The 12 days of [simplifying] Christmas series

With the holidays swiftly approaching, sometimes we need a little reminder to keep things simple so we can just enjoy! On each of the twelve days, I'll share some thoughts, ideas and/or tips that I hope will inspire you (and remind me) to CELEBRATE SIMPLY.

*To find all posts in the series, go to Simple Things labels in the side bar and click on The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Three sweet things!

I feel so HAPPY! I was able to finish my October blocks for my do.Good Stitches bee group. I know it is November ( I am blushing) I had cut them out before I left and well then I put them together wrong, so I did some fancy unstitching and had them together by Friday! The Believe Bee that I am in was asked to do this Wonky Pinwheel, tutorial can be found at Greenleaf Goods. 

Block One

Block Two

The third SWEET thing is I am OFFICIALLY a HALF MARATHONER!!!!!! I finished with a time of 2:15:16!!!!!

Chocolate Chunk Blondies

I'm all about a bar cookie.  I'm also all about Ina Garten's recipes.  Her recipes are pretty much foolproof.  Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks her recipes are foolproof because she actually named her newest cookbook, Barefoot Contessa Foolproof.  Say what you will about Ms. Garten, but the lady can write a fantastic recipe.  

My daughter is participating in a bake sale this weekend and I wanted something that was reliable, delicious, and easy to package.  Ina's Chocolate Chunk Blondies are all of that and more.  With over a pound of chocolate in the recipe, this is definitely a cookie for all the chocolate lovers out there.  Please keep these blondies in mind for the upcoming holidays because they are fantastic! I really do believe this is one of those desserts that would be enjoyed by all.

 

Chocolate Chunk Blondies

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof

recipe found online at Food Network

Makes 12 bars

1/2 pound (2 sticks) salted butter, at room temp

1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 extra-large eggs, at room temp

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts

1-1/4 pounds semisweet chocolate chunks 

Note:  I substituted regular chocolate baking chips because my store was out of chocolate chunks.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour an 8-1/2 x 12 x 2-inch baking pan (I used a 9 x 13 size pan lined with greased parchment paper for easy removal). 

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on high speeds for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.  With the mixer on low, add the vanilla.  Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well, scraping down the bowl after each addition.  In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.  With the mixer still on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture.  Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chunks with a rubber spatula.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.  Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.  Don't overbake!  The toothpick may have melted chocolate on it but it shouldn't have wet batter.  Cool completely in the pan and cut into 12 bars.

So this is Planet Houston...Market Part One

I have been so busy doing I am not even sure what but I know there are kids involved and where there are children there is something to pick up or drive to and from or feed or something...anyway I am going to try in one post to share at least some of my fun at Market.


The first thing I have to say is...YES!!!!!!!  I think ALL fabric and fabric designers are brilliant, FABULOUS, FANTASTIC and WONDERFUL!!!!! They all have been driven to design for whatever reason, to put their personal ideas and reputations out there for others to love or criticize. I am not sure I could ever put myself in the position of that kind of public scrutiny. These are brave people! The other thing is they ARE people with families and husbands, wives, children, moms and dads. It is always so nice to meet the people behind the designs, to see their real personalties and place them with the fabrics...I do LOVE them all!!!!


The first booth that I made a B-line for is Laura Gunn! She designs for Michael Miller and her newest line Cosmos is Super bright and as vibrant as Laura herself!

Funny thing was, Laura was never there when I went to visit so it took about four times and I FINALLY caught up with her!!!!! She is TOO ADORABLE! And she is the MOST FABULOUS shopper EVER!!!!!!

At Market, I missed out on meeting Joel Dewberry, he was across from Denyse Schmidt and I just somehow never times it right, I am improving on my stalking skills and was able to catch him this go round! I am SO HAPPY I did! I seriously thought he had reached the nirvana of fabric when Heirloom came out but NNNNnnnnnnnnope! Notting Hill is really something else!

Did mention Joel is REALLY tall and super nice, he held up the samples for me to get a photo, although I may have been a bet bossy and said "Here...hold these!" Joel, I apologize if I was bossy, it was right before lunch!

I have more and thought I could get it all in one post but that is not going to happen...so this is Part One,LOL!

It's Cloud9 WPlus9 Time!

This is my second post today.  There's a 

cute row of turkeys just a post away!!

It's that time of the month!  The monthly Cloud9 Challenge using WPlus9 stamps.  Here's the inspiration photo:

I have never been accused of being overly creative when it comes to inspiration photos.  When I see a quilt, I make a quilt!!  But I have an excuse...I bought these great quilt dies from WPlus9 and haven't used them yet!!  So...here's my Christmas quilt with a sparkly Christmas tree!

• Stamps: WPlus9 Pretty Patches: Tree, Winter Wishes (sentiment)
• Paper: MME 12 Days of Christmas dsp, Stampin' Up Real Red, Bermuda Bay and Shimmer White
• Ink: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Versamark
• Accessories: WPlus 9 Quilt Cuts 2 Die, Pretty Patches Tree Die, Creations Unlimited Snowdrift Embossing Powder (IRL the tree is sparkly!), The Twinery Caribbean Twine

A Row of Cute Turkeys

It's BE Inspired day over at The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) and we have the cutest picture of a row of turkeys...

I didn't get very creative with this - because one of my top 10 favorite TAWS stamps is the turkey!!  So I took this chance to use him multiple times!!

This little guy comes from the set Cover-Ups.  He's also biggie-sized in It's Fall About You.
I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Cover-Ups and the speech bubble is from Talk To Me
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry CS, Old Olive dsp
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Circle punch, ribbon from Hobby Lobby

CAS(E) this Sketch #5: Proud of You

I LOVE this week's sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  It is so totally simple but you will be amazed what the design team has done with it.

I made my card last weekend.  It was for my son and the state marching band competition, but it would be absolutely great as a military card - particularly if you have to mass-produce.  It does work well without the gold brads so it can be a fairly flat card too.


One thing that I love so much about card-making is how each card is personalized.  In this case, the marching band wears blue, red and gold and their program was patriotic so this was perfect for him!  Having said that, he's 16 and didn't notice the card colors at all.


My guy is the really big one behind the really short one - literally the tallest and shortest in the the band - you would think they could have lined them up better!!  
Be sure to check out the other design team cards - you'll see Christmas, you'll see neon, you'll see fall leaves - it's amazing how many creative ideas are out there!  Then try your own and link up.  Remember that this is a CAS challenge.  Here's a blurb from the challenge website if you ever wonder if you are CAS enough!!

The acronym CAS stands for Clean and Simple.

1. Usually only one layer but can include a simple layer or two.

2. A lot of open space sometimes called "white space" can include subtle color, texture or pattern.

4. Usually no embellishments but can include something minimal. (1 or 2 embellishments)

3. Only one focal point. Embellishments should only support not dominate your card.
(Exception to this rule is that you've made the focal point an embellishment and not an image.)

5. Minimal color palette. (up to 3 colors in general)

6. Simple, uncluttered, quick and easy to create.

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp
• Paper: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Real Red CS and dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Midnight Muse
• Accessories: Fiskars punch, Recollections gold beads, Simon Says Stamps Absolutely die