One of the Christmas candy staples at our house is White Chocolate Peppermint Bark. It’s melt in your mouth delicious! It’s great to bring to the office carry in, family gatherings, or to bag up in individual bags with a pretty ribbon and use as a gift! I guarantee you wherever you take your peppermint bark it will be a big hit during the holiday season!

Here’s my favorite recipe!

White Chocolate Peppermint Chocolate Bark

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces (about 2 cups) semi sweet melting chocolate, or chocolate chips
• 12 ounces (about 2 cups) white chocolate, chopped, or white chocolate chips
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract (just a couple drops will do)
• 8-10 peppermint candy canes or about 20 pieces of mint Christmas candies

Preparation:

1. Unwrap the candy canes or mint candy pieces and crush them by adding them to a food processor and pulsing it on and off until they’re crushed, or place them in a large plastic bag and roll over them with a rolling pin until they’re crushed into small pieces (this is a great job for the kids).
2. Have the kids help you cover a cookie sheet with wax paper.
3. An adult or older child can melt the semi sweet chocolate according to the package directions. Pour the chocolate onto the wax paper.
4. Let the kids help you use a spatula or knife spread to it evenly to about 1/8″ thick. Don’t worry about getting all the way to the edges or making it neat, the chocolate will be broken into pieces later.
5. Place the tray in the refrigerator to cool while you’re preparing the white chocolate.
6. Have a grown up or older child melt the white chocolate according to the package directions.
7. Stir the candy cane bits (or mint candy bits) and the mint extract into the melted white chocolate. You can reserve some of the candy cane pieces to sprinkle on top later.
8. Remove the cookie sheet from the refrigerator and use a spatula or knife to spread the white chocolate in an even layer over the semi sweet chocolate. Again don’t worry about it being perfectly neat around the edges, you’ll be breaking it into pieces.
9. Before the white chocolate cools and hardens, sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces over the top and press them in. Place the tray back in the refrigerator to cool for at least another 30 minutes.
10. Once bark is completely set, use your hands to break it into small, uneven pieces.

Enjoy!

While it might be a little early to start breaking out the tinsel and decking the halls, it’s never to early to start planning those Christmas pages and projects, so you can make a little extra cash during the holiday season. That’s why we’re celebrating Christmas in July all month long at the Big Red Bow!

I’m going to be featuring a different Big Red Bow here, and on the Big Red Bow fan page most days during July. I’m also working on putting together some fun prizes for a contest! Challenge yourself to make a new holiday lens each week during the month of July. You’ll be glad you did in December!

Do you own or know about a fabulous location for a Christmas party? Share it with the world with a page on The Big Red Bow. People are looking for a place to have their annual Christmas office or corporate party right now. If you know of a restaurant, hall, or another fabulous location for a company or family Christmas party let the world know about it.

Your favorite venue may be just what someone else is looking for to plan their holiday party. Making a page for the Big Red Bow is free, and you can share your favorite memories, their fabulous catering abilities, the atmosphere, or images of the location all decked out for the holidays.

Not sure how to get started? Stop here first: How To Make a Page For The Big Red Bow

Have fun! Stop back  and share your page if you make one!

When do people start planning their Christmas holiday parties? It seems like many are planning them all year long. According to Google’s Keyword tool the monthly global search volume for “Christmas party” is 1,000,000, the search volume for “Christmas party” for March was 201,000. Are they going to find your Christmas page when they’re searching? Or are you waiting for the busy Christmas season to get here before you start making Christmas party planning, and holiday decorating pages?

If you’re waiting you’re missing out on a ton of traffic, and possible sales. Here are some more Christmas party search terms and their monthly global search volume:

Christmas party games~ March~ 8,100, average monthly searches~ 90,500

Office Christmas party~ March~ 8,100, average monthly searches~  27,100

Christmas Party Invitation~ March~ 4,400, average monthly searches~ 22,200

Christmas party food~ March 1,300~ average monthly searches~ 9,900

Christmas weddings~ Marc h 2,900~ average monthly searches~ 9,900

Drill these topics down, and you’d still have some worthwhile monthly traffic.

As you can imagine, by the end of summer these monthly averages will be on the rise. Most companies that are planning corporate or office Christmas parties are already searching for menu ideas, venues, invitations, and more.

Even hostesses who plan an annual Christmas party for friends are probably already starting to plan some of their decorating strategies, and menu ideas.

You can bet if someone’s planning a Christmas wedding they’re already midway through their planning process.

Will they find your page, information, and products when they’re searching, or will someone else provide them with what they need? Start making your Christmas pages today at The Big Red Bow, so you’ll be ready for all those Christmas party planners.

Did you know you can make a page or pages for the Big Red Bow to promote your online Christmas shop? If you have an online shop with your own website, on Etsy, eBay, Zazzle, or Cafe Press you can promote your work with a page at the Big Red Bow.

Why would you want to promote your shop on the Big Red Bow?

• Get the word out there about your great products and your store.
• You can point links back to your shop and more of your products.
• You can build a page around one theme, which search engines love (more traffic and sales for you).
• It doesn’t cost anything, and it may just pay you some money if your page ranks well.
• Be part of a focused Christmas online directory.
• With Squidoo’s built in modules (Zazzle, Cafe Press, Etsy and eBay), and the easy tutorials created by Squidoo fans it’s easy to include your shop’s products on your pages.
• Make it in the top 100 and your page will be listed on the Big Red Bow’s front page.

How could you promote your shop with a special Christmas page?

~Group several Christmas products together in a theme to show people how they could use them to create their own Christmas party at home. Here are a few examples:

• Candy Cane Party and Decorating Ideas
• Have a Holiday Football Party

~ If you specialize in a certain Christmas related product, but make several varieties, focus on that product and show customers all the options in one place. A few of my favorite examples:

• Gingerbread Aprons
• Golf Ball Christmas Ornaments
• Red Bow Christmas Cards
• Butterfly Christmas Ornaments

If you specialize in holiday postage, Christmas party invitations, Christmas place cards, handmade ornaments, or custom printed tablecloths, why not make a page for the Big Red Bow about your product? It’s free to do, and there’s a ton of potential to send traffic your way this holiday season.

Do you like to make handmade Christmas ornaments and decorations? If you do why not make a page about it for The Big Red Bow? Now is a great time to get started if your going to create some hand crafted Christmas decorations for yourself or for your friends and family. Don’t wait until the Christmas season is here, then you’ll be too busy with all the holiday hustle and bustle.

I made a page on Decorating With Pine Cones last November. Most of the lens talks about some of the handmade pine cone decorations I’ve done. It also points to some crafting supplies, and premade pine cone decorations for sale.  That page made me $22.49 in the few months it’s been up, it made $15.62 during December alone. I can’t wait to see how it does this holiday season, now that it’s established and even getting traffic in April.

If you have some favorite handmade holiday decorations, why not show them off by making a page for the Big Red Bow? You might just make a little extra cash for your pocket if you do!

Does your Christmas tree have a theme? Or do you just add your favorite ornaments every year? Our tree is a collection of handmade ornaments and ornaments we’ve picked up through the years when we were on vacation. We also have several ornaments that have been handed down through the generations, some are definitely antiques.

If you have a special theme for your Christmas tree, or if you just have a tree that’s special to your family for one reason or another, why not share it at The Big Red Bow?

Here are a few of my favorite theme decorating ideas so far:

• Pine Cone Decorations can give a wonderful natural look to your tree.
• We have several sea Christmas ornaments on our tree from vacations on the beach.
• Or maybe some Hawaiian ornaments to give you warm tropical thoughts?
• I have a big soft spot for horse ornaments on my tree, I have several from my childhood.
• Why not deck the halls with some big red bows for a simple elegant look?
• Go classic with some smiling snowman ornaments.
• Or add color with some candy cane ornaments.
• Here’s a roundup of several Christmas tree themes from pink to musical.

What’s your favorite Christmas tree ornaments or theme? Do you have a soft spot for dog ornaments, or the retro look? Make a page for the Big Red Bow and share your own, then stop back and share the link in the comment section!

I’m working on some butterfly theme Christmas tree ideas, I’ll be back to share later!

I have a one-time offer for Big Red Bow fans and club members. If you have a page about Christmas party planning, recipes, or decorating and would like to have it switched to the Big Red Bow template, let me know. This is a one-time offer to add your existing lenses (limit 1 or 2 per person please).

There’s still plenty of room in the top 100 list on the headquarters page to give your lens an opportunity to be featured. This is a limited time offer, so drop me a line, or add your link here if you’d like to have it switched over.

I can’t wait to check out your new or existing Christmas pages!

I’m excited to say that today is the official launch day for The Big Red Bow! Woot! Hop on over and check out the official headquarters page: The Big Red Bow Headquarters. The staff at Squidoo did a beautiful job of bringing the idea to life.

While you’re there make a page to share your favorite holiday entertaining or party planning ideas. From your favorite recipe, to Christmas party themes, traditions, and decorations, the Big Red Bow is the place to share your Christmas favorites with the world. You might even earn a little Christmas cash along the way!

Here are 10 reasons you should make a Big Red Bow page today. Feel free to share your favorite reason. If you have more than one reason that’s ok too! Make a page for each one, we won’t mind.

If you’re new to Squidoo and need help getting started let me know. I’ll be glad to walk you through the process of getting your first page up and going. You can also get help here: Making a Page For The Big Red Bow.

This is going to be the official blog for The Big Red Bow Squid Club, where it’s all Christmas all the time! The Big Red Bow will help you get a head start on your Christmas planning, and help you get a jump star on those Christmas Squidoo Lenses!

It’s never too soon (or too late!) to get ideas for your next Christmas party. At The Big Red Bow you’ll be able to discover tasty menus, creative decorations, fun traditions and more. When you’re ready for a dose of Ho Ho Ho? Just look for the big red bow.

The club will be up and ready for launch next week! The great folks at Squidoo are working hard on the template and setting up the headquarters up now! I’m so excited!

I know it’s early to start thinking about Christmas, but just think of all you could accomplish if you start making Christmas lenses now! The months from August through December are always my most profitable, year after year at Squidoo. My goal is to share some of my strategies with you to help you cash in and create some fabulous lenses showcasing your favorite Christmas traditions, decorations and recipes. Everything and anything that goes into planning your Christmas festivities each year.

Make your quality Squidoo lenses a part of The Big Red Bow Squid Club and I’ll be right there helping you promote and share your ideas with the world. We have a couple months to prepare and plan so we can build the webs biggest and best Christmas entertaining and planning directory. I can’t wait!

Stay tuned!