ashemgra

I am in northern Maine and tonight it is windy, gusts up to 55 mph, I am in the 18-24 inches of snow, with a blizzard warning for the area. I live 2 blocks from my kids school I can't see it! I can see my neighbors house and after that nothing but white swirling snow! It is some cold with the wind chill, not sure how cold but darn cold....I shoveled my steps and my legs are 'thawing' out they hurt!!! BUT I wouldn't change a thing! Love it here! Just moved back last year from FL, might head down that way again after the kids are grown but for now this is a perfect area to raise my girls!

I got your card today! Thank you very much!

it was on sale BF for $30....that is the lowest I have seen it EVER!! I have not seen any deals on it other than that!!!

I thought DC was mandatory! I stuffed my boxes with newspaper and haven't heard from OE person....hope all got there with no problems!

I forgot to add that I always put tin foil in the pan and BUTTER it. It makes it easier to get the caramel out of the pan to cut!!

This is the recipe I use for caramel, I got it from allrecipes.com 1 cup butter or margarine 1 pound light brown sugar 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 cup light corn syrup 1 pinch salt 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract In a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F, or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Cook for 2 minutes at that temperature. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla. Meanwhile, butter a 9x13 inch baking pan. When the caramel is ready, pour into the buttered pan. Allow to cool completely at room temperature. Remove from the pan and cut into squares using scissors. Wrap individual pieces in waxed paper or cellophane.

was it something like these? They are awesome!!! It is a 'Maine' thing from what I understand...I grew up with them.... NEEDHAMS: 3/4 c. unseasoned mashed potatoes 1/2 tsp. salt 2 lb. confectioners sugar 1 stick butter 1/2 lb. flaked coconut (better to use than shredded) 2 tsp. vanilla CHOCOLATE COATING: 12 oz. chocolate chips 4 sq. unsweetened chocolate 1/2 cake paraffin wax (2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in.) Pare and cook potatoes to make 3/4 cup mashed, unseasoned. Add salt. Using a double boiler, place butter in it and melt over boiling water. Add mashed potatoes, confectioners sugar, flaked coconut an vanilla. Mix well and turn into a buttered jelly roll pan. Spread evenly (mixture is very thick). Place in a cool place to harden. It is good to make these needham centers the day before coating, but may be done the same day. When cool and hardened, cut into small squares and dip in chocolate coating. Coating Mixture: Place paraffin and unsweetened chocolate in the top of a double boiler over water and melt. Then turn down heat and add chocolate chips. Stir to melt. Keep heat temperature low to maintain a melt, but to keep chocolate thickened. dip needhams to coat. Place dipped squares on wax paper to cool. These keep very well for a long time refrigerated and are even better flavored when kept a few weeks.

I make peanut butter balls and also homemde chocolates with vanilla cream, raspberry cream, cherry cream, peppermint cream, orange cream, lemon cream centers and I think that is it....along with homemade caramel which gets dipped in chocolate too!!!! yum yum yum! I also use the caramel and make cashew turtles....I would love to open my own chocolate store! Love making them and all my friends LOVE receiving them!

I got my OE on saturday! I have been so busy with my 2 jobs and all the kids I'm sorry I haven't posted!!! My OE person sent me a Santa ornament and it is absolutely beautiful, my girls were so excited! Then they opened the 4 different webkins ornaments!!! I had never seen those before!!! They also sent me lavender scented bath stuff, NICE bath stuff I might add! A shower gel, bubble bath, cream, bath tea and mit! Thank you Santa it is GREAT!!! Everyone loved the ornaments and you made my day:D

I got my SS gift today!!!! and it is PERFECT!!!! I got a cute wall hanging and a bunch of my favorite scent of Bath and Body works stuff.....mmmmmm warm vanilla sugar and a rubber ducky!!! There was also some goodies that were homemade and YUM YUM YUMMY!!!! AND there were some chocolates in there too!!! Thank you so much 'Santa' you made my day! It is freezing rain and nasty nasty out here and that just made up for having to shovel slush!!!!

me too

I'm in that boat with you! Would love to hear how my people liked their gifts!

Eve have most people mailed out now? I noticed that there were a lot more that hadn't received than had!

DD 14 x-box 360 we have one in living room for the family but she wants her own video games for psp, wii, ps3 and her own 360 Guitar hero aerosmith 2 wireless guitars xbox live card xbox points cards itunes cards clothes boston red sox bedding DD 10 2 american girl dolls doll trunk littlest pet shop a bunch of games for the wii and her ds DD 5 American Girl bitty twins bitty twin clothes/accessories littlest pet shop stuff a couple Dora things video games for the DS and wii a guitar

I have the Dyson absolute and I don't know what I ever did without it! I have a German Shepherd and it works great on his hair! My DH says it all but sucks the color out of the carpet!

I got 3 more cards today!!! My kids are so happy to have mail to open almost every day! The cards are great and I can't believe I haven't gotten 2 of the same!!!

"M&M'S" Gift jar Cookie Mix 3/4 cup all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup M&M's chocolate mini baking bits divided 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1 1/4 cups uncooked quick oats in medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In 1 quart clear glass jar layer flour mixture, walnuts, 1/2 cup M&M's, brown sugar, remaining 1/2 cup M&M's and oats. seal jar wrap decoratively M&M's Gift jar cookies 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter 1 large egg 3/4 tsp vanilla preheat oven to 350. lightly grease cookie sheets, set aside. In large bowl beat butter, egg and vanilla until well blended. Stir in contents of jar until well blended. roll into 1 inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets, cool completely on wire racks. store in tightly covered container!

Mocha java cookie mix 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 2 TBLS instant espresso coffee powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips 1/2 cup chocolate covered toffee bits combine flour, espresso powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl, pour into a 1 quart wide mouth jar and pack down firmly place brown sugar and sugar in separate resealable baggies forcing air from bags before sealing. layer bags in jar pack down firmly before adding each bag. layer remaining ingredients. pack down firmly before adding each layer....seal jar cover top with fabric and attach gift tag/ recipe with ribbon or raffia Mocha Java Cookies makes about 48 cookies 1 jar Mocha Java Cookie Mix 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temp 1 large egg line baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside. Transfer toffee bits and chocolate chips from jar to small bowl and stir well, set aside. remove bags from jar and place contents in medium bowl. add butter and egg. cream with electric mixer until light and fluffy. add flour mixture from jar. beat only until incorporated. stir in chocolate chip mixture by hand (dough will be stiff) chill dough 1 hour. preheat oven to 350. shape dough into 1 inch balls. place on prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart. slightly flatten each ball with back of sppon. bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are golden brown. cool 5 minutes on baking sheet transfew cookies to wire rack to cool completely store in airtight container!

Applesauce Muffin Mix 1 cup all purpose flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 1 cup sugar 1 cup raisins 1 cup chopped walnuts combine flour and baking soda in a small bowl, pour into 1 quart wide mouth jar with tight fitting lid and pack down lightly place sugar in a resealable plastic bag forcing air from bag before sealing place bag in jar and pack down lightly. Layer remaining ingredients attractively packing down lightly before adding each layer....seal jar cover top of jar with fabric attach gift tag/recipe with raffia or ribbon Applesauce Muffin recipe 1 jar applesauce muffin mix 2 TBLS unsalted butter at room temp 1 large egg 1 cup applesauce preheat oven to 350 coat 12 cup muffin pan with nonstick spray, set aside. transfer walnuts and raisins from jar to small bowl and stir to combine, set aside remove bag from jar and place contents in medium bowl add butter and egg. cream with electric mixer until light and fluffy. add applesauce and flour mixture from jar. beat until combined. Stir in raisins and walnuts by hand evenly divide batter into muffin cups. about 1/4 c batter per muffin. bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. cool 5 mins in pan, transfer muffins to wire rack to cool completely. store in airtight container.

I have a bunch of recipes for 'jar' gifts....I will post them later! They are in the truck and the truck is with hubby at work!

I got 3 cards today! LOVIN' it!!! My girls get home and ask how many today mom! Everyone has such great cards! I love the 2 I got with a Florida theme! I miss it so much!!! I moved back up to Maine a year and a half....lots of cold and snow! Nothing like a 'white' Christmas in FL! The SAND on the beach is white!! Anyway thank you all for the cards they are really wonderful!

I am going to use a close friend of mine who lives in another states addy! That way if it gets sent back it will go to her and we can figure out where to send it!

My kids are lovin' the mail! We have received 5 Christmas cards so far and a Thanksgiving card from my SS!!! Thanks so much!!! My cards are being taped in a large doorway around the trim! It is starting to look good...can't wait to have 40+ cards up there!!! My SS stuff and ornament exchange will be going out on monday or tuesday! I have to wrap them!!!

Ok there are a few things online today that are on the mystery sale....anyone know if those items will also be in store??

What exactly is the 'sale' that I have heard references about? Is it an online sale on Thanksgiving or is it items that will be in the store that aren't in the flier?