Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree | Book Release

Back in 1958, sock hops were the rage, aluminum Christmas trees were the future, and 13-year-old singer Brenda Lee was recording the soon-to-be-classic "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

Now we have a delightful gift book—perfect for stockings, coffee tables, or under the tree—celebrating the song’s record-breaking revived popularity, with ideas for holiday parties, innovative decorations, cozy meals, and more.

Get the most out of your Yuletide celebrations and let the Christmas spirit ring with this full-color festive handbook to all things holiday! You’ll rock around your own Christmas tree this season with the beloved, nostalgic #1 chart-topping song as your guide to a host of holiday fun, from recipes and crafts to party games, decor ideas, and more!

At the Christmas party hop or hanging the mistletoe where you can see, you will get a sentimental feeling when you:

• Choose from over 30 recipes for food and cocktails such as pull-apart pastry puffs, Christmas morning casserole, ornament and gingerbread cookies, and a holly jolly espresso martini

• Welcome others into the celebration with fun games, party ideas, and a soundtrack for all your Christmas gatherings

• Relive your favorite Christmas memories as you dip into nostalgia and learn the fascinating history behind familiar traditions, such as hanging mistletoe, watching Christmas movies, or decorating cookies

• Make your home merry and bright with creative ways to decorate your door, set your table, and wrap your gifts

• Enjoy insights and stories from the song’s origins and legacy of singer Brenda Lee and songwriter Johnny Marks

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree gives you all the feels, fun, and festivities you love about the season. It’s an ideal gift for a family member or friend who goes all-out for the Christmas season and for yourself, because maybe YOU are that person!

Rock on in the new old-fashioned way!
Purchase Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Hearts a-Flutter | Valentine Craft

Saw the cutest little craft the other day, and had to share it with you! I’m sure you’ll be a fan, just as I am. It’s sooo simple and has my heart all a-flutter.

Make yourself some of these adorable little accordion hearts, and hang them wherever you want to spread a little love!

It all starts with a simple circle of paper. The ones in this example are made using an 8.5” and a 6” wide bowl for templates. And old tattered book of children’s music provided some of the paper, and craft paper was used for the rest.

Materials needed:

• Paper

• Pen

• Scissors

• Scotch Tape

• Twine or Ribbon for hanging

Instructions:

• Draw a circle on a sheet of paper and cut out.

• Fold the circle in half, then unfold. Fold the outside edges inward to the center fold, and crease.

• Now fold those outside edges in to the center once and twice again and crease. Unfold. You should end up with a circle that has uniform creases from one side to the other.

• Beginning at one side, fold along the creases in a back and forth, accordian style until the entire circle has been folded.

• Now fold in half, pinching at the fold to form pointed bottom, and fanning the tops to form a heart shape.

• Tape the middle of the accordion together where it meets, toward the bottom, preserving the top ridges .

• Include a looped piece of twine or ribbon under the tape for hanging.

Happy crafting! And Happy Valentine’s Day!

The 'Making It' Guide to Crafting | January Book Club

ORDER The ‘Making It’ Guide to Crafting

It looks like we're all going to be stuck at home for a while longer. Whether that's with or without extended family or with or without children, we need Something.To.Do.

Which is why I've chosen The ‘Making It’ Guide to Crafting for January’s Book Club read; with comedic duo, Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, as hosts.

The book is a complementary volume to the NBC show, Making It. Think,The Great British Baking Show, except with makers and doers. Contestants move through challenge after challenge until it comes down to the final competition, and only one goes away with the Maker's crown.

"With the all-star duo of Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman leading the way with puns, advice, and good vibes, Making It became the competition series we didn’t know we needed, stealing our hearts and encouraging our most creative ideas.Tapping into that success, this well-rounded crafting guide will offer in-depth looks at some of the best DIY crafts that were featured on the show and inspired by the Makers themselves.

Introductions to woodworking, fiber arts, paper crafts, and more will enable readers to experiment and customize their own creations at home. And the projects are accessible to all skill levels, so you can get just as crafty as the Makers did. Drawing on the show’s hilarity, creativity, and overall positivity, this crafting guide will inspire and energize you to DIY whatever you put your mind to."

I'm hoping to inspire you to try something new, to get your hands and your hearts busy making, and craft your way into a healthy and happy new year!

Get your copy of The ‘Making It ‘ Guide to Crafting