Cheers To A New Year! ; a doo-dah! video

Here's to a new year and a fresh start! Hope 2012 is the best yet!

Hugs & Kisses,

Lizzie

A Farewell To Twenty Eleven

I am sad to see 2011 end. It was a really great and memorable year for me for so many reasons. I turned 30, JT turned 30, I  visited 3 new countries (UK, France, and Belgium), I got engaged under the Eiffel Tower, I witnessed so many beautiful weddings of close friends, I opened doo-dah! my etsy business, and started this blog.(I am still amazed that so many people read my blog, thank you!)

I hope 2012 is just as good to me. Even half as good would be wonderful... xo Lizzie

Merry Christmas!

Photo I took at Time Warner Center in NYC. One of my very favorite holiday displays in the city!

Wishing you happiness, love and peace, today and everyday. Happy Holidays!

xo Lizzie

Sparkle & Shine Time: A Festive Holiday Manicure

Merry Christmas Eve! I am getting ready for all of the festivities and merriment! Knowing that I haven't seen a lot of the people I am seeing tonight since I got engaged, I decided I better do my nails. Everyone will be asking to see the ring! 

I found these sparkly nail wraps with brightly colored Christmas lights printed on them from Incoco. They were very easy to use and they are made of real nail polish.

Well my nails are ready to party, I just have to get the rest of me ready now! Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve! XO Lizzie

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit(s); Peppermint Martini

Rushing around, shopping, wrapping, baking, cleaning... AHHH the holidays! I decided to slow it down for a minute by sipping on a cocktail.... mmmm the holidays!

I rimmed the glass in crushed peppermints. 

I guess I should get back to my wrapping...

xo Lizzie

Take A Moment Tuesday; Turtle Brownies

The recipe for my favorite brownies...

Prepare your favorite brownie recipe, but put it in a 13 by 9in pan. This is what I use for the brownie layer:

3/4 cup unsalted butter

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate coarsely chopped

3 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13 by 9 in pan.

1. In a saucepan melt the butter and sugar on low heat. Once it's melted and mixed, let it cool for 10 mins.

2. Beat the eggs, butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon. Stir in the vanilla and beat in the chocolate mixture, and the salt. Add the flour and stir until smooth. Do not over mix it, it will make it tough.

3. Scrape batter into prepared pan and cook for 20 mins.

Note: You don't want to leave the brownies too under cooked because the caramel layer is going to be pretty gooey. Gooey + gooey = gooey mess!

Caramel layer...

Melt the caramels with the cream in a saucepan, stirring frequently until smooth. Once smooth, add the pecan and stir until evenly coated.

Let cool and then refrigerate until set.

Now for the chocolate drizzle...

Melt 3 ounces of semi sweet chocolate with 2 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream, and 1 teaspoon light corn syrup.

Drizzle the melted mixture over the top of the caramel pecan layer with a fork. Move the fork in a diagonal direction.

Put back in the fridge and let the chocolate drizzle get firm. Then cut and serve!

I serve little pieces because this brownie is insanely rich and decadent! Crazy good! Make sure you have lots of milk... 

xo lizzie

Holiday Sugar Cookie Cut Outs

Had a lot of fun this weekend playing with sugar and butter! Christmas is just around the corner! Eeeeeeee! 

xo Lizzie

Holiday Spirit(s) Themed Gift; a gift for the hostess

I am headed into the city (NYC) tonight for a holiday cocktail party at a friends apartment. The invitation was sent out inviting us to "Kocktails With The Kulls". So I put together a gift with a cocktail theme.

Silver & white paper straws with blue flags that read, "Kocktails With The Kulls"

I filled a cocktail shaker with sparkly blue drink umbrellas.

I included cocktail napkins and a book of cocktail recipes. I chose this book over other books because it had good pictures. Pictures always entice me to actually try making something.

I made these sugar cookie cut outs of mittens. I decorated them  with their initials and ribboned them together like real mittens. (I will post more photos of the cookies I am making tomorrow!)Not cocktail themed, but they matched and they are holiday happiness.

I put everything on this shiny serving tray and wrapped it in cello.

The finished gift that I topped off with one of my handmade recycle bows!

I am really looking forward to tonight's party and getting into some holiday spirits! ;)

xo Lizzie

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle... Make Bows!

1. Choose a page and cut it into 9 strips - 3/4 in width

2. Then cut 3 of the strips to 9in length, 3 strips to 8in length, 2 strips to 7in length, and 1 strip 3in length.

3. Assemble the strips into loops using 2 way tape.

4. Layer the loops, starting with the largest. Use 2 way tape to hold them together.

Repeat? Ok...

Pick a page and cut the strips to size.

Make the strips into loops.

Layer the loops largest to smallest using 2 way tape.

It was fun to see what parts of the picture ended up showing. I found that pages saturated with color on one side and nothing but text on the other side made the coolest bows. I think these bows are way better than store bought bows! xo Lizzie

Stocking Stuffers For Everyone On Your List

How about a little sparkle & shine for her Christmas stocking?

Primrose Crystal Hill Polish From Nails Inc.

Glitterati Collection From Nails Inc. (yes I realize I listed 2 nail polishes, but one can really never have too many...)

Gumdrop Earrings From Kate Spade

Stuff to stock his sock...

Minimergency Kit From Renovation Hardware.

Disposable Flasks  so you don't have to worry about losing an heirloom flask on that hunting or camping trip. 

LED clip on lights for the brim of a baseball hat. 

Fun Finds...

Bacon Bandages 

Bucky Balls Magnetic Toy is addicting!

Cyber Clean. This florescent goop makes it fun to clean your keyboard and cell phone.

Tweezerman Match Box Itty Bitty Nail Files

Monogramed Iphone Case from Plum Street Prints.

Sweet things for your sweet thing...

Mitchell Sweets from Hammond's are one of my very favorite treats. It is a very simple candy; marshmallow enrobed in soft caramel.

Macadamia Gold Bar from Fran's. Think buttery caramel (the best caramel in my opinion) with macadamia nuts and covered in chocolate.

Chocolate covered espresso beans from Jacques Torres.

The stocking is always my favorite to open on Christmas morning. It's always fun to see what creative gifts my fiance found to fit in my stocking. We usually find a few great gifts to fit in there and then fill the rest of the space with hand warmers or in the case of my stocking- hair ties and barrettes. Have fun stuffing your Christmas socks!

xo Lizzie

LINK TO 2012 LIST OF STOCKING STUFFERS HERE!

Click here for the 2013 list!