Boring-est Post

Welcome. You are officially reading the boring-est post of the year! *wild cheers!*

So much has been going on, but yet none of it blog-worthy. What to post...what to post....

Ah! I did get a new planner for my 2012 schedule...

I typically buy a very plain, minimalist calendar every year. This year I was brave and picked something bold. Must have been the extra shot of espresso in my coffee. Who wants to bet I'm sick of the pattern by March?

Aaaaannnddd....now I'm taking bets over a planner. A sure sign that it's time to end this post.

(Pat yourself on the back...you have just survived the boring-est post of the year!)

No, really.

"...brown paper packages tied up with string. These are a few of my favorite things..."

No, really, I actually do love brown paper packages tied in pretty string. Pretty packaging makes my heart go pitter-patter.

I've been working hard at tying up all of my brown paper packages...err...wrapping Christmas presents this year, and I'm loving the results!

I purchased all of my pretty string at The Gilded Bee on Etsy. (Caution: if you're like me you may drool upon seeing this shop!) I bought my brown kraft paper in the shipping isle of my local big box store.

The tragedy? We have decided against a Christmas tree this year, (I've got a baby who pulls on everything) so there is no pretty place to display all my pretty packages. For now, they are on small table behind the couch next to the nativity so we can enjoy them until they are gifted.

I'm pretty sure brown packages with pretty string will become a tradition in the years to come. Hopefully Little Miss will enjoy this stuff as much as I do and we can make it our thing. At least until I inevitably become "uncool". (Which had better be a long time from now!)

PS - In case you're in the mood for some Christmas candy making...check out this melt-in-your-mouth buttery caramels post from last year!

Table Talk

My 8 month old recently discovered that she can pull the tablecloth down to the floor. And subsequently everything on the table comes down with it.



Excuse me, Little Miss, but that tablecloth is there for a reason. Momma doesn't exactly love that...um..."vintage" table top. But since I cannot speak baby language and you cannot speak momma language...the tablecloth's got to go.


You know, vintage is very in right now. (Just keep telling yourself that, momma!)


PS - Correction on the chocolate dipped clementines post: after thinking about it (and confirming it with Brooke), the idea for those was born after I popped a piece of chocolate and a clementine slice into my mouth at the same time. I happened to be at Brooke's at the time, and then my brain just jumbled it all together. My apologies! So if you make them and hate them...no blaming Brooke!

Chocolate Dipped Clementines

For all our sakes, I promise this is not turning into a food blog. I'm not really that great of a cook. But I love being in the kitchen, food is fun to photograph, and it's just that time of year, you know?

A good friend of mine, Brooke, first introduced me to chocolate dipped clementines at a Christmas party a few years back. Ever since, I absolutely have not been able to resist making them around the holidays. Here's how to make them, according to Vanessa (aka - totally made up, no recipe followed):



Start by placing wax paper on an appetizer plate. Peel and separate 3 - 4 clementines. Place 1.5 - 2 cups chocolate chips in a small pan over the stove. *Note: Treat yourself and use good chocolate. It doesn't really matter if you use milk/dark, just go with the good stuff.* Heat the chips over medium-low heat stirring frequently, if not constantly. Once the chocolate is good and melted remove the pan from the heat and dip your citrus slices. Place the clementines on the wax paper. When the chocolate starts to thicken put it back over the heat and stir until you get that smooth consistency again. When all of the slices have been dipped, eat the rest of the chocolate with a spoon place them in the refrigerator. After the chocolate coating has hardened a bit (15-20 minutes?), cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until it's time to serve.

They are delicious. And halfway healthy. Actually, if you're a believer in the benefits of dark chocolate I'd say you have an excellent argument for totally healthy!

Enjoy!

*See an update to this post here. (Scroll to the bottom.)