year. I don’t like having it so close to Christmas, but it’s the only time this year that everyone will be here. We drew the teams this past weekend. Should be interesting — it’s kind of funny that, with the exception of SweetiePie, our family of four is together on two teams.
Go Team 5!!!
I hope you’re getting all of your last minute goodies done. Have a good week!
XOXO,
Anna
Happy Christmas Anna!!!
We all look forward to your annual Gingerbread House competition. Can’t wait to see the entries this year :o) toni xxxx
My eldest daughter wants to bake gingerbread cookies for her friends this week, I’m hunting around for the best recipe.
Go go team 5!
x
I’m looking forward to seeing the gingerbread houses! I plan to ice the Christmas cake today – I cheat and use ready rolled icing! Yesterday afternoon I bottled our various Christmas drinks – as I had to have a little sip of each one to make sure it was ok, it was a wonder I was still able to make dinner!!
ps I can recommend Turkish Delight vodka!!
I love the idea of a favourite things party of small priced items! Looking forward to see the Gingerbread houses!!
That “favorite thing” party sounds like a fantastic idea. Must make a note of it for next year! Wow, quite a bit of baking is going on. Another thing I must try is making a ginger bread house. Would you believe it I never made one, ever. Do you used special molds, or do you cut the pieces from a stencil? Already looking forward to seeing the finished houses. Have fun!
Have fun with your houses Anna and I am baking those before Saturday!!!!!
*cookies
I really love your idea of giving cookies in a jar – I think I’m going to do that for a couple of teachers this year. Thanks for the inspiration – I really needed some!
I can’t wait to see what houses you come up with this year! I love reading about the fun you have with these compotitions.
Merry Christmas Anna! Can’t wait to see the gingerbread houses. I really like the idea of the glass jars. I’ll have to remember that for next year. The ‘Favorite Things’ idea is also cool.
Anna, my girls are wanting to make houses this year. Can you share your gingerbread recipe or reccomend a good one? Oh,and what do you do with all of that gingerbread when the contest is over? I’m assured by the girls that ‘none’ will go to waste. :)
Merry Christmas!! Can’t wait to see the photos from the event…Go Team 5!!!
i SO look forward to seeing yall’s gingerbread house competition every year!!! :D
What a great tradition. I can’t wait to see the results! Go Team 5!!!
Happy Holidays to your family! Love your blog! We decorated cookies with the whole family on Sunday including the 2 grandgirls..age 4 and almost 2…what fun! Lots of sprinkles hit the floor!!!
Love the idea of the Favourite Things party. And I literally cannot WAIT to see this year’s gingerbread houses!
good luck in the competition…guilty secret…ive never made a gingerbread house!!
I always look forward to your Gingerbread House contest and this year is no exception. Please don’t make us wait until AFTER Christmas for the results…please. haha.
The Favourite Things party sounds awesome. Gee, kinda makes me wish I had some friends.
Love the favourite things idea and can’t wait to see that gingerbread house. I’m very tempted to make one this year.
love your cookie presentation!
check out sweetopia’s blog …she just did a post on decorating gingerbread houses (always interesting to see how someone else interprets the decorating)…
you are really enjoying yourself!
go team 5!!!
Hi hi this looks like so much fun.
Have a merry, yummy christmas and a happy new year.
Janine
Looking forward to seeing your Gingerbread houses as always, you guys always come up with awesome designs
Oh that is the coolest idea! Love the gingerbread competition. Can’t wait to see pictures. Happy Holidays Anna.
Amber
Favorite Things – such a great idea! I’m keeping that in mind for a future party.
What a great idea! I may have to steal it. :) I am etching some of those WalMart glass jars for gifts. I might bake cookies to go inside but, if I run out of time, it will be bakery cookies. Oh, well. I can’t wait to see the gingerbread creations! It’s one of my favorite things that you share.
Oh! It’ gingerbread house building contest! I’ll be watching for the results.
Go team five!! I can’t wait and I bet the squirrels can’t either. I love the look of the cookies in the jars, so pretty.
Go Team 5!!!!!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing all the decorated houses.
Merry Christmas, Anna!!
Your cookie presentation is wonderful – I bet they were well received! Can’t wait to see the results of your annual gingerbread house competition. What a fun tradition.
how fun! I want to play! Can’t wait to see the gingerbread houses. I’m definitely getting out my molds next year and making one!
Looks like you’re having a merry time!
Looks like you are set for some wicked good competition. Can’t wait to see who rocks the house.
Merry, merry~Cassie
You always amaze and entertain me. Fun party. I’m out here but barely. Lurking but no posting.
Your cookie jar gifts were a great idea! Especially with the little Santa tags. :) Can’t wait to see the gingerbread houses!
I love seeing your annual gingerbread competition! Looking forward to seeing the houses!
GO TEAM #5!!! Take pictures of the destruction, I mean CONSTRUCTION, of houses. ;p
Merry Christmas! Go team #5!
What a fun party idea for friends, right? Sounds like you all had a good time, and I just love those jars of yours. OH good. I was just thinking, kid you not, about your gingerbread contest and wondering if you all have a theme this year and when we will see all the photos. Good luck, may your icing hold strong, your creative juices flow, and your sweet tooth lead the way to success.
Good luck with the gingerbread house competition haha! Also, every single one of the pictures you post here on the site are so good looking, do you make them yourself? They really look fantastic. Keep up the good work writing these fun articles, and wishing you a very merry christmas.
Can’t wait to see the Gingerbread houses. What a fun tradition. I’ll be happy to get some cookies made tomorrow. Wish I was at your house.
Merry Christmas.
I love those glass jars from Walmart. I love putting cookies in them for gifts too. But I can’t make those cute little santa charms. :( Just sayin. GO TEAM 5!!
love your fav. things party. great idea.
and…. GO TEAM 5!!!!!!!!!!
(P.S. i just got back from a 3 day socal roadtrip)
I’m looking forward to seeing those houses! As I was getting some last minute wrapping done in the wee hours of the night, I was wishing I had taken the time to order some Thimbleanna twine. Maybe next year I’ll be better prepared – ha ha ha.
YAHOOOOOO – so looking forward to the results of the gingerbread houses – I would love to be a mouse in the corner watching it all – shoot I would rather be right in there up to my elbows in frosting, creating :). Have fun :)
Merry Christmas, busy lady! Those cookie jars look incredible. Well done, you!