twenty eleven - a pressed down, shaken together recap

What a year 2011 has been!  I have had this blog for a few years, but posting was hit or miss and more often than not, just random family life musings ... 13 posts in 2009 and only 36 in 2010.  Pretty sad, huh?

But in January, I decided in this post that I would "blog more".  And BOY did I!  Finally, a New Year's resolution that I actually kept!!  A few notable stats (in a list of course! with exclamation points!!):

• Started the year with 7 followers - ending with almost 700!!
• Over 160 posts in 2011 ... that's a 400% increase over 2010!   (Sure sounds more impressive that way, ha ha!)
• I started fin de friday which turned into my {create this friday} posts with a craft and tutorial!
• And started sharing recipes for {taste this tuesday}!  Which led to...
• Co-hosting my first link party - the Month Long Cupcake Party and hosting my own {holiday sweet swap} with almost 300 recipes linked up!
• This little ol' blog has over 600 Facebook friends, too!!
• I guest posted 4 times!  Thanks so much The Letter 4, Under the Table and Dreaming, This heArt of mine and Happily Mother After!
• I even hosted giveaways!  ME!!  Giving stuff away just because of this blog!!
• And in just 2011 alone, there were 2096 comments - you like me, you really like me!!
• Ummm, and over 200,000 page views really knocked my socks off!  (Or would have if I wore them; I hate socks!)

So, what did you, my lovely and oh-so-fantastic readers, find the most clickable this year?  Glad you asked!  Another list!!

• Mini Pumpkin Pie Croissants
• Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
• Pumpkin Layer Dessert
• Mini Chocolate Nutella Croissants
• Perpetual Family Photo Calendar
• {holiday sweet swap} link party
• Upcycled Altoid Tins
• Family Fingerprint Specimen Art
• Happy Fall & Boo-to-You Shabby Tag Banners
• Bottle Cap & Button Wreath

Who has sent the most traffic my way?  I love to track this and have found some fun new blogs just by browsing my stats.  Anyway, the fine fine folks at these fine fine places get a gold star!!

• Pinterest - the feeling is mutual ... mu-wah!!
• Google - always a hoot!
• Inlinkz - linky party central!
• Facebook
• The Graphics Fairy
• Skip to my Lou
• Tatertots & Jello
• Funky Junk Interiors
• Under the Table and Dreaming

Hopefully, you come for the crafts, food and witty commentary (ha!) but some folks have stumbled their way here by searching for some funny stuff this year:

• Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell
• horse skeleton
• mad croissants
• blurry toast
• lick plum
• paper mushrooms
• how to trap a porcupine
• cookies med fluff

The above stuff truly amazes me, makes me almost unbearably happy, makes me want to bring even better tasty and crafty stuff your way and sets the bar pretty high.  But you know what?  If 2012 is anything like 2011 was, we are in for a phenomenal year! 

So, with a penchant for cranky pastry and, apparently, a hoofed skeleton in my closet, let's get this wild ride called 2012 started!!
Keri

random acts of christmas kindness - #5

First of all, Merry Christmas!  Hope you are celebrating this wonderful time with loved ones and truly enjoying the spirit of the season!

As you may know, The Bugs and I have been doing random acts of Christmas kindness (R.A.C.K.) this week:

• We bought lunch for a man at McDonald's
• Surprised our mail carrier with homemade goodies
• Took more homemade goodies to our local fire station
• Made breakfast for our garbage collectors

Our final R.A.C.K. is a very personal one.  You see, The Saint's brother is homeless.  For more reasons than I know or even understand.  He comes in and out of our lives without rhyme or reason.  When we don't hear from him for a long stretch of time, it breaks my heart to see The Saint listen intently to the news, praying that his brother was not the 'nameless vagrant' or 'unknown homeless man' that was victim to a heinous crime.  

Lately, The Saint's brother has been keeping in touch and when he asked to spend some time with his nephews for Christmas, how could we say no?  But what he didn't know, is that The Saint and I ran out to and stuffed a duffel bag to the gills with toiletries, microwaveable pasta cups, granola bars, canned fruit and food, peanuts and even some candy canes :).  Our final R.A.C.K. for this year!!

We played some Christmas Eve sand lot baseball with some friends and The Saint's brother, we had a picnic pizza lunch at the park and The Little Bug could hardly wait until it was time to give his uncle the bag.  

As we loaded baseball gear into the back of my car, we gave The Saint's brother some clean clothes and then took out the bag.  "Open it, open it!"  The Bugs yelled.  

Our hearts all smiled to see him look through the bag and finally say, "Whoa, even Dr. Pepper!"  (His favorite!)  

The Saint drove his brother back to where he is staying and our day continued.  But hopefully, on this Christmas morning, The Saint's brother has a full stomach and knows that sometimes love tastes like Dr. Pepper and cinnamon Poptarts!

Merry Christmas, friends!
Keri

random acts of christmas kindness - #4

Yesterday, I think I really saw the impact our random acts of Christmas kindness are having on The Bugs ... and isn't that what this is really about?  Their friend, J, even asked, "Are you going to do this next year?!"  You better believe it!!

This morning we got up super early to listen for the sounds of our garbage truck ... so we could deliver breakfast to them!!  Homemade white chocolate/cranberry/coconut muffins, bananas and orange juice :)

It was a lesson in patience again today as we waited and waited and waited, watched the garbage truck drive by on the other side of the street and waited some more.  I even chanced a shower, hoping they wouldn't come while I was washing my hair! 

But after another mad dash down our driveway with breakfast and camera in hand, this R.A.C.K. was a success!!  Just take a look at the smiles!!

What an awesome feeling to honor these hard working men with a little something to show our appreciation!!  Hope they were hungry :)

You can read about our other random acts of Christmas kindness here:

• #1 McDonald's gift card - so much more than $5
• #2 Special Delivery
• #3 Cookies for Station 62

This has truly been the best Christmas season ever!  My dream is that in 20 years (give or take), I'll get a call from my grandchildren telling me all about their random acts of Christmas kindness!

Gonna carry this feeling with me for a long, long time ...
Keri

random acts of christmas kindness - #3

So, for our 3rd random act of Christmas kindness (or R.A.C.K. for short), we decided to take more of our homemade goodies to our local fire station.  I would have brought a big basket with chili supplies, but I thought it was a tad cliche.  But I'm still thinking about doing it when it gets colder since it is 3 days before Christmas and we're in shorts and flip flops ;)

I was excited that we got to share our R.A.C.K. with two of The Bugs' friends, J & C.  I piled in my car with four boys, a huge tray of cookies and a thank you card, of course, and headed over to station #62!

We rang the doorbell to deliver our cookies and the nice looking fire man ;) that opened the door offered the boys a tour ... ummm, SURE!!  They got to climb inside the fire truck, look in the ambulance and we even got a peek inside at their rooms (since they are on duty in 24 hour shifts) and the day room where they relax.  What the boys thought might not be too exciting, turned out to be "pretty sick" to quote the Bigger Bug :) 

Here are a few pictures of the day:

If you're interested, our other random acts of Christmas kindness are chronicled here:

• #1 McDonald's gift card and the beginning of something good
• #2 Special Delivery for our mail carrier

We were up in the wee hours of the morning today for our R.A.C.K., so stop back by a little later for #4!

Hope you are inspired to do something a little unexpected something for someone in your day ... I'd love to hear about your R.A.C.K., too!

K is for kindness,
and Keri

{create this} cigar box scrapbook

It's the Friday before Christmas ... are you ready?!  I am this close to being done with my shopping - thank goodness!  I need to pick up some last minute stocking stuffers and a few things for The Little Bug and stick a fork in it, I am D-O-N-E!  We are looking forward to Christmas Eve dinner with friends, Christmas morning with the fam and a big Christmas morning breakfast and we'll wrap up Christmas day with a Trinidad meal (hello, pelau, pigeon peas, crab & callou and maybe a little ox tail!) with our neighbors!    

If you need a last minute gift, I have one that is meaningful, inexpensive and pretty easy to put together!  My next-to-last {create this friday} crafty tutorial of the year  ... cigar box scrapbook!

If you don't have a cigar box, you could easily alter a wooden recipe or trinket box!  (I did a quick Google search and there are lots of options to purchase the empty cigar boxes.)  

This project starts with an unfinished wooden cigar box that I sanded, white washed with cream colored acrylic paint and mod podged to seal ...

I added some pretty paper-y stuff on the lid, the front of the box and the inside of the lid using scrapbook embellishments from my paper crafting stash ...



I know you're asking where the scrapbook comes into play ... so feast your eyes on the inside!!

Each month, I'll simply print my pictures and file them behind each pocket.  Then, I'll slip monthly memorabilia in the pocket dividers (ticket stubs, love notes, etc.) and jot down the happenings, notes and important stuff on a lined index card!  It is a quick and easy way to document our family life each month without being overly complicated or time consuming - this is one of my New Year's resolutions!!

I love that this is all made with basic supplies from the office supply store, too!  You'll need 12 of each of the following: 

I made the monthly memorabilia pockets by folding down the flap of a paper tabbed CD folder (a box of 50 was about $4 at our office supply store).  Then, I adhered a pretty piece of paper to hide the folded flap and inked the edges of everything.

I used a Close to my Heart stamp set for the months stamped on the tabs, added month stickers to the corner of each index card and stamped the number of the month (ex. January - 1, July - 7, etc.) on each manila tag.  You could easily hand letter the months or print labels on your computer. 

This would be the perfect, personalized baby shower gift, a wedding gift for newlyweds to document their first year together, a sweet addition to the care package for your college student or a unique teacher gift!

Hope you were inspired to {create this}!

I'm excited for what is to come in 2012 and I hope you'll stick around ... you could even follow by email or Google Friend connect.  We can be friends on Facebook and you can peruse my inspiration boards on Pinterest!!  There is still time left to link your holiday/seasonal sweet treats at my {holiday sweet swap} link party ... need a recipe? find a recipe.  share a recipe.  link a recipe!

So glad to share this holiday season with you!
This post was shared at the parties on my Link page!

random acts of christmas kindness - #2

There are a lot of people around us that go unappreciated.  Lots of folks whose hard work goes largely unnoticed.  Dependable folks that we miss when they're not there.  You know - the grocery baggers, the garbage collectors, the mail carrier, city workers ...  

So for today's random act of christmas kindness (R.A.C.K. for short), The Bugs and I decided that we would surprise our mail carrier with some home made goodies to make his long day a little sweeter!

We had a busy day in the kitchen ... peanut butter fudge, these wacky but strangely delightful  potato chip/peanut/butterscotch/chocolate no bake cookies, sugar cookies and traditional chocolate/oatmeal no bake cookies! 

I added cellophane bags with each type of cookies and a hot chocolate 'kit' (hot cocoa, candy cane & marshmallows) to a Christmas-y air mail bag that looks like an envelope - love it!  I found these awesome naughty/nice North Pole shipping tags (free printable!) and tied one on with bakers twine.  I tucked in our thank you notes and our Special Delivery was ready! 

However, we had to work a bit harder today to make our R.A.C.K. a success ...

At about 3:30pm, we saw our mail man drive down the other side of the street and we all smiled ... looking forward to our sweet ambush.  And then we waited.  And waited.  And waited.  We even checked our mailbox to make sure we didn't miss him, ha ha!

By 4:30pm, The Bugs got bored and headed to our back yard for some kick ball and I kept watch out our front window.  The Saint got home, took a shower ... still no mail man.  I decided to wrap up our cookies for the night, sure that I would hear the mail truck stop and start before he made it to our driveway.

All of a sudden, his little white truck swooped in next to our mail box and we sprang into action!  The Saint hollered at The Bugs in the back yard, I shoved my feet into my flip flops and grabbed my camera.  The Bugs flew in, The Little Bug snagged the bag off our table and we all jogged through the next three yards, arms flailing frantically!! 

Finally, we flagged him down and with chests heaving, wished him Merry Christmas and delivered our treats.  And stopped to catch our breath ... mission accomplished!!

You can find yesterday's random acts of christmas kindness - #1 here :)  If you are inspired to do a few R.A.C.K.s yourself, I'd love to hear from you!  If you have a great idea, I'd love to hear it, too!

Hope you are having a merry week!!
Keri

random acts of christmas kindness - #1

While The Bugs and I were out shopping (and shopping and shopping!) today, I introduced something I really wanted to do with them this week ... random acts of Christmas kindness (R.A.C.K. for short). 

"But what is it, Mom?"  Just a simple gesture or act to brighten someone's day without asking anything in return.  A way to share a little of the time, talent and treasure we have been blessed with and are so thankful for.  Buy lunch for the person behind you in the drive through, take cookies to your local police or fire station, leave a sweet little something in your mail box for your mail carrier ... we brainstormed and plotted and we've planned our acts through Thursday so far!!

I didn't get a photo since our first act was a bit impromptu, but I just wanted to share the mental picture of our R.A.C.K. today since it really touched our hearts:

The back of my SUV and the front seat were littered with bags from all of our shopping.  We pulled into our local McDonald's to grab a $5 gift card to add to a present we purchased and we decided that we would buy another $5 gift card to share with someone else in line.  The Bugs and I hopped out and entered just in front of an older man with a flannel shirt.  He gave The Bigger Bug a good-natured hard time about bringing pizza inside McDonald's (we had just purchased a gift card at a local pizza place for friends) and he laughed as he held the door for us.  As I paid for our two gift cards, I could hear him behind me rummaging in his pockets and counting change in his palm.

The Little Bug snagged the gift card.  In a quiet voice, just a little shy, he handed it to the man and said "Here, we want to buy your lunch."

The white brows lifted above the frames of his glasses and he looked over at us, "Really?"  I couldn't speak so I just nodded. 

"C'mere," he said gruffly and wrapped a flanneled arm around The Little Bug's shoulders.  "Thanks.  Thanks so much."

It felt so much bigger than $5.  So much so that I couldn't talk for a minute.  The Bigger Bug spoke up from the back seat, "That felt so good, Mom.  That was SO cool!" 

And it did.  And it was.  SO cool.  And for the first time this entire holiday month, I felt the true spirit of Christmas.

Maybe you'll join us this week and spread a little Christmas cheer in your neck of the woods!  I'd love to hear about your random acts of Christmas kindness and I still need an idea or two for Friday and Saturday!

Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men,
Keri

{taste this} quick gingerbread sandwich cookies

Happy Tuesday (or close to it)!  It is definitely happy around here ... because I am off work until the 27th - woo hoo!!  I plan to spend some time cleaning, shopping, organizing, crafting and just hanging out with The Bugs and The Saint.  My to-do list is much more impressive than what I'll actually get done, but that is the beauty of time off, isn't it?!

Between laundry, crafting and watching "my" shows on the DVR, I thought I would take a break to share a quick and easy cookie that is perfect for cold days, snuggling under a blanket with a cup of something warm and a Christmas movie!!  This week's {taste this tuesday} recipe is for quick gingerbread sandwich cookies! 

If you have a favorite gingerbread cookie recipe, then by all means use it ... but I used store bought gingerbread cookies from the Immaculate Baking Co. and HOLY SMOKES are they delicious!  (This is how the "quick" came to be in this recipe, ha ha!) 

While your cookies are cooling, whip up the cinnamon sugar cream cheese filling!!  Using an electric hand mixer, in a large mixing bowl combine the following and mix well:

• 1 package softened cream cheese (regular or reduced fat) - 8 oz.
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• dash of nutmeg
• about 1/8 cup milk

Add a dollop of filling between two cooled gingerbread cookies.  Since the filling contains cream cheese and milk, chill these until they are ready to serve.  The refrigeration also helps the filling set up a bit.   This recipe filled 12 sandwich cookies and there might have been just enough left over to schmear on a toasted bagel, too ;)

This spicy cookie with the sweet and slightly tangy filling is perfect for your cookie exchange, holiday party, neighborhood gift giving ... and I'm pretty sure Santa wouldn't mind finding these on Christmas Eve either!

If you need some ideas on packaging homemade goodies like these sandwich cookies for holiday gift giving (using stuff you probably already have around your home!), check out the pinspired pretty packages party I threw for 22 of my best girl friends - part 1 and part 2!!

Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!!

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays!
This post was shared at the parties on my Link page!

{create this} pinspired pretty packages party - part 2

Well, hello there and thanks for stopping by pressed down, shaken together!  It's Friday ... we are heading on into the weekend and it's the perfect time for a party!  And I just happen to have a fun one for you!  For this week's {create this friday} post, I'm sharing the second half of my pinspired pretty packages party!!

Picture this:  22 of my friends, all crammed into my dining room, kitchen and living room at 7 different crafty stations for TONS of creative fun!  (I posted part one of the party here if you missed it with 5 other pinspired stations!)  We had a hot chocolate and coffee bar, tons of delightful nibbles and more than once, "Look!  I'm crafting!!" could be heard!! 

Since some of the stations weren't quite ready to be posted and photographed last week, I wanted to show you the rest of the pretty packages we made ...

These little cardstock boxes are tied up with a chocolate-y satin ribbon with sprigs of snowy branch and red berries held in place by a mini clothespin that I antiqued with a little ink.  The decoration idea was pinspired by this post. 

Each box was filled with candy cane kiss pretzel sandwiches!  I LOVE the red and white stripey kiss between two little windowpane pretzels!  They are seriously  yummy and super easy to make...

Lay out your pretzels in a single layer on a sheet pan.  Place an unwrapped kiss on each one.  Pop them in a 300* oven for about 2 minutes until the kisses are softened but not melted.  Squish another pretzel on top (make sure a little of the softened kiss comes up between a few of the pretzel panes so everything stays together) and call it delicious!!  Let them set up at room temperature for a while and chill them in the fridge if necessary.  These were pinspired by something similar done for Halloween at this post. 

We also made a brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal hand scrub in these fancy little mason jars. 

Here is the recipe I used that was pinspired by the ton-o-recipes for homemade scrubs found on my giftable stuff inspiration board:

Mix together:

• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup oatmeal

Then stir in 1/3 cup light extra virgin olive oil.  Mix well and scoop/pour into your mason jar.  I used twine to tie on a little tag with the instructions ("stir.scrub.rinse.pat dry.") and the ingredients and then trimmed burlap to fit in the lid.

Finally, since this party was all about easy ways to wrap and give homemade gifts, I thought I would share The Little Bug's teachers' gifts with you.  I put together a basket with all sorts of treats for their hands since "hands down" they are best teachers ever!! 

Each "basket" is actually a Littles Organizer from Thirty One Gifts - I love to give gifts in useful containers - that I filled with:

• pretty nail files:  Target Dollar Spot
• brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal hand scrub:  recipe above
• Mary Kay satin hands treatments:  thanks, Mum!
• my favorite hand lotion:  24 hour lotion from Johnson & Johnson
• a fancy pink grapefruit cocoa butter soap that smells divine:  found on sale at HomeGoods - LOVE the striped wrapper

The party was a roaring success and we have all decided it will be an annual event!!  Next year:  bigger venue and more great giftable, pinspired pretty packages!!  Wanna come?

This post was shared at the parties on my Link page!

{holiday sweet swap} sweet features #5

Are you counting down the days until Christmas?  Have you hauled out the holly and decked the halls?  I am not even close to being done with my shopping ... helllloooo procrastination!!!  I'm getting a start tomorrow and the weekend holds potential, but I very well may be one of those crazy folks out on Christmas Eve, ha ha!  But I am so ready to spend 10 days off with The Bugs and do some serious baking for friends, family and a certain jolly old elf ;)

So how about I share some of my favorite recipes recently linked up to the {holiday sweet swap}?  Take a look at these sweet features ...

This Toffee Crunch is the perfect combination of salty and sweet, cereal and peanuts and chocolate (Heath ... need I say more?!) and shared by Crumbs and Chaos.  Don't miss their 12 Days of Christmas Treats!!

And these Chocolate Peanut Butter Haystacks shared by Mommy Made From Scratch look perfect to make with The Bugs ... I love anything made with those crunchy little chow mien noodles!!

Okay, and just because Thanksgiving is over, that doesn't mean pumpkin is out ... once you read Semi Homemade Mom's recipe for Pumpkin Pie Fudge, I think you'll feel the same!  Bring on the pumpkin!!

Thanks everyone for linking up your amazing holiday and seasonal sweets!  Featured folks:  your recipes have been pinned on my Pinterest inspiration boards and shared on my Facebook page!!

Please don't forget that this link party is open until December 31st and I can't wait to see what our final number of recipes will be ... so get baking, stirring, frosting and and linking :)

Have a sweet week!
Keri

a & j creative designs {WINNER}

Thanks again to A & J Creative Designs for sponsoring this giveaway!!  One winner (as decided by random.org) is the lucky recipient of this glass tile necklace and flower ring:

So without further ado ... Santa is coming a little early this year for :

who said:

Congratulations, Heather!  Thanks for following and supporting pressed down, shaken together ... I'll be emailing you shortly to get your mailing address!! 

And a BIG thanks to everyone who entered and stopped by A & J Creative Designs!!

Have a wonderful rest of your week!
Keri

{taste this} cup of everything cookies

Hellllllooooo and happy Tuesday!!  I am getting so excited counting down the days to Christmas and for me, 10 days off with The Bugs!  That means Christmas shopping, our own week of Random Acts of Christmas Kindness and lots of time for baking and crafting!

Speaking of baking, I shared these cookies over at the heArt of mine for the 25 Days of Cookies and wanted to share them here with you, too!

This week's {taste this tuesday} recipe is these "everything but the kitchen sink" type cookies that you can whip up with whatever you might have in your pantry ... cup of everything cookies!

Cup of Everything Cookies

Preheat oven to 350* F.  In a large mixing bowl, cream together:

1 cup each:

• butter, softened/room temperature
• brown sugar, packed
• granulated sugar

Mix in 3 eggs and 1 tablespoon baking soda, then add 1 cup each of the following:

• flour
• peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
• shredded coconut
• chocolate chips
• oats
• raisins
• pecans

Mix well and drop by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.  I didn't grease my baking stones and thanks to the peanut butter, the cookies came off easily when slightly cooled.  Bake these cookies about 12-15 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned but the cookies are still slightly soft.  This recipe yields about 3 dozen cookies.

I love that you can add your own favorites ... like dried cranberries instead of raisins or butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips!  I'm thinking about M&Ms, Heath pieces, Reeses pieces, white chocolate chips, chopped dry roasted peanuts ... the possibilities are pretty much endless!  Since I didn't have raisins or nuts on hand, I omitted them completely and the cookies still came out delicious!

These cup of everything cookies are also the perfect recipe to make with your kiddos since the measurements are easy ... let them concoct their own combination of cup of add-ins for their teachers and friends!

These cookies are crispy at the edges and soft and chewy in the middle and are pretty perfect for Santa or just with a cold glass of milk! 

Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!!

This post was shared at the parties on my Link page!

{create this} pinspired pretty packages party - part 1!!

While I always love Fridays ... I am super excited about this Friday!  I took a 1/2 day off from work and one of my best friends (you know here as the Bakerista!) is up from South FL and I'm pretty sure that as you read this we are baking and laughing and exchanging early Christmas presents :)  And her visit is could not be more perfect timing ... because I am throwing a Pinspired Pretty Packages Party this weekend!!

I wanted to throw a fun party for my girlfriends that didn't require them to sit through a presentation, buy anything or otherwise 'do something' for me.  So, I came up with a fun little shindig to celebrate the season and share some easy and inexpensive ways to create their own pretty packages for this Christmas season.  Oh, okay ... and it's a great excuse for a hot chocolate bar and girl talk!!!

Since I love and adore Pinterest and all its inspirational goodness ... almost all of the projects we are making were inspired by pins or found on Pinterest ... fun, huh?!  So what are we making?    Take a look at the fun projects we are making for this week's {create this}!

{{SPOILER ALERT for any followers who are coming to the party!!}}

These awesomely easy notebook paper gift tags made from index cards:

Pin-spired by this post.

These sweetly scalloped brown paper lunch bags with twine-tied tags:

Pin-spired by this post.

These perfect-for-any-event CD envelope cookie holders:

Pin-spired by this post and this post.

These prettily papered cellophane bags will hold delectable Mint Oreo Truffles (not peppermints, but the truffles aren't made yet!):

Bags pin-spired by this post and truffles found here.

These easy paper clip ribbon bookmarks are the perfect addition for a teacher gift :)

We're making lemon salt and brown sugar oatmeal scrub to take home in little mason jars, too.  Those recipes can be found on my "giftable stuff" Pinterest inspiration board.  AND we're assembling chocolate colored boxes with pretzel candy cane kisses sandwiches inside ... pictures and recipes to come!!

I am beyond exciting to spend a few hours with the girls and hope to share more pictures after I come out of my girl talk, sugar and craft induced coma ;)

Hope you were inspired to {create this} creatively crafty get together for your favorite people!! Eat, drink, craft and be merry!

This post was shared at the parties on my Link page!

{guest posting} at this heArt of mine's 25 Days of Cookies

Happy Wednesday ... another fun guest post to share with you this morning!!

I'd love for you to stop by and check out my guest post over at this heArt of mine for her 25 Days of Cookies series!

I shared an awesome, versatile recipe for Cup of Everything Cookies!  Really ... you can pretty much whip them up with whatever you have in your pantry :)

Stop by, follow along and add another 25 new recipes to your collection ... everyone can use more cookie recipes, right?!

Have a sweet day!
Keri

{a & j creative designs) giveaway!!

The giveaways still aren't done ... and today's giveaway is more jewelry ... told you I was a jewelry girl ;)  A big thank you to A & J Creative Designs for providing an awesome necklace and ring for one lucky winner!!

Amber - the 'A' in A & J Creative Designs - is another one of my "real-life" creative friends and her Etsy store is stuffed full of affordable glass tile and scrabble tile necklaces that would make amazing stocking stuffers, teacher or co-worker gifts or just a little something for you!

Here are a few of her necklaces on my wish list :)

Right now, just in time for your holiday shopping, A & J Creative Designs is offering the following specials:

• Buy 3 pendants, get 1 free!
• Buy 2 pendants, get free shipping! 

One lucky winner will receive this green/blue butterfly glass tile necklace on a 24" silver ball chain and this sweet little green flower ring! 

To enter to win, please leave a separate comment for each of the following:

• Follow pressed down, shaken together via Google Friend connect or via email - 1 entry
• Visit A & J Creative Designs on Etsy and come back and tell me what's on your wish list - 1 entry
• Add A & J Creative Designs as an Etsy favorite - 1 entry
• Spread the word about this giveaway via Twitter, Facebook or your blog - 1 entry

This giveaway is open until 11:59pm EST on Monday, December 12, 2011 and the winner must have a US mailing address.  Winner will be announced Tuesday, December 13.  Good luck and let the giveaway begin!

Have a great week!
Keri

{taste this} vanilla nutmeg cookies with eggnog glaze

I love eggnog.  I mean, I really LOVE eggnog.  Eggnog coffee creamer ... I just pinned eggnog coffee cake on Pinterest ... eggnog scented candles ... and I could drink the stuff by the gallon!  So when we had a holiday party to go to, I just had to make some sort of eggnog-inspired treat.  And boy did I ... using only 6 ingredients!! 

Check out this week's {taste this  recipe ... vanilla nutmeg cookies with eggnog glaze!! 

Though you could definitely use any standard sugar or vanilla cookie recipe, mine are a twist on cake mix cookies!!  And they are drizzled with a delectable eggnog glaze that I could eat by the spoonful ... delish!!

Vanilla nutmeg cake mix cookies

Mix together:

• 1 vanilla cake mix
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil

This cookie batter is really thick, so you'll definitely get sticky fingers dropping rounded teaspoons of batter on a cookie sheet lightly sprayed with nonstick spray.  But that's okay ... that just means you get to lick your fingers when you're done ;)  Bake at 350* F for about 11 minutes until cookies are very lightly golden brown - just make sure the centers are baked through.

Once the cookies are cooled, drizzle with Eggnog Glaze.

Eggnog Glaze

Mix together:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• About 2-3 tablespoons eggnog - I used eggnog flavored coffee creamer :)

Thin glaze with additional eggnog so it can be easily drizzled over your cookies.  I put the glaze in a Wilton squeeze bottle and swirled it on each cookie.  Add a dash of nutmeg sprinkled on top and enjoy!!

Munch.  Lick fingers.  Repeat, repeat, repeat!

Hope you were inspired to {taste this}!!

Grab a cookie and toast this holiday season!

This post was shared at the parties on my Link page!

Guest Posting at Happily Mother After for 12 Crafty Days of Christmas

Hey there pressed down, shaken together followers, readers and fans ...

I am over at Happily Mother After today sharing an adorable and inexpensive way to package your homemade cookies for holiday gift giving ... CD envelope cookie holders!  I even created a free printable - woo hoo!!

I am kicking off the series, so follow along for more awesome Christmas-y crafts with Lauren's 12 Crafty Days of Christmas!  I can't wait to see what her other guest posters create and share!

Thanks again, Lauren - hope you have a Merry, Merry Christmas!

Keri

shabby apple key to wonderland necklace WINNER

Needless to say, this Shabby Apple giveaway has been the most successful giveaway I have ever hosted - woo hoo!  Thanks for playing along and leaving 69 comments!!  Just to refresh your memory ... here is the absolutely delightful prize:

Soooooo ...  Congratulations commenter #22:

who said ...

Thanks for entering, Lynn!  Please email me at shakentogetherblog {at} gmail {dot} com so I can gather the necessary information. 

And don't forget ... Shabby Apple is offering a 10% discount for my readers, followers and friends!! Head over to http://www.shabbyapple.com and use coupon code "shakentogether10off" at checkout! This code expires 12/28/11 so make sure to do your shopping soon!
Happy, happy Monday!
Keri

{holiday sweet swap} sweet features #4 - a double feature!

Can I just say that you guys are seriously awesome?!  We have just hit 200 recipes linked up to the {holiday sweet swap} ... 200 sweet treats, cookies, muffins, cupcakes and more!!  It may be a lofty goal, but I would LOVE to hit 300 recipes by December 31st?  Think we can do it?!

Since it's the weekend and hopefully you have a little more time to browse, shop and bake ... I'm featuring SIX recipes today!!

I am totally obsessed with egg nog ... coffee creamer, cookies, cupcakes.  I was so excited to see the Eggnog Coffee Cake linked up by Mandy's Recipe Box!!

Did you see the Red Velvet Peppermint Crinkle Cookies linked up by the Cookin' Cowgirl?!  These are SO going to made for my Pretty Packages Party!

These Pecan Gingerbread Cookies look delish!  Thanks The Wednesday Baker for linking them up!!  Love the addition of pecans!

Candy's Candy shared by Urban Stylist in the Country looks so fun ... chocolate & butterscotch chips, peanuts and potato chips!!

Bakeaholic Mama linked up her Ginger Molasses Scones with Cinnamon Glaze ... her pictures are gorgeous!  These would be SO awesome for breakfast on a cold day!

One Domestic Darling shared The Best Ever Cream Cheese Cookies.  I love that I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand ... and that could be dangerous!

Your awesome creations have been shared on the pressed down, shaken together Facebook page and pinned to my {holiday sweet swap} featured sweet stuff board on Pinterest!

Thanks so much for joining the party ... hope to see you all again soon!  Have a sweet weekend!
Keri

Hello December {holiday sweet swap} co-hosts!

December is in full swing and if you're like me, your calendar is full with all sorts of holiday get togethers!  That means I need lots of new recipes to awe and amaze my friends ;)  So this month's co-hosts for the {holiday sweet swap} have the perfect month for baking, creating and inspiring!  Let's meet them ...

• Amber at Live, Love, Green
• Jocelyn at Inside Bru Crew Life

 Amber just recently posted her Simple 3-Layer Fudge - YUM!  Anything with layers is certainly impressive!  In her pursuit to be more "green" she highlighted some green crafts in this round-up!  I can't wait to see what is in store for this month!

For those of you who don't know Jocelyn and her delicious blog, your waistbands won't thank you but your taste buds sure will ;)  Her Reeses Popcorn Munch, Chocolate Mint Donuts and Caramel Coconut Bars are just a few of her amazing recipes!!

These ladies will be featuring some of their favorite recipes linked to the party and maybe even share a recipe or two that you do not want to miss!

So, as you bake and frost and sprinkle delicious holiday sweet treats this month, take a few minutes to come link it up at the {holiday sweet swap} and stop by to say "hi!" to my co-hosts!!

Have a sweet rest of your weekend!
Keri

 

{holiday sweet swap} thanks to my November co-hosts!!

Sorry this is a few days late, but this week has been a little crazy.  But I didn't want to miss the opportunity to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to my fantastic {holiday sweet swap} co-hosts for November:

Shelly at A Creative Space


The four sisters at Crumbs and Chaos


What has been happening at A Creative Space?  Shelly is hosting a Shabby Apple giveaway - but hurry!  Open until 12/6/11.  Shelly whipped up this Caramel Apple Euphoria and can you guess what I'm making this weekend?!  Thanks so much for being a great co-host!!

Crumbs and Chaos is also full of yummy inspiration!  They host a link party each week - I linked up to this week's party!  I pinned their Glazed Eggnog Cookies on Pinterest and can't wait to make them!  They have just started their 12 Days of Christmas Treats series and here is their recipe round-up from last year!


Ladies: thanks so much for co-hosting, sharing your recipes and featuring your favorites!!
Keri