Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies

There is lots of baking taking place this time of you. Whether it's for the upcoming holiday season or because you find yourself stuck inside away from the cold craving some good tasty homemade treats. 

I'm not a huge baker ... I enjoy sweets but I haven't really found that "love" of cooking or baking. I appreciate eating food/meals that are homemade and from scratch but rarely do I find myself in the kitchen making them. 

However, there are some rare like really rare occasions when I spot a recipe and I just need to try it out. Hence this recipe by TheCakeMerchant. Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies ... YES PLEASE! I'm a sucker for shortbread cookies (hold the cherry though), I love them to bits and thought I need to try my hand at this interesting variation as I'm also a lover of anything cinnamon.  

The recipe was easy to follow and resulted in an abundance of cookies that I took to work. Adam and I had a few the night before and we contemplated keeping them for ourselves, but in the spirit of giving (yeah right, we just didn't want to have to run extra kilometres for eating all the cookies) I followed through and shared them with co-workers. 

I wasn't surprised when they were all gone by noon. I'm glad everyone enjoyed them and many complimented me on the "twist" to the traditional shortbread cookie. They all appreciated the brown sugar and cinnamon as much as Adam and I did.  

I think it's the simplicity of a shortbread cookie that I like, this variation spruces them up just a bit while still tasting delicious.

Enjoy with a cup of tea.

~ Erin

Holiday Baked Goods

Happy Monday!

For today's "BLOGMAS 2015" post, Nat Hennessey and I decided to collaborate and try our hands at two Pinterest-y holiday recipes. We did lots of pinning and searching to find these recipes and we think they turned out tasty! We also added a family fun recipe that Natalie enjoyed as a child, thanks to her aunt. It's "our" addition to the Pinterest holiday collection!

The first recipe we tried our hands at was Peanut Butter Balls! Peanut butter is a staple in both our households and making them into balls and adding chocolate seemed like a great idea! Neither of us had made PB balls prior to this, so we had a few mishaps along the way ... but they turned out and we were throughly enjoyed!

Here is a link to the recipe we used - it's from SheWearsManyHats. The recipe was easy and super simple to follow and only took us about 10 minutes to prepare. Note: the recipe says it makes 25-30 pb balls. We got about 13 "normal" sized peanut butter balls out of this.

We followed the directions by mixing the ingredients together and forming the peanut butter mixture into a large ball. We then put it in the fridge ... however, we were impatient and didn't quite leave it in long enough to stiffen. This was the result after attempting to dip it into chocolate...

After that mishap, we decided to form them into the bite size balls and put them in the freezer for an hour (while we carried on with the other recipes). 

The chocolate melted easily in a double-boiler and after an hour, the balls were a breeze to dip as they were slightly frozen. We added a sprinkle of crushed candy canes on top - and ta-da, they're good to go! Another modification we made was to use "honey roasted peanuts" which we found at the Bulk Barn in the "grid your own" section. Here is our finished product:

Our second recipe was a bit more labour intensive. We came across a recipe for "Reindeer Crunch" that was just too good looking to pass up! The recipe can be found here from FamedCooks.

Although the recipe was more labour intensive, it was fun and easy to make. This would be a great option to make with children in big batches for school Christmas parties. Again, we followed the instructions, the only substitution we made was with the chocolate drizzle. A walk through Michaels led Nat and I to pick up some salted caramel flavoured Wilton candy melts to use instead of chocolate. What a great choice that was!

As perviously mentioned, the recipe was easy to follow. Once the sugar, syrup and butter were melted we poured it over the popcorn which was waiting on two cookie sheets ready for the oven. Once the popcorn was in the oven, we started melting our chocolate wafters in the microwave and when the popcorn was done, we drizzled it over the top.

The finished product sat for about 1 1/2 hours at room temp, but the original recipe says that throwing it in the fridge will speed up the "hardening" process. Check out final product below: 

Finally, we tried our hand at one of Natalie's favourite childhood memories! Every year at Christmas her family would host her aunt's family at their house - and every year her aunt would show up with these amazing cookie wreaths. This is what they look like before decorating... which the children get to do.

Natalie laughs about it now, but says that for the longest time she "COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WERE MADE"! (Keep in mind she was 5-10 years old) Here is the recipe to the magic...

You will need (for 2 large wreaths):

~ 1 batch of your favourite cookie dough recipe. We used this one.

~ 2 round pizza pans

~ cake boards (or cardboard circles covered with tinfoil or wrapping paper)

~ icing and decorations (ready made royal icing is the easiest)

You want to start by making the cookie dough as you usually would, just follow the directions. 

When the dough is completely mixed, you want to roll 1 inch balls. We used about 17 balls/wreath. When your balls are rolled, it's time to place them in a circle on your pizza pan. The key here is to MAKE SURE THE COOKIE DOUGH BALLS ARE TOUCHING!!! We essentially want all of the cookies to mush together when they spread out while baking. They should look like this when you have placed the balls correctly.

When you bake them, follow the directions in the recipe and let the giant cookie cool completely before trying to remove it. 

I found the easiest way to get the cookie off the pan in one piece was to loosen it from the pan with a flat spatula, put the cooling rack on the top of the cookie, flip it out so it's upside down, then place the cake board on the cookie, which was on the cooling rack and flip it over again so the cookie is upright.

We found some ready made royal icing and picked up a few treats to decorate it. We used crushed candy cane, smarties, pull and peel liquorice and let our childlike imaginations fly!

Here are the results:

These wreaths would be great addition to any Christmas party for kids or even as a great fundraiser around the holiday season!

We hope you've enjoyed seeing our picks from Pinterest. Let us know if you attempt the recipes and be sure share the results with friends and family. 

HAPPY BAKING

Winter Nails

I use to have my nails professionally done every three weeks and for a few years I loved changing them up, adding creative designs etc, but for the past year or so I've been painting my own. There is something therapudic about painting my nails... but it wasn't always that way. I could do a steller job on my left hand and then the right looked like a mangled mess. With lots of cotton pads and nail polish remover used, I've slowly become decent at painting my nails and now enjoy painting them 2-3 times a week. Rarely do they chip before I decide to change them up. The therapeutic aspect comes into play as I usually allot a time in my day to paint my nails, usually in the evenings after the hustle and bustle. I grab a big glass of H2O, put on a face mask, listen to a record and spend some time on me.

You can get really creative this time of year...ruby reds, black knights (play on words) and loads of glitter but I'm more of a simple person that likes looks that will carry me from Thanksgiving into the New Year. 

I've put together a few colours that are brilliant this time of year, both intriguing yet simple. All looks are budget friendly and can be spiced up by adding a lighter/darker shade to one nail or applying glitter.

1. Smith & Cult - Bitter Buddhist  2. Essie - Vested Interest
3. Essie - Parka Perfect  4. Sally Girl - TTFN

I've been on the hunt for some fun grey shades and over the past two weeks I've discovered plenty. Grey undertone nail polish is the perfect colour for this time of year. Blue/green and purple shades are the ones I flock too and love that they are neutral and can be easily worn. Some see grey as a dreary colour but I find it quite chic and effortlessly cool. Grey hues perfectly suit the cooler months dramatic moods. An ombre look with a few of these shades would look superb.

1. Smith & Cult - Tenderoni  2. OPI - Miami Beet
3. Essie - Bahama Mama  4. Smith & Cult - Lovers Creep Berry colours are my jam. I much prefer these shades to bright reds. There is something about the berry hues and the way they complement my wardrobe this time of year, plus they scream "autumnal". These darker vampy tones are a great classic twist to the traditional red.

  

1. My nails painted in Sally Girl - Chillax, also shown in bottom right
2. Sally Hansen - Fish Tail Braid  3. OPI - Teal the Cows Come Home

It's not because I have goals of becoming a mermaid, but teal is one fffine shade. It's the pop of colour that will always get you compliments and fits the mood of the cooler months perfectly. A teal manicure is a wee bit daring yet fashionable, allowing any skin tone to pull it off. With most teal colours they are highly pigmented so I recommend you apply a base coat first. Also, try accenting one nail to get a funkier, bolder look.

These are my suggestions for nail colours as we tradition into the colder months. I would love to hear if you have any go to polishes you recommend that I try.


Happy painting. 

Holiday Traditions

Charly Brown Christmas Tree Circa 2013
"Give a skinny tree a chance"

Growing up our holidays were always spent with family. This usually meant that we drove 7.5 hours to Cape Breton to be with my grandparents or they made the trek off the island to come visit us. In most cases when we went to visit them, the holiday seemed rushed and the spirit of embracing the "family love" sometimes felt lost due to the traveling. There just never seemed to be enough time. So needless to say the holidays hold an odd spot in my heart.

More than anything I believe in the generosity of giving during this time of year. I take great pride in finding meaningful gifts that the receiver will appreciate and remember me (us = Adam and I) by. Because my holidays have always seemed hurried and the time with my loved ones seems to fly by, it's always been important that I spread the "love" of the holidays in different forms.

* I must side note that I married into a family that is EXTREMELY traditional when it comes to the holidays. As in the cookies they bake are usually the same, they attend the same Mass every year, they make the same Christmas Eve dish, they gather at my in laws to open presents and it is known that everyone should make it home for the holidays.

* Another side note to mention is that my family has had some "non traditional" holiday experiences. While traveling one year there was a major snow storm and we had to pull over and spend the night at a shady motel. We were quite young and my brother was tremendously concerned that Santa wasn't going to find us. We woke to snow completely covering our room door and what should have taken 30 minutes to get to my grandparents took us 5 hours!!! The chocolate bars for breakfast made up for the stressful/painful drive.
In 2005 we took off and spent the week in NYC, there my or may not have been a poop/plunger incident on Christmas day that the hotel staff had to take care of.

Anyway, Adam and I have started some small but meaningful traditions that we each look forward to and can be done anywhere we might find ourselves over the holidays.

1 - We were gifted a pop-up book of "Twas the night before Christmas" a few years back. Each December as we decorate our place, the book gets placed close to the tree. On Christmas Eve we read
it, then sign it. Hopefully, one day to add our children's names to the book and eventually to pass it along.

2 - With all the hustle and bustle of the season, we like to take a few minutes to really appreciate the time of year. On an evening days before the big guy arrives, we change into our pyjamas, load Ollie (our dog) into the car, grab some hot chocolates and seek out all the beautiful decorations and Christmas lights. We chat and reminisce about our past holidays and wonder what others are doing this time of year. We take time to appreciate how lucky/blessed we are, and thank each other for the support over the last year. It feels special to share the magic of the season.

3 - Christmas dinner. I know a lot of families that share in this tradition, and although it can sometimes be overwhelming it's delightful to mingle with your "crazy" relatives over the holidays. Last year, Adam and I stayed put for Christmas and invited friends over to test our first ever attempt at Christmas dinner. It was interesting, changing things up, I definitely missed the laughs I would have with our families but took time to appreciate the present moment. I'm thankful we chose to share our day with friends and we didn't even have to order in, the food was edible!!!

Where ever the holiday season brings you, take time to reminisce on 2015. Share some laughs with loved ones, express gratitude, take a drive and sing in the spirit of the season.

Merry Everything, And A Happy Always.
Erin

BLOGMAS 2015

Blogmas artwork by Adam Terrio

We are in the last month of 2015 and what better way to end the year than with copious amounts of blogs?!?

NAT and I have teamed up to bring you a blog everyday (weekends excluded) until Christmas. She kicks off December 1st over at nathennessey.com, talking about her go to Christmas playlist. So cue the tunes and enjoy our festive approach at blogging.

xo Erin 

Mini Sephora Haul

While traveling through New Brunswick I made a 15 minute pit stop to pick up some birthday presents (not shown) and to grab a few bits and bobs for myself (shown). 

I'd been in need of a new super nourishing lip balm and wanted to pick up one of the Sephora sleeping masks as it sounded intriguing. I'm a big fan of Sephora's face masks so snagged another one in the "moisturizing & brightening" range. 

While Adam browsed HMV, I rushed around Sephora looking at all the fancy makeup. I came prepared and had a list. A few things weren't on the list which was okay as I found a couple extra pieces and have since tested. 

The first was the Sephora Luster Matte Lip Color in Rose Luster. I've worn this a number of times, and although the product claims to be matte, I'm pleased that it really doesn't dry matte. What I mean is that the product is a little glossy on first application, and as it dries it sinks into your lips but you can still feel the product as your rub your lips together. I love that it is non drying because this time of your my lips don't need to look cracked as I wear bolder lip colours. I'd like more time to check out the other colours as they have a really pretty range. I was happy with the results and impressed that a little bit of product goes a long way!

The second impulse purchase was the "day to night" hair clip by Sephora. They came out with a few cute clips/barrettes and I thought this one was the most versatile ... hence the name. I've been using it quite a bit and have my eyes on the "feelin' fancy" one too. I'm pretty slack when it comes dolling up, but think these clips add just the right amount of "I put some effort in" without actually having to do much.

The Sephora VIB sale is happening now. I've added a few things to my shopping bag and will hold off using them until my birthday or even Christmas. I'd love to hear what is on your wish list at Sephora. I was tempted to purchase a $80 face moisturizer but held off ... it is said to be wonderful with fantastic results but I held off and stuck with Origins. 

October Trash Talk

 I can't believe how fast I'm going through products! I swear I took pictures of this "now" trash (mostly recycling, don't fret) and 2 days later I was adding things to the bin again! I love it. 

 1. Baby Bee Shampoo and Wash was a little delight I enjoyed in the shower. It was extremely soft on my skin and the subtle sweet aroma made me gravitate towards it. I only used it as a wash, knowing that if I washed my hair with it the product would disappear faster. I purchased this on sale when Target closed and would repurchase again if the price was right. It was gentle and lathered nicely. 

2. Another exfoliating brush used and abused. I which I knew about these sooner. I love using mine and miss it what I forget it places (back in NB for example). When I repurchased after leaving it behind, I made sure to grab an extra. They are approximately $2.50 and my favourite so far are the ones from Sally Beauty Supply as they have softer bristles. The size is perfect, allowing you to get around your eyes and the bristles don't tug at your skin. Can't recommend this enough. 

3. Sample of Marc Jacobs Mod Noir was a great little scent that worked in the warmer summer months. With notes of gardenia the scent is lightly floral. I was happy with the fragrance, but the staying power wasn't the best. It comes with a hefty price tag ranging from $34 - $110 and although it was a nice sample it's not worth the money for me. 

4. The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet  was a decent moisturizer for the Spring/Summer.  It was light weight and felt really fresh on my skin. It had a pleasent smell of shea butter and had a interesting cooling effect once on the skin. Very fresh feeling. My only gripe is that if I didn't let it sit long enough (20 minutes) before applying my SPF then little white balls would form. Not sure what that was all about but other than that I will probably repurchase next Spring. 

5. Quo Nail Polish Remover worked as I needed it to. It was probably on sale and I tend to buy bottles like this so that I can refill the bottle that has a pump top. 

6. Finesse shampoo was quite the throw back for me. While walking the isles of Walmart I stumbled upon this shampoo and decided to give it a go for under $3.00. It didn't add anything significant to my hair, or take away for that matter. It lathered nicely and if you can stand the smell (I can in doses) it works and is worth the price. I haven't found a holy grail shampoo product yet. Please let me know if you have suggestions on a volumizing/moisturizing shampoo.

7. LAVANILA healthy deodorant. GOOD LORD, if "huffing" was acceptable, this would be my huff drug of choice. I freaking love the smell of this deodorant! As an aluminum free deodorant, that is 100% natural and safe this deodorant is totally worth the $17 price tag at Sephora ... if you are an inactive human. For me, this just didn't work the way I needed it to. I'm relativity active in my day to day activities and sadly this deodorant just didn't have the lasting power I needed. I sweat and workout and need something that is going to keep me covered and not reeking of rotten onions half way through my day. So sadly, I won't be repurchasing because wearing $17 deodorant to bed isn't in my budget.  I'm sorry LAVANILA, I really am!!!

Damn You LAVANILA, everytime!

8.  Yes To Cucumber Wipes were on sale and I decided to give the wipes a go as I've heard decent things about this brand. I was not a fan of this product at all. Sadly, they hardly did anything to get rid of the little makeup I do wear, and the product burned my eyes. I'm never sensitive to products, but after using them to clean my face a handful of times, I gave up as my eyes would water and sting. Will not repurchase, and quite frankly, I'm turned off trying anything else from the brand. 

9. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment was a sample size birthday gift I received from Sephora a few years ago. This one is in the tint "rose" and has a faint blend of "rosiness" that shows on your lips. As a balm it is prefect as it enhances the colour of your lips with a pink/red tone. I was literally scooping out the remainder of the product before I tossed it in the bin. I really enjoy these lip treatments, and have been giving them as birthday gifts to friends and family. I have a few shades and find they are a great alternative to use when you don't want to wear lipstick but need a moisturizer with a slight colour. Highly recommend!

10. Secret Deodorant is a necessity in my everyday routine. I'm a fan of all their scents and have a plethora of these deodorants around my house (mostly in bags but the occasional one is found in a drawer). 

11. Another Montagne Jeunesse mask in the bin. I pick these up at Lawtons for $1.00 and while looking them up online I see that they have changed their name to "7th Heaven" because people have a hard time pronouncing Montagne Jeunesse. Funny, but true. 

This particular one, was a peel off and I throughly enjoyed it as it dried quickly and peeled off nicely. I try and use a mask twice a week and enjoy switching it up, so these are fun to try and play around with. I always moisturize really well afterwards and I've never had an sensitivity to this brand.

So there you have it, another "Trash Talk" in the bin on the blog. 

Let me know if you have had any luck with LAVANILA ... if you have, I'm jealous. Not going to lie I really want to retrieve the used product just to smell the lingering bits that might be left. WEIRD, I know... okay, bye!