"Be Mine" Valentine Swap

Happy 2010 y'all!!

I just wanted to let you know about my first swap of the new year...

Be Mine VE Swap

Sign-up Deadline: January 14, 2010

Send Deadline: February 5, 2010

Let's spread the LOVE!

We're swappin' at least:

ONE handmade item

THREE Valentine inspired/thrifted items

ONE embellished candy box (any size) filled with ephemera

and maybe a little something sweet

Come on by and sign up!

xoxo,

Julie

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