Festive Ways to use Licorice for the Holidays

I'm dreaming of a Vine Christmas!

Red Vines are vibrant, fun and the epitome of holiday cheer.

Here are a few festively easy ways to celebrate the season with them.

A Sweet Sleigh Gift

Who wouldn't love a load of licorice?

Perfect for party favors, teachers, Secret Santas, co-workers, neighbors...

it is the easiest, cutest and most economical present of all.

It is guaranteed to have them laughing all the way through the holidays...

Kids' Table Snowman Place Settings

There must have been some magic in that licorice hat we made.

It turns a simple place setting into a fun place to laugh and play!

Cut black Red Vines into the desired lengths to make the hat.

Dip end of the vines that you would like to adhere into a small pot of boiling water for just a few seconds to soften it.

  Place where you would like it to stick 

and pinch together with your fingers for a minute or so.  

Place on parchment paper until dry.

And don't forget his carrot nose!

I cut the stem end flat and used a touch of peanut butter to "glue" it to the plate.

Give Santa what he really wants on Christmas Eve

Milk and cookies are nice but a little ordinary don't you think?

Surprise St. Nick with a jolly Red Vines treat.

I took our milk and cookies plate...

and covered it up, so he'll never know...

Make the perfect straw

There is no better way to drink a holiday beverage than through a 

Red Vines Straw...

Snip each end and let the party begin!

Happy Olive-days! Festive Party Veggies

This post has been sponsored by California Black Olives. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is nothing like entertaining during the holidays.

Planned parties, friends dropping by, special family dinners...

I've always got vegetables on hand just in case we need to whip up a quick appetizer,

 but do you want to know a secret?

I wouldn't think of serving them without

"Olive" the other veggies best friend -

California Ripe Olives!

Not only are they a delicious crowd pleaser, 

they just make everything more yummy and fun.

Open a can of black olives and the creativity is endless.

They easily turn simple sugar snap peas into a jolly olive wreath...

They instantly transform ranch or blue cheese dip and carrots into snowmen...

They sprout a forest of evergreen elegance...

with sprigs of rosemary...

then stuffed with Manchego Cheese

(also fabulous with blue cheese or even string cheese!)

It is so much fun to pick them up with the "tree",

 and pop just the cheese-stuffed California Ripe Olive into your mouth,
discarding the rosemary.

And no holiday gathering is complete until the reindeer arrive.

Black olives with pretzel antlers for Santa's crew...

with a red pepper nose for Rudolf...

Here's to very Happy Olive-days!

California Ripe Olives are the perfect party accessory all year long.
They are ready to kick off 2016 with a
A Year Full of Yummy printable coloring calendar.
Each page features a fun and tasty kid-friendly recipe with olives
and awesome illustrations.
I've been printing them out by the truckload for stocking stuffers, gifts and
to have a fun activity ready to roll over the long school break.

California Ripe Olives are also giving away the ultimate Kids' Cooking Prize Pack.

Check out the

A Year Full of Yummy Sweepstakes on Facebook

for information on how you could win kids' cooking utensils,
an apron, chef's hat, cookbook and more.

link party palooza

A Flurry of Frozen Favors

The weather isn't quite Frozen yet but,
you know you want to build a snowman...

or hang out with a reindeer...

(because they are "better than people")

Well, new Frozen Treats have arrived from Arendelle...

but sometimes you just want to Let it Go and
 be with people worth melting for...

Whatever your Frozen Style, 

necklaces and gloves are available in my Etsy Shop!

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