So this year I tried a bunch of new Christmas Cookie recipes….but none of them were really my own, so I thought I’d just do a quick little round-up post so you can see all the goodies I made 
As you can see, I was a busy little bee
1) Peppermint Shortbread- I used this recipe and subbed peppermint extract for vanilla and added crushed candy canes.
2) Reese’s Stuffed Peanut Butter M&M Cookies- I used this recipe and subbed m&ms for chocolate chips.
3) Cinnamon Roll Cookies- I used this recipe and subbed plain almonds for the nuts and left off the glaze.
4) Chocolate Caramelitas- I made these for the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. I used this recipe with skim milk, chocolate chips, m&ms and pecans.
5) Molasses Cookies- I used this recipe and left out the cloves.
6) Peppermint Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies- I used this recipe and subbed applesauce for 1/2 the butter, decreased both sugars by 1/4 cup, used m&ms instead of white chocolate and added extra oats.
7) Toffee Chocolate Squares- I used this recipe but used half the butter, left out the nuts, added m&ms and spread the chocolate chips out when they melted.
8 ) Fudgy Cookies w/ Reese’s- I used this recipe but subbed skim milk for yogurt and added chopped Reese’s.
Put them all together and you’ve got one heck of a cookie plate to give to people!
This year, I was also looking for ideas for Christmas presents that I could make at home. I decided I wanted to make some homemade gift baskets.
Several weeks ago I started searching for ideas. The first one I decided on was homemade vanilla extract! As I kept searching, I ended up with a decent sized list and I was ready to get to work.
Here’s what I ended up putting together:
Included in the baskets above, which I made for my managers at work and a couple friends:
-A loaf of homemade bread
-A loaf of quickbread (either pumpkin or banana) in a cute disposable miniloaf pan
-A ball jar full of homemade granola
-Homemade chapstick
-Homemade Moisturizing Lemon Hand Scrub
-Peppermint Bark in a Cookie Cutter -Homemade Vanilla Extract
These turned out to be a huge hit! They were relatively inexpensive AND they were fun to put together A few pieces of ribbon that I had laying around, some scrapbook paper cut with fun scissors for labels, cardboard boxes covered in wrapping paper and stuffed with tissue paper, some ball jars I had in the basement and a few $1.00 plastic containers.
Do you give homemade gifts?
Happy Holidays!
–Lindsay–
Today’s Workout:
I hopped on the treadmill this morning and walked another 3 miles. For the first 20 minutes I walked and read at 3.5 mph, incline 7.0. From minutes 20-25 I bumped it up to 3.7 mph. Then I put the book down and bumped it up to 4.0 mph. When I hit 2 miles, I increased my speed to 4.2 mph and finished 3 miles in 47:05.
After a short break for lunch, I headed back to the basement and did a new 100 workout. I modified the one I’ve been doing on Mondays: http://www.healthywithheather.com/2011/11/100-workout-strength/
And made it all legs.
Here’s what it looked it:
100 Workout-Legs
This took me 23 minutes. I used weights for the 100 squats, deadlifts and calf raises but did the rest with just bodyweight. My goal was to finish in under 25 minutes.
wow – i am so impressed with all of your homemade gifts! i decided that next year is going to be a homemade christmas! i’ve already started pinning and starring ideas.
sarah (sarah learns) recently posted..let me count the ways
awesome! lots of time to plan
Yumm so many good things here! I love giving homemade things as gifts. I love receiving homemade gifts as well
me too! they’re the best!
awww, what fun presents! i definitely love giving homemade food gifts.
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef recently posted..Cranberry-Pineapple Sauce
So, I have a proposition for you…COME WORK WITH ME!!! I’m a lot of fun to be around…promise!
Parita @ myinnershakti recently posted..15 Minute Fitness
i would LOVE to
Wow! You have some lucky friends!
Stephanie @ On the Road to RD recently posted..A (Food) Plan of Action
haha i think so
it sounds like they all liked them 
HOLY COW so many delicious looking treats! You have definitely been a busy bee!
Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife recently posted..A Holly, Jolly Weekend
Love the idea of homemade chapstick. I just found a recipe for a vegan one, and the site had homemade recipes for a bunch of household and beauty stuff!
Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFiles recently posted..Fresh Start
Wow, that is very impressive work! One year for Christmas, I made a CD of various Christian songs I like and gave it out to family and friends. I also like giving cookies as gifts.
Kristen @ notsodomesticated recently posted..Martha’s Mac & Cheese
You are amazing! Those gift baskets rock!
Abby @ Abz ‘n’ Oats recently posted..graduation
This is such a cute idea! Those cinnamon roll cookies in particular sound amazing.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Catering Survival + 2 Holiday Cheese Dishes
Oh my gosh those homemade gifts are so cute! I’ll definitely have to remember that idea for next year!
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..A Q-Tip Can Be a Toy
Oh my goodness. I am so impressed by these!
Your creativeness is amazing! And everything looks so delicious. I love making homemade gifts for my friends but I’ve never done anything quite this extensive. I’m inspired!
Your friends are miiighty lucky.
Emily recently posted..Home: Where The Heart Is
wow, all of these gifts are amazing! every year I say that I will do homemade gifts, and every year I don’t do it…I suppose there is still time for next weekend!
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite recently posted..Secret Recipe Club: Chicken Noodle & Corn Casserole
You can send me a homemade gift
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..Week In Review: 12/12/11-12/18/11
That is seriously the best homemade gift bundle ever!!!!!!!! I totally need to start doing stuff like this for P’s care packages! I’ll be bugging you for tips super soon =) MWAH!!!!!
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons recently posted..Mirror Mirrors… all OVER the wall
Aww, those little gift baskets are so cute! I would be very happy to receive one, that’s for sure.
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..Flourless Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
Thanks for doing this sweetie
I love how you noted your substitutions too! THANK U! I want to do baking when I get home 
If I want to alter the recipe a bit I might just come to you??????? 
Anytime girl!
love the idea of homemade gifts! and girl you out did yourself because everything looks great!!
So many delicious treats! I love giving homemade gifts
But since I’m flying home, food gifts are sort of out of the question. My whole bag got emptied and searched last time because I packed peanut flour! haha
Liz @ iheartvegetables recently posted..Time-Saving Caramel Dip
Yowza! You are a baking queen! I bow down!!! Amazing. Truly amazing!