Thursday, December 31, 2015

Final 7 Post!

Hello everyone! December concluded my 7 experiment which you can get all caught up on here. This month was fantastic and was a great conclusion to the project. This last month I decided to do a month of giving. The whole purpose of this project was to get rid of everything excess so this last month I literally decided to get rid of everything I didn't need. I gave away a lot of jewelry, clothes, and everything extra in my room. My main act of giving was to the Compassion Christmas program through their Christmas catalog. I gave money toward the use of textbooks and other helpful sources for others in those countries they serve.
This month showed me how amazing it feels to give rather than always receive. I am so thankful for this project and all your encouraging comments through out these 7 months. I can not wait to see what God has in store for me and my blog in 2016!
Monday, December 21, 2015

Royal Icing Tutorial 101

Happy Monday! I say that sincerely since my exams are over and I got to sleep in today!! This post is part of a link up that Katie and myself are hosting called the #BloggersBakeChristmasCookies collaboration. Many bloggers you may know will be sharing their favorite Christmas cookie recipe today so keep an eye out on Instagram through that hashtag to see their recipes. You may be able to combine their recipes with mine today. I thought I would change it up a bit and share a frosting recipe and method used for cookies rather than just a cookie recipe. Today I will be teaching you how to do royal icing  so you can easily decorate cookies to look adorable for any occasion. These are tricky but with my full proof recipe you will be able to do it in no time!

This frosting method can also work perfectly with my snickerdoodle cookies that were made this weekend. Take which ever cookies recipe and cookie cutters you love and let them cool completely before applying your royal icing!
Ingredients:
2 cups confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons warm water
3 tablespoons meringue powder
Squeeze icing bottles
Directions:
Beat all the ingredients in the mixer for about 7-10 minutes until stiff peaks form.
For the outlined icing use 1 tablespoon less water and maybe add a little more confectioners sugar if needed while beating.
For the flood icing add a bit of water as needed to make it a smidge runnier than the outlined icing. You really have to eye ball it and hope for the best, but it isn't too hard.
Transfer to bowl before adding food coloring. It is best if you use paste rather than food coloring drops. (I used drops hence why mine look pink and not red).
Complete the outline icing first to the cooled cookies and let set for at least 5 minutes.
Then use the squeeze bottle to add the flood icing. Add a dot of the icing to the middle and use a toothpick to spread it to the edges so the icing doesn't flood over the side of the cookie.
They will look very glossy until they dry.
They will still look nice and shiny though once they are complete.
These do best if you let them dry overnight before eating or adding more designs.

This is what they should look like when they are dry! Again, feel free to use any cookie, any colors, any designs, or themes. This is a very versatile tutorial and I will be demonstrating it even more in the future I'm sure! Y'all enjoy these last few days before Christmas :)

Talk to you soon!


xoxo
Saturday, December 19, 2015

The BEST Snickerdoodle Cookies

the best snickerdoodle dough recipe juliana grace

Happy Saturday everyone! Can you believe it is less than a week until Christmas? Today I am sharing a very festive cookie recipe for your holidays. This Snickerdoodle cookie dough can also be used to make other types of cookies. This dough is completely full proof. FINALLY!


the best snickerdoodle cookie recipe juliana grace

the best snickerdoodle christmas cookie dough recipe juliana grace
the best christmas cookie recipe juliana grace

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F
In a medium bowl or electric mixer combine the shortening and white sugar well. Then stir in the eggs.
Once that is complete slowly add the flour, baking soda, vinegar, and salt into the mixer on low speed.
In a separate bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon.
Ball the dough into little balls and then roll in cinnamon mixture.
Flatten the cookie balls onto an unprepared cookie sheet and bake from 8-12 minutes. These don't get brown until they are burnt so keep an eye out and let them cool on a cooling rack as well.


Now enjoy! These are simple and VERY delicious. Have a great weekend. See you on Monday for another great Christmas cookie idea :)


xoxo
Friday, December 18, 2015

Pink and Navy @ the Nutcracker

 

Happy Fashion Friday my loves! Good news, MY EXAMS ARE OVER AND I AM FINALLY ON CHRISTMAS BREAK! Hallelujah! Are y'all now out of school as well?? Todays Fashion Friday is an outfit I wore last night to the NUTCRACKER!

I was so thrilled to go to the Nutcracker with my dad last night at the Dr. Phillips center! You are never to old for a daddy daughter date. Also, how great are jumpsuits? They look fancy, feel like pajamas, win WIN! Have a great Friday!







There will be a lot of Christmas baking here on the blog in the next few days so keep your beautiful eyes peeled my darlings!

xoxo
Wednesday, December 16, 2015

"Brooklyn" Movie Review


Oh my word!!! Do I have news for YOU! Time for one of my favorite types of posts: a MOVIE REVIEW! I went to see Brooklyn with my sister in theaters on Sunday night and three days later I still can't stop thinking about it. Are you ready to hear all the details about this movie? I wont spoil anything I promise :)





Summary:
The movie Brooklyn is based off the novel by Colm Toibin, about an Irish girl from a working family who moves to Brooklyn New York in the 1950's due to lack of opportunities in her home town. She finds work, a place to live, an education, and falls for a dashing and charming Italian fellow who has an effortless charm and hard work ethic. She thinks she has it figured out until she goes back home for a visit and realizes though so much has changed, there is still so much that she loves about Ireland. She mostly just loves how it feels like home. During her visit she is tempted to stay in Ireland with another man she has known for a while. During her visit she sees opportunities start to arise for her and is torn on whether to stay in a place she calls home or go back to Brooklyn, a place that at once terrified her but is now where she has built her an exciting life and has a lovely gentlemen waiting for her.

My Thoughts:
OMG Y'all! The struggle is real because you literally fall for every character in this movie. The girl who plays the main character Eilis has the perfect innocent Irish girl face and you would follow those big eyes anywhere throughout the movie. She has you hooked. Just you wait though until you meet the guys in this story. You can't help but pick favorites but they are both so charming and so different that you can't help but like both. This is a touching movie that gives you insight into the culture of these different areas during this decade. You have to see it!

What You Need To Know:
I would recommend this movie to anyone 14+. There are some scenes that would be considered inappropriate to younger audiences. There is mild language but no talk of sex. There is a really short sex scene shown about mid way through the film however. There is one point when a dead body is shown and a family grieves but it is not too graphic at all. Other than that, the movie shares a positive message and there all the characters serve a positive purpose. There is literally no villain in this movie!

Watch The Trailer:

Well if I haven't gotten the message across already then I don't know what else to do :) This is a fantastic movie so different from anything in the theaters currently. Check it out before it leaves the big screen, you won't regret it!

Comment below or email me what movie you want to see! Talk to you soon!

jgraceblog@gmail.com

xoxo
Sunday, December 13, 2015

Peppermint White Chocolate Fudge Recipe


Peppermint White Chocolate Fudge Recipe
Okay y'all are you ready to hear a story? Well, there was supposed to be two different Christmas cookie recipes on the blog this weekend and instead I am sharing fudge. Yesterday, I tried to make about 60 cookies for both Sweet Saturday and to give to friends in decorative bags. However, after hours of making the dough from scratch and rolling them out, and placing them carefully on the pan, the recipe I was following had incorrect baking times and they came out burnt. 60 cookies. In the trash. So I sat down vented a bit and decided to make gingerbread cookies. You are supposed to make the dough and set overnight, however, I made a few substitutes for ingredients I didn't have which may have stretched the recipe a tad. And what do you know. The batter came out all gooey and smelled nasty today and I couldn't use it.
SO anyways, Momma to the rescue had a recipe for me to bake & share with y'all today. Peppermint White Chocolate Fudge. Yes you heard me correctly. This tastes very sweet and very delicious!!
You better enjoy this one ;)

Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup unsalted butter
pinch of salt
11 ounces white chocolate chips
7 ounces marshmallow cream
1/2 cup peppermint candy cane, chopped
Directions:
In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cream, butter, & salt. Heat over medium high heat and bring to a boil, stirring continuously.
Continue boiling for 5 minutes, while stirring. Remove from heat.
In a large mixing bowl, add marshmallow cream and white chocolate chips.
Pour hot butter mixture into the mixer and stir until smooth.
Fold in chopped candy
Pour into an 8 inch square baking dish, lined with parchment paper
Allow to set in the fridge for 4 hours before cutting and serving.
There you go a really easy recipe to make even in the midst of a baking curse on my house!
P.S: If you would like information on a baking link up that myself and Katie will be hosting soon, then leave your email in the comments. I would love for you to join us!
See you soon!
xoxo
Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Holiday Party Outfit Ideas + Collab!

brown holiday party outfit ideas
 
Happy Friday my loves! I am collaborating with Elly today and we are both sharing a cozy outfit to wear to a Christmas party this season. How cute is her outfit? Give her a click, you wont regret it ;)
 
Anyways, I love a good fur vest. This one is not big and bulky like a lot I see often so it can easily be worn with a chunky sweater and scarf and not look like it is swallowing you up. Any faux fur vest will do though! I love it paired with a camel brown sweater and brown details for a less fancy option.
 
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holiday party outfit ideas blog collab
 
Tonight I am going out to dinner with my family before seeing a Christmas show and driving around looking at lights.... Have I mentioned I love Christmas?? Also, I got a haircut this afternoon and LOVE it. I always love getting my haircut and keeping it healthy.
 Stay tuned for more Christmas treats tomorrow!
 
What are y'all up to this weekend? How do you prepare for the holidays??
 
Comment below or email me with anything, as always! Talk to you very soon!
 
 
xoxo
 

Rockin' Around, The Christmas Tree!

cute tumblr christmas picture blog
 
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cute blog christmas pictures
 
cute blog christmas pictures
 
cute christmas blog photos
 
Gotta love days spent with your bff baking Christmas cookies, sipping hot chocolate, and watching ELF of course. Have a great rest of your week folks and try to get in the Christmas spririt and enjoy yourself despite all the stress, and wrapping, and cooking that needs to be done!
 
Happy Hump Day!
 
Comment below and let me know what you are up to this month!
 
 
xoxo
Monday, December 7, 2015

Events of the Bible: The Wilderness Wanderings ~Weekly Devotion~

Happy Monday! Is there even such a thing? This week is my last full week of school so I am getting pretty excited for Christmas break! What are y'all doing this Christmas break? If you haven't gotten all caught up on our Events of the Bible series, you can do so here. We are looking at a passage where even years ago, Gods people refused to do something he called them to do because of FEAR.  Lets dive into the Wilderness Wanderings this afternoon!

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Gingerbread House Family Competition!

Happy Sunday babes! It went down in the kitchen tonight and my family and I competed in a very serious gingerbread house competition. Vote below which one is your favorite to help settle the debate!





VOTE IN THE COMMENTS WHICH ONE YOU LIKE BEST!

Talk to you soon!


xoxo
Saturday, December 5, 2015

Reindeer Chow!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Sweet Saturday! Boy do I have a BUNCH of good holiday recipes for y'all this month. You don't mind if I post a few Sundays as well right? I thought not ;)
I am typing this while watching Alabama play in the SEC Championship and munching on this delicious snack, a Christmas twist on Puppy Chow aka Muddie Buddies. These are super crunchy and sweet and man are they easy to make.
Can we also just talk about my BAKING SANTA?!?!?! I am in love with him and love having him sitting in my room. I about had a spell when I saw him at the store the other day. Gotta love Michaels. This snack goes great with some milk or eggnog like I chose to do today.
This is also a great treat to make in bulk to put in decorative boxes to give to friends as gifts as well. Enjoy y'all!
Wednesday, December 2, 2015

7 Project: Acts of Kindness

Good evening my loves! How are y'all doing? If you haven't already, read about my 7 project here. This is month 6 and during the month of November, also the month of thanksgiving, I wanted to do acts of kindness. Again, I am not going to go far into detail about what all I did but I simply showed some love to others. Some of the people I knew, some of them I didn't, some of them will never know it was me doing it. Doing random acts of kindness this month really made me feel more happy and continent. Not everything I did cost money or was really elaborate but simply kind. I encourage you to do the same.
 
This last month of 7 I am going to be focusing on giving. Right here at Christmas time I easily become consumed with want, Want, WANT and have decided to focus on giving to others instead. I have already done some giving away this month and I feel blessed by it already. I will be going into full detail about that at the end of December but wanted to encourage you to join me this last month. I feel like I have truly benefitted from this project and cant wait to see what God does this last month. Stay around to see what happens :)
 
 Speaking of giving there is currently a GIVEAWAY happening on my Instagram (here)  right now. Head on over to check it out and enter to win.
 
Talk to you soon!
 
 
xoxo