~Happy New Year!

~Champagne Wishes

Champagne Sugar Eau de Parfum
by Sula
Description: A rich, sweet scent featuring notes of champagne, ginger, sugar and candied fruits.
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2143400&productId=prod2143400&navAction=push&navCount=2214&categoryId=cat100002&title=Champagne%20Sugar%20Eau%20de%20Parfum

Spuma di Sciampagna:
From the oldest family business in Italy comes Spuma di Sciampagna--the Champagne Bath line. Whether you're celebrating a coup at work, a new house, or are looking to add a little decadence to your day, this is truly celebratory line.
http://www.smallflower.com/spuma-di-sciampagna/champagne-bath-bar-4.4-oz-bar.html


Philosophy
Mimosa Lip Shine
There's always a reason to celebrate and now you can celebrate beautiful, soft, smooth lips with Philosophy's latest lip shine. Infused with the scent and flavor of champagne and citrus it moisturizes the lips and leaves them with a sensuous high-gloss, supernatural finish. Why not celebrate every moment with a yummy mimosa-flavored kiss?
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P138241&categoryId=B70

Too Faced
A luxe champagne-infused lipstick.
Indulge yourself in pure decadence with Too Faced's Lip of Luxury line of lipstick. Drenched in shea butter, rich color, and diamond shine, our exclusive velvety formula smoothes out fine lines and creases while it pampers your lips with a fizzy and flavorful moisture surge of pure champagne essences.
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P202641&categoryId=B70
Victoria's Secret Strawberries & Champagne

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=9H-206472&page=1&cgname=OSBAFGARZZZ&rfnbr=2671
Pink Champagne Glimmer Gloss

Your lips will celebrate with this must-have gloss, inspired by pink champagne in its color and yummy fragrance. Our glimmer gloss will give your lips a sexy, pink gleam over your lip color or on its own. Get kissed and stay kissed. Cheers!
http://www.jaquabeauty.com/products/prod_detail.aspx?prod_id=143&fra_id=0

Pookie I Do
Champagne flavored deliciousness...
http://www.pookiestore.com/new_page_2.htm

~Worms in Love

~Champagne Chocolate Mousse

From Every Day with Rachael Ray
December-January 2008

SIX SERVINGS
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 10 min

Ingredients

1 cup chocolate chips
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons Champagne

3 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream, chilled
1 tablespoon raspberry jam

1. In a heatproof bowl, combine the chocolate chips, butter and 2 1/2 tablespoons Champagne. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water and stir until the chocolate is melted; let cool.
2. In another heatproof bowl over simmering water, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons Champagne until thick and warm but not cooked, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the melted chocolate; let cool to room temperature.
3. Using an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form; transfer 1/4 cup to a small bowl and refrigerate. Let the remaining cream stand until it reaches room temperature, then, using a large rubber spatula, fold into the chocolate mixture until smooth. Spoon into glasses and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Stir the raspberry jam into the remaining 1/4 cup whipped cream and top each mousse with some of the raspberry cream.

~Candy Cane Amaryllis

Candy Cane Amaryllis ‘Amaryllis Happiness’ produces curious red and white, trumpet-shaped blooms. Candy Cane amaryllis makes a stunning centerpiece or memorable gift full of holiday cheer ... more
$25.00

http://www.calliopeboutique.com/shopexd.asp?id=746

~CANDY CANE SQUARES

This can be served frozen or refrigerated, making it ideal for a holiday buffet.

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Crust

2 cups (36 wafers) finely crushed chocolate wafer cookies
1/2 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
Chocolate Layer

1 cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup LAND O LAKES™ Heavy Whipping Cream
Filling

1 cup powdered sugar
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups LAND O LAKES™ Heavy Whipping Cream,
whipped
2/3 cup coarsely crushed red or green hard peppermint candies

24 small candy canes, if desired

* Combine all crust ingredients in small bowl. Press onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Set aside.

* Melt chocolate chips and 2/3 cup whipping cream in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth (4 to 5 minutes). Pour over crust. Place in freezer while making filling (at least 10 minutes).

* Combine powdered sugar, cream cheese and peppermint extract in large bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth and creamy. Gently stir in whipped cream and crushed candies. Spread evenly over chocolate layer. Sprinkle with additional crushed candy, if desired. Freeze 4 hours or overnight.

* To serve, cut into squares. Top each square with candy cane, if desired. Serve frozen or refrigerated. Store frozen.

24 servings

TIP: To crush candy, place candy in resealable plastic food bag and pound with a rolling pin or meat mallet, checking often to make sure you don't pulverize the candy.

TIP: To remove the powdery residue from the crushed candy, place crushed candy in a mesh strainer; shake back-and-forth until most of residue is removed.

~The Little Black Book of Style

The Little Black Book of Style
By Nina Garcia

Timeless and universal, this book seeks to remind women that eternal style is internal style, and that everyone has what it takes to discover themselves through the colorful palette that is fashion.

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Black-Book-Style/dp/0061234907

Also that great little black dress is from Posh Girl Vintage. Very pretty girly clothes for the modern woman. http://www.poshgirlvintage.com/

~Shirley Temple Quotes

"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph."
~ Shirley Temple

~Winter Song

The Hotel Cafe Presents...Winter Songs

<
http://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Cafe-Presents-Winter-Songs/dp/B001EYGOGU

~Cuddle with Cinder

Description
Get cozy this winter with these "Cuddle with Cider" sachets. Cotton muslin bags filled with cider mix.

Slight variations are intrinsic to these original designs because they are hand-printed.


Thanks to Black Eiffel for posting these sweet little bags.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=18425927

http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/

~Pink Peony Blogg of the week...Black *Eiffel

Black *Eiffel is a stylish blog that features a little of everything. Cool ads, music and products.Make sure to check it out.

http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/

~Baby it's Cold Outside

Ingredients

1 cup sifted cake or pastry flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
12 egg whites, at room temperature
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
8 ounces peppermint candy canes
2 cups heavy whipping cream
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 325°. Sift together flour and 3/4 cup sugar. Sift again and set aside.

2. In a large bowl or standing mixer, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar and salt. Beat until soft peaks form. Add 3/4 cup sugar and the vanilla and almond extracts. Continue beating until egg whites are firm but not dry.

3. Sift one-third of the flour-sugar mixture onto the egg whites and, with a rubber or silicone spatula, gently fold the mixture into the egg whites. Add remaining flour in two batches, folding gently after each addition. Turn batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan and bake until browned and firm to the touch, 50 to 60 minutes.

4. Invert cake (in pan) on a cooling rack for at least an hour. When completely cool, run a long, thin, sharp knife between cake and pan to loosen, and remove cake.

5. Put candy canes in a large sealable plastic bag. Crush them into small pieces with a meat pounder, rolling pin, or the bottom of a small frying pan. Sift crushed candy with a fine-mesh strainer and reserve candy dust for another use (see Notes). Set crushed candy aside.

6. In a large bowl, beat cream with remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar until soft peaks form. Frost cake with whipped cream using a spatula to form swirls and peaks. Sprinkle frosted cake with crushed candy canes. (To get candy on the sides, hold your hand about 1 in. from the cake and gently toss crushed candy at the sides.) Serve immediately, using a serrated knife to cut slices.

Prep and Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes. Notes: For a shortcut version, start with a store-bought angel food cake. The very fine candy "dust" left over from crushing the candy canes is delicious sprinkled on vanilla ice cream or stirred into hot cocoa. To maximize the dramatic look of this cake, add the crushed candy just before serving; the moisture from the whipped cream makes the peppermint begin to "melt" after half an hour.
For side dish heat up some hot fudge sauce to serve on the side.

*From Sunset magazine

~Candy Cane Sugar Srub

Ingredients
1 cup granulated white sugar
6 candy canes, finely crushed almost into a powder
1/2 cup sweet almond oil (or olive oil)
1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional - used as a preservative)
1 teaspoon cocoa butter (optional)
6 drops peppermint essential oil

*From "Crunchy Chicken" Blog
http://www.thecrunchychicken.com/2008/12/candy-cane-themed-holiday-gift-ideas.html

~Wine Tasting Party Kit

Wine buff or wine bluff, it's up to you. Slip wine bottles into numbered wine bags. After tasting each wine, guests take a guess. Even if no one correctly identifies the wine, engaging conversation is guaranteed. Exclusively from RedEnvelope.

* set includes four wine bags, a faux-suede wine tasting guide, four faux-suede scorecard holders with pencils, five printed menus and forty printed scorecards

http://gifts.redenvelope.com/gifts/winetastingparty-23941731?viewpos=19&trackingpgroup=rcfav&ref=organicgglbrand&catid=rcfav

~Warm Coco Pjs

Curl up with a cup of coco in your coco pjs. Super cute for the cold nights this winter.

http://www.crazydogtshirts.com/servlet/the-1444/christmas-t-dsh-shirts,-christmas-pajamas,/Detail

~Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 tablet Mexican hot chocolate drink mix (from 19-oz package)
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1 egg
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside.
2. In 1-quart saucepan, melt butter and hot chocolate tablet over low heat, stirring constantly.
3. Place cookie mix in large bowl. Stir in melted butter mixture and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in chocolate chips.
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set (do not overbake). Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Store covered at room temperature.

~Truffles at Tiffany's

Just like Audrey Hepburn, Nonnie’s handmade, Southern-Sized Truffles look fabulous in just about anything. This charmer is no exception. Cocktail-blue embossed velvet covers our exclusive vintage-inspired keepsake treasure chest box. Her rim is cinched with a lustrous satin ribbon of the deepest turquoise. For her tiara - a sparkling crystal-studded silver circle. Breakfast…at Tiffany’s? Also available with Nonnie's pound cake: Treasure Chest Cakes Turquoise Crystallized.

http://www.nonniewallers.com/treasureChestTrufflesTurquoise.htm

~Hot Chocolate Martini

SERVES 1
Ingredients

* 3 ounces hot cocoa, homemade preferred of course, cooled
* 1 ounce dark Creme de Cacao
* 1 ounce bailey's irish cream
* 3/4 ounce vanilla vodka
* 3-4 miniature marshmallows or chocolate sprinkles.

Directions

1.

Combine the chocolate, dark creme de cacao, Bailey's and vanilla vodka in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass.
2.

Drop 3 to 4 miniature marshmallows in the glass or chocolate sprinkles.

Pink Peony Blog of the Week...Polka Dot Bride

Great blog for any one planning a wedding or just looking for a stylish blog to feast your eyes on!

http://www.polkadotbride.com/wp/

~Words from Adurey Hepburn

“Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.”

~Audrey Hepburn

~Happy Thanksgiving

~Emily Totes

Emily Tote~ Order in your choice of fabrics or you choose one of the "art bags" with an adorable applique. All of the appliques are hand-cut so no two are exactly alike. Choose from "bird nest", "momma and baby bird", "bird on a wire", "flowers", or "raspberries". Two interior pockets: one gathered the other a divided pocket with room for cell phone etc. Rounded, gathered exterior pocket safely holds essentials. Purse feet. Magnetic closure.

Measures 14"w x 6.5"h x 3"d

http://www.barijonline.com/productEmily.html

~Hot Chocolate Cake

Hot Chocolate Cake~

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for coating
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1/2 cup sugar, plus extra for dusting
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini marshmallows
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 375° F. Generously butter, flour, and sugar eight 6-ounce coffee cups or mugs made of ovenproof stoneware (see tip below). Wipe the rims clean.

Place the 8 tablespoons of butter and the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water and melt, stirring once or twice until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.

Using a handheld mixer, beat the eggs, yolk, vanilla, salt, and 1/2 cup sugar at the highest speed until the volume doubles and the mixture becomes foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir the 3 tablespoons of flour into the chocolate, then gradually add it to the egg mixture, beating on low until it's fully incorporated. Ladle the batter into each cup until it's about 1/2 inch from the rim.

Bake until the cakes puff and begin to crack but the centers are still a bit runny, 13 to 17 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with marshmallows, then return to oven for 2 to 4 minutes, until the marshmallow tops begin to crisp. Remove from oven; let cool about 5 minutes. Sift the cocoa on top.

Tip: You can bake these individual cakes in coffee mugs or teacups, or use eight 6-ounce ramekins. (To determine if your mugs are ovenproof, refer to the packaging or check with the manufacturer.) Alternatively, a single cake can be made in a 10-inch springform pan or pie plate with enough regular-size marshmallows to cover. To do this, increase the initial baking time to 22 to 25 minutes or, if you prefer a more gooey center, to 17 to 20 minutes.


Yield: Makes 8 servings

~Blog of the Week 11/19/2008 Tres Posh Preppy

Ok this weeks winner is Miss Tres Posh Preppy. She always finds the cutest stuff for people to get. Plus her love for great movies & style always come into play in her blog. In fact hers was the first blog I read :)




http://tresposhepreppy.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

~A Rose by any other Name...

The recipient of this gift will have a unique rose named after them and stored at the British Library

An easy-to-use growing guide helps even the most novice gardener to plant their rose successfully. Once the seeds are planted, the recipient follows the simple rose naming instructions, providing us with their details and their chosen rose name.

http://www.jaydeeliving.co.uk/namearose_161.php

~Judge this book by it's cover

Make your own guest sign in book where you & your new hubby grace it's cover. Snapfish makes you a cover model.

http://www.snapfish.com/photobookselect3/booksize=8x8/ordertype=PMB

~My Anemones

Classic Black & White Wedding. With a modern flair.