Décor by Pamela Hope Designs & The Creative Branch
As we near Christmas, we are wrapping up our own holiday decorations and shopping for our loved ones. Still, we have continued the tradition of helping others with their own holiday decorations. With help from one of our trusted vendors, The Creative Branch, we have brought the Christmas spirit to one of our clients in West University as shown above and below. The beautiful blue and silver combination looks great in their new home!
Décor by Pamela Hope Designs & The Creative Branch
Décor by Pamela Hope Designs & The Creative Branch
Photo Courtesy: Zoo Lights
As for personal Christmas traditions, the past several years the girls and I have gone to see Zoo Lights at The Houston Zoo. The light displays are wonderful and they even have some of the lights choreographed to music. We each get a hot chocolate and stroll through the zoo, soaking in all of the unique displays.
If you’re planning to attend the Zoo Lights this year, I suggest you read the tips by KPRC Channel 2 that really are helpful. The online article also features more great photos of the illuminated attraction. Friends and family of all ages will enjoy this festive way to see Christmas lights in Houston.
Photo Courtesy: Houston Zoo Lights
Holiday Recipes and Gifts
A favorite holiday recipe and gift of mine is Chex Christmas Mix. In my family, we affectionately call it Christmas Crack! Sometimes it is referred to as White Chocolate Trash as well. It doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s delicious and soooo addicting.
Photo Courtesy: Gal on a Mission
It’s a sweet and salty snack (my favorite combo) made with a combination of Cherrios(TM), rice Chex(TM) cereal, corn Chex(TM) cereal, pretzel sticks, M&Ms and white chocolate. It stores fairly easily – but when you get down to it, storage is not needed because there is never anything left! My sister-in-law in Oklahoma introduced it to me years ago. She makes it every year around the holidays. We are a small village when we get together, and so now we make it too! It’s so much fun and easy to make! This is how I make it. Now keep in mind, you don’t have to be exact with your quantities and quite honestly you can add just about anything you want.
3 cups Cheerios – regular or honey nut
3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Corn Chex (Wheat Chex would be good too)
2 cups Pretzel Sticks or regular Pretzels
2-3 cups M&Ms – l looked for green and red this year but haven’t found them so I used regular M&Ms.
2 bags of White Chocolate chips
½ bag of Marshmallows
You could also add an assortment of nuts and peanut M&Ms. It’s really up to you. Froot Loops(R) cereal would be good, too!
INSTRUCTIONS:
- In a large bowl mix all ingredients together so they are well combined.
- Then in a microwave safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips for 1 minute. Be sure to check it after 30 seconds, so it does not overheat. The chips may not look melted but stir them up really well and the heat will distribute and melt them nicely.
- When the chocolate has melted and is smooth, drizzle it over the mixture and mix well. I usually “fold” the mixture to combine it, so I don’t break the cereal or pretzels too much. If the cereal looks like it needs a bit more “coating,” feel free to add more chocolate! It’s always a good thing!
- Once the entire batch has been combined, lay it out to dry on a large sheet of parchment or wax paper. I usually let it dry for about an hour, so the chocolate is cooled and hard. I also try to keep my distance, avoiding a walk by to “test it” to make sure it’s coming out right!
- After the mixture is set or “dry”, put the mix in decorative containers. It should remain fresh for several days but I promise it will not last that long!
This holiday season, we are staying home and having a “no plans” kind of year. I’m just going to enjoy my girls being home. They are both set to graduate college this coming spring, so this is their last “college Christmas”. We’ll see if Santa brings me that Shimmer Upholstered Sleigh Bed that I mentioned last month. After all, I’ve been very good this year.
May we all enjoy our family and friends this holiday season. Merry Christmas everyone!
