Sweet Tooth



I just finished reading the January issue of Eating Well.  And when I finished the issue I was hungry for something sweet.  Instead of making the healthier cookie featured in the magazine, I chose to make one that is not so healthy. You see, I have a sweet tooth.  I love cookies, cakes, desserts, and pies, and sometimes the healthy ones just don't satisfy my sweet tooth.  So I though I'd share the recipe of the cookies I made. They're so yummy and easy to make with just a few ingredients.

Pistachio Cookies

1-3 or 4 oz pistachio instant pudding mix

1-15 or 18 oz white cake mix

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

sugar for dusting

Combine the first four ingredients and drop by teaspoonful on to cookie sheet. Lightly sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes.

The edges should be a very light golden brown.

Cool

Optional additions: 1/2 cup coconut, or 1/2 cup nuts.

My husband bought a new camera lens for me. It's a wider aperture than my current one and lets me take photos on cloudy days like today.  I'm anxious to see how it works on my jewelry.

Thanks to all my faithful readers.  I'm looking forward to sharing my goals for 2013, and hearing about yours as well.

I hope you have a Happy New Year!!

Tree Wings Studio Giveaway and Sale

Rebekah is having a sale on her darling handmade beads.  In addition, she's hosting her last giveaway of the year.  Of course I would love to keep this information to myself, but in the spirit of Christmas I am sharing it with you.

The forecast calls for snow here this evening--the first of the season.  This gives me a chance to bring out my snowman plates, goblets, and placemats.  I'm so excited!!!

The plates, designed by Debbie Mumm, were purchased at Target several years ago.  It's difficult to see, but the goblets are etched with a lovely winter scene and rimmed in gold.  They were collectables from Arby's many years ago.  When I or my co-workers were going to Arby's for lunch I would send money with them to pick these up. They're very elegant--surprising for a fast fool place like Arbys.

And now I'm off to finish up the last of my Christmas shopping. 

I pray your week is filled with Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy.

Ornament Swap Blog Hop

Today is the reveal for Sally's Second Annual Ornament Swap Blog Hop.  I enjoyed the first one so much that I just had to sign up for this one as well.  My partner is Bette Brody, who makes jewelry, handcrafted books, mixed media, and she loves paper. 

This is the ornament I received from Bette.  I wish I would have taken a photo of the package because she completely decorated the outside of the mailer.  I'm sure the postal service enjoyed it as much as I did.

The front side

and the back side

Also tucked in with the ornament was this darling handmade glass heart.

I had two designs in mind for this challenge.  I couldn't decide which to send to Bette, so I sent both.  The first one was inspired by one of my favorite Christmas Hymns 'In The Bleak Midwinter', a Christmas carol based on a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti written before 1872.  It was set to music many times, but the most famous setting being composed by Gustav Holst in the early 20th Century, and written for the English Hymnal of 1906.

The second ornament was inspired by my favorite childhood Christmas made for TV story 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' by Dr Seuss in 1966. I love the whimsical characters of Whooville, the wonderful colors, and of course the message it shares of what Christmas is really about.

A big thanks to Sally for hosting this wonderful blog hop!  Please visit the other participants listed below.

Sally Russick

Lesley Watt

 Jenny Davies-Reazor

 

Therese Frank 

Andrew Thorton

Jeanette Blix Ryan

Maryanne Gross

Rebecca Anderson

Melissa Meman

Veralynne Malone

Miranda Ackerley

 Jen Cameron

Sandi Volpe

Susan Kennedy

Kristen Stevens

Shirley Moore 

 Cooky Schock

D. Lynne Bowland 

Tiffany Smith

Patti Vanderbloemen 

Pam Ferrari

Kim Hora

Christine Altmiller

Alice Peterson

Bette Brody

Julie Anne Leggett

Lola Surwillo

Kathleen Lange Klik

Erin Prais Hintz

Mowse Doyle

Kristi Jaro

Good News Bad News Good News and Earrings

First the good news.  I finally got my jewelry in a local shop this week!  I know this might be old hat to some of you, but not for me.  It's a small consignment/antique shop downtown.  The owners really have a knack for display and really it's a darling shop.

From left to right: Life is But a Dream, Cheyenne, City Slicker, Silent Night, Sweet Emotion, Sputnik, Marie Antoinette, Just a Drop,  & Drops of Jupiter

Now for the bad news.  It's a consignment shop.  I'm worried people who shop there are looking for things at a cheap price, and honestly my handmade jewelry has not done too well here in this small rural town.  Also, the owners chose to  keep all my earrings, which is a good thing except that I have a show tonight! So I've been frantically making earrings all week . 

 From left to right: Candy Cane, Holly Berry, Devil in a Red Dress, Red Velvet, Cross My Heart

The good news, I've been making earrings! I was able to knock out 18 earrings, plus I had some already made that just didn't fit in my travel case. It's not the ideal amount for a show, I know, but I'm pretty proud of what I accomplished in just 5 days, especially with everything else I have on my plate.

 From Left to right: Glam, Sea of Galilee, Rum Punch, Going Out

So pretty all piled up.  Now I just need to untangle and tag them all.  Ugh, does anyone else dislike photographing, pricing, and tagging too?????


Thanks for stoppping by, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

P.S. remind me to change my blog header please. :)