Christmas Crafts

I have been feeling more crafty the last month than I have all year. I don't know if it's the Christmas spirit, or finally feeling like we have an awesome routine with Roy and work and school, or just going stir crazy after not being creative for so many months, but I have enjoyed doing these crafts lately.

This isn't really a craft, but we got our first Christmas tree! Since we'll be at our home for actual Christmas day this year, I really wanted a tree. It's just a little one, with a few gold and silver decorations from Walmart (plus a Spiderman makeshift tree topper!), but it makes me so happy.

I have an amazing stocking that my mom made when I was a baby, but Shenli doesn't have the same one, and mine is at my parent's house. So I made us some simple ones. I used the best tutorial ever from Craft Passion, and I love it. I still haven't decided what to do for our names on the stockings, and I think I want some other decorations on them eventually, but I am taking little steps. This may have been my cleanest sewing project to date. I cut carefully and even ironed in between every step. And I am so thrilled with our little stockings! Now to find something to put in them for Christmas....

I also made a few snowflake window clings from puffy paint. I loved this craft! I printed out two different templates (here and here), and cut up big Ziploc bags to use as the plastic to put the paint on. I let them dry 24 hours, and then peeled them off - they stick right to the window! It's a simple craft, and I can't really see them from inside anyway, but it makes me so happy just knowing they are on our window for everyone outside to see.

Bacon Potato Chowder

This is one of our new favorite meals. I made it, totally thinking Shenli wouldn't like it, since it's a soup and the only meat is bacon. But he loved it! I've made it three times in the last month, and I make the full recipe each time - and even then, there's only usually the tiniest bit of leftovers!

Potato Corn & Bacon ChowderIngredients1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. butter
1 c. whole milk or half & half
4 c. or (1) 32 oz. box chicken broth
3 slices of thick-cut bacon, cooked until crisp and diced
½ c. medium-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
3 russet potatoes, rinsed, peeled (optional) and cubed into 1″ chunks
2 c. fresh corn
½ of a yellow onion, diced
1 leek, rinsed well and diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. sea salt + a pinch for sweating
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¹⁄₈ – ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, depending on personal taste
DIRECTIONS:1. Set a large stock pot or dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add butter and melt. When butter has melted add onion and leek. Add a pinch of salt to help the onion and leek sweat and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender and transparent. Add garlic and corn and cook for 3 more minutes.
2. Sprinkle in flour and whisk. Slowly add chicken broth and then milk. Turn heat up to medium-high, then add potatoes. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne. Simmer for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
3. Once the potatoes are tender and the soup has thickened, turn heat off. Add in cheddar cheese and stir until incorporated. Spoon into individual bowls and top with crisp bacon pieces. Serve immediately.
Stephen + Natalie via Life Made Simple | Makes approximately 4-6 servings