Happy New Year!

January 2, 2012

Well, 2012 is here! Where did the year go? It’s been a busy year. My biggest accomplishment is Olivia – in 2011 I made a baby! This year will be filled with many firsts for her. Babies grow and change so much in their first year of life, it’s amazing. I’m excited for this year with Olivia but, I’m sure it’s going to go to by way too fast.

I’m making a few New Years resolutions. By posting these here, I’m hoping to stick to them and not give up 6 months in. They are not all resolutions, some are just things I want to accomplish (it’s really just a 2012 to do list). Here’s my list:

1. Read my Bible EVERYDAY! (no excuses)
2. Lose the baby weight or at least get into my old jeans (slightly overwhelming, I’m working on an action plan).
3. Learn how to use Photoshop and do more with Adobe Illustrator (maybe even take a class and continue what I started just over a year ago.)
4. Improve my blog.
5. Take more pictures and make more photo books of my family.
6. Have more adventures with Riley.
7. Complete some house projects (paint the outside of the garage, paint the kids bathroom and possible tear out the shower, complete the laundry room, and put in some kind of semi-custom storage in all our tiny closets).
8. Open an Etsy shop.
9. Date more (go out with my husband, sans children, at least twice a month).
10. Quit Smoking! (this one is easy because I don’t smoke, but now I can feel good about accomplishing one of my resolutions)

My Sweet Babies

What resolutions or goals are you making this year?

etc.

Orange Ginger Spritz Cookies

December 23, 2011

If you don’t have a cookie press, you are missing out. I love to make some sort of spritz cookie at Christmas because they are just fun to make. It’s like magic, how the cookies come out so cute and uniform. Kids love to use it as well.

I often just make vanilla or chocolate spritz cookies, or sometimes lemon, but this year I came up with something new. These Orange Ginger cookies have a hint of molasses and are the perfect match for a hot cup of tea.

Orange Ginger Spritz Cookies

2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 tbsp molasses
1 tbsp orange zest
1 egg

Sift first 5 dry ingredient together. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add the egg molasses, and zest to the butter and sugar. Mix till combined. Add the dry ingredients in 2 parts. Mix until just combined.

Pack dough into cookie press. Press cookies onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 350 F for about 10 mins or until they are just slightly browned on the edges. I like them just barely brown so that they have a softer, chewyer texture. Cook baked cookies on a wire baking rack. Store in airtight containers (I make mine ahead and freeze them).

If you don’t have a Spritz or Cookie Press, I recommend you getting one just for fun. I have recently seen cookie them at Homegoods for $7.99 to $19.99.

etc.

Swedish Butter Cookies

I was going through my recipe cards and found this recipe. My mom gave me some of my Grandma’s recipe cards. I really love having them and seeing her handwriting. What is it about Christmas, it just makes you miss your Grandma. I had never made these cookies and I actually don’t remember my Grandma making them. She was famous for her shortbread cookies (I might share that recipe as well), but these cookies were my Swedish Grandpa’s mother’s recipe (her mother in law’s). My mom said that these were actually my Grandma’s favorite cookie at Christmas. So, I thought I should try them. And I’m a fan. These buttery cookies have the right combination of crispy and chewy and they really are a simple, no fuss cookie.

Swedish Butter Cookies

3/4 lb butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

3 cups flour (sifted)

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 tsp salt

Cream butter, add sugar and cream together. Add eggs and vanilla to butter mixture. Add flour and salt and mix until combined. Chill dough for 1 hour. Roll the dough into balls and press with a floured fork. Top the cookies with some sprinkles. Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet for 8 to 10 mins at 375 F. Cool on a wire rack. Store in airtight containers.

My Grandma’s Recipe Card

etc.

Christmas Aprons

December 22, 2011

Growing up we all had Christmas aprons. A good friend of my mom’s made them for all of us. I remember unpacking them every Christmas. They were so much fun to wear. I’m a sucker for Christmas traditions, so this year I thought I needed to make my kids some aprons. Denali and Dylan both love helping in the kitchen, and I’m sure Olivia will love it very soon as well. So, yesterday in the middle of all my craziness I made 6 children’s aprons (3 for my sweet friend Heidi’s creative kids, 1 each for Denali and Dylan, and one for my very cute nephew Liam). I probably should have done these months ago, but I work best under pressure.

Liam’s Russian Nativity Dolls apron has a green polka dot pocket.

I added D rings to the neck straps to adjust the length.

Dylan’s woodland animals apron has wide red ric rac along the bottom.

Denali’s Retro Santa Scooter fabric has a large, 2 compartment pocket.

I bought these fabrics with no project in mind. I just thought they were too cute to pass up. But later, Aprons seemed to be the perfect use for them. Do you ever do that? Find cute fabric and buy it not knowing what you will do with it. It’s kind of a problem.

I will include a pattern on my blog in the new year (I just have too many things to do in the next 2 days). But, these would make great gifts anytime of the year.

etc.

Baby Jesus at Target!

December 21, 2011

I am just so pleased with Target, that I just had to share this find with you. These cute paper goods really have to the true meaning of Christmas on them. Baby Jesus, the three wise men and the star of Bethlehem are actually featured on these Christmas plates. How refreshing to find these in the sea of Santa and Snowmen themed decorations. The packages of 12 are only $2.00 each.

Way to go Target, just one more reason to love you!

etc.

DIY Christmas Ornaments: Glittered Maps

Well, obviously I have neglected my blog lately. I truly have had NO time. I am have missed blogging. I mentioned earlier that I was making costumes for a Christmas program. That ate up a week and a half. Then I have had company, travelled to San Fran, and had no husband this last weekend. And on top of it all there is all the Christmas shopping, baking, partying, and planning. I always set unrealistic goals for myself (like handmade gifts – what was I thinking?) Oh and not to leave Olivia out, I have a 2 month old baby! In the middle of all of this, I want to remember the reason for the season. Christmas is a lot of work for moms. I’m sure all of you are feeling the pressure to get everything done.

I made these map ornaments 2 weeks ago and have been trying to find time to share them with you. Thanks to my very faithful few that come back and see if I have blogged anything new, you are appreciated. I am going to set another unrealistic goal for myself, and attempt to cram in lots of blog entries before Christmas.

These a super simple. I bought the paper ornament forms at Michaels for 69 cents each. For one ornament I used a California road map and the other I used the Europe part of an old wall map from school. Choose maps that have meaning or significance to you. You simply tear the maps into small pieces and then in layers, attach them to the ornament with Mod Podge until the entire surface is covered. Once they are dry I covered both with clear crystal glitter.

So what crazy goals have you set for yourself? Leave me a comment, I want to know that I am not the only crazy one out there.

BE A FRIEND! Follow Oleander and Palm by email, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter.

etc.

DIY Christmas Ornaments: Salt Dough

December 5, 2011

Click here for an easy to follow how-to video.

Well, as you can see, my week of DIY ornaments took a little break. It wasn’t my intention, but life has been a little busy. I have taken on a big project – I’m in the middle of making the costumes for my mom’s Christmas program at her church. I’ve made 3 spiders, 3 flowers, and I’m in the process of making a duck, a skunk, a bull, a donkey, a camel, and a cow (and there are more I’m not remembering right now). So, I’m going to attempt to stay on top of it all this week. ‘Tis he season for being slightly crazy, right?

So, this will take you back to elementary school. I’m sure you all made these in the 3rd grade, and your mother hung the ugly blobby things on your tree, and you were so proud. Well I think this might be an update. These simple ornaments are made with the classic salt dough recipe, but stamped for a cleaner design.

Salt Dough
1 cup salt
2 cups flour
1cup water

Mix all ingredients in a mixer until a smooth dough forms. To dry the dough, bake in a 250F oven for at least 3 hours.

I rolled out the dough to 1/4″ thick, stamped my M’s (for McConnel) and birds and then cut out the circle. It was easier to stamp first so that the image would be centered. I rolled out the dough on the parchment paper so I wouldn’t have to move the ornaments. Oh and I just used a regular plastic drinking straw for the hole at the top. Once they were dry, I threaded twine through the holes. These look cute on the tree and attached to gifts. I also used them as napkin rings for Thanksgiving. I of course made a batch for my kids and they spent hours making all kinds of treasures for the tree as well.

What has you overwhelmed and hectic this season?

BE A FRIEND! Leave a comment, follow Oleander and Palm by email, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter.

etc.

DIY Christmas Ornament: Wool Snowballs

December 1, 2011

I said that these ornaments were going to be cheap and easy, so let’s start with the cheapest and easiest one to make. I’m calling these Wool Snowballs.

These a simply 100% wool wrapped around foam balls. Once the ball is wrapped to the desired amount, I secured the end of the wool yarn with a small bead of hot glue. These look cute hung on the tree or piled on a covered plate or bowl like I did.

I used a bag of foam balls from the dollar store. They came in 1/2″, 1 1/2″ and 2″ balls, 8 in a bag for just a buck. And I used Martha Stewart Crafts 100% roving wool in the color snowdrift (this is available at Michaels).

BE A FRIEND! Follow Oleander and Palm by email, Pinterest, Facebook, or Twitter.

etc.

A Week of DIY Christmas Ornaments

November 30, 2011

I had so much with Pumpkin Spice Week, that I’m going to have a week of DIY Christmas Ornaments. Starting tomorrow, December 1st I will show you a simple DIY ornament everyday. I true Oleander and Palm style, they will be super quick and easy to make and very inexpensive.

After reading your comments and suggestions, I think we will have a Week of Soups coming up next! Any other theme weeks that you would like to see? Leave me a comment with your suggestion.

etc.

Christmas in LA

November 29, 2011

Look between the palm trees on the mountain, and you can see the Hollywood sign.

80 something degrees in LA this Thanksgiving weekend, got love the Holidays in Cali. Heads up! this post has lots of links, so if you are looking for a fun day in LA, I’ve linked all the info you should need.

We like to go to LA, as a family, at least once before Christmas to do the city thing. We always end up at The Grove, because we love the atmosphere. For those who are not from So. Cal, The Grove is a great outdoor mall that has dancing water fountains, a trolley, and is attached to the Historic Farmers Market (which has some of the best eats anywhere). Oh, and we always spot someone famous. At Christmas it’s even better, they put up a huge tree and have fantastic decorations, even Santa and his reindeer flying overhead. There is always live music and a brass band that roams around and plays Christmas carols.

The D’s at the Grove, Santa flying overhead.

This time we started the day in a new part of LA to us. I read an article in Sunset magazine about Larchmont Boulevard. So we wondered through the little shops, the farmers market and the had brunch at Larchmont Bungalow. One of my favorite shops was The Little Seed. They even sold cute fabric toys from Barefoot. Denali spotted the Barefoot toys right away. When we went to visit my parents in Sri Lanka a few years ago, my mom took us to Barefoot. I fell in love immediately and bought a lot of fun toys, fabric and bags there. We didn’t really buy much, but had fun window shopping. I did get some fantastic Raspberry Balsamic at the farmers market and some very cute bibs at Pickett Fences for Olivia when she starts eating solids.

We finished our morning in Larchmont Village at the Larchmont Bungalow. Lonnie and I shared the Mole Eggs Benedict and the kids had Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding Pancakes (need I say more?).

My handsome, bearded husband (he does this at least once a year)