Red Velvet Cake Cookies

Whew!  All the gifts have been purchased and wrapped.    What a relief.    Now it is finally time for the baking to begin.   Each Christmas it is a tradition for the family to make gingerbread boys together.

  

This year I also made red velvet cookies and boy are  they yummy!

After making the cookies I decided to dip some of them in melted white chocolate chips and sprinkled nuts on a few.   In my opinion, you can never have too much white chocolate!

After an exhausting but fun day of baking cookies, we ended up with this assortment.

If you would like to try the red velvet cookies, here is the recipe.

Red Velvet Cake Cookies

1 box red velvet cake mix (we prefer Duncan Hines)

1 egg plus 1 egg white

1 stick butter melted

1/2 bag white chocolate chips

1/4 cup sugar (optional)

1 bag white chocolate chips if you want to dip the cookies (optional)

Finely chopped pecans or pistachios (optional)

Mix the cake mix, eggs, butter, 1/2 bag white chocolate chips and 1/4 cup sugar with a spoon and then spoon about 1 teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet or parchment paper.    Bake 8 minutes at 350 degrees or until right before the edges start to brown.    Makes about 36 cookies.

If desired, dip half of cooled cookie into 1 bag melted white chocolate chips and sprinkle with pecans or pistachios.  Let stand on waxed paper until set.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me today!    I hope you will leave me a comment so I will know you have been here.

Merry Christmas!

Marlee

I will be eating cookies partying with the following:

Potpourri Friday @ 2805

Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Susie QT Pies

Thrifty Nativity

With all the hustle and bustle in preparation for the holidays, I haven’t found much time to go thrifting.   In addition, my ever practical hubby reminded me that  I should be buying for others, not for myself.     What a Scrooge!

While running errands on my lunch hour the other day, I saw a thrift shop I hadn’t noticed before.     I bet you can guess what happened.    My car who had not heard what Scrooge my hubby said, automatically turned into the parking lot and what was I to do but go in and take a look.

In keeping with the spirit of the season, I bought this darling little nativity for 75 cents!  I have a small collection of nativity sets, but none of them have muted colors like this one.

The nativity set did not come with a stable so it was sitting all by its lonesome on a shelf in my den.      Inspiration struck as I read Linda’s post on her blog, Coastal Charm, about the cute little stable she found at Target.    It looked similar to a small wooden box I already owned, so voila, I had a stable!    All I did was add some moss and a star sticker.

I love my thrifty nativity.   Not bad for 75 cents!

Merry Christmas my friends!    I wish you the Peace, Love, and Happiness that the true meaning of Christmas brings.

Marlee

I am linking to Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @Coastal Charm. 

Christmas in Fairhope

Even though I am a Mississippi girl, there is a soft spot in my heart for Southern Alabama.     My honey and I always enjoy visiting there.

This past weekend we went Christmas shopping in  Fairhope which is a charming little town.    You park and walk around to all the cute shops and dining establishments.

One of the charms of the town is the landscaping.     No matter what time of year you visit, you are treated to gorgeous scenery.

There are literally flowers on every corner.

The street lamps are adorned simply with lanterns this year.

Santa loves visiting Fairhope also.

While walking down the main street, I couldn’t help but notice these darling gingerbread houses in one of the windows.    The one on the far end was decorated with pretzels so I guess technically it is a pretzel house.

No trip to Fairhope is complete without going by to see Matisse, the resident cat of one of the art galleries in town.   Be sure and click on the pic so you can read the sign in front of Matisse’s fancy bed.

I hope you enjoyed the stroll around Fairhope.     If you are ever in the area, it’s a must see!

Have a merry week,

Marlee

I am linking to Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

I’m Dreaming of an Aqua Christmas

Decorating Christmas trees for my home is very enjoyable to me.  I feel like they reflect who I really am and what I love about life. This year I put up three trees....an angel tree (because I am an angel - LOL); a nature tree that started out a few years ago as a bird themed tree (because I love birds and all of God's creatures) and eventually morphed into a nature tree; and a coastal themed tree (because Southern Alabama is my favorite get-away).

I shared the angel tree and the nature tree with you last year so this year I will focus on the coastal themed tree.

It is my first time to have a coastal tree.   Aqua, silver and white are the colors I chose to work with.   Lots of ornaments were needed because this baby is 9 feet tall.   Mercury glass ornaments, acrylic snowflake ornaments, aqua snowflakes, streaming ribbons and aqua and white ornaments all combined to create the color palate and look I was striving for. 

A view from the loft.

I am especially proud of the way the tree topper turned out.

The finishing touch was the aqua mesh and silver mesh being added at the base of the tree with white lights under all.

May your Christmas be merry and your trees be bright!    I think that is how that saying goes.

Marlee

I am partying at the Christmas tree party with Honey @ 2805 .

My First Banister

I am thrilled to participate in a banister decorating party because this is the first year I have had a banister to decorate!   Since this home is located in coastal Alabama, I wanted to be a little more daring and step outside my comfort zone of traditional red and green so I went with the colors of aqua and silver and am loving the look.

This view is taken from the bottom of the staircase. I wound two garlands of silver ornaments that I purchased at Big Lots on Black Friday (thankfully the customers were well behaved and I wasn’t trampled on or pepper sprayed while in there). When I got home I realized I needed two more garlands for it to run the full length of the banister but I made it work with what I had.  You can click on all my pictures for a closer look.

I also wrapped aqua and white sheer ribbon throughout the garland, inserted a few aqua ornaments for a pop of color, added a few picks and snowflakes, and made a bow for the end of the banister.

This view was taken from the loft.   I love that the banister sparkles during the day and at night.

Thank you for visiting me this holiday season. Please return again.

Marlee

I will be linking to the  banister party @ DIY by Design.

Live Nativity

Each year it is a family tradition of ours to visit the live nativity scene at a church in our neighborhood.    Christmas carols are played in the background and visitors can drive by or park and walk up.    It is a real moving experience and gets me in the true Christmas spirit and reminds me of what Christmas is really about.

Everything was live about the performance but the Baby Jesus.    A doll was used to represent Him.

For the first time ever, they had a camel in the stable. We don’t see a lot of those around here in Mississippi!    It was a real treat for me the younger children.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
~Luke 2:9-12

Merry Christmas!

Marlee

I am linking to Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer.

Joy and Peace

This Christmas I am determined to simplify all aspects of my crazy life to allow myself more time to enjoy the true reason for the season.   I tend to overdo it at times especially with holiday décor so the simplification will begin this season with the mantel.   I used décor I already had so this is not only a simplified mantel but a thrifty one as well.   All pictures can be clicked on for a larger look.

The mantel was covered in a gold mesh fabric and a garland accentuated with pine cones, snowflake lights, and  a gold mesh ribbon throughout.

A wreath I made a few years ago was hung on the mirror behind the mantel.    You can see a peek of my Christmas tree in the mirror.  I added a Santa head (love that long white sparkly beard), white bird and poinsettia picks purchased at Michaels to the undecorated wreath that already had ice crystals and pine cones on it.     I placed an ornament I got on clearance after Christmas last year  in the center but I am not thrilled with it there so I may find another spot for it.

At each end of the mantel I placed sparkly Christmas ornaments…one says Merry Christmas and one says Peace.

In the center of mantel is an ornament that says Joy.   I think I am off to a good start accomplishing my mission of simplifying.

Thank you so much for visiting today.  Please come back soon.    I would love for you to leave a comment and let me know you were here.

Wishing you Joy, Peace and a Merry Christmas!

Marlee

I will be linking to these parties on the dates listed:

The Christmas Blogger Block Party @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Rhoda’s Merry Mantels @ Southern Hospitality

Michelle’s mantel party @ Ten June

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Sunday was pretty much a wash out but that didn’t stop the pelicans from playing around in the river.  If you click on the pic, you might be able to actually see the pelicans.

The picture below didn’t turn out well at all but I still wanted to share with you the partridges in our pear tree.     OK, maybe I am exaggerating a bit.     This is not a pear tree.     It is a cypress tree.    One more confession.    Those aren’t partridges.     They are mourning doves.    Forgive me for getting carried away with the holiday spirit.    Now I can’t get that song out of my head.

Thank you for visiting me, the pelicans, and the partridges doves. 

Have a good week!

Marlee

I am linking to Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer.

For the Feet

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.   Mine was blessed with family, friends and good food!

A couple of weeks ago I passed a yard sale as my honey and I were making a quick trip to Lowes and after a heartfelt plea he reluctantly turned around so I could take a quick look.   Turns out there was lots of “guy stuff” and he ended up buying  more than I did!  Don’t you hate it when that happens?

My purchases included a basket for $1.00 (with one thrown in for free) and this bamboo footstool (which is also sturdy enough to sit on) for the low price of $5.00.

A little two inch foam, some new fabric and a staple gun resulted in this beauty!

 

In closing I will demonstrate the functionality of my new footstool.    I can often be found in this position reading a good book, watching t.v. or relaxing after a day of thrifting.   Life is good!!

Thank you so much for visiting with me today!    I hope you will also visit the lovely Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.

Have a fabulous week!

Marlee

The Arrival of Fall

Fall has finally arrived in Mississippi.    We usually go straight from summer to winter so this is a real treat.   The trees seem to be more colorful this year.    The weatherman on TV attributes it to a dry summer.

I took a stroll through the yard and snapped these pictures of the fabulous fall foliage.  I will let the trees do the talking for me.

Thank you for stopping by.     Have a fabulous fall y’all!

Marlee

I am linking to Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer.