our blog

Scroll For Your Daily Dose

Cream Cheese Christmas Tree

Cream Cheese Christmas Tree

Happy Wednesday everyone!  We are day 21 of The 24 Days Before Christmas and we are talking about making this very Cream Cheese Christmas Tree loaded with Philadelphia cream cheese, 4 cheese Mexican cheese, extra sharp cheddar, and mozzarella cheese!  Add pecans, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, and your favorite crackers and chips and this could literally be a meal in itself!   I chose to serve it with Apricot, Pistachio, and Brandy Artisan Crisps by Rustic Bakery and loved the combination!...

read more
Vanilla Espresso Martini

Vanilla Espresso Martini

Happy Tuesday everyone!  We are day 20 of The 24 Days Before Christmas and this Vanilla Espresso Martini is the best way to kick off the holidays!  Sweet, rich, with hints of honey, vanilla, Kahlua, and coffee  shaken with ice and poured into a gorgeous stag martini glass from TJMaxx!     I found this recipe on Half Baked Harvest and had to make it.  Mr. TAL and I followed the instructions and ingredients.  If you've followed me for a while now, I either create a recipe of my own, follow a...

read more
How To Make A Meat And Cheese Tray Shaped Into A Christmas Tree

How To Make A Meat And Cheese Tray Shaped Into A Christmas Tree

Happy Monday everyone!  We are day 19 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and this Meat And Cheese Christmas Tree Board is so fun!  It’s honestly adorable and so perfect for your holiday table!  I made this using a 17 x 13 inch cheese board from Kirklands (similar HERE) for Mr. TAL and he said it is definitely blog worthy! Mr. TAL and I are having Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at our house.  Life has been crazy.  I’ve been working on an exciting project which I will announce in the new year....

read more
How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree

How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree

Happy Friday everyone!  We are day 16 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and I’m talking about How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree.  Do you search Pinterest looking for inspiration, find something you love, and then think…how did they do that?  After all the searching and looking, I kinda did my own thing.  Mr. TAL and I put up two trees this year and I wanted to use what we had before I went out and bought everything new.  I made a few updates by buying sticks, bulbs, tree skirts, and garland...

read more
What To Think About Before Welcoming A New Kitten Into Your Home

What To Think About Before Welcoming A New Kitten Into Your Home

Happy Thursday everyone!  We are day 15 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and we are talking about Welcoming A New Kitten Into Your Home!  I think this post is so appropriate for this time of year plus I have first hand knowledge.  No, we didn’t adopt a kitten but my sister did!  His name is Finn and he is the most precious, most beautiful, most perfect kitten I have ever met! He was found on the side of the road at less than 4 weeks old by a wonderful person who took him in and kept him...

read more
Cardinal And Swag Christmas Table

Cardinal And Swag Christmas Table

Happy Tuesday everyone!  We are day 13 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and this Cardinal and Swag Christmas Table is all about the swag! I hope it gives you all the Christmas feels and brings you inspiration.  I’ve used this Christmas China for a few years now and still love it!  Thank you Home Goods and TJMaxx for bringing in the most fabulous “Holiday Wishes” pattern by 222 Fifth PTS International.  It took me two years to collect it all and I did it! My previous Christmas tables are here...

read more
Brown Butter Pecan Cookies

Brown Butter Pecan Cookies

Happy Friday everyone!  We are day 9 into our The 24 Days Before Christmas and this Brown Butter Pecan Cookie recipe is perfect for this time of year.  I dipped these Brown Butter Pecan Cookies in melted Nestle milk chocolate morsels, smothered the edges of the cookies in chocolate and topped with a chopped walnut and pecan mixture.  This cookie reminds me of a shortbread cookie, biscotti, and chocolate nut all wrapped up in one delicious, scrumptious, bite!  They are so easy to make!  You...

read more
Deer And Berries Christmas Table

Deer And Berries Christmas Table

Happy Thursday everyone!  It’s day 8 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and I’m so excited to show off my Deer And Berries Christmas Table!  I’m hosting a few parties this month plus Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and this table will be on display for each event.  I hope you enjoy the photos and videos of this table.  Pictures and videos were taken at different times of the day so you will see light fluctuations in the photos.  My Christmas Day table is coming soon! How to find the perfect...

read more
Hershey Kisses Cookies

Hershey Kisses Cookies

Happy Wednesday everyone!  We are day 7 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and these Hershey Kisses Cookies are a perfect recipe for this holiday season!  A delicious and decadent vanilla and half chocolate cookie, coated in sugar, and topped with Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses, an easy, no-chill cookie to make for your loved ones.  This recipe was adapted from an old family recipe and it was great fun making it for you.  I also found a recipe very similar from Lord Byron’s Kitchen blog.  The...

read more
What Is Dog Trancing?

What Is Dog Trancing?

Happy Tuesday everyone!  We are day 6 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and we are talking about What Is Dog Trancing?  I have never heard of this before and was curious as to what it meant.  I don’t think Jake And Maggie have ever done it but I have had dogs who have done this? What Is Dog Trancing?   Experts refer to the manner in which dogs move while experiencing TLS as “hypokinetic gait,” incredibly slow pacing characterized by soft, deliberate footfalls.  Trancing is when a dog will...

read more