Cozy Warm Snacks

Well y'all - I hope you're hungry because I'm posting recipes today - the kind that make you feel all cozy warm on a winters night! 
{or when you have to crank the a/c down to 60 to pretend its winter}
Ashamedly enough, I really do not love to post recipes because I feel they are "my secrets" to delicious happiness and if you want that same delicious happiness, you'll have to ask me for it!
......But, I'm going to share - so hush up & be grateful!



S'mores Hot Cocoa {Handsome man hasn't taste-tested this one yet, but I'm sure he'll agree it's a winner. We've been on quite the s'mores kick lately - doing them over the grille since a fire pit isn't an option right now}

One packet of hot cocoa mix {I'm a Ghiradelli fan, myself} 
2 tsp. Fat-free non-dairy powdered creamer
2 tsp. Unsweetened cocoa powder 
2 tsp. Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 
20 Mini marshmallows (about 1/4 cup)
2 Low-fat honey graham crackers (half a sheet), crushed

Place cocoa mix, powdered creamer, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips in a large mug. Add 1 cup very hot water, and stir until ingredients are fully dissolved, melted, and combined. Top with marshmallows.

Now here's the fun part...
Using a kitchen torch, toast the marshmallow layer for 5 - 10 seconds, until slightly melted and cooked to your liking. Allow to cool slightly, and then top with crushed graham crackers.


Cinnamon Bun Popcorn {Great for a movie-night at home with a fire in your hearth, or to give away in cute packages to co-workers. Guaranteed they will think it's "Moose Munch" from Harry&David!}

12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels)*
1 C roughly chopped pecans
1 C brown sugar
3/4 t cinnamon
1/4 C Karo syrup (I prefer honey as a healthier substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 C)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
3 squares almond bark 

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a big, microwave-safe bowl. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup (or honey) over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 15 seconds (to soften) and stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir, then microwave for 2 more minutes. Remove from the microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Be careful not to over cook the sugar mixture - at a certain temperature, it will turn into a hard candy and won't spread well over your popcorn!  Pour it right over the popcorn and pecans. Stir right away, and keep stirring until everything is well coated {just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...}
Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 250 degrees, stirring every 10 minutes. Gently melt your almond bark and drizzle over cooled popcorn.

  

Cozy up and enjoy your treats!

xo

B

Marshmallow World

Hey Y'all! 

I'm hoping you've all done your Thanksgiving grocery shopping and are ready for some delicious treats this Thursday! My mom's side of the family did our Thanksgiving a little bit early, as we had some of our sweet extended family in town :) No worries though, I'll get to do double-dipping and celebrate again on Thursday with dad's side! 

Since it's closer to Thanksgiving now, I feel I can appropriately discuss Christmas decor, treats and all the beauty that accompanies it! 

Tonight I went with my mom to listen to her accompany this amazing singing group led by Opera singer, Mark Baker. He performed at the NY Metropolitan Opera back in his day and is now leading a beautiful group to sing Christmas shows around town. 

One of my most favorite fun winter songs that was sung is "Marshmallow World" -- you know the one, "...It's a marshmallow world in the winter, when the snowflakes cover the ground ..."{be glad you can't hear me singing!} 

Of course, the creative wheels start turning and I thought ...

           "What a fun idea for a girls Christmas get-together?!?"

Y'all know I throw an annual winter / girls night / Victoria's Secret fashion show watch party - & I think that this year's party might have to include the fashion show, baking, decorating and packaging sweet goodies, and feature a fabulous dessert + bubbly table -- all in the name of Marshmallow World!! {since it probably won't be a white, snowy holiday here ..just a guess!}

 

Snowflake Cakes!

snowflake cookies

Wouldn't it be divine to spend an evening in with the gals, making some of these treats?? 

And then give them all away to friends, family and co-workers! 

The holidays are the best time to show off your Domestic Diva side! 

 Speaking of being a Domestic Diva - have y'all ever made Homemade Marshmallows??

Imagine opening a neatly wrapped package to reveal these from-scratch yummies ...

Get the recipe at www.ourbestbites.com

 So now we've got the treats covered, time to mull over winter / Christmas decorations. I'm one that enjoys my frosty decor through January {basically until it's time to decorate for Mardi Gras +/or Valentine's Day - whichever you do!}

Here are some fabulous and inexpensive ways to keep your home frosty through December --

gather pinecones + spray a few white or gold!

faux fruit + spray glitter

white and cream cozy yarn balls scream "Winter"

pinecones+ribbon for a cozy window

I think that's all I have for y'all tonight! Thanks for keeping up with me & I'll be sure to bring you more DIY decorating and gift ideas the closer we get to Christmas! In the mean time, enjoy your Thanksgiving with loved ones and give thanks for all you're blessed with.

xo
B

Artisan Holidays

Hey Ya'll~

Monday is here & I'm prepping for an interview in retail this afternoon.
I've got to be honest, working retail sales {when selling something you really would want to buy yourself} is actually a lot of fun. Maybe it's the shopper in me that loves to live through the customers, but I'm kinda good at it! Being a "Nordy Girl" two years ago at Nordstrom was quite the fun gig where I learned just how well I can sell!

I'm a huge fan of holiday decorating {okay. and decorating in general} which means I get overly excited at the sight of all things sparkly, glittery, shiny, monochromatic and usually vintage-inspired or handmade. Immediately I picture "Where in my house could this pretty go?"
It's quite disturbing ;) but oh-so-fun!

In keeping with the West Elm theme of this post - I have to share my excitement to see that W.E. has linked up with Etsy {yes, I did just say that} to sell artisan items for the holidays.
Y'all! This is like a real-life-walk-in&shop Etsy experience! {I, for one, have always dreamed of an Etsy store where you can walk in and see items according to your "search terms"...but where you're able to touch, hold and feel the items before you buy them.}

So, I wanted to share some of the cool items they're offering this season - and how you can support small businesses :) because we all should love that!

Woodland Creatures handmade in Nepal:

Precious homespun felt wreath from Kathmandu, Nepal

Til Christmas Comes,
xo
B

Paring Down

Hey Y'all !

Well it's almost that season - the one where people eat in excess and buy in excess - yet here I am, moving apartments {long story} and shedding even more than when I moved three months ago.
As Momma says - "Haven't you gotten rid of enough??"
I thought I had ... but apparently I did not. If I did not like to craft or bake {of which I have 2 moving boxes full of each ... scrapbooking, paints, garlands, etc. and cupcake pans, frosting tools, specialty cupcake doo-ma-jiggies ..} my life would A) be boring and B) 2 boxes less than what I currently own.
I mean, what's two boxes in the grand scheme of things?? Exactly. Not much. ;)

So, as Thanksgiving and Christmas are just weeks from us, I have been focusing on just how much unnecessary "stuff" we have. Maybe it was working with the children briefly in my last "contract" job {we'll call it that, instead of them duping me} or just how many times I have shoveled through my own belongings, but I really don't feel like any of us NEED anything this year. So many have less than I do and yet they are happy with their lives. Why can't I be more like that?

I challenge everyone to give of your time or treasures to a non-profit or your church this season. You will truly be blessed more than any gift you could receive!

xo
b

Where's the Window?

The saying goes
 "When God closes a door, He opens a window."

Well, I'm waiting for the glorious window to appear. I am patiently trusting but goodness gracious - it's a tough world!

To make it short&sweet, hired & let go all within the 90-day period by "A wonderful Non-Profit Organization" here in my big city. Forget helping the kids - these people are more concerned to make an event successful & then let go the employee that they {really} only hired as a temporary fix.
Not. Cool.

As you can imagine, life is being topsey-turvey again, thankfully I'm able to move in with a dear, sweet friend of mine and hopefully become roommates more permanently in the next couple of months!! Thank God for supportive family, Handsome man and wonderful friends!!

Okay, so enough of "real life" troubles - on to "real life" hopefully soon!
I spent the past weekend beginning the design of my website for the future event design company I'll be running... and boy - hats off to all you web guru's - I'm just doing "simple" website building, I see why you now make a grand off of one website!!!
I'm excited to get 'er up and running in the next month or so and to see if I get any hits of people needing my creative services!! It's nerve wracking, but you never know the demand until you stick your neck out!
Special thanks to another Short&Sweet Creative friend, who designed a logo for me -- complete with pearls!! If it wasn't for that logo, I probably wouldn't have gotten my rear in gear to start the website.
Some research is needed to see what people would "Google" or "Bing" to find my services - so it's a slow process, but I really enjoy learning all the while!

I have my LifeGroup meeting tonight with some fabulous ladies, so I must be off!
I'll keep ya'll posted on my where'abouts .... now that I have a bit more time ... sadly!

xo
B

#1.0.2. - Dear Julia

Dear Julia,

I'm writing to you as one who looks up to your wisdom in words and as "la boulanger". You understand, you lived in France. If you were here today, I would eat up your wisdom like I was eating "le chocolat."

Your Friend,
B



Okay, so pardon my French Speaking / Julia Child / daydream. 
But in all honesty, the woman was wise beyond her years. And I'd love to sit in her rustic, French kitchen and chat like we were old girlfriends. I hope y'all have all seen "Julie+Julia" {and in no way am I being paid to endorse the film} but because it's seriously a great inspirational movie.

The quote below makes me want to follow through with every dream I have - based on every interest and love of mine - & who says that I can't spend my life doing just that???

She knew about love too - 

And if you ever wonder why "real food" tastes so good ... Julia {and Paula Deen} have the right idea ...

At the end of each day, it's the enjoyable things that will matter most ...

  Go forward with your talents, and be fearless! After all, who will know what you don't accomplish other than you?? 

xoxo

B

Creative Brain-Drain

It's been an embarrasingly long time y'all - do forgive me for the lack of posts on my behalf...

BUT I CAN EXPLAIN!!!!

You see, there's this tiny, itty bitty, teenie weenie, not-so-big-deal event that has consumed my every waking / working moment for the past 2 and 1/2 months. It's called only my non-profit's biggest fundraiser of the year. And ya know, being employed since only mid-August naturally, I was brought in to be  

Lead Event Coordinator for it all.

But really, it's been baptism by fire these past couple of months. And not to complain, I'm more thankful than ever that my supervisor and team saw the potential in me - but boy, I'm sure looking forward to not tackling this monster for another year after this coming Sunday! 

So, it didn't occur to me until tonight, while wandering aimlessly through one of my "happy places" {Tarjet} that the reason I have been basically brain-dead in the *CreaTive* department, is largely due to the fact that every day my creativity is drained, only to be slightly refueled by an hour or so of Pinterest'ing and 7-8 hours of sleep each night. And even then, no amount of wandering through the aisles of Jo-Ann's, HLobby or Michael's ~ 

has peaked my interest.

And y'all - that is just plain sad.

 And frustrating.

But all of that ends this Sunday. I must say, I'm amazed, but not so "amazed" at how peaceful I feel about it all. I had one minor "eeek" moment last week, and asked for prayer for peace and strength from my Lifegroup girls, family + friends. And wouldn't you know - my supervisor even complimented me on "remaining so calm and collected during such stressful times"

Ha!

Thank you DC, but - I have no control over it!! Thank God for that one :-) 

So, I've been "pinning" {or as I call it "Pinterest'ing"} last night and tonight, viciously adding to my "DIY to TRY" board, when I realize, I didn't ever lose my creative want, it's just not the time for it right now. 

So, I have quite a few things I'd like to try... and I'm excited that Christmas is only a mere 2 months + some-odd days from now, so I can begin Christmas shopping / crafting!! 

Yippee!! 

Since I don't have any photos of recent accomplishments {just you wait til Sunday - I'll be sure to upload some from the food+wine festival} I wanted to leave y'all with something pretty to look at 

...and maybe that will inspire you. 

 xoxo

b

 

Clear Frame + Decals = monogram art !!

Yarn Wrapped Letter for Door!

Love This "Where We Met" "Where We Married" "Where We Live" - too precious!!

Glass frame + scrapbook paper = chic whiteboard!

                                                                                                 

I already have about 5 of these types of books, but they're so fun & inspiring to make!