COCKTAIL PLEASE & COZY FOR THE HOLIDAYS LINK-UP

Girl's Night out means Cocktails so I was over the moon when I found this festive graphic Tee at Kohl's. The rest of the outfit was in my closet just waiting to add to this fun tee and make it sparkle. Welcome to the Last Cozy for the Holidays Link-Up with my dear friends at The Blended Blog

Girl's night out during the Holidays is always so much more fun. Adding bling, sparkles, cute sayings and all that jazz to New Year's Eve coming up is so fun too!! If you do not want to get overly dressed up, this outfit is the perfect option!

Graphic Tee HERE // Lucky Booties HERE (40% off right now)

Now, let's link up your fantastic and fabulous Winter goodness and head over to The Blended Blog and see if you were a featured FAVORITE!!!

CHEERS to a JOYOUS and HAPPY 2017!!

Linking up Oh Hey Girl // Trendy Wednesday // The Mummy Chronicles // Visible Monday // Good HUES-Day //Fresh Fashion Forum //Style Me Wednesday // THT // Spotlight of the Week //Fashion Moda // WIWT//

Fashion Friday // Lizzie in Lace // Shoe and Tell // Trend Spin //A Labour of Life // Confident Twosday //I will wear what I like //Let it Shine Monday // What I Wore Wednesday // Jersey Girl Texan Heart //Jaymie Ashcraft // Fancy Friday // Lipstick & Layers///Fashion Frenzy // Ageless Style

xoxo

An InLinkz Link-up

FRIDAY FAVORITES....MERRY CHRISTMAS EDITION

Hello me loves and Merry Christmas...it's here, it's here, our glorious Christmas weekend! Many loving wishes to you and yours for a wonderful Christmas. Hope Santa brings you all you want and more!!! Happy Birthday to Christ our Lord and Cheers as you celebrate with love, laughter and great tidings of JOY!!!

1. Brother's Shopping
Hanging out for these guys is few and far between these days but now that the older two are home on college break they are enjoying some brotherly bonding. They sent mom this selfie when they were out on their annual "Christmas Shopping for mom and dad day" this week. They even came home and wrapped!

2. Merry Meat & Cheese Board and Cocktails
Two of my favorite things: Cheese Boards and Cocktails!!! I'm going to try a similar one for a Brunch I'm hosting.

Rudolph’s Cranberry Fizz:  
Makes: 2 cocktails  
10 cranberries
6 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 ounces gin
1 cup cranberry juice
3 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 cup ice cubes
1 cup Champagne
2 marshmallow
4 cloves
1 toothpick  
Muddle 8 of the cranberries and 2 of the rosemary sprigs in a shaker. Add the gin, cranberry juice and vermouth and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into 2 chilled cocktail glasses. Top each glass with Champagne.  
To garnish, place the remaining 4 rosemary sprigs into 2 marshmallows to create antlers. Break the toothpick in half and insert into front of the marshmallow and attach the remaining cranberries to create the noses. Then, place the 4 cloves between the noses and antlers to create eyes. Cheers!  

c/o utry.it

AND How awesome is this idea!!!

Traditional Christmas Lunch and gift exchange day for "T" and I

3. Week's Attire
Lot's of festive red!!

Charming Charlie scarf, INC ruffle sleeve sweater from Macy's

Lush top, Loft scarf

Entire outfit is Vera Wang from Kohl's

4. Red Coat Love
I got this coat at J.C. Penny and it is my all time favorite winter coat..the color, the fit, the belt, the tiers, love it all. I feel so festive when I wear it out especially with the darling embroidered beret hat and Hunters.

More red coat inspo

5. Snow Daisy
As you may know, our Miss Daisy has had a rough year that finally had to cumulate in a major surgery in November. One of our greatest gifts this year was that the surgery was a success, she can walk again and its given her quality of life for the remainder of her days...we hope for a good while...she is our snow dog, loves it, wallers in it and I LOVE this picture!!

HAPPY GET YOUR CHRISTMAS ON WEEKEND!!!
I ADORE each and every one of you!!

Linking up with  Amanda // Friday Favorites  // Oh Hey, Friday  // High 5 For Friday // 5 on Friday //Wow Us Wednesdays

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPES

For this special edition of a Tasty Tuesday and a Show and Tell Link-Up with Momfessionals, it's all about favorite recipes. You know how much treasured recipes mean to me and how so many have special memories that go along with them. Holiday baking and cooking is one of my all time favorite parts of the season so I am thrilled to bring you some of my favorites.

Well, you cannot start favorite Holiday recipes with out first beginning with the sweet treats..and will primarily be sweet treats, lol

COOKIES, BARS snd FLUFFS...oh MY!!!

Cinnamon Toffee Oatmeal Cookies

RECIPE HERE

Just Right Chocolate Chip Cookies

RECIPE HERE

Almond Thumbprint Cookies

RECIPE HERE

Little Irish Girl Cookies

RECIPE HERE


Now, the 2 most linked up food posts ever on the blog and Holiday perfect ones...
Toffee Pecan Dream Bars

RECIPE HERE

Pineapple Pretzel Fluff Dessert
RECIPE HERE

A Festive App..
Bacon Stuffed Cucumbers

RECIPE HERE

Now, how bout a couple main dishes; of course we had dessert  
and apps first, lol
Sausage Manicotti
RECIPE HERE

and my favorite thing to make on Christmas.....
The Gouda Giant Potatoes
This is what we all them but they are from Rachel Ray & she calls then Shepards Pie Stuffed Potatoes

RECIPE HERE

There you have it "Nine" of my, Andrea Nine's Favorite Holiday recipes....I haven't even begun to share with you all my mama's treasured recipes..2017 perhaps....I'm Hungry, Let's eat already.....
HAPPY HOLIDAY TASTY TUESDAY SWEET FRIENDS!!

Last One before Santa comes!!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays // Tuesday Talk // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Full Plate Thursday // Recipe Sharing Party~YUM // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Two Uses Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend Wake Up Wednesday // Handmade Hangout // Simple and Sweet Fridays // Throwback Thursday // Share It // Too Cute Tuesday // Sweet and Simple Fridays // Grace At Home // Inspire Me Monday// Creativity Unleashed // Two Cup Tuesdaye // The SITS Girls // Clever Chicks Blog Hop // Snickerdoodle Sunday // Dishing It & Digging It // Diary of a Real Housewife // Feathered Nest Friday // Weekend Potluck // Pretty Pintastic Party

xoxo

HOW TO DO YOUR OWN ARTIFICIAL NAILS

A Few weeks ago in one of my Friday Favorites, I told you how I have been doing my own nails for years. 

Prior to that, I had them done in a salon but when Kiss started coming out with the cool artificial ones a few years back, I started doing them myself and save A LOT of money that way. 

Several of you mentioned that you would like to know how I do it. So, I decided to dedicate a post to my method.  I know, many of you like to wear extra glammy nails this time of year and wouldn't these be great for Christmas and New Year. Everybody needs little nail sparkly every now and then. But these Fab Burgundy Wine colored ones army all time favorite! 

The way I do it takes 1/2 hour and they stay on for about 3 weeks. Here is a new favorite design...it is a midnight navy with silver sparkles and will be perfect for the holidays.I found out after I first bought these that this design is not new so when I went back to the store, the product number has been replaced by these...

..but they are super cool too and every time I of to the nail section at CVS or other retailers the selection gets bigger. Since I couldn't find the original navy sparkly in stores, I did find them on ebay and happy I did as these are what I had my heart set on for Christmas wear. 

The last couple weeks I've worn just the pain Plain KISS RED and added some Essie Overlay of silver sparkles to the bottom part of the nails. Basically I just panted it on the bottom half after I pressed on these red ones.

Here is my routine for doing Kiss nails and I hope you find it as easy and money saving as I do. 

What you'll need

1. Ready Nail Beds by making sure old nails are removed and real ones are free of glue and trimmed and filed. Push back cuticles with the cuticle stick.

2. Always lay down a paper towel on whatever surface you're working on. 

3. Remove Kiss nails from package and place on your nails to fit each finger.  Arrange in order on table/paper towel.

4. Starting with left pinky first, turn it over and place one drop of package included pink tube of glue on the back of the nail. Place a small layer of the precision glue on your nail bed.

5. Align nail with cuticle and press down holding pressure firmly in middle of the nail for about 5-10 seconds. Remove any excess glue with paper towel in nail corners or under nail if needed. 

My nails last about 3 weeks. If one should pop off, just re-adhere it the same way (see #4 & 5) I've tried them with just the glue included in the package but find they stay on much longer by using both glues. This set of Matte Blue nails are gorgeous! 

I love these Gel Fantasy ones too.

HAPPY MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS TO YOU FRIENDS!!!

May it be Sweet, Festive and Merry!!

xoxo

WHITE CHOCOLATE DIPPED SNICKERDOODLES

My mom made delicious Snickerdoodles growing up, but for some reason I never include them in my Holiday baking sessions. That all changed this year when I decided to add some additional decadence to them and dip them in white chocolate. 
Yum  

Sooooo good and festive with a little candy embellishment. 

After I made them I pondered why I waited so long..Snickerdoodles are not only a fun cookie name to say but ever so delicious and they transport me back to my mom's baking growing up and eating them warm from the oven with an iced cold glass of milk.

So Cute!!

What you'll need

WHITE CHOCOLATE DIPPED SNICKERDOODLES

INGREDIENTS

2¾ c. flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 c. butter, softened
1½ c. sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
½ tsp. vanilla
For sugar coating:
1/4 sugar
3 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg
16 oz. white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Mix flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Cream butter, adding 1½ c. sugar gradually. Add beaten eggs to butter/sugar mixture. Mix well. Gradually add dry ingredients. Chill dough at least 1 hour. Shape chilled dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet or baking stone. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until light golden brown, do not over bake. Cool completely, then melt white chocolate and dip 1/3 of each cookie. Embellish with candy decorations if desired.

Rolled Balls

HAPPY HOLIDAY TASTY TUESDAY SWEET FRIENDS!!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays // Tuesday Talk // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Full Plate Thursday // Recipe Sharing Party~YUM // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend // Meal Plan Monday #140
xoxo