scrappyjessi's cookie exchange

I found the recipe for theese YUMMY little gems on FoodNetwork.com! ENJOY!!!

Swedish Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup unsalted butter, (2 sticks), at room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
Colored sanding sugars or chopped toasted pecans

Directions:
Whisk the flour, cardamom, and salt in a bowl.
Put the butter and confectioners' sugar in a food processor, and process until smooth. Pulse in the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest until combined. Add the flour mixture and process to make a soft buttery dough. Divide dough in half onto 2 (12-inch long) sheets of plastic wrap, using the plastic, shape into rough logs. Refrigerate the dough logs for 30 minutes until just firm enough to shape into uniform logs, 8-inches long by 2-inches in diameter. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Scatter either the sanding sugars or toasted nuts on a work surface and roll the logs until completely coated. Cut into 1/4-inch thick cookies and space about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until golden around the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cookies on the pan on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Yield: about 3 1/2 dozen cookies

Stop by scrappyjessi's and see all of the other yummy cookies!

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,

Julie

Cookie Swap

I haven't had a chance to post my recipe yet!
Stay tuned....

xoxo,

Julie

Spooks, treats and holiday cheer!

So, that's me on Halloween!! I went as a brunette Sookie Stackhouse from "True Blood". We stuffed ourselves with Mexican food and then took the kids trick-or-treating. Then we came home and made ourselves sick on candy, cupcakes and caramel apples! Fun times!!

My Zomieland Pistachio Cupcakes with Almond Buttercream

True Blood Red Velvet Cupcakes with "Spiked" Buttercream

I also wanted to let you all know about a swap that I'm hosting on Flickr.

It's our second annual
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SWAP!!

We're swappin' at least:
ONE handmade Ornament or Decor item

THREE Christmas/Holiday inspired items

AND lots of vintage ephemera!

Come on over and sign up!

Hope to see you there!

xoxo,

Julie

Linda at A Swap for All Seasons nominated me for this

"Over The Top" award. Thanks Linda!!
One of the requirements of winning is that I have to take the quiz below...

hope I don't bore you!!

And here are the rules for this award:
1.) Thank and post URL to the blog that gave the award.
2.) Pass the award along to 6 brilliantly over the top blogs (blogs you love!) Alert them so they know to receive the award.
3.) Copy and paste this quiz... Change the answers, ONE word only...feel free to fudge here!
4.) Have Fun

So, here goes...

Where is your cell phone? next to me
Your hair? brown/reddish
Your mother? WONDER WOMAN
Your father? Mr. Fix-It
Your favorite food? Mexican/Italian
Your favorite drink? love a good margarita
Your dream last night? Don't remember
Your dream/goal? Healthy, happy family
What room are you in? dinning room/computer corner
Your hobby? Anything that gets me out of doing housework
Your fear? Flying
Where do you want to be in 6 years? would LOVE to have my own bakery
Where were you last night? DC Trip meeting at the Jr. High
Something that you aren't? Cindy Crawford
Muffin? Starbucks Lemon Zucchini
Wish list item? Wishblade
Where did you grow up? All over
Last thing you did? made a sign for our Harvest Festival booth
What are you wearing? jeans & a tank top
Your TV? which one?
Your pets? Sophie (beagle), Fire & Lucy (beta fish)
Friends? love em
Your life? blessed
Your mood? pretty good
Missing someone? family
Vehicle? Kia Sedona
Something you aren't wearing? socks
Your favorite store? not sure
Favorite color? pink
When was the last time you laughed? today, my friend Sam makes me laugh pretty much every day!
Last time you cried? not sure
Your best friend? my hubby
One place you go to over and over? Starbucks
One person who emails you regularly? does Hungry Girl count?
Favorite place to eat? anywhere

Now, here are 6 blogs I love to visit:

The Vintage Rabbit
GypsyMermaidLife
ScrappyJessi
Glamarella Junk
Sandys Creations
Domestic Transformations

xoxo,
Julie

Happy Birthday, JM!!

hAppY BiTHhdAy tO My

FaVorItE CuPcaKe,

JOhn MaYeR!!!!

Tall, Dark & Dreamy Chocolate Malt Cupcakes

YUMM-O!!!

xoxo,

Julie

Cupcake LOVE!!

Realizing that I haven't posted any cupcakes in awhile,

so I thought I'd better get to it!

Here are the cuppies I made for Brendan's birthday party

inspired by "Hello, Cupcake" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs".

Of course we had to stop at Wonderland Bakery

on our way home from the beach... YUM!

Made these cuppies for Brendan's teacher's birthday.

Well, thanks for checking out some long overdue
CUPCAKE LOVE!!

xoxo,
Julie

M.I.A.

Hey y'all!! I know that I've been missing in action lately.
I guess that you could say that I have too much on my plate.

Just wanted to stop in and let ya know that I'm still around.

I'll be back soon!!

xoxo,

Julie

Vintage Circus Swap

Step right up and experience the magical sights and sounds of the CIRCUS...

We're swappin' at least:

ONE handmade Circus inspired item

THREE Circus/Carnival/Freak Show inspired items

AND lots of ephemera of course!

Click HERE to join the fun!!

xoxo,
Julie

Aprons, Aprons, Aprons

The Apronista is hosting a big ol' apron giveaway!
Pop over and check it out!

xoxo,
Julie

Now Appearing!

Now appearing at
The Cupcake Cupboard...

Marie Antoinette!
Stop by and check her out!!

xoxo,
Julie

GIVEAWAY!!

I'm having a giveaway over at
The Chubby Cupcake.
Hop on over and check it out!

xoxo,
Julie

Yumminess!!

John Mayer yumminess for your listening and viewing pleasure!
xoxo,
Julie

Celebrate & Remember!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Have fun & be safe!!
xoxo,
Julie

Lollishop Sale!

Check it out at The Cupcake Cupboard .

PUPPY HELP!

Hey all you puppy-lovin' dog owners!! I'm looking for some
advice. In August, we're heading to Eureka, CA (12 hr. drive)
for my 20th reunion and a family camping trip and we're taking
our little Sophie with us (she'll be 4 months old by then).
I was wondering if you all had any travel tips for us.

• We are crate training her now.
• We'll be traveling in my Kia Sedona (van).
• At camp, we'll be sleeping in a tent.

I'm really not sure where to begin, so I'd appreciate
any advice, tips or suggestions!

Thanks!
xoxo,
Julie

Miss. Sophie

Just wanted to introduce the newest member
of our family, Sophie. She's the sweetest little
beagle pup! Born April 6, 2009.

(aka. "Summer Lovin' " Swap)

I know that there are LOTS of summer swaps going on right now but...
come on in gals, the water's fine!!

We're swappin' at least:

ONE handmade item
THREE Beach/Summer inspired items
AND some ephemera of course!

Sign-up date: NOW OPEN
Sign-up deadline: June 20, 2009
Send deadline: July 15, 2009

Click HERE to join!!!

xoxo,
Julie

I picked a WINNER!!!

Congrats debsea!! You're the winner of my Cottage Charm Giveaway!! Please email me your address and I'll send your goodies to ya ASAP!!

Thank you ALL for stopping by!!
Wish I could give ya all a prize!

xoxo,
Julie

The BIG 3-8!!

Today is the day... my birthday!!

I hope you'll all put on your party hats and celebrate with me!

There are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get

un-birthday presents ... and only one for birthday presents, you know.

~ Lewis Carroll

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.

~ Author Unknown

I still have a full deck; I just shuffle slower now. ~Author Unknown

The secret of staying young is to live honestly,

eat slowly, and lie about your age.

~Lucille Ball

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln

Thanks for joinin' the party!!

xoxo,
Julie

PS. Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY !!

GIVEAWAY!!

It's that time of year again!! Time for the 3rd Annual Cottage Charm BLOG-WIDE Giveaway! That means that all month long you can enter to win tons of great giveaway prizes (all drawings will be held on the same day - May 30th) and it's also a great way to discover new cottage, romantic,and vintage oriented blogs, as well as vendors and talented artists.

Here's what I'm giving away:

To enter:

• Post a comment here (between now and May 29th). Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!
• Follow my blog for an extra chance to win!
• Stop by my Lollishop, The Cupcake Cupboard for another chance to win! Come back here and let me know what your favorite item in MY shop is.
• Check out all of the other giveaways being offered!

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo,
Julie

mAd hAtTeR's tEa pArtY sWAp

I am hosting a mAd hAtTeR's tEa pArtY sWAp
over at my Vintage Ephemera Group on flickr.

wHo dOeSN't nEeD a liTTle tRip tHroUGh tHe loOkiNg glaSs eVErY nOw anD tHen...?

We're swappin' at least:
ONE handmade item
THREE Mad Hatter/Alice/Tea Party inspired items
AND some vintage ephemera of course!

Sign-ups Open: NOW
Sign-up Deadline: May 10, 2009
Send Deadline : June 5, 2009

Key words for this swap: VINTAGE, Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland, tea party, vintage ephemera...

hOpE yOU'll jOiN uS in wOnDErLaNd!

xoxo,
Julie

Some Sweet Swappin'

My AWESOME Marie Antoinette Collage Canvas
from Sandy arrived today! LOVE IT!!!

This is a sneak peek of the collage that I sent her.

Here's a sneak peek of another swap I sent for
GypsyMermaid's Pink & Green Swap

Can't wait til my partners get their swaps!!
Hope they love em!!

I'll let ya know!!

xoxo,

Julie

Chubby Cupcake Update

Follow my weight loss journey HERE!

A New Journey

I'm SO tired of being FAT!!
I've decided to start a weight loss journal on my

new blog The Chubby Cupcake .
If anything, maybe I can shame myself into
sticking to my diet!

Wish me luck!

xoxo,
Julie

Happy Easter!

Wishing you ALL Easter blessings!!

xoxo,

Julie

Lovely Lady Vintage Swap

I have new swap for all you lovely vintage ladies!

In honor of Mother's Day
(May also happens to be my birthday month!!),
we'll be pampering our partners with vintage goodies.

Include at least:
ONE handmade item
THREE vintage dressing table finds
(a pair of gloves, hankie, doily, tin, perfume bottle, etc.)
AND some ephemera of course.

Sign-ups Open: NOW!!!
Sign-up Deadline: April 15, 2009
Send Deadline : May 5, 2009

Click here to sign up now!

xoxo,
Julie

Have a GREAT week!

Hello all! I haven't had much time to blog lately,

so I thought I'd stop by and check in.

Thanks to Cheryl , Jessi and Natalie for letting me tag
along with them last Sunday!

I had a WONDERFUL time at The Barn and met more wonderfully talented women! Missed ya Kim!

The highlight of the day was definitely "Barbie Time" at Cheryl's house! Cheryl took pictures but I'm guessing that she's holding them for blackmailing.

I've been working on a few Spring swaps this week -
pictures coming soon.
Brendan and I are leaving on Wednesday to go to Sacramento and San Francisco with the whole Fourth Grade -
we'll have LOTS of pictures to post when we get back!

Well, one last thing to end the weekend on a high note...

My boyfriend and favorite cupcake, John Mayer set off on the open sea this weekend on his Mayercraft Cruise.
I REALLY love those shorts!!

Have a GREAT week!
xoxo,
Julie

Happy Spring!

Once Upon a Swap

My Vintage Ephemera Group recently had fairytale
swap called "Once Upon a Swap" swap.
We were to make one item based on our partner's favorite fairytale and them include at least 5 other fairytale items.
I had two partners.

My first partner was jillzwhimzy and one of her
favorite fairytales is Thumbelina.
I decided to make her a Thumbelina Cupcake Box.

My other partner was ShabbyJules in Australia.
She loves Alice in Wonderland,
so I made her an Alice Cupcake Box.

I also included lots of other goodies in the swap:


Snow White and Her Peeps


Gummi Pigs and Goldilock's Treats


Little Bear/Baby Bear's Porridge Spoon


Magic Wands


Vintage Puzzles


Vintage Snow White & Little Red Riding Hood

I had SO MUCH fun putting these swaps together!
I think that my partners were happy with them.
Can't wait to see what they've sent me!!
I'll share with you when they arrive!

xoxo,
Julie