I Hope Everyone Has A Safe And Merry Christmas :)

I Hope Everyone Has A Safe And Merry Christmas 

All Things Santa And His Reindeers :)

• Vintage Photographs From A Santa Claus School In 1961 Reveals Some Of The Secrets Of Being A Good Santa
• So you thought you’d be a great Santa, didn’t you? Well, think again. It’s actually pretty tough work. You have to know how to squint your eyes into a Santa twinkle, how to talk to kids and even how to put on a little act. Such was the fate of those who, for years, chose to take instruction at Charles Howard’s Santa Claus School in the upstate New York town of Albion, not far from Rochester. In fact, the school still exists today, it was founded by Howard in 1937; since the mid-1960s, it has operated out of Midland, Mich., and remains the world’s oldest Santa school. In 1961, LIFE’s Alfred Eisenstaedt visited Howard’s school for would-be Santas, and made a series of photos chronicling the evidently quite fun process of learning to be all the Santa Claus one can be. 
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• Santa Claus Sugar Cookies
• I've used this recipe for almost 40 years and love it because it's a little different than most. My mom always made Santa cookies, and we'd put them into little clear bags tied with ribbon to hang on the tree.
• Nutrition Facts:
• 1 cookie: 186 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 56mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
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• Santa Craft For Kids
• With Christmas just around the corner, this easy Santa craft is the perfect Christmas craft to do with kids! Not only will kids have fun making their Santa Claus, but you can also turn it into a card that can be given as a Christmas gift. Kids will love putting this cute Santa together. This craft is made even easier with a free printable template! We love how easy and simple this handmade Santa craft is to make! Even if you’re not crafty, we promise you can make this. You just need to grab a few supplies for this craft. And your kids will love making these fluffy Santa cards for Christmas!
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• Did You Know Santa Claus Is Based On A Real Person
• We best know Santa as the character who delivers presents every Christmas Eve, but it turns out his origins are far from fiction. Santa’s story dates back to 280 A.D. in what today would be Turkey. Saint Nicholas was a monk who traveled the countryside to assist the poor and sick. One story claims he even used his wealth to provide a dowry for three impoverished sisters, saving them from being sold by their father. He became known as a protector of children and sailors, and by the Renaissance, he was among the most popular saints in Europe.making these fluffy Santa cards for Christmas! When people from the Netherlands migrated to New World colonies, they brought with them the legend of Sinterklaas, which is Dutch for Saint Nicholas. By the late 1700s, the story of the generous Sinterklaas reached American pop culture as Dutch families gathered to honor the death of the saint, and, over time, the name evolved to Santa Claus. In early America, Christmas wasn’t the festive holiday we know and love today. It was shunned in New England, lacked a cheerful figure who brought gifts and was celebrated outdoors with alcohol. A string of poems and stories in the early 19th century redefined the holiday by giving St. Nick a makeover and focusing on the themes of family and togetherness. 
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• How Did Eggnog Become Santa's Favorite Drink?
• Everyone knows that Santa’s favorite way to wash down his plate of cookies is with a big glass of eggnog. This tradition has been around for decades, but have you ever asked yourself why? When did drinking this egg and milk concoction become a holiday tradition? It all started on a cold, snowy night on December 24th, 1920 in the North Pole. Santa was busy packing up his sleigh with all of the gifts his elves had worked so hard to make. Meanwhile, Ms. Clause, worrying about all of the weight Santa had lost in the prior months of Christmas preparation, wanted to provide him with a hearty snack to take with him on his long night journey. Opening up the fridge, she grabbed a few eggs for protein, milk for calcium and some cream for a few extra calories. She then went to the pantry and grabbed some sugar – because as we all know, Santa has a quite the sweet tooth. After blending them all together in a pot over the stove until smooth, she let it cool, took a sip, and the rest is history. Sounds believable, right? Well, as it turns out, this story is not completely true. The real story of the creation of eggnog has been debated through the years. Some historians believe that it originated from the early medieval Britain “posset,” a hot, milky, ale-like drink. Milk, eggs, and sherry were foods of the wealthy, so eggnog was often used in toasts to prosperity and good health. The “nog” part of its name may stem from the word noggin, a Middle English term for a small, carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol. The drink crossed the Atlantic to the English colonies during the 18th century and soon became a favorite due to its’ rich dairy content paired with rum, an inexpensive liquor at the time. These days, eggnog is still often spiked with a bit of rum or bourbon during holiday festivities but is just as good without, not to mention kid friendly! 
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• The Names Of  Santa's Reindeer And Some Reindeer Facts
• Dasher – one of Santa’s fastest reindeer 
• Prancer – is known for caring the most about how he looks 
• Vixen – likes to play tricks on the other reindeers and is bit of a show off 
• Comet – loves to play ball games and likes to inspire children 
• Cupid – he is the most affectionate reindeer and has a very sweet tooth. He much prefers a mince pie over a carrot 
• Donner – he is named after thunder and has a very deep voice (he is Blitzen’s twin) 
• Blitzen – he is named after lightening and is very fast and very playful. 
• Rudolph – he is a shy reindeer and was embarrassed of his red nose initially. But once Santa realized his nose was a special gift he made him his lead reindeer and now has the love and respect of the other reindeers.
• FACTS ABOUT REINDEERS:
• In North America they are called caribou Both genders grow antlers Reindeers noses warm the air before it gets into their chest. Their hooves are bigger when the weather is warmer and shrink when it is cold Their knees click when they walk so they can hear each other in a blizzard. Reindeers are VERY good at swimming. They have no internal body clock which is really helps their sleep cycles as they can adapt to living anywhere. The average life span is 15 years old (except for Santa’s magical reindeer of course).
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• Rare Albino Reindeer Spotted Near A  Road In Sweden
• A teacher on vacation in Sweden recently saw a very rare sight in the wild: an albino reindeer, standing right next to the road. The image was captured by Siv Poijo, who was returning to her cottage when she saw a pack of reindeer, with the all-white creature standing among them, according to Caters News Agency. "For the Sami people, the white reindeer have special significance – I think they bring luck and are considered holy," Poijo told the Daily Mail. These rare creatures, which are the result of a genetic mutation, are found in Norway, Sweden and Finland, the Daily Mail also said. Earlier in the year, three albino deer were seen in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, according to UPI.com; they are so rare that it's illegal to shoot white deer. 
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10 Reclaimed Wood And Pallet Christmas Decor Ideas

It amazes me how someone can take a piece of wood or a pallet and make a whimsical cute Christmas item. I wish I had that talent.....I Hope You Enjoy Them :)

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1...Snowman Family 

So I had some extra wood lying around, and my sister and I decided to make a snowman family. They turned out PRETTY cute! CONTINUE READING >>HERE<<

2...How to Make a Wooden Christmas Tree

Add some farmhouse charm to your front yard this holiday season with a rustic, wooden Christmas tree. CONTINUE READING >>HERE<< 

3...Pallet Wood Christmas Trees

I had seen some Christmas Trees on Pinterest that were made from reclaimed wood and old pallets and I thought they were cute. I wanted to give it a go but wanted to add my own flare to them. The ones I had seen were just a little too plain Jane for my taste. So, using pallet wood, mod podge, napkins, buttons and some Wildflowers & Pistols Milk Paint I created my version of the Pallet Wood Christmas Tree :) CONTINUE READING >>HERE<<

4...Use A Pallet To Make A Corner Wall Christmas Tree

I found this on Pinterest and for the life of me I cant find any instructions for it so if anyone knows the original source please let me know in the comment section, Thank you :)

5...Reclaimed Wood Christmas Tree And Star

I’m embarrassed to admit, I can’t remember the last time I decorated outdoors for Christmas. Much of that has to do with the front door and side windows needing paint. And the concrete needing work. And the whole outside needing… a good farmhouse experience. Or something. Or a pretty for sale sign on the front yard would work wonders… When things aren’t up to par, they don’t make for great backgrounds! So as I was glancing around my festive, surrounding neighbour’s front porches of cute toboggans and pretty greens, I looked at my own mess, called myself a scrooge, and vowed to change that this year. With a Scrooge-less reclaimed wood Christmas tree and star for the front porch! CONTINUE READING >>HERE<< 

6...Wood Pallet Christmas Tree

Good Wednesday Morning everyone! Thanksgiving came and went and I am now up to my ears in Christmas ornaments, scattering them throughout the house in every bowl, vase, and lantern I can get my hands on. Tis the season, right?! In the midst of all my indoor decorating, my husband stayed outside stringing the lights around each door and window. And when he finished that, he moved on to a new lawn ornament for the holidays. Adam has been wanting to do a pallet project for months now, and we finally decided on something we would both enjoy... a wood pallet Christmas tree. And we made it for a whopping $4! Inexpensive projects are truly my favorite ones! CONTINUE READING >>HERE<<

7...10 DIY Wooden Pallet Tree Ideas

We are all great fans of festivals as they are way to promote our culture, to bring the cultural harmony and also to feel the freedom! We try our best to manifest our inner love and happiness for festivals about to come! The best way to express your feeling for the festivals is to decorate your home and surroundings with respective decors, signs and symbols related to that celebration! Now your festival is to come and these DIY wooden pallet trees would perform as best ever decor for that! CONTINUE READING >>HERE<<

8...Pallet Snowman

I found this on Pinterest and for the life of me I cant find any instructions for it so if anyone knows the original source please let me know in the comment section, Thank you :) 

9...DIY Woodland Sign

Hello friends! It’s Marie from Blooming Homestead and I am excited to be here at Live Laugh Rowe to share this pretty DIY Woodland Sign. I adore cozy winter decor and I love decorating for the holidays. Sometimes it feels as though I am rushing to decorate from one holiday to another so I love when I can find fun pieces that work for a whole season. CONTINUE READING >>HERE<<

10...Make A Pallet Christmas Tree

This easy craft will add some modern yet rustic charm to your holiday decor. You will need: Several boards from broken down pallets/hammer/stiff wire brush/gloves/saw/ measuring tape/carpenter's square screwdriver or drill with screwdriver bit/1 inch craft screws/white latex paint/water/paint brush/newspaper or drop cloth. Break pallets apart carefully and 10 good pieces from the top and bottom of the pallets. Look for pieces with character including knots and roughness. Clean the pieces by gently scraping them with the wire brush. Brush away any debris. CONTINUE READING >>HERE<<

Crafts, Smiles, Repurposing And Some Facts Jack :)

• Cute Heart Pillows
• The iconic heart shape as a symbol of love is traditionally thought to come from the silphium plant, which was used as an ancient form of birth control. If you were to stretch out your blood vessel system, it would extend over 60,000 miles. Heart cells stop dividing, which means heart cancer is extremely rare. Laughing is good for your heart. It reduces stress and gives a boost to your immune system. 
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• Turn Pincones Into Pineapples ~ Kid's Crafts
• Pine cones only come from pine trees, although all conifers produce cones. Pine cones and pine trees belong to a group of plants called gymnosperms and date back to prehistoric times. Gymnosperms are a group of plants who have naked seeds, not enclosed in an ovary. The main function of a pine cone is to keep a pine tree’s seeds safe. Pine cones close their scales to protect the seeds from cold temperatures, wind and even animals that might try to eat them. Pine cones open up and release their seeds when it is warm and it is easier for the seed to germinate. Some pine cones, like that of the Jack Pine, need a fast hot fire to open and release their seeds. This is called the Jack Pine ecosystem. Pine cones can stay on tree for more than 10 years before dropping to the ground. All conifers produce male and female cones. Sometimes on the same tree, sometimes not. The pinecones we see are only the female cones. The male cones are much smaller and not showy. You may have never noticed them. The male cones release pollen, which drifts into the air and eventually finds and fertilizes the female cones. Pine nuts come from pine cones. 
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• Turn Family Pictures Into A Wall Collage
• I learnt some very interesting facts about collage artistry today, goes to show just how much creative history is all around us in this arty world. So here is a few snappy facts for today: Collage technically started once paper was made in China about 200BC, The gluing of paper for decorative purposes began in Japan around the 10th century Other materials such as gold leaf and gemstones were added for religious purposes during the 15th-16th centuries. Gluing for the purposes of memorabilia began in albums during the 18th century. As an art form, the term collage was coined by Pablo Picasso and the Cubists painters with the emergence of modernism in the early 1900’s. Wood based collage began around 1930 and decoupage is a decorative craft commenced as early as 1700. Photo-montage began in 1956 and the digital collages since 1992. In reading the definition of collage by Oxford university Press: Collage is an art form and technique, incorporating the use of pre-existing materials or objects attached as part of a two-dimensional surface. Despite occasional usage by earlier artists and wide informal use in popular art, collage is closely associated with 20th-century art, in which it has often served as a correlation with the pace and discontinuity of the modern world. 
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• Turn Cardboard Boxes And Cedar Shims Into DIY Distressed Wooden Storage Boxes
• WHAT IS A SHIM AND HOW DO YOU USE IT
• Plain and simple, a shim is a tapered wedge used for making slight adjustments to home elements, such as door frames and windows, to make them plumb and level. The most common shims are wood (often cut from cedar or pine) and serve well for almost any interior adjustment. Plastic shims are also available and have the distinct advantage of being water and rot-resistant, which makes them ideal for plumbing or exterior adjustments. You may have come across a pile of these thinly sliced wood wedges among the tools in the garage. While they may appear to be wood scraps from a past project, shims are actually an important element for a variety of DIY fixes and fittings. Learn more about shims and how to use them from Mr. Handyman. 
• WHEN DO YOU USE A SHIM
• Despite the best measurements and care, once a door or window is put into place, it’s unlikely to be perfectly square. Rather than agonizing over cutting a new frame or trying to nail in an absolutely precise opening, shims are used to make the final tweaks. Wedging a shim in between a frame and the adjacent stud helps to incrementally bring the element plumb and level. Not limited to just windows and doors, shims can be utilized for squaring up cabinets, leveling a wobbly toilet, adjusting subflooring and floorboards, or eliminating the creaks in outdoor decking. 
• HOW TO USE SHIMS 
• Once a door or window is seated into the opening, place shims in any gaps between the window or door casing and the framed opening. Use a hammer or mallet to gently tap the shim into place, using a level to check that the window or door is moving toward plumb or level as desired. If one shim is not thick enough for the required adjustment, tap another shim in right next to the first one, but face it the opposite way. Be careful not to drive the shim in too far, as they are difficult to pull back out. Once the door or window is plumb and level, drive a nail or screw from the casing, directly through the shims and into the framing to secure it. Once the window or door is firmly seated and nailed, use a utility knife to score the excess shim length and break it off.
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• Turn Wine Barrels Into Snow Flake Themed Luminaries
• Did you know these facts about wine barrels?⁣⁣ There are 400 different oak species are available to source wood for wine barrels.⁣⁣ Wine Barrels are shaped that way so they can be rolled like a wheel, stand upright and remain stationary.⁣⁣ The first barrel, as we know it, was designed as far back as 350 BC. ⁣⁣Before wood, Clay was almost the go-to material to store wine and spirits.⁣⁣ The oak allows for very slow introduction of oxygen and conveys some of the character of the oak wood into the wine itself.⁣ Oak barrels are charred / toasted on the inside to maximise the effect the wood has on the contents of the barrel. ⁣Smaller barrels have a higher surface-to-volume ratio, and as a result age and flavour the contents more quickly than a larger barrel. ⁣Oak barrels can be reused for over 100 years to create different vintages.⁣ 
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• Some Lazy People Going To Be Mad!!!
• An escalator is a type of vertical transportation in the form of a moving staircase which carries people between floors of a building. It consists of a motor-driven chain of individually linked steps on a track which cycle on a pair of tracks which keep them horizontal. Escalators are used around the world in places where elevators would be impractical. Principal areas of usage include department stores, shopping malls, airports, transit systems (railway/railroad stations), convention centers, hotels, arenas, stadiums and public buildings. Escalators have the capacity to move large numbers of people. They can be placed in the same physical space as a staircase. They have no waiting interval (except during very heavy traffic). They can be used to guide people toward main exits or special exhibits. They may be weatherproofed for outdoor use. A nonfunctional escalator can function as a normal staircase, whereas many other methods of transport become useless when they break down or lose power.
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When Did People Start Making Snowmen Plus 6 Snowmen Christmas Crafts And Recipes

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Snowman making has been discovered to have gone as far back as the middle ages but because humans are creative beings they probably took advantage of the snow that fell from the heaven's above ever since mankind existed. The book 'The history of the snowman' the author Bob Eckstein notes that the earliest known depiction of a snowman was from the book 'Book of Hours' from 1380 (the illustration is very anti-Semitic) 

Building a snowman was away for the community to find some happiness in a horrible oppressive winter that was full of starvation, poverty and other life-threatening conditions. In 1511 the people of Brussels would gather together to construct over 100 snowmen for the public art installation known as the Miracle of 1511 and this was also covered in Eckstein's book 'The history of the snowman'. With 6 weeks of below zero weather and the Belgians dissatisfaction with the political climate of the time their snowmen would embody that feeling. They made their anxieties into life like models like a defecating demon or a humiliated King and don't forget about the womenfolk getting buggered every which way you can think of but besides your typical sexual graphic and politically rifle caricatures Belgian snowmen were often parodies of folklore figures such as mermaids, village idiots and unicorns.

The earliest known photograph of a snowman was taken in 1853 by Welsh photographer Mary Dillwyn, the original of which is in the collections of the National Library of Wales.

Even famous artists made snowmen and in 1494 Michaelangelo was commissioned by the ruler of Florence Italy to sculpt a snowman in his mansion's courtyard.

The snowman's place in our traditional Christmas diversions along with horse-drawn sleighs and ice skating became more popular when Prince Albert showed the English people the fun of his German Christmas traditions and because Germany is colder and has more snow than England that's how they believe snowmen became synonymous with Christmas.

Probably the most famous snowman is 'Frosty the Snowman' who appears in a Christmas song of the same name. The song was written in 1950 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins. It was recorded in 1953 by the American singer Perry Como and became very popular. A film called Frosty the Snowman was made in 1969 and told the story of a magical snowman who came to life and became best friends with a little girl. 

Snowmen Christmas Crafts And Recipes

Melted Snowman Ornament

One time when I was in Las Vegas I saw in a gift shop a 'Las Vegas snowman snow globe' and it was the cutest thing ever. It was just water, glitter, a scarf and a carrot with little black pieces of coal and this craft reminded me of it. The only difference is it's not a snow globe but an ornament and they used salt instead of glitter and water. The best part of this craft is all the supplies you need are available at the Dollar Tree. (Source)

Turn Fish Bowls Into A Giant Snowman Snow Globe

When I first saw this snowman made from fish bowls I thought why didn't I think of that. Most off the supplies you need are available at the Dollar Tree which is awesome because who doesn't like saving money and you could even use your favorite ornaments from your childhood or your grandmother's. The choices are endless. (Source)

Candy Cane Snowman

These snowmen are the cutest things ever and the kids can help you make them. Your children could also give them as gifts for their teachers and their friends at school. Or the children can make them for the extended family when they come and visit at Christmas time. (Source)

Use Epsom Salt To Make This Cute Snowman Vase

This craft is really easy to do and of course all you need to start with is a Dollar Tree fishbowl vase. This would look cute with a large poinsettia flower just sitting on top of it (as if the poinsettia was the lid) or you can use it as a tea candle holder. (Source)

Easy Snowman Ornaments

I love crafts from repurposed items and when I found this one I thought wow baby jars aren't just for dads nuts and bolts in the garage anymore or your mom's extra spices that didn't fit in her spice jars. To make this craft all you need is paint from the Dollar Tree and of course the empty baby food jars. You can also make Rudolph and Santa Claus or a gingerbread one. The Christmas theme choices are endless. (Source)

Melted Snowman Cookies

The kids will love these snowmen cookies and they can even help decorate them with edible markers. Your children can even give them as gifts to teachers and their friends at school and they'll be a hit with your dinner guests at Christmas time. (Source)