Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Christmas Link Up Top 5

I appreciate your patience with me with my lack of posts lately. The recent tragedy in Connecticut has been overwhelming for me to comprehend, as I'm sure it has been for many of you. I haven't been able to find the words to say since this happened. One of the little victims was from the city where I live and she will be brought back here later this week for her funeral. Her family has been incredibly strong and amazing examples of Christlike behavior and how to find faith during difficult times. You can listen to his inspiring words here. Thank you again for your patience, and I hope you all can feel the peace and love of our Savior this holiday season.

Thanks so much to all who shared recipes and projects for the Christmas Link Up! Every single project or recipe was awesome. Here's a look at my top five from the link up:


 DIY Anthropologie Winter Snow Globes from Choosing Joy


 Scrap Wood Christmas Tree from Studio 366


 Christmas Faux Mantel Vignette from Girl Loves Glam


 Peppermint Bark Cheesecake Truffles 
from Macaroni and Cheesecake


 Cran-Pistachio Cookies from Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box


Monday, December 17, 2012

A Day of Remembrance


My heart is with the families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. Please feel free to share this image on your blog as well.

If you would like to donate to the Sandy Hook Elementary School Support Fund to provide support services to the families and community that has been affected, please click the United Way logo below to be directed to the donations page. This fund was created by United Way of Western Connecticut in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank.

 Image courtesy of United Way

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

On the Menu at My Family's Christmas Party

My little family is lucky enough that we get to celebrate holidays with both our families. No matter who we're with for Christmas Eve, we'll still get to have another Christmas party with the other family. This year we're with my husband's family on Christmas Eve, so we're having a Christmas party before Christmas with my family.

My family likes to party with a whole bunch of appetizers and treats. The meal is always balanced and we find ourselves pretty much eating and playing games all night long. It's such a blast! Yesterday and I talked with my twin and she let me know the food assignments for everyone. And I am SO excited to dig in that night! I didn't even find out all the food that will be there, but what I do know will be amazing. Can't wait to party! (Check out our party last year for more ideas! You'll also see that we can't get away from some foods. ha ha)

Here's a little peek into our menu for the party. Hopefully you'll find some inspiration for one of your upcoming parties! (Click the link under each picture for the recipe.)


Monday, December 10, 2012

It's a Christmas Link-Up!

Oh, how I love linky parties!
Today, some blogger gal pals and I are hosting another linky party.
This time it's all about Christmas!

Here's what to do:
  1. Link up any Christmas/holiday crafts, recipes, traditions, and other DIY projects and fun. (Be sure to link the actual blog post and not just the blog homepage!)
  2. Link back to whichever blog you're linking on. (Cupcake Diaries, Henning Love, Harvest Home, or Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box)
  3. Have fun looking through the other links and finding new ideas!

And here's a list of the other hostesses! Love these girls.

Meg from Henning Love
Whitney from Harvest Home

And remember...whatever you link will be seen on all four of our blogs!
I will be compiling my top 10 favorites from this link up to share on a separate blog post so I'm extra excited about this linky party.
Thanks for linking up! I can't wait to see all your projects, recipes, and ideas!





Sunday, December 9, 2012

Duck® the Halls!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand® for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am SO close to finishing my Christmas shopping!! It feels good to be this close to being done. I feel like most years I end up spending most of my December trying to finish shopping and it stresses me out. This year, I started Christmas shopping in October and it's been the best decision ever. We did about 98% of our shopping online and it's the been awesome! I'll still get to experience the hustle and bustle of the mall and blend in with the other Christmas shoppers, but I have to say that I've really loved just buying most of our gifts online and having them sent right to my door. What a relief it's been! And it feels so good to have everything wrapped and safely placed under my tree.

And speaking of wrapping, I've enjoyed so much using the new line of Holiday printed Duck Tape® for some of my wrapping needs! The world's most useful tape has just gotten a whole lot cuter, my friends. The fun designs make it really easy to take a plain white Christmas box and jazz it up for a festive look. Add a bow and vuala, you're done! There's a Christmas polka dot design that I especially love. And we have a broken shelf front in our fridge that's about to get a facelift with the snowman Duck Tape® design!

Stop by the Duck Tape® Facebook page and check out all the great products and amazing ideas for ways to use Duck Tape®. I wish I were creative enough to come up with these kinds of ideas! Thank goodness for creative people out there to help me out! Duck® Brand

I hope you all enjoy the best present wrapping time of the year! Make it a little more fun and exciting with Holiday printed Duck Tape®!

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Potato, Corn, and Ham Chowder {As Seen On Mom It Forward}

It was such a thrill to be featured on Mom It Forward on November 30th! I've always loved Mom It Forward, and to have a recipe featured was just so exciting for me. Today I thought I'd share the recipe that was featured, for those who may have missed it. If you have any leftover potatoes or ham from Thanksgiving, this is the recipe for you! This is a great comfort food recipe that just warms my tummy right up.


 
Potato, Corn, and Ham Chowder
  • 5-6 potatoes
  • 2 Tbsp butter or margarine
  • 1 c. chopped ham (small cubes)
  • 1 can cream style corn
  • 1/2 c. chopped onion (Substitute minced onion for those who don’t like regular onions! Just sprinkle it in till you like the flavor.)
  • 1 1/2 c. milk
  • 1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. pepper

Peel your potatoes and dice them up. Cook them for 15-20 minutes in boiling water, or until cooked.

In a saute pan, melt butter and saute the onions. (Skip this step if you’re using minced onion!)
Combine milk, ham, cream soup, and potatoes in a large pot. Add the onions. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring regularly.

Add the corn, salt, and pepper and reduce the heat. Simmer on medium-low for 10 more minutes.

  This post was originally published at MomItForward.com on November 30, 2012. View originally post here.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Christmas Pins: Loving and Listing

I think my Christmas pin board has got to be my biggest Pinterest board. That thing has almost 300 pins, and I'm 100% positive I will surpass 300 before Christmas happens. It's exciting how many new ideas I come across every day! It makes for an exciting holiday with all the choices I have for recipes, crafts, games, etc.

Some of my Christmas pins have been longtime favorites, others new favorites, and I really wanted to list a few of them today!


#1 - 25 Must-Have Christmas Books for Kids from 

 I pinned this as fast as I could when I saw it! We already have a few of these, but I've been so excited to go out and get a couple more! Christmas books are just the best.

 
#2 - Vintage Christmas Posters from Paulo and LuLu

I LOVE this poster! And when I followed the link to it I discovered there were even more with different characters. Such a fun poster to have around for Christmas! (The original pin on Pinterest takes you to a blog. But it turns out there is an Etsy shop where you can buy your own copies and linked it above! You're welcome! ;))


#3 -  Eggnog French Toast from Adveturess Heart

I've never been one to drink eggnog as-is. But I've always thought it would be so good to cook with! I was excited to come across this recipe. I love Christmas breakfasts, and this would be a perfect one!
 


 I was so happy to see this pin!! The entire ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas schedule all in one place. Yes!! We're all about Christmas movies at our house!


#5 -  Colorful Swirl Cookies from Our Italian Kitchen

 I just love how awesome this looks! Look at that perfect swirl. (Does anybody else just want to bite the end of that dough roll?)


#6 - Snowmen on a Stick from Make'n Mold

I pinned this one with the kids in mind. Pretty sure the adults are going to be all over these too!


#7 - 286 Neighbor Gift Ideas from It's Written on the Wall

 I think deciding on what to do for neighbor gifts is one of the hardest decisions for me during the holidays. And it turns out I don't have to worry about that anymore because all the thinking has been done for me! I just had to follow this link and look at over 200 ideas, narrow it down a little, and pick one! This pin is a keeper!

I hope you found something new from these favorites today!
And don't forget to enter to win a $50 Williams-Sonoma gift card and Mrs. Smith's pie before 10:00 TONIGHT! Click HERE to be directed to the giveaway post!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

It's National Cookie Day!

As far as food holidays, this one has got to be my favorite. I am a HUGE fan of cookies. We're talking any kind of cookie. I fully support a day dedicated to the wonder that is the cookie.

I decided to go through my Cookie Pinterest board and share with you some of the cookies that I most want to make. I have to warn you that what you are about to see will most likely cause you to stop what you're doing and bake. You may want to leave some time out of your day fully dedicated to baking.

Enjoy!

 Insanely Delicious Turtle Cookies from  


 Cheesecake Cookies from Heat Oven to 350


 Monster Cookies from Brown Eyed Baker


German Chocolate Cake Cookies from Six Sisters' Stuff


 Over the Top Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies from  


 Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies from Six Sisters' Stuff


Brown Butter Crinkles from Mmm...Cafe

See what I mean?

Now that you're ready to bake one or five of these amazing cookies, head over and enter to win a $50 Williams-Sonoma gift card so you can win it and buy yourself some new cookie sheets for all these bad boys! Click HERE to enter!


Monday, December 3, 2012

Candy Cane Blossoms

When my dear friend, Erin, told me last week that she wanted us over for games on Saturday night, I was so excited. First of all, game nights with friends are always a blast! Especially with these friends. I always find myself laughing hysterically all night, and continuing the laughing as my husband and I drive home and talk about the evening. Secondly, game nights give me an excuse to make some food to bring! Erin wanted me to bring some kind of treat over so I was really excited to get the chance to try out one of the many Christmas treats I've been dying to make.

I saw these Candy Cane Blossoms on good old Pinterest and thought this game night would be a good event to make these. The kids were all there as well, and we all know how kids and cookies go together! (Heck, we all know how HUSBANDS and cookies go together, but that's a whole other story.) On Saturday morning, my husband went in to town while my two year old and I went to work on these cookies. He loved whisking the dry ingredients. He's such a good little helper! (I'd love to be the mom that teaches her kids how to bake then ends up being the best chocolate chip cookie baker in the neighborhood. Yes, this is a goal of mine.)

When it got time to roll the cookie dough balls into the sugar and sprinkles I decided to just let him watch. And he was just as happy to watch as he would have been to help! He was fascinated. These cookies really were fun to make with him and I plan to make them again for a family party at the end of the month. They're easy and they just look so darn cute.

 
Candy Cane Blossoms
Hershey's
makes about 3 dozen cookies
  • 1 bag Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses
  • 1/2 c. butter, softened (It's important that the butter is softened!)
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 c. all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 2 Tbsp milk
  • green and red colored sugar (These can be purchased at most grocery stores in the baking aisle with all the sprinkles. I also used some holiday sprinkles just to mix it up a bit!)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the wrappers from 36 Kisses. (That's 36-ish. This will all depend on how big you roll the dough balls.)

Beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg in your stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl until well blended. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Add a little of the dry mixture to the butter mixture, then put one of the tablespoons of milk in and mix. Then add more flour mixture and mix, and the last tablespoon of milk and mix. Add the remaining flour mixture, if any. (Alternating the milk and the flour mixture will make a better dough and it would dry out.)

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in the different sugars and/or sprinkles and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and the cookie is set. Remove from the oven and cool for 2-3 minutes. Then press a Kiss into each cookie. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet to a wire rack and allow to cool completely. (However, I understand completely if you feel the need to test one or two before they cool. Just be warned that the melted chocolate pretty much goes everywhere when you bite into it. I couldn't wait to try these either!) 


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And if you haven't already, be sure to enter the giveaway for a $50 Williams-Sonoma gift card and Mrs. Smith's pie! Click on the "Giveaways" link above to be directed to the Williams-Sonoma/Mrs. Smith's giveaway.

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