I'm going full-on Martha Stewart with my Christmas wrapping this year. It requires wax seals, glitter markers, silk ribbon, custom wrapping paper, a glue gun and maybe fire. I haven't decided yet.
This is what you can do when you're childless and single. My biggest expense every month is dog food, but it's very special dog food made out of all natural ingredients, gold, saffron and government secrets.
I assume that's why it costs $65 a bag.
I also assume Philip will be able to land an executive position at a NASDAQ traded company after completing dog training in about a year. So at least he'll be able to pay me back for what's added up to at least 1 year at an Ivy League school.
- Wax seals (full alphabet)
- Glitter markers (used to highlight wax seals)
- Silk ribbon (silky actually, not actual silk)
Instead of tags, I'll mark each ribbon with the recipient's initial as a wax seal. Like this.
I know. It's ... I mean it's pretty good, right? And it looks that good in real life.
Very Tom Ford for Gucci 1996.
The wax can be melted in a spoon over a flame if you want to go hardcore olden days. If you're wanting to keep it a bit more Martha, these glue sticks actually fit into a glue gun so you just squeeze the wax out like you do hot glue.
YOU CAN GET ALL THE WRAPPING SUPPLIES HERE.
If you're in Canada:
Click here for alphabet wax seals
Click here for red metallic wax
Click here for gold metallic wax
Click here for metallic markers
I'm not showing you my entire wrapping ingredients because there has to be some sort of surprise when I show you the finished product in a couple of weeks.
It's cookie making weekend if you're taking the Christmas pledge so I'm going to be making shortbread dough for my cookie press and freezing it into rolls of dough I can break out in December.
Just in case you're wondering what I'll be doing this Saturday. I'll also be looking for anything I can possibly put a wax seal on just for the fun of it.
Allow me to introduce you to your puzzle today which took me 10:28 seconds to complete but it wasn't even enjoyable because I get very competitive with myself and by the end of the puzzle my heart rate was ... probably too elevated.
Good luck and have a good weekend.
My dog's special urinary care kibble costs $155 per bag. That lasts her about a month. On top of that, she's on three medications. Good thing she's so cute.
Love the wrapping design this year. I used to have some wax seals when I was young. I thought they were so cool. My question is, what do you do if you have recipients with the same initial?
Thanks again for the puzzle. A nice break from the daily grind. Got it finished in 6:14!
Hi Summer! If I had 2 recipients with the same initial I'd probably cry. And maybe have a breakdown. I'd probably abandon wrapping altogether, lol. Or I'd just use their initial and then implement my mother's trick of writing their name somewhere discrete in pencil on the wrapping so I knew which present to hand to which person. ~ karen!
I am sharing this dog food recipe because our dogs love it, it’s vet approved and much less expensive than the fancy vet food.
DOXIE DOG FOOD
This recipe was created in conjunction with a canine neurosurgeon after our dachshund had back surgery for IVDD. He needed to lose 1-2 lbs. to help him rehabilitate and ensure the best surgical outcome. He loved the food, lost the weight and lived for seven more healthy and active years. Martha Stewart makes a similar, but fancier, version for her dogs.
INGREDIENTS
3 lbs. ground meat (beef, chicken or turkey)
2 cups uncooked brown rice
24 oz. frozen mixed vegetables (if you have poop eaters, skip corn)
15 oz. can 100% pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
DIRECTIONS
(Remember, you are cooking for a dog...so you don’t have to worry too much about presentation. I focus on speed and food safety.)
Brown meat in a large roasting pan in a 400 degree oven, drain fat and discard. While the meat is browning bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil the rice for 20-25 minutes and drain. Combine meat, rice, frozen vegetables and pumpkin purée in your roasting pan. The frozen vegetables will defrost while cooling the meat and rice. Allow the food to cool completely and portion into containers, freeze any excess.
This recipe feeds our two little dogs for about two weeks. I double the recipe and freeze, so I only have to cook once a month.
SERVING SIZE
We feed our dogs a heaping 1/3 cup scoop, two times a day. They get treats throughout the day and love cheese, so we adjust the amount to account for the treats. If they start to get a little heavy we decrease their portions to a heaping 1/4 cup. I often wish I lacked opposable thumbs and a giant would cook and portion my food accordingly.
Thanks Lara, that recipe looks simple enough! (although I'd have to be making it every few days with the size of my dog) 😆 ~ karen!
Our little dachsie, Bobby, had a really bad reaction to some special canned food bought from the vet for about five bucks a can. So on top of his original problem he also had red hives and welts all over his tummy. Furious, I researched a bunch of web sites and learned what special nutrients dogs require, and now make all his food myself. Bob doesn’t care if his steak, burger and fish are last-ditch half-off sale items, or whether the apples and veg are bruised or wilted. I whomp up a big smelly pot and simmer it till it’s tender, add some powdered dog-friendly nutrients, blitz it with the immersion blender, and freeze it in five-day portions. Bob loves his food, and I know exactly what is in it. Costs me an afternoon a month and about a buck a day.
If I had any extra time in my life I'd look into it for sure. At this moment in my life I just don't have time but I'll be revisiting the thought at some point I'm sure! ~ karen
Beat ya by 5 seconds Karen!
Jerk. JERK. ~ karen!
I usually never get competitive with the puzzles, but because you said that I did this time! Finished it in 5:50, which is probably my record for one of your puzzles. But I think it will go back to my un-competitive ways so I can keep my heart rate at a normal enjoyable level!
I know, they're no fun at all when you speed through them, lol. I'm going to make it lesson in life, to at LEAST slow down while doing an online puzzle. ~ karen!
Thanks for adding these puzzles in! I love doing them. I got this one in 7:21. Excited to see your full wrapping reveal!