Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

A Merry Christmas from our family to yours! This is the time year to enjoy with family and friends.

I wanted to share this recipe with you that I know I will serve this Christmas Eve to my family.

EGGNOG HOT CHOCOLATE

1/2 cup milk
3-1/2 oz (100g) dark chocolate, chopped, or more to taste
2 cups (500 ml) eggnog
Cognac, brandy (optional), to taste
1/2 cup (125 ml) whipping cream, whipped
Ground cinnamon for sprinkling

In medium saucepan over medium-low heat, warm milk and chocolate, stirring until very smooth. Gradually whisk in eggnog. Add cognac or brandy, if using. Cook 5 minutes or until warmed.

Divide among 8 small glasses. Top each serving with whipped cream, of desired. Sprinkle with cinnamon, Makes 8 small servicngs.

More New Hair Accessories

I added more pontail holders to our Etsy site.

Always swing by for new items.

Our accessories make great loot bag items for little girls!

Just a quick note that blanket orders will resume on January 3, 2010. We have removed our custom blankets due to the Christmas holidays.

We are finishing up our current orders for Christmas.

Last Minute Shopping

Christmas delivery cut off for all hair accessories and ready made items is Sunday night December 12, 2010.

Enter code readymadeforxmas to receive your discount.

We just posted new items.

Christmas Eve Dinner

I've been nominated by my family to host Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas Eve is a big deal for us Italians. We eat fish for dinner. That's the problem. I'm not a good cook and to top it off I don't know how to cook fish. Whatever, it's not like I'm not under any stress. We're trying to get all the Christmas blanket orders out in time, try to finish off my Christmas shopping and bake all my cookies. Now I'm nominated as host of this year's Christmas Eve dinner. I know my parents and inlaws are getting older so I guess I have to accept the fact. To make things easier, my family has agreed to pitch in to have our dinner catered in by a local restaurant to make things easier for me. I just have to make the desserts and side dishes which my mom has agreed to help. My guests started off as 7 adults and 3 children it has now grown to 12 adults and 6 children. The more the merrier I guess.

There's an italian saying which goes like this: "Natale con I tuoi; Pasqua conchi vuoi," which means "Christmas with your family; Easter with whomever you wish.

Homemade Granola

This recipe is so simple to make. My husband loves eating it for breakfast. I love sprinkling it into my greek vanilla yorgurt for snack. Here's the recipe:

3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups large unsweetened coconut flakes

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. I combined all ingredients into a bowl. Stir until combined. Spread the mixture onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake stirring every 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown 50-55 minutes. Let cool completely in pan.

I store my granola in a glass jar. You can wrap a raffia bow around the jar and present this delicious granola as a hostess gift! So easy!

Ready Made Items

Come in and take a peek in our Etsy store. We have ready made items that are ready to ship.

Some of our ready made items are on sale so swing by and take a look. Enter code readymadeforxmas and receive 15% off our ready made products~!

Say Your Piece

I found this cute little store on Etsy. When we receive a new baby into our family I always gift the little one with a personalized ornament at Christmas.

Eileen the owner of Say Your Piece was so sweet and patient with me. She created a beautiful ornament for my nephew Luca to celebrate and remember his first Christmas. Vist her cute shop at www.sayyourpiece.etsy.com