One Year is coming up!!

My one year wedding anniversary is coming up next month!
My darling and I will be taking a long weekend to stay in a secluded treehouse about 1.5hrs from us. We want to get away entirely so we will totally unplug and even read real books (how novel!) as opposed to my nook and his iPad.
I am really looking forward to the time to reset and enjoy each other without school, work, etc.

In anticipation of our one year, I started thinking about fun paper related gifts as that is traditionally the symbol of the first wedding anniversary.

I found some really fun ideas!! Whether you and your hunny are interested in adhering to the traditional symbols or not, these are some pretty things to look at.

Paper Anniversary Gift Ideas:

A paper flower bouquet, of course! These perfect peonies by MazziFlowers
come in full bouquets, garlands, and sets of three blooms.

Whether you're thawing out the top layer of your wedding cake or getting a fresh one,
dress it up with a custom paper topper like this one from FirstSnowFall on etsy

May be the oldest idea out there for the Paper Anniversary but it's still valid:
Custom stationary like this from  In Haus Press

Personalized address stamp! You can find them in so many different styles!
I like this one from Typo Boutique

Encourage wanderlust with this scratch off world map!
I've seen it at Urban Outfitters. Also available from Uncommon Goods

Jewelry is always a good romantic gift. This one is paper-ey without being made of actual paper!
You can find it in gold, silver, and rose gold. This one is from MXM Jewelry & Design

For more ideas, check out my Paper Anniversary Pinterest board!

Happy (belated) Galentine's Day!

and Happy New Year!

I'm in school studying Graphic Design and working full time so I do not have a lot of free time. I did, however, make time to design some silly Galentine's Day cards for my Gals!

If you don't watch Parks and Recreation, you may not know what Galentine's Day is. The day before Valentine's Day, the girls get together for breakfast without their men and celebrate each other.

I designed some little cards for the gals in my life using some of the compliments Leslie gives her best friend, Ann, in Parks and Recreation. I also made a PDF for you to print off your own Galentines!

Here is a printable PDF:
If you print "actual size" these will be 2 pages of 3.5"x 5" cards
Click Here

Gluten Free Lebkuchen

Merry Christmas!

My dear friend at Gusto and Grace organized a Christmas Cookie Exchange. Be sure to check out all the other great cookie recipes on the participating blogs (listed below with links)!

Lebkuchen is a German spice cookie. I have never been to Germany so I don't know how authentic this recipe but I do know that it's delicious!

I made two different Lebkuchen recipes last year for a party, one was gluten free and one wasn't. Surprisingly, the gluten free one turned out better than the regular recipe!

This lebkuchen cookie dough is very easy to work with.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons rice flour (2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup)
• 1/4 plus 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
• 1/4 cup sweet rice flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon guar gum or xanthan gum
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 3/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon mace
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons softened butter OR dairy free butter substitute such as coconut oil
• 1 egg
• Extra sweet rice flour to sprinkle on cutting board (I used regular white rice flour)
• For Glaze: 1 cup gluten-free powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon rum OR cream OR coconut milk

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350° F

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper, silicone liners OR lightly grease with oil

Place all dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to thoroughly blend.

In another large mixing bowl add honey, brown sugar,egg and softened butter. Use an electric mixer and blend on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and beat just until combined. Transfer cookie dough onto a large sheet of waxed paper. Shape into a large circle. Wrap completely with waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

To shape cookies, remove dough from refrigerator. Use a knife to divide the dough in half. Liberally flour a cutting board with rice flour. Dust a rolling pin with rice flour and roll the dough about 1/8-inch thick for crisp cookies. If you prefer your cookies a bit thicker and softer, roll to about 1/4-inch thick. Dip your favorite holiday cookie cutters in rice flour and cut out cookies. Use a spatula to transfer cookies to baking sheets.

Bake in preheated oven for about 8-12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned and are firm to the touch. Thinly rolled cookies will bake faster than thicker cookies! Transfer to a cooling rack.

I didn't glaze mine, but if you want to:
whisk powdered sugar and rum or water together until smooth and creamy. If the mixture is too thick, gradually add a few drops of chosen liquid until the consistency is right for drizzling on cooled cookies.

Use a fork or small spoon to drizzle glaze on each cookie. Let cookies sit until the glaze sets.

Enjoy!!

Here’s the cookie schedule:

• December 10- Gusto and Grace
• December 11- Hello Homebody
• December 12- Healthy Isn’t Hard
• December 13- Unconventional Adventures
• December 16- Blaine Arin
• December 17- The Well Styled Child
• December 18- Debbie Allen
• December 19- Thirty One Ministries Blog
• December 20- Enjoying the Journey
• December 23- Simple Pleasures
• December 24- Styled By Ryn 

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me Twelve Drummers Drumming

Time for a fun new lamp with a drum shade!
Etsy has a wide, unique selection spanning price ranges and tastes.
And, of course, you can go to Target, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, or wherever you like to shop for home decor.

$80 from JoDesignCo



$110 from LampShadeDesigns

Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords-a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids-a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,

Six geese-a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four calling birds
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree!

 

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me Eleven Pipers Piping

Time to head to your local record store and pick up an LP of a famous trumpeter!
Or order one online:

This one is $24.18 on Amazon

Get this one for £10.99 from Acid Jazz Records
(You know this trumpeter from his solos on your Mumford and Sons album)

Additionally, hit up your local jazz club for some live local musical stylings!

Ten lords-a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids-a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,

Six geese-a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four calling birds
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me Ten Lords-a-Leaping

Give and watch a Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly movie! Don't forget the movie snacks and a cozy blanket!

You can find a Classic film collection 

like this one with several films in one!

Or, anyone up for a basketball game? Support your local team!

Go pro, College, or local High School or Community League.

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids-a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,

Six geese-a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four calling birds
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree!

On the Ninth Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me Nine Ladies Dancing

Tickets to a dance show. A ballet, hip hop show, whatever your flavor is.

Of course the NYC Ballet gives you extra brownie points!

Eight maids-a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,

Six geese-a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four calling birds
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree!