The fish cracks me up. What a fun idea to decorate him for the Holidays! And your very creative idea with the bead garland and ornament hooks...wow. Super tip to file away. Thank You! Speaking of Christmas Tips, LOL, I read this one by some decorating EXPERT on an Internet site..... " Don't go overboard with decorating, because remember, the time it takes to put it up will be the time it takes to get everything down at the end of the season. Festive, but not over the top. You won't want your house to look like National Lampoon's Christmas." Boy, obviously he's never visited OUR gang. We could give him a heart attack when it comes to over the top! And personally, I haven't yet seen one of our homes looking like National Lampoon's. LOL. hugs, Karen

What if you just bought a cheap, solid color robe and had the kids embellish it with multiple strands of ribbons, big buttons, etc. That way there's no sewing but if you spread the robe flat all the kids would be able to reach a spot and glue something on it. Giant sequins, yarn, ribbon, etc. It could be really funky! If they are young children, I think this would be the route to go, and with only 1/2 hour to spare. Sounds fun. Hope this helps!

Fast and easy and satisfying: bread without butter but with a small sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar; a rolled up lettuce leaf with annie's terrific salsa in the middle; toasted pecans with teeny bit of cayenne pepper and kosher salt; whole dill pickles, bok choy, carrot and celery sticks - always in the fridge; freshly popped corn 3 nights a week; leftover cold pizza. Decadent and good for the soul - but not for the hips: warmed giant blueberry muffin; sugar cookies; a handful of chocolate chips; soft biscotti (mandelbrot); cheddar cheese fingers dipped in homemade jam; toasted pine nuts on Swiss cheese fingers; crackers with anything on top; and my all time favorite - pretzels or bread sticks dipped in microwaved cheddar and jack cheese with a dab of mustard. I don't know about you but I find I snack more in the winter - maybe from boredom, and eat those that are mostly the hip size additions like the above. In the summer there are plenty of veggies, fruits, and tomatoes to snack on right outside my door and I don't crave as many sweets except for sweet iced tea because it is required in the South. I don't buy any prepackaged snacks - too many chemical preservatives, corn syrup, and heavy doses of salt. I make my own crackers, pretzels, and breads for the same reason (but I do also buy some), plus homemade jams and reduced salt pickles. Before I retired I was snickered about because I'd pull out some cheese and crackers or a pile of carrot sticks and a dill pickle for snacks at my desk where they'd munch on a bag of potato chips or candy bars from the vending machine. It took a little effort to package snacks from home instead of from the machine, but I'd make up enough baggies for a couple of weeks in about 10 minutes, plus - I saved a huge ton of money over the years. I still do crave candy bars though and that treat is what I get for my birthday instead of a cake. In my 20's I'd eat two or three a day! Nancy

patti if you can't find it you could get it from amazon they carry all of them including the tortilla, buy several and share with your sister LOL Bear Creek Country Kitchens Tortilla Soup Mix We love soup too, I have not had them in ages not sure I have seen them around here, definitely will look. I started to buy chili fixins yesterday when grocery shopping and now with our dreary day it sure would be good.