Living La Vida Holoka


Christmas Wreath Birdseed Ornaments

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Make these Christmas Wreath Birdseed Ornaments to give your feathered friends a nutritional treat and add a little festive color to bare branches!

This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.


I am such an animal lover and it always amazes me when wildlife visits our backyard.  We live in a heavily populated area with a couple parks nearby, but that’s it!  So whenever we have a new backyard buddy wander into our yard, I want to make sure that they’re taken care of! Someone has to!

I’ve made calls to get mangy foxes rescued and treated. I’ve shoved carrot tops under the shed for the rabbits who live there.  We let the caterpillars take over our dill so they could turn into beautiful butterflies.  And there’s currently a small pumpkin patch in the backyard for the squirrels to enjoy.  With the cold months charging forward, I’ve decided to make some birdseed ornaments to hang out on our apple trees to provide a little sustenance for our feathered friends.


We haven’t gotten much fruit – or any, for that matter – off of the three dwarf apple trees in our backyard.  But they’ve provided a home for the birds and some food for the squirrels and rabbits (I don’t mind since they have to eat, too).  The trees pop with pop with pink blossoms in the spring.  Their bare branches make a pretty backdrop during the winter months.  The branches are also short and thin enough to hang ornaments off of. 

How to Make Christmas Wreath Birdseed Ornaments

 
I ended up making a double batch of these wreaths because the first batch didn’t work out quite as well as I wanted them to.  But the second batch was perfect!  Just the right amount of birdseed and gelatin! 

The gelatin acts like a glue to hold the birdseed together and it’s totally okay for the birds to consume.  So are the cranberries!  They provide antioxidants and add a fun pop of festive color to the wreaths!

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. Spray the mini donut pans with non-stick cooking spray.  Then, place four cranberries into the bottom of each donut.
  2. In a small pot, add the water and the gelatin over medium heat. Mix until the gelatin dissolves.  Remove the pot from the heat.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, add the birdseed.  Pour the gelatin mixture over the birdseed.  Stir until the gelatin has been absorbed and the birdseed is fully coated.
  4. Carefully spoon the birdseed into the donut pans leaving a little space to add a looped piece of twine.
  5. Cover the twine with more birdseed and press the seed mixture into the pans with the back of a spoon or your fingers.
  6. Set the pans in the fridge for about an hour, or until the wreaths solidify.
  7. Remove the wreaths from the pans when you can pop the wreaths out by the twine and the twine doesn’t feel loose.
  8. Once all the wreaths are removed, you can hang them on the tree for the birds to enjoy!  


When I went to hang the second batch of wreaths, I noticed that the first batch of wreaths had already been nibbled!  Success!  These wreaths are an easy, kid-friendly holiday craft.  They would also make a great homemade gift for nature lovers and gardeners!  But most of all, it’s an easy way to give your winter birds a nutritional Christmas treat! 

Did you make these Christmas Wreath Birdseed Ornaments?  Share them on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidadiy. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

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Warm up on a cold night with this cozy Caramel Apple Hot Toddy! It’s a twist on a classic Hot Toddy made with spiced apple cider and Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup!

This post has been sponsored by Torani Syrups. All opinions are mine alone. #aguiltfreeholiday #torani


Unpopular opinion – wintertime is the best time!  While the majority of people I know complain about the winter, I embrace it.  There are things I love about the spring and summer, but I get so excited for the fall and winter!  From the end of October through the first week of January, there’s a complete sense of joyfulness in the air.  Every snowfall is magical and every freezing, cold night is an excuse to move a little closer together and snuggle! 

This time of year is so full of excitement!  But preparing for the holidays can be stressful.  There are deadlines to meet, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, and relatives to visit.  That’s why I enjoy when everything gets a little quieter at night. It’s the time of day when I can decompress, hang out with my husband, admire the glow of our Christmas tree, and sip something warm and comforting.

A Hot Toddy with a caramel apple twist!

 
Last winter, I made myself a Hot Toddy for the very first time.  This classic drink is a warm and cozy beverage to sip on a cold night.  It’s even said that a Hot Toddy can help a common cold!  So what goes into a Hot Toddy?  It’s simple!  You just need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon juice.  

A classic Hot Toddy is soothing on its own, but I recently made a Hot Toddy with a caramel apple twist.  The result was a delicious drink that’s full of caramel apple flavor and a hint of cinnamon spice!  This recipe is just as easy to make as a classic Hot Toddy.  But this version has spiced apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup!



Torani syrups are made with simple and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.  I used the Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup to keep this drink as guilt-free as possible.  Not only that, this syrup gives this Hot Toddy just the right amount of sweet, caramel flavor!  It’s the perfect companion to holiday drinks, coffee, and hot cocoa!  The recipe possibilities are endless! 

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Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

Serving Size: 2

Caramel Apple Hot Toddy

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 - .74 oz. pouches spiced apple cider mix
  • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • 4 oz. honey whiskey, or your favorite whiskey
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 4 tbsp. Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup

Instructions

  1. Add water and spiced apple cider mix to a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir the apple cider mix until it's dissolved and the pot has begun to boil.
  3. Add the cinnamon stick (or sticks) to the pot. Remove from heat and allow the cinnamon to steep for 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the cinnamon from the pot. Then, stir in the honey, whiskey, lemon juice, and Torani Sugar Free Caramel Classic Syrup.
  5. Divide the hot toddy between two glasses. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired, and serve!

Notes

You can substitute bottled apple cider for the spiced apple cider pouches. Use 8 oz. apple cider per serving.

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There’s honey flavored whiskey in this bad boy, but you can use your favorite whiskey in this Hot Toddy recipe. A cinnamon whiskey might be nice! It’s a sweet drink, but not too sweet.  And it tastes just like a caramel apple!  The Sugar Free Torani Caramel Classic Syrup is so good!  You definitely won’t miss the sugar!  Find it in the coffee and tea aisle at a Walmart near you! 


Did you spend a cozy evening sipping this Caramel Apple Hot Toddy recipe? Share your pics using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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hot toddy, drinks, cocktails, hot beverages

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Wooden Fox Ornaments with the Cricut Maker

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Use the Cricut Maker to create adorable wooden fox ornaments made with basswood and vinyl that will give your Christmas tree a cozy, woodland vibe!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

 


If you follow me on social media, then you know that I’m pretty obsessed with foxes! Ever since those fluffy tailed creatures wandered into our backyard a few summers ago, they’ve become one of my favorite animals!  So this year, I decided to make a fox themed Christmas tree.  Actually, I’m calling it our “foxy farmhouse” Christmas tree.  It has a whole lot of farmhouse charm and quite a few fox inhabitants! 

Every year, I try to add a handmade ornament or two to our Christmas tree.  This year, I’ve added a couple wood slice ornaments that I painted and personalized.  But I also just added these wooden fox ornaments to our tree!  They’re made with basswood that I cut with my Cricut Maker (yes, it cuts wood!) and decorated with patterned vinyl.


How to Make Wooden Fox Ornaments with the Cricut Maker

 
I chose a couple fox images from Design Space to use – one was a solid silhouette and the other has a scroll design cut into it.  The solid fox shape became my wooden cutout and the scroll design was my vinyl overlay (I learned fast that the less detail, the better when it comes to cutting basswood).

I had never cut wood before with my Maker, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I loaded the knife blade and went through the steps to calibrate it.  The blade made several cuts in a piece of printer paper to make sure you get the best cut in your material.



Once my knife blade was calibrated, I placed the basswood on my Strong Grip Mat and secured it with masking tape.  I set my material in the Cricut Maker, hit the go button, and sat back and waited.

The Cricut Maker makes multiple passes to cut through wood, so the finished project takes a little longer to make.  But it’s worth it! 


The basswood is really thin, so you want to be very careful when removing your design.  I ended up cutting three more foxes so I could double the wood on each ornament.  They ended up being a little sturdier that way.  All I did was glue them together with some hot glue and added a loop of twine in between for hanging.

Then, I cut two solid fox silhouettes and two scroll design foxes out of vinyl.  I used transfer tape to add the vinyl to both sides of the ornaments.  Then, they were ready to hang on the tree!

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. Open Design Space and select the fox images.   Resize the solid silhouette and continue to cut.
  2. Place the basswood on the Strong Grip Mat and secure each side with masking tape.
  3. Make sure the knife blade is in place and calibrate, if necessary.
  4. Set the material, choosing the Basswood 1/16″ option.  Then, continue to cut
  5. Repeat the process three more times until you have four wooden foxes.
  6. Once all the wooden foxes are cut, use a glue gun to glue two wooden foxes together, adding a twine loop in the middle for hanging.
  7. Then, switch the blade back to the Premium Fine-Point Blade.
  8. Back in Design Space, resize the scroll design fox to the same size as the silhouette solid.
  9. Cut four more foxes out of vinyl.  Remove the unwanted vinyl from the design.
  10. Then, use transfer tape to add the vinyl to the ornaments and hang! 



These ornaments made a great addition to our fox themed tree! They took a little time to make, but it’s worth it to have homemade ornaments I can enjoy year after year!

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This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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These Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a quick and easy, one pan and done recipe that’s perfect for busy nights or when you’re craving Asian cuisine!  They’re healthier than takeout and packed with a ton of Asian inspired flavor and cashew crunch!

This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.


I have been trying to get myself organized this week ahead since I know the next few weeks are going to be busy preparing for Christmas.  So far, I’ve managed to wrap our Christmas gifts, start gathering ingredients for baking, and work in my content calendar for the blog.  By the time dinner comes, I’m exhausted!  But I’m not one to grab for a takeout menu or head to the drive-thru.  Thankfully, I have a few quick recipes on hand for nights when I don’t feel like cooking.

Like these Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps!  They’re a one pan and done meal that packs a ton of Asian inspired flavor and great crunch in every bite!  It’s a lighter, healthier than takeout dish!  If lettuce wraps aren’t your thing, make the cashew chicken and serve it over rice!

Want to add these lettuce wraps to your dinner menu?  Head to SoFabFood.com today for the recipe!

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