Fun Cocktails to Ring in the New Year!

We can't celebrate the New Year without a good cocktail!  I found a few recipes that call for fewer than 5 ingredients to keep it easy and inexpensive.  (A shot glass = 1.5 ounces)

Mocha Nog Punch

• 2 cups Kahlúa Mocha
• 1 cup Absolut Vanilla
• 4 cups eggnog

Mix in punch bowl and serve with ice.

Screwdriver with a twist

• 1.5 ounce of vodka
• 1.5 ounce of banana liqueur
• 1.5 ounce of peach liqueur
• 4.5 ounces of orange juice
• .5 ounce shot of grenadine

Mix ingredients in shaker with ice.  Then pour into glass.

French Martini

• 1.5 ounces Vodka
• .5 ounce Chambord
• 2 ounces pineapple juice

Mix in shaker with ice and pour into martini glass.

Tinsel Bellini

This one looks super cute and fun!

• 2 ounces HPNOTIQ
• 1 ounce Limencello
• 1 ounce Champagne
• Splash of lime juice

Rim the champagne flute with sugar.  Mix ingredients and pour into the champagne flute.  Add a splash of lime juice.

The French Kiss

• 1 ounce Chambord
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1 ounce dark creme de cacao
• 1.5 ounce half and half

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

The Flirtini

• 1.5 ounces of Orange Vodka
• 1 ounces of pineapple juice
• 1 ounce of Champagne

Mix orange vodka and pineapple juice with ice in shaker and strain into martini glass.  Top with champagne.

Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake Martini

• 3 ounces Rasperry Vodka
• 1.5 ounces Chocolate liqueur
• 1.5 ounces Irish cream

Mix ingredients in shaker with ice.  Drizzle chocolate syrup along inside of martini glass.  Pour into glass and serve.

Vodka Punch

• 1 ounce citrus vodka
• 1 ounce mango rum
• 2 ounces pineapple juice
• 2 ounces cranberry juice

Mix ingredients together and serve over ice.

Champagne Cocktail

This is my favorite drink around the holidays!

• 1 ounce citrus vodka
• 1 ounce peach liqueur
• 2 ounces of white cranberry juice
• 2 ounces champagne

Mix vodka, peach liqueur and white cranberry juice in shaker.  Pour into glass and top with champagne.

Chocolate-Mint Martini Recipe

• 1 ounce Vodka
• .5 ounce White Creme de Menthe
• .5 ounce White Creme de Cacao

Drizzle chocolate inside martini glass. Mix ingredients and pour in glass.  

Don't they look so yummy?  I can't wait to make some of these while ringing in the New Year!  You can find even more cocktail recipes here.

Enjoy!! Please share if you make any of these fun drinks. 

Yummy Christmas Breakfast Ideas

I love breakfast!  I could eat breakfast food every meal of the day.   Every year my mom makes an egg, cheese, and sausage casserole on Christmas that the entire family loves.  I thought I would share some easy breakfast dishes.  Most of them can be made the night before.  Maybe they will help you plan your Christmas breakfast.

Make Ahead Egg Casserole Recipe 

• 6 slices bread
• 1 lb. sausage
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 6 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp. salt

Cook sausage and drain.  Set aside.  Spray bottom of casserole dish.   Break bread into small pieces.  Spread sausage over top of the bread.  Sprinkle with the grated cheese.  In separate bowl, mix eggs, milk and salt.  Pour over sausage, bread and cheese.  Place in refrigerator overnight.  Take out 1 hour before you are ready to bake.  Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

I also found this recipe on Saveur.  It looks delicious and simple.  My kind of recipe:)  I might even add spinach to it.

Baked French Toast Casserole
This recipe is shared by Melissa at Just the 3 of Us.  It is amazing!!

Baked Fruit Casserole
I had to include something somewhat healthy and you can't go wrong with fruit.  This hot fruit dish is really yummy.  It can be served for breakfast and for dinner.

• 1 (16 oz.) can peaches
• 1 (16 oz.) can pears
• 1 (16 oz.) can pineapple
• 1 (15 oz.) can of apricotts (You can use any canned fruit that you prefer)
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp. curry powder
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Drain fruit, saving 1/2 cup of pinapple juice and place in casserole dish.  Mix pineapple juice, brown sugar, corn starch, and spices. Pour over fruit.  Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes or until bubbly.  Best made the night before and reheated at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Can also be prepared the night before and baked in the morning.

Santa and Rudolph Pancakes

I came across these cute pancakes while searching for fun Christmas breakfast ideas.  I can't wait to make these with Connor and my nephew this weekend.  We might have to make them Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.  I think the kids and adults will enjoy this treat.

What are you planning on making for breakfast over the holidays?  Share some of your favorite breakfast recipes.  Link back to your recipes.  I love trying new things.

Mosaic Art

I came across this personalized art idea at Under the Table and Dreaming and had to immediately make it for myself.  I used pictures from Leo Reynold's collection to create my personal family print.  It only took an hour and most of that time was spent looking through all the different pictures available.

This is what I created:

I opened a PowerPoint presentation and set the page settings to be 8 x 8.  If your name is longer you will probably want your page set to 8 x 10.  Then I inserted the letters, numbers, and shapes into the slide.  I saved it as a PDF so I can take it and have it printed out.   I'll post pictures of it framed this evening.

I also found this great website called Big Huge Labs where you can make your own mosaic art with personal photos and photos found online.  I think my next project will be a mosaic art print of Connor's first and second year.  You can also make puzzles and other fun products of pictures.  Check it out if you get a chance.

Please share your personal mosaic art.  Leave a comment and link back to your blog.  I'd love to take a look.

Favorite Things Friday

Snow Days!! 

This week my favorite thing was definitely the snow day we had on Thursday.  Schools were closed and I got to stay home and be lazy with Connor.  It was a perfect day to do nothing and not feel guilty about it!!

Peanut Butter Brownies

My friend Melissa over at Just the 3 of Us made these amazing brownies and shared them at work.  They are so yummy.  I have to make them for my husband who loves anything that includes chocolate and peanut butter.  You have to try them.

Cozy Sweaters
I'm lovin' the Mossimo turtlenecks a Target.  You can't beat the price and they are so soft and comfy.  I have the purple and black so far and I'll be going back this weekend for more.

What are you lovin' this week?  Leave a comment or link up to your favorite things.  I'd love to hear from you.

10 Gift Exchange Ideas Under $15

Every year my cousins and I have a White Elephant gift exchange and every year I struggle with an idea that everybody will like.  I spent some time looking for fun ideas today and I thought I would share some of the ideas I came across.

1.  Popcorn bowl filled with popcorn, candy, and a Blockbuster gift card.  I found these bowls at the Dollar Tree and the dollar section of Target.

2.  Sushi Starter Kit:  sushi rice, nori sheets, rolling mat, sushi recipe book (I found a lot on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for around $5)

3.  Coffee and travel coffee mug:  I love the travel mugs that you can personalize yourself with pictures.  Then it is easy to update with new pictures.

4.  Bottle of wine with a wine bottle stop

5.  Kitchen Dish towels, hand soup, and hand lotion set

6.  Ice Cream Sundae Gift Set:  Pair inexpensive ice cream bowls with different ice cream toppings and include an ice cream scoop.

7.  Fun Family Game:  Cranium and Jenga are fun.

8.  Car Cleaning Items:  My husband puts this in the gift exchange every year and then picks it for himself.  I also like the idea of the emergency car kit.

9.  Lottery Tickets - Everybody loves getting scratch off tickets:)

10.  You can never go wrong with a gift card even though it is a little boring:)  I usually go with the gift card idea because then people can pick their own gift.  I spend hours looking online for a cute gift idea and then always go with the gift card.

Please share what your favorite gift would be or if you have any other ideas.  Also, leave a comment with a fun White Elephant gift you've received or given in the past.  I'd love to hear about it.

Easy Christmas Wreath

This is a quick and easy Christmas wreath to make.  I wanted a simple, classic wreath that could be used year after year.

Supplies Needed:

• Foam Wreath
• Red Ribbon - used to wrap foam wreath
• 4 Strands of Beads:  I used 2 different sizes
• Floral Pins
• 1.5 Inch Ribbon for Bow
• Double-sided Tape

I started by wrapping the wreath with the ribbon and adhering it with the double-sided tape.

Then I started wrapping the beads around the wreath.  I wrapped three at a time:  one small, one large, and one small.  That covered about 2/3 of the wreath.  Then for the rest I took a small strand and cut it in half and repeated the small, large, small pattern.  It will vary depending on the size of the wreath you are using.  I attached the beads using the floral pins.  I left a 1.5 inch space where I wanted the bow to be placed so it would lay flat against the wreath. 

I looped the ribbon around once behind the bow and tied a knot to I could hang the wreath on my door.  Then I attached the bow to the loop so the bow is actually attached to the loop not the wreath.

Now I just can't decide if I want to keep it on my front door or hang it above my fireplace:)  I might have to make another one.

Let me know what you think.  Have you made a wreath lately?  I'd love to see it.  Leave a comment and link back to what you made.

Favorite Things Friday

This is what I'm lovin' this week:

Priceless:

I love talking to my mom everyday on my way to work in the morning.  It makes my commute so much easier and it gives us a chance to catch up on what's going on in our daily lives.  Since I've moved to Virginia Beach my mom has become my best friend mostly because of our daily talks.  

Under $10:

If you have a toddler, you will love the Aguadoodle products.  They allow children to draw and create pictures using pens filled with water.  There is no mess or clean-up required.  The best part is when the water dries the image disappears so your child can draw on the mat or over and over again.  It is an amazing product.

I found the Aquadoodle Travel Doodle on sale at Amazon for $9.99.  This would be great for any car trip especially for long car rides.  This is great for Connor when we drive from Virginia Beach to Maryland.

I also found the Toy Story Aquadoodle Wall Runner on sale at Toys'R'Us for $9.98.  Just attach the mat to the wall and fill the pen with water.  Then let your child color without messing up the walls.  These would be great Christmas gifts for any child!  

Under $20:

This weekend we are meeting my parents in Williamsburg and and spending Saturday evening at Busch Garden's Christmas Town.  We went last year and had so much fun.  It is absolutely beautiful.  The entire park is decorated for Christmas.  It is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and spend time with family.  Connor loved seeing Santa and watching the Christmas Sesame Street show.  They have shows you can watch and carolers that walk around.  Tickets are $19.99 but I got $5 off coupons at Farm Fresh so it will be $14.99 per person.  We won't have to pay for Connor because kids two and under are free.   If you live nearby, you definitely have to check it out. 

Under $30:

The Creamy Caramel candle from Yankee Candle is my new favorite fall/winter scent.  I recently bought this candle at with my friend Melissa.  She had an awesome coupon:  buy 2 get 2 free.  This candle makes my house smell so good. 

What are you lovin' this week?  Please leave a comment and share your favorite things.   Also, I would love to hear what your opinions are about my favorite things.

Easy Wine Bottle Tag

This is a great way to take a hostess gift to all the holiday parties you've been invited to this year.  Just grab a bottle of wine and this quick and easy wine tag.

I started with a piece of green cardstock 8.5 x 11 and I cut it in half to 4.25 x 11.  Then I folded one side over 3/4 of the way - about 3.5 inches.

I printed the message on white cardstock and cut it into the shape of the tag.  I punched a hole in it and ran the ribbon through the hole.  

Then I cut another piece of scrapbook paper to cover the longer side of the green paper.  I wrapped the ribbon around it and taped it to the back.  I adhered it with double sided tape to the green cardstock.   The final step is to punch a large whole in the middle of the top section and place it over the neck of the wine bottle. 

A quick an easy way to dress up a bottle of wine.  It can easily be personalized and there are endless possibilities depending on the holiday or event.  You can keep it simple or dress it up with stickers and other scrapbooking embellishments.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think and share any wine tags that you make yourself.  Just leave a link to your blog.  I love seeing what other people create.

Subway Art Personalized Ornaments

I'm loving all the subway art I've seen on various blogs I follow so I decided to try something simple before I make my family one for the house.

I decided to create subway art personalized ornaments for my husband, son, dog and me.

I started with four pieces of christmas scrapbook paper, 4 small wooden squares 3.5 x 5.5, red paint and red ribbon.

I used Microsoft PowerPoint to create arrange my words.  I set the paper to the size of the wood by clicking on File and then Page Setup.  Then I started typing in different words to describe everybody and played around with the different fonts.  It really didn't take that long at all.

After all 4 of my slides were complete, I cut the scrapbook paper to 4 x 6 because I was using my PictureMate printer to print the images.   Then, I just placed the 4 different sheets of paper in the printer and printed the four images.

I then was ready to attach the paper to the wood.  I painted the wood pieces red and when it dried, I simply decoupaged the paper images to the wood.  When it was all dry, I drilled a hole in the wood and pulled the ribbon through so it can hang from the tree.

A fun and simple keepsake ornament!  My favorite part was including Connor's toys that he loves playing with this year .  It will be fun to look at in the future and remember what he liked in 2010.

Favorite Things Friday

Every Friday I would like to add a few of my favorite things.  Since I try not to spend more than $30 while I'm out shopping, I'm going to divide the post into three categories:  Under $30, Under $20, and Under $10.  Here are three things I'm lovin' this week.

Under $30:
I love anything purple so when I saw this sweater at Kohl's, I just had to have it.  I especially love the rosette flowers.

Under $20:
I found this great scarf at Old Navy.  I can't wait to wear it with a dark grey sweater and jeans.  It is so soft.  They have it in a variety of colors also.

Under $10
I absolutely cannot live with out this lip balm from Victoria's Secret.  My husband puts a few in my stocking every christmas and I can't go a day without using it!!

What are you lovin' this week?  Leave a comment and share one of your own favorite things.