Julep January

 The thrill of mail...What's inside?

I got my January Julep Maven box in the mail today. Julep is an American nail polish company. You can sign up to become a "Julep Maven". By doing so you get nail polish by mail every month. This month the theme was neon and hair ties, last month it was glitter and an iPad case. You can choose not to get a delivery if you don't like the colors or don't have the $$. I don't get the Maven Box very often but when I do it's always my favorite mail! I love the color Bethany because it's meant to match the paint of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Last cake of 2012:Texas Sheet Cake

 Texas Sheet Cake
Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and roasted pecans on top.

For New Years Eve I made a Texas Sheet Cake from the Vintage Cakes cookbook. It turned out GREAT! So good and chocolaty! I am not sure why it is called a Texas Sheet cake but they say everything is bigger in Texas. This cake uses a lot of butter, Hershey's cocoa powder and sugar. Instead of icing a cooled cake you poor the warm frosting over the hot cake. This might be the cake I bake for every birthday in 2013...It is that good, people!

Kentucky Bourbon Cake

This weekend we were invited to a pre New Year's Eve party. I got 2 new baking cookbooks for Christmas. For the party I made the Kentucky Bourbon Cake from Vintage Cakes By Julie Richardson.

 The batter is so fluffy

 My sad first attempt at a bunt cake

  I couldn't throw out a whole cake just because it is ugly...I took it to the party any ways. It was so fun to go to a party just the Hubby and me. 

Me and the lovely hostess.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Apron Simplicity 3949

 I finished that sewing project I started in November just in time for Christmas. Since I was making a gift I couldn't share too many details. It's a little bigger than I expected. I used the medium size but I wished I'd made a small. My sister really liked it and that was the BEST part of Christmas. I used Simplicity 3949 pattern. I love the Amy Butler fabric. 

 I had a hard time picking the fabric. I narrowed it down to these 2. I really liked the retro feel of the fabric on the left. However I picked the one on the right because it has purple and green in it and that was my sister's wedding colors.

Christmas Cookies

 Christmas Eve was filled with lots of baking for Santa. I made Sugar cookies so the boys could decorate. I also made Chocolate Chip and Snickerdoodle. 

Christmas Lights

 Hotel Del Coronado

 Looking at Christmas lights with friends

California Adventure

Carsland Christmas

Books

 Last month I had no luck at the used book store by my house. Well my luck has changed. I scored 2 best sellers! I already started reading Gone Girl & it is a real page turner.