Holidays

Easy Santa Claus Cupcakes

December 12, 2011
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These Santa Claus cupcakes are easy enough for your kids to do. I looked at loads of other recipes that were labor intensive, but ultimately developed these based on what I already had in the pantry. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to break out the cake decorating kit this season.

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How To Choose A Christmas Tree

November 28, 2011
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I just read an article that suggested that my method of selecting a Christmas tree is totally wrong. So, I did some research since we’re about to head to the Christmas tree lot. Here is pretty much every tip on the internet I found regarding how to choose a fresh, already cut Christmas tree. The Snap Test If you’re considering a fir tree, take a green needle from the tree and bend it between your [...]

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Orangutan Friendly Sustainable Palm Oil Halloween Candy List

October 30, 2011
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As we are preparing for Halloween, the environmental impact of candy did not cross my mind until I saw a tweet from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. They have put together a guide for consumers who might be concerned about conservation and deforestation due to non-sustainable palm oil production in Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil is a very common ingredient in candy. This list has companies who are committed to using certified sustainable palm oil. Before [...]

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Homemade Conversation Heart Candy for Valentine’s Day

January 25, 2011
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I don’t like the chalky taste of store bought conversation hearts, but still buy them every Valentine’s Day.  I found this super easy recipe online.  Once I mixed the dough, I watched La Jolla Girl do the rest. They taste so much better. Conversation Heart Ingredients: 1 tsp gelatin (1/2 packet) 1 tsp light corn syrup 1/4 cup of water 1 lb of powdered sugar, plus a little extra for dusting Vanilla or almond extract [...]

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New Year’s Eve Sparkling Wine Advice

December 29, 2010
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Since New Year’s Eve is in a few days, you’ll likely be hosting a party, attending a party or drinking sparkling wine somewhere.  Therefore, I want to tell you about two inexpensive, delicious sparkling wines that I recently tasted.  You might be surprised by one item I recommend you bring to accompany the sparkling wine.  Read on. Last month the San Diego Wine Mafia blind tasted 22+ bottles of Sparkling Wine.  These are some of [...]

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New Year’s Eve Party Favor: Send Guests Home With Breakfast

December 27, 2010
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My friend does this every year at her New Year’s Eve party. I hope she’s feeling no pressure to do the same this year by reading this, but I think it’s a fabulous idea. As a party favor, she sends guests home with huge Cinnabon cinnamon buns to eat for breakfast the following morning. Here are a few other ideas depending on your crowd. Food: It doesn’t have to be cinnamon buns. How about a [...]

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