SweeterThanSweets

Care Bear Birthday Cake and Rainbow Cupcakes (Little Sweets turns 3!)

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:21:00 +0000

Our "baby" girl turned 3 recently, and I have to share a few photos from her special day! Her favorite books right now are the Care Bears books (the old school ones that were mine when I was little) so she wanted me to make her a Care Bear cake. Here it is!

It was interesting trying to transform the Wilton Care Bear cake pan (which was one of the new Care Bears) to Wish Bear from the old books. Little Sweets' favorite color is blue so I wanted to make a blue Care Bear... the other options were Grumpy Bear and Bedtime Bear, hence our choice to make Wish Bear!

And on to the cupcakes, which made because there were a lot of people coming to the party and we needed more cake. Here's a close-up shot of them, inspired by a Pinterest find!

The candy rainbows are Airheads Xtremes (rainbow berry sour candy). I found them in the Dollar Spot at Target--one package was enough for 24 cupcakes (cut them in half). If you're going to make these, wait until you're just about to serve them before adding the rainbows. I used homemade buttercream frosting and it worked well because the frosting hardened a bit and could hold them up better.

For the favors, I made some rainbow candy lollipops. I bought the candy mold from a local craft store and painted in the rainbows with those candy melts you get from craft stores.

Happy Birthday to our Little Sweets!

my Christmas present to myself (and my family and God)

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:45:00 +0000

I'm giving myself a blogging vacation for Christmas! I need to re-focus on what Christmas is all about and enjoy time with my family away from the computer.

I feel like God has really been working on my perspective lately in my alone time, in my conversations with my Sweets, and through a book called Crazy Love that our Sunday school class is reading right now. I want to share a little bit about that with you and how it affects this blog.

I used to try to make time to read the Bible and/or pray in the mornings, and now I find myself waking up and getting on the computer right away. I want to see what's happening in Blogland, check my Google Analytics stats and RSS subscription numbers, browse Pinterest, read through emails, etc. My priorities have obviously shifted and I don't think it's for the better.

When I stop to think about all the ways I could be spending my time, I want my choices to please God. I know that it is entirely possibly to blog for the glory of God, and I hope that some of the things I've done on this blog (like this or this) have made God happy.

I also want my choices to honor my family. We have made sacrifices for me to be a stay-at-home-mom. I want to prove that decision right and I humbly confess to you that I may do all the SAHM things (cook, craft, love), but I'm not good at just being with Little Sweets. As she gets older, I want her to remember that her mommy spent quality time with her and didn't "just a minute" her all the time.

I am also refocusing some of my time to be more intentional about teaching Little Sweets. I'm pre-preschool-homeschooling. Is that a thing? =) I've collected tons of ideas on my Preschool at Home board and I'm starting slowly. It's so exciting to see the tangible rewards of what I invest in her.

So I'm taking a step back from blogging.

I'm not going to delete or disown my blog... I'll probably be back to post things here and there. I'm definitely keeping up with my Etsy business for the reasons I mentioned here. But you won't be hearing from me as often on my blog.

If you want to find projects that have been popular on my blog thus far, please check out My Gallery!

Thank you to all my awesome readers and followers who have encouraged me, taught me and given me more confidence in my life!

Are you giving yourself anything for Christmas?

Christmas Shopping at SweeterThanSweets

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:39:00 +0000

Anyone considering purchasing Christmas gifts from my Etsy shop, SweeterThanSweets?

This Thursday, December 15th will be the last day to order to guarantee Christmas delivery (for U.S. customers). My shop will be closing starting on December 18th so I can spend more time with my family this Christmas.

What to buy, you wonder?

Shoe Clips for Women and Girls

Boutique Burp Cloths for Baby Boys and Baby Girls

Mini Felt Fascinators for Women and Girls

Hooded Towel Sets for Babies, Toddlers & Kids

Hair Pins for Women

Headbands for Women and Girls

Appliqued Clothing for Girls and Boys

Also in my shop: Hair Clips/Bows and Gift Sets. Want a coupon code? There's always one available to my Facebook Fans, just look for "Coupon Code"in the left margin.

Thanks for considering shopping at SweeterThanSweets this Christmas!

Loan and re-loan money to entrepreneurs around the world with Kiva.org

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Have you ever heard of Kiva.org?

I learned about Kiva a few years ago, when one of my sisters (who runs this Etsy shop) suggested that all our siblings donate money to the charity Kiva instead of giving each other Christmas gifts. What a way to celebrate what Christmas is truly about!

Through Kiva, you can loan as little as $25 to an entrepreneur in one of 60 countries. The entrepreneur will pay you back over time, which means that you can re-loan that $25 again and again. Your gifts are literally multiplied! How cool is that?

When I opened my Etsy shop, I decided that I wanted 10% of the profits to go to a charity. I chose Kiva as the charity because fundamentally, Etsy sellers and Kiva entrepreneurs are all doing the same thing: using our God-given gifts to help financially support our families and to enrich the lives of others. It's a perfect match!

We have donated $143 since opening my Etsy shop. (I say "we" because my past customers are partnering with me in these donations...whether they know it or not!) As loans are repaid, I re-loan the money, which means that we have been able to loan $200 total so far. There is $129 still being repaid and that will be re-loaned as well, which will bring the grand total of money loaned to $329 for an investment of $143.

You can choose who you lend to based on country, gender and type of business. I've chosen to loan to entrepreneurs in Cambodia, Iraq, Mexico, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Pakistan. They are operating businesses in the health, clothing, retail and arts sectors.

So to all of my past customers, thank you for partnering with me to help support entrepreneurs around the world!

To see other Etsy sellers who also support Kiva, click here for Team Kiva.

If you're interested in learning more about Kiva or want to donate now, click here for Kiva's website.

(This is not a sponsored post--I just love what Kiva does and wanted to share it with you!)

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins (from scratch) - Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:48:00 +0000

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Who needs a family's-in-town breakfast recipe? Blueberry Muffins from scratch are the perfect treat during the holidays... filling, crowd-pleasing and (mostly) healthy. Time to use up your stash of late-summer blueberries in the freezer!

When my mom and her sisters were young, they would go to a department store in Boston, Massachusetts called Jordan Marsh where they sold Blueberry Muffins. Somehow, someone got the recipe and the rest is history.

If you've never had blueberry muffins made from scratch, just you wait. These are so yummy and you definitely won't miss that sugary crumb topping that I usually love so much on (store-bought) blueberry muffins.

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

(Click here to download printable .pdf file)

Ingredients

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup milk

2 cups blueberries

nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease muffin pan or line with paper baking cups.

In a small bowl, stir flour and baking powder together. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.

Beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition.

Fold in blueberries (if frozen, toss with 2-3 tsp. flour from the measured amount to keep them from sinking and leaking) and nuts.

Pour or scoop dough into muffin pan (dough will be thick). Bake for 30 minutes until gorgeous and golden.

Craving more yummy creations? Check out my other recipes here!

Advent Calendar to teach the True Story of Christmas - start today!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

It's December 1st... time to start your Advent Calendar to teach kids the True Story of Christmas!

It won't take too long to gather the supplies if you already have an Advent Calendar, so go check it out and get started a few days late if you have to!

I bought my advent calendar with boxes from Hobby Lobby for less than $10 and decorated it using Skip To My Lou's free printable numbers (with help from Photoshop).

Do you want to make your own Advent Calendar? Check out Tip Junkie's DIY Advent Calendar Roundup or search OnePrettyThing for tons of great ideas! Here's one way to make it from Adventures of a DIY Mom!

Our cruise to the Bahamas: Celebrating 10 years of marriage!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:20:00 +0000

We just got home from our first cruise! We celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary, which fell on Thanksgiving this year.

We enjoyed a delicious bottle of wine on our anniversary which we had bought on our 5-year anniversary in Napa Valley, California and saved for this special occasion! (In case you're wondering, it was V. Sattui Cabernet Sauvignon from 2004.)

Little Sweets enjoyed her special window seat in our cabin. I freaked out right after I took this picture--I saw dolphins playing in the water while we were still in the port in Charleston, South Carolina! One of her favorite parts of each day was coming back to our cabin after dinner to discover what animal the housekeepers had made from towels. The monkey hanging from the ceiling was definitely a favorite!

Okay, now on to the photos you all want to see: the Bahamas! Our first port was Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. We went snorkeling and I didn't bring my camera so I don't have any photos from that day.

In our second and last port, Nassau, we got an awesome tour of the island. We had lunch at Compass Point and it was definitely the most colorful place I've ever seen!

The water there was so beautiful. I could've eaten every meal of the cruise with this view.

I couldn't resist walking around the property and taking photos.

Our last day of the cruise ended with a beautiful display of God's creativity...

...a rainbow on one side of the ship:

...and a sunset on the other side:

God is good and He has blessed us so much in the past 10 years of marriage. It was so fun to be able to celebrate this milestone with our little family!

Handmade Christmas Shopping Guide: My Favorite Etsy Shops

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:03:00 +0000

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Are you buying Handmade for Christmas this year?

Acrylic Laser Cut Ring by CABfayre

I do a lot of shopping and browsing on Etsy, so I thought that on this Cyber Monday, I'd share with you a Handmade Christmas Shopping Guide with some of my favorite Etsy shops:

For the Artsy Ones:

For the Ones Who Travel:

For the Ones Who Decorate:

For the Ones Who Eat:

For the Ones Who Love Fashion:

For the Little Ones:

(You didn't think I'd leave myself out did you?)

For the Ones Who Love Vintage:

(not handmade, but hand-picked!)

For the Ones Who Already Have Everything Else:

Time to get shopping!

Cyber Monday Sale at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy: Going on now!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:10:00 +0000

Just in case you forgot (ha!)... today is Cyber Monday!

Today only, use code cybermondayetsy at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy for 20% off your entire purchase (not including shipping).

Hooded Towel Sets for Babies, Toddlers & Kids

Check back here later today for a Handmade Christmas Shopping Guide!

Black Friday sale at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy: Going on now!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Don't forget today's Black Friday Sale at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy!

Boutique Burp Cloths for Baby Boys and Baby Girls

TODAY, use code blackfridayetsy at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy for 20% off your entire purchase (not including shipping).

Can't decide what to get today? Come back on Monday and use code cybermondayetsy at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy for 20% off your entire purchase (not including shipping).

10 years ago today...

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

10 years ago today...

I married my best friend, the perfect match for me, the man God made for me, the love of my life, my hero.

Happy Anniversary, my Sweets!

Greeting Card by sarahevillustration

And Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:18:00 +0000

Get ready for some Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales on Etsy this weekend! Now's the time to start your Christmas shopping if you haven't already.

Source: Salvatore Vuono

On Black Friday, use code blackfridayetsy at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy for 20% off your entire purchase (not including shipping).

On Cyber Monday, use code cybermondayetsy at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy for 20% off your entire purchase (not including shipping).

What to buy, you wonder?

Boutique Burp Cloths for Baby Boys and Baby Girls

Mini Felt Fascinators for Girls and Women

Headbands for Girls and Women

Shoe Clips for Women and Girls

Appliqued Clothing for Girls and Boys

Hooded Towel Sets for Babies, Toddlers & Kids

Also in my shop: Hair Clips/Bows, Gift Sets and Hair Pins for Women.

I'm going to be restocking my shop with more hooded towels ASAP since I've sold so many recently. Check back in early December!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and don't forget to swing by SweeterThanSweets on Etsy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to use your 20% off coupon codes!

Fall Foliage in New England

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

It's Autumn! I was just browsing through some old pictures and found these from a trip we took to Massachusetts and Connecticut several years ago in the fall. It's amazing to see all the colors of God's creation!

The first four are from Boston and Cambridge:

Anyone on my mom's side of the family will recognize this last photo, which has a sentimental meaning to me (and probably to them, too).

It was taken near my grandparent's farm in Connecticut. I have so many good memories of times spent with my siblings and cousins exploring the woods, walking to the cemetery with the big lion statues, climbing on the giant rocks, and playing in the brook.

It was great to see all those cousins, aunts and uncles a couple of weekends ago when we celebrated my Grandma's 90th birthday in Arizona. We'll be back in 10 years, Gram!

(Linking up to Kanelstrand blog's Through the Looking Glass project.)

Advent Calendar: Teach the True Story of Christmas (Tutorial)

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

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How do you teach your kids the True Story of Christmas in the midst of all the talk about Santa Claus, candy canes and shopping malls?

How about making an advent calendar where instead of eating a piece of chocolate, kids open a box to find a Bible passage and a piece of the Story of Christmas?

(Sound familiar? Check out my homemade Resurrection Eggs for Easter.)

This tutorial is going to walk you through what to put in your advent calendar, and almost every piece of the Story is going to be things you already have around your house.

This would also be a great craft to do with a group (MOPs, craft night, family gathering, etc.)!

The best part is that this is a hands-on learning experience to help kids remember the different parts of the Story... You'll teach your kids the true Story of Christmas without spending much, if any, money.

They won't want to wait to see what's in the next box!

Here's what you need:

(scour your junk drawers, toy chests and craft supplies before you spend any money)

Advent Calendar with numbers 1-25 and small storage for each date

Bible passage for each day (the whole passage or just the reference - printable version with full passages available here)

angel wings (from craft store)

two gold rings (from craft store)

shrunken sheet music or music notes

piece of white satin or organza or guardian angel

cross

bridge or string

Star of David, house or chain

donkey or horse

lion or piece of purple cloth

baby (from craft store)

piece of soft cloth

peace sign

piece of wool or shepherd's staff

pieces of straw, hay or dead grass

many gold "halos" (brass rings from craft store)

bells

dirt or rocks

heart (sticker, embellishment, etc.)

the name Jesus (typed or written out)

two doves or feathers

googly eyes or Mr. Potato Head eyes

small book or scroll (rolled up paper tied with string)

crown, rhinestones, jewels, throne or piece of purple cloth

star (sticker, embellishment, etc.)

three gift boxes (from craft store)

Be creative when finding the items to represent each part of the Story... these are just my ideas but yours may be better. Here's a closeup (click on photo for even bigger closeup):

Each day you'll open a box and read the Bible verses related to the Story. Bible verses or references can be in the box with the item or kept separate. Explain how the item in the box relates to that Bible passage to give kids a hands-on understanding of what the Story is all about. If you also go over the previous days' verses each day, on December 25th, you'll read the entire story all the way through.

I chose to go through the Christmas Story mostly in order from Matthew 1-2 and Luke 2, with a few relevant Old Testament prophecies interspersed. Feel free to rearrange the pieces of the Story to your liking (another way to do this is to find the baby Jesus on the 25th instead of the gift boxes). All verses here are from the New International Version. I added [brackets] to give better context with names.

Now on to the Greatest Story Ever Told!

(Click here to download a printable version of the advent calendar items, what they represent and the Bible passages.)

1. Angel wings (Angel Gabriel)
Luke 1:26-28, 31
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you… You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.’”

2. Two gold rings (Engagement)
Matthew 1:18
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”

3. Sheet music or music notes (Mary’s Song)
Luke 1:46-55
“And Mary said:
     ‘My soul glorifies the Lord
          and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
     for he has been mindful
          of the humble state of his servant.
     From now on all generations will call me blessed,
        for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.
     His mercy extends to those who fear him,
          from generation to generation.
     He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
          he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
     He has brought down rulers from their thrones
          but has lifted up the humble.
     He has filled the hungry with good things
          but has sent the rich away empty.
     He has helped his servant Israel,
          remembering to be merciful
     to Abraham and his descendants forever,
          even as he said to our fathers.’”

4. White satin or organza or Guardian Angel pin (Angel)
Matthew 1:20
“…an angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”

5. Cross (Salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice)
Matthew 1:21
“‘[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’”

6. Bridge or string (Jesus bridged the gap between Heaven/God and earth/humanity)
Matthew 1:22-23
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us.’”
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

7. Star of David, house or chain (House and line/chain of David, Jesus’ genealogy)
Luke 2:4
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to house and line of David.”

8. Donkey or horse (Journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem)
Luke 2:5
“[Joseph] went [to Bethlehem] to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

9. Lion or purple cloth (Lion represents house of Judah, Purple indicates royalty)
Micah 5:2
“‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
     though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
     one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
     from ancient times.’”

10. Baby (Baby Jesus)
Luke 2:6-7
“While they were [in Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, and [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a son…”

11. Piece of soft cloth (Swaddling blanket)
Luke 2:7
“…[Mary] wrapped [Jesus] in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

12. Peace sign (Jesus is Prince of Peace)
Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born,
     to us a son is given,
     and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
     Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

13. Wool or shepherd’s staff (Sheep and shepherds)
Luke 2:8-11
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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.’”

14. Pieces of straw, hay or dead grass (Manger)
Luke 2:12
“‘This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’”

15. Many gold “halos” (Multitude of angels)
Luke 2:13-14
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
     ‘Glory to God in the highest;
          and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’”

16. Bells (Spreading the word and carrying the message to others)
Luke 2:15-18
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

17. Dirt or rocks (Kneeling on the ground – our right response to Jesus as God)
Psalm 95:6
“Come, let us bow down in worship,
     let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God
     and we are the people of his pasture,
     the flock under his care.”

18. Heart (The emotions of Mary as Jesus' earthly mother)
Luke 2:19-20, 33-35
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”
… “The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about [Jesus]. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’”

19. The name Jesus (The name Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means “the Lord saves”)
Luke 2:21
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.”

20. Two doves or feathers (Sacrifice of doves by Joseph and Mary, Holy Spirit like a dove at his baptism later in life)
Luke 2:22-24
“When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”
Luke 3:21-22
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”

21. Googly eyes or Mr. Potato Head eyes (Revelation of Jesus as Christ the Savior to Simeon and to all people)
Luke 2:25-32
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
     ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
          you now dismiss your servant in peace.
     For my eyes have seen your salvation,
          which you have prepared in sight of all people,
     a light for revelation to the Gentiles
          and for glory to your people Israel.’”

22. Small book or scroll (The wisdom and knowledge of the Magi)
Matthew 2:1
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.”

23. Crown, rhinestones, jewels, throne or purple cloth (Jesus is King of Kings)
Matthew 2:1-2
“… Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’”

24. Star (Star that the Magi followed)
Matthew 2:9-10
“After [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

25. Three gift boxes (Gifts from the Magi to Jesus)
Matthew 2:11
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

And that is the True Story of Christmas, the one that we need to teach our children.

Hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did putting it together. May God be glorified this Christmas and every day!

How to generate your own QR Codes: Tutorial (and what is a QR Code?)

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:48:00 +0000

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You've seen these QR Codes popping up everywhere, right?

I just got an iPhone 4S so I definitely scan those codes to see what I've been missing.

(If you're wondering what QR Codes are, they're images that you scan using smart phones with built-in cameras. When you scan the image, you are taken to a website, email, phone number or whatever else the advertiser wants to share with you. Think of it as an opt-in marketing strategy.)

Well, drumroll please... now you can make them yourself! Link to your blog, your Etsy shop, your Facebook page, whatever you want. I first learned about this here and I got straight to work!

It pretty much can't get any easier. Go to the QR Code Generator website here. Select the type of data (web site, email address, social media, etc.), then input your url of choice. Choose a different color other than black if desired, then click Download Image! That simple.

Wondering which app to use to scan these codes? See the recommendations at the end of this article. I'm using QRafter since it's free.

Here are how mine turned out:

You can scan them right there on your computer screen or you can print them out and use them on printed material.

I'm thinking about signs for craft shows, coupon codes, business cards, ads in local stores... how are you going to use your QR Codes?

Shoe Clips: Now on sale at SweeterThanSweets on Etsy!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

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Shoe Clips are here, just in time for Christmas!

I just added a new line to my shop, SweeterThanSweets on Etsy: shoe clips! These are such a fun way to add some color to your basic flats, heels or sandals.

They attach to your shoes by small alligator clips, so they could actually be used as hair clips, too. Or clip them on to your favorite purse, scarf or hat and accessorize your accessories! =)

Here's a closer look at the three different styles that are on sale now in my shop:

Felt Hand-Sewn Flowers ($12 per set):

Rolled Fabric Flowers ($10 per set):

Satin Flowers ($14 per set):

See how nicely the third pair matches the Peacock and Pearls Hair Pin available in my shop?)

These shoe clips are great, inexpensive Christmas gifts for little girls, teens/tweens, and grown-ups (including you!).

I've got another new line that will be added to SweeterThanSweets on Etsy soon... stay tuned!

90 years old and Veteran's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:30:00 +0000

A BIG Happy Birthday to my Gramma, who turns 90 tomorrow!

And thank you to all who have served or are serving our nation's military (and to their Families, too). Happy Veteran's Day!

POW-MIA Flag & American Flags Photograph by dvtwist

Enjoy the weekend!

How to burn your RSS Feed and set up Subscribe by Email - Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:55:00 +0000

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I finally figured out (with help from other bloggers' tutorials) how to burn my RSS feed and get email subscriptions set up the way all the cool kids do. And I'm going to share it with you so you can do it, too!

Now you can subscribe to my blog via email! See the box in the right sidebar underneath all my *awesome Followers? (*hint, hint... Click here to follow SweeterThanSweets!)

Okay now go on and type in your email address so you can get all my posts delivered to your inbox. It's that easy! My favorite part about the email is that the photos show up even bigger than what you're seeing here on my blog. Here's a little sneak peek of what the email looks like:

I've been blogging for 10 months now and until a a short while ago, I knew only the basics about an RSS feed. Previously, I had my RSS feed link to the default url: http://howsweeteritis.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss or http://howsweeteritis.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=atom (change the text in blue to your blog's name if you want to see your default feed).

Now when you click on the RSS icon over on my sidebar, it redirects you to my burned RSS feed, http://feeds.feedburner.com/sweeterthansweets so you can subscribe in your reader of choice if you'd rather not get emails.

If you have your own blog but are completely confused by all this "RSS/burning your feed" talk (like I was a few weeks ago!) here are some tutorials from more tech-savvy people than me. (Remember how I told you how little tech speak I know?) Note: Go through these tutorials in the order provided.

What is RSS?

Technie Mania's RSS Guide for Beginners

FeedBurner FAQ from Google

Now burn that feed!

Technie Mania's Guide to Burning your Feed

or see Lauren Wayne's article on using FeedBurner (specifically, the How section)

another option: this YouTube video tutorial by MsIleneSpeaks

My feed is burned. Now how do I use it?

KludgyMom's overview of how to use FeedBurner (see especially the Publicize section regarding setting up emails)

Lauren Wayne's advanced guide to using FeedBurner (the last part of section #1 regarding Twitter is very helpful)

What is "reach"?

Contentious.com's explanation of what Reach really means

FeedBurner for WordPress

Solutions for WordPress provides instructions for WordPress bloggers

If you know of another helpful tutorial or have any other questions, I'd love to hear from you in the comments. And don't forget to sign up for an email subscription to SweeterThanSweets! =)

Alice in Wonderland Halloween costume

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:09:00 +0000

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10 Tricky Treats to make this Halloween (Creepy Halloween Party Food!)

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:39:00 +0000

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My mom always makes the coolest food for her office holiday parties. She's very creative and an awesome cook! This week, she emailed me the link to what she made for the Halloween party, Melted Witches. People are so creative!

If you have a Halloween party this weekend or just want to make something fun for your family on Halloween, here are tutorials for 10 Tricky Treats!

Melted Witches by Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

Blood Slide Suckers by Forkable

Trick or Treats Cake Pops by Bakerella

Eyeball Caprese by Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

Witch's Fingers by Magda's cauldron

Ghost Cake by i am baker

Jell-O Worms by The Idea Room

Halloween Cupcakes by My Cake School

Screaming Red Punch with Hand by Real Simple

Yummy Mummy Cupcakes by BH

If you're in the mood for less trick and more treat, check out Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies, made by me!

Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies by SweeterThanSweets

Travel Around the World in One Minute

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:30:00 +0000

I caught the travel bug when I was 20.

I studied abroad in England and traveled more than I had in my entire lifetime up til that point. That year, I fell in love with traveling. (That also happened to be the year that I realized that I was going to marry my now-husband-of-almost-10-years. Yes, it was a good year.)

We love to travel but when we can't, I'm almost as happy traveling vicariously through other people. If you're an armchair traveler too, here's an awesome 1-minute long travel video of this guy:

The story behind the video, in their own words:

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films.....

= a trip of a lifetime.

You'll want to watch this in full-screen HD (and probably more than once):

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Two of my favorite reasons to travel are the titles of their other 2 videos, LEARN and EAT.

Cookie Fail

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:07:00 +0000

The other day, I attempted a different kind of Pumpkin Cookie. It failed miserably.

Here it is, my first attempt of using a cookie mold pan:

I want to share the destruction here because, as I said in the disclaimer on the About Me page, what you see on this blog just represents a part of my life. I don't usually share the messes or failures but every once in awhile, I believe it's good for the soul (yours and mine!).

What did I do wrong? Has anyone ever used these shaped cookie pans before? I used cooking spray and followed a sugar cookie recipe specifically for this kind of pan. But still, only one turned out right. If you've used these pans successfully for sugar cookies, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Anyway, since these were meant to be for the girls at my MOPs table for the next day's meeting, I had to reevaluate my approach and ended up making roll-out sugar cookies and using a pumpkin cookie cutter. Then I used orange-colored royal icing and piped on lines with melted chocolate.

Not what I planned (and my kitchen was a disaster) but that's life sometimes. I think next time I'll just stick with my tried-and-true Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies!

Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

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You've been waiting for this (even if you didn't know it).

I gave you a sneak peek of these soft pumpkin cookies last Saturday. They are so delicious and this is coming from someone who doesn't even like pumpkin pie! In fact, this is the only pumpkin-y treat that I'll eat.

Have I convinced you? Now here's the recipe for Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies (courtesy of VeryBestBaking.com) so you can taste for yourself how yummy these are!

Printable recipe available here.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup Libby's® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze (recipe follows)

Make sure you use 100% Pure Pumpkin (not Pumpkin Pie Filling!)

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.

BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For Glaze: (Optional, but yummy)

2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons milk
1 Tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

COMBINE powdered sugar, milk, melted butter and vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.

DRIZZLE, POUR, OR SPOON over cooled cookies.

Bonus points: Pure pumpkin puree is an amazing source of Vitamin A and a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene (see the full nutritional data here.)

When you make these cookies, you'll have a little bit of pureed pumpkin left over. I always let Little Sweets eat what's left over and she loves it. Pure pumpkin puree was one of the healthy "homemade" baby foods I gave her when she was first starting solids.

In case you're wondering, No. This is not a sponsored post.
I just love Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies.

Our trip to California - Part 2: Pumpkin Patch

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:30:00 +0000

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A Perfect Saturday.

noreply@blogger.com (Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:33:00 +0000

Today has been a perfect Saturday.

I slept in until 8 a.m., then made myself a delicious double-tall White Chocolate Mocha. It tasted like the cappuccinos that my Sweets and I enjoyed at the cafe near our hotel in Rome (after we added 4 sugars to it).

Then our little family enjoyed a brunch of waffles with fresh-cut strawberries, scrambled eggs and a Fall favorite of mine, Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies!

~~I'm going to share the not-so-secret recipe for these Pumpkin Cookies later this week so stay tuned!~~ Here's the recipe for Libby's Glazed Pumpkin Cookies.

After we stuffed ourselves, we settled into a couch full of blankets and pillows for Family Movie Morning. Little Sweets can't really sit through a whole movie, but it was so cozy and I got lots of cuddles from her and my Sweets.

Then nap time for Little Sweets and time to get ready for a date night tonight, courtesy of our MOPs chapter. Tonight I'm going to enjoy some quality time with my hubby!

In other words... it's a Perfect Saturday.