{Countdown} with Lifestyle Crafts

I was really excited when I got the email about the Lifestyle Crafts Countdown preview in my inbox! There are so many fun dies to choose from to celebrate the new year with! I really loved these drink label dies a lot, I have a ladies tea coming up at church this weekend and I knew they'd be a fun way to dress up my table at the tea that I'm hosting.

Here's what I used:

- Drink Label dies

-  Glitter Scrapbook paper {you could use any coordinating color}

- Letterpress machine

- chocolate straws {found at Cost Plus World Market}

- mug

- cocoa

Then I just ran three of the drink label dies through my letter press machine and cut them out. I did 4 in white and 4 in red paper. I slipped them through the straws and used a bit of double sided tape to make sure they stayed closed on the straw.

So simple but so pretty! I can't wait to put these on all my place settings this weekend at the holiday tea at church! To see more of the new released collection click here and start dreaming up creative ideas!

You can also use my discount code for an extra 20% off your order!

Contest runs from today till Dec. 19th! All you have to do is say something in your Facebook status about the contest and link back to them! So simple & you can be entered to win! 

Pecan Praline Cookies

This post was originally shared last week at Kate's blog The Small Things but I thought I would also share it here for those who might want to see it too. You can read the original post here, if you'd like.

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This cookie recipe is a great one for Fall and the Thanksgiving Holiday. These are super simple to make, so let's get started!

Here's what you'll need:

1 cup chopped pecans (set half aside right away for the glaze)

1 1/2 cups All purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter softened

1 egg

For the glaze you'll need:

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup half and half

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 3/4 cups powered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 10-12 minutes. 

In a small bowl mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl beat together brown sugar and butter on medium speed till combined. Add egg, beat till fluffy. Add flour mixture to butter mixture. Beat until combined, stir in 1/2 cup pecans. 

Drop by rounded teaspoon full onto cookie sheet. (I used my measuring teaspoon for this.) And Bake.

After cookies have baked and cooled you can prepare the glaze and drizzle it onto your cookies. 

For glaze; In a small sauce pan combine half and half and brown sugar together and bring to a boil. Stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in powered sugar. 

Sprinkle remaining pecans over cookies and drizzle with glaze. 

Enjoy with a cold glass of milk! 

Blog Roll Monday: La Vie Petite



Happy Monday friends! This week bring lots and lots of Christmas parties and festivities! All of which I am very, very excited for.

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Today, I want to share with you Cori's blog. She blogs over at La Vie Petite! She's guest posted here before, remember here?

Here's a few things I love about reading her blog:

She's a mom.

She's witty.

She likes clothes and she's not afraid to tell you about just how much.

She's a bargain hunter, thrifting kinda girl!

She tells you all how to make the most from your outfits, and your budget!

She loves her life, and shares it accordingly.



So, when you need some read fashion advice from a real girl she's your gal. When you need a good laugh and reminder it's ok to be lady like to, see her.

When you wanna curl up and read a good blog, she's got one of the best!

If you haven't visited her yet, go today!

12 in 12: Book #12 & What I Learned

This is my last book of my 12 in 12 Challenge:



Something Blue

by Emily Giffin

After Something Borrowed you really don't like Darcy Rhone, but by the end of this book you're reminded that people can change if they want to.

Here's what I really loved about both Something Borrowed & Something Blue; both books take a real look at friendships and relationships and how sometimes things aren't always cut and dry. Sometimes they are complicated, messy, and not picture perfect.

And that my friends is real life.

I think this book was about change. Darcy changes as a person, and it allows her to become better in every area of her life. And, of coarse there's a little love story mixed in. The book gives you just a little glimpse into the lives of the character's and where they are now from Something Borrowed but the main focus is on Darcy and her life now. 

By the end you kinda fall in love with her too. Or at least I did.

I'm a big Emily Giffin fan now after reading these last two books. She's sparked my interest in reading fiction again so it's kinda fun.

{***** my rating}



So what did I learn from my challenge this year?

I started out the year just wanting to read more, for myself. I used to read all the time and sorta just stopped when I didn't feel like I had enough time. I've realized that there's always time to make for something, we make time for the things we want to. {this is a life lesson} It was true in this case too.

I made more time to read. I found time on my lunch breaks, at night when the baby was in bed and hubby was watching t.v. I read. I read a lot of books that fed my soul, made me laugh, cry, think and ones that challenged me.

My sister bought my a Kindle for my birthday, and it made me want to read more. I found myself reading books faster than before. It could be purely psychological {I'm sure it is} but I like it!

I really want to continue to read just as much as I did this year, and hopefully push myself even more next year in 2012!

What about you? Any challenges you completed for yourself this past year? Tell me about it in the comments below!

What's next for 2012's challenge? Well, it has to do with turning 30! Stay tuned for the first of the year when I reveal next year's challenge for myself.

My Stuffing Recipe

I didn't cook at all for Thanksgiving, since we went to a friend's house for dinner. But, a couple days after Thanksgiving my Husband requested that I make my stuffing recipe. I had most of the ingredients on hand, but quickly ran to the store to get the rest. I make it now from memory, so I had to stop myself to write down all the measurements to share with you.

It's the best, hands down! We love it so much in our home, it's the perfect "comfort" food I thought I needed to share it with you too!

Here's what you need:

1 lb. pork sausage

1 yellow onion chopped

4 stalks of celery chopped

2 cans chicken stock

1 bag Pepper ridge Farm Seasoned Stuffing

Here's what you do:

Brown the sausage in a large stock pan, adding the onion and celery as well. Stir until meat is completely browned and done. Next add in the chicken stock and stir ingredients. Add pepper to taste, I don't add any salt since the sausage already is salty enough.

Next stir in your Pepper ridge Farm bread crumbs till they are evenly coated with the liquid mixture. Spread into a 9x12 baking dish, cook at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Top should be slightly brown and crispy.

Take out, and serve.

That's it, so simple and good! You'll probably want to make this any time of the year, it's that good.

psst....want more cooking today? I'm sharing one of my fave cookie recipes today over at The Small Things Blog with Kate! Check it out here. 

{Our Home} Holiday Table Scape

We got a new dining table last month, it was a really big purchase for us. We graduated ourselves from my tiny Ikea table that I had since before we got married to a real life grown up table that seats 8! It's amazing how a piece of furniture can change your outlook on entertaining and make you feel a little more like an adult.

Since then, I've been having a lot of fun decorating and making center pieces and coming up with cute table scapes.

Here's what it looks like for the Christmas Holiday;



It's simple but I love it! All the items I used we already had, I didn't buy anything new I just "shopped" the house till I found pieces that I liked and thought would work. Here's a little run down of where things came from:

The table runner we've had since we got married, it was actually used in our wedding for the unity candle table. It's from Michael's.

Latern & Candle: Cost Plus World Market {2011}

Gold Pillar Candles: Crate & Barrel {2009}

Pine Cone Berry Garland: Down East Home {2011}

Glass Vase: Ross {2010}

Red Ornaments: Ikea {2007}

Gold Berry Ornaments: Crate & Barrel {2009}

Candle/Cupcake Stands: made by me here

Sharing today with:

Decorating with Down East Home

You all know how much I love Down East Basics for clothing! If you don't remember you can see my love for them here.

Did you know that they also have lovely items for your home too? I recently had the opportunity to review some products from their home line. Here's a look some of the home products I choose to review and decorate with in my own home.



Pine Cone Berry Garland

Sequin Pillow

Ceramic Dove

I love trying new things, and being intentional about my decor. Here's how I worked these pieces into my own home. 

I picked up the white sequin pillow there in the back and added it to my chaise lounger. I love that chair, these cozy pillows make me love it even more. It adds just the right amount of "sparkle" to my living room.

Next, I used the Pine Cone Berry Garland to create a Christmas table scape on our dining room table.

I love these two new pieces, I loved finding a way to work them into our home. Down East has a great line of home decor items, they are always getting new items too! Here's a few other items I really like too; pearl garland, dome bird cages, and I really love this leaf pillow too!

Now through December 9th Down East Home is having a contest, one lucky winner will win $500 towards a holiday home makeover! All you have to do is "like" them on Facebook and be entered to win! Go here to "like" them on Facebook for your chance to win!

Down East Home doesn't have stores here in AZ, so I did all my shopping online in their home section. For a complete list of their store locations, click here. Save 20% on your purchases of $50 or more using code: CHEER at checkout!

Find them on Facebook here.

Follow them on Twitter here.

What new decor items have you added to your space lately? Tell me in the comments below!

Happy Shopping & Decorating Everyone!

This post was sponsored by Down East Home, in return I received products or compensation. All opinions are 100% mine though.