Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Ho Ho Ho in the kitchen!

First of all, the answer of the last post question is... Pepe Jeans!!!

The kitchen is a very important thing on Xmas, because it's not just a place to decorate, it's also the center of everything, the place where you (or any other member of your family) will prepare the dinner!!
And today, we're talking about... XMAS DESSERTS!! Delicious!!!
All of U know that I'm not the best cook in the world, in fact I'm between a not-good cook and the worst cook, but I prepare good desserts, or that's what people who tried them said to me, maybe they're liars!!
But I prefer trusting them, so I'd like to cook desserts for this Xmas, so I've been looking some ideas up, and want to share this with you!
But first, if you want to prepare desserts with the Christmas' spirit, you have to get that spirit, so don't forget decorating your kitchen!

With this decoration in front of you, I think you'll get that Xmas feeling!

Maybe you don't want to cook because... whatever! Well, it is not necessary to have special desserts, cookies like on picture are ok, but don't forget decorating, that's the touch!

And here, for all of U who don't want to cook, this post finishes.

xo

But for all of you who want to cook or try at least, let's continue!!
I bring u some ideas, obviously they are not mine, my creativity is in coma. I tried awakening it from coma, but I didn't get results! So, let's go with some others' ideas!

Who doesn't like brownies??

Ingredients:
1 box Betty Crocker® Orginal Supreme brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch)
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box
2 or 3 drops green food color
1 cup Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 1-lb container)
Betty Crocker® Decorating Decors red and green candy sprinkles or miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits
Miniature candy canes (2 inch), unwrapped

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2 inches over short sides of pan. Grease bottom only of foil with cooking spray or shortening.
2. Make and bake brownie mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan, using water, oil and eggs. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Remove brownie from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. To cut brownie into triangles, cut lengthwise into 3 rows. Cut each row into 7 triangles, see diagram. Save smaller pieces for snacking.
3. Stir food color into frosting. Spoon frosting into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut off tiny bottom corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe frosting over brownies. Sprinkle with decors.
4. Break off curved end of candy cane; insert straight piece into bottoms of triangles to make tree trunks.

Butter cookies!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least one hour. Chill cookie sheets.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Press dough out onto ungreased, chilled cookie sheets.
  3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly golden at the edges. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Well, this is a very easy recipe, I'm sure that, at least once in your life, you have made cookies! You can decorate them, and they will look "Xmas cookies"


And a cookie recipe is always one of the best ideas if you have little fingers around U who want to help U, which is really really Xmas spirit!!



Maybe U have guests, if U do, I think one of the best "desserts" to put on your table are Cupcakes. But what's true, is that, to make this kind of desserts, you have to be veeeery patient. So, if you are, don't doubt it: they're the nicest and funniest!



I have here some recipes, take note!

Christmas Sprinkle Cupcake

This is by far the easiest idea for Christmas cupcakes.  Simply prepare your favorite cupcake recipe, frost with white, red, or green frosting, and top with red and green sprinkles.  Instant holiday!

I'm sure that, if you have never made cupcakes, U are wondering how to prepare a simple cupcake!
This is the easiest recipe I've found:

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs

Easy Cupcake Recipe Directions


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Add shortening, milk, and vanilla.  Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.  Scrape side of bowl with a spatula.
Add eggs to the mixture.  Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.  Scrape bowl again.  Beat on high speed for 1 minute 30 seconds until well mixed.
Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until 1/2 to 2/3 full.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on wire racks to cool completely.
Once cupcakes are completely cooled, frost with your favorite frosting recipe or decorate as you desire.

Ok, now we know how to make a cupcake (if you want more information visit this link)
Let's go with more cupcakes!

Christmas Cupcake Tree

Ingredients

  • 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) devil's food cake mix
  • 1-1/2 cups mint chocolate chips
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 4 to 5 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon Spice Islands® pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking cocoa
  • 1/4 teaspoon green paste food coloring
  • Candy-coated milk chocolate miniature kisses
  • 2 chocolate stars
  • 12 Starburst candies

Directions

  • Prepare cake batter mix according to package directions for cupcakes; fold in chips. Fill foil-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
  • Bake at 350° for 18-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  • For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in milk and extracts until blended. Transfer 2 tablespoons to a small bowl; stir in cocoa. Stir green food coloring into remaining frosting.
  • Frost 21 cupcakes with green frosting; arrange in a pyramid to form a tree. Decorate all but the top cupcake with miniature kisses for lights. Frost two cupcakes with chocolate frosting and place at base of tree for trunk; top each with a chocolate star. Save remaining cupcake for another use.
  • With a rolling pin, roll two yellow Starburst candies flat; cut with 2-in. and 1-1/2-in. star-shaped cookie cutters. Press smaller star onto larger star; place on cupcake at top of tree.
  • For presents, roll five Starburst candies into 3-in. x 3/4-in. rectangles; cut each rectangle into four 3-in.-long strips. Place two strips widthwise on one whole Starburst candy; press together at base to attach.
  • For bow, form two strips into figure eights; press together in center and press onto wrapped candy. Repeat with remaining strips and remaining four whole Starburst candies. Place presents beneath cupcake tree. Yield: 23 servings.
Gel Icing Christmas Tree




Simply frost your wonderful cupcakes with white frosting then use store bought gel icing in a tube to draw a simple Christmas tree on each cupcake.  You could make a plain triangle tree or even a squiggle line Christmas tree.

Reindeer Cupcakes


This is a very cute idea for a child's school party.  Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting.  Use various candies to make the facial features of your reindeer.  For the antlers, use a large twist pretzel that you break in half and carefully trim.

Snow Cupcakes
These are incredibly simple to create and are great if you're short on time.  Frost cupcakes with a white frosting, top with grated coconut and dust with powdered sugar. Voila!  You now have your very own winter wonderland.

Presents Cupcakes
Frost your cupcakes in a variety of colors, and decorate each one like a present.  Red licorice can be used to make bows.  You can make place setting holders by placing name cards on your presents to look like gift tags.  This idea is great for birthday parties as well as Christmas parties.


Well, these are just some ideas for a fun day in the kitchen, with all Xmas decorating around U and listening something like this:



Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!

Xmas is coming!!!
xo

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Xmas: Go window-shopping!


One of my favorite hobbies is going window-shopping! I know what you're thinking: maybe that I'm a little masochist, because seeing clothes but don't buy them... Yes well, maybe a little!
Anyway, Xmas is a good excuse to go window-shopping! And that's exactly what I did last Friday, and yesterday, and today... and be sure there will be much more!!
These are some pictures of the best shop windows I found on my walk!


The last one is my favorite!!

Poor Santa!! Guess what store is this window?? Hint: Jeans, jeans and.. jeans!!

Now, let's go with perfect outfits to go window-shopping!
Keys: Comfortable & Stylish!


Get inspired for Xmas time!!

xo

Monday, November 28, 2011

Smile


it's the first day of the rest of your life.

xo

Let's decorate! Xmas wall stickers!

Hi readers!!!

I've been thinking about more ideas for our Xmas decorating this year, I thought how much I really fell in love with the Xmas tree on the wall from the last post, so I decided to look for more ideas of this kind up, and here's what I found... Xmas wall stickers!!!
Look, some of them are really amazing, and,. the most important, very original!!

Love this one for the main character of Christmas' room: your kid!!

For those of U who always wanted celebrate Xmas in front of a chimney but don't have one, you can create it with stickers too, and become your dream true!! That's what Xmas is about!

Very original this one, I like it for a kid's room too!
This one is perfect for a minimalist decorating!

This sticker will look perfect on a total white wall!

A very sober touch!

Love this one, for my hall!


And the last one is my fav!!

Hope you like it, and get ideas!!!

xo

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The same for less!

Most Sundays, I'll try to update this section, which I think is very interesting for all that people who really love to see what celebrities wear, or what brands, they don't have enough money to spend 1.200$ on a simple jacket. I like seeing how they wear, and love seeing, stores like Zara or Mango, clones of Prada or Hermes bags! So take note of "coincidences" that I've found between big brands and accessible stores!


                                            Dorothy Perkins 60$                       Oasis 58$


                                                   Asos 170$                             Aldo 50$


                                               Topshop70$



Diane Kruger

Really love her style! Take note of the outfit on the right, created by me with razonable prices!

Striped shirt: Old Navy 14$
Jeans: Mango 69$
Denim Jacket: Stradivarius 33$
Crossbody Bag: DSW 19$
Red Wayfarer Sunglasses: Truffle Shuffle 23$

And now, it's my turn! And I'll ask you if you know where could I find a clone of this outfit:

Really, really love it!!

Hope U like this new section!!!

xo

Eat between meals!


We know we should prevent eating between meals, but if you are hungry, you could end up being anxious, which I think is worse than snacking
So, for that kind of situation, I'd like to tell U what I do!
You just need:
Piece of toast

Cream cheese spread

And that's all! 
Think: it has not too much calories, and, at the same time, it's not prepared, I mean, U have to prepare it, which also burns calories, and, at the same time, if you are as lazy as me, half of the times you decide to not eat between meals just for not standing up from the couch, PERFECT COMBO!


xo

Saturday, November 26, 2011

They're never enough: Nail Polish!


There is just some of my mate's & my nail polish.
That's not too many if U think that there's two us, and as the title says, they're not enough for me!! I'd have soooooooo many! 



And one of my projects for this new year which starts in a month and a few days is to have much more nail polish, 'cause I love them!!
So, let's go with my wish list!