Gingerbread Martinis

**We will be taking a break from Tuesday's Recipe Swap next Tuesday, December 30th with all the craziness of the holidays, but the recipe swap will be back the following week on Tuesday, January 6th.**


One of my favorite festive drinks this time of year is a gingerbread martini, and it tastes just like Christmas.

Ingredients

1 oz. of vodka

1 oz. of Irish Creme

1/2 oz. of Kahlua

1/2 oz. of gingerbread syrup

1/2 scoop of reduced fat vanilla ice cream

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice and shake until combined.

Serve in a martini glass and garnish with a gingerbread cookie

**I usually quadruple the recipe at my annual Christmas party so I can make 4 at a time for my guests**

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Link-up Rules:

1. Follow Emily and myself on GFC and Bloglovin

2. Link up your favorite recipes or food related posts

3. Grab our Recipe Swap button and link back to both of our blogs

4. Be sure to visit other blogs and find new recipes! 

Recipe

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Sequin Card Swap

The happiest time of the year for my mailbox is definitely during the holidays. I love going to get the mail every day and finding Christmas cards from friends and family. So I was excited when B & M announced their Christmas card swap, and signed up right away.

I received this beautiful card from Kristen with the sweetest note inside.

I sent her one of my cards from this year which featured a pic from last year's annual Christmas party, Roxy donning her reindeer antlers, and the ice bar on the Norwegian Epic during our Mediterranean Cruise.

And.... I also received a special surprise today in the mail from the fabulous hosts of the card swap:

*Check out hashtag #2014SequinCardSwap on Instagram to see all the beautiful cards sent to and from bloggers*

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Christmas Countdown Weekend

I keep wondering how time has been flying by so fast, and then I think back to how crazy busy life has been and I can see why it's going by in a blur. I couldn't be more excited for Christmas to be here in just 3 short days and along with that a break from work until after New Years. It's just been one party after another, and I'm looking forward to relaxing, baking, and enjoying all things holidays.

Friday, I went to my first Bar Method class since I took advantage of a new client special. I've been taking Barre3 since the summer, and wanted to try out one of the other franchises and I can say it's definitely different but just as great of a workout.

That evening, I headed over to my neighbor's for her annual wrapping party. It was the perfect girls night filled with good food, wine, laughs, and finishing up the last of our Christmas wrapping.

Saturday was a housewarming party for some friends, and I went armed with their favorite gin that came in a pretty gift set with a classic cocktail glass. I had hoped to go early and leave early so I could get home to bake cookies and watch Christmas movies, but of course that didn't happen... shenanigans ensued. Why does the fireball always have to come out? *sigh*

OOTN for the Housewarming Party

Top - F21 | Pants - Marshalls | Jewelry - Rocksbox

Joining Leeann and Kimberlee for Monday Morning Gossip 

and

Biana for Weekending

and

Lisa and Bella for Weekend Recap

Bar Method Forever 21 OOTD Rocksbox

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Twas the Friday Before Christmas

I can't believe we are down to less than a week before Christmas, it's absolute craziness! All my gifts for my CT loved ones are wrapped and shipped, and I only have a few last minute items to pick up for my FL peeps and I'm going to stick a cork in it. Preferably a champagne cork... oh how I love the sound of a popped champagne cork...

1. I've been absolutely loving Barre3, but I couldn't pass up the new client offer at The Bar Method which is even closer to me at work. So, I'm super excited to try out a new Barre class. Time to get toned!

2. We had our Christmas party at work, and it was filled with good food, drinks, and lots of laughs. Working with people who make you laugh and are good friends is priceless....

3. We may have celebrated Emily's actual birthday at the wedding last weekend, but it was time to celebrate her with a celebratory dinner downtown.

4. Starbucks is always a good idea.. but a Skinny Vanilla Latte in a red cup is an even better idea!

5. Loving my recent finds on Pinterest:

Linking up today with Lauren for High Five on Friday, Rebecca for That Friday Blog Hop, and Amanda for Friday Favorites. Hop on over and join us! Happy Friday!

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Wrapping Party

One of my favorite festive holiday traditions is attending my neighbor's annual wrapping party. The last weekend before Christmas she invites some of us girls over for apps, wine, and present wrapping.

Everyone comes armed with an app and wrapping paper and we enjoy some girl time over good food and wine while wrapping up the last of our Christmas gifts. 

*Scenes from last year's party*

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

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The Perfect Pair

I have worn glasses/contacts since I was a kid, and for the past 15+ years I've been almost exclusively a contacts wearer as I didn't like how I looked in my glasses. Enter Firmoo.. when they reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try out a pair of their glasses I was excited to choose a new pair of frames that I could wear anytime.

I found a great pair that I've enjoyed wearing for reading and watching tv, and I'm sure they'll come in handy on days where I'm too tired to even think about putting contacts in.

I'm so happy that I finally have a great set of frames that look and feel great. If you're looking for a new pair of frames, now is the time because Firmoo is currently offering a buy one-get one free Christmas sale. Happy shopping!

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Red Velvet Cake

Out of all my holiday season recipes, I seem to get the most compliments on my red velvet cupcakes. They look super festive and are ohhhh so good!

Ingredients

1/2 cup of shortening

1 and 1/2 cups of sugar

2 large eggs

2 one oz. bottles of red food coloring

1 tsp. of vanilla

2 and 1/2 cups of sifted cake flour

1/2 tsp. of salt

2 tsp. cocoa

1 cup of buttermilk

1 tbsp. of white vinegar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat shortening at medium speed until fluffy

Gradually add sugar, beating well.

Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition.

Stir in food coloring and vanilla blending well.

Combine flour, salt, and cocoa in another bowl, set aside

Combine buttermilk, vinegar, and baking soda in a 3rd bowl, set aside

Add flour mixture to shortening mixture alternating with buttermilk mixture beginning and ending with flour mixture. 

Beat at a low speed until blended after each addition. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes

Pour batter into 3 greased cake pans or into cupcake cups

Will yield a three layer cake or about 2 dozen cupcakes

Cream Cheese Frosting

One 8 oz. package of cream cheese softened

1/2 cup of butter softened

One 16 oz. package of powdered sugar (I usually use a little less)

1 tsp. of vanilla

Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy

Gradually add powdered sugar beating at a low speed until blended

Add vanilla, beating until blended

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Link-up Rules:

1. Follow Emily and myself on GFC and Bloglovin

2. Link up your favorite recipes or food related posts

3. Grab our Recipe Swap button and link back to both of our blogs

4. Be sure to visit other blogs and find new recipes! 

Continue Reading →

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Amazing wedding weekend which called for a little staycation at a beautiful resort decked out for Christmas.

*View of Downtown Disney from the balcony*

*Gorgeous pool and fire pit area*

I know I'm a true Floridian now because of how shocked I was that there were people swimming in the pool when it was so chilly out. 

*Mirror selfies were necessary before heading down to the wedding*

A fairytale winter wonderland themed wedding to go along with their Disney World engagement last year. All the details were beautiful, down to the princess ballgown the bride wore.

*Shots in honor of the birthday girl*

*Blurry dancing pics and a selfie with the groom*

Such a fun night with great friends at a beautiful resort. Bonus points for the Starbucks in the hotel lobby.... an eggnog latte was perfection the next morning.

Joining Leeann and Kimberlee for Monday Morning Gossip 

and

Biana for Weekending

and

Lisa and Bella for Weekend Recap

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