Welcome to this week's issue of 4MomsAtHome!

1. Announcements
2. Featured Article - Giving Homemade Mixes in a Jar
3. Special Offers
4. Contests and Sweepstakes
5. Featured Article - Easy Gift Idea -- Snowman Doorstop
6. Featured Recipe - Shortbread Cookies
7. Featured Article - So You Think You Aren??™t Creative? Build Your Own Coffee Table to Discover Your Own Artistic Spark!

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Mixes in a jar are thoughtful and inexpensive gifts to give to anyone for any occasion. The idea is to layer dry ingredients of a cookie, cake, biscuit, muffin, beverage or other recipe decoratively in a jar and add directions of how to complete the recipe. The jar can be a mason jar or a recycled, clean mayonnaise or other large jar that has a lid and can then be decorated with fabric, ribbons, paint, etc.

I have seen these jars of mixes sell in retail stores for around $8.00! Imagine the savings if you were to make your own! A few inexpensive ingredients like flour, brown sugar, chocolate chips and a jar don't cost very much! Gift recipients will love receiving a homemade mix from you so they can easily prepare a treat to enjoy and when they prepare the treat, they'll be thinking of how thoughtful you are.

Mixes in a jar are excellent for gifts that need to be shipped because you don't have to worry about baked goods getting smashed or getting stale. A mix will allow the gift recipient to freshly prepare the treat when it is craved or needed. They are also great to give to children's teachers, neighbors and acquaintances because of the ease and money savings involved.

Here is a delicious mix recipe for you to try:

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cups packed confectioners' sugar

3/4 cup cocoa

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart wide mouth canning jar. Clean the inside of the jar with a dry paper towel after adding the confectioners' sugar and after adding the cocoa powder. Be sure to pack everything down firmly before adding the flour mixture, it will be a tight fit. Store in a cool dry place away from a heat source so condensation and clumping does not occur.

Instructions to attach to Jar:

Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Thoroughly blend mix.

Add:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix until completely blended. Shape into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheets. Press balls down with a fork. Bake at 350F degrees for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

If you'd like more mix recipes, check out the Creative Mix Recipe E-book here: http://homemakersjournal.com/mixes.htm

About the Author: Monica Resinger publishes an e-mail newsletter Mon-Fri for homemakers that poses fun questions to readers about organizing, crafting, gardening, frugal living and other homemaking subjects; readers can respond to the questions and receive the resulting, very informative 'tip sheet'. If you'd like to join the fun, send a blank e-mail to: HomemakersJournal-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe.

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Kids of all ages will have fun making this!

Such a cute and practical gift or to make for yourself to keep out "Old Man Winter"!

Supplies needed for each Snowman Doorstop:

One white tube sock, the longer the better One or two pounds of white rice One child's colored sock Three heavy-duty rubber bands Felt or other fabric scraps to make scarf and mittens White Glue; but hot glue will work better Two wiggly eyes One orange pompon Six to eight brown or black buttons One brown pipe cleaner, cut in half

Directions:

Fill the tube sock about 3/4 full with rice. Use rubber bands to divide the sock into 3 sections in proportions equal to a head, a torso and legs. Use one rubber band to close the end of the sock (this is the head). Use the child's sock as a hat. Glue on the wiggly eyes, pompon nose, buttons (mouth shape). Cut out a scarf and a pair of mittens from the felt or fabric. Glue the seams of the mittens leaving an opening for the snowman's hands. Poke the pipe cleaners pieces in for stick arms. Dab some glue around the opening on the sock. Allow to dry. Put the mittens on and secure with glue. Allow to dry.

Your little snowman can sit by the door until a cold winter night when he can lay down in front of the door to keep the chill out.

© 2003 by Leslie Sausage

Leslie Sausage is a freelance writer, mom and author of 100 Gift Mixes -- Cocoa, Coffee, Tea and Cappuccino, an e-cookbook with variety of wonderful hot beverage mixes. For more creative, practical and fun ideas for your home, visit Frugal Homemaker http://www.frugalhomemaker.com

Nothing is more satisfying than creating a special piece of furniture for your home! And probably no major furniture piece allows more creativity than a coffee table. But you think you are about as imaginative (and colorful!) as white walls and a popcorn ceiling. Take heart! There are ways to release that little creative spark you are sure just isn't there!

Here's how to begin to allow that dormant creative instinct to grow:

1. Immerse yourself in books and magazines to find a coffee table you love. Don't limit yourself to a certain decor or style. Just find something that brings you joy!

2. Break the shape of the coffee table down into elements:

o Are the legs bowed, turned, straight or rounded? Clawfoot or plain? Or maybe it has not legs, only a center base.

o Is the top rustic or sleek, clear or opaque, smooth or rough?

o Is the base round or square or indefinable?

3. Look around you. Is there something that has the same general shape as each of the elements you have defined? Don't limit yourself to something you expect coffee tables to be made of. Just check shapes which mimic those you have discovered.

4. After you find a shape that is approximately the same as the one you want, check the materials from which it is constructed.

o Are the materials strong enough to hold up to frequent use?

o Is there a way to attach a base or top? Or will the top simply rest on the base anchored by its own weight.

o If it is to rest on the base, will the top remain stable? If you have children, it is better to use a base which can be securely attached to the top.

o If the top is not to be attached, make certain the top rests on at least three even points on the base.

o Also make certain that the top you chose is not too big to balance on the base.

5. After you find the shape and stability you want, check for color and texture. Ask yourself:

o Do you want color?

o If so, do you want the table to be a focal point or an accent?

o Do you want texture? If you have small children, chose materials and textures which are safe and free from textures which have sharp edges.

o Do you want to keep the original look of the object or shape?

6. If you have decided to change the color, paint or sand the pieces which you have chosen. A good sanding and a coat of black or white paint or a quick stain can work wonders! If you want a more decorative look and you have no artistic talent, there are wonderful touches which you can easily apply available at your hobby/sewing store. Or use cut-out shapes from wallpaper! You can even print an appropriate pattern from the internet onto photo paper and decoupage (get supplies from your local hobby store!)

7. Assemble the shapes or elements into an original table! Combine the top and base to make your one-of-a-kind coffee table! And you thought you weren't creative!

Utilitarian or purely decorative, the possibilities for expressing yourself with your own coffee table are endless. Elegant, rustic, romantic, sleek, colorful or subtle, coffee tables can make a visual impact in any room. Want 100+ other ideas for an imaginative coffee table? Check out my new book!

Pamela Cole Harris is an editor, writer and eco-decorator with over 35 years experience. Her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com is full of her unique decorating ideas and "how-to"s. Her new book, "100+ Wildly Imaginative Ideas for Creating Your Own Coffee Table - a Handbook for the Creatively Deficient Decorator " is available through her website or at http://www.lulu.com/pamelacoleharris .

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The 4MomsAtHome Ezine is published by Karen Denning, Editor & Webmaster of 4momsathome.com.

Please send feedback to: karen@4momsathome.com

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