Monday, December 19, 2011

Handmade Holiday Cheer: Personalized Ornaments

Happy Christmas week!

I was looking for a few extra goodies to add to some Christmas care packages and when I saw this post from Nina last week, I new that the personalized ornaments were in my crafting future. I'm a sucker for anything personalized. Bonus points if it's Christmas related.


I picked up some bright colored ornaments at Hobby Lobby as well as some festive ribbon. I used white craft paint that I already had at home to carefully paint names on the ornaments. I tied pretty little bows atop the wire loop and this simple Christmas craft was complete! Don't forget to use fray-check or clear nail polish on your ribbon ends!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

As I mentioned a few days ago, I spent last Saturday baking up some Christmas treats. These cookies made their way onto the baking list and I do believe they will remain on my list for years to come. I love red velvet anything and with only a handful of ingredients, this is such a simple cookie to make. They're pretty, they're pepperminty and bonus points because they're a festive color- red! If you are not a peppermint loving soul, I do believe a simple red velvet crinkle cookie would be delightful. I just happen to love that candy cane crunch!

Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
recipe from Duncan Hines

1 box Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix
6 tablespoons butter
2 large eggs
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter and set aside to cool. Place cornstarch and powdered sugar in a shallow bowl (I recommend using a pie dish) and mix well with a fork.

Place cake mix, eggs and cooled butter into a large mixing bowl. Mix by hand until well blended. Stir in crushed candy cane. Using your hands, form dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the powdered sugar/cornstarch mixture. Place on a cool, un-greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time, for 9-11 minutes, in the center of the oven.

Cool on a wire rack.



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Our Christmas Kissed Casa

I love, love, love decorating for Christmas! My family's home was nothing short of magical at Christmastime and now that I have a home of my own, I've recreated the feeling as Mark and I start to make our own memories and traditions together. I love that from the moment you arrive at our front door, our house is literally kissed with Christmas all over. I love red, green and lots of sparkle! Every room in the house has something special to smile about.

Mark and I made a trip to The Reindeer Ranch to get our tree this year which was so much fun. We picked out a 10 foot North Carolina Fraser Fir that sits front and center in our living room. Mark is finally learning this year that the first person up is responsible for turning the tree on. There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning and walking out to pour your coffee while seeing a perfectly glowing Christmas tree. It's like a Folger's Coffee commercial every single morning. I know, such a Yuletide freak I am!



Our tree has no special theme. Only memories! I'm thankful that both Mark and I have families that started the tradition of giving ornaments every year. I plan on doing the same thing for our future minis. Our tree is filled and holds a combined 61 years of ornaments! We have ornaments from the time we were both born until now and each holds a serial memory. There are no two ornaments alike! Our tree is covered in 2,200 lights! Our personalized Pottery Barn tree skirt was a wedding gift from our dear friends.


I grabbed an eggnog latte, turned on The Holiday and did some Christmas wrapping! Cheerful presents under the tree are such a pretty sight.

Our stockings match our tree skirt and are a new addition to our decor this year! They're hanging with care.


My parents gave me this beautiful, hand painted nativity a few years ago. It's white with simple gold detailing and I love it sitting on our bookshelf. The camels are my favorite.


Last year, I discovered my love for filling every open container with ornaments. It's a fun and easy way to add Christmas happys all over the house. I filled my trifle dish with red, silver and gold ornaments and keep it on our coffee table.


In our small powder room, I filled a metal bucket with ornaments, cinnamon pine cones and some clippings from our tree.


The Santa soap dispenser is back this year and sits next to this hand painted ceramic tree! My mom painted these little gems years ago and she sent one home with my over Thanksgiving. These little light up trees were always a favorite of mine when I was younger and I smile every time I walk by and see it glowing.


This year, I tried something new with some extra ornaments and hung them from the light fixture above our table. I'm loving the way they ornaments look like they just float.


I love this simple wreath hanging over our kitchen window above the sink. I picked it up at our local nursery and added my own sparkly gold bow. It's real and smells delightful!


And because I need something pretty to look at while I work, a tiny Charlie Brown tree in my office. It's decorated with small gold balls, white twinkle lights and gold swizzle sticks. This is the same tree that used to twinkle in my bedroom growing up, so it has a special little place in my heart.


I'm linking my Christmas decorations up with Erin for the last post of this fun Holiday link up! It's been so much fun to take a virtual Holiday Home Tour of blogland.


We're off t0 look at Christmas lights around our town. We have mint chocolate chip ice cream, Christmas pajamas and the movie Elf waiting for us when we get home. (with a special appearance by Mr. Buble on Saturday Night Live!) Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Handmade Holiday Cheer: White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

I spent last Saturday in the kitchen with our sweet neighbors trying out some new Christmas recipes. We made three types of cookies, cake batter bark and this White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn that has already seemed to make its way out of the kitchen and into our bellies in less than a week. Santa isn't the only one with a bowl full of jelly at this time of year. Ha!

A lot of sweet, a slight dusting of salt and peppermint crunch in every bite, this festive popcorn is a guaranteed holiday hit. Serve it in festive bowls at a Christmas party or package it up and deliver Christmas happys to your family and friends. Or, you can always enjoy it Moore style: grabbing a handful every time you pass through the kitchen.



White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
recipe from Plain Chicken

2 bags microwave popcorn (no butter, slightly salted is best)
1 6 oz. box of candy canes, crushed
1 package Almond Bark
1 tsp. peppermint extract

Pour popcorn in the largest bowl that you have. You may also divide it in half, creating two batches if you don't have a bowl large enough. Pour crushed candy canes over the top of the popcorn. Melt almond bark on the stove, using a double boiler or double boiling method. While almond bark is melting, clear off counter space and line with parchment paper. Once the bark has fully melted, add peppermint extract. Pour the minty mixture over the popcorn and stir until all of the popcorn is kissed with chocolate. Dump popcorn onto the parchment paper and allow to harden.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Oh What Fun It Is To...Create!



I am having so much fun with these cheerful link ups this week! Every morning is a huge Christmas fest as I drink my coffee and catch up on my blog reading. My mother always says that everyone has a little creativity in them and I believe that even more than ever before, especially now being a part of the blogging community. Today's link up is hosted by one creative mama, Meredith from The Tichenor Family!

My creative wheels turn at a high speed during Christmas and even though I feel as though I've worked harder than a North Pole elf crafting my Christmas loving heart away, I'm starting to panic because there are still a few things I want to get done and Christmas is LESS than two weeks away!

Over Thanksgiving weekend, my mom and I made our own Advent Calendars.


I made a Pottery Barn inspired wreath for our front door.


My "little sister" that volunteer with came over last week and we made our very own gingerbread house! She absolutely loved it, and then told me she couldn't wait to grow up so that she could become baker and open her own business. So cute.


I cannot take credit for the idea below, but I could not leave it out of this post. This creation made its way to our doorstep earlier this week and when I opened it, my eyes filled with tears. Our fabulous wedding photographer had been holding onto a little momento from our Wedding Day. During our toast, when the champagne was popped, the cork hit Lindsay in the head! She tucked it away in her bag for safe keeping. I keep all corks. I have the cork from the Champagne toast my dad gave us on the night we got engaged, I have the cork from the bottle of wine we drank at Pane Caldo in Chicago on our one year anniversary and I have the corks from the bottle of wine we opened on a random Tuesday last winter. I don't know how it never occurred to me that we didn't have the cork from our Wedding Day.


How special is this ornament that Lindsay made us!? She took our cork, placed it in a plastic ornament with some simple brown crinkles and added a ribbon topped with a sweet "just married" medallion. This would be a great gift for any newlywed couple. Thank you Lindsay, you are the best!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Oh What Fun It Is To...Cook!

Duchess of Fork

Today's link up is hosted by Molly of Duchess of Fork and I'm so excited to share one of my favorite family recipes. I'm all about the food over here so it should go without saying that this might be my favorite link up of the week! The Italian Pizelle cookie is a Christmas staple in my family kitchen and it would not be Christmas without them. These cookies are light, crisp and in my heart they are guilt free because they are like eating air...only a little sweeter. One is never enough.

Pizelles make a beautiful addition to a Christmas party dessert bar, on a plate of cookies taken to the neighbors or wrapped up with cellophane and a giant bow to accompany a hostess gift. A Pizelle iron is an essential kitchen appliance in all Italian homes and a worthwhile investment for anyone wanting to add a sweet Italian tradition to your Holiday baking list!



Italian Pizelles

6 eggs
3.5 cups flour
1.5
1 c. cool melted butter
4 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. anise extract
Powdered sugar, for dusting


Preheat pizelle griddle. Sift flour and baking powder in a medium mixing bowl. Beat eggs, adding sugar gradually. Add butter and anise, slowly add in the flour/baking powder mixture until you have a sticky, doughy mixture. Drop dough in tablespoonfuls onto the griddle. Cook until the steam stops and the cookies have turned a golden color. Remove with a fork and cool on wire racks. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Oh What Fun It Is To...Entertain on New Year's Eve!

According to Nina

I am excited about this Holiday link up hosted by some lovely bloggers this week! Today, I'm linking up with Nina to share my sparkly plans for our New Year's Eve guests! I fondly refer to my family as the party type and we wouldn't have it any other way. My parents love to entertain and they have certainly shared that love with me. We're Italian. It's what we do. There is nothing better than hosting friends and family in your home and making them feel all warm and fuzzy and loved. And the more, the merrier!

The newlyweds are making their way from Washington D.C. to spend New Year's weekend in the Midwest and I'm bursting with excitement. I am not wishing away Christmas but I am just so excited for their arrival! Meghan and I have been dreaming up our little New Year's Eve party for what seems like months and we can't believe it's only a few weeks away. I also made her promise me that she would watch the end scene in The Holiday because that is exactly what I envision!

I picked up some inspiration from Pinterest and I plan on finalizing my menu before we head south for Christmas. I'm looking forward to a fancy night at home with heavy hors d'oeuvres, festive cocktails, bite sized sweet treats and twinkle lights. Any home party is not complete without living room dancing and we can't forget to add a new dress to the list! MOD & Scott- we can't wait for your arrival!























Source: google.com via Nina on Pinterest