Gift Giving 101: It's the Thought that Counts

This may be obvious but I feel like it's an important rule. I've heard a couple stories through friends recently that goes to show not everyone thinks this way. I think this is important as a gift giver and a receiver. I don't care if a gift cost $5 or $50 the best gifts are the ones you could tell a lot of thought went into it. Some years I'm better at this than others. I think this year I really thought about each gift a lot. This was my gift from my sister Aubrey last year...

So cute right? And something that spoke right to my heart. My sister-in-law Jody gives really thoughtful gifts every year single year also. I'd much rather get a hand made silhouette of my daughter than a DVD player or jewelry. And most likely it will save you some money. In this economy that is really important right? As a receiver if someone gives you something that obviously didn't cost an arm and a leg but you can tell a lot of time and thought went into it then appreciate it! I once heard someone say "If your not going to spend at least $20 on me then don't get me anything at all." All I have to say to that is rude! Now I understand some people are harder than others. My Father-in-Law is tough, but I know he is a sucker for his Grand Children so I think anything that involves them he will love. I just encourage people to really think about each person on your list and thoughtfully pick something out for them. Don't just throw something in a box at the last minute and call it good. It's the thought that counts in the end, and everyone loves to feel thought of.

The Cookies of My Dreams

Yes they are really that fantastic. I found a cookie recipe some time ago that was good NOT great. I've done a lot of tweaking to this recipe to make them just right. After much deliberation as to whether or not to keep this recipe a guarded secret I've decided that it is much nicer to pass it along. So with no further delays here you are. Happy Holidays!

Glorified White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter softened

2/3 cup Firmly packed light brown sugar

1 Large egg

1 3/4 cup All-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon Baking soda

1/4 teaspoon Salt

3/4 cup Coarsely chopped macadamia nuts

1 cup Shredded coconut divided

3/4 of a bag of White chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy

3. Beat in egg and vanilla

4. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Blend into creamed mixture.

5. Blend in nuts and 1/2 cup coconut.

6. Stir in white chocolate chips.

7. Take heaping spoonfuls and roll into balls. Slightly flatten out like a pancake. Take rest of coconut and put on a small plate. Roll the top of you cookie in coconut. This part is essential as it gets toasted and crispy while baking.

8. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 min or until set. They should be slightly brown with coconut toasted.

9. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets then cool completely on wire racks.

10. Enjoy with a tall glass of milk.

*Disclaimer* These cookies are very sweet and very rich. A glass of milk may be necessary.

I am not a huge fan of white chocolate, and I'm very picky about coconut. I assure you that these cookies will not disappoint. If you make them please let me know what you think!

*Update* Last night Denny told me that this last batch may have been TOO sweet. If this is the case you can use 3/4 of a bag of white chocolate chips. They will taste just as wonderful.

My DIY Christmas

It seems like every year around this time my Husband says to me "We're on a really tight budget. Don't spend too much". So I buy my Christmas presents, send Christmas Cards and maybe get 1 or 2 things to decorate around the house and that's it. This year I was looking at my stash of Christmas Decorations and thinking how sparse it looked. However we're on that tight budget again so I can't go out and spend like crazy. So I've turned to the internet and my craft closet to see if I can spruce up the place. My first project was this paper garland. The tutorial says to use a 2 inch punch, paper glue, 2 yards of string, and coordinating paper. I had on hand a 1.5 inch punch, double stick tape and yarn. The only thing I really had to buy was coordinating paper. I found a winter/snowflake themed mat pack at Joann's on sale for $5. We have a lot of snowflake decorations in blues, whites and silver so I immediately thought it would be perfect.

I really like the way it turned out. I will admit that it would have looked a little better (a little fuller) with a two inch punch and obviously it would have been more sturdy with glue and not tape. What can I say I had to make it work. Despite these things it still turned out pretty good! It is a really easy project too. This week I'm mostly working on our stockings and maybe some ornaments. Hopefully I'll have something to show soon!

Here's another paper garland that is super cute and would be really easy.

2011 Color of the Year...

Honeysuckle

I like pink a lot. It's not my very favorite color, but it's up there. This is a nice shade that makes me endlessly happy. Honeysuckle holds a very special place in my heart. It is one of my favorite fragrances. It reminds me of my childhood growing up in Alexandria VA. Taking walks in the spring through my Granny and Papa's neighborhood and along the Potomac River. Smelling the Honeysuckle blooms on the breeze. I remember vividly the very first time I picked a Honeysuckle flower pulled out the nectar and tasted it's sweetness on my tongue. Oh how I adore Honeysuckle. I would love nothing more than to have Honeysuckle bushes surrounding my future home. Thank you Pantone for taking me on a trip down memory lane today and giving me a chance to look forward to Spring. I think you nailed the 2011 color of the year.

Getting Crafty

Here are just a few of the projects I would love to do for the Holiday's. I'm actually working on the garland as we speak. So I'll post pictures when I get it all done!

1. I'm dying over the above wreath found on Design Sponge last year.

2. Darling felt Christmas trees found on All Sorts.

3. The paper garland that I am currently taking on found on Hambly Screen Prints.

4. I would love to make a tree skirt out of a vintage table cloth like this one found on Missen Pieces Etsy Shop.

5. Fun personalized felt ornaments found on MADE.

6. Last but not least felt stockings inspired by Jessica Jones at How About Orange.

Can you tell I'm all about felt right now. Anyway if you try any of these ideas out let me know how they turn out!

Gift Giving 101: The Rhyme/Something to Read

Around this time of year it's hard not to think about gift giving. That's a huge part of Christmas right? As I've gotten older I've thought a lot about what makes a good gift giver. I can think of a couple people in my life who I think have it down. My oldest sister (well all of my sisters actually) is one of those people. My other sister just posted on this same thing on her family blog today and I also saw this very rhyme the other day on Bloom. I hate to repeat things but I kinda wanted to add my two cents. Anyway I've come up with some rules for myself that I think help make gift giving a little easier. I like to start with my sister's rhyme

Something they Want

Something they Need

Something to Wear

Something to Read

I love this. It covers everything! I especially love the Something to read. Now that Miss. S is a little older she can sit through longer books and she really enjoys them. I've been thinking a lot about books that every little girl should have in their collection. Here are my top three.

Madeline

Ladybug Girl

Eloise

What do you think? What are some essential books to have in your little girl's collection? Or in any child's collection?

Over the next couple weeks I'm going to be sharing some of my favorite gift giving tips in a series I'm calling Gift Giving 101. I hope it helps some of you who stress about Christmas Shopping every year.

The Great Debate: Real or Fake

I think this year is the first year I've ever looked at a fake tree and wished I had one. I've always been a firm believer of going to pick out the perfect REAL Christmas Tree. I would even love to go out to one of the Christmas Tree Farms not too far from where we live to get one (Here and Here). I would do it every year just for the fresh scent it brings to my home. This year though I didn't exactly get to pick out my own tree. My wonderful husband picked one up on his way home from work. And although it is a beautiful tree, even a grand tree, it has it's flaws. Mainly it's dryness. Our house is riddled with needles right now. I'm kind of envying the cleanliness and symmetry of a fake tree. So what do you do in your family? Real? Fake? Every other year you switch it up? And why do you do what you do? Above is my favorite Christmas Tree we have ever had. It felt a little Charlie Brownish to me. Little and scrawny, but perfect.