Happy Christmas Eve

Wishing you and your families the happiest of days.

May your day be topped with sugar plums, 

candy canes and all things sweet!

photo via

{holiday inspiration} Stocking Stuffers

With Christmas just TWO days away - have ya'll finished your holiday shopping?  I just finished the stocking stuffers yesterday.  So I can officially say...I'm DONE!  Just a few more things to wrap - but it's time now to sit back, relax and enjoy more holiday cheer.

It's a little too late to order something online and be guaranteed for it to arrive before Christmas.  So I decided to put together a few stocking stuffer inspirations that you can pick up at your local store.

Happy Shopping and Merry Merry!!

1:: pinball, lego, book, stickers

2:: iView stand, dodo case, beats, itunes, nano

3:: twirl, owls, face, pencils, corkcicle

Happy Holidays...

Happy Holidays friends!  We have lots to be thankful for this year....family, friends, business.

I've really enjoyed playing with this little blog of mine.  I have some exciting plans for it in the coming year.  Thank you all so much for your support.

Wishing each and everyone of you an absolutely fabulous holiday.

{holiday inspiration} a berry merry

I love traditional berry red with a dash of whimsy and Christmas time green during the holidays.  These inspirations just make me smile.  I love taking the time to wrap each present and adding that little touch that makes it extra special.   I've always wanted to do a smores bar and having one after a scrumptous Christmas dinner just sounds divine to me.  I hope you enjoy!


row 1:: smore bar, pretty packages
row 2:: tree, party dress
row 3:: owl tags, stockings, hedgehog

{holidays} weekend notes

What's everyone up to this weekend?  We have a few holiday activities planned and then I'm off to an event for most of the week.

When I came across this photo, the simplicity of the tree just put a smile on my face.  With it set against the white wall, all you see is glimmer and shine.  I love the delicateness of the ornaments, the rusticness of the basket this sweet little tree sits in and the elegantness of the gold star.  There has been lots of holiday cheer around the web this week.  Time to get caught up.

The Perfect Bow - this is how you tie it.  Now my packages will look prettier than ever.

My weekend reading pleasure - actually I've already gone 3 times and just can't get enough.

These ornaments would sparkle and shimmer on any tree.

Have you made a yarn pom pom?  It's easy peasy after watching this video.

A great little gift guide for everyone.

You wouldn't be able to stop at just one - I know I wouldn't be able to.

Popcorn is one of my favorite foods to munch on and this makes it so easy!

Globetrotting has never been so fun.

{holidays} weekend notes

The next couple of weekends are packed full of holiday activities.  I think the days leading up to Christmas will just be flying by.  I just love these little holiday cards that I found on the {frolic} blog this week.  Aren't they just the sweetest?

After you eaten a ton of these...you might be ready to eat this...
Who said that you can't have candy lights?
One of the best "office" gift giving guides I've seen.  I think I want everything.
I would love to have breakfast, lunch or dinner at this table.
Our new tradition - wishes wishes and more wishes.
I'm pretty sure I need this for my house.
Our countdown to Christmas has begun - what about you?
Easy DIY Architectual Letters that I'm gonna have to try.

{holidays} A Wishing Tree

In mid November, I was spending a few hours on pinterest (shocker I know) and I saw something that I thought was a marvelous idea.  It was a Thankful tree.  You would write out little snippets of thankfulness and hang it on a tree.  I didn't do it for Thanksgiving...but of course my wheels were turning.

So on December 1st - the Lyons' Family has started a new tradition, the wishing tree.  Every day, each of us will write a little snippet that begins with:

I wish...

Now this isn't about gimme gimme gimme...they are wishes.  Of course we have an eleven year old and there might be a few...I wish for some new toys...but this is meant to be about family, friendships, things that we want for the world...and yes...I'm sure the occasional gimme will be in there.

When friends come over, we want them to write down a wish and hang it on the tree.  This is going to be a great reminder of the season.  Because it really isn't all about gimme gimme gimme.

I'm just loving this new tradition that we've started and am excited for the next 25 days.

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,
Caryl

{traditions} Happy December

Today is December 1st!  We have a few traditions that begin on this day that we look forward to every year.  The buzz typically starts about the 2nd week in November.

My little mister is eleven and I think this is now our 9th year of these fun little traditions.  Wanna know what they are?

Well the first is the Advent Calendar.  Ours is up - YAY!  I'm going to be posting that later today.

The second - ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas.  Yes - we religiously watch every night.  If we're going to miss one - we DVR it so we can watch it later.  Click the link for the schedule.  Tonight...Mickey's Christmas Carol, Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too! and The Santa Clause.

The third - baking, baking and more baking.

We're starting a new tradtion this year and I'm so excited for this one.  It's a secret - more on that one tomorrow. :)  But I believe that a lot of you will be wanting to do this one.

Let the meyham of the holidays begin...but don't forget what this special holiday is really about.  Sometimes we get wrapped up in all the craziness that we lose sight.

Happy Holidays!!

Caryl

{holiday parties} My "go-to" Appie

I'm sure many of you will be heading out to holiday soireé's and some of you might have to bring a little appetizer.

Well - wanna know my "go-to" appetizer?  So they are kinda fattening...but I promise - it's the good kind and so worth it.

Barefoot Contessa's Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts.  Oh my heavens - they are absolutely HEAVENLY!!  You really can't stop at ONE.  You have to have a handful.  They have the perfect amount of sweet and spice. (Just in case you missed my "go-to" dessert from yesterday - check it out here.

Don't they just look divine?

Wanna know how to make them?

serves 8 to 10

Vegetable oil

3 cups whole roasted unsalted cashews (14 oz)

2 cups whole walnut halves (7 oz)

2 cups whole pecan halves (7 oz)

1/2 cup whole almonds (3 oz)

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

2 teaspoons ground chipolte powder

4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves, divided

kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Brush a sheet pan generously with vegetable oil.  Combine the cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, the maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, and chipolte powder on the sheet pan.  Toss to coat the nuts evenly.  Add 2 tablespoons of the rosemary and 2 teaspoons of salt and toss again.

Spread the nuts in one layer.  Roast the nuts for 25 minutes, stirring twice with a large metal spatula *, until the nuts are glazed and golden brown.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary.  Toss well and set aside at room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking as they cool.  Taste for seasoning.  Serve warm or cool completely and store in airtight containers at room temperature.

* I stir 10 minutes and 20 minutes and definitely use a metal spatula - nuts get super hot!

Recipe from Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?

{holidays baking} My "go-to" delight

I'm sure that everyone has favorite "go-to" cookie for the holidays.

Some might be sugar cookies...chocolate chip cookies...well...

My favorite cookie of all time is the O R E O with some added pizzazz.  I've done the chocolate chip stuffed oreo.  Most recently, the mini-oreo chocolate chip cookie.  So good.

But - these babies are by far my favorite and so incredibly easy to make.  I made them last year and named them Brownie-O's.  Well they are back again this year for your enjoyment.

I'm telling you, these are ridiculously easy.  All you need is a box of your favorite brownie mix and a package of DOUBLE-stuffed oreos.  {I've tried regular and double-stuffed.}  Mix up your brownie mix like you normally would.  When I made these last year, I would coat the oreo in the brownie mix.  This year I wanted them to be much thicker - more cake like.

I sprayed the cupcake pan with some pam and put a dobble of brownie mix, then put the oreo on top and then added another dobble.  It definitely didn't make as many it would if you coated them.  I was able to get about 22 Brownie-O's from one pack of brownie mix.

Package them up and add a cute holiday printable and you are all set for your kiddo's holiday parties or a little hostess gift.

{holidays} Free Printable Round-up

It's Cyber Monday today and that means that many of you will be shopping online.  Well - what better way to kick off the Monday with some DARLING free printables that are out in cyberland this holiday season.  You need tags for all those deals that you might have found on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and now Cyber Monday - right?

Which do you like the best?

These pretties are from Party Box Designs.  This is just one of them...they have 2 others that are just as cute.

These are really cute from Love the Day and Catch My Party.

Want a Modern Twist?  Head over to Hey Look for these beauties...

Like what you see?  Click on the links and it will take you to their sites and you can download to your hearts content!!

Happy Cyber Monday.

A Pocket full of Gift Tags

I don't know about you...but I'm a complete sucker for gift tags and wrapping.  I have so many gift tags...I might have a problem.  This year, I'm completely in love with stamps and all of my special little gifties with have some form of stamp.  I love this stamp above because it can be used really for any holiday or special occasion.

For some reason - this stamp below just screams sophistication to me.  It was created by Besotted Brand.  Absolutely love her style and I just ordered it.  Can't wait for it to arrive!!

Ho Ho Ho - it's Advent Calendar time

How many of you have advent calendars?  If you have children and you celebrate Christmas - you probably have had one and still might use it.

We got ours from Pottery Barn Kids when the little mister was 3 - he is 11 now and it's still one of his favorite things.  I head out to Target and get little sweets and other treats and individually wrap each little giftie.  It's a tradition that every morning he opens it up when he is eating breakfast.

This year, I think we're going to mix it up and create a new calendar.

Here are some of my favorites that I've found around the web.

via the Anthropology Winter Issue

via Oh Happy Day

via Martha Stewart

via Pinterest

via Shim & Sons

Gift Wrapping:: Wunderlust

I absolutely love wrapping up a sweet gift using extradorinary paper, gorgeous ribbons, fabulous tissue and what ever else might strike my fancy.

Sometimes it's buying some amazing looking gift bags at target and embellishing it with a mini tissue pom to add that special little touch of goodness.

Here is a question for you...how do you wrap your holiday packages?

Do you just choose random gift paper? 

Do you pick a theme and carry it through?

Do you have different paper for adults vs. the kiddos?

For me - every year, I select a new theme which of course means new paper.  I do have the staple solid colors that can be used year over year though. :)

I'm not sure what the theme will be this year...but here are some pretty little packages that are striking my fancy right now.

photo 1

 

photo 2, photo 3, photo 4

photo 5

Who doesn't love Paper Source?  Here is a great little video with tips to wrap a perfect package.

Enjoy!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I don't know about you - but 2010 was a crazy year.  Crazy in a good way!  We moved, expanded our business, spent quality time with family and friends and did a little traveling.  Personally I set some specific goals for myself.  One of them was the 30 day workout challenge that I'm happy to say - I successfully completed.  (I'm still on my workout journey - more challenges are ahead for 2011. :))

Well - tomorrow is New Years Eve - 2011 is just around the corner.  Some have already thought of their new years resolutions and some have not.

I thought I would lend a hand - What is the definition of *resolution*?

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. A resolving to do something.

3. A course of action determined or decided on.

I was on Facebook and came across One Charming Party's post for today.  It was free printable New Year Resolution Cards.  What a great activity to do with friends, family, kids...sitting around the table and talking about and resolving to do something for 2011.  Maybe it's making a change - maybe it's trying new foods, maybe it's giving back to the community.

Photo via One Charming Party

So here is the challenge to you ~ make 3 resolutions and STICK to them.  If it's working out as an example - make the goal attainable and stick with it.  Don't give up!

I would love to hear some of your goals for 2011.  It's going to be an amazing year...I'm looking forward to all the excitement, possibilities and adventures that are ahead.

Happy New Year!

~Caryl

Special Treats for the Holidays

Tucker's last day of school before Christmas Break is tomorrow and I wanted to do something for the kids.  You all know how I'm obsessed with the Brownie Covered Oreos - well...my sister and I decided to name them because that name was just tooooo loooong.  We came up with Brownie-O's.  (click the link if you want the recipe again. :)) Cute huh?  And kinda catchy!


Yesterday I was baking like a fiend.  94 of those puppies were baked.  I wanted to do something fun with the packaging.  I had ordered some clear bags from Nashville Wraps, made a cute label and tied with a red bow.  Take a peak below.

All packaged up pretty!

Thank goodness these little beauties aren't being handed out until the end of the day tomorrow.  Sugar high!!

Enjoy!!

Caryl

Literally Nuts for the Holidays {Free Printable}

So I have to say - I've been a bit nutzo with the baking and crafting.  I've been having so much fun.  I do have a day job though - remember...I own ROAR events group - we primarily focus on corporate clients, but doing all this crafting is taking me back in time.  I use to do this all the time and I forgot how much fun it is.  As a HAPPY HOLIDAYS gift to you ~ you can download the NUTS for the HOLIDAYS printable here.

So this weekend - I've baked - Brownie Covered Oreos.  And I've roasted Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts from Barefoot Contessa's most recent book - How Easy Is That?  I've played around with packaging. Let's just say that no Christmas shopping was done this weekend. :)

These nuts are great for a party and also a little house warming gift (toss in a bottle of wine and you are golden).  I actually brought these nuts to a neighborhood holiday party and they were a hit!

Here are the details:

The Nuts Ingredients
Vegetable Oil
3 cups whole roasted unsalted cashews (14 oz)
2 cups whole walnut halves (7 oz)
2 cups whole pecan halves (7 oz)
1/2 cups whole almonds (3 oz)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (I used store bought)
2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder
4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary (I used 1 tablespoon dried)
Kosher Salt

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Brush  a sheet pan generously with vegetable oil.  Combine the cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, the maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, and chipotle powder on the sheet pan.  Toss to coat the nuts evenly.  Add 2 tablespoons of rosemary and 2 teaspoons of salt and toss again.
3. Spread the nuts in one layer.  Roast nuts for 25 minutes, stirring twice with a large metal spatula (I used a BBQ grill one), until the nuts are glazed and golden brown (I stirred 10 and 20 minutes into the roasting).  Remove from oven and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary.  Ross well and set aside at room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking as they cool.  Serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container.

I decided that I was going to buy 1/2 pint mason jars.  This recipe will fill 11 1/2 pint mason jars. (Well maybe 12 - I was nibbling on the nuts a little bit.)  I wanted to put a sticker on the top of the jar and decided to glue ribbon around the lid.  As a HAPPY HOLIDAYS gift for you ~ I wanted you all to have the printable so you can be NUTS for the Holidays like me.  Click here to download.

Here is what they looked like after I was done with them...

The holidays are all about family, friends, giving and enjoying.  I hope that you enjoy like I am!

xoxo, 

Caryl

Nuts for the Holidays Labels

Which ones do you like better?  I'm going to use one of these for the Barefoot Contessa Rosemary Chipotle Roasted Nuts.

Brownie Oreos & Fun Holiday Packaging

Oreos are my favorite cookie of all time (even more so than Chocolate Chip Cookies).  When I saw the recipe for Brownie Covered Oreos on the Picky Palate blog (I actually think I saw it on Fresh Chick Designs Facebook page first)...it was love at first site and I was destined to make these beauties.

I have to say - they were so easy and I will make them all the time now.

Ingredients
1) Brownie mix of your choice (I used Pillsbury Fudge Brownies)
2) 1 Package of Oreos (we used the regular ones vs. the peppermint that Picky Palate has - I think DoubleStuffed would be really good.)
3) White Gel Writer for the frosting

Directions are so easy:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Get a cupcake tin and spray the heck out of it with Pam (or your favorite non-stick spray).
3) Dip the Oreo in the batter and flip it around a couple of times to make sure its completely covered with the brownie mix.
4) Place the cookie in one of the cupcake spots (FYI - it does get a little messy).
5) It says to bake about 12-15 minutes.  I baked for 14 minutes.
6) As soon as it's done - get a plastic knife and go around the edges of each cookie - this way there is no sticking and the cookies come out nicely.

I think I might have used a little too much batter because the recipe said I would use all of the oreos in the package and I had about 5 left over (and I didn't eat them - they are in the pantry. :))

I figured out that each cookie is about 147 calories.  I do want to try and make this recipe low cal - so you can at least not feel too guilty when you eat 5 or 6. :)

Now time for the fun packaging!!!

{Brown Boxes & White Bag ~ Nashville Wraps}

{White Glassline Bag and Red/White Twistie ~ Parcel + Paper}

{Green Ribbon ~ Richards Craft Store}

{Twine ~ The Twinery}

Four cookies fit in the brown boxes and the white bag.  I put a single cookie in the white glassline bag.

Today was super fun.  Tomorrow - I'm going to be NUTS for the Holidays..

Enjoy!

{Video} "Elfing" in progress

Click Here is the Elfing in progress.  I have to apologize - I'm still trying to figure out the entire video thing on my iPhone.  So you will have to turn your head to the side to see the first part of the video.  LOL  Tucker was about to run across the street and then the next door neighbor came out so this is the edited version.  He takes his "Elfing" very seriously and didn't want to be seen. :)

I promise next time you won't have to turn your head as many times!!

This was hilarious though and the neighbor really enjoyed the treats!  You still have time to Elf.  Click here if you want to download.

~ Caryl ~