In continuing our series this month of easy, affordable ideas to help make Christmas magical for your kids, is this wonderful felt Christmas Tree. I apologize for the cropped out toddler, he loves this tree so much he couldn't bare to be apart for it for 2 seconds while I took a photo. I guess that is the whole point. 

There are so many great things about making a felt tree. Felt is extremely inexpensive. It's also easy to work with. Toddlers love ornaments and are constantly clawing at the real tree with real glass ornaments. So giving them their very own toddler sized Christmas tree that they can decorate over and over is so wonderful. 

Directions: Cut out a large tree shape from green felt. Then think of whatever other ornaments you would like to include and start hot gluing the layers together. Feel free to copy any of the patterns I made up here. We have a couple of gingerbread men, an elf, the 3 wise men, a polar bear, a gingerbread house, a star, traditional ball ornaments, peppermints, a penguin, a nutcracker, rudolph, baby Jesus, Santa Claus, a snowman, a candy cane, and a snowflake. You could make this all religious ornaments if you want it to be more Christ centered as well. And don't forget felt presents to go under the tree!

Your kiddos will love this tree all month long, and as a mom, you will love that nothing on this tree is breakable, and your wallet will love how inexepnsive it was to create as well. 

Happy Crafting!

Making Christmas Cookies is a no brainer. Sugar cookies are always a delight, but can get boring year after year. That is why this recipe is so wonderful. Its a unique twist on a wonderful sugar cookie recipe, with memorable flavors you family will love. You get the spice of the peppermint, and the cleanness from the lavender. This is one sugar cookie you won't soon forget!

Cookie Ingredients: 

3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup room temperature butter
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup lavender sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 large eggs
5 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp water

Frosting Ingredients: 

1 stick butter at room temperature 
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
24 ounces powdered sugar
1/4 tsp peppermint oil 
1 tsp lavender salt
lavender buds for sprinkling on top (optional) 

Directions: 

Mix together your oil, butter, sugars, and eggs. Once smooth add your dry ingredients and water. Roll your dough into a sheet and cut into your favorite Christmas shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes. While the cookies cool, mix together your frosting ingredients. I like to add my milk last and I add it tablespoon by tablespoon until I reach the consistency I like, which is like a thick toothpaste, but its up to you. Then once the cookies are cooled, you can frost away. 

If you are in need of culinary lavender products for this recipe, they can be found here: 
www.lavenderapple.com

These cookies are a unique sweet and special treat. Hope you enjoy them this holiday season!

Hello everyone! Don't forget to come see us tonight at the Christnkindlmarkt at This Is The Place Heritage Park on Sunnyside Avenue. This traditional german outdoor market is a wonderful tradition for families. There are real live reindeer, a wonderful Santa, too many delicious food choices, and beautiful unique Christmas gifts galore! Come warm yourself around the fire and watch some fun entertainment. This will be one event in Salt Lake City that you won't want to miss!

Saturday December 5th from 10am-9pm

Location: This Is The Place Heritage Park
2601 E. Sunnyside Avenue, SLC UT 84108
Admission: FREE!

I spy the Lavender Apple Booth!

We will have all of our best products ready for the hard to buy for loved ones on your Christmas lists. We have soaps, oils, jellies and jams! Honey, spices, lotions, and scrubs. 

And if you can't make it tonight, there is still time to order online and get your gifts shipped before Christmas! www.lavenderapple.com 

Thank you and we hope to see you at the market!

Christmas has always been a big deal around the Nelson household. There is always great food, a wonderful smelling Christmas tree, and special holiday decorations to make the spirit bright. In addition to sharing wonderful holiday recipes with you this month, we are also going to be sharing with you some fun Christmas traditions, and easy and fun ways to make the holidays special. 

Our first fun Christmas craft we'd like to share with you, is making a nativity set out of rocks. This is the perfect craft for those of you with toddlers who don't want to see your heirloom nativity sets get broken. Just make sure you get rocks that are large enough they can't be swallowed, but small enough they won't smash any little toes. 

There are so many expenses that accompany the holiday season, so creating a fun family heirloom that is free and fun is a wonderful treat. Simply pick out the number of characters you would like to create and then paint the rocks accordingly. I found it was easiest to draw the characters out with a sharpie, then just paint inside the lines. Get creative! This is also a wonderful craft to get older children involved in helping as well. 

We'd like to thank all of our friends who supported the Lavender Apple Farm during Small Business Saturday. Don't forget to order your Christmas gifts early this year so they ship in time for the holiday! www.lavenderapple.com