(Our pretty tree and living room all decked out in Christmas cheer!)
So I know that Christmas was almost a month ago and the store shelves are now filled with a bipolar mix of red hearts and chocolate bunnies… but you know what? I’m a rebel (well a procrastinator, really), so darn it, I’m going to post Christmas photos anyway!
Hope you enjoy taking a peak into how we deck the halls in my home (we admittedly & proudly go slightly over board) and some special moments from my Christmas 2013… even if we are already half way through January 2014! ;)
Christmas 2013 -
Picking out a Christmas tree! It was an usually freezing Texas day but this is one of my favorite Christmas moments so I didn’t care. You just cannot beat the smell of a real tree! The loveliest aroma! And then some (but definitely not all) of our pretty ornaments.
Another picture of our Christmassy living room and some more holiday décor!
Christmas in our kitchen! The pink tree is definitely a favorite of mine, it adds a little Christmassy quirk! And for the second year we made the cute (& super easy)cupcake liner Christmas tree on the door (idea courtesy of Pinterest). The “Joy” and “Noel” banners are from a craft kit from Hobby Lobby. My sister and I both made one when she was visiting in October. It got glitter everywhere (almost a month later & still finding glitter all over the place) and would not stay up for nothing but it was really cute… and that’s all that matters right? lol
And yes, that is a Pillsbury Dough Boy cookie jar wearing a Santa hat :D.
Christmas dinner place setting. A close up of kitchen décor. And the adorable Christmas aprons my sister bought for my mom and I! The elf belongs to me and Mrs. Santa is my mom’s. Too cute!
Christmas desserts! A Black Tie Mousse Cake Trifle that I made and my dad’s traditional White Chocolate Raspberry Cake (wouldn’t be Christmas without it).
The trifle actually started out as a cake. I was making a copy cat recipe of Olive Garden’s Black Tie Mousse Cake but half way through baking, I encountered a little problem. After baking the cake in a regular cake pan your supposed to transport it to a spring form pan to assemble. Well the only spring for pan that I have is huge, way bigger than the cake was. So needless to say, I had no choice but to improvise. Still turned so delish (& pretty too, I think). Definitely want to try and make it the right way at some point.
More Christmas treats! Staying warm with some sweet apple cider on Christmas Eve. Wouldn’t be the holidays without peanut butter blossom cookies, would it? And Raspberry Linzer Cookies (delish & so festive)!
Some sugar cookie making! So to state the obvious, we cannot decorate cookies to save our lives lol. But it’s tradition and it’s fun!
So my mom and I got all creative and “Pinteresty” wrapping some of my sister’s Christmas gifts… and when she opened them up on Christmas day (over Skype, cause she lives in GA) she… didn’t even seem to notice a thing lol. But to her credit, she later said she was just sleepy and did in fact think they were really cute (well… actually she called them “hipster” but whatever).
My favorite Christmas gift!!! My parents bought me this lovely purple coffee maker! I’m completely in love with it, let me tell ya! So this is my little coffee corner, if you will. And yes, even the cow creamer gets a Santa hat in our house… cause you know, why wouldn’t it? ;)
New Years Eve with my family! My mom & I made tamales (not pictured) with my sister over Skype early in the day. It was my grandma’s New Years Eve tradition and we’re trying to keep it alive. They turned out so amazing! We also had some cheese fondue with French bread, played with sparklers, watched the ball drop, and prayed & toasted the New Year with some sparkling grape juice! A lovely start to 2014!
Last but not least, Christmas décor at the bay in my town!
Hey lovelies! I do not know how 2014 snuck up on us so fast but I really hope yours is off to a great start!
If I’m being honest, when I look back at 2013 I’m tempted to feel disappointed. There were a lot of major goals and life changes that I had on my list last year that, for one reason or another, just didn’t happen. I kinda feel like I was so close but yet so far. I was thinking about all this on New Years Eve and in the midst of enjoying tamales, cheese fondue, and sparklers with my family, I started feeling a little bummed about it.
Today was the day I supposed to start school at Le Cordon Bleu in Austin (blogged about it here). I was supposed to don an all white outfit and chefs cap (that would inevitably make me look like a marshmallow) with ugly black work shoes and join all the other obsessed bakers in one of the beautiful Le Cordon Bleu kitchens and learn about one of my biggest passions, baking. And I was looking forward to it like crazy! Well, best laid plans. For a few different reasons, it’s just not going to happen right now. Set backs… not a fan.
So what am I doing tonight to help me feel better… I’m getting in my kitchen and baking a freakin’ cake lol. Even though, yes, it does go against my New Years healthier eating goal.
But you know what, set backs happen, that’s life. What matters is that I pick myself up and keep on moving and trying. As cheesy as it may sound I really do believe that you only fail when you don’t try.
I know what I want. Hallelujah, for the first time in my life I know what I want. That in itself is a small miracle. And I’m not content with letting set backs stop me. Not anymore. So obviously, my biggest goal for 2014 is getting myself to Austin and becoming a student at Le Cordon Bleu.
So yes, while 2013 was marked by set backs it was also marked by some other things too. It was marked by stepping out of my comfort zone probably more than I ever have, it was marked by believing that I really am capable of living my dreams, it was marked by not just sitting on my behind but actually taking steps to living out those dreams, it was marked by growth, it was marked by exploring new territory, and it was marked by believing that God placed specific dreams in my heart for a reason.
So because of those reasons I refuse to look at 2013 as a failure. I choose to see it as a success. I won’t look back with disappointment but instead will see how far I’ve come and look forward with hope. The hope of taking more steps in 2014 to get to the place that I’m supposed to be.
A lot of people pick a certain word as a theme for their life in the new year. In previous years words like “free” and “forgiveness” meant a lot to me and were themes for the year. For 2014 I really wasn’t sure… there are a lot of words that speak to my heart about what I want 2014 to be and to hold. Some of them are: journey, milestones, bravery, courage, dream, create, new, do, live, adventure, experience, explore. But I think that the one word that encompasses it all is simply, fly.
My sister gave me this lovely butterfly necklace for Christmas. Being as amazing as she is and always believing in me, she said she wants it to be a reminder of courage. A reminder around my neck to fly. Maybe butterflies are our thing since I got her a butterfly ring years ago for very much the same reason. She’s kinda awesome. So my word for 2014 is “fly”.
Other Random Goals for 2014 -
*Learn French – It’s such a lovely language and I’m obsessed.
*Eat healthier and start working out again – This is the typical new years goal but I just really want to be healthier. This is also tough because of my little baking hobby/addiction. I really want to learn how to live with moderation and balance.
*Take a pottery class - Found one that’s really close to where I live.
*Improve my baking (& cooking) skills – Making my “to bake” list for 2014. Perfecting French Macarons is definitely high on that list.
*Sell more of my baked goods – Did this a little bit over the holidays and really enjoyed it. I can honestly say that it can be really stressful but really fun all at the same time lol. And I actually have already taken a step to doing more of it!
*Learn sign language – Ever since I became a crazy fan of the show Switched at Birth (on ABC Family. It’s so awesome!!) I’ve developed a fascination with ASL. It’s such a beautiful language! I already know the whole alphabet in ASL so that’s a start, right?
*Do more crafts, art journaling, & smash booking – These creative outlets are so so fun and really keep me sane!
*Keep blogging and get better at blogging – I was so about ready to throw in the towel last year but somehow, thanks to a blog a day challenge that I did back in September, I have fallen in love with blogging all over again.
*Yes, this contradicts the goal above but nonetheless, less computer time in order to make more time for things like – Writing… you know the old fashioned way, pen and paper. Reading, praying, crafts, working out, … anything other than holding a computer for hours at time.
So those are some of my smaller goals in addition to the biggest one. Wish me luck… or rather just say a little prayer for me, will you? I’ll need it. ;)
Happy New Years Eve, friends! We’ve come to the last hours of 2013 and out of all of the many lovely things there are to reflect on from this year… I’m of course choosing to reflect on the music! I honestly didn’t buy a lot of albums this year but I thought I’d share reviews of a few favorites. I also did discover some awesome bands that I wanted to share with you as well!
This is the second year I’ve done these lists, check out last years here! Also, I would love to know what your picks are for 2013!
Favorite Albums of 2013 -
The Civil Wars by The Civil Wars
Ah, the band that hasn’t officially been a band for a over a year now but I still love like crazy anyway. I’m nothing if not loyal. This album deserves the #1 spot because it is truly amazing from start to finish and because I honestly have listened to it almost everyday since its August release lol. Therefore I know every song by heart… well except for “Sacred Heart” which is sung all in French (though I do admit to mumbling along anyway as if I know what I’m saying.)
This is the second (& presumably final) album from the duo known as The Civil Wars (Joy Williams & John Paul White). You can’t help but get the sense that whatever tension they were going through personally spilled over into this album as it’s definitely a little darker and more intense than their debut “Barton Hollow”. Even opener, “The One That Got Away” starts with a confession of sorts, “I never meant to get us in this deep. I never meant for this to mean a thing. I wish you were the one, I wish you were the one that got away.” The term “southern gothic” definitely comes to mind while listening to these songs, especially on a track like “Devil’s Backbone”.
It’s also a departure from their usual sparse instrumentation. Throughout the songs we hear drums and electric guitars, though different for them, it works. Previously unrecorded tracks that had been long time live concert fan favorites such as “From This Valley” (my favorite & also Grammy nominated), “Oh Henry”, and Smashing Pumpkins cover “Disarm” also found a place on this recording. My only problem (& it’s a minor one) with this album is that I feel that John Paul’s vocals aren’t quite as prominent as they were on “Barton Hollow”. And I found myself missing his voice.
Whatever happened that broke up this beautiful musical union is a mystery but I cannot help but remain hopeful for reconciliation and more music from these two in the future.
One of the main reasons I’ve been a longtime fan of the TX based family band known as Eisley is because their music has a way of transporting you to a different place and taking you on a magical journey. Each album like another chapter to some sort of fairytale. Their 4th album “Currents”, which released in May, is no exception.
Opener and title track “Currents” instantly captures you with haunting music and Stacy’s ethereal vocals. The growth and maturity of the band is apparent in every track. The instrumentation richer and the lyrics poetic. You also notice right away that there is a water theme to these songs, even the beautiful cover, which was designed by Sherri hints to it. And this time around not only do Stacy and Sherri share lead vocal duties but we finally get to hear Chauntelle’s beautiful voice on “Millstone”, which is without a doubt one of the loveliest moments on the album.
I suppose this band could also go into the “music discoveries” list as I just found out about them this past summer. After hearing their song “Heartbeat” and falling head over heels in love with it, I immediately bought the album. “Kids Raising Kids”, which has an indie rock vibe, became my go to cd through out the summer. For me it was one of those rare albums where I didn’t skip a track. Some of the songs having a sort of throwback back 60’s or 70’s sound to me.
Yes, their name implies they are family… but not in the biological sense. Kelsey Kopecky, Gabe Simon, Steven Holmes, David Krohn, Markus Midkiff, and Corey Oxendine are friends who came together in Nashville, TN to form this band. After singing together a few times they felt like they had been doing it all their lives, as if they had been a family band. So they tacked on Kelsey’s last name because they liked the way it sounded and the rest is history.
Even though she’s already been around for while and I’ve actually been following her on Twitter for some time, I just recently really sat down and soaked in the beautiful music of Audrey Assad. I honestly don’t think I’ve been this moved by a Christian artist’s music in a long time. Her lyrics are so honest, heartfelt, and worshipful with lovely piano based music. She kind of reminds me of Nichole Nordeman in the way that her music requires something more from you, it isn’t background music… it makes you think, feel, and beckons you closer to Jesus. Check out one of my favorite songs by Audrey: “Breaking You”.
Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana make up the LA based band, Haim (not pronounced like Corey Haim like I originally thought but it actually rhymes with “time”). Their music has a definite 80’s and 90’s sound. I mean, they would have fit in perfectly in that era. It’s pop music mixed with some r&b influences. I’ve been obsessed with this song lately: “Falling”.
I don’t normally listen to much instrumental music but I was completely mesmerized by the beautiful sounds of violinist, Lindsey Stirling! Dubbed the “dancing violinist” this girl rocks the violin! Yes, rocks! This is not tame classical music. It’s so fun to watch her dance and totally rock out in her videos, which are often very theatrical. Violin and Dubstep are two things I would never think would work together but somehow, Lindsey makes it work in what is my favorite track, “Crystallize”.
Another sister band! Johanna and Klara Söderberg make up the Swedish folk/country duo, First Aid Kit. Their songs are full of beautiful harmonies as well as pretty and often haunting melodies. The song that made me a fan is the sweet sounds of “Emmylou”. Can’t help but sing along when this track is on.
“Now so much I know that things just don’t grow if you don’t bless them with your patience.”
This 5 piece band from Brooklyn have a definite retro vibe to not only their sound but also their personal style. The two lead singers, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig even wear matching vintage outfits and jewelry. I know, I so want to be a part of this band! Right away I loved their vocal harmonies and catchy songs that made me want to sing along. To me it’s indie rock with kind of a throwback twist. My favorite track: “Turn It Around”.
I’m sure just about everyone by now has heard of New Zealand artist, Lorde. Whose real name is actually Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O'Connor. My cousin recently introduced me to her music. After hearing “Royals” I instantly became a fan. I know everyone keeps saying the same thing but it’s true, I can’t believe she’s only 16! Talent beyond her years and I think she’s winning people over by doing something different. Something that sounds unique. And that now a days is an impressive feat. My favorite track: “Bravado”.
Been waiting for this album from my favorite band in the world for a while now. But luckily I won’t have to wait too much longer… “Fading West”, Switchfoot’s 9th studio album, releases on January 14th!!! Woot! From what I’ve heard so far, it’s going to rock!
Thanks to anyone who has visited my little corner of the world here through out 2013. It was fun! Here’s a toast to a hopefully beautiful 2014! Happy New Years, folks!
Hey lovelies! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! And I hope you’re not sick of Christmas desserts just yet because I have one more I want to share with you. I know, I know… it’s almost New Years but I don’t stop celebrating Christmas till January 1st. And even then I’m still holding on to every last bit that I can. So bear with me.
Now that we’ve covered Peppermint Bark… how about some Peppermint Bark Brownies, shall we? Don’t know what it is with me & peppermint lately, think I’m on some kind of kick. Pretty sure it all started with the peppermint mocha I had early this month. Now I’m obsessed.
Even though I have my staple brownie recipe I’m always on the lookout for a new one to try. This recipe combines one of my favorite desserts with one of my new favorite Christmas treats. And it really does look like peppermint bark, doesn’t it? This is the perfect holiday brownie recipe!
A rich and fudgy brownie infused with peppermint extract, topped with a layer of white chocolate and crushed peppermint candies.
These brownies are really easy to make and look so festive! Peppermint and chocolate are such a great combo and the white chocolate gives it an extra layer of flavor.
Really the brownie itself is just so good! It has to be one of the fudgiest brownies I’ve ever tasted. I would love to actually try it on its own without the peppermint extract at some point.
You could cut them into triangles, which I think resembles actual peppermint bark, or squares which also look lovely!
I found this delish Christmassy recipe from one of my favorite foodie blogs & cookie swap hosts, Love & Olive Oil. When it comes to decedent desserts, they never disappoint! I made these brownies for the first time last year and knew this had to be a new Christmas staple. Hope you give them a try before the season is over… or you know, you could just be a rebel and make them in January ;).
Ingredients: 2/3 cup flour 2 tablespoons dark or Dutch processed cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, chopped 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into cubes 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
For Topping: 6 ounces good quality white chocolate, chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable shortening 3 to 4 candy canes, coarsely chopped or crushed (about 1/2 cup) (I used Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips)
Directions:
Start by pre-heating your oven to 350 degrees and lining your baking pan (a 8-by-8-inch) with parchment paper, letting some hang over the sides.
In a small bowl sift together your flour, cocoa, and salt.
Next melt your chocolate and butter in a double broiler. You can do this by setting a mixing bowl over a simmering pot of water. Stir till smooth and then remove from heat. Add the sugar and whisk until it has dissolved and the mixture is slightly cool.
Then whisk in the eggs, vanilla, and peppermint extract until just combined, making sure not to over mix. Add the flour on top of the mixture and fold it in with a rubber spatula just until incorporated. Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. When brownies are done, allow them to cool completely.
Now time to melt the white chocolate! Which it seems like I've been talking about a lot lately. The way I do it is to melt a little bit at a time with a small amount of vegetable oil in the microwave, at 10 to 15 second increments. This method has changed my baking life, let me tell ya!
When brownies have cooled completely, pour your white chocolate over your brownies and smooth it out with an off set spatula. Next sprinkle your peppermint candies on top. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes or over night (for some reason they really are at their best the next day).
After chilled, using the sides of the parchment paper, lift brownies from the pan. Cut them into squares and then diagonally in half into triangles. Brownies will keep in the refrigerator (covered) for up to 5 days.
In the hustle and bustle of Christmas it’s easy to lose sight of what we’re really doing all of this for. To lose sight of what or rather who we’re really celebrating. Tonight, on this Christmas Eve, I want to pause just for a moment – from all the cooking, baking, and gift wrapping – to refocus on the only real reason to celebrate this beautiful holiday, the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It’s way more than just the tree, lights, gifts, and songs… it’s about a way being made for us when there was no way. It’s about salvation.
So many Christmas songs are actually very worshipful. The words to “Oh Holy Night” for instance (one of my favorites) is a powerful song that speaks God’s love and deliverance.
"Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease."
This is really the only time of year that people, no matter their beliefs, sing worship songs to God simply by singing Christmas carols.
As much as I love all the fun Christmas songs the ones that mean the most to me are what I’m calling “true meaning songs”. The songs on this playlist help me refocus on Jesus and why He came. They make me reflect on who I’m really celebrating and why.
So I hope that tonight you’ll stop for just a moment and worship & reflect with me. :)
A song I couldn’t find on Grooveshark but had to share:
Merry Christmas! Hope you have very happy holiday!
In my humble opinion, no turkey dinner is complete without cranberry sauce. It’s just a holiday must! That sweet & tart taste gives the food layers of flavor.
My family and I used to use the traditional canned cranberry sauce. We would stock up on at least two cans on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well last year I started seeing recipes for the homemade version all over the place and was surprised by how easy it sounded. After tasting this lovely homemade cranberry sauce it’s safe to say my family and I will never go back to the store bought kind again! Now the canned cranberry just tastes fake to me. I’m converted.
Real cranberry sauce made from just 4 ingredients and doesn’t come out in the shape of a can? Who knew?! ;)
Homemade Cranberry Sauce -
This cranberry sauce could not be simpler! You basically add all 4 ingredients in a saucepan and let the magic happen. It also makes your kitchen smell amazing, might I add.
It has the perfect jelly like consistency with some whole cranberries mixed in.
It would make a delicious and impressive addition to your holiday spread! Hope you give it a try!
Ingredients: 1 bag of fresh cranberries 1 cup sugar 1 cup of orange juice (can use fresh, but juice from concentrate works just fine0 1 tsp. orange zest
Directions: Put all ingredients into a saucepan and mix well. Cook over medium heat and bring to a boil.
Boil for about 10 minutes until the cranberries pop. There may be a few light colored ones that don't pop, but don't worry, they soften as the sauce cools.
You can serve the cranberry sauce at room temp or slightly warm.
The sauce can be made up to 2 days before and kept in the fridge.
In addition to all my favorite traditional holiday treats, such fudge, divinity, & truffles, I wanted to try something new this year. While peppermint bark is certainly a classic treat to most this was the first year I ever made it. And it definitely won’t be the last. This bark is just the taste of the season! Normally I‘m not even a huge fan of peppermint but when it’s paired with chocolate (cause my philosophy is that everything is better with chocolate) I make an exception. Plus, how pretty and festive does it look?!
I also made this for my churches Christmas dinner and the tin was empty before I knew it! Definitely a new Christmas staple!
Layers of chocolate and white chocolate infused with peppermint extract, topped off with pieces of peppermint candy.
This bark couldn’t be simpler to make and takes very few ingredients. The refreshing taste of the peppermint pairs perfectly with the chocolate layers.
The only problem I had with this bark, which I hear is pretty common, is that the first time I made it the chocolate and white chocolate layers separated as I broke it apart. But the second time I made it, I let the bark sit out on the counter and soften for like 15 minutes before I broke it apart. I don’t know if that’s what made the difference but it stayed together that time. If you are a peppermint bark pro would love to hear your tips on this!
If you’re looking for a last minute gift or a simple and delish treat to take to Christmas dinner I can’t think of anything better than a tin full of this Christmassy peppermint bark!
Ingredients: 10 ounces of dark, semi-sweet chocolate chips 10 ounces of white chocolate chips 1 1/2 teaspoons of peppermint extract 3 candy canes (I used Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips)
Directions: Start by spraying the back side of a baking pan with cooking spray and then covering it with a piece of parchment paper.
Next melt your chocolate. You could do this by using a double boiler; just place a heat proof bowl over a pot of simmering water, add your chocolate, stir till smooth, then remove from heat. Or you could melt it in the microwave for 10 second increments.
Once your chocolate is melted, pour it on to the parchment paper, using an off set spatula to spread it into a smooth and even layer. Place it in the fridge and let it harden for 10 minuets.
Take another bowl and melt your white chocolate. Now as I talked about in my last blog, melting white chocolate is a tricky thing. The way that I did this was by first measuring out my white chocolate and adding the peppermint extract before I melted it. I found if you add it after it's melted it will cause the white chocolate to seize. Next I took a small amount of the white chocolate along with a little bit of vegetable oil in a small bowl and melted it in the microwave for 10 second increments, stirring until smooth. Do this till all your white chocolate is melted.
Once the white chocolate is melted, pour it on top of your chocolate layer and spread it with your off set spatula. Sprinkle your candy cane pieces on top. Set it back in the fridge to set for another 10 to 20 minutes.
Finally take your baking sheet out of the fridge, lift up your parchment paper, and break up your peppermint bark into pieces.
