embroidered iphone case

For Christmas I got my mom the cross stitch case with the promise that I would actually finish it. The 33 x 69 grid was time-consuming but my mom finally got her Christmas present about a week ago.
Here's the finished product.

new traditions

My family used to have very specific Christmas traditions when it came to where we spent our holiday break. Now that my sisters and I are adults we've started taking turns hosting our family during the holidays which has resulted in each year being new and different. This year was spent in Savannah and might have been the most different so far but it has still been great!

I think each of us secretly missed the chance of it being a "white" Christmas but you really can't beat having the opportunity to visit the beach the day after Christmas.

Today at Tybee Beach. Photo by me.

christmas tree lights

My family is having a southern Christmas this year, therefore, holiday decorations will be in short supply. My tree and the bulk of my Christmas decorations did not originally make the move south with me and our packed-to-the-brim car has no space for them now. I've been enjoying my mother's tree while home and I spent my last evening taking photos of the tree to tide me over. I was experimenting and thoroughly pleased with some of the results.

All photos by me.

white christmas

I was really excited to pop over to Design*Sponge this morning and see my favorite Christmas movie of all time featured as the "Living In" movie.

Photo from iVillage.

See the whole post here. They pulled together a beautiful collection of Vermont-y rustic items that remind me of all the Christmases my family spent in Vermont.

Enjoy some Bing Crosby singing White Christmas.

embroidered maps make great Christmas gifts

Still in need of a special handmade gift for someone on your list? What about an embroidered map of their favorite state and city. Custom orders can still be placed and received in time for Christmas. Visit my etsy shop to see more state and color combinations.

Get your orders in before Sunday, December 18!

adventures in cooking: chocolate and peanut butter squares

I took a little weekend trip to Indianapolis to visit friends and wanted to come armed with lots of chocolate and candies. I find that everyone is excited to see you when you come bearing food!

My original plan was to make homemade caramels which I attempt to tackle each year, and each year I fail somewhat miserably. This year was semi-successful because I came away with one delicious batch and a second that never moved beyond the gooey stage. The back-up plan was chocolate and peanut butter squares that were a heck of a lot less time consuming and (maybe) better tasting.

The caramel catastrophe happened at about 10 p.m. so a late night run to the grocery store was in order because I was short just one ingredient. Luckily, making the chocolate and peanut butter squares took no time at all! These proved to be the perfect last minute dessert!

 The recipe:

1 pound white chocolate
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream

I first lined an 9x13" dish with wax paper to make removing the chocolate easy once it had set up. Next time I make this I think I'll use a slightly smaller pan so my squares come out a littler thicker. 

Next, melt the white chocolate in the microwave for about one minute and stir until creamy. Add the peanut butter and blend until smooth.

Spread mixture into the prepared pan and refrigerate for about an hour until firm.

In a saucepan over medium heat combine the chocolate chips and heavy cream. Stir constantly until smooth and creamy then layer it on top of the firm peanut butter layer. Refrigerate overnight (or about 3 hours if you're in a hurry) and then lift it out with the wax paper and cut into squares.

Enjoy!

I found the original recipe on Souffle Bombay and stayed pretty true to her instructions.

happy holidays!

christmas baking

Maybe it's because I've been in a baking sort of mood (it's one of my favorite gifts to give), but I love the food and treats that go along with Christmas. I found They Draw and Cook through my sister's blog and love the combination of recipes and illustration. Sadly, I base a lot about the recipe on how much I like the illustration. Here are some of my favorites.

All recipes from They Draw and Cook.
(click on recipes to make them larger)

the holiday season is upon us

Halloween through the end of the year is my absolute favorite time of year. I've refrained from starting up the Christmas music just yet but that hasn't stopped me from starting my shopping and planning. I'm looking forward to breaking out my Christmas decorations, and snow, and parties. The crazy 70 degree weather we've had the past few days hasn't helped in getting into the holiday mindset though.

I saved this image last year and don't remember where it's from. It's been patiently waiting in my inspiration folder all year.

mark your calendars!

Start your Christmas shopping (a little) early at Murphy's Seasonal Bazaar as part of First Friday events. Swing by the Murphy Center in Fountain Square on Friday, November 5th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.