2009 Holidays

New Year's Day -- January 1
Valentine's Day -- February 14
St. Patrick's Day -- March 17
Easter Sunday – April 12
Mother's Day – May 10
Memorial Day – May 25
Flag Day -- June 14
Father's Day – June 21
Independence Day -- July 4
Labor Day -- September 2
Halloween -- October 31
Thanksgiving -- November 26
Christmas -- December 25
New Years Eve -- December 31

Popcorn Ornament Tutorial

These fun ornaments hang on the little tree on the ticket counter at our local movie theater. I made them last holiday season and the customers just loved them, and many of them asked me for the secret to getting the popcorn inside the glass ball. I'm going to share that secret here with you:

Supplies:
clear glass ball ornaments
unpopped popcorn (don't use the pre-packaged microwave corn that includes grease)

microwavable dishes

hot pads

First remove the metal top on the ornament and set aside. I rinsed the glass balls with vinegar and water and let dry overnight.
Put popcorn kernels in the ball - the amounts I used varied with the size of the balls. I think I counted out between 40-60 kernels per ornament.

Set the glass ball inside the microwavable dish. (Some instructions I've read say to use a paper bag, but that didn't work so well for me. I like being able to see the ornament and monitor the popping of the corn.)
Microwave on high until the kernels no longer pop. Each microwave is different, so I hesitate to put a length of time in my instructions. I just watched and listened, and when there was a count of 10 after the last pop I heard, I removed the ornament.

Keep in mind that these dishes and ornaments will be HOT when you remove them from the microwave. Use the hot pads and let everything cool before you handle them. I also had to take a few breaks and let my microwave cool off. Be warned, also, I did have a few of the glass balls break. Have some extras handy and please HANDLE WITH CARE.
Once they're cool you can shake out any unpopped kernels, then put the metal hanger back on and embellish as you desire. We added colorful candies from the theater concession stand, and hung them using ribbons.

I confess that I don't know how these fared over the year they've been in storage. I suspect the popcorn has dried up, but the good thing is that they can easily be emptied and refurbished if we need to.

These are an easy way to have somewhat old-fashioned decorations on your holiday tree, with a modern-day twist. Enjoy!

Last minute gifts tutorial every day

Happy Halloween

4th of July

Independence Day, or the 4th of July, is probably the most important national holiday in the United States. It commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The declaration is a powerful statement of the American colonies’ intention to become an independent nation.

The Fourth of July was declared a legal holiday in 1941, and today it is celebrated each year in all states and territories of the United States. It is a reminder of the ideals on which the United States was founded, and on July 4 Americans celebrate their freedom and independence with great fanfare -- it is a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks.

A display of fireworks illuminates the sky near the Statue of Liberty as seen from Jersey City, N.J. on July 4, 2004. Parents from throughout the State of New Jersey bring their children to Liberty State Park on July 4th to enjoy the Independence Day festivities and see the New York City fireworks. (© AP/WWP)

Happy Memorial Day

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

Christmas from Yesteryear

This is from Time Magazine December 27, 1948. I just loved the illustration of "The Night Before Christmas." I doubt that TIME magazine would dare to post such a picture in today's time.