PECAN SNOWBALLS.

Pecan Snowballs- Mmmm-mm-mmmmm. These cookies made it to my Christmas tradition list the first year of mine and David's marriage. They seem to be a hit... I sure think so. Now, these do have a bit of almond extract, and I realize that some people have an aversion to it but I highly recommend using it anyway. It adds a certain depth, cuts the sweetness just a bit, and sets it apart from every other joe schmoe pecan snowball out there.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pecans
• 1 cup butter, room temp.
• 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups unbleached flour

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Toast pecans for 5-8 mins depending on how toasty you want them to taste. Let cool, chop.
2. Beat butter and 1 cup of the sugar. Add vanilla and almond extracts and salt.
3. Add flour and stir in pecans.
4. Roll into tablespoon size balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
5. Refrigerate for about 30 mins.
6. Place half of the balls to another parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes. Let them cool on baking sheets for 10 mins.
7. Place 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a bowl and toss cookies. Just before serving, sift remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar over cookies.
8. EAT!

I hope you enjoy these and have lots of powdered sugar coated lips to match!
Have a magical weekend!!
- Amanda

BROTHERLY LOVE.

It has just been a cookie fest over here this week. This is the third batch of spritz cookies I made (this week). We made batch one with a friend and her four little ones, batch two was just Ethum and I for our family and the guys Dave works with, and the third batch was for Dave's brothers, Joe and Jake, who are away at college. I'm such a good sister-in-law, right? Well, the truth is that Joe is halfway through his third year of college and this is the first box of goodies we've sent. Even though I have been meaning to send some since year one. ha. ha. Anyway, these cookies are addicting- my goodness! I just made the recipe that comes with the cookie press, minus the almond extract and add a little extra vanilla. I almost need to hide them from myself. nom nom. Also, this week I made my first attempt at my granny's fudge... and failed. I think I need to invest in a digital candy thermometer, as the recipe says to take the fudge off the heat at exactly 234 degrees. The fudge never set and is now in a mason jar in the refrigerator, labeled 'fudge sauce'.  I just couldn't dump all that chocolate-y goodness in the trash, now could I?

What have you been baking lately?

-Amanda

LAST WEEK...

1) Me watching Ethum go crazy bonkers at Beck's Prime. 2) Homemade whoopie pies.

 3) Sewing my life away. 4) I want that sign in my kitchen. 5) Snack attack.

- Amanda

TUTORIAL: DIY Boys Pajama Pants - How to Add Pockets.

Hi! Today, I'm going to show you how to add pockets to a plain pajama pants pattern.

Supplies:

• sewing machine.
• pajama pant pattern.
• scissors.
• a pen.
• fabric for pants, according to pattern.
• fabric for pockets. (the size will vary depending on the size you're making, but shouldn't be more than a fat quarter.)
• paper for pattern-making. (this can be anything, even newspaper.)
• coordinating thread.
• a wooden skewer, crochet hook, or other tool of the shape.
• an iron.

Instructions:

1. Follow instructions for pants pattern up to the construction of the waist and hem.
2. Draw a pattern for pockets. Make sure to include enough fabric for 1/4 inch seam. Cut out the pattern you just made and lay it over fabric to be sure you like the size.
3. Pin the pattern to the pocket fabric and cut out 4 pockets.
4. To make pockets, take two of the pocket pieces and lay one on top of the other, right sides facing each other. Do this again with the two remaining pieces.
5. Stitch a 1/4 inch seam all the way around the pocket, leaving the top open.
6. Now you are going to turn the pocket right side out. You can use the wooden skewer or crochet hook to assist you.
7. Next, iron the pockets and pin to the front of the pants.
8. Stitch as close as you can to the edge of the fabric leaving the opening for the pocket, open. (as shown in photo below).
9. Continue on with the instructions listed on the pants pattern to construct waist and hem.
10. Yay! You did it!

Go here to see the first pair. If you have any questions at all, please comment or email me.

-Amanda

[by the way... you have no idea how long I had to chase Ethum around the house to get that last photo. ahh!]

CHRISTMAS DECOR: Part One.

The retro-fied Advent wreath- I made the wreath out of cutting from our tree and tied it together with wire. We searched two stores (with both kids) and could not find purple and pink candles, so we went with plain white 'catholic' candles, like the ones you would find at a dollar store. I used a mixture of new and vintage 'atomic' star ornaments for decoration. In the center I used vintage angel hair and a mason jar filled with icy-blue and silver vintage Shiny Brite ornaments.

The buffet (which is also our desk)- I love switching out little decorations on the typewriter. In this photo I have a little vintage red bird perched on it, as well as a photo of Dave and his brother,Nathan, on Christmas morning in the 80's. Also on the desk I have a trio of tree bark candles, a glass tree, and a vintage serving tray that my mother-in-law gave me. On the wall is this lovely print that my sister, Brandi, gifted me last Christmas and our handmade stockings.

The side table- I have adorned this side table with a stack of classic Christmas books, a pair of vintage slippers, and a sweet little vintage deer. Vintage! Vintage! Vintage! You're probably wondering what isn't vintage. ha. ha.


How do you decorate for Christmas? Do you keep it the same every year or do you switch it up?

-Amanda

WE {heart} HANDMADE : Boys Pajama Pants.

Earlier this week I made my boys 'Christmas' jammie pants. No, the material isn't very Christmas-y in a typical sense but they still look at least 'winter-y' to me. I picked an orange-red fabric with bits of brown, green, and white, and used a vintage blue and white stripe for the pockets and patches. I was really hoping I could purchase this Oliver+S pattern but they don't print it in the size I need, anymore. Bummer! I tried searching e-bay and I found one...in Australia, and it was going to be about $50. HA! Okay, it was time for me to get creative. I bought a plain pajama pants pattern at Hancock for $7 and made my own patterns for the pockets and knee patches additions. Look for the tutorial here on the blog next week!

-Amanda

FIRST BITES.

Over the weekend, we decided to let Avre try rice cereal for the first time. I am totally weirded out by the fact that he is already old enough to eat food! It has gone by so much faster than with Ethum. I guess it's that way with every one's first baby. I never really could get Ethum to eat the stuff and quite frankly, I don't blame him. It's just so bland and blah. This time, I mashed a bit of banana into it. I realize that some people think that their baby will only have a sweet-tooth if you give fruits first, but I home make all of their baby food and they hardly even get to drink juice. They'll be okay. Also, my two year old enjoyed plate of chicken tikka masala with us tonight.. I think he has a balanced palate. Sorry, I think that was called ranting.ha.ha. Anyway, it appeared that he kind of liked it. He ate about 3 bites before making that sour face you see below. Oh, babies are fun...

-Amanda