Merry Christmas

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

    and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

    with justice and righteousness

    from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this.

(Isaiah 9: 6-7)

Christmas celebrates one of the most wonderful occasions in the world - the birth of Jesus. It's a joyous time for the young and old alike. Every year I see our consumer-driven society be overtaken by greed and jealousy. Instead of "Merry Christmas" we hear "Happy Holidays" and people even take offense to displays of nativity scenes and the mentioning of Jesus's name. It saddens me to know what kind of world my son is growing up in, but it doesn't change the fact that Christmas is a reason for celebration. Jesus was born on this day to save this world from sin and I'm so glad to know that He's my Savior. 

I hope you take some time this Christmas to reflect on the true meaning of the season. Enjoying the moment, spending time with family, being grateful for everything we have and thanking God for the life we don't deserve is what it's all about. Have a great celebration and wonderful time! 

Merry Christmas!

Traditions

sweater: LOFT
vest: Land's End
hat: Target
cords: LOFT
boots: similar
bag: Ralph Lauren

The days leading up to Christmas are always filled with family. I love the traditions that we have like getting together and baking our favorite cookies. I'm in charge of desserts, as we spend Christmas Eve at my mom's and Christmas Day with my in-laws. This year I'm making something new which is kind of scary and exciting at the same time. I will make sure to post it on Instagram if it comes out the way it's supposed to. 

We are also trying to make our own traditions with Christmas morning breakfast and gift giving, I can't wait to see Jonathan's face when he sees his present because it's pretty stinking cool. 

What are your favorite Christmas traditions?
Also check my last post with some great ideas for last minute gifts (they will never know!)

xo, Anna

Last Minute Gifts That No One Will Know Were Last Minute

Last minute gifts are the most stressful part of Christmas but you can certainly pull it off. Here are a few ideas to those who have been waiting until the last day. Hope you find something special and don't stress too much about it. Pretty wrapping always helps the situation.

SPA CERTIFICATE: Everyone loves a little pampering and no matter if they're getting a full head to toe massage or just a mani/pedi, it will be appreciated. It's something just for that person to enjoy after stressful holiday season.

AMAZON PRIME SUBSCRIPTION: This is probably the best gift you will every give. Amazon Prime offers thousands of items with free two-day delivery to your door. We have it and I absolutely love it! Plus you get movies, music and games. I mean how can you beat that? 

MOVIE TICKETS: Going out to see movies at the theater is getting pretty expensive and those of us with mortgages and school loans can't really afford going out to see the latest flick. Sometimes it's nice to get out on a date or even go to a day time show by yourself. This will be one cool gift.

RESTAURANT CERTIFICATE: I consider these the best gifts of all. They save time when I have no time to cook, or when we want to go out for a special occasion. It's nice to know that we can just go out to dinner without braking the bank and have good time. Treat them to a nice meal and they will remember it for a long time. 

BEAUTY BOX SUBSCRIPTION: This is a great service that will send something new every month based on the characteristics you give them. The 3 month subscription to BirchBox is only $30. Couple of clicks and your friends will have a surprise in mail for three months. You can go all out and buy it for the whole year. 

xo, Anna

It's a Wonderful Life

top: J.Crew (similar)
skirt: vintage (similar)
belt: Target (cheaper version)
tote: Ralph Lauren
heels: Steve Madden (similar)
watch: FOSSIL

Christmas is literally only 3 days away and I couldn't be more excited. I have to say that this holiday season has been the best yet. We baked, sent out cards and watched Christmas movies with family. The thing is that we aren't doing gift exchange this year and it took a load off! There is no last minute running to the store, no wrapping until midnight and certainly no breaking the bank. It's been a peaceful and relaxing Christmas season - which is what I've always wished for. The gift giving is a wonderful idea but should not be the main focus. It's not about the presents but the reason for the season - the birth of Jesus. 

I hope you're enjoying your Christmas and relaxing with the family! 

Lime Tea Cookies {Recipe}

For someone who doesn't think of herself as a very good baker, I sure that a lot of it. I love the baking process and getting better at it by paying close attention to the details. I wanted to make something with the limes that were sitting on my table. I search the Pinterest for perfect cookie recipe which also seemed easy.Two hours later and a cloud of confectioner's sugar later, I had the most delicious lime cookies.  I got the original recipe from  Flavor the Moments (she also has more detailed pictures). The cookies are delicious and I'm glad i tried making them,

INGREDIENTS

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar, plus 2 cups more for rolling

1 egg yolk

1/4 cup fresh key lime juice (regular lime juice is ok)

1 tablespoon key lime zest

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter and 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. On low speed, mix in the egg yolk, lime juice, and zest until incorporated. Add the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. The dough will be very crumbly. Using your hands, knead the dough gently until it comes together and forms a ball. Roll the dough into 1" sized balls and place 1" apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.

Place the baking sheet on a wire rack. While the cookies are still warm, roll them in the reserved 2 cups of powdered sugar, and place back on the baking sheet to cool completely. Sift the remaining powdered sugar over the tops of the cookies. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.