I'm believing for a great new year...

Happy New Year's Everyone! 

What are you hoping for in this upcoming year?

Be safe and may your night be filled with lots of
 love, laughter and great memories!! {{MUAH}}

Champagne Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting...

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is off to a wonderful start. If you're like me you're buried in boxes and Christmas decorations you're painstakingly trying to package up and put away before the New Year begins and your home looks like a department store after they have a holiday 75% off clearance merchandise sale {violated and abused}.  So let's take a minute to breathe and let go, ready....Aaaaaahhhhhh!

Yesterday I posted a few of my favorite New Year, New Beginnings holiday looks I'll be trying to decide on for my New Year's Celebration get together. Since it'll be a low key evening spent with great friends, I needed to find a little something special to bring to the party. Needless to say, when I came across this recipe for Champagne Cupcakes on Pinterest, I couldn't have been more excited. The best part is now {at 6 months pregnant} I can have "champagne" for New Year's Eve too! 

Here's how you make them:

Champagne Cupcakes

 { made 36 mini cupcakes }

Cupcake Ingredients

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup champagne (we used Korbel is fine)
6 egg whites

Champagne Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

3 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons champagne, at room temperature

Directions

Cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Prepare a cupcake pan with liners.  (This recipe yielded about 20 for me.)

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, and then blend into creamed mixture alternately with champagne.

In another large clean bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whites into batter to lighten it, then fold in remaining egg whites.  Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Frosting:

With an electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter. Mix on low until well blended, and then on medium for another two minutes.  Add vanilla and champagne, beating on medium for another minute. Fill you favorite pastry bag with fluted tip, and frost away!

There you have it, it's that easy! What a fun and sassy way to

 ring in the new year! You're guests will keep coming back for

 more of these little popable, adorable frosted delights. 

If baking just isn't your thing....No worries! Just remember this....

I'm sharing this recipe over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures. Stop by and find more inspiring recipes and home decor ideas!

 

Have a beautiful day!

Celebrating A New Year And New Beginnings....

I love New Year's Eve...Don't you?   It's a time to be thankful for blessings in the past and look forward to many more in the future. It's a time to reflect on things we love about our lives and things we'd love to change in our lives. It's also a time to remember those we've lost and an opportunity to carry the beautiful memories and legacy they left us on to our children as they get older. With 2012 just a few days away, I am so excited to celebrate new beginnings!

This year hubby and I found out we are expecting our first little baby girl in April...Yaaaaaaay!  Since we're a pretty low key couple we love to just have a few friends over, or even join a few friends out for dinner to share in some laughter and make wonderful memories together. Don't get me wrong, I still gotta have a little bling with my jeans! You would think being six months pregnant I would face "certain challenges" in the wardrobe department. To my surprise, that's not the case at all. I found great maternity skinny jeans {Heidi Klum "Loved" for Motherhood Maternity} and when it comes to tops I buy empire waist "Baby Doll" blouses and long tunic style sweaters. Add a stylish thin belt to accent {above the bump}, some great jewelry and a pair of super cute flats, heels or boots....Voila! I get so many compliments on my maternity outfits. So, even though it's low key for New Year's Eve....I still love me some sparkle, and my heels...a girl's gotta have a great pair of heels! So with that said, here are a few Holiday Bling looks I'd thought I 'd share with you...

If jeans just aren't "your thing" for holiday bling, don't worry... 

I would never leave a girl hangin'! 

Here are a few of my favorite cocktail looks...

I just LOVE the pop of turquoise in this outfit, don't you? 

So, here's how to customize your own look:

First, pick a cocktail dress...

Then a stunning pair of heels to complete the look...

Wanna pop of color, then go for something like these...

or tone down the bling and go for something like these...

First, the dress...

Then compliment with heels...

{GASP} These are stunning! 

One more time, ready?

DRESS.....

Heels...

That's all there is to that! All you need is some beautiful jewelry like this 

pair of vintage inspired earrings from WhimSea Designs ...

...and you're ready to steal the show!

You can win a pair of vintage inspired WhimSea Designs earrings by entering the Holiday Bling Giveaway? You have until December 31st, 2011 to enter, so spread the word!!

Ooooh, and don't forget to bring a cute pair of flats to change in to later at the party...

You'll be glad you did! {Trust me on this one} 

This way you can be sure to dance the night away...in style! 

Have a wonderful New Year's Everyone!! 

I'm looking so forward to seeing you all next year...





Today I'm joining Kristen at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures.
Great tips on home decorating, DIY Projects and tasty recipes...stop by and say Hi!!

Sausage Apple Overnight Breakfast Cassarole, shared with fond Christmas memories...

 My life is filled with so many blessings, one of them being you! I've been blogging for a full year now and  have formed so many friendships along the way...all of which mean the world to me! Thank you all for your wonderful love and support you've shared with me throughout this past year.

It was a beautiful Christmas this year in our home... I hope yours was just as lovely! I didn't take any pictures,  we really wanted a low key, relaxing Christmas with family. Don't worry though, with our first born on the way in April,  I'm sure next Christmas our cameras will be OVERLOADED with pictures ready to share with everyone...by then she'll be 8 months old!! See how quickly time flies?

 This year we thought it would be nice to just relax and enjoy time with family instead of rushing around everywhere to get a million things done, that in the end don't really matter {especially when it comes time to spending time with your family}. We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's house {in honor of my grandmother} who passed away this year. With a full spread of home cookin' to snack on, we had such a great time sharing stories and our fondest memories of her throughout our lives.

What a blessing she was to our family!

 Memories of my grandmother Wilma's delicious home cookin' will always stay with me! She raised a family of some amazing cooks, let me tell you. So for Christmas this year I wanted to make a little homestyle breakfast casserole for my family at home and share the recipe with all my blog family here.

This recipe is so easy to make and the best part is you can make it the night before and just pop it in the oven the next morning when you get up...I love it!!  So, here's what I made...

Sausage Apple Overnight Breakfast Casserole

• 1 pkg. Jimmy Dean® Maple Flavor Pork Sausage Roll
• 6 cups bread cubed into ¾-inch pieces
• 10 eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large granny smith apples, peeled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• maple syrup, if desired

1. Brown sausage in a skillet until cooked; drain.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla until well blended.
3. In another bowl, mix apples, sugar and cinnamon together until well coated.
4. In a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish,  place half of the breadcubes followed by half the sausage, half the apples, and and 1 cup of the cheese.  Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
5. Pour egg mixture over the layers making sure to evenly coat it all with the egg mixture.
6. Place in fridge and refrigerate overnight.
7. In the morning, remove the casserole from the fridge and preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cut into 6-8  pieces and served topped with a drizzle of maple syrup if desired.

Recipe adapted from: Real Mom Kitchen


Thank you for stopping by! I hope your Christmas and memories of Christmas past keep you cozy warm this week, sprinkled with lots of love and hugs! 

Christmas Tree Envy...

Okay, all the Christmas decorating is finally done. The cookies and delicious little treats have been made and I'm ready for Santa...How 'bout you?

This year with a "Baby Girl" on the way (due in April) the budget was tight and we decided to keep the decorating low key.  I think the "over the top decorating" in my house is over, sad to say! Next year, I'll  have a 8 month old baby (and 2 BIG dogs and a cat....who thinks he's a dog)!! Maybe we just put the Christmas tree in the den with the french doors closed. That way we can still admire the tree without worrying about a Christmas Catastrophe {ha,ha,ha}!

This afternoon I was looking for a little holiday home inspiration, when I can across these Christmas Trees on Pinterest.

Gorgeous... aren't they? 

Yeah, I know. You're probably thinking "Who has the time for all that?" Well, I'm thinking the same thing too, Sista! My crazy hectic life (and wallet) just doesn't seem to allow for moments like these anymore. But that's okay, I can live vicariously through some of my amazing girlfriends.

Becca at Adventures in Decorating has an amazing gift when it comes to home decorating....I love this girl!! She has several Christmas trees in her home and always has the most amazing holiday decor. I don't know how she does it all but she truly rocks it, every time!! Check out how she's adorned her GORGEOUS home for Christmas...

ONE OF HER MANY BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREES... 

THIS ONE IS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM

 SHE EVEN DECORATES THE CHANDELIER IN THE DINING AREA,

 ISN'T IT GORGEOUS?

C'MON...HOW ADORABLE ARE THESE PLACE SETTINGS?

ON THIS TREE SHE ADDS CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 

EVEN A FEW OF HER FAVORITE CARDS FROM YEARS PAST.

 {I'M IN LOVE WITH THIS IDEA TOO}

WHAT A GREAT IDEA FOR DECORATING THE ISLAND IN YOUR KITCHEN! THIS TREE IS DECORATED WITH GINGERBREAD ORNAMENTS AND COOKIE CUTTERS.

ALL THE WHIMSICAL LITTLE TOUCHES ADD SO MUCH, DON'T THEY?

HER FORMAL DINING ROOM IS DECKED OUT WITH SILVER AND GOLD

THIS TREE IN HER FRONT SITTING ROOM IS ONE OF MY FAVES!

I JUST LOVE HOW SHE PUTS PERSONAL TOUCHES ON EVERYTHING, 

RIGHT DOWN TO THE PILLOWS WRAPPED WITH BURLAP.

FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES ARE PLACED THROUGHOUT 

THE HOUSE NEXT TO FAMILY PHOTOS. SHE EVEN HAS A FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE TRIMMED IN FAMILY PHOTOS AND INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES.

 {GREAT IDEA}

EVEN THE ENTRYWAY IS ADORNED WITH CHRISTMAS TIDINGS THAT JUST MAKE YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME WHEN YOU WALK IN...I JUST LOVE IT!! 

{Thank you Becca for letting me share your lovely home with everyone}

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!