This Room

is all happening. I love the bold, carefree look. 

This is the perfect example of just buying what you love 

andtrusting that it will all go together and look wonderful. 

I'm sort of in the process of doing a mini-makeover in my bedroom 

& this is definitely my inspiration.

A Pittsburgh Christmas

I have the wonderful pleasure of working in downtown Pittsburgh 

(which of course comes with the not-so-wonderful rush hour traffic). 

But none the less, it is still pretty neat seeing all the sites in town every day. 

I’ve been downtown in the past for Pittsburgh’s Light-Up Night, 

but never really took in all the beautiful holiday decorations until now. 

During a few lunch breaks I took a stroll around the city and 

snapped some great images of all the holiday decorations. 

Here are my favorites:

The Allegheny County Courthouse aka my work: courtyard Christmas tree, beautiful gallery, holiday choral proagam, and the door to my office!

The beautiful manger set outside the US Steel tower--& it plays music!

Oxford Center.

PPG Place & Market Square--thats me with my cousin, Richie at the ice skating rink!

The City County Building, US Post Office on 4th, a window at Macy's, the Frick Building and BNY Mellon.

One of my favorites in the city, the William Penn Hotel: amazing lobby, gingerbread replica of the hotel, and an outisde banister. This hotel is gorgeous all year-round!

Click on pictures for a larger view.

Wish List

I didn't really want much this year--in fact I'm not really sure if I even told anyone about the things on this list. I guess I'll just cross my fingers & hope someone read my mind!

1. Hunter Green Hunter Wellies

2. Fire & Rain:  The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel,

James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost Story of 1970

3. Halston Heritage Sleeveless Faux Fur Gilet--

Really any faux fur vest that looks like this.

4. The Band’s The Last Waltz record

5. Forever 21 rings

6. Hue tights—these are the best tights I’ve found for a decent price. 

I wear tights 3/5 days of the work week during the winter months, and these are a great quality.

7. Hobnail Pitcher in blue from Anthropologie – 

this will match the dinner sets I just bought!

Hope you get what you're wishing for this holiday season!

Cookie Post #2

If you like red velvet cake, and even if you don't you must try these cookies. I'm not usually the biggest fan of red velvet, but I am a fan of cheesecake. Again, just like the Lemon Burst cookies I posted about these were so easy to make but took a bit more time. 

Here's the recipe.

1 box red velvet cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)

2 tbsp flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp vanilla

Filling:

4 oz. cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Preaheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the cake powdered cake mix, flour, eggs, oil and vanilla in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Let both refrigerate for 30 minutes to harden a bit (this makes it easier to work with).

Form the batter into a patty and scoop cream cheese in the middle. Form another patty to place on top and mold the two together. I found it easier to make the outside a bit thinner than the middle, that way the filling doesn't pop out. This is much easier than it seems.

Place on a well-greased cookie sheet. Space these babies pretty far apart--they get huge.

Here they are! These were delish. My only change is the filling in the middle. If you don't put enough inside it can be hard to taste. So stuff in as much as possible. 

Happy Baking!

Cookie Post #1

I found this recipe while on Pinterest (of course--I think everyone and their mother is addicted to this site) and it looked SO easy I just had to try it. I've been wanting to bake some cookies to take into work for the holidays, so I was glad when I stumbled upon this recipe. When I say SO easy, that might be an understatement. This was a four ingredient recipe--yes, baking delicious cookies that only require you to buy four things.

Here's the recipe.

1 box lemon cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)

1 8oz containter of Cool Whip

1 egg

1/3 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat Cool Whip, egg and cake mix in a bowl. It's important to note that you mix just the powdered cake mix, not the additional ingredients listed on the box. The batter will be very thick and sticky--I stuck mine in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Roll into balls and coat with the powdered sugar. I found it easier to spoon some of the batter into the bowl of powdered sugar, make sure it was coated and then I rolled it into a ball. It was less messier this way and the batter seemed to roll nicer.

Place them on a well-greased cookie sheet. I would even space them a bit further apart than I did--they expand quite a bit so some didn't have enough room. Bake for 10-12 minutes and let cool before removing them from the cookie sheet.

Here they are! They turned out perfect. Very moist and fluffy--I will definitely be making these again. 

P.S. See the red cookie in the picture? 

Those are Red Velvet Cheescake cookies--post coming soon!

Christmas Quiz

I rarely come across quizes that I actually want to take the time to do, but since I'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit, I figured this one would be fun. I found it over at The Weigand's. Casey has an awesome blog--you should check her out!

CHRISTMAS QUIZ 

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate for sure.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Definitely wrap--I tried to spice up my wrapping this year. Lots of pretty handmade gift tags & bows.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I love the white.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? My gramma always used to--not sure if she did this year!
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually around a week after Thanksgiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? My mom's Christmas cookies!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Going to church the night of Christmas Eve and singing "Silent Night" with the lights out and candles lit.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My mom, sister and I were just talking about this! My mom said it was around 4th grade.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? YES! We always went to my gram and paps Christmas Eve before church and she always let us open some presents. 
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? White lights and ornaments that we've collected over the years. I have some really great sets given to me when I was a baby (Winnie the Pooh, the Wizard of Oz, Birthday Angels)
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? I actually really love it--with the exception of digging out my car for work, that's no fun. Grown-ups should have snow days too!
12. Can you ice skate? Eh, not really. 
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I'm starting to realize I have a pretty bad memory. I can't even remember what I got last year!
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with my family. We watch movies, bake together, and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? My mom bakes great thumbprints. We mostly do cookies around my house--with the occasional jello salad.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I've done the same thing every year for as long as I can remember. So from Christmas Eve on is one big tradition for me.
17. What tops your tree? An angel.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? I think the appropriate answer is giving--which I do love. I try to get a few unique and personalized gifts for everyone. But of course I also love opening presents : )
19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy? Both--I don't mind them, but I don't eat them much.
20. Favorite Christmas show? I am a collector of Christmas movies. Home Alone 1 & 2 are my absolute favorites. Also Elf, A Christmas Story, Emmett Otters Jug Band Christmas, Christmas Vacation and Miracle on 34th Street.
21. Saddest Christmas song? I don't know about the saddest song, but Silent Night always brings tears to my eyes.
22. What is your favorite Christmas song? I love Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time," plus 'Do You Hear What I Hear," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "Good King Wenceslas" just to name a few.

Happy Christmas!

Crazy Girl

My life has been CRAZY lately. As you can see, I've had zero time to blog or really even think about blogging. The holidays have been much busies this year--I think it's mainly because I'm working this year and don't have a holiday break. Plus my gramma is in the hospital--definitely a surprise to us all, but she is doing well & should be out soon. BUT of course, prayers are always welcomed! I've started jotting down a few ideas for upcoming blog posts--obviously my "Road to Woodstock" and the "Midnight Ramble," but there are definitely some other fun ones coming up too. 

Until then, 

Here are some pretty things I came across over the past couple weeks. I will definitely be trying some of these DIY's out. Stay tuned for updates!

This beautiful open-backed sweater. Reminds me of something my sister would LOVE!

This felt wreath. I started making this, not finished yet!

These empty bottles wrapped with colored twine.

This pretty fabric flower necklace.

Hope you're all ready for the holidays!