Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Post Birthday wrap up!!!

Happy Hump Day!!!

What a fun week i have had!!!

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes!!

Here are a few gifts from my family!!!


A dozen coral roses, a few cards, and a necklace from my daughter Taylor.


A new flatscreen for my Craft room!!

Love it!!!!

and dinner at my fav Mexican spot.

world's best salsa!!!
Followed up by a surprise birthday serenade with fried ice cream.

YUMMY!!!

Thanks guys!!!

~~~~~~

Here's a gifty from my bud Maija


Gorgeous Marie Banner!

Maija is my roomie in January for the Marie Event in LA.

~~~~~~~


Ok, lots of you girls have asked where i got my sassy apron?

http://www.mainstreet-store.com/

They come in lots of delish colors.

I even had mine personalized.

if you look closely it says

"Scrappy Jessi"

Go check her out, tell her i sent you, she will love that.

~~~~~~~~

PARTIES

this week i have 2 home parties I'm participating in......


This one will be this Friday the 12th

This one is Tuesday the 15th.

So stop back by and see my Holiday Home, as well as tons of other bloggers.

Have a Fab Day!!!!

oxoxoxox,

Jessi

Monday, December 8, 2008

Cookie Coma Birthday Girl


Howdy Girls!

Im still in a cookie coma.

Thanks to all that played along with me this past week.
What a fun Party!!!

Thanks Heidi!

Well today is my Birthday!


We had a busy fun weekend.

~Friday~

We went out for Thai food at "Thai Kitchen"

Yummy


Then to the Movies to see


Again Yummy!!!

(tee hee)

~Saturday~

was another fun filled day.

a few errands then off to an early movie


Followed by dinner at


I loved the movie!!! It was so so so funny!!!

Lot's of laughing!!

~Sunday~

we ran a few errands, then out to lunch at Panera

worked on Holiday cards in the afternoon, and just chilled. Then i was craving Pancakes. so we went out to dinner at ...

I haven't been there in years. it was really fun to have breakfast for dinner.
"Orange cranberry almond pancakes."


YUMMY!

I swear i think i gained 10 pounds this Birthday weekend.So worth it!!!

~~~~~~

Here a few fun things that have been in my Mailbox this week.


These are the cutest custom calling cards from Tamy O.I adore them.thanks sweets.



I custom ordered this sweet doll from Toni at

" Sugar cookie dolls"

She is FABULOUS!!!!!


2 of the 3 ornaments i ordered from Jenny Heid.

the other on is on it's way.Super cute.

Thanks Jenny.

~~~~~

My Finished Silver Bella Pageant class book.





This was Teresa's class. I loved the way it turned out.


Remeber this friday is the Holiday Home tour.

so check back to see my Holiday Home.

I will be on my way to Indiana to see my birth parents, and all there families.

Have a Fab week girls!!!

oxoxoxo,

Jessi


Thursday, December 4, 2008

It's cookie day! Yippy!!!!


Hey everyone!!


Welcome to my 2nd cookie swap.

There are lots of girls playing this year.

so let's get this party started!



My cookies this year are....


"Peppermint Snow Balls"



These are technically Mexican Wedding Cakes or Russian Teacakes, but my grandmother gave up on us calling them that years ago!
Yield:
5 dozen
Ingredients

1 cup butter1/2 cup confectioners' sugar1/4 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon vanilla extract2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 cup chopped pecans1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration1/4 cup finely crushed peppermint candy canes
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Cream the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners' sugar and the vanilla. Mix in the flour, nuts and salt. Roll about 1 tablespoon or so of dough into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Do not allow these cookies to get too brown. It's better to undercook them than to overcook them. While cookies are still hot roll them in confectioners' sugar. Once they have cooled roll them in confectioners' sugar once more. Variation: add some finely crushed candy canes to the confectioners' sugar used for the final dusting.


CUTE PACKAGING

i love to give cookies in unique packaging

i love to recycle vintage items.


reuse vintage linens. tie up in pretty bows.


reuse vintage serving trays

Both of these items can be picked up at any local antique store.

They are pretty inexspensive, and show that you took the extra effort to make the gift special.


HOLIDAY DRINKS

while im baking i love to have hot chocolate, with lots of marshmellows.

i also love these...

"Frozen Cranberry Maragrita's"

Ingredients
1 (10-oz.) can frozen mojito mix
3/4 cup tequila
1/4 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Ice
Preparation
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a blender. Fill blender with ice to 5-cup level, and process until smooth. Serve immediately.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Triple Sec for orange liqueur.


COOKIE ORNAMENTS

I love to make differant kinds of cookie ornaments every year.


If you have a kitchen tree, these are a fabulous addition.

These are so easy.

Use cookie cutters you allready have on hand.

Or hit your local dollar store.

Decorate with sweet pictures, and cute pieces of leftover wrapping paper.

Hang with beautiful ribbons, and enjoy!

These next ones are so fragrant and simply beautiful.

(non edible)


Ingredients
3/4 cup applesauce
1 bottle (4.12 ounces) McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground
Cookie cutters
Drinking straw
Colorful ribbon
Preparation
1Preheat oven to 200°F.
2Mix applesauce and cinnamon with hands in small bowl until a smooth ball of dough is formed. Using about 1/4 of the dough at a time, roll dough to 1/4-inch to 1/3-inch thickness between two sheets of plastic wrap. Peel off top sheet of plastic wrap; cut dough into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Make a hole in top of ornament with drinking straw. Place ornaments on baking sheet.
3Bake for 2 1/2 hours. Cool ornaments on wire rack. (Or, to dry ornaments at room temperature, carefully place them on wire rack. Let stand 1 to 2 days or until thoroughly dry, turning occasionally.)
4Insert ribbon through holes and tie to hang. May be decorated with opaque paint markers found in arts and crafts stores, if desired.

Heres a list of all our

COOKIE FRIENDS

1. Heidi Woodruff

2. Lori Goree

3. Malissa Melrose

4. Ali Gripp

5. Joanna lewis

6. Cheryl Stoneham

7. Vivianne Neroni

8. Molly

9. Jeannine P

10. Christine

11. Michelle Geller

12. Linda

13. Julie

14. April

15. Sasha Libby

16. Barb Burkard

17. Karen Young

18. Lindsey & Twyla

19. Jenny Foster

20. Nerissa

21. Mendy

22.Tamy Ottomeyer

23. Jerri-lea

24. Sarah Huckman

25. Debbie

26. Julie Weller

27. Sallie

28. Dianne

29.Valerie

30. Jessica

31. Monica Anderson

32. Heidi Gordan

33. Cindy Gilstrap

34. Shawn

35. Melissa

36. Heather Rowley

37. Suzanne Duda

38. Andrea Tarling

39. SUZY

40. Heidi Wallingford

41. Jeanne

42. Heather Ales

43. Yin Zhen

44. Maria

45. Mica






Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Im so lucky!!!

This Friday the 5th
Cookie Party!!!



I feel so Lucky!!

To have such great friends!!

My Birthday is next Monday, and the gifts are allready starting to roll in.



I love it all!!

I love my ribbon, and the shoe, out of this world.


Thanks doll!!




A totally "sweet" kit.

Thanks sweets.
i adore it!!!

Gift from Jenny.....


Speechless! Yes , i know that hardly ever happens.


Thanks so much!! I love my Barbie book!! it's in mint condition.


My BFF Tiffany's gifts....

(This is for my birthday and christmas!!)





How FANTASTIC are my new villages!!

I love them.

Tiff and i have been collecting Department 56 for about 11 years.

We always get each other Dept 56 for gifts.

THANKS SWEETS!!!!

~~~~~~~~~

REMINDER!!!!

The "Cookie Party" is this Friday!!

So stop by for some yummy recipies.

I will have links to all the girls that are playing along. about 40.

i'm sure you will find some sweet new recipies to try this year!!!

~~~~~

Also... Sweet Maria is hosting the holiday home tour this year.

Now ya know i will be there with bells on!!

Lots of new decorations, and villages this year!!!

see ya'all Friday!!

oxoxoxo,

Jessi


Monday, December 1, 2008

oops i forgot!! & nerves


Happy Monday!!!
I have been busy decorating, and doing a little shopping.
I have my cookie exchange this friday!
Fun!!


so check back, there are over 30 girls signed up.
yummy!
~~~~~~


I just have to share one of the best things i bought during my silver bella weekend.



I purchased this beautiful Barbie at Fairmont antiques.
i love her.
i have looked her up a few times on ebay. dang she's selling for upwards of $300 dollars. cha ching.

what a fab purchase i made.
(smile)
~~~~~~
Also i forgot to post the

"Silver Bella Prom"
this is just a small group of the bellas that were at the prom

"Prom Court"
Amy "Sweetheart"
Andrea "Prom Queen"
Me "Congeniality"

We were all so honored that we were chosen from all the ladies.

THANKS!!





What a fantastic night!!!
Lots of laughs, and tons of shopping!

See ya next year!!
~~~~
My Next Adventure.....
Going "HOME" to Indiana.
Going to spend a few days with my "Birth Father" and meet my grandparents and siblings, and aunt & uncles etc.....
YIKES!!
so surreal.
It should be a wonderful time!
see y'all soon
oxoxox,
Jessi