Is it over?

Christmas has come and gone - ever so quickly! 

 The stockings were hung and eventually filled and emptied!

A new handcarved Santa was received with open arms -

and is now safely tucked away with the others for next year.

The tree was of course erected and then...

...beautifully decorated and adorned with shiny ornaments and gifts!

 The mantel was strewn with garland and tinsel...

... and delicious gifts arrived from near and far.

It can seem a bit melancholy to have it end...the day after Christmas can

 hang in the air with anticipation unfulfilled...

But looking back over the days before Christmas and the special day itself...

all the preparations and the list making, the shopping and gift wrapping,

 the card sending and food baking....what I cherished most was the time...

the time stamped with love and spent with friends and family...

attending Christmas Eve Candlelight Service where we worshiped together with songs and praises, dropping by a friend's house and surprising him with some Christmas company, sipping a Mimosa while I watched my grown up kids laugh and smile as they played with a silly toy....and seeing the joy on my husband's face while his eyes filled with pride and gratitude to see how his children have become real blessings to us and to the world. 

There is no need to be heavyhearted...

Christmas is not just on December 25th...

Christmas is celebrating the Love that came into the world through the birth of our Savior and being grateful for the sacrifice He made for us - every day can be Christmas - if we remember to show that same love to those around us by spending time with those we love and reaching out to those we don't love so much, surprising someone who needs a little boost, sharing a smile with a stranger and remembering to be grateful for what we have been given today and always!

Merry Christmas Today and Every Day,

Carrie

It's Vanilla Cupcake Day...

Yes - November 10th is "Vanilla Cupcake Day"

That's Naked Vanilla Cupcake Day For Me!

There are so many kinds of cupcakes out there, many very fancy,

but sometimes you just want a plain old vanilla cupcake.

No froo-froo involved. No sprinkles or glitter, no fondant or frosting ...

just a yummy "naked vanilla cupcake".

Celebrate the day and treat yourself to a not-too-sweet one...

with a cup of coffee perhaps. 

Pick one up at your local bakery or make one yourself. 

Here is an easy recipe. 

Makes 1 dozen

1/2 cup plus 1 tbl butter (soft)

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 1/2 tea. baking powder

1 3/4 cups plus 2 tbl. cake flour

1/2 tea salt

3 egg whites

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 tea. pure vanilla extract

• Whip butter with sugar until fluffy. Sift dry ingredients and set aside.
• In another bowl, whip egg whites and gradually add buttermilk. Combine.
• Go back to butter mixture and intermittently add buttermilk with flour, stopping every once in a while to scrape down the sides. Finish by mixing in vanilla. Pour batter into lined muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Stay Cozy

and enjoy your treat...

Carrie

They're Back......

 Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars -  A blondie dotted with white chocolate and cranberries

                                               with a slight hint of orange.

I'm not sure how you feel about these sweet treats - but I always look forward to 

seeing them show up on the deli shelf in Starbucks each holiday season. 

I have seen so many people that have duplicated the recipe and they really look 

delicious and so close to the original bars.

Below is just one recipe to try if you want to try making them at home.

 As for me, I will continue to treat myself here and there throughout the season. 

 It might be too dangerous for me to have an entire pan at home :)

Stay Cozy...

Carrie

Cranberry Bliss Bars

Ingredients

Blondie Layer:

• 3/4 cup 1 1/2 sticks salted butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 6 ounces white baking chocolate , coarsely chopped

Frosting:

• 1 package (8 ounces cream cheese, softened)
• 1 cup powdered sugar , sifted
• 6 ounces white baking chocolate , melted
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries , coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the blondie layer: In a medium bowl, melt butter for one minute in the microwave or until melted; stir in brown sugar. Pour the butter and sugar into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Use an electric mixer to beat in the eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; gradually add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the cranberries and chopped chocolate (batter will be thick).
3. Spread the blondie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Prepare the frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until combined. Gradually add half of the melted white chocolate; beat until blended. Frost brownies. Sprinkle with chopped cranberries. Drizzle with remaining melted white chocolate. Let the frosting set (speed this up by throwing them into the fridge) then cut into bars- square or triangle-shaped. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Before and After....my furniture transformations

It is so fun to find these small furniture pieces and bring new life to them.

It is truly a satisfying feeling to see them transform and then find a new home.

This little beauty took well to its' new gray chippy finish!

Then it traveled to my booth at the Red Door to find a new owner!

Here are some other finished pieces. 

I keep forgetting to take the "before" picture!

Guess I get too excited to get the project started.

 A small childs chair that was in poor shape...was dressed up with

 a light yellow distressed finish.

 This pedestal, once a mess... is now "pretty in pink".

Mint green was a nice change for this previously worn out small table.

Voila...Revamped and Resold!

Stay Cozy,

Carrie

Set up to sell...

It's official!

"Cottage Cozy" is open for business.

Red Door Antiques + Resale

394 NW 1st Street

 Canby, Oregon

Staying Cozy,

 Carrie