Hey there!  Happy mid-week {if that's even possible}!

Hope your Thanksgiving was amazing and your Christmas is gearing up to be spectacular as well.

I'm actually more ahead of schedule this year than I've ever been.

Looking forward to stalking all of you to see what you're getting up to this season.



Shasta makes the cutest buttons!

Let's get onto the features:

Hellllllooooooo my friends!!

How was your Thanksgiving?!?! 

Ours was lovely.  A nice, quiet dinner with family and friends.  That's what Thanksgiving is all about.

Spent the rest of the weekend getting our Christmas on.

But, this is what we're doing the last day of our long weekend:


We're pooped and not looking forward to Monday. 

Boo.

This year I've decided less is more on the Christmas decorating. 

I finally got a new tree.  First new tree in about 10 years.



And I did some crafting!  I have the blisters to prove it.  Why do I always end up with blistered fingers when I craft??  Oh yes, because it involves the glue gun.  I'm just not glue gun savvy.

I'm thinking this was worth the blisters:


Oh my.

I used the tute from MMS.  Hers is linen, mine is drop cloth. 

But, holy luscious loveliness.   Worth every blister.


The kids love it and are also getting into the spirit, leaving us presents already:


Aw, little sweeties.

Other little bits of Christmas around the house:

Well, hellooooooooo my friends!!

I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to the long holiday weekend.   We are headed to our good friends Glenn & Dawn's house for supper.  Nice that I don't have to cook the whole meal this year, but it will be weird not to have the leftovers.  But, the company makes up for that.

I reached a major milestone tonight.  Most of us hate this one. I'm almost 42 and I'm wearing bifocal contacts.  And I can see.  I'm too young for this, right?!?!  Agree with me ladies... please.  The point is, I can see at all distances.  So, I will break down when I go back for the follow up appt and purchase my first pair of no-line bifocal glasses.  *sigh*  They will be wicked cute, to make up for it!

Enough feeling sorry for myself... let's get onto this weeks party and features!

Hi you guys!!

Thanksgiving is just a few short days away.  I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

Time to get in the kitchen and bake!  {my zen place}

Once again, I'm so excited to be participating in the Get Your Chef On Challenge!


   
Not pictured:

1. salt
2. egg
3. butter

Recipe:   

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 7 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup cold butter
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup half-and-half cream
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk

 In a large bowl, combine the flour, 7 teaspoons sugar, orange peel, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the cranberries, orange juice, cream and egg. Add to flour mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. 


 On a floured surface, gently knead 6-8 times. Pat dough into an 8-in. circle. Cut into 8 wedges. Separate wedges and place on an parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with milk.





 Bake at 400° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

I added the optional glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange juice

Then, to make these even more decadent, I made the optional orange butter:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 to 3 tablespoons orange marmalade

I adore scones.  They are delicious and so versatile.  You can really add any ingredients you like.
Cranberry Orange is probably my favorite though.  You just can't go wrong with this combination.



Look at this yummy goodness.  I love seeing the orange zest.  And the smell of your house when making these?!?!  Well, Scentsy will never be able to match it.

Then, this happens:



All of us at Nutmeg Place, wish you the best Thanksgiving.  Filled with family, friends and memories you will cherish always.

XOXO

Hiya friends!

Having a busy weekend getting ready for Thanksgiving?!?

Only a couple days away, isn't that insane?!?!

It's been rainy and depressing here:


This afternoon, I went out in the rain to snag a present to the house:



I stopped into Target the other day, to get a couple last minute ingredients for the holiday dinner.  Like an idiot, I decided to browse through the Christmas items.  Will I ever learn?!?

I snagged way too much cute stuff.  WAY too much.

These adorable placemats caught my eye:


I had seen somewhere (I wish I could remember where!) last year how someone took these pretty things and turned them into pillows.  I had been browsing through the pillows and couldn't bring myself to pay $16.99 for them.  These, are $3.99!!


Once I got home, I undid the stitching on one side only:


Now, I AM lazy and impatient, but I didn't want these to look silly.  So, I took one of my favorite things, Heat N Bond, and my iron and I secured these open edges: