I love making holiday themed treats this time of year! Last year I was looking for some new treats to make and came across these peanut butter reindeer cookies. I love peanut butter cookies and could not wait to give this recipe a try. Lets just say these cookies did not last too long last year!

To make these holiday cookies you will need:
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • Chocolate-covered mini pretzels
  • Mini brown M&Ms
  • Regular-sized red M&Ms

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F.

Step 2: Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat until blended.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

Step 4: Form dough into 1-inch balls. To make reindeer-shaped cookies, pinch the bottom of the ball slightly to form a point, then gently flatten with your hand. Space cookies about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just beginning to brown. 

Step 5: Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers. Press two mini M&Ms in for the eyes and one M&M for the nose.

Step 6: Allow the cookies to cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to cool completely. 

I had some fun with these cookies and made my reindeer have many different colored noses. What is your favorite holiday treat that you like to make? Happy Holidays!

xoxo
Megan


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The holidays are getting closer! With the holidays always making everyone’s schedule a little more busy hosting a holiday party is the perfect way to gather everyone together to catch up. A perfect holiday get together for you and your friends is a cookie swap party. You can bake a batch of your favorite sweets and then share them with all the guests while catching up during the holidays.

Besides the holiday decorations and some festive holiday cocktails you will need:
     - cookie boxes or tins
     - parchment paper and cupcake liners
     - a playlist of your favorite holiday tunes
     - some non-sweets to nibble on
     - holiday cocktails
     - each guest to bring a batch of their favorite cookies 

You can never have too many people attend a cookie swap. More guests just means more cookies! To make sure you have no cookie duplicates have the guest’s RSVP include their cookie choice. Remind each guest to bring their cookies in a container or holiday platter to be displayed and also the number of guest you are expecting so that there can be at least one cookie for guest to take home.

As it is the holidays, you can also add an additional cookie for everyone to take home by providing a gingerbread men decorating table. This will give your guests something to do while mingling and also a sweet treat to nibble on. Here is a great gingerbread cookie recipe from RealSimple that you can make!

Once all your guests have arrived you can swap away! Distribute your boxes to each guest so that they can start filling them up with delicious treats. Have cupcake liners and parchment paper out to help with the cookie packaging.

You now have a delicious box of cookies to enjoy during the holidays! What is your favorite type of cookie to make for a cookie swap? Happy Holidays!

xoxo
Megan


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Happy 12-12-12!! After seeing the date for today it really got me thinking about the 12 days of Christmas song that you might hear during this time of year. How fun would it be to have 12 days of celebrating one’s wedding? Or what about 12 different desserts? Or what if you were able to rewrite the song so that it relates to you and your new beau? The possibilities are endless!

I found an amazing blog, My Wedding Reception Ideas Blog, that actually did an inspiration board on each of the 12 days from the song. Here are some of my favorites from each of the days.


Just 12 days till Christmas! Which day is your favorite? Happy Holidays!

xoxo
Megan


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When it comes time to attend a holiday party it is always a nice gesture to bring along a gift for the hostess. This is a nice gesture that says “thank you for inviting me and for putting in all the hard work that it takes to plan a party.” Bringing a food or drink item is always a nice way to help contribute to the party. You can also make or pickup a nice gift that the hostess can use once the party is over. Here are ten of my favorite hostess gifts that you can give during this holiday season.

1. Bottle of Bubbly. You can’t go wrong with giving the gift of a bottle of delicious bubbly for the holiday hostess. They have so many adorable bags and bottle decorations that you can dress your bottle in too.
2. A Container of Holiday Sweets. If you are like my mom during the holidays you will have a variety of sweets sitting around the house. Fill a container of holiday goodies to give to your hostess.
3. A Holiday Scented Candle. Everyone loves the smell of the holidays. Gift some holiday scented candles like these from Bath & Body Works.
4. A Christmas Ornament. Find an ornament that you give to your hostess as a thank you. My favorites are from Crate & Barrel like these little chubby gnome ornaments.
5. Kitchen Gadget. Any party host will probably know their way around the kitchen pretty well. You can find tons of holiday kitchen gadgets like spatulas, measuring utensils, and bowls that make the perfect hostess thank-you gift like these holiday spatulas from Sur-la-Table.
6. Drink Mix. Create this DIY to give to the hostess so that they can make a delicious cup or hot chocolate or tea post party. You can even add a little bottle of your favorite mix-in to top off the drink.
7. Customized Coasters. From acrylic to paper coasters you can find some great options when it comes to gift giving. I am loving these monogrammed paper coasters from Alphabet Soup.
8. Cheese Platter. Any hostess will fully appreciate a cheese platter with cutting utensils. You can get a nice bamboo one like this from HomeGoods.
9. Bar Set. No party host can ever have too many bar trinkets. From wine toppers, to drink stirrers they will all be greatly appreciated. This bar set from Martha Stewart can be picked up at any Macy’s.
10. Spa Goodies. After all the stress that can come with planning an event a little spa themed thank-you is the perfect hostess gift. You can pick up a great spa set like this one from Target.
Only 2 weeks until Christmas! What is you favorite gift to give to the party hostess? Happy Holidays!

xoxo
Megan

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Happy Monday! This past week was another girl’s night themed dinner. With it being the holiday season we wanted to pick a country that had some great Christmas traditions, so we chose Sweden. In trying to make our own Swedish Christmas feast we had quite a variety of traditional dishes this past week.

I found a great article by MIX Editor, Laura Byrne Russell, that helped guide me in choosing my tradition Christmas Swedish dishes. Every year Laura attends a tradition Swedish Christmas dinner hosted by one of her friends from Stockholm and they have a whole Swedish feast provided for them. My only problem was deciding what to choose form this delicious sounding menu!

I decided to go with making saffron rolls, called Lussekatter, served during the Swedish holiday celebrating St. Lucia. I found the recipe for the Lussekatter from Food52.com. For dessert I made ginger snaps, called pepparkakor. The recipe I used to make the pepparkakor is from Food.com. They came out crisp around the edges and soft in the middle for a perfect end of dinner treat!

Along with the lussekatter and pepparkakor we also had holiday gloegg, lox, Swedish meatballs and Kroppkakor potato dumplings to round out our Swedish Christmas feast!
Can’t wait for next month’s girl’s night theme dinner!! What country should we do for our next theme night dinner? Add your suggestions in the comments section below.

Have a fabulous Monday:) Only 15 days till Christmas morning!!

xoxo
Megan


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This time of year you can find so many delicious holiday treats that are, of course, so hard to resist. In keeping with the tree theme this week I found this amazing chocolate covered strawberry tree that can be a wonderful treat to have out at a holiday party and can serve as a wonderful table centerpiece. Even though the holidays are filled with tons of sweets and you may want to pass up on one of these chocolate covered goodies just remember that at least this treat can provide you with a serving of fruit!

To make this delicious chocolate covered tree you will need:
     - a Styrofoam Cone
     - Box of Toothpicks (make sure they are sturdy enough to hold up a strawberry!)
     - Strawberries
     - Candy Chocolate
     - Parchment or Wax Paper

Step 1: Wash the strawberries and let them dry.

Step 2: While the berries are drying start melting your chocolate in the microwave according to the instructions on the bag or by using a crockpot or double broiler. *tip: If using multiple colors to decorate your strawberries just melt one at a time so none get over cooked.

Step 3: Once the strawberries are fully dried its time to decorate! Dip and decorate your berries with the chocolate then let them dry on the parchment paper. Need some decorating inspiration? Here are some great holiday colored berries you can model yours after.

Step 4: When the chocolate has dried it is time to create your tree. Starting at the bottom of your Styrofoam cone take a strawberry and connect it with the toothpick. About half of your tooth pick will be in the strawberry and the other half in the tree. Continue adding strawberries, one next to the other, in circular rows until you reach the top.

Step 5: Find a pretty cake stand to put your beautifully decorated strawberry tree on for all your guests to see and then enjoy!

If you have any leftover strawberries you can enjoy the extra treat! Only 18 more days until Christmas! What are you planning on making in the kitchen this holiday season? Happy Holidays!

xoxo
Megan


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It’s that time of the year for tree decorating. So whip up some yummy treats, create a festive playlist, pull down those boxes of ornaments, and invite some friends over for a fun holiday tree trimming party. To help in your planning here is what you will need to do!

A tree trimming party doesn’t just have to be about decorating your tree. You can also make it a fun cocktail hour with all your friends. Put out some festive holiday snacks, like these peanut butter reindeer cookies from Bakergirl, and create a holiday themed cocktail or two for all your guests to enjoy, like this Grinch Punch.

You can’t have a tree trimming party without some festive holiday music playing in the background. Put together a mix of your favorite holiday tunes and have them played in the background. Make sure to include some familiar favorites for everyone to sing along with! Need some help creating a playlist? Check out some of my favorite holiday songs!

And if you and your friends are a crafty bunch this could be a great time for each guest to make an ornament to take home to put on their own tree. Check out the ornaments below that I have made for my own tree. Get Decorating!!

The possibilities are endless when it comes to planning a holiday party. You better hurry though! There are only 19 more days until Christmas! Have you finished decorating yet? Happy Holidays!

xoxo
Megan


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Christmas time is getting nearer and for those planning a wedding during the holiday season I have some great ideas for you today. The Christmas (or holiday) tree can be a great addition to your wedding décor. You can now buy trees in a multitude of colors and sizes so any color palette you choose can coordinate accordingly. Here are some great ways that you can incorporate the Christmas tree into your wedding.

Place Card Holder 

Have a tree at the entrance to the reception site with the place cards hung like ornaments all over the tree. Photo from Style Me Pretty.
Gift Table
Have a tree at the gift table for all the wedding presents to go under. You can also wrap an empty box with a slot in the top for any cards. The gift table will look just like a tree on Christmas morning!
Centerpiece 
From using real trees to creating your own, the tree can serve as a great table or buffet centerpiece during the wedding. You could even put little presents under the tree for each guest at the table to take with them. As an added bonus you can gift the trees to those that helped you prepare for the wedding.
Favors 
For those that want to share with their guests the gift of the green thumb giving out little tree saplings is a great idea. All your guests can take their sapling home, plant them and watch the tree grow along with your marriage. Image from Nancy Gould Photography.
What a festive way to add some holiday cheer to your wedding. Only 19 days left until Christmas! How would you incorporate a tree into your decor? Happy Holidays!!

xoxo
Megan


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If you haven’t been able to tell from my holiday posts so far I love Christmas and everything that comes with it. One of my favorite parts about the holidays is decorating for the season. Between the lights, decorations and crafting I could not love this season anymore! Today I have ten of my favorite holiday decoration ideas to share with you.

1. Lights. It doesn’t matter if you go tacky or classic when it comes to hanging lights, they are all put a smile on my face when I see them. Some cities are known for their light displays and you can organize a tacky lights tour where you live.
2. Holiday Wreath. There are so many different options when it comes to making or buying a holiday wreath. You can go with the traditional pine wreath that will make any room smell amazing or create your own one. I made the bow wreath and the clothespin card wreath from Martha Stewart last year.
3. Wrapped Presents. Wrapped presents in a variety of colors and sizes always adds the perfect addition to a decorated Christmas tree. If I am giving someone multiple items for Christmas, I always try to wrap everything in multiple bags and boxes just to add additional gifts under the tree.
4. Advent Calendar. I love the ones that allow you to create a holiday setting or provide you the decorations for a holiday scene like the ones below from Etsy shop owner SesameSeedDesigns. If you can sew you could even make your own to use each year.
5. Holiday Centerpieces. From the traditional poinsettia to the holiday decorated vases you can never have too many holiday centerpieces around the house during the holidays. I made this candy cane centerpiece vase for some holiday flowers last year. 
6. Garland. Garland always spruces up any room in the house during the holidays. I even brought some in to decorate my office this year. The great thing about holiday garland is that you can get as creative as you want and can coordinate it to your space accordingly. I used pearl garland on the tree this year and we always string garland with berries and ribbon down the main stairway of my parents house. You can get really creative this year and make your own garland, like this DIY ornament garland from Pretty Quirky, to hang up in your house.
7. Christmas Stockings. The best decoration to hand on your mantle during this time of year is of course the Christmas Stocking. I have accumulated so many different stockings from the over the years. Last year I finally got a Lilly Pulitzer which I love! 
8. Gingerbread House. Since I can remember every year growing up my siblings and I have made gingerbread houses at my grandparent’s house for the holidays. You can see how our creativity has changed over the years, but over all they always make for a great centerpiece during holiday events at the house.
9. Ornaments. Homemade and store bought ornaments all look great on a Christmas tree. I have a combination of ones I have made, received as gifts and bought over the years on my tree right now. You can find so many DIY ornament ideas on Pinterest right now that no tree should ever be bear!
10. Christmas Tree. And last but not least the tree. Depending on where you live you can find trees made of lights, ornaments, as wall art, in multiple colors and the traditional live kind. Trees of all sizes, shapes and materials are great during the holidays! And of course the more trees the better I always say!
These decorations will get you ready for a holiday gathering at your house this season. Only 20 days left until Christmas! How are you decorating for the holidays this year? Happy Holidays!!

xoxo
Megan


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This past weekend was filled with holiday decorating both at my apartment and at my parents. Friday I was in Richmond to attend the Richmond Bizarre Bazaar Christmas Show and got to do a little shopping. Being as this is a Christmas show I also found some great decorating and gift ideas. These ornaments hung from the ceiling created a magical holiday atmosphere! 
After the shop I spent the rest of the weekend finishing up my Christmas shopping and helping decorate for Christmas. All the lights have been added to the outside of my parent’s house and the living room floor was covered in bins of Christmas joy. Just be careful that you don't get blinded by all the tacky lights that are outside!
I also got a little crafty this past weekend and finished decorating my apartment’s tree by making the tree topper. I think the bow came out pretty good considering it was the first time I have made one.
I can’t wait for the holidays to get here. There is only 21 days left until Christmas! Are you all ready for the holidays? Happy Holidays!!

xoxo
Megan


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