on a very merry christmas & a goody gift...

Merry Christmas friends! I found this rad illustration online via here and I've fallen in love with it! Coolest Santa in all the land for sure. I hope everyones Christmas has been full of magic and lots of goodies. 

Speaking of goodies I received my goody goody gift all the way from Italy and I just had to share what my new friend Silvia gifted me with. She is such a sweet gal and won my heart with her box of gems!

COFFEE and the tiniest cutest wittle percolator that I just wanted to hug when I saw. It's the perfect gift for me and totally amazing. Silvia's adorable instructions with drawings captured my heart as well. Not to forget the coffee is local to her home town which is by far the coolest thing. Check out her blog for some wonderful photos of Europe and her home!

Thank you Silvia!

xoxo.

on new traditions...

Tradition are such a fun part of this time of year. I love to think about all the different ways people celebrate the Holidays. It's so cool that our society (for the most part) accepts each others family traditions. For us, we ended up splitting the all American Christmas tradition with my own Hungarian family tradition to create something that is special and unique to us. I love it!

Growing up we celebrated Christmas on the twenty-fourth. For my family the Christmas tree was never put up until Christmas day since Jesus was the one that gifted us with a beautiful tree. It was always such an amazing feeling walking out from my room to our glorious tall bright tree in the living room with all our wrapped gifts underneath. I still remember those feelings!

Right now we still celebrate on the twenty-fourth but usually put our Christmas tree up along with everyone else. As a kid I always sort of envied all my friends that were able to help decorate and enjoy their tree all the way up until Christmas so I wanted to bring that into our tradition. I'm happy we did so because hanging ornaments with Sebastian is one of my favorite things!

I love to adapt and add new tradition every year. Big or small they just make this time of year even more cheery when you have neat things to look forward to. This year I decided to try baking homemade cinnamon rolls. I've always told myself that I want to make homemade cinnamon rolls more often but I never do so I made it my mission to bake fresh buns on Christmas morning and establish a new tradition to carry on every year!

These cinnamon rolls aren't just any cinnamon rolls, they are Cappie's Cinnamon Rolls from Sandra Claus…A South Pole Santa Adventure! Cappie herself made these gems for Sandra and all her friend (including elves!). They are the most gooey cinnamon rolls you'll ever eat and the cream cheese glaze is to die for.

Best part is the author of The Search for South Pole Santa series is gifting all of us with both books on Amazon TOMORROW! So, don't forget to skip on over to here & here and download both books to enjoy on Christmas Day. Thanks JingleBelle Jackson. If you would like to get your hands on this recipe well, buy book two the recipe is right inside at the end of the book!

What are some of our family traditions? Any new ones this year??

xoxo.

on being thankful...

Another Thanksgiving and yet again I find myself being grateful for so many things in this life. I love this day not only for the really great meal we all share with the people that we love but also because it's a day to celebrate the greatest things in life and appreciate them. I believe in always being thankful for all that I have and never take it for granted but sometimes it's easy to loose that appreciation with what goes on in our everyday lives. Here is a little list of things I am grateful for:

1// My husband. Bobby is my perfect match. He is my ying to my yang. Wait what? No really he is so patient with me and puts up with all my craziness. He will go to store and grind me some fresh coffee beans when I run out just to insure I get my much needed cup of coffee. He puts up with my obsessive television show watching and doesn't take it personally when my voice turns demonic and I spit fire at him if he even utters a word or even gives me the side eye. He is always thinking of our little family and is a pretty awesome dad. Bobby works hard at everything he does and for that I am thankful. Blessed that I found a mate that completes me in every way possible. Through the good, bad and the ugly he stands by me with his hand in mine. 

2// Sebastian. This dude. He can be the most frustrating child in all the land and sometimes he has me banging my head against the wall with all his mischievousness but I wouldn't change it for the world. Sebastian has been working hard and is always trying his best to do what he should. I know it's not the easiest for him at times, that's why I know he is going to do great things in his life because no matter what he keeps at it. The kid amazes me still to this day and at times I almost think that he has a photographic memory. He can pick up something and just figure it out. I am thankful for Sebastian and all that he has taught me. I am always growing as a parent and as a person because of him. 

3// My dad. This is my favorite photo of my dad. I've learned so much from this man. He has had many hardships throughout his life but the one thing that he was always sure of was that his daughters are everything to him. He is strong, hardworking and a bit of a kook somethings (a lot of the time) and because of him I know that being honest and truthful to not only the people around you but also to yourself is what is most important to remember at the end of the day. My dad hasn't always agreed with my music taste or my choice of style or why I do the things I do and sometimes I get the cold shoulder or the side eye from him but no matter, I am thankful for standing by him. My dad is a great man. 

4// Bobby's family. My family. They are a huge bunch of crazies and I love them for it! I was welcomed into the family well before I become Bobby's wife and for that I am grateful. I came into their world all of a sudden and they accepted me for who I am. My mother in law and father in a law are always there for us when we need them. They are wonderful people. Every single one of them. 

5// Friends. I have so many people near and far that are dear to my heart. Thankful for each and every one of them. 

I'm thankful for the small things: coffee and a job full of it / this place to share things with you all / books / technology / the color mint / walking dead / moccasins / short hair / taylor kitsch / dream catchers / television / hot baths / cold mornings and cuddles on the couch / big glasses and stretched ears / memories! 

Happy Thanksgiving. xoxo. 

on peppermint love cupcakes...

Hi ya'll. Happy Valentine's Day! Today was a very pleasant day. I had whole day off. Sebastian has half days on Tuesdays and Thursdays for his speech class and since the Mr. has been spending a few days at his dad's auto shop (remember their in Mexico) I had to take off to be home with Sebastian. No complaints here, my friend. Anyways, on to my fancy treat. In honor of v-day I made Peppermint Love Cupcakes.

Ingredients:
Makes up to 16-18 cupcakes

1 1/2 cups of flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, room temp
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla 
1 cup sour cream
16-18 peppermint patties, I used York! Got mini ones from the bulk candy isle in Wegmans! 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. 

In a medium bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt & cocoa. Set aside. 

In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your kitchen aid, if your as lucky as me, cream together the butter and sugar until it's nice and fluffy. It takes a few minutes. Add the eggs next, one at a  time until each one is blended in with the butter mixture. Then add the vanilla. Once everything is completely mixed start adding the dry mixture into your butter mixture. Do one cup of the dry mixture into the butter mixture while still mixing it with your mixer. Next add 1/2 of the sour cream to the same mixture. Another cup of dry, and the last 1/2 cup of sour cream. Then finish off with the dry. I like doing things in this sequence so everything has time to combine together. Sebastian helped me out with doing this part :) 

Once it's all mixed up your cupcake batter should look like this...

Now for the fun part. Take your cupcake tray and put your fun foils in the holes. I had perfect cute V-day themed ones!

You want to fill the bottom of the cups with about 1 tablespoon full of batter. I used a small spatula to evenly spread out the batter along the bottom. Next you unwrap the York patties and place them right in the middle of the batter. Sebastian enjoyed this part. He'd get batter on his fingers and lick them off :)

Fill the cups up the rest of the way, another 1 1/2 tablespoon of batter.

Pop them in the oven for about 15-18 minutes. Sit back, put your feet up and relax. If your like me you'd be on the couch sporting Valentine's Day sock and crocheting away on an afghan. Just saying.

When you hear the ding (if you have one because I surely don't) then your cuppy cakes are all done. 

All you need is some frosting. I made up some Peppermint Buttercream Frosting. Ingredients are below and all you do is mix everything together, easy peasy. 

Ingredients: 

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temp

2 cups of powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoon heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (I recommended peppermint opposed to mint. Mint just makes things taste like toothpaste!)

green food coloring, optional. I wanted a little color!

Enjoy! I know people feel very strongly for this holiday. You either love it or hate it. I get both sides. Any which way, I think it's a beautiful thing that society sets a day out of all 365 and devote it to love. Such a complex yet simple thing. Love. I love, LOVE. It's such a great thing. I wouldn't be who I am if people didn't show me love when I needed it most and I hope to do the same for others in my lifetime. Hope everyone is not only loving your loved ones but also yourself. xoxo. 

♥A.

on gingerbread boys...

Last night I start our first year of Gingerbread Boy baking. Sebastian loves to make things, which is such a delight. This year I knew he would be excited to put together some ginger boys. I used an old recipe that has been pasted down in my god-mothers family and the same recipe that she used for my sister and I when we did ginger boys at her house. The best fun about these gingerbread boys is that we constructed with by hand. Handmade! NO cookie cutters. They turned out fabulous and the boys had fun. 

Gingerbread Boy Recipe:

2 3/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup shortening

Preheat oven to 350. Sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger & salt. Cream together the molasses, brown sugar, egg, shortening. It will create a soft dough. Then just start rolling together your gingerbread boy. Get creative! We made four big gingerbread boys along with 4 smaller cookie cutter gingerbread boys. Bake them for about 10-15 minutes.
Make some frosting and decorate. Kids will love this! Guaranteed.

While the cookies were in the oven I snapped this photos of my in law Christmas tree.

That's an ordament that Bobby made when he was Sebastian's age for his parents. Isn't it cute! Can't wait until Sebastian is older and get to look back on all his crafts he's made for our Christmas tree :)

♥A.

on our Christmas tradition...

Our little family Christmas tradition is different from most. First let me start out with how Christmas was for me growing up. The most important thing is that my family celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve night, so December 24th. Being European that is a very common way. For us it wasn't Santa who brought our presents but it was Jesus. Now, you can imagine me growing up thinking I was hot stuff when my parents were telling me Jesus was giving us all our presents not some fat white bearded guy who rides on a sleigh. Don't get me wrong Santa is a great guy but I knew he was just not the one putting the gifts under the Christmas tree. 

So, my little sister and I would take showers and take refuge in our shared bedroom to get all dressed fancy in our best dress we could find and play games. We weren't allowed to come out of our rooms until we heard the chime of the bells (that were always hung up in the living room doorway) which meant that Christmas has arrived to our house and it was time to run out and start shredding the wrapping paper. Most of you as kids and even now put up your tree right after Thanksgiving or in the start of December. Right? Well not us growing up. Our tree was a gift too. The tree was surprise and something that we didn't get to see set up with all the shinny ornaments and lights until Christmas Eve when that ring of the bell is heard. It was always so nice running out of our rooms and seeing that, what at that time, colossal tree with gifts all different shapes underneath. And what a sight it was. We would get right to unwrapping gifts and then straight after sit down at the dinner table for a nice meal. Stay up late playing with all our new things and get up early to do it some more. 

Since becoming a parent Holiday traditions have become beloved to me. It's so much fun making your own traditions! For us we mixed my Hungarian Christmas with the all-American Christmas and it goes like this....

We still celebrate Christmas Eve night, I just couldn't give that up, wayyyy to sacred. However that being said we're doing the Santa thing. I've never been in any way religious and Santa just fits better for me. Growing up we weren't either but I think since that was how my parents were taught it's what they past down to us. That's right Sebastian Santa brings all your presents, yup, that big fat guy with the white beard. 

Our tree goes up after Thanksgiving :) I always envied all my friends who had their tree up way before me, who helped their parents pick the tree out and decorate it. I always want my kids to help pick the tree out and help their father load it up on the car and help decorate. I still hold the custom of putting the gifts under the tree right before it's time to open presents. Naturally no seeing gifts until Santa brings them. There's something about that I'm super adamant about! I feel like seeing the gifts is cheating and not as exciting. Right?

Ahh traditions. So refreshing and yet always adding more! Speaking of, I'm starting Gingerbread Boy baking with all the family (well, the ones that aren't too cool for us coughbrittanycough). I'll be using a recipe that my godmother used to make when I was just a wee one every Christmas. The best part is we don't use any cookie cutters! We create little ginger boys with our HANDS. It will be fun and messy. 

I just love the thought of Sebastian having a family one day and changing around our traditions into something that suits his family :D Bliss I tell you, BLISS. 

We're almost there people! Are you ready? I sure am. 

♥A. 

on a Christmas wishlist...

It's that time of year again. Christmas wishlist! Here is what I want this year, Santa baby. 


1\\ Number one WANT this year is of course the Kindle Fire. I need! Not only an ebook reader but a tablet. Color and touch screen. Time for the upgrade.


2\\ Battery pack grip. For times when battery life is precious. 


3\\ This amazing Nest Doll Pillow. It's seriously the best ever and perfect addition to my couch. 


4\\ At Home Mushroom Growing Kit. Yeah, that just happened. I need this in my life!


5\\ This beautiful etsy creation-- a lovely blue & gray cowl.


6\\ Double Velvet Hair Bow in Licorice. Simple. It's cute. 


7\\ Omerica Button Plug. Get. In. My. Ears! 


8\\ Don't judge but I'd really like to have my own game for our playstation. My boys play all their Batman and racing games, well, this momma wants to play some Sims. Might be my childhood calling to me. 


9\\ Stocking stuffer?? 1. 2. 3. 4.


What's on your wishlist??

♥A.

on Thanksgiving...

Here was our Thanksgiving in photos...

Thanksgiving was for lots of food, a house full of the loudest family alive, a little girl in a cute dress, two playful cousins, pumpkin mushroom soup, a big bird, fun in the kitchen with my mother in law, pumpkin walnut biscuits, and many many desserts. More lovely memories to tuck away :)

♥A.