DIY Yarn Gift Wrapping

I'm so excited about this little post! I am guilty of judging a book by it's cover and I'm no different when it comes to presents. I love a pretty wrapped package. Wrapping presents is one of my favorite things to do at the holidays, next to baking of course. I always helped my mom wrap presents growing up. 
For these yarn wrapped gifts, I bought kraft paper from the dollar store and different colored yarn from the craft store. Follow below for the steps on how to create your own yarn gift wrapping!
1. First take your yarn and wrap it around your package however you like. I did a cross in this example, but I also just wrapped in one direction or used a combination of colors. 
2. Now for the pom pons: For smaller pom pons, wrap the yarn several times around three or four of your fingers. For bigger pom pons, wrap yarn around your whole hand. Once it is wrapped pretty thick, slip the yarn off your fingers.
3. Cut a small piece of yarn and place it horizontally under the wrap. Tie the yarn up in a knot so it created loops on either side of the tie. Make sure you leave a little tail so you can attach the pom pon to your package. Then, cut through the loops. Here is another DIY on pom pon making.
4. Trim up your pom pon so it forms a ball shape.

{Use different colors and different sized pom pons to cluster together!} 

{Green yarn wrapped around in a cone shape to resemble a Christmas tree}
Be sure to send me pics if you use this DIY for your Christmas gifts. Happy wrapping!
xo annie

Last Minute Gifts (that look like you spent weeks shopping)

To all you last minute shoppers, this one is for you. I'm sort of a crazy organizer, planner, never miss a deadline, get things done weeks in advance kind of person, so I don't have this problem, but I'm here to help!
1st tip, pick a theme. Grab a couple things that fit your theme so it looks like you really thought about what you were buying. 2nd tip, if you are an Oklahoma local you can find all these items or things very similar in shops around town. Unless you want to spend $30.00 for 2-day shipping, you ran out of time, so shop local. I put these gift ideas into different categories and show examples of how they go together.
{Coffee Table Accessories}
A cute coffee mug and a great book are paired to style a coffee table or enjoy with a hot cup of joe.
Check Muse in Edmond for great books and Anthropologie in the city for mugs.
{Cutie Office Supplies}
Washi tape, a cute notebook and maybe a great pen for the crafty, organizer type.
Chirps and Cheers in Edmond and The Social Club in Norman both have a great supply.
{Baking Goods}
Everyone loves to bake during the holidays. Grab cupcake mix and a cake stand to display the creations on!
Williams-Sonoma has fun mixes and check Anthropologie or Muse for a pretty stand.
{Bar Cart Necessities}
This new trend in home decor is taking off. Give a cocktail book and cutie drink straws. Maybe throw in a bottle of champagne so their bar cart is complete.
These straws can be found at No Regrets in OKC or The Social Club. You can find this cocktail book at Muse, The Social Club or Anthropologie.
{Gallery Wall Components}
I love this idea for a creative gift. Wrap together fake deer antlers and a pretty print!
Check Muse, The Social Club or Dutch for prints, and the antlers are from Target.
3rd tip, The Social Club and Dutch are at the pop-up shops this weekend and I'll be working Friday and Saturday. Come visit me and take care of you last minute shopping!
xo annie

What I'm Listening To

Mom has seemed to really of gotten in to reality competition shows since I've been at college. This means all things stopped last night so we could watch The Voice finale. I'll admit I watched a couple episodes this season, but I had no idea who the final three were. 

Once Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera came out and sung Gaga's new song Do What You Want, I was in. Watch and see if you don't agree. #onrepeat

Annie

Β 

Baked Eggs with Tomatoes, Spinach and Feta

It was Sunday morning and Stella our dog was barking at the back door. I know this sounds silly, but everyone in my family hates to get up to let her in or out. We always call someone out to make them go do it. So, Stella is barking and my mom calls on me. I whine like the typical baby of the family that I am. My dad then chimes in and said he would let Stella in if I made breakfast. Sold!

We were all thinking something with eggs so I put together these yummy baked eggs. I used this recipe as my guide.

Baked Eggs with Tomatoes, Spinach and Feta
serves 4

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil, plus extra for the ramekins
1 medium onion, diced
5 oz baby spinach
1 can whole tomatoes, chopped or diced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. hot sauce
4 large eggs (this is for one egg per ramekin, you can put two eggs in if you want)
1/4 cup crumbled feta
4, 10 oz ramekins or small oven safe dish (I used small fruit bowls)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and sautΓ© until soft, about 5 minutes. Add spinach and sautΓ© until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. 

In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes, cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, and, if desired, hot sauce. Add onion-spinach mixture and stir to combine. Divide among 4 oiled 10-ounce ramekins. Crack an egg (or two) into the center of each ramekin, then sprinkle on feta. Bake until whites are set but yolks remain soft, 15 to 18 minutes.

I suggest serving with some crusty bread to soak up all the juices!

The perfect Sunday breakfast! Perfect for a crowd.

Annie

Cookies for Christmas

"While visions of Christmas cookies danced in her head." I think it is known that I love to bake. Unfortunately living in a sorority house makes having kitchen access non-existent. This is why I always take advantage of my mom's fully stocked kitchen when I'm home. 

Today I am sharing a recipe and some of the Christmas cookies dancing around in my head. I am already making headway with my list. On Saturday I made gingerbread sandwich cookies with an orange buttercream. I saw these last week on Vmac+Cheese and they went to the top of the list. Step-by-step pictures and the recipe are included below.

My Christmas cookies are hanging on the tree waiting for you to see! Click the links below to be taken to the original recipe and see enlarged photos.

Made these  hot chocolate cookies last night. They are a fun take on a regular chocolate chip cookie, but extra tasty with the addition of hot coco mix and mini marshmallows. 

Vmac+Cheese made these  gingerbread sandwich cookies with orange buttercream filling for her blogger cookie swap. I was very pleased with the results.

Soft Spice Cookies with Cranberry Sugar have my mouth watering. Cranberry sugar?? I have to make!

Chocolate Crinkle Peppermint Kiss Cookies. These may seem like a cliche` Pinterest cookie, but I'm telling you they are delicious! Mom made these last year and I have craved them ever since.

Mexican wedding cookies disguised as  snowball cookies. This is a relatively healthy recipe compared to most.

My Signature Sugar Cookies were originated forever ago to make and leave out for Santa. My sisters and I still bake and decorate Christmas cookies every Christmas Eve! I've posted the recipe on the blog before, but the picture is them all decorated from last Christmas.

Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies with Orange Buttercream Filling original recipe from Vmac+Cheese
makes about 3 dozen sandwiches

Ingredients:

For the cookies: 
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoons ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoons coarse salt (I used sea salt)
1/2 cup (1 sticks or 1/4 pound) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed dark brown sugar (see note)
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses (see note)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the orange buttercream:
2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp
zest of 1-2 oranges
2 tablespoon orange juice
pinch of sea salt

Directions:

For the cookies:
In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt until well combined. Set aside. In a separate large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar, until the sugar is well incorporated and the mixture has increased in volume. Add in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, and continue beating until well combined. With the mixer on low, add the flour in thirds and slowly mix until just combined with the wet ingredients. Divide the dough in two, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

When you are ready to roll out the cookies, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly flour your workspace and your rolling pin. Roll out the first half of dough to about 1/4 in. thick. Cut out using any shape you want and transfer to a lightly greased or parchment paper lined cookies sheet. Gather up the scraps and continue rolling and cutting out cookies until you have used all the dough. Repeat with the other half of dough. 

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

For the filling:
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until well blended and very smooth, like frosting. Use the whisk attachment on your mixer,  beating the mixture will increase the volume and airiness.

To assemble the cookies:
Once the cookies are cool, put a small dollop of the frosting in the center of the cookie. Do not spread it out. Top with another cookies and lightly press down. The filling with smush out to the sides. Twist the cookies to evenly distribute it the frosting.

Top with another cookie and lightly press down. The filling will smush out to the sides. Twist the cookie to evenly distribute the frosting.

Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days! Good luck with all your Christmas baking!

Annie