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December 23, 2011

I love lists, Friday!

  1. I NEED one of these stamps. They’re gorgeous.
  2. Thank you so much for the virtual gift, HJH! I loooove it!
  3. I love Glittery things! Especially those spoons, the Jonathan Adler canister & nail polish.
  4. NYE Hair Reason #294 why I need a starlette crown.
  5. A fancy booze roundupThe best kind of roundup.
  6. The most wonderful NINE year old birthday I ever did see! Happy B-day Mila, Plum!
  7. Licking my computer screen with this whole Christmas feast. Whoa, dude.
  8. Pre-paid dates! What an awesome idea.
  9. I wish this was my vacation home….
  10. How to make gift bags using newspaper! GENIUS.
  11. DIY Chalkboard Platter Oh the possibilities!

But wait! There’s more:

This week on the Joy the Baker podcast, we talk about NYE. Resolutions, 2011 in review & Joy went to her first football game! Come check it out!

Feel like you never have anything to wear? Let your camera phone be your guide! This week on High Straightenence I share one of my tips for figuring out what to wear!

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December 21, 2011

Spiced Orange Popovers

spiced orange popovers

Ready for my David Letterman impression? I’ll do it if you stop staring at my gap teeth!

TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE SPICED ORANGE POPOVERS:

  1. They taste like donuts, yet they’re not fried!
  2. They’re ridiculously easy.
  3. Your house will smell like a high-end Christmas candle.
  4. It’s the holidays & you’re looking for something festive for breakfast.
  5. Clove, cinnamon & orange are your best friends this time of year.
  6. You need an excuse to dust off your popover pan.
  7. They’re light and fluffy. Means no calories, right?
  8. They’re a perfect breakfast, snack or dessert. You could make dinner out of them. (I totally did)
  9. Your coffee is lonely. It needs company.
  10. Because I said so!

I should also note that I ate 5 popovers within an hour after I made them….I blame the delicious clove cinnamon orange sugar. Well…that and they were WARM.

spicedorangepopovers023

It’s not like I have to wear a bathing suit anytime soon…

spicedorangepopovers024

OH WAIT. I do. CRAP!

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December 20, 2011

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas:

Need some last minute holiday gift ideas? I’m here to help.

Last year I had tips for a possibile Cookie Party situation &  this year I’ve got more ideas up my sleeve!

Give the gift of homemade! And if you’re overloaded with sweet treats, I’ve got some savory ideas in the mix.

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December 19, 2011

Crispy Fried Brussels Sprouts

I’d like to think that if there was a Youtube video of me frying these Brussels sprouts, it would have great potential of going viral.

Imagine a short clip of me trying to take pictures of this recipe in my kitchen. You’d see me set the camera down and then slowly place Brussels sprouts in the hot bubbling oil. You’d immediately laugh at the look on my face when I realize sprouts are prone to making the oil splatter ALL OVER MY KITCHEN. I shout out a few expletives and then I do some stealthy maneuver into my kitchen island to get the oil splatter shield. Then I run like a maniac into the pantry to grab my apron while slipping on the oily kitchen floor. In the last few seconds of the video, I step back, watch the frying process and laugh at myself for this absolutely ridiculous moment. It’s really a shame that this video doesn’t exist. It really could have been the next Chocolate Rain.

Say hello to one of the best things that came out of my kitchen in 2011. I know that’s kind of a bold claim, but I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so smitten with something I’ve made. I’ve ordered fried Brussels sprouts in restaurants several times, but never thought to make them on my own. No longer will I be shelling out $8-10 for a teeny side dish of Brussels sprouts. Nope! The sweet/spicy citrus dressing on this sprouts is TO DIE for! The outside of the sprouts are crunchy while the insides are super tender.  If Casey wasn’t home when I made them, I could have easily polished off this entire batch. Truth!

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December 17, 2011

365- Week 50

A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s week 49:

350/365 Family lunch at A16.

lunch at A16

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December 16, 2011

I love lists, Friday!

  1. I can see a lot of myself in this video. Oh boy.
  2. Spiked Almond Joy MILKSHAKES?! Sign me up!
  3. I want to eat EVERYTHING on this blog. This will help with my New Year’s resolution to eat healthier.
  4. For the Dexter lover in your life…this is BRILLIANT.
  5. Time Saving Tips for Holiday Packing & Shipping. YOU NEED THIS GUIDE.
  6. This video pleases me like you wouldn’t believe. The sugar part is my favorite.
  7. 12 Happiness Habits for Busy People Hallelujah!
  8. For last minute gift prettiness, here’s a beautiful Glitter Clothespin & Bag DIY
  9. Girl crush alert! Girls with Glasses Show, where have you been all my life?
  10. I hope my 41st birthday looks this awesome. Happy belated Birthday, Hula!

But wait! There’s more!

– Joy & I celebrated our 30th podcast this week. That’s a lot of podcasts! This week you asked for holiday stress relief tips & tricks and we delivered! Check out #30: TAKE IT EASY. I may or may not have used my Oprah voice.

– If you’re a paper lover or someone who needs to shop for one, check out The High Straightenence Gift Guide! It’s full of my favorite things.

Here’s a little sneak peek!

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December 15, 2011

White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

white chocolate peppermint dipped pretzels

I dropped Cooper off at preschool yesterday and immediately headed to the post office to mail packages & pick up stamps for the holiday cards I have yet to send out. The line at the post office went smoothly and the lady who helped me was an absolute dream. Hooray for excellent customer service! Then I went to pick up a few groceries and just when I was ready to tackle another item on my TO-DO list, my car wouldn’t start!  For the first time in my life, I ran out of gas. I KNEW I should have stopped at the gas station before I got groceries but I felt like I’ve been pushing EVERYTHING in my life to the limit lately, I assumed my car would push too. Thank God for husbands who come to the rescue!

white chocolate peppermint dipped pretzels

Emails piled up in my inbox, clean laundry overflowed in baskets on my living room floor and then one of my cats puked on my stairs (which I stepped in!). To combat the stress, I took a break and went out to lunch with Casey. We went to get fancy sandwiches and fresh air but after THREE attempts at making my sandwich without mayo and over an hour of my limited time wasted, I felt like throwing in the towel.  It just wasn’t my day!

Instead of tackling my TO-DO lists when I got back from the sandwich fail, I made these white chocolate peppermint pretzels instead. Getting lost in dipping pretzels into creamy melted white chocolate, studding them with cracked candy canes and lining the rods (haha, rods!) up into organized rows, made me happy. And then… I got a call from preschool telling me that Cooper needed to be picked up ASAP because he contracted pinkeye. It’s a good thing I got at least one solid thing done that day…

white chocolate peppermint dipped pretzels

What’s my point? There’s no doubt that the holidays can be stressful. These little obstacles in life are only as big as we make them.The pressure we put on ourselves this time of year has the power to erase the holiday spirit we’re supposed to give & receive. Relax!

If you’re stressing out because the clock is ticking and you haven’t figured out what to make for the holidays, just make these easy white chocolate peppermint dipped pretzels. They’re therapeutic and they pose as little reminders of how sweet, savory & crunchy life can be.

Remember: Make things simple and give yourself permission to slow down!

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