Reviewing Christmas Card Address Labels

Christmas card address labels by Colorful Images

Do you send Christmas cards? Do you like to add a personal touch to the cards you send? Once upon a time, I sent many Christmas cards each year. I sent them to family and friends. A stack of cards with a short hand-written message and a personalized address labels to match the cards. Over the past few years I have planned on returning to that tradition. While shopping for my own cards and labels, I decided to review the variety of Christmas and holiday address labels that can be found at Colorful Images. 

I have reviewed address labels by Colorful Images previously. Most recently, I shared my homestead theme labels. I have ordered address labels and other items from Colorful Images through the years and I have never been disappointed. 

Christmas and Holiday Address Labels by Colorful Images

There are 18 different categories of Christmas address labels listed. The following are just a few:

• Angels
• Animals and Birds
• Christmas Trees
• Christmas at the Beach
• Faith and Religious
• Poinsettia
• Santa Claus
• Snowflakes
• Snowmen

There are also a variety of shapes and sizes of available address labels. I really like the new wraparound style. The 7" long address label shows the address on the front of the envelope and the remainder of the label wraps around to the back of the envelope with an extra bit of design.

Winter Wonderland Connect Wrap Diecut address labels

Some of the address labels are foil labels. There are single-color foil labels and labels with a design that includes some foil accents. Christmas is a great time to add some foil for that shine and sparkle. 

Whether you prefer the original-sized small address labels, the over-sized large labels, square, or round labels I am confident that you will find something in the Colorful Images collection that suits you and shows your style. If you are like me, you'll have difficulty narrowing down your selections to just one or two!

address labels by Colorful Images

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Three Funky Tatami Floor Seats - Check these Out

More Info on the Lazy Mouse Tatami Sofa Seat Here

Tatami floor seats are a type of Floor Mat used in Japanese style rooms.

Of course today's Tatami seats aren't like the traditional ones made of rice straw or wood chips.

These funky seating choices have expanded into artsy designs and styles and are mostly made of foam materials.

If you're looking to for a unique gift, Tatami floor seats can be quite affordable. The smaller funky seats are lower in price than the featured  soft cute lazy mouse bed.

When you click the link below the photos you'll get additional product detail including the price.

Lazy Mouse Tatami Sofa Seat

This comfy squeezable bed is made of foam and velvet. It's the perfect spot to read a book with the kids or to snuggle up and watch a family movie.

Put one in the family room for the kids and have it available as an alternative sleeping spot for company. Use it as an extra bed when the kids have party sleepovers.

The Tatami sofa seat is more expensive than a chair floor seat so it makes for an elaborate but very useable gift.

Tatami Chair Seat Found Here - Multiple Color Choices

Soft Handrail Tatami Chair Seat

If price and space are equally an issue, be sure to check out the price of this funky Tatami chair. It comes in six color choices and at the time of typing this, is under fifty dollars.

For a girls room or in a games room, these floor chairs are ideal for reading or gaming. If a full-blown gaming chair isn't in the cards, then these make a practical substitute.

You can also use them on a chair as a chair pad. Their dual purpose makes them a practical home décor accessory.

Tatami Funky Toast Chair - More Info Here

Funky Tatami Toast Seat

You're reading that correctly - It's a Tatami seat that looks like two pieces of toast.

When a regular gift just won't cut it, but something usable and practical is needed, this funky chair works.

These fun seats make an excellent addition to a media room. When regular extra seating is just too expensive, include a few of these on the floor and you'll have your problem affordably solved.

Best of all, they're portable. Move them from room to room as you need too and always have an extra comfy seat to offer company.

The cover of this seat is polyester, removable and washable so don't hesitate to use it whenever needed. Again, it makes an excellent gaming seat or just let the little ones watch their cartoons as they relax on a piece of toast.

Happy funky decorating!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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National Gingerbread Cookie Day Review

Gingerbread Cookies (source: Pixabay)

November 21st is National Gingerbread Cookie Day.  There is no real reason for the establishment of this fun food holiday, except perhaps the approaching Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays around which these rolled cookies have become favorites.

Gingerbread cookies are traditionally made in shapes such as flowers, hearts, and trees.  They can be made in different sizes and can be iced and decorated. 

The Gingerbread Man shape probably goes back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I.  History tells us that her palace baker during her reign (1558 to 1603) baked and decorated gingerbread men in the likenesses of important court visitors for Her Majesty to present to them.

The tale of Hansel and Gretel of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1812) increased the popularity of gingerbread cookies and other treats. Later, Gingerbread men and animals became popular Christmas tree ornaments.

Gingerbread Cookie Recipes

There are lots of gingerbread cookie recipes online.



For a different and a bit unusual Gingerbread Cookie recipe, I found this one in a gingerbread crafts leaflet:

Gingerbread Cutout Cookies 

by Shelly Vaughan

Source: Pixabay

Touch of Pineapple Gingerbread People Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup dark molasses
• 1 cup pineapple juice or more as needed
• 5 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Miniature candy-coated chocolate candies (M&Ms) and/or raisins

Icing:

• 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons pineapple juice:

Instructions:

1. For cookies, combine shortening, sugar and molasses in large bowl.  Stir in pineapple juice.  In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.  Gradually stir into molasses mixture until thoroughly incorporated (Dough will be stiff.)  Cover and chill for 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray once.
3. On floured surface, roll dough out 1/3 inch thick.  Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutter, using gingerbread people cutter or other cutter.  Place cookies 1"-2" apart on prepared cookie sheet.  Decorate with candies and/or raisins as desired.  Bake for 10 minutes, or until light finger indentation springs back.  Cool completely.
4. Store cookies in single layer in airtight container, or layer cookies with waxed paper separating layers.

*Makes 3 dozen.

Decorating Gingerbread Cookies

Source: Pixabay

Decorating Tips

• Gently press decorating candies or other items into cookies before baking.
• Pipe icing onto warm cookies with a small decorating tip.
• Icing is quick and easy to make. If you prefer convenience items, however, you may use tubes of decorating icing with decorating tips.
• If you would like to add some color to your cookies, lightly spinkle colored sugars, sprinkles, nonpareils or flaked coconut over wet icing.  Gently shake off excess, if necessary.

Gingerbread People Parts

It's fun to personalize your gingerbread people.  When baking with children, this is the part they like the best.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Eyes -- raisins, dried blueberries, miniature M&Ms.
• Noses -- cinnamon red-hot candies, M&Ms, dried cranberries.
• Buttons -- raisins, cinnamon-coated raisins or golden raisins, small jelly beans, decorating stars, miniature M&Ms, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, walnut pieces, pecan pieces, macadamia nut pieces.
• Mouths -- licorice strings, almond slivers, red or pink decorating icing.

Currently Available on Etsy

*The gingerbread cutout cookie recipe and decorating tips are by Shelly Vaugham and was printed in the craft leaflet "Easy Gingerbread Crafts" published by House of White Birches in 1999.  Available on Etsy on sale at the present time.

And, in addition to the above recipe, Coletta Teske of Review This! included a yummy looking gingerbread cookie recipe in her blog post food review of Simple Snacks for Santa.

Other Forms of Gingerbread Cookies

Besides edible gingerbread cookies, other forms of this  cookie have become popular.

Gingerbread toys are fun too

 

Plush Gingerbread Cookie Doll

Adorable gingerbread man plush doll handmade in crochet. He measures about 8 inches high.

He will look great with your holiday décor or in your kitchen year!

Created by Jackie of Pittsburgh, PA and available in her Etsy Shop Jackie Draz Art. 

Gingerbread Holiday Decor 

Gingerbread Cookie Coasters

Add to the decoration of your home for the holidays with this set of Gingerbread Cookie Coasters.

This is a set of 4 drink coasters with a gingerbread cookie design. Two coasters have a gingerbread boy with a candy cane. Two coasters have a gingerbread boy with a heart.

Gingerbread Cookie Coasters are handmade in needlepoint using acrylic yarn and plastic canvas.  They measure 3.5 x 3.75 inches.


Gingerbread Cookie Playset

Christmas Gingerbread Men Cookies Playset 

This Miniature 18 inch doll playset includes 3 Gingerbread Cookie Men with a Lovely Silver Tray! This is the Perfect set of cookies for your 18 inch Dolls; American Girl Dolls, Baby Dolls or any other toy around that size! Each Cookie is approximately 1 3/8 inch (3.5cm) across! 

Gingerbread Holidays Throughout the Year

November 21st isn't the only gingerbread holiday.  Besides this 'cookie' day, we have:

• National Gingerbread Day on June 5.
• Gingerbread Decorating Day on December 9.
• Gingerbread House Day on December 12.

For more cookie reviews, check out Review This Reviews: Cookies

Happy Gingerbread Cookie Day!

(c) Wednesday Elf 11/21/2017

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight Review

Flashlights come in all sizes, colors, and price range, but I have one I would recommend above all the rest!

My husband has always "collected" flashlights, therefore I have been exposed to a wide range of flashlights.  When I need a flashlight, I want one that is going to light up my world.  I have no use for a soft-light, delicate, cheap plastic flashlight that requires 2 or more D batteries.  Nope, give me a torch!  

I want lightweight and small, but I don't want to give up real lighting ability to get something easy to hold.  Fortunately for me, with the Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight, I can have everything I want and need in a very compact, lightweight flashlight. 

Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight with Rechargeable Battery

When I tell you, the 800 Lumen Halo flashlight is the best flashlight I have ever owned, I am not exaggerating at all.  At first glance, it may seem a little pricey, but it is well worth every cent!  

I can stand against the back wall of my bedroom and the light beam can easily shine through and light up all the rooms inside our home.  It is a bright light and I can clearly see across the entire house without having to move.  

Outdoors, it will light my up my backyard so I can easily spot the pup that thinks he is hiding from me at the back fence.   

You know those horror movies where the woman carries a dimly lit flashlight and is practically face to face with the villain before she sees him?  Well, if she had the Halo 800 Lumen Flashlight, that would never happen!  She would see him coming 1000 feet away.  That would greatly increase her chances of either getting away from him or in better preparing herself for his fiendish actions.  He might even tuck tail and run like a spotted squirrel.  After all, his sneaking around would certainly be thwarted.  

Frankly, you need two of these flashlights.  One for your home, and one for your car.  Consider being stranded on the side of the road at night with a flat tire.  No wolf would sneak up on you and have you over for dinner.  When you hear the rustling in the bushes, cast your Halo 800 lumens in the general direction and Mr. Wolf would feel the burn of your current day torch.  (figuratively speaking, of course!)

Hiking in the woods and out past nightfall, fear not!  Your trusty Halo flashlight will help keep you on the path and lead you to safety.   This is where I should mention the SOS mode.  You can set your Halo Flashlight to flash the Morse emergency distress signal instead of a constant stream of light.  

Rigid Industries 30120 Halo 800 Lumen Flashlight with 1 Rechargeable BatteryCheck PriceFabulous Features of the Halo 800 Lumen Flashlight 

• Lightweight - Weights 4.5 ounces
• Short Length (easy to hold) - less than 6" long 
• LED Light
• Wide Beam for Area Illumination
• Rechargeable Battery (wall charger & car charger included)
• 3 hours of use before recharge needed
• Water Resistant (you can use it in the rain!) 
• Impact Resistant
• Wrist Strip included 

 The Perfect Gift for Anyone

Christmas is coming! You can search high and low, but you're are not going to find a better gift suggestion anywhere regardless of the gender of the recipient. Excellent for almost any age too. With the push button switch it is extremely easy to turn off and on. 

Don't settle for less, get the best! 
 

Read More Product Reviews at
ReviewThisProductReviews.com

Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight Reviewed by:

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Review of Fall Photography in a Cemetery

Bellefontaine Cemetery

On a crisp fall morning in mid October several members of the O'Fallon photography club took a trip out to Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum in St. Louis.  This historic old cemetery was a wonderful place to explore and take photographs.

History

The Bellefontaine Cemetery has been in operation since 1849 and contains over 160 years of history. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The cemetery contains the graves of many of the men and women who shaped the history and culture of St. Louis.  To find out more about the people who have graves and mausoleums at Bellefontaine you can click on this link to their website. Bellefontaine Cemetery  There are brief life stories of many of the influential people who are in the cemetery as well as a detailed history of the cemetery through the years.  Before the 19th century cemeteries were mostly in church yards.  When Bellefontaine was first started there was a movement to provide peaceful parklike settings for burial places. 

Architecture

The architecture and art in Bellefontaine Cemetery is truly amazing.  There are many different types of architecture including Classic Revival, Romanesque, Gothic, Egyptian Revival as well as mausoleums and statues with Western influence. The first mausoleum in the photograph below is one that was constructed in 1921 and is an elaborate Gothic Revival style.  The details on it are truly beautiful.  You can't tell from the photo, but when I looked in the front doors I saw beautiful stained glass windows on three walls.

 You can see from the next three photos that there are a wide variety of different styles of mausoleums at the cemetery.

There were also  many statues throughout the cemetery.  A lot were of angels and crosses were carved into many of the stones.

There were beautiful features in the windows of many of the mausoleums.  Above you see a stained glass window and below is a photo I took from inside one of the mausoleums.  I really liked the details on the window.

Nature

Bellefontaine is also an arboretum that has over 500 trees and woody shrubs throughout its 314 acres.  These come from over 200 different species and when we visited in mid October some of the leaves had turned and others were still green.  This made for a beautiful mix of colors among the old stone tombstones and mausoleums.

We walked around the cemetery taking photographs for over 2 hours and only saw about 25% of the area.  I'm looking forward to going back and exploring more. It was truly an interesting place.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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