lucky for me, there are 12 days of Christmas

So there's this book, with this picture that I'm sure has inspired, tempted and excited children for many generations. Do you know it?

My oldest child is among you.  He pleads that we make it together and I agree that it could be a fun Christmas craft. I finally got to the grocery store on the 23rd to pick up some things to make it happen. I didn't go all out. I mean, I like children with teeth so I skipped the store brand vanilla wafers and chocolate covered cookies. We can only absorb so much sugar here before this house becomes a psych ward.
I did however make some pink frosting "cement" and buy gum drops and strawberry wafer cookies.  Now, Christmas came and went and we still hadn't created this candy house. I also served a few of the wafer cookies at our small family gathering to ease my own holiday cookie obligation. I couldn't help it. They looked too cute on a glass serving tray given to me by my Grandma. In fact, it looked just like something she would have at her house at holiday time.
But it's important to keep promises. Saying I'll do something and not doing it won't seem like a matter of poor scheduling to a four year old. It seems like a lie. So, in our brand new family tradition of considering Christmas for at least twelve days, I present, The Candy House (or gingerbread house, as my kid calls it, even though there isn't a spicy baked cooky on it).

An odd shaped mix of graham cracker walls

wafer roof tops and gumdrop fences

and rainbow snow. All on a bed of Christmas sweatshirt box top.

Now, this doesn't look EXACTLY like the picture. But lucky for me, it's so hideous that it's wonderful.
Two days later, my child is still talking about how much fun he had making it.

start somewhere in the middle

I'm on a bit of a kick lately. Not too sure what to call it. A frugal kick? A no-garbage kick? A I-could-probably-just-make-that or let's-write-it-all-down-and-see-what-happens-kick? It feels a little like a second wind and a lot like an honing in of sorts. A mission. I have some little projects and ideas that I want to share and I'd like to make writing a daily part of my life. I would like for you to read it, and comment.

In a hopefully regular segment I will most likely be calling, "I could probably just make that," I would like to share... THE AMAZING PUNK ROCK SCRUBBIE!!! First, gather up some of these

What the heck are those? I don't have any of those! Sure you do. I have a ton of them and more arrive weekly. They hold potatoes, lemons oranges, toys, garlic. I think that if you look around your kitchen you'll start to see them EVERYWHERE.

 Next, lay them all out as neatly as you can muster. (Hint-it doesn't have to be that neat)

If you are like me and you simply rip a hole in the mesh when you want an apple, try to put the ripped parts facing up.

Now, fold them all up and either hold them together or grap an old clothespin that you might usually use to clip a bag of raisins closed.

Remind yourself to get a manicure or something so you don't have to crop your gnarly looking thumb outta there.

Finally, the magic! Grab some hemp cord (because I just happened to have some) or some fishing line or any strong string or thread and a large tapestry needle stitch up those sides.

See how rustic I make it? That's because I like it that way. It's also the best I can do. Sew up all the open sides and decide whether or not you want to stitch down the fold for uniformity. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. This time I didn't.

Awwww, it's so cute! And so functional. Non scratching and scrubtastic. Now you don't have to go to target and buy one! Make more. Make a million. Start amassing a scrubbie stash.