Simplicity

Well, the Christmas (and Hannukah, and Kwanzaa) season is upon us!  I don't know about everyone else, but I am whoa excited.  And since we're not decorating at all this year (people think we're nuts, but we're headed home again and who wants to come home to having to pack up a tree?) I am getting into the idea of our homemade Christmas.  We are planning on making gifts, or doing things for others this year.  And last month I sent out a couple care packages to two amazing girls and thought that maybe others would be interested, since it's something simple, but nice.  Remember, keep it simple and don't try and do something new.  If you bake, great!  If you don't, don't use this as a time to experiment with baking!  Include some classic holiday candy or treat and let yourself breathe!

I started by making some pumpkin muffins.  They seem to be a big hit with everyone who eats them, so I figured it was a good way to start.  (I also made chocolate covered pretzels with dark and white chocolate, but didn't like how they turned out.)  I picked up a couple of pretty cardboard boxes and painted them turquoise.  Why you might ask?  Because.  Who wants a whole bunch of holiday things they can only use once a year?  And I had already printed off some cute recipe cards that had red and turquoise on them, so I went with it.  

Next I cut out some cards and hand painted them with each girl's name.  I tried to make each a little different, and it worked out how I wanted.  Hindsight being what it is, I would recommend sketching it out in pencil beforehand, but it worked out well for being done freehand.  

I had also printed off a card from The Bright Side Project as a reminder usually much needed this time of year.  Go here to get a copy for yourself to print!

On top of the box and printed card I placed the recipe cards.  The first card was the recipe for the pumpkin muffins, and then there were 5 blank ones that were a slight variation, with the same design.  The recipe cards were from Purple Lemon Designs, and if you are wanting a few for yourself, go here.  

This was placed into a box padded with some paper to keep things from shifting too much.  I placed a couple other things in each box picked out for each individual.  Then more paper placed on top and the notecard I wrote a quick note in got placed on top of the paper so they would see it when opening the box.  It was quick, simple, and I had so much fun doing it!

Do you send out care packages?  Have any cute ideas you want to share?  Please let me know, I would love to do a post (or link to yours) about this, since it's a simple way to brighten someone's day!

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