Happy 2011!

Happy New Years Bloggers!!

great etsy shop to purchase these posters

Strawberry Champagne Cupcake Sparkler

Hi! I am sorry that I have been so MIA...with the Christmas craze and fun...the posts have been lagging...I'll be back after the New Year, but before I sign off- wanted to share with you all a great idea for NYE dessert from the infamous DC cupcakes. I saw these girls on Oprah yesterday and can't wait to go to DC in May and try out these cupcakes!!

Here's the recipe that they showed on Oprah yesterday- looks so easy and quite the crowd pleaser:

Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes (36 mini cupcakes, 3 per champagne flute)

1/2 cup fresh strawberries , diced
1/2 Tbsp. good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)
2 1/2 cups flour , sifted
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder , sifted
1/4 tsp. salt
4 Tbsp. (4 ounces) unsalted butter
4 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup zero-calorie sweetener (e.g., Splenda)
2 large eggs , at room temperature
2 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract plus seeds from 1 vanilla bean
1 1/4 cups skim milk , at room temperature

Champagne Buttercream Frosting

16 Tbsp. (8 ounces) unsalted butter
4 cups confectioner's sugar , sifted
1 tsp. skim milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)

Strawberry Layer

24 fresh strawberries
1 cup good Champagne (sweet rose Champagne suggested)

Chocolate Ganache

2 cups high-quality dark chocolate

yumm. go oprah go!

Chex Mix

There are so many things that I love about the holidays...being with friends and family, decorations, egg nog, 96.5 radio station that has been playing non stop christmas songs since Thanksgiving...and of course...Chex Mix...yum.

Although you can now buy pre-made Chex Mix at the grocery store- it really just isn't as yummy as the homemade snack. I love it. Pairs fabulously with a martini too.

Here's a great Chex Mix Recipe from PWC (love her):

Ingredients

3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Wheat Chex
3 cups Rice Chex
2 cups Pretzel Sticks
2 cups Mixed Nuts
1 stick (to 1 1/2 Sticks) Butter)
3 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
6 dashes (to 12 Dashes) Tabasco Sauce
3 cloves (to 5) Garlic, Mashed
1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt
¼ teaspoons Onion Powder

Preparation Instructions

Dump cereal into a large mixing bowl. Add in pretzel sticks and nuts.

In a microwave-safe bowl, add remaining ingredients and microwave until butter is melted. Stir together and toss into a cereal mixture, stirring as you go.

Transfer mix onto one or two baking sheets, and bake in a 250-degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool and store in an airtight container.

Grab a handful every forty minutes. Eat. Spoil your appetite.

Gwyneth Does Christmas

First you go to brunch at Ina's and now you are frolicking around London making fabulous Christmas arrangements...Gwyneth, can we please be friends?! Who knew that making wreaths and flower arrangements was so easy. This week's newsletter from GP provided simple and easy instructions. I can't wait to give this a whirl myself.

Gwyneth went to her friend, Hayley's, flower shop in London for her afternoon of merry making!

Thanks GP for sharing these tips:

Hayley’s Holiday Wreath

It took Hayley and I about 30 minutes to make this wreath together. You can find most of your supplies at florists and big department stores. In the U.S., Michaels is a great source for home craft projects.

You'll need:

1 Pine Wreath – available at your local florist
A Selection of Glass Ball Ornaments
Moss Pins
Glue Gun
Glitter Apples
Scissors

The newsletter provides step by step instructions for the wreath making. Here's your before shot:

before

after

Great instructions on how to make this flower display...love the combination of white flowers and candles:

Naughty Betty

Love, love, love Naughty Betty's line of napkins, cards and mugs. Hilarious and so witty...will be sure to put a smile on your face when dealing with your day. I need to make some orders before Christmas...would be absolutely perfect stocking stuffers.

a good laugh really makes everything better!

Napa Bound: Oxbow Market

My mom and I have a tradition of heading up to Napa the morning after Thanksgiving...no, we aren't those looney people that start sleeping outside of Best Buy 48 hours before Black Friday, but we do like a good bargain and any excuse to head up to the wine country. This year after we got some adorable gifts (oops, only bought for myself), we headed over to the Oxbow Public Market in Napa...wowowow...what a find!

Oxbow Market is "a one of a kind place, not to be missed. Whether your in search for a tasty picnic, great take-out, fabulous meal provisions, or if you are looking for a bottle of wine, river front patio dining and and a unique shopping experience, Oxbow will answer all your needs under one roof."

oysters galore

cowgirl creamery...yes, please

Wall Art

Wow, I can't be more impressed by the Craftily Ever After blog. I am not sure if Jessica thinks up these projects herself, but either way- this girl is talented...and crafty...love it. I wanted to share with you a project that she recently did to bring the holidays into her home. I also think that you could use this idea and put your child's name in their room or maybe do a big "EAT" in your kitchen...obviously, the ideas are endless.

Here's a blurb from Jessica, "If you're anything like me, you have Pottery-Barn taste on a garage-sale budget. So when I saw this fabulous bit of word art a few weeks back, I immediately knew I would have to recreate it."

before (buy at pottery barn and spend whole pay check)

after (head to craft store, save money and DIY)

Follow this link for the instructions on how you can make this at home.

Happy Crafting Bloggers!

20 x 200 Love

Thanks to Erin over at Elements of Style, I was able to discover the 20 x 200 site...full of posters and gift ideas for under $20, this place is exactly where you need to be to get your christmas shopping done...or just get started. I just can't get enough of these prints too- would put spice in your normal drab room in a second.

Here's how my ordering will go:

this one's for John- the bike obsessed...loving these colors too

just looking at this photo makes me happy...perfect gift for a girlfriend

the ideal bookshelf...here's one of children's books...would be perfect for sweet little Benjamin

Personalized Place Settings

Yes, yes- it's the holiday season and I am writing this blog post about colors and themes for the spring...but I just discovered these adorable ideas and couldn't wait six months to post. I was taking a look at the Toast and Tables blog and am loving their post about personalized place settings...adds such a sweet touch to your dinner party and your guests get to go home with a little treat.

a sweet little flower pot with your guest's name on a popsicle stick...love.

gorg.

Paula's Pumpkin Gooey Cake

Yum, Yum, Yummmm...I cannot get enough of Paula Deen's Pumpkin Gooey Cake. This recipe is so easy to make and a definite crowd pleaser. Although perfect for the holidays, I think that I am going to make this all year long. I discovered this recipe on Food Network and knew that it had to be something good...1921 reviews...way to go Paula!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

Cake:

1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Variations: For a Pineapple Gooey Cake: Instead of the pumpkin, add a drained 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple to the cream cheese filling. Proceed as directed above.

For a Banana Gooey Cake: Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

For a Peanut Butter Gooey Cake: Use a chocolate cake mix. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter to the cream cheese filling instead of the pumpkin. Proceed as directed above.

Keep Calm...

Okay...I will admit it- I have the "Keep Calm, Carry On" print in my kitchen and absolutely adore it...inspiration to take a deep breath each morning and when I am burning dinner, etc...but here's another confession...I like this print a whole lot more...being calm all the time is just plain boring.

thank you earmark invitations

Ben's Garden

New obsession- Ben's Garden. Thank you Simple + Pretty for sharing this wonderful site...love. Based out of Oyster Bay, New York- Ben creates just the most gorgeous decoupage trays and gifts. I have taken a dabble at trying to do my own decoupage gifts, but it usually ends up disastrous and for the amount of money I spend at the craft store trying to undo the mess...should have just paid someone in the first place for the gift...like my new friend Ben.

custom tray for a wedding...genius.

getting this one for my mom.

thank you marilyn monroe.

Mason Lights

Love love love the vintage look of these mason jar lights. Perfect for a dinner party or wedding. Sweet Jennies cookies look smashing under these lights. Definitely putting these on my wish list this year.

Amazing Etsy find: Treasure Again shop

clearly a fan of the white lights.

best for last...love these mason jar chandeliers...gorgeous for a farm inspired wedding or party.
you can find these 100 layercake marketplace

Using mason jars for canning is so a thing of the past.

Dipsea Hike

What do you do when you eat one too many cookies? Hike, hike...and then hike some more.

I am embarrassed to report that, even as a fourth generation Californian, last Thursday was the first time I hiked the Dipsea trail. Although this is a very popular hike and am sure you have already done it...have to pass on my two thumbs up. If you haven't done it yet, pack some Sweet Jennies in your backpack, and get your buns to the trail...amazing.

Our friend organized a "sunrise hike" on Thanksgiving morning. Hearing the alarm go off at 5:15am on my first day of vacation was the only bad part of the day (oh and scraping the ice off the windshield wasn't too pleasant either)...but it was all worth it. We hiked to Stinson Beach and had a spectacular morning hike. Definitely something to put on your bucket list.

mile seven and still able to strike a pose. go gina go!