2012!!!

Happy New Year!

Let the celebration begin!

Here's wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
Salud, 2012!

Images via: agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.com and artsonearth.tumblr

Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve!  I hope you're all having a warm and cozy evening surrounded by family and friends!  We're so lucky to have our kids home with us for the weekend. With a roaring fire warming our toes, Christmas carols playing softly in the background, and a standing rib roast with roasted root vegetables cooking away in the oven, we're definitely in the Christmas spirit.

My daughter & son have just finished preparing fudge (my mom's famous and decadent recipe), which my son will take with him on his visit to some good friends.  What are your traditions?  What traditional meals do you prepare?  Do you wait for Santa and open gifts tonight at midnight or wait till morning?

Merry Christmas!

Images via:  My three favorite blogs - Splenderosa, Inspired Design, The Enchanted Home

Jeez only 2 days!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season.  My sisters and nieces and their friends all recently gathered for Christmas cookie baking and a sleepover.  This is when I really miss living so far from my family (they're all the way in Arizona).  It's a wonderful family tradition from my childhood that I remember fondly (my sister Ana bakes the best cookies in the world). It's not stressful - it's just a fun, wonderfully delicious treat.

My mom's special mini pecan pies
(made with pecans from our tree in the backyard)

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter or 2 cups margarine, softened
• 4 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups flour
• 3 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped ( chopped dried cranberries or mini chips can also be put in with pecans)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In medium bowl, mix together the margarine and cream cheese until well blended. Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time, until the mixture forms a smooth dough. Chill the dough while making the filling.
3. In another bowl, mix the eggs, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir in the pecans.
4. Roll into small balls, and press slightly into the bottoms and sides of greased tart pans or mini muffin pans making sure to put some of the dough over the lip of the cup. Use a spoon to fill each of the crusts 2/3 full with the filling. It will overflow if you fill too full.
5. Bake for 15-18 minutes in oven, until shell is lightly browned, and filling has puffed up. Cool, and carefully remove from pan.

It's just the right time to take time out from all the shopping and running around, bake something delicious with your family, and relax!

Images via:  coastal style, maxine brady, pinterest/bhg.com; martha stewart, life is beautiful

Pink for Christmas?!?

How do you feel about pink for Christmas?  I love it for my daughters bedroom, but I'm not sure I could deck the whole house in such a sweet, girly hue.  But the following pictures make me feel like I should reconsider.  The silvery tinsel and sparkly pink is so festive and bright.  Pink could very well be exactly the right color for Christmas.

This gingerbread house is so very sweet - I absolutely love it!

Images via:  katie-d-i-d.blogspot.com ; http://www.marthastewart.com/; Life is Beautiful...just add color.

Deck the Halls!

Only 10 days till Christmas!  I have found so many awe-inspiring home decorating ideas for the holidays that I would like to share with you.  I have to start with red - the quintessential holiday color - because it's so cheerful and friendly!

Candy cane stripes and smiling snowmen - what a welcoming wreath

A stunning way to greet family and friends!

Sparkle and shine, along with some greenery really dress up the mantel

Children & Christmas go together like milk and cookies - oh so sweet!

Even the puppy gets the red treatment with a fun and simple collar.

Images:  Pintrest trendy tree, home, inside out design, casa tres chic, inspired design