Happy last Friday before Christmas!
– ONE – I picked up OPI’s Red Fingers and Mistletoes nail polish over the weekend and am loving how festive my nails look! Right now Ulta is offering a Buy 2, Get 1 free on all OPI colors which is perfect timing to grab one for yourself and two for Christmas gifts!
– TWO – McKinsey’s Annual Girls Gift Exchange Party was last night! The gift limit was $35 and each year the dirty Santa style game gets more and more competitive. I brought a volcano candle to the party and actually ending up stealing my gift back during the last round of the game! Here are a few of some of the best, most stolen gifts at the party…
Left to Right: Charlotte Coffee Mug & The New York Times 36 Hours Book; Necklace; 100 Days of Real Food Book; Volcano Candle; Chick-fil-A calendar and Scarf; 2015 Kate Spade Planner; Tote; Polished Gift Card & OPI Nail Polish; C Wonder Wallet & Note Cards
– THREE – For the party last night I needed a quick appetizer idea that I could literally throw together in a few minutes after getting home from work. Off I ran to the Teeter where there was a nice old lady offering samples next to the cheese counter which I of course stopped to check it out. The appetizer was crackers topped with pimento cheese and a dab of pepper jelly. Winner, winner. In less than 2 minutes I was out the door with a container of My Three Sons Pimento Cheese and a jar of Stonewall Kitchen Red Pepper Jelly. I had some mini fillo shells in the freezer which worked out perfect in lieu of crackers.
– FOUR – For the cookie exchange last week I baked Marbled Red Velvet Christmas Brownies! They were so yummy that Matt requested I make a separate batch to have at home (even though I brought home ~40 cookies.
Here’s the recipe I used:
Marbled Red Velvet Christmas Brownies
Adapted from Julie’s Eats and Treats
Ingredients
1 box (8 oz.) reduced fat cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package Red Velvet brownie mix (choose directions for the cake-style brownies)
Instructions
In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with the sugar. Add the egg, milk and vanilla extract. Set aside. Prepare the brownie mix according to the package directions. Spoon 2/3 of the brownie batter into a parchment-lined 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Spoon the reserved cream cheese mixture over the brownie batter. Now scrape the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese mixture. Swirl the tip of a knife through the batter to make a marbled effect. Press M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies into the batter. Bake for 45-50 minutes in a preheated, 350-degree oven until slightly moist in the center. Cool completely before cutting 8×4 into 1½-inch squares.
– FIVE – I’ve seen a few versions of this “Holiday To-Do List” floating around Pinterest and Instagram {here} recently and thought it was such a powerful message that I wanted to pass it on! Can you imagine what it would be like if everyone’s holiday to do lists looked a little bit more like this?
Wanna join Darci, April, Natasha and I on the
Friday fun? You can link-up on any of our four blogs every Friday! All you have
to do is…
1.)
Write your post about five things you’re lovin’ this week (or any five things
you want to share!).
2.) Share the logo on your blog and link back.
3.)
Link-up at the bottom of the post so some new readers can check out your five
things and say hello!
I love that list too! And those brownies look amazing. Hope you are enjoying this season with your sweet family!
I've seen that holiday to do list floating around too, and love the messages on it. Every one is so true. Glad to hear that your gift exchange went well. Those brownies look yummy! Off to Ulta to pick up some nail polish now:) I needed a new color and can't pass up a deal like that:)
I love the Holiday to do list – so true!! Happy Friday & Merry Christmas!!
I love that Holiday To-Do List 🙂 I'm saving that one.Happy last friday before Christmas!
That girls' gift exchange looks so fun! There are some good gifts there. Love how competitive those exchanges can get :)And I so love the holiday to-do list. Merry Christmas to your sweet family of 3!
i love that nail polish!! and the appetizers look so tasty! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
I LOVE number 5! I may have to make that a printable for next year because it's such a perfect message. Happy Friday!
Kat Fuchs just told me about that pimento cheese this week. Must try. My Matt said last night that Pepper Jelly means Christmas is near.
I saw that list on IG and fell in love. I also love your nails. Like Dorothy's shoes. In the best way!
Perfect nail polish for the holidays. I'm looking for a good red myself – you just turned me to it.Glad to see someone else choose the green Kate Spade planner – I thought I was the only one 🙂 We have taste!
Those look like two delicious recipes – so quick and easy too! Love the Christmas to do list – so true for this festive time of year x
Oh my that appetizer looks so good and so easy. I may be stealing that idea over the holidays
I've had that appetizer before, its so easy and delicious!! Thanks for the heads up about the OPI polish, totally going there today!
I got the nailpolish color on my toes when I got a pedicure recently, and I'm seriously considering going out and buying a bottle. I LOVE the gold flakes in it! So festive, but it's also kind of Harry Potter-ish, so I'd wear it year round! 😉
That filo dough appetizer sounds genius! I think you created a new favorite Christmas dish. Simple and easy is the way to go.
Love that nail color! Thank you for the recipes! I have been searching for things to make next week, so this is perfect timing.
Yum! We love and are partial to the Pawley's pimento cheese but I might have to try this one. I'm doing some baking this weekend and those brownies just might have to be added to the list. : )
Stonewall Kitchen's Red Pepper Jelly is a staple in our panty…you can throw it with cream cheese, goat cheese, anything and people LOVE IT! Their factory is in Maine, so I am always stocking up on their specials!! I love that nail color…it's perfect for this time of year! That list is amazing…I printed it and have it hanging on our fridge. It's SO EASY to get caught up in anything BUT the reason for the season. 🙂 Have wonderful weekend and Christmas week!!!
i'm obsessed with my volcano candle too. it smells amazing. have a great weekend!!
love the nail polish!
Delta Mae, my two year old, got her first OPI mani here at home this past week. We chose Glitzerland, and she ROCKED it!Have a Merry Christmas!
Love the color!!
#5 is PERFECT. thank you for sharing that. Have you ordered from ulta? I just did this week and ended up with three free items (one was an Essie matte top coat!). I love your opi color!
Ooo I need an appetizer for a party tonight and am really not in the mood to put a lot of time into it- I might try out that app recipe with the pimiento! Thanks!
Oh my, that red polish is amazing! I have a similar one, but it's almost dried up so I'll be heading to Ulta tomorrow! Thank you.
Pimento cheese and red pepper jelly, two of my favorite things and I've never thought to put them together. Genius!
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