Shawna, my winter wonderland fairy

I haven't really talked much about the reception decor and I apologize for that. Its just that it is very hard to explain what we are doing. If you don't feel like reading today: skip thru this whole post and go directly to Shawna Yamamoto Event Design website to look at her portfolio!

When I started looking for a florist I knew I had my work cut out for me. I really didn't want much to do with flowers. I was thinking bare branches and iced branches, candle light, icy lights, a wintery sort of look.



I'm a fairly simple girl when it comes to my style. Oh but when it comes to holidays or my winter wedding I like a little icing. Ruffles, hearts, lace, wedding rings and bells were banned from the decore. No tulle, no bows.

Disclaimer: Its not that I don't like those things for other people! It just wasn't what I had planned.

I had searched the internet for weeks but couldn't find what I wanted. Shawna didn't bat an eye.



When we met her she brought props. Props people! There were crystals and icy branches and gorgeous icy looking garlands and icy blue lights to put at the bottom on cylinders filled with water and cellophane to make it look like crushed ice.



The second time she met with us she brought sketches and we knew we were done for. We ended up with an AMAZING event designer with the look of the entire reception being planned instead of someone providing us with bouquets and centerpieces.



I cannot wait to see the finished product because I'm sure I'll be as surprised as you. The pictures I've put up are a sort of inspiration but not necessarily what Shawna is using. Besides the guest tables and our sweetheart table she will be creating the Escort Card Display and decorating the Candy Buffet!



There will be branches (you know how I love branches) and snow and sparkles and ice and lights and even some phaleanopsis (I totally made up the spelling because I'm too lazy to google) orchids and welllll... I'm really not sure but Shawna could say lets add elephants to the motif and I would completely trust her. I cannot wait to see it!



On top of that she is absolutely adorable. She is this tiny ball of energy and excitement! I've decided she is my Winter Wonderland Fairy as she is turning this Southern California space into a magical wintery space. Thank you Shawna Yamamoto Event Design! You HAVE to check out her portfolio on her site.

Check her blog out and say hello!

Spritz Cookies

These are such a simple pleasure, much like the above cheesy Christmas picture. Its really just a butter cookie and they are perfect with coffee, tea or cocoa. They also add a cheery color to your plate.

You do need a cookie press thing. It comes with lots of different attachments to make different shapes. There are ones for quite a few different holidays in the set. My mom found this set at Michaels, in which you don't really need this post because the recipe is already there on the box.



Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Start with 1 1/2 cups of softened butter.



Cream together with 1 cup of sugar. Here is my trick because I never remember to pull out the butter far enough ahead. When you start to mix and realize the butter is still too cold... pop it into the preheating oven for just a bit. You want the tips to soften. You don't want soup.

In my experience its better to plug your ears and not look around. Just stare at the butter. Otherwise you might see something sparkly.... ooooooh... then next thing you know you have butter soup.



Add in 2 tablespoons of milk. I use 2 % because thats what I have but I don't think it matters.



Add in 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. I am always heavy handed on the vanilla, I puffy heart vanilla. Too much almond extract and you'll end up with almond cookies. Not that those are bad but I already have almond cookies on the menu. With just 1/2 teaspoon you get depth of flavor without thinking almond when you bite into them.

Then you just beat it.



In a separate (but equal) bowl dump in 3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour.



How do ya like them finger guns? What exactly am I doing? I do believe that I'm trying to hide the fact I have chocolate and food coloring under my nails. The nails that keep breaking.

But when ever I see finger guns I think of Tina Fey now. Pew! Pew! (thats my finger gun sound).

Ok. Now thats out of the way. Add 1 teaspoon of baking powder to the flour and mix.



Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and combine.

When it starts to look like this just go ahead and stop using the beaters.



You can combine the rest by hand or with a spoon. This is what you want the dough to look like.

It will be soft. DO NOT CHILL the dough like you would for a sugar cookie. Remember this needs to be squeezed thru a contraption.

At this point you can use it as is or you can color it with food coloring. Orange for Halloween pumpkins, pastel flowers, etc. Mine are going to be red and green because I need to break up the brown on the cookie trays.



Red food coloring goes in half. Um, mom... why do you have gigantic bottles of food coloring with no dropper lid on it? I just can't be trusted with a large bottle of coloring with nothing to control the pouring.



I turned the other half green. Its so unnatural looking. Kinda icky. But its Christmas so its OK. There are a lot of exceptions made at Christmas time.

For example: anything that sparkles so much it may be bedazzled. I love twinkles and sparkles. I mean, you won't see me walking around in a bedazzled vest or anything but Christmas is the only time I pull out glitter decorations. It may be because it takes forever to stop finding glitter all over the place. Are we supposed to be doing something here?



Oh yes, this is what the form looks like. You just twist it on to the bottom of the press.


Do you see that booger on my hand? I just want you to know its not a booger. Its dough. I swear.



Stuff the dough in the press and screw on the handle.



Place the tip on the cookies sheet, squeeze the handle once and voila!


Note: the first time you do this you may need to squeeze twice to get it going and you'll end up with a really fat cookie. This is not acceptable for the cookie tray so you must eat it immediately after baked.

This is the time to top with sprinkles or other pretty edibles. Like if you are patient and you want to add "decorations" to the little trees.


Bake them in the oven for 8 minutes. I realize the box says 10-12 but they get too brown for my liking and the colors look weird. 8 minutes works for me.



See the fatty in there? That was the starter. The round one is from the left over dough in the press.

They will crisp as they cool.



These cookies are quite dangerous because they are so simple in flavor. You can eat 1 chocolate cookie and feel like you indulged. These are so innocent you can really eat 10 before you blink twice. Oh but they are delicious.....just one bite.....no, just one more....

Eat Chow Restaurant

If you'd like to see what kind of diet I am observing in the last few weeks before the wedding head over to OC Metblogs to see my review on Eat Chow.

I have to say that my first Fried Green Tomato experience was fantabulous!

Do you make/ eat fired green tomatoes? How is it prepared?

The Impersonator

I'd like to start off this post by talking about something entirely different. This is very important. I want you to listen carefully.

I miss you. I do. I used to be able to read all your blogs. I used to feel in touch with your life. I haven't forgotten you. I haven't. I'm just so busy that I've been neglecting you. But don't think this will always be a one way street. Oh no, I'll be back. We'll be reunited.

And it will feel so good. (sorry, I totally had to go there)



Back to the impersonator. This is Gingerbread my sister.

She likes to lay in the gutter and make the cars passing by think she is road kill. We just smile and wave to reassure them there is not a dead beagle in the gutter.



Oh Ginger, as a sister I feel I must tell you that this position you are in isn't the most complimenting. You look a bit wide. A bit sausage-like.

I never understood how this dog feels comfortable in the gutter. Inside the house she refuses to even sit on a cold floor. She only sits on carpet, a rug, your lap.



This is Gingerbread impersonating a seal. Do you see it?



You'd think she ran a marathon with as exhausted as she looks. Only.. you know.. maybe she's not the svelte type of marathon runner.



This is Gingerbread interpreting a pig. I swore I saw some just like this at the county fair.



I think I should introduce Ginger to Charlie. It'll make her feel young and energetic again.

Do you have any pets?

Wall Decals by PopWall

Over the years I've spent many, many hours daydreaming about being able to paint walls. Its the curse of living in apartments. Some allow you to paint as long as you re-paint before you leave. Most don't allow you to paint at all.



Ours doesn't allow us to paint at all. We have white walls and white carpet. What possesses an apartment complex to put white carpet in? My apartment in North Hollywood had taupe walls with wood flooring... ah, I miss that place.



Recently in my search thru etsy (who will be providing 90% of my Christmas gifts) I found these!

PopWall creates "inspiring graphic details" and there really isn't a better description. They cover a wide variety of styles from mod to whimsical to vintage to just plain funny.



They are made from a self-adhesive vinyl that will last up to 5 years outside or forever inside. The come in matte (to look paint-like) or glossy vinyl.



PopWall also does custom sizing. AND they have birch decals. Not that I am obsessed with trees but you know, I'm obessessed with trees.



Just think of the possibilites! I've looked into these types of things before and I've seen them in stores but the pricing has always been astronomical. I think these are very reasonably priced.



They could transform any space or piece of furniture.



Now this one totally cracked me up. It makes me cringe and gives me nightmares because of the crane-folding extravaganza for the wedding BUT I also love it.

Don't tell anyone.

Tell me about your walls.... painted? not painted? artwork? decals? a blank canvas?

CD Freebie: Sarah McLachlan Wintersong

Have I told you how much I love Christmas music? I really do.


I respect the right of people to hate it, especially since it starts playing sometime around Halloween. But for me hearing Christmas music makes me giddy, I clap my hands and sigh and sing along and dance in the living room and giggle and so much more ridiculousness.

This year Christmas is starting early! Its a flurry of events around here and we wanted to be prepared. My mom started decorating this weekend. While she has been decorating the house I've been turning it into a disaster area with my baking.

I can't do Christmas baking without Christmas music. I just can't. So, I've broken out the holiday CDs.


This is not your typical Christmas CD but its a very pretty wintery sort of sound.



Anyhow, I have the Sarah McLachlan Wintersong CD. I've put it on my ipod, put it on my mom's ipod and backed up my ipod library and now I can send it on its way.


So listen to the songs here as they are on the CD and if you want it let me know.




I would be more than happy to send it out to the first person to respond with a Yes, please send it to me... or a Absolutley I would love it.... or a I can't wait to give that to my boyfriend because he has been dying for Sarah McLachlan Wintersong...




If its not your cup of tea don't worry about passing it up!

Almond Orange Bites

These Almond Orange Bites are one of my moms absolute favorites. I love almond. I love almond in just about anything. The addition of the orange zest really brightens up this butter cookie.



Today's ingredients: 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg separated, 3 tablespoons almond liquer (or 1 tablespoon almond extract), 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, orange, 1/4 teaspoon salt and sliced almonds.



I'll be honest, I totally forgot to take my butter out to soften so I'm going to pretend that I just like to prep out my ingredients ahead of time.

Separate an egg. The snot, er, white stays in a bowl to be beaten with a teaspoon of water later.



Now all this can be added to the dough at the right time but in today's demonstration we are doing this separately.

Throw the yolk in a bowl with 3 tablespoons of almond liquer (or 1 tablespoon of almond extract) and 2 teaspoons of grated orange peel.



Now you have a poor nekkid orange. You can eat it, or slice it up and put it in a pot with some cloves and a cinnamon stick then simmer in a couple inches of water until everyone in the neighborhood can smell Christmas. This is a good trick for before you have people over.



In another bowl mix 2 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1/8 teaspoon of salt.



When your butter is finally ready (unlike what is shown in the picture) cream your 1 cup of butter with 1 cup of sugar.

Add your egg yolk mixture and mix well. OR add in the yolk, amaretto and zest here.



Add your flour mixture and beat until it just starts to come together. When it looks like the above picture you can just mix it a bit more with a spatula.



Roll out some saran wrap and then make a patty out of half of the dough.



Flatten those patties and wrap them tight. Freeze them for about 25 minutes or until they are firm enough to roll out without sticking.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.



When the dough is firm roll it out on a floured surface. You'll want it about 1/4 inch. Pick out some small cookie cutters (these are 1 1/2 inches) and place them on a buttered cookie sheet a few inches apart. Um, what I meant to say is that you put the cut out dough on the cookie sheet. I don't think putting the cutters on the sheet will do you much good.

Don't put too much butter on those sheets or the cookies will spread too much. Just a nice thin coat. I use a cold stick of butter and just run it along the sheet.



Coat the cut out dough with egg white (1 egg white whisked with one teaspoon of water).

Then place some almond slivers on top. If you use larger cookie cutters you can make fun little designs with the almonds.

OCD Alert: The almonds do not need to be perfect. You can use broken ones, you can jumble them up, you can fan them out.... but do not spend all day placing almonds on cookies.
I just cover up the odd looking ones with the prettier ones.



Bake at 325 for 10 minutes or until a nice golden. If you put in 2 trays at a time, switch them half-way thru.



Proceed to eat 20 of them. I love this with a nice cup of tea. Perfect.