Our Christmas {photography}

Christmas Morning

My girls were excited to finally be able to touch and take pictures of their Elf On A Shelf 'Jingles' on Christmas Eve before Santa came to pick him up. Even daddy got into it.

M trying on her new ear muffs...with mittens still attached.

My crazy family

C getting her glam on.

I hope you and your families had a wonderful Christmas full of love and wonderful memories!

Christmas Baking Yummy's

This holiday season I had a mission, to bake! I love to bake when I am inspired so it is usually a spur of the moment thing. But to actually sit down and plan to bake especially during Christmas, I usually fail. I have very fond memories of my Grams creating a huge plate of cookies, candies and fudge every year when I was much younger. The platter would be left out for family and friends to graze on for days. I looked forward to it every year.

Since having my girls, I have wanted to pick up where my Grams left off, and give my girls that wonderful memory and a tasty treat to look forward to every year. Finally this was my year! To make it even better upon hearing my huge ideas of baking, my hubby let me have a big Christmas present early.....

That's right, a mixer and in my favorite color!!! I was floored, I have been drooling over this mixer for years and hoping to find it under the tree every Christmas, finally my time has come! Now, I was totally inspired to bake, nothing could stop me!

This year I made my family's traditional cookie growing up (and my personal favorite)...Russian Teacakes. Butterscotch Haystacks are also a tradition, yumm! Along with those I made Chocolate Chunk Snowballs, Peanut Butter Fudge, Candy Cane Marshmallows, and Rolo Pretzels. I have been wanting to make homemade marshmallows for the past year, so I was kinda wicked impressed with myself and it never would have happened without my mixer!

For C's school party today, I found the cutest cupcakes on Pinterest and fell in love. This idea via With Sprinkles On Top, she has fabulous recipes you must check her out!

C knows I was making them via the pictures online, but she hasn't seen them in person yet so I know she will flip out when I arrive at her classroom today.

Pancake Fun!

This past Saturday I tried something fun for my breakfast. Day after day I am so inspired by the pancake art at Jenni Price Illustrations, but have been kind of intimidated to try. After she was sweet enough to guest post on my blog and shared a tutorial for making a Christmas Angel, I knew I had to try.

I planned on making the Angel on Christmas morning, but thought I needed a trial run before I dive in. So what else is more festive than a Christmas tree complete with a star and presents! 

C's first present and bow pancake art!

After several attempts I finally did it! The creating is easier than I thought, it was adjusting the heat to keep the pancakes from browning that was the hardest part. After about 4 (tasty) browned pancakes, we finally had the right recipe.

This was a special surprise pancake I made for my hubby. 

C decide after trying her hand at the above mentioned present and bow she wanted to create 100% by herself.

She was very proud of herself as you can tell.

Thank you Jenni for the fun inspiration! This is easily going to become a weekend family fun event and we can not wait to try the Angel on Christmas morning!

Christmas Cheer {photography}

We saw Santa while picking out our Christmas Tree. The girls were very surprised!

This shot is this years Christmas card.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!

Have a Meowy Christmas!

Kikkoman Review, Recipe & Military Commissary Giveaway

In my house growing up, Kikkoman was a name we all knew. My step father was very particular when it came to certain brands and Kikkoman for our soy sauce was the only brand ever bought. So of course when I was living on my own, it was all I used. Even if another brand was on sale, I would stick with Kikkoman because I knew I would never be disappointed with the flavor or quality.

My most favorite Kikkoman product besides soy sauce is the Panko bread crumbs and the Katsu sauce..yumm! I am so excited to see more products from Kikkoman such as the Quick Marinades and the Pearl Soy Milks. 

I keep many Kikkoman products stocked in my house. Right now I have their Katsu sauce, Teriyaki sauce, Panko, Soy Sauce, Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce, and Rice Vinegar either in my fridge or stocked in my pantry. And thanks to Kikkoman they sent me a wonderful box full of product goodies to try to include the new Kara-Age Soy-Ginger coating mix which I can not wait to try!!

One recipe I make often is either chicken katsu or tonkatsu (pork). It is so easy you really do not need a recipe, all you need is Kikkoman Panko bread crumbs, meat and seasoning. So simple and so delicious my girls always ask for seconds.

Tonkatsu Recipe

Ingredients:

6 Boneless Pork Chops, thin sliced

1 cup Kikkoman Panko

1 cup Flour

1 Egg, beaten

Garlic Salt

Black Pepper

Sweet Paprika

Cayenne Pepper

Veggie Oil (enough oil to pan fry but not "deep fry")

Instructions: 

Step 1: In a large fry or saute pan heat oil on med high. 

Step 2: Grab 3 separate plates or bowls. Plate #1 will have the flour, plate #2 the egg and #3 Kikkoman Panko. In bowl #3 I like to add spices to the Panko but it is not necessary. However I like to add the above listed spices. Because Kikkoman Panko is so light you can add any spices for a new delicious flavor.

Step3: Take a pork cutlet and dredge in the flour. Next dip and cover the floured pork in the egg wash. Finally dredge again into the seasoned Panko and straight into the hot oil.

Pan fry on med heat for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown. Flip cutlet and cook until second side is golden brown. Remove to a plate covered with a paper towel. Rest for a minute and serve hot.

Just in time for the holiday Kikkoman is offering 1 Military family follower a $25 Commissary Gift Card!!

How To Enter:

Stop by Kikkoman and tell me what product is your favorite or maybe one you would like to try! Please make sure if you do not have a valid email address on your blog or profile, add it to your comment so I can contact you easily. 

This giveaway runs through the weekend and closes Sunday Dec 18th @ 11:59 (EST) Winner will be picked by random.org and posted on my Facebook page Monday Dec 19th and an email will be sent. Winner has 72 hours to reply to my email otherwise a new winner will be picked.

Disclaimer: I was contacted by a marketing rep for Kikkoman to try some of their products and host a giveaway for the above mentioned commissary gift card. A review was not required. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone and are unbiased.

Candy For A Great Cause!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON SERVES UP A SWEET TREAT
WITH AN EVEN SWEETER STORY

True Blue Candy Cane Company Donates 25 Percent of Profits to the
Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation

True Blue’s Founder a College Student with a Cause

WASHINGTON—This holiday season, True Blue Candy Cane Company offers a new take on an American classic: red, white and blue candy canes for a cause. Twenty-five percent of profits from the candy canes benefit the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, which assists children who have lost a parent in the Marine Corps by allowing them to pursue higher education.

In 2009, Alexander Lynn—just 18 at the time—vowed to help families of U.S. service members after his cousin returned home from a 4 and a half year assignment in the Marine Corps. It was just two weeks before Christmas, and Alexander glanced at his Christmas tree laden with candy canes, and the idea of True Blue Candy Canes dawned on him.

“Candy canes are a cornerstone of American tradition, and what better way to honor that tradition than to give back to the those who defend this country,” said Alexander. “The True Blue Candy Cane is a product that fellow Americans like myself can be proud of.”

Now a college student at the University of Miami in Florida, Alexander not only wants to help service members and their families, but also American workers. “Unlike most candy canes on the market, True Blue Candy Canes are produced and manufactured right here in the U.S. of all-American ingredients.”

Each True Blue Candy Cane is handcrafted by Hammond’s Candies of Denver, and is sure to inspire the holiday spirit with a traditional peppermint flavor. True Blue Candy Canes can be purchased online just in time for the holidays at TrueBlueCandyCanes.com.

Disclaimer - I was contacted by a marketing rep for True Blue to post a press release. I was not given any product or monetary compensation for my post.

Holiday Bento's

Christmas Tree sami with homemade and hand painted (by C) cookie, 

grapes, string cheese snowballs and baby carrots.

Snowflake sami, grape tomatoes, snowflake tangerine 

and gingerbread men marshmallows.

Snowman sami's, grapes, mini goldfish 

and alpha cookies.

(p.s. got the cute idea for the snowman arms from Keeley, stop by and pay her a visit, she makes awesome bentos!)

Snowy Daze {photography}

If you saw my last post you know we were expecting some snow...well here it is! The first snow fall for December. I hope I never get tired of waking up to this beautiful sight. In my area we got about 3-4 inches, just enough to create the anticipated "winter wonderland" feel and for C to go sledding after school.

Before the school bus came, the girls and I walked around our neighborhood to take it all in and found some beautiful sights along the way.

While the temp has dropped the sun still shines so most of the snow has melted away. We anxiously await the next snow fall..hopefully for Christmas!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Frozen Wonderland

We had a lovely hard frost last week. I shot these the same time as my Frozen Wishes captures. Today there is snow! Can't wait to get out and wonder around the neighborhood. 

The Black Shard By Victoria Simcox {review}

Last year I had the wonderful opportunity to review a great book called The Magic Warble, so I was pleasantly surprised when I received an email that the sequel The Black Shard had been published!

"The Black Shard, Victoria Simcox’s fast-paced, intricately woven sequel to The Magic Warble, takes Kristina Kingsly and her schoolmates back to Bernovem … and into a thrilling, often dangerous adventure.

Kristina’s stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it’s all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester’s cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it’s actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can’t refuse.


Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends … and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn’t get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the “Black Shard”, Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it’s in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known."

Kristina returns in this book a few years older yet she is still the same quirky girl I discovered in The Magic Warble. I have just started reading The Black Shard but like The Magic Warble, I am already sucked in. My oldest whom is learning to read this year, is really enjoying the time we are spending together reading about Kristina's new adventure. Full of twists and turns and wonderful suspense, my daughter can not wait for bedtime, and I can not wait to see what happens next!

You can find The Black Shard on Facebook and just in time for Christmas, you can purchase The Magic Warble and/or The Black Shard on Amazon.