DIY Chindi Reindeer

This isn't just the story of my incredibly cute Christmas decorations. It is also the story of how dangerous hot glue guns can be. And it’s the story of how I learned my family thinks I am a walking disaster.

Here’s the bottom line, do NOT use a high heat glue gun with low heat glue sticks (which are apparently a thing). The glue will come out too fast and spill all over your hand and before you know it, your skin is blistering under the glue and you can’t peel the glue off or the blisters will open and you realize you really are a walking disaster.

I first saw these reindeer on Olive & Cocoa and fell in love. Until I saw that they were going for $200 dollars, which so wasn’t happening. Then Honestly... WTF? did a DIY version of these adorable critters. But for some strange reason that my ego can’t comprehend, nobody pays me for blogging (totally open to that though...) and I am trying to save money, I didn’t want to spend money buying fabric like the Honestly...WTF? version used. Instead I searched Michael’s ran around Michael’s on a crafting high until I found a cheaper way to get a similar result.

Supplies: Glue gun and a LOT of replacement sticks. Reindeer from Michaels 2 colors of yarn Bells (optional)

Glue the beginning of the two strings of yarn onto the reindeer. I started at the nose and moved my way down the back of the neck, to the chest of the animal.

Use your glue gun to guide where the yarn should go.

You want to twist the two types of yarn together to add more color, and make sure you aren’t wrapping the animal in the same direction the whole time. Mixing it up will make it a lot more interesting.

This process takes a long time, but you don’t have to do it all in one sitting.

Once the animal is wrapped, tie a little necklace with bells around the reindeer’s neck and admire your handiwork.

Holiday kisses!

Nutella bites

I can’t believe Christmas is almost here! I am about to burst with holiday cheer.

Since I had a little accident with a glue gun, all of my Christmas crafts have involved baking. I found these little niblets on pinterest and had to try them. They just look like little bites of Christmas joy! I knew I just HAD to make them.

These are bite-size bits of chocolate-hazelnut goodness and will make even the grinchiest grinch’s heart grow three sizes. Try baking in mini cupcake pans or any fun silicone molds that you have! I used this boring square Wilson silicon mold. It was from Hobby Lobby which is terrible. I only went because there is one close to my office, not knowing it was the craft store from hell. Besides denying their employees the basic right of making their own health care decisions, they don’t even have Martha Stewart! And who doesn't sell Christmas tree molds around Christmas!?!?

I can’t even…

Luckily they had edible glitter, otherwise I would have lost my shit in the baking aisle

Anway… back to the ooey-gooey happiness. They are delicious. Make them and eat them. Like now.

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup nutella (or any chocolate hazelnut spread)

• 3 egg yolks (save the egg whites for a healthy omelet to feel better about yourself after you eat all of these)

• 1/2 C milk

• 1 tsp vanilla

• ½ C sugar

• ½ C coconut flour (if you don't have coconut flour and want to use regular flour, cut the amount of milk you use in half)

• ¼ tsp baking powder

• Powdered sugar (optional)

• Edible glitter (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. Mix nutella, egg yolks, milk, vanilla, and sugar together in a bowl until creamy and smooth.

3. Add flour and baking powder and stir until fully combined.

4. Pour mixture into a mini muffin tin

5. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

6. Let cool, or at least wait until they are not burning hot, and cover with powdered sugar and glitter.

7. Devour.