Easy Peasy Cookies

   After the time just zooming by this season I hardly had any time to sit down and put together a cookie/treats list of what to make.  So luckily I ran across a blog called goodenessgracious.com that had cake mix cookie recipes.  I have made cookies from cake mixes before so I figured I would give it a shot.  I still wanted the homemade affect but without the "3 1/2 C flour, 2 C sugar, etc." and then having 6 dozen cookies from just ONE recipe not to mention the disaster to clean up in the kitchen.  These were so easy and made at most 3 dozen for each recipe.  She has 3 different kinds she made from a cookbook called Gooseberry Patch's Christmas Cookie Jar but I just chose two.  I must say that I am thankful for her blog because it saved me.  I thought I would share my day of baking with you.  You can get the recipes by clicking the link above.

First Batch of Cookies:  Santa's Favorite Cookies

   This calls for a red velvet cake mix and white chocolate chips.  Very Christmasy and delicious.  They came out nice and soft and stayed that way even the next day.
Tip:  Reserve about a tablespoon of cake mix (dry) and don't add the chocolate chips in with everything else.  As Ina Garten (Food Network Chef) has taught me toss the chocolate chips with the reserved cake mix and then add it to the dough mix.  This keeps the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom when baking and keeps them from "falling out" of the spoonfuls when you place them on your cookie sheet. 

Second Batch of Cookies:  1-2-3 Cookies

   This recipe is made with a lemon cake mix and whip topping then rolled in powdered sugar.  These cookies taste like lemon bars.  Not too lemony and not too sugary.  Really you could do this with spice cake mix too.  Which I think Cris from goodenessgracious.com did.  We had the same out come with these staying soft as well.  

The dough

My plate of powdered sugar

 
   Third Batch of Cookies:  Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies

   I have never used a packaged sugar cookie mix.  I have always made them by scratch but I didn't have time or the patience so I went the easy route.  Instead of using cookie cutters I rolled them in colored sugar sprinkles to be festive.  This choice was made after my stars came out not how I wanted.

   All of these recipes came out great and I would make them again.  I think I might try some New Years ones and I will post them for you.  If you are in a pinch don't hesitate to make it easier on yourself.  So, from my happy baking kitchen to yours have a good day!

Outfit of the Day: Christmas Party Outfit

   With this outfit I went out on a limb.  A way far out, never have gone before to limb and I bought RED jeggings!  I wore a black and gold striped sweater with black patent flats.

Sweater-  Mudd
Jeggings- Mudd
Flats- Mossimo

  For this outfit I kept my makeup really simple.  Even though you can't really see it (because to be quite honest I can't take the most flattering up close shots of my face ) I will go ahead and bore you with the details anyways.

Eye shadow- Maybelline's Eye Tattoo in Barely Beige
Eye liner- Revlon Color Stay Liquid Pen in Blackest Black
Mascara- L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Black
Lipstick- Revlon Raspberry

  Christmas outfit inspiration for you.  I hope you liked it.

  

Outfit of the Day

   Yesterday I got new boots so I had to wear them today.  I hope this inspires you.

Jean Shirt- Old Navy
Shirt(under)- Wet Seal
Skinny pants (Jeggings)- Hollister
Boots- Dana Buchman
Belt- Unknown (bought it at Fred Meyer)


  

DIY Note Cards

   For those on your list year that you just don't know what to get this might be something that would make a perfect gift.  Stationary is a great way to give something that's personalized.  You can buy blank cards with envelopes at Michaels.  Get a stamp that reminds you of them and stamp the image on the card.  This is the set I made.

  You can get a stamp with the person's initial, their favorite animal or just something that represents their personality.  Use different colors of note cards to make them more unique.  I know that I love stationary and it's a great way to keep in touch with those far away.

Outfit of the Day: Holiday Shopping

   Anytime I go shopping I like to be comfortable.  Today I wanted to stay warm and cozy without a ton of bulk.

Scarf- No Boundries
Jacket- No Boundries
Shirt-  Zenana Outfitters
Pants- Candies
Boots- Top Moda

  

I Heart Drugstore Makeup

   Yes, this is another "tag" but it's fun.  I hope you like it.
 
1.  Favorite Drug store makeup brand?
   Maybelline.  Everything I have tried I haven't hated.  Very comparable products to high end like MAC and amazing lasting quality.  Sometimes you will buy something and it is great for the first few uses then it craps out.  That hasn't happened to me with Maybelline.


2.  Favorite face, cheek and lip products?
  Face-Maybelline Dream Matte Powder.  This is a finishing powder that keeps my foundation in place.

  Cheek- elf blushes
  Lip- Revlon's Lip Butters.  These things are awesome.  Great color and very moisturizing.

3.  Least favorite product?
  Cover Girl eyeliner.  It always smudges and rubs off really fast on me.

4.  What is the best makeup bargain?
  I am going to have to say Maybelline's Eye Tattoo.  You can use it alone and it won't crease.  Use it as a base and it will enhance the color of your eyeshadow.

5. Favorite underdog product?
  elf  Their blushes are amazing as well as their eyeshadow.  For the price you can't beat it.

6.  A drugstore product that is overpriced?
  I hate to say it but Neutrogena.  With everything that is out there in the drugstores I think $14.99 (on the "cheap") is expensive for liquid foundation.  Just saying.

Christmas Cheer Questionaire

   I thought it would be fun to answer some questions that are going around the You Tube community.  They are called tags on You Tube.  So here we go.

1.  Favorite Winter nail polish?
   
   Revlon Color Stay in Rain Forest and Revlon Red

2.  Favorite Winter lip products?

   Revlon's Lip Butter in Cherry Tart and L'oreal Colour Riche in Raisin Rapture

3.  Most worn Winter clothing piece?

   Probably my Candies Riding boots in Tan

4.  Most worn Winter accessory?

  My argyle socks!  They are perfect when I wear boots and they keep me so warm.

5.  Favorite Winter scent or candle?

   Anything that smells like I have been baking all day.  That's usually all year round.

6.  Favorite Winter beverage?

   I don't have one specific.  I love anything sweet and warm.

7.  All time favorite Christmas movie?

   If anyone knows me knows that my favorite is Christmas Vacation.  Elf is a close second.

8.  Favorite Christmas song?

  Really any song but the old classic version.  Anything sung by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis is really the best versions to me.

9.  Favorite Christmas treat?

   Well that is a little hard but I would have to say getting a cookie tray is the best.  Any kind of cookies or peanut butter balls or no bake cookies.

10.  What is your favorite Christmas decoration this year?

  Our REAL Christmas tree.

11.  What's at the top of my Christmas list?

  To be perfectly honest, to be able to give more this year than last.

  
  There we have it!  Please comment below or if you have a blog I "tag" you to do the same thing.

DIY Gift Tags

   Every year I say to myself, "I could make these" when I get gift tags.  Not this year though.  I used my cookie cutters as a template and t-shirt Scribbles paint to decorate them.  Here they are:

   All of them were super easy and what's nice is that I can "custom" make them to the person or the wrapping.  I write the To and From on the back.

A Great Photography Oops!

   When my husband and I were walking through our city's decorated downtown I accidentally snapped the camera when I was going to put it away for a moment.  I pulled up the pictures a little later as we were walking around and came across this photo

   It almost makes me dizzy!  Despite the vertigo I love it.  You can see how colorful all the lights were.

Blogmas!

     What is blogmas you say?  Well it's where I am going to blog every day from now on until the end of December.  Crazy right?  The You Tuber's that have their own channel vlog every day in December of what they are doing and post every day.  Whether they are shopping, just hanging out or working they film it and put it on their channel.  So, I have decided that I would do that here.  I am sure there are other bloggers out there that do it but I figured I would start.  I will still do my usual posts but on the days that I am not making something I will tell you what I am up to, what's on my mind, videos and/or pictures of me going about my day and what I run into.   I hope you guys like it and don't get sick of me.

Blogmas Day 1:  My Cat Loves Boxes

  To make it festive I added Christmas lights.  She liked them.  Any time we get something and we set the box out she jumps right in it.  I know that cats love to be enclosed in things so I guess that's why she likes it.  Really it's her fort.



 

My Favorite Red-Nail Polish

   To me red nail polish has always been scary.  I absolutely love it but I always felt that it looked better on someone else than me.  It has been one of those things that I keep trying and I think I have found the perfect one.  So, to get those nails in the Christmas style paint them red.
   I used Revlon's Revlon Red and Revlon's Color Stay Calla Lily.  Revlon Red on it's own is a perfect red you don't have to add the Calla Lily over it.  It makes it's own announcement and looks flattering on anyone.

   In the picture the Calla Lily looks like gold shimmer but in true form it's not.