Initials for the Tree

These cute initial ornaments from Anthropologie are only $4 right now, and they're great for tree-trimming next year for each member of your family....so cute, wrapped with yarn in bright colors, with little jingle bells too!

For Next Year...

After Christmas sales are so fun, aren't they?  But this year, there didn't seem to be as much as there normally is at the stores, as it all went on sale before Christmas!  However, I found that Pier One had the best selection of fun decor/gifts at 50% off right now...

These two natural rattan decorations were large, beautifully decked with "snow" and only $9.98!

And this stack of natural rattan boxes are only $27.38!

Tote Reverse!

My daughter-in-law got the cutest purse/tote from Urban Outfitters for Christmas, and it's reversible!  Check it out in a few colors:

Cool Tees

Where I live, Chuy's Mexican Restaurant is a favorite, and they are selling tshirts that combine their restaurant with Star Wars - so fun!  We bought them for our relatives...you might like one too!

You can buy them on line here!

Caramel Pecan Brownies

These caramel pecan brownies were pretty easy to put together and they are decadent!  The brownies are especially good, but the topping puts them over the top!  It's similar to the topping on German Chocolate Cake!

Here's the recipe from Woman's Day Magazine.

Floodplain

I got this CD for Christmas because I really love this artist Sara Groves - she's unique - super talented writer - and has a soothing voice and thoughtful lyrics - makes a great gift!  She has several CD's and each one is worth having in your music library... This new one is called Floodplain.

Fitkicks

These comfy shoes were one of my Christmas presents and I wanted them for two reasons - they fold up in your purse to carry when you have to wear heels to walk and need a change of shoes after the evening is over - and they are super comfy with a sole and feel like a sock - for exercising or wearing wherever!

They're called Fitkicks!

Christmas Salad

Easy fruit salad, and so pretty for Christmas:

It consists of oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, kiwi and pomegranate seeds.

Peel the oranges and grapefruit with sharp knife, stripping away the pith.  Cut into segments and add to bowl.  Cut pineapple in chunks, and peel and dice kiwi.  Chill.

Right before serving, drain the juice and sprinkle seeds over top.  (You can find pomegranate seeds in a small container in the produce section).

That's it...enjoy.

Fruity Grinch Santas

Cute little Grinch santas, easy to make, and the kids love them!

Just take long toothpicks (I used plastic ones) and thread on each one: a mini marshmallow, strawberry, banana slice, and a large green grape - that's it!

Magic Christmas Bars

These Christmas Magic Bars are made with layers of candies and cookies and sweetened condensed milk...and they're as decadent and as rich as they look!  And pretty easy to make!

Check out the recipe here!

Gotta Have It

Honestly, this lotion's scent will make your day - it's from World Market - and it's just indescribable - a great stocking stuffer!

Little Kiddie Beds

These little inflatable beds are absolutely perfect for sleepovers when you have kids spend the night or when you take your kids to spend the night elsewhere!  They are on sale at Lakeside, one of my favorite online stores!

ColdBrew Kit

This is a local company here in Austin where I live, and this DIY coldbrew coffee kit might just be the gift you've been looking for that's unique and for that coffee lover you know...from CoffeeSock

Cookies to Give

My friend gave us a tin of these most deliciously beautiful cookies made with Ritz crackers!

Spread peanut butter on a Ritz cracker and top with another, then dip in melted chocolate.  Place on parchment paper and top with your choice of sprinkles and let them cool!

She says they're easy to make.  They're just the right amount of crunch, salt, and sweet!

Wrapped & Delivered

I highly recommend the products from Sunshine Farm - and the lady who makes all of these natural lotions, soaps, etc. mails them out so promptly and even wraps for free!  And everything smells so awesome...my favorite is the face food!

soaps...

lotions...

face food...

Trinket Dishes

Sometimes the best gifts are the most whimsical ones...from Anthrologie...

giraffe trinket dish

bird bath

frosted forest

Crackers for Christmas

Did you know...there are Christmas wheat thins and ritz crackers?  Such a little thing, but just having these on my plate makes me feel festive, and when paired with little slices of cheese, it makes me smile!  Look for them at your grocery store...

Apple Sausage Cheddar Monkey Bread

SUPER delicious for your holiday breakfast baking!

Brown 8 oz breakfast sausage in a cast iron skillet.  Add in two diced red apples and continue to cook until apples are soft.  Transfer to a bowl.

Meanwhile open a 16 oz can of biscuits and cut into one -inch pieces, place in the bowl, and toss.

Spread the mixture back in the skillet and top with 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese.

Bake at 425 degrees til golden, about 22 minutes.

Monte Cristo Strata

We made breakfast for my husband's office and one dish was this Monte Cristo Strata, found in Family Fun Magazine.  With ciabatta bread, deli smoked ham, gruyere cheese and thyme, how could it be anything but good?

Blue Ribbon Blueberry Muffins

These blueberry muffins are blue ribbon winners - and the recipe is from Marjorie Johnson, the Blue Ribbon Baker!  Her secret to getting the muffins to rise really works!  You just spray the bottoms of the muffin tins and not the sides!

We made them for a Christmas breakfast.

Click here for the recipe.

Cheese, Anyone?

I saw this in an ad and thought it was the coolest cheese board - with multi levels - and would be great for the holiday gatherings! It's from Bed Bath & Beyond!  I want one...

Banana Crescents

See this cookbook and recipe?  I love these old-fashioned cookies and tonight I made banana crescents with almonds.  They were really easy, and came out so cute, and very tasty - the banana and almond flavors together make them really, really good!

Tiny Pies

Have you visited the tinypies.com website?

Look at this cute, affordable gift to order and take to a dinner for four, or as a hostess gift, or to enjoy yourself!  You can also buy them in several store locations in the Austin area, and a few other Texas cities...just check out where to buy.

Cookie Tins for Earrings

While out shopping at a Christmas bazaar today, I saw this cool way to display or store earrings.  These are halves of  cookie tins, affixed to the wall with L-brackets, and the earrings are then hung on them!!!  Wouldn't this be cute on a closet or bathroom wall?

Tostadas for Two

Don't buy those tostada shells that come in a box at the store - don't do it....make your own - it's easy and makes all the difference in taste!

Here's what we had available for dinner:

leftover grilled chicken breasts
cherry tomatoes
refried beans
onion
jarred japalenos
pepper jack cheese
limes
corn tortillas
salsa

Chop the chicken, jalapenos, and onion.  Slice the cherry tomatoes in half or fourths and lightly salt.  Grate the cheese.  Heat about a cup of the beans mixed with a pat of butter.

Heat a thin layer of canola oil in a small skillet over med-hi heat.  Fry four tortillas, one at a time, a couple of minutes til crisp and drain on paper towels.  Sprinkle with salt.

Drain the oil except for about 1 T and add in 1 T butter.

Add the chicken mixture and salsa, until heated through, squeezing lime juice over top.  Spread a thin layer of beans on the tostada shells, top with the hot mixture, top with cheese and fresh tomatoes.

This meal was delicioso!

Round Yon Bowls

Spotted these gems in Crate & Barrel tonight and then saw on line how versatile they are! Great for decor, hostess gifts or for serving dishes!  The little ones also come in red, and there are round little ball-shaped candles that look so cute in them!

Cauliflower Sandwich

We had a most delicious meal tonight at a restaurant here in Austin called Sala & Betty.  I ordered a sandwich with veggies instead of meat, on a cauliflower tortilla instead of bread!  And here's what it looked like:

And here's how it stacked up:

cauliflower tortilla on the bottom

a layer of queso

grilled zucchini and yellow squash

french fries

mixed greens

shredded carrots on the side

I looked and found a recipe for the cauliflower tortilla on line and it's found right here.  The photo for it looks similar to the one above:

Oh my, was it good...

Combo Fried Rice

This is fried rice with a twist....

In a large skillet place 2 T olive oil and then salt and pepper two chicken cutlets and fry until done.  Set aside and then cut into bite size pieces.  Meanwhile boil a bag of instant brown rice and drain.

While the rice is cooking, chop celery, onion and carrots and add S&P. In the same skillet (after the chicken is removed), add the vegetable mixture and the juice of an orange.   Stir fry until tender, and add in soy sauce.

Toss in the rice and stir fry, add in the chopped chicken.  Stir fry and taste, adding in soy sauce as needed.  At the end, stir in about two cups of baby spinach until it wilts.

Top with chopped cashews.  Serve up and enjoy!

As my husband said when he ate, this meal was like cashew and orange chicken mixed with a little stir-fry - and it worked!  The spinach was just an added touch of green for the holidays...:)

Thump Box

A friend's son had this cool device and showed it to several other guys were oohing and ahhing over it - because it's SO cool - it is a bluetooth speaker that turns any surface on which it sits into a loud speaker system!  Great gift idea for the guys...

Found it online...

Tea for Two?

Look at these unique tea towels for the holidays!  Llamas, ugly sweaters, and cats!

Super cute for yourself...or as a hostess gift! From Paper Source...

3-ingredient Mac n Cheese

My family requests this simple dish every time we eat together - and it's just three simple ingredients - a recipe I copied and learned from my grandmother...

2 bags large elbow noodles
10-12 slices Deli Deluxe American cheese slices
1 stick butter

Boil water and salt it, according to directions, toss in macaroni and cook until tender (not al dente.)

Prepare a 13 X 9 dish with pats of butter on the bottom.

Drain the macaroni well, and place half of them in the dish, layer with half of the cheese, then macaroni again, more pats of butter, and top with the rest of the cheese.

Heat in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts and runs throughout the mixture...

It's really divine... Don't substitute any other cheese or any other noodle or any other step... :)

Trail Mix Deluxe

Trail mix is easy and a great snack for the weekend following thanksgiving...

Dried apricots cut in fourths
Dark chocolate chips
Salted edamame dried roasted
Walnuts
Sunflower seeds
Pepitas

Chilaquiles for Supper

Chilaquiles - that was the recipe - but I didn't quite have all the ingredients - so I improvised.

I used:

1 can chili
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
2 cups cooked stewed chicken (I bought this already prepared and cooked)
8 jarred jalapeno slices
5 green onions, sliced
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt

half bag of tortilla chips

sliced radishes
chopped cilantro
1/2 cup sour cream mixed with 1 T lime juice
lime wedges
fresh cherry tomatoes halved
avocado, chopped

In a food processor, mix all of the above half list of ingredients into a puree.  Heat 2 T olive oil in a 12" skillet partially covered for about 8 minutes.  While that's cooking, prepare all of the toppings.

Stir in the half bag of tortilla chips and the chicken, and gently stir, coating all the chips.  Serve immediately  on a plate and top with the bottom half of ingredients.

Really good!

DIY Lip Balm

What a cool gift idea for teen girls - a DIY lip balm kit!  It's from Uncommon Goods, a really unique website with gift ideas sure to please!