Everyday Beauty

Italian Wedding Cookies

 
Way back on December 3, I was planning to participate in Jessi's Annual Cookie Exchange. Well, my oven broke. I know that sounds a lot like "the dog ate my homework", but it really did break! The coil element caught fire and sparks were flying. I was screaming {the best way to handle any situation} and was running around with the fire extinguisher while on the phone with my dad getting instructions on how to stop the flames. Eventually, they stopped, but that was scary to say the least. Long story short....hubby was out of town.... I ordered a new part from Sears....a friend came and installed it, and all is well now. And I will never take my beloved oven for granted again.

So, anyhoo, here is the cookie recupe I was going to share that day.

 
These are one of my very favorite cookies. They are traditionally made for Italian wedding receptions, and I'm sure they must have a more interesting Italian name, but my family has always called them Italian Wedding Cookies. Rich and buttery and flaky with buttercream icing in the middle. YUM.

Italian Wedding Cookies

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. For the dough, combine 1 c. soft butter, 2 c. all-purpose unbleached flour and 1/3 c. heavy whipping cream in an electric mixer. Mix until combined. Roll out dough 1/8" thick on a floured pastry cloth and cut out circles with a shot glass {or a very small cookie cutter if you prefer a different shape}. Gently press both sides of the cookie into a little bit of sugar that you have placed on a small plate. Transfer cookie to baking sheet and prick 3 times with a fork. Bake for 7 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely before icing.

For the icing, combine 1/4 c. soft butter, 3/4 c. powdered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla and food coloring of choice. Mix with electric mixer until well combined and fluffy. Spread icing between 2 cookies to make little sandwiches.  (I made extra icing as it wasn't quite enough.)

 
Enjoy!

Only 6 Days Left!

 
According to the boys' Advent calendar, there are only 6 days 'til Christmas. It doesn't seem possible! This past week was crazy and busy, packed full of doctors appointments, visits from friends and baking. 

On Monday, I woke up in so much pain I thought my head would pop off....double ear infections. Pretty bad according to the doctor. I'm feeling much better now thank goodness.

On Tuesday, Hope came to visit and spent the night. This is a little present I had for her.

 
We got SO much done! I taught her some basic jewelry techiniques, and she made this pretty necklace.

 
We sat at the computer and we {mostly she} designed these Christmas cards. I had been dreading doing Christmas cards for some reason this year. I didn't like the ones I had bought and just kept procrastinating. I l-o-v-e these cards.

 
On Wednesday, Sam's cold started to get worse...took him the doctor...found out he had a respiratory virus. Poor little guy. So, I cancelled my antiquing and lunch plans with some local friends on Thursday, but I ended up having them come to my house on Friday, and we had a delicious lunch and handmade gift exchange.

On Thursday, while Sam slept {quite a lot}, I baked.

And then baked some more. I still have to do the colorful ones {cut-outs and some Italian ones I love the most}.

 
And today, we woke up to this:

 
I went out and {slowly & carefully} shovelled a skinny little path for the mail lady to get to my door. She comes in everyday to use the bathroom. I figure it's the least I can do for all the boxes she has picked up for the past 2 and a half years.

George has been out of town for a month now, and returns in just a couple days. Thank goodness because I am NOT into shovelling snow...or dragging the garbage to the street......and I am exhausted! I can't wait 'til Christmas though! 6 days.....are you ready?

Vintage Trinket Jewelry

 

*** A little update...I just added 2 more necklaces that I had made but hadn't photographed until this afternoon. They can be found here.

Well, I just added the new collection of jewelry I made to my {little} shop. My shop is so little it makes me happy! LOL...did I mention how GREAT it feels to have closed up the rest of the shop? I know I did, but I just have to say it again. One of the best things I've ever done for myself. If there's something that your heart has been gently telling you to do, and you've been ignoring it... DO IT. That's all I can say. Follow your heart.

 
So, anyway, these are some of the pieces in the collection. I started these pieces last year, if you can believe it. Slowly, in between all of the other more tedious shop tasks and everyday responsibilties, I made each piece.

 
Finally, I feel like it's a real collection to offer. I used all of my favorite things in pastel and neutral hues. There are lots of facets and semi-precious stones, pearls {of course!} as well as old religious medals, carved roses and just the right amount of rhinestones {not to overpower the rest of the piece}.

There are necklaces...

 
and earrings...

 
and 2 charm bracelets. These will be the last 2 for a while, maybe for good. I needed a change and have been selling these on and off since 2007. Time for something fresh and new.

 
If you'd like to peek at all the new baubles, click here. And thank you for your lovely comments on my last post. Made me feel good. 'Cause honesltly, no matter how many things I make or sell, there is always a twinge of doubt and second guessing if it will be well received. I guess we are always our own worst critics. But it's nice to know you "get" me. Thank you for that.

Bouquet of Baubles

 
Roses, pearls, stones and brass. My favorite jewelry elements. Those are the things I love to use in the jewelry I make for myself. So, it only makes sense that I should use the same pieces in the jewelry I design for my shop, right?

 
I'm busy uploading the photos and writing up little descriptions now {that's the very tedious part}.

 
The new collection will be on-line Monday around 1:30 EST. I do hope you like it!

On the 10th Day of Christmas...

 
.....I made a necklace to give away!

I was asked to create a piece of Vintage Trinket Jewelry for the "12 Days of Christmas" festivities going on over at the Where Woman Create blog. Naturally, I was honored and happy to participate with the other 11 women who have also donated prizes. There are all sorts of lovely things to be won.

 
To put your name in the hat for a chance to win this or any one of the 12 prizes, you simply need to head over there and leave a comment on any of the 12 posts dated December 1st through the 12th. The deadline to enter is December 12th at midnight. What fun! Good luck girls!

Making Magic

 
Such a magical time this month of December is. I try not to rush through the season and really enjoy the process of each little thing. It's actually a little mantra of mine for everyday life.

 
I've been slowly bringing boxes in from the garage and placing decorations here and there, sometimes with no real plan. I like it best this way, and Mario has been my little helper elf. So far only one broken ornament!

 
During all this hustle and bustle, don't forget to slow down and enjoy the actual process of decorating, baking, wrapping, singing, tree trimming (preferably while sipping hot cocoa, please and thank you.}.

 
It's not a race to see how quickly we can get our houses decorated or who can bake the most cookies. For every decoration I've got out, there are 3 more still in boxes. As for cookies....I haven't even begun, and I've got some serious visions of sugarplums this year!

 
It's about having fun, being with family, and really stopping to take a deep breath, look around and be in the moment. 'Cause we all know how quickly the moments pass.

 
Find magic in the little things this season....if you pay close attention, you will see that it's everywhere.

Saint Nicholas

   

Yesterday was the Feast of Saint Nicholas in the Catholic Church. As you probably know, Saint Nicholas was a real person renowned for his great kindness and generosity, and he's the origin of our modern day Santa Claus. You can read more about the real Saint Nicholas here.

It is still tradition in many European countries for children to leave their shoes out on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, expecting to find small gifts and candies in the shoes when they awake on December 6th. I love any reason to celebrate the joy of giving and start a family tradition so I've filled the boys' shoes with goodies for them to discover when Mario returns from preschool and Sam wakes from his nap.

 
I look forward to watching their faces light up with delight. And they won't even know I'm a day late!

On the Floor, Looking Up

 

I was laying on the family room floor and loved this angle of the Christmas tree so I asked Mario to get my camera.

 

Now, if he could only help me get up!

Hey, speaking of Christmas trees, I have been wanting to flock our tree for years now and finally bought this Tree Flocking Kit a few weeks ago. As it turns out, with George's travel schedule this month we didn't have time to get to it this year. Maybe next year....if I'm still into it. One never knows! I'm actually loving the natural green of the pine right now. Anyway, I wanted to pass along the info for anyone else who's been thinking of adding some wintery white flock to the tree!

Oh No They Didn't

   
Can you guess what these are?

They are Onion Goggles. Yes, you read that correctly, my friends. Tear-Free Onion Goggles.

What will they think of next? Can you even imagine putting these on to chop an onion?

I'm speechless.

If you can't live without these fashionable googles, you can find them here. And please send me a picture....I would love to see!

Another Wreath {or 2}

 

I don't know what it is with me and wreaths. Seems like everytime a holiday rolls around I'm inspired to make another one. There's always a wreath on my front door and often you'll find them inside the house as well.

Remember this one I made last Christmas? I used mini bulbs and berries and bells and stacked 2 wreaths together. I used minis 'cause I just can't bring myself to hot glue my full-size vintage bulbs that I display in bowls, baskets and on the tree. I love them too much!

   
 
A couple years ago I gave a little tutorial on how I made this tulle wreath for Valentine's Day. {simply by tying knots of tulle all around a styrfoam wreath base}

I've glittered pinecones and made pinecone wreaths,  put together Autumn leaf wreaths and Easter wreaths with speckled eggs. They're all hanging on a poll contraption George suspended from the ceiling of our garage, waiting for their respective holidays.

Well, now that it's Christmas time, I got the itch to wreath-ify the house again. I have two windows in the breakfast area of my kitchen and have always hung wreaths on them for Christmas. I took them out of the garage this year and they looked so boring. So, I gathered some basics and started pulling the trigger on the glue gun.

They started out as basic evergreen wreaths that I strung with lights.

Then I added an inner "wreath" of this wonderful laurel leaf garland. It's not really silver and not quite gold. I love this color!

 

I glued some cheap-o brushed gold mini bulbs on here and there.

 

And covered some millinery flowers with mica.

 

Glued those on and then made a couple of wide ivory satin bows with 2-foot streamers.

I was going for an all-neutral look in this wreath and found most of what I needed in my Christmas stash.

 

Somehow, for such a basic project, I managed to trash the house and leave mica trails throughout. I have vacuumed 3 times and I'm still finding mica everywhere. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about!