happy new year

Chris & I decided to take our last pictures of the year today. I finally was able to wear my winter shorts since the weather was decent today [thank goodness!]. I can't believe it's been a whole year already! I've been thinking about my resolutions for 2011 and I haven't came up with many. So far I have :

1. Work out. My tiny little self isn't going to stay this way forever ya know?! I got to start thinking ahead for the future.

2. Go the extra mile in school. I already work hard studying and what not, but I want to be the best!

3. Try to make more time for creative endeavors.

Anyone else have any resolutions they want to share?

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p.s. I hope everyone has a wonderful time tonight! Happy New Year!

cookie yum yums

Since we didn't get to bake cookies on Christmas[we were out of town and I have this "thing" about cooking in other peoples kitchens] I thought it would be good to bake cookies this past Tuesday at 10 o'clock at night. Random? Not if you are me.

Black & white hot chocolate to wash the sugar cookies down!





*I found this recipe in my Betty Crocker.

SOFT NO-ROLL SUGAR COOKIES

makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup veggie oil
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 large eggs
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour [don't use self-rising flour!]
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar

1. In large bowl, beat 1 cup granulated sugar, powdered sugar, butter, oil, milk, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed. Stir in flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.

2. Heat oven to 350F.

3. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place 1/2 cup granulated sugar in small bowl. Roll balls in sugar. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls about 3 inches apart. Press bottom of drinking glass on each ball until about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle with a little more sugar.

4. Bake 13-15 minutes or until set and edges just begin to turn brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

ENJOY!

last minute

For all you slackers out there that need an extra stocking stuffer or a little gift, you should check out the body washes from Philosophy. A friend bought be the strawberry ice cream and vanilla birthday cake ones for my birthday and they are amazing! They make my skin super soft and they are great to use for shaving. Plus, they smell super good! They also have Christmas scents too. I bought my Christmas ones a couple weeks ago and I love them.





Oh! I also wanted to share a couple pictures from our ski/snowboarding adventure last Sunday. Good times and good eats. Cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for dinner...yes please!

toasty

Just bought this new coat! I just love how girly it is with it's ruffles and bow. Way too cute! I'm going to be living in it this winter.

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burrr

Ahh it's been freezing lately! Last week it snowed and we decided to go out and play in it! Have any of you guys been blessed/cursed with snow? I personally enjoy it! There's something about it that's magical to me.

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P.S. Check out my newest little skirt. Cute right?! I love the little matryoshka dolls.

the best

I just wanted to say goodbye to the best grandfather ever. I'm glad you're not in pain anymore. Tell everyone up there I said hello, I love them, and give them a big "oomna" for me. I'm going to miss you a ton.

Love,
Candace

black swan

Took another picture or two the other day with Chris! I really like the first one. How was everybody's weekend? Mine was uneventful. I am real happy with myself that I was able to execute a real nice square bob in class though! Tonight Chris and I are going to meet up with some friends to see Black Swan. The trailer looks amazing! Has anyone seen it yet? What did you think?



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Christmas time is here

Did a little decorating over the week! I would like to do a little more, but this all we had a chance to do so far. Have any of you ladies/gents started decorating for the holidays?




Last Saturday we had some friends over to do Christmas activities. We got a little tipsy and made the decision to make ginger bread houses at 2 a.m.. I think they came out great considering the circumstances! This one definitely beats the first one we made last year.






My best friend actually bought me this Christmas edition Alice in Wonderland tea set for my birthday! Isn't it darling?!

playing catch up

Wow...It's been a while since my last post! I've been crazy busy lately with school and the day to day activities that have been thrown my way. Now the holidays are here...Lord have mercy on my soul! Here is a little picture catch up. Oh, and I'll try and be a good girl and post more often!


Halloween










In November, Deanna with Adhesive Fashion & One Stop Pin Up came to visit us! Here are some of the pictures we came up with.






Chris also wanted to take some pictures that day too...


lookbook



Other things that happened in November include: seeing The Morning Benders play at the Black Cat [ swoon times 1 million ], my 26th birthday, & visiting my family for Thanksgiving!

On to December!

Last week a fine fellow named Michael Woodward wanted to take some pictures. Here is one that we really liked from that shoot. You like???



I'll have to fill you all in on some of the goodies I've acquired in between then some other time! Anyone excited for the winter holidays? I know I am! What do you guys want for Christmas???

primed & poreless

Here I am again with another product I can't live without. Why does Sephora always have to take all my money?! Anyway, I was kind of reluctant to try this product since my skin is pretty sensitive and breaks out easily. Plus, I've never really believed in face primers before[silly me!]. I'm really glad that I gave it a chance though! This primer goes on smooth and absorbs real fast into my skin and it turns my skin into a beautiful canvas for my make-up. It really does! You should try it! If I'm having a lazy day and I don't feel like wearing any make-up[oh the horror!] then I just put this on over my moisturizer and I'm good to go. My complexion looks smoother, pores are nowhere to be seen, no red spots, just fresh healthy looking skin. Gotta love it.

apple of my eye p.3

Apples. Apples. Apples. I really liked this recipe. I actually pretty much ate the whole batch that I made this week all by myself. I just wanted to share it with you all since I made this on Sunday. Or maybe I'm just procrastinating to study for my hair structure exam today? Whatever the case my be, here is the recipe! Enjoy this one, because I sure did!




APPLE SQUARES

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped apple
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9 inch pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of white sugar with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture until just combined, then stir in the apples and walnuts. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the remaining cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over the top of the bars.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in preheated oven; finished bars should spring back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan, and cut into squares.

peeling groovy

Where has this serum been all my life?! This miracle serum has totally improved my skin texture, made fine lines disappear, and has done a wonderful job keeping my skin exfoliated! It's like microderm in a bottle. I tried a sample that I received and I knew after the first couple days I needed this in my life. You should try it. You will love it.

oh goodie

Can you tell we have been having a sweet tooth? Yesterday, we went to the World Market by our place and stocked up on some goodies! I, of course, cannot forget my Kinder chocolate. Yummmmmm. I love Kinder Country bars and the Happy Hippos are amazing too! Who am I fooling...all Kinder chocolate is amazing. Duhhh.

sock hop

So, I decided to try the shoe/sock combo I was talking about to the Stars show [they play great live btw!] I went to on Tuesday night! I LOVE IT! So cute! I also bought this blouse the same day I bought these socks and I really like it as well. I really like how flowy and girly it feels. I feel pretty!



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I hope everyone has a great weekend!

stars

Going to see these guys Tuesday night! I've been wanting to see Stars for a while so this should be pretty good!

new gems

Look at these cuties that I bought for myself. I thought I deserved a little somethin somethin for devoting my life to work and school all week [even though I will be doing this probably for the next two years [sheeeeshhhh]]. It is very tiring, you know!? Anyway, I'm so in love with these!






I also bought these cute little Scottie dog socks thinking they would look great with the cut outs in the new shoes.

apple of my eye p. 2

I found a yummy recipe for some of my apples! Two apples gone, 50 more to get rid of. Oh boy.

P.S. I was going to take a picture of the inside, but I totally forgot once I started devouring it.

APPLE DUMPLINGS



1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
2 medium apples, peeled and quartered
1 cup sugar
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
a good sprinkle of pecans (optional!)


1.Unroll crescent dough and separate into eight triangles. Roll up one apple wedge in each triangle; pinch edges to seal. Place in a greased 8-in. square baking dish.

2.In a small saucepan, bring sugar, orange juice and butter to a boil. Pour over dumplings (dumplings will float to the top). Sprinkle with apple pie spice. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. If you wish, sprinkle tops of dumplings with pecans. I did (as you can see!) and it was so yummy! Serve warm.

apple of my eye p.1

Saturday, Chris and I went apple picking. I've been wanting to go ever since we moved here! It was a lot of fun and we picked a ton of apples. 20 pounds to be exact. I'm totally going to need some good apple recipes to get rid of all these things! Anyway, here are some pictures of our little adventure and some of the apple aftermath. Enjoy!

P.S. Of course I had to wear my thrifted apple dress to go apple picking. I can be so silly sometimes. lookbook time.


taken by Chris










taken by moi








apple aftermath