Cookie Dough Dip!

My friend Julia made this last week. It's amazing! Definitely a keeper recipe for parties!

Cookie Dough Dip
makes about 1 1/2 cups
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 8-ounce block of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup heath bar toffee crumbs

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Set aside to cool, and whisk in vanilla.
Cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar for 60 seconds. With mixer on low speed, add in brown sugar and butter mixture. Mix until combined. Add the chocolate chips and toffee. Stir.
Garnish with additional chopped chocolate. Serves with fruit, cookies, crackers, pretzels or a spoon.

Recipe is a modified version of How Sweet It Is.

Devonshire Cream

My Mother has had this recipe for years. Traditionarly Devonshire Cream is a clotted cream made in Devon Cornwall and Somerset England. Here is my mom's take on an easy Devonshire Cream without all the hastle of boiling, cooking and skimming milk!

Mom's Version of Devonshire Cream:

Cream Cheese (softened) 8 ounces

1/2 Cup Confectioners Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Whipping Cream

In a bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Then gradually beat in whipping cream to achieve a buttery consitency. Chill for 2 hours.

I made this for Lyssa's tea party the other day. Everyone always loves it!

I like to put a dollop on top of scones or plain cakes.

Thanks Mom.

Girl's Tea Party

Every year, my friend Lyssa hosts a girl's tea party.

We all bring a little something to share...cookies, scones, tea cakes, jam etc.

Lyssa brings out her collection of beautiful vintage spoons and her Grandmother's tea set from India!

New Years Party Ideas

Here are some fun ideas for your New Years parties!

Mini Moet & Chandon Champagne Bottles On Ice

So cute!

I see these in Pascal Épicerie when I get my macarons! Their little Le Rosé Impérial Moet & Chandon Champagne bottles are adorable!

Here's a tempting note...

Le Rosé Impérial is deliciously fruity, lively and seductive. It's color is beautiful, old-rose pink with hints of copper. Peppery on the nose, with dominant notes of wild strawberry and redcurrant, it is soft, fresh and supple in the mouth with an excellent finish.

Oooooh Happy New Year!

Rocco LED Fairy Lights

Lovely jeweled lights to sparkle-up your evening.

PAUL & JOE Wiviana Sequined Mini Dress

For the bold with gold look...

Appetizer

Sparkling sugared cranberries atop brie cheese and cranberry chutney.

Nails

Nude and Glitter

Pumps

Alejandro Ingelmo "Sophia" Platform Pumps

Hidden Wine Cellar

Need some wine? Yeah...let me just get a bottle from my secret wine cellar.

Whaaaaaat!!!?

This is insane! And I'll take it! Please install in my home...

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Elf On A Shelf

My nanny family has a cute Christmas tradition...Elf on a Shelf.

I like to find new ideas for the elf to do each night! These are some fun ideas that I want to do when I have kiddies of my own.

 A Note From The North Pole:

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? Elf on a Shelf -- A very special Elf that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list.

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses its magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa.

Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot! 

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Neighborhood Christmas Party

Yay for neighborhood parties!

The Millers have the best Christmas parties; complete with hot chocolate & peppermint stir-sticks, crackling fires and egg nog!

My kind of table...chocolates, brownies, cream puffs and fudge!

Thankful for my neighbors.