Till Then Smile Often

December 1, 2014

A Weekend of Thanks and Lazy

This was the kind of weekend that I have been wanting for a long time. I really got to spend most of Saturday and Sunday just being lazy. I am so thankful for 4 day weekends. I also got to spend time with family and Maddie came up for the holiday so we got together for dinner on Friday Night. I didn’t take any pictures though. Womp womp. We were too busy talking and laughing. I also had major internet issues so I didn’t really open my laptop until Sunday night. So here was a bullet point account of my weekend.

~ I made Buckeye Bars (Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars), a Caramel Apple and pear Pie, and my Butterscotch Toffee Bars for Thanksgiving desserts ~ The girls at Thanksgiving, being so affectionate with each other and my brother. So sweet.

~ I just had to document a good hair day.

~ After getting home from my Aunt’s house I had a slice of pie, a craft cider and watched Love Actually. Getting in the spirit.

~ Snuggles with Seamus, he likes to get really close.

~ Starting Saturday with some peppermint coffee. I did some shopping including a new reindeer that I smashed in the car door. Have no fear I fixed it with some Gorilla Super Glue and some glitter. Good as new.

~ I got some fabric to make a fabric tree garland for my tree. This was shortly after a woman almost ran me over in the parking lot. Sheesh!

~ I started decorating but I wasn’t feeling it so I only did small sections, which I am sure will be re-arrange next weekend.

~ A few more decorations. I spent most of Saturday reading so I had to get something accomplished.

~ I started decorating my dining table for Winter. It is a work in progress.

~ Seamus looking fluffy and adorable.

It was just what I needed and I got a lot of reading done and just relaxed. I also got to write out my Christmas cards. Next weekend I will be in Maine for Christmas by the Sea and I can’t wait. I love getting together with the girls and hopefully finish up my Christmas shopping.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Did you get some relaxing in this weekend?

Linking up with Leeann from Join the Gossip and Biana from B Loved Boston.

November 26, 2014

Christmas Wish List

I am typically not a fan of gift guides because typically they contain things I can not afford. I am a pretty simple person. I am a girl on a budget so I tend to go for items that are unique and cost effective versus high priced. This list is more for people in my family or friends that may not know what to get me for Christmas and hopefully it maybe gives you some ideas for some people in your life too. Win-win.

Mugs: Like this is a surprise. I love mugs and really love just about any mug. Here are a few I wouldn’t mind finding the way to under my tree.

One // Two // Three

Random Items: Because not everything fit into a category. Is that anchor bottle opener not adorable!

Four // Five // Six

Scarves: If you know me you know that scarves are an obsession of mine. I wear them year round. Heavier wool fleece in the Winter, to light silks in the Summer.

Seven – $28.43 // Eight – $9.99 // Nine – $32.39 // Ten – $28.43

Art: Nothing makes a house feel more like a home than with Art that speaks to you. I love bringing the outdoors in whenever I can. Sayings and word art that makes me think or feel is also a favorite of mine, and can really brighten any day.

Eleven // Twelve // Thirteen // Fourteen

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving and gets to spend it with those they love and cherish. Stay warm and safe.

What’s on your wish list?

Would any of these items make it on your list?

November 25, 2014

Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars

For Thanksgiving for the last 10 years or so I have been bringing the dessert options. There are still some pies and such but I tend to make either cookies, and the ever requested buckeye bars. I like to try at least one new recipes and magic bars are one of my favorites so I wanted to come up with my own twist. Based on what I had on hand I decided to try out some toffee and butterscotch.

Ingredients: Cookie Dough of Choice ~ 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips ~ 1 Cup of Toffee Bits ~ 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk ~ 1 cup shredded coconut ~ 1/3 cup Butterscotch

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). I used a homemade cookie dough I had in the freezer but the Toll House rolls are fine too. Place your cookie dough in a 13 x 9 inch glass pan, press down into the pan. Try not to eat any of it.

Warm up the butterscotch in a glass dish in the microwave for 25-30 seconds. Spoon on top of the cookie dough and spread out.

Sprinkle the toffee bits on top, then add the chocolate chips. I only used a 1/2 cup since I used a chocolate chip cookie dough.

Pour the condensed milk and spread to the edges of the pan. Top with the shredded coconut.

Bake until edges are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars, or not because they tasted just as good warm.

5.0 from 2 reviews

Chocolate Toffee Cookie Bars

Ingredients

Cookie Dough of Choice
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 Cup of Toffee Bits
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup shredded coconut
⅓ cup Butterscotch

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Place your cookie dough in a 13 x 9 inch glass pan, press down into the pan.
Warm up the butterscotch in a glass dish in the microwave for 25-30 seconds.
Spoon on top of the cookie dough and spread out.
Sprinkle the toffee bits on top, then add the chocolate chips.
Pour the condensed milk and spread to the edges of the pan.
Top with the shredded coconut.
Bake until edges are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.

November 24, 2014

Weekend Happenings

This weekend went by in such a whirlwind that I barely remember what I did. Excited for the short week though so I get to see my family. I will be baking up a storm on Wednesday night and Maddie is coming on Friday so we will be meeting up. So let’s review the weekend so we can get that much closer to Thanksgiving.

Friday: After a long day of 3 meetings all lasting about 1-1/2 hours each I ended the night with a glass of champagne (it’s wasn’t that great) and caught up on my DVR stockpile. Poor Seamus also got to model his new Christmas headband, he’s such a good sport.

Saturday: I read for a little bit in the morning then got to some cleaning. Thanks to Biana for the inspiration for this way to organize all my Christmas card and wrapping supplies.

I went out to get some shopping done including Marshall’s, A.C. Moore, Lowe’s, the post office and then to the library. Once I got home I had some yard work to finish since this is the last week for curbside pick up. Yes, my town is weird. After 15 bags and a few hours I was finally done. Since we were expecting rain I had to cover them up and my tarp had a rip in it. Good thing I got some Gorilla Glue tape, it’s clear but just as strong as the regular gorilla tape (I received this product free of charge to try out, and I would re-purchase it myself) so I patched the hole and covered everything up.

I spent the rest of the night knitting, watching Elf and texting friends. Probably not the best idea because I kept losing my place.

Sunday: The morning was spent trying to get some final house things finished like cleaning my office and attaching door draft guards to my doors. Then it was finally time for the Holliston Craft Fair. This one is so big they actually have a map for all the vendors. I am not a fan of the cover charge to get in but I met one vendor who blew me away with his talent so it was very worth it. Though they look like photographs, these are actually ink drawings. The detail in them was amazing, I ended up purchasing one of a covered bridge, though the Tree On Rock was a close second. I think this would be a great gift for anyone that loves nature scenes and rural life. I asked for permission to take some pictures to share on here because I was just so impressed, check out his other works here. I also managed to get one Christmas present too from another vendor.

This is the one I purchased, but it doesn’t do it justice one the amount of detail you can see when it’s in front of you:

After the craft fair I went grocery shopping them home for a nap. Once I woke up I finished cleaning my office, putting away laundry and vacuuming. I got up in the show 90 day Fiance while catching up on some blog posts.

Linking up with Leeann from Join the Gossip and Biana from B Loved Boston.

November 21, 2014

Friday Favorites | Christmas Inspiration

Happy Friday! I am looking forward to this weekend. The huge Holliston Craft Fair that I went to last year is this weekend and I am hoping to find a few gifts to finish up my Christmas shopping. I also have quite a few more things to check off my ever ending to-do list. With the recent snow in NY I need to check that my snow blower doesn’t need to be serviced, and rake the last of the leaves. I am still hoping to get some reading and relaxing done too if I can.

Favorite Gift Idea: How cute is this idea. There are no directions for it but I imagine you can just melt some chocolate into some muffin tins and place the wooden spoons in them once half harden then place in the fridge. Add a plastic bag to wrap them, maybe toss some marshmallows in and a cute mug or mason jar and you have hot cocoa gifts.

Favorite Recipe: I made this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and I had it for breakfast all week. It is so good and it’s paleo! Score. I replaced the apple butter with almond butter, the coconut milk with almond milk, and adding in 1/4 cup of finely chopped coconut for moisture. It was AMAZING!! It was so light and fluffy, not at all dense.