After checking several websites, and using my own personal experience, for you, I have found two incredibly fun holiday recipes:
Salt Dough Ornament Recipe!
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Directions:
1. Mix salt and flour.
2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.
3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.
4. For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough on baking paper (parchment paper– non-stick foil will also work)
Note: If you would prefer to free shape (with your hands) instead of rolling out the dough with a rolling pin, the cooking/drying time may take longer and you will probably want to have your oven on a lower temperature. Also, ornaments will dry naturally; however, your expected waiting period increases from an 1–3 hours to 3–5 days.
Create:
Use cookie cutters, cut-out templates, or just use your hands. Dust dough with flour and begin to add details to the ornaments with a toothpick, popsicle stick, and/or knife.
Don’t Forget:
Use a straw to make a hole so you can hang the ornament. Alternative hanging methods include: using a cut paperclip shaped into a hook (or you can buy hooks) before the cookies are baked, or you can use a toothpick to make a hole for fishing line to go through (you may need to check this hole part way through in case the dough swells.)
Baking:
Time varies based on thickness of ornament. Temperature: 325 degrees; time: 1 1/2 hours — or until dry.
Decorate:
Let ornaments cool before you begin. Paint with acrylic paints. Glue on beads, buttons, or any fun accessory you desire.
Preservation:
To help your ornaments last longer, you can coat them with acrylic varnish once everything is dry.
Add Colors or Scents:
- Substitute coffee for water — great for gingerbread people or teddy bears
- Add food coloring to make dough a unique color, be sure to kneed the color in evenly so that you don’t experience color splotches on your ornaments (unless that is the effect you are looking for).
- You can also add cinnamon, nutmeg, or other holiday reminding scents to your dough (cloves, allspice, ginger, etc.). Feel free to add these to your own personal tastes.
Most Importantly:
Have fun! Also, making these with kids or someone you love certainly adds to the treat! P.S. I’d love to see pictures of some of your creations! 
Streusel Coffee Cake!
This is an easy streusel coffee cake, baked in a square or round layer-cake pan
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
Topping:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
- 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cake:
- 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour (sift before measuring)
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation:
Topping: In small mixing bowl, combine topping ingredients. Blend with fork until crumbly. Set aside.
Cake: Sift 1 1/2 cups sifted flour with baking powder and salt into a bowl. In a medium bowl, beat together beaten egg and 3/4 cup sugar and 1/3 cup melted butter. Add milk and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture and mix well.
Pour batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square or 9-inch layer-cake pan. Sprinkle topping crumb mixture evenly over batter. Bake at 375° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake tests done. (Insert a toothpick or skewer into the center of cake, if it comes out clean, it is done.) Partially cool in pan on wire rack. Cut coffee cake into squares while still warm. Enjoy!
I’m also thinking that a nice dusting of cocoa power and some chopped coconut flakes will make a nice addition
Babies
New ProductsFirst of all, I wanted to send a quick shout out to my good friend Ben who just became a father on December 8, 2009. (Yay!) Tucker LeRoy is probably one of the cutest newborns I’ve ever seen! Typically, I feel that all new babies kind of look the same, reddish complexions with squinty eyes, but regardless that Ben is a good friend of mine, he does has a beautiful baby boy. With my “all new babies kind of look the same” comment, clearly I am not a parent and my “motherly-instinct” gene has yet to kick in, which is fine with me; at 22, I’ve got time! A cute comic strip my boyfriend go me interested in sums up how ready I am for parenthood: http://www.xkcd.com/674/ Without a doubt, I am fully capable of adapting and settling down when the time comes, but for now, why rush it? Women twice my age have successfully been having babies for years now. Come to think of it, girls half my age have been doing that… not something I support, but “to each his own.” New babies from Ben and several of my other friends got me to thinking… and being the research analyst that I am, here are some interesting and intimidating baby facts:
Although I don’t really have the personal experience, from what I hear, babies are well worth the effort! The name of one of our categories on the website really nails what I think is a good view of having a baby. Fresh Starts. Once you have a baby, your life becomes a Fresh Start, regardless of the time and effort you have put forth into your life up to that point, you have to start over. You no longer can live your life for just you; you have brought a baby into the word that needs to be your number one priority. I’m not saying that you have to give up everything fun and exciting for the next 18 years (at least) but you certainly must make some changes. Maybe set up a date night and keep things fun for you and your partner, but it can’t be every night, that baby needs some hugs and kisses too! Those of you that are already parents, please share some of your joys, fears, whatever moments of parenthood. Those of you who don’t need babies just yet, (like me), please feel free to also share your joys, fears, whatever moments you feel towards parenthood. I’d love to hear from you! Comment here on the blog, or on our facebook or twitter pages. Heck, I’ll even give you a shout out myself if you’d like to email me your comments. asmith@gofreshforce.com Again, congrats go out to Ben and all new parents! Cheers!