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By Aimee, December 17, 2010

A favorite treat this time of year is our apple wreath. It’s like a giant apple turnover!!

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Using a round pizza pan, arrange triangle shaped crescent roll dough (for a quick wreath, we use Pilsbury Crescents) with the bottom of the triangle in the center. Spoon apple pie filling along the circle where the dough is the thickest, then fold over the tips of the triangles to create the wreath. Bake for 20 mins, or until golden brown.

We use powdered sugar and a bit of milk to make a light, frosted, drizzle on the wreath when it is out of the oven. I like to make a lot of drizzle, because it is really the best part in my opinion! We have even added little Christmas themed decor to the wreaths in the past and have given apple wreaths as gifts.

I have to warn you though, the wreath disappears really fast! Do you have a favorite holiday treat?

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By Aimee, December 16, 2010

I was so excited when I received the gorgeous Wardian case from H.Potter. It was a gift to those of us who became affiliates, and I can not think of a more gorgeous gift. Since it arrived, it has been the home of the amazing air plants that I received from Etsy shop ToHold. The holiday season gave me a great excuse to decorate my terrarium in holiday style!

Using white tinsel with green and red “Ho Ho Ho” accents to create the base, then adding two adorable penguins, and of course my largest air plant, a North Pole scene was created. To read more about creating a holiday terrarium, be sure to visit my article, Holiday Terrariums. Included in the article is a link to a fun video that H.Potter put together of other Wardian cases that are decked out with holiday spirit! You will see mine in the video as well!

I love the idea of changing and decorating the terrarium for the different holidays. There are so many fun ways to do it too, either using accents, or actually changing the plants! The Wardian case is becoming such a fun decorating piece in our home, I am just so happy they sent it to me!

What about in your home? Do you have a terrarium? Do you decorate with holiday plants?

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By Aimee, December 14, 2010

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I was asked to write about the best gift I ever gave. Having thought a lot this year about giving, and remembering some of the favorite things we have given to others, I was excited to think more about it. What would top the list and become the best gift?

Hands down, it has to be the little ball of fluff that we all know and love. That’s right, Baby the Maltese is the best gift I ever gave. How could any other gift top the joy and laughter that comes from a dog? Not to mention giving her a warm, loving, home. So, since many of you don’t know how she came to be part of the family, let me share a bit more about her story. I think you will agree that she is indeed the best gift I have ever given.

After my father had his first stoke he was recovering well in body, but it was pretty obvious that he was also a bit depressed. As one who had always been active and the one helping others (he was a psychologist), to suddenly be having major health problems and need help, it’s no wonder he was feeling a bit blue. My mom also had to make major adjustments to her new life caring for him, and cooking a new diet. With more strokes to follow, and type two diabetes in the future, it was obvious to me that they needed a little something to pick them both up.

It was really somewhat of an accident. I hadn’t gone looking to get a puppy that day, but there she was. She gave me “the look”, and I knew right away that she was supposed to come home and be part of our family. This happened with our first dog (also a Maltese), who crawled into my coat and wouldn’t come out. For those of you who have dogs, you probably know exactly what I am talking about.

They were shocked when they saw this tiny, adorable, ball of fluff. She seemed to know that she had some work to do and set out to win over my dad. Instinct perhaps? But something told her that she was there to watch over him, and be his little buddy. It didn’t take long for her to worm her way into his, and everyone else’s hearts.

But I think my mom put it best when she said “she brought his smile back”. What better gift could there be than that?

So, now I would love to know! What is the best gift you ever gave?

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