Hot Cocoa

Nothing gives that warm fuzzy feeling like a mug of hot cocoa. It is one of my favorite things to offer guests on blustery days. If you have a large group coming over for a gift exchange or cookie exchange it is always fun to create a hot cocoa bar. You can offer two or three different kinds of cocoa and some fun toppings. The food network has some great recipes with varied sweetness. If you have a couple of electric urns this process can be done ahead of time, if not all the ingredients can be mixed and all you have to do is heat at the last minute. Here are a couple of variations.

Variations of hot cocoa:
Perfect Hot Cocoa
Mexican Spice
White Hot
Cocoa Colada
Layered Mocha


Garnish your cocoa with the following:
Peanut butter cups on skewers
Candied orange peel on skewers
Cinnamon sugar donut holes on skewers
Whipped cream topped with crushed candy canes

Happy Thanksgiving

Cute Corn Cookies

Recipe.

When I saw this cute cookie idea from Party Blog, I immediately thought this could be a little time consuming. Then the light bulb came on and I said what a cute, fun idea to keep the kid’s entertained on Thanksgiving Day. You could easily bake some sugar cookies a couple days ahead or throw some store bought sugar cookies in the oven early in the morning. The same goes for the frosting. Then let the kids loose with some Reese Pieces and Green fruit leather (I just saw some at Trader Joe’s). This is a great way to make the kids part of the special day by lending a hand with the desserts. What better incentive to get them to eat a healthy Thanksgiving dinner, so they may indulge in their own corn cookie creations.



Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Vanilla frosting
Green fruit leather
M&M's or Reese's Pieces candies

Instructions

1. Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix in the flour a little at a time until the ingredients are well combined. Chill the dough for several hours or overnight.

2. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Divide the dough into 3 parts. Working on a floured surface with one part at a time, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a knife, cut out corncob shapes about 4 inches long. Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 9 minutes or just until the edges brown. Let the cookies set on the sheets for about 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Frost the cooled cookies. Next, use kitchen shears to cut husks from the fruit leather to fit the sides of each cookie. Press the husks in place atop the frosting, with the tips down a bit. Now fill in the middle with candy kernels gently pressed into place. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.

Link Love.

Tuesday Inspiration.

Ohdeedoh
This princess tea party is every little girl’s (and maybe some big girl’s) dream. Precious.


Design Sponge
A new twist on a flower girl basket makes for an easy and beautiful DIY.

The Cupcake Company
Lovely, lovely, lovely layers of beautiful flower topped cupcakes.

Haute Design
Wow…this would be a show stopping wedding dress for a total fashionista.

First Milk
These paper cuts of Lower Manhattan are whimsical and wonderful.

Holiday Decorating Tip

DIY Decor.

I love the modern take on this beautiful bespoke menorah. It could very well be done with any size vase or vessel that you have in your home. The vessels used here are the standard glass vase that you get with flower delivery. If you don’t have a full set then chances are neighbors or friends might have a few to help you complete your look. You will need eight glass votives or vessels, one slightly taller to hold the center shamash candle. Tiny stones or and nine slender candles or white tapers. Fill vessels two-thirds full with stones; then position candles, using the rocks to anchor them so they stand straight. Arrange in a line and light according to tradition.

My holiday décor consists of a tree, garland and usually some type of berries or holly. However, when having holiday get-togethers I am always looking for ways to represent other holiday traditions and religions. This could be displayed very easily on a mantel as a focal point, on the coffee table in the middle of the room or an entryway. It is a beautiful, welcoming, ambient piece for your décor or as a special touch for your holiday event.

Letters Lubell

Chic Paper.

If you enjoy shopping for office supplies as much as I do, then this post is for you. I can’t wait to share these fabulous composition notebooks from Letters Lubell. Each book is 4.375 x 5.5 and letterpress printed front and back in black soy ink on recycled brown board stock. Each book contains 50 blank pages and, drum roll please, is only $7.00.

Not only is this a chic notebook great to throw in your bag and carry to meetings but also looks beautiful setting around your home when you need to jot down the occasional note. They also make a fantastic gift for anyone who loves office supplies (clearing throat), needs some organizational help, poetry writers or even school aged kids.

My suggestion is to order now because I’m sure they will start flying off the shelf.

Giella

Holiday Gift Idea.

We've all had it happen to us. After years of trying on every shade of lipstick in existence, you finally find the perfect shade in the perfect formula...only to have it discontinued shortly there after. All of those hours of searching and dollars spent just go *poof*.

Enter you solution: giella.com. This company can take leftover lipstick, lip gloss, or nail enamel and create a perfect match. Genius!! What could be better than that? How about giving your BFF the gift of what she thought was a lost make-up treasure? Now that is an original holiday gift that keeps on giving. After all...us girls have to stick together.

Photo courtesy of Popartmachine.com

Good Housekeeping - December Issue

Good Read.

Okay…so I read A LOT of magazines each month. I have subscriptions to a choice few and the rest I have fun perusing at magazine racks. I like it because it is inspirational and relaxing but still technically work related. So, when my husband sees me in the afternoon with a glossy and a glass of wine lounging on the sofa, it is all in the name of research and I don’t have one ounce of guilt.

Magazines seem to go through dry periods occasionally like anything else. Lately nothing has been making me say “wow” until at the grocery store, in a last minute snag, picked up Good Housekeeping. Now Good Housekeeping is an occasional read but it is very family oriented and so the cover doesn’t always call to me like some of the others. But I will tell you that my December issue has almost every other page dog-eared. It is full of inspirational Holiday advice on decorating, gift-giving, etc. It is definitely worth picking up.

It is difficult to show you all of the exciting things because a lot of the images are not on their website. But one of the highlights is Gifts of Time which in an online, easy to customize, holiday coupon booklet. If you have decided to cut back on costs and not exchange gifts with your significant other, this could be a way to have something to look forward to and a little holiday fun. What better way to get your spouse to think about household chores and what he or she could do to help.

Lunchboxes You'll Love

Great Find.

I think we are all trying to find ways to be frugal and healthy whenever possible. One easy way is by bringing your lunch to work or school every day. But if you are anything like me, you find it difficult to "mix things up" and maintain a well-balanced menu when you have to transport it from home to office. I mean...changing from Doritos to Tyrell's potato chips still means that I'm eating chips.

So when I first spotted these amazing lunchboxes from PlanetBox, I was SO excited. These metal lunchboxes are non toxic, easy to clean (you can put them in the dishwasher) and the multiple compartments mean you won't have a squished sandwich greeting you when hunger strikes. And maybe I'll actually include a side salad or fruit in one of the smaller compartments...much better for my waistline than the Doritos.

Link Love.

Tuesday Inspiration.

Pretty Little Things
This table setting is all wrapped up with a pretty bow on top.


Saipua
I never tire of looking at the lovely creations by Saipua.


Let's Entertain
I will be scouring the flea markets in hopes of finding some classic pewter mugs like these for my white hot chocolate.


Little Brown Pen
Whoopie Pie Gift Kit…Adorable.