Christmas Refrigerator Cookies~Guest Post by: Keeping Up With The Times~

Bake up some yummy refrigerator cookies!

Hello SaltTree readers! I'm Barb from Keeping up with the times -- a blog about Photography, Homemaking, and Life. I'm very happy to be a part of the Christmas Cavalcade and a big thank you to Amber for having me. Today my post is about something I really love... food!

I just love.love.love. refrigerator cookies at Christmas time. Such convenience! Whip up a batch of dough, roll into logs, wrap in parchment paper. You can store the logs in the fridge for a day or two or freeze for a month. Take them out any old time and you can have fresh baked cookies in an instant!

They also make an awesome little hostess gift if you wrap them up in a cellophane bag and add a pretty Christmas topper with a tag.

After countless years of using an old family recipe, I decided to try something new. I couldn't have been happier with the results. They are buttery, light, and tender with a bit of chewy goodness from the cherries. They are also prettier!! And we all know it's all about how it looks, right? OK, maybe not, but it's nice.

I like to bake these cookies just before guests arrive so that the buttery sweet smell fills the house and makes me feel like Mrs. Claus herself...

Chocolate Peppermint Trifle~Guest Post by: One Creative Mommy~

Hi, everyone!  I’m Heidi, the sometimes scatterbrained—but always creative—mind behind OneCreativeMommy.com.   I'm a retired teacher and stay-at-home mom who loves to create.  I enjoy designing things to help my kids learn and to help my family get organized, but I also love to create things just for fun!  On my website, I combine those hobbies.  So, if you are looking for creative ideas for your kids and home, free printables, and lots of tutorials, OneCreativeMommy.com is the place to visit.  You’ll even find recipes.  Because my daughter has celiac disease, I blog gluten-free every Monday.

I am thrilled to be guest posting here on SaltTree.  Thanks so much to Amber for inviting me!  Are you ready for a super easy and super tasty holiday recipe?  Here you go!

Holiday Chocolate Peppermint Trifle

Festive Holiday Warmers

I get very excited around the holidays because I know I'll get to splurge and have a few indulgent drinks at my favourite coffee chains.  From flavoured lattes to hot chocolates, they've got it covered.  At $3 to $4 dollars a pop?... well that sends me into my own kitchen.

I'm going to show you a few hot beverages you can make this Christmas season, or just for a pick me up on a cool day.  Eggnog lattes, gingerbread hot chocolate and red velvet lattes are on the menu!

Open Call Tuesday #30

A quick announcement before we get underway!  This will be the last linkup with features until the new year.  I'm sure you will all agree, December gets a wee bit crazy for most of us.  Features will have to take a back burner.  You will likely not receive a email reminder of the party either.  Do check in, the party will be a go, it will just be strictly the link up.

Thanks again to everyone that linked up last week.  All of my American readers, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  And maybe even some of you braved the crowds for Black Friday?

I got a couple posts out last week, how to open a pomegranate and... homemade marshmallows.

A few more Christmas Cavalcade posts also went live!  Do check out these gorgeous paper cone Christmas trees created by Alderberry Hill.  And for those kids that like to peek at gifts, Yellow Spool shares a fun decoder gift tag tutorial!

Decoder Gift Tag ~Guest Post by Yellow Spool~

Hello SaltTree readers, I'm Stacie. My blog, Yellow Spool, is usually filled with stitches and textiles, but today I'm branching out a bit with a gift tag idea for you!



I remember gazing calmly at the green, lit Christmas tree year after year as a kid, taking in the magic of it all. Then I'd glance over my shoulder, scuttle to the gifts wrapped under that tree, and start searching for anything with my name on it. Bags were the best, because you could peek inside without leaving a trace of mischief. But there were some gifts, wrapped with perfection, that could only be shook. >>>note to self: never give children anything fragile. How do you keep your kids from snooping? The answer is simple- don't give them a clue as to whose gift is whose until Christmas morning.

Paper Cone Christmas Trees~Guest Post by Alderberry Hill~

Create Beautiful Christmas Tree Decor

Hi Everyone, I’m Sarah from Alderberry Hill. I have been enjoying all the Christmas Cavalcade posts so far and I am beyond thrilled to be a part of this series. A very {BIG} thanks to Amber for having me here at Salt Tree today!

Delectable Homemade Marshmallows

Let me first say, I don't like marshmallows.  I'll eat one or two roasted over a fire if I'm camping, and they are 'OK' in rice crispy treats, but otherwise, I think they are... well... strange.  Then I tried homemade marshmallows and my entire view of these little treats changed!

How to Open a Pomegranate

On a recent trip to the grocery store, I was plesantly surprised to see these beautiful red round treasure filled fruits sitting in a large bin marked at $1 a piece.  A big difference from the $4 price tag they usually hold!  Not having eaten a pomegranate since I was young and NEVER having opened one before on my own, I naturally grabbed three lol.

How hard could it be to get those juicy little arils out?

Open Call Tuesday #29

Hello everyone! 

An early, happy Thanksgiving to all of my American readers!  Our Thanksgiving came and went in October... anyone want to share some Turkey with me?? 

I shared one project of my own last week.  And I am super proud of it!  A miniature winter scene, set into a hollowed out book.  A whole new way to make a story come to life!

Also, SaltTree's Christmas Cavalcade is in to it's 2nd week! Since last weeks link up, there have been two more contributors.  Check out these delicious Dutch Speculaas Muffins from Happy In Red, and the super cute Snowman Lantern from Petites Passions.

As the Cavalcade posts go live, I'll be compiling them into a gallery of sorts which you can access by clicking the 'Christmas Cavalcade' button on the right side bar, or you can follow SaltTree's 'Guest Post' board in Pinterest.

Sparkling Snowman Lamp~Guest Post by Petites Passions~

Create a Sweet, Sparkling Snowman Lamp

Hello fellow beautiful bloggers, visitors and SaltTree followers! I am very excited to be a guest blogger here at SaltTree's Christmas Cavalcade.

My name is Myric. I am a novice homemaker and an artist at heart.



I am passionate about things that challenge my creativity such as D.I.Y projects, writing, and great food recipes. I am a blogger of Petites Passions, a blog dedicated in celebrating life's little passions in littlest resources as possible. I also host a weekly linky called Passion Parade every Friday!

Today, I want to share  my D.I.Y snowman that sparkles at day and glows at night.

Dutch Speculaas Muffins! ~Guest Post by Happy In Red~

Celebrate the holidays Dutch style with

 Speculaas Muffins!

Hi everyone! I am so excited to be here on the SaltTree today! I am Esther and you may or may not know me from my blog Happy in Red. I am 30 years old and live in Utrecht, The Netherlands. That's a 2000 year old city in the centre of the country and I love it there. I am a journalist and (web) editor by day and a blogger and crazy Etsy shop owner by night. I love to sew and crochet and in my shop you can find my bags and vintage inspired crochet blankets and pillow covers.

A Magical Christmas Scene

To me, Christmas really is magical.  Whether you connection to Christmas is rooted in faith, tradition, family or other, it's hard to ignore the incredible, overall 'good will' that seems to abound at this time of year.  For a day, a month, a season to induce such warmth, renew humanity's faith in each other and encourage such generosity?  Like I said.  Magical.

I, like so many of you, feel like I'm propelled into creative overdrive during the holiday season and when I do create, I want them to be things that will keep with that warm, magical and inspiring feeling, especially when it comes to decorations.  I'm not so much into animals and Santas that sing and dance when you press a button, but if you are, that's cool.  My husband tries every year to convince me that an inflatable lawn decoration would be 'awesome'.  We still don't have one.  Score 1 for me!

Open Call Tuesday #28

Hello everyone!  We've been spoiled here in southern Ontario with some unseasonable mild and warmer temperatures these past few days.  Hard to believe the holidays are around the corner when it was 16c outside this weekend!

It was a hectic week around this house, so only one project out for you all but a festive one at that.  Simmering winter potpourri, complete with printable tags for you to package it and give as gifts.  Easy and inexpensive!

Also, I'm very excited that SaltTree's Christmas Cavalcade kicked off today!  The first contributor was Marilyn from 4 You With Love.  Marilyn shared a great project that even the kiddos can do, by recycling spice jars into tree ornaments!

As the Cavalcade posts go live, I'll be compiling them into a gallery of sorts which you can access by clicking the 'Christmas Cavalcade' button on the right side bar, or you can follow SaltTree's 'Guest Post' board in Pinterest.

Recycled Spice Jar Ornament~Guest Post by 4 You With Love~

Hi!  I'm Marilyn and I blog at  4 You With Love where I share the crafting, cooking, knitting and other DIY projects that I try my hand at.  My most popular post, by far, is my paper bag floor.  Today, I'm super psyched to be here at SaltTree kicking off the Christmas Cavalcade with a quick and easy ornament project.

Take a look!

Yup, today we are going to start our project with a simple used spice jar.

Simmering Winter Mélange

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!  It's not hard to close your eyes and remember the heartwarming smells of the holidays.  Cinnamon, pine trees, nutmeg and of course, fresh baked gingerbread cookies.

Open Call Tuesday #27

Hello everyone!  As usual, there were some fantastic projects linked up last week.  Myself?  I made some all natural, London Fog Bath Soak (heavenly), and a slim, beside the fridge pull out pantry which has brought order to my chaotic cupboards!  I didn't think I could be so excited about a pantry lol.

So friends, now that Halloween is over, Christmas is showing up everywhere isn't it?  The spooky creatures come down and are immediately replaced with festive, sparkling decor.  No time to take a breath, just jump right in to the next holiday.  Fortunately for me (and many, many others, I'm sure) I adore Christmas!  Bring.It.On.  : )

Pull Out Pantry for Small Spaces

Many of us have fridges that don't quite fill the entire space allotted for them in our kitchens.  Our fridge had about 4 inches to spare between itself and the wall.  Other then storing a broom there and a few dust bunnies, it was just a waste of space. 

Introducing Two New SaltTree Affiliates!

I'm quite excited to introduce two incredibly talented, first time sponsors of SaltTree!  I hope you will take a few minutes to show your support and familiarize yourselves with these creative bloggers and Etsians!

First let's welcome Iuliana, from Hip2Thrift.

Hello SaltTree readers.  My name is Iuliana and I blog about DIY and thrifty living over at Hip2Thrift. When you look at old thrifted things, you can hate them for what you think they are...or love them for what they can become.  That is what I share with my readers - being thrifty is fun, responsible, eco-friendly and hip!

Visit Iuliana's blog, Hip2Thrift
Browse Iuliana's Etsy shop, You-Lee-Ana Boutique
Follow Hip2Thrift on Facebook

And now let's get to know Jill from Sew a Fine Seam.

I am the ‘One Who Sews’. And designs and dreams and decorates.  I have been sewing almost all my life, which has given me the practice and knowledge it takes to do a really ‘fine’ job. I delight in designing the items I create. I love decorating, painting furniture and blogging!  I enjoy thrift shopping, antique shows, shopping at Target, reading, and having fun with my family. I have 3 daughters, Emma(13) Larke(9) and Becca(7). And a wonderful husband, Travis, who puts up with me dragging home new things to decorate with, paint, or sew! I am blessed beyond measure – to God be the Glory!

                                      Visit Jills blog, Sew a Fine Seam
                                      Shop Sew A Fine Seam on Etsy
                                      Follow Sew a Fine Seam on Facebook