Red Velvet, White Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

 Are you ready to celebrate Valentines Day? It is one of my FAVORITE holidays! Single or married I have always LOVED this holiday! When I was single I honored how strong I was as an independent woman, I knew who I was as a person, which I think many people forget to do. Being married I enjoy spoiling my husband more than receiving anything from him. I love to show him how much I love and appreciate him! One way is to his stomach! Introducing these yummy cookies! I tweaked the recipe from Life in the Longhouse! They came out SO GOOD!

Let me know what you think!

INGREDIENTS

1. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2. 2 1/2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
3. 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 7 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature
6. 6 Tablespoons vegetable shortening, at room temperature
7. 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
8. 1 large egg
9. 1 large egg yolk
10. 1 teaspoon white vinegar
11. 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12. 1 Tablespoon red food coloring
13. 1 cups white chocolate chips, divided

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Place aside!
2. Add butter, shortening and sugar to the bowl of an electric stand mixer and mix on medium speed until very fluffy, about 3 or so minutes. Add egg, egg yolk and mix until combined. Then add vinegar, vanilla and food coloring. Mix until well blended.
3. Slowly add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in 1/2 cup white chocolate chips. Scoop dough out by the heaping Tablespoonful, and roll into balls. Place balls on a parchment lined baking sheet. Gently press about 4-5 more white chocolate chips into the top of each ball. Being careful not to flatten the balls. This will make the chips stay on top rather then sink inside the cookie!
4. Bake cookies for 6-7 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

You can eat these yummy cookies right away or you can freeze them for up to three months!

Enjoy!

It is as Simple As 1-2-3!

                                          

Valentine's Day Part 3: Printable's By Kelly

Loving my subway art from Printable's by Kelly! She does subway art and cards for all holidays! She has super cute ideas and layouts that can match any household decor!

Introducing Printable's by Kelly:

After graduating from Whittier College with a degree in Studio Art I entered into the field of marketing. For 10 years I had numerous positions in the field of marketing and graphic design with 2 different firms. After having 2 beautiful daughters I now stay home and create unique birthday invitations, birth announcements, thank you cards, holiday and home decor, etc. I also welcome any custom design work!

Check out this super cute subway art she made me for Valentines Day!

Check them out on Facebook for new products and giveaways!

www.facebook.com/printablesbykelly

www.etsy.com/shop/printablesbykelly

Happy Valentines Day!

Enjoy!

It is as Simple as 1-2-3!

I LOVE, LOVE! Valentines Day Decor! Part 2

Ms. Rogers Neighborhood makes the most beautiful handmade banners for home decor , parties, holidays, special occasions and photo props! She makes fabric banners, burlap banners, table runners and subway art canvas for decoration! I am tickled pink to introduce her and her shop to you all!

Introducing Ms. Rogers Neighborhood:

I have only been open since October, but have been pleasantly surprised by the number of orders I have already received (just passed 100!!). Originally, I made fabric bunting banners with "happy birthday" appliquéd on them for my daughters birthdays and got lots of positive feedback from people at the parties. The feedback gave me the confidence to finally open my own Etsy shop. I added a few seasonal items, as well, which quickly become my most popular sellers, and are now the main focus of my shop. I make banners and occasionally table-runners from fabric and burlap, either printing on the burlap or adding appliqué shapes and letters with fabric. I work on my ideas until I come up with an item that is something I want to hang in my own home. I like to envision my items hanging on someones mantle, helping make any holiday special. 

I am a "third generation crafter", learning to sew and craft from my grandmothers and mother. Living in a very, very rural area (pre-internet) meant things weren't easily available, and led to creative solutions. 


She made this super cute Valentines day burlap banner for me!

I love the way it looks above my fireplace!! Such a super cute touch to my Valentines day decor!

Stop by her shop and say hello!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy!

It is as Simple as 1-2-3!

Valentine's Day Celebration 2014

I love, LOVE which means I love Valentine's Day!! A lot of people feel like you need to have a significant other to celebrate the holiday…WRONG! Celebrate yourself! Go on a mini shopping trip, get a pedicure or manicure or just sit down in a quiet room and have a nice cup of tea! This is a holiday to celebrate the love you have for the people in your life and yourself! That being said I am going to share with you some awesome Valentines Day ideas in the next few days! =)


I am going to start by talking about this SUPER cute block from Koobik! She has some of the most adorable blocks for all occasions! The blocks are done from anything from a baptism to a specific holiday! On top of her awesome blocks her gift wrapping is impeccable and super fashionable! 

Introducing Koobik:

Hi, my name is Anya. I own and operate Koobik. I was born and raised in Russia in a loving home filled with homemade toys. My dad and his remarkably rewarding line of work played an enormous role in me becoming a second generation toymaker. 

When I was little, my kindergarten teacher had a collection of old wooden blocks that her son made. I liked them so much, my dad ended up making same blocks for me. When my family made the decision to move to sunny California, these toys were the first belongings that I packed in my suitcase. Twenty years later, I still have my old familiar wooden blocks. Every time that I see them, I travel back in time and in my heart turn into that little girl, who has one of a kind magic blocks that where made just for her.
I recreated my dad’s wooden blocks a couple of years ago because I know that they will last a lifetime and travel the world. More importantly, these blocks can be passed on from one generation onto the next. 

All blocks I make have one thing in common: my attention to detail makes each item special and unique. I want to playfully support children's development, make their lives happier, more exciting, and full of the delight of discovery: to put it simply, to make their world a little more child-friendly.

I am so happy to share my products and with all of you. Welcome to my store! I hope you will fall in love with my designs as I do, over and over every day.

Be Happy,

Anya

Here is the block she made me for Valentines Day! Each side has something sentimental to me and my husband! Till the end is inscribed in our wedding rings, the quote next to it is part of our wedding song, the names are names of "famous couples names" anyone knows me knows I LOVE the movie Gone With the Wind!  Then you have mine and my husbands name and then a beautiful heart shaped stamped on top! I absolutely LOVE it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy!

It is as Simple as 1-2-3!

Valentines Day Fun!!

Valentines day is one of my favorite holidays! Whether I was single or with someone I have always loved it for it has made me realize it isn't just about loving someone and showing your appreciation to them but it is also about loving yourself and appreciating yourself ! Some crafts I have done are the following:

This last idea is my favorite ! Everyday either my husband or I change this board to express to each other why we love one another! It is amazing to notice the little things that each of us notice and appreciate about each other!





I am also in a lunch club at work! Every day one of the members brings in a healthy lunch for you! My day is Thursdays which is perfect because Valentines day falls on a Thursday ( right up my ally!!)! So I am thinking about either making the girls cute sandwiches or a soup or salad with heart shapes carrots! What do you think? Super cute huh?

Here are a few ideas that I am doing for my husband...since Valentines day falls on a Thursday this year I am trying to be as creative as possible! My husband is a cop and tends to work nights so we won't be able to really celebrate until his day off! So I am making the best of it! First I will make a Valentines day path:

This will lead him to his first surprise:

A coupon book is always a good idea especially for a man who likes to sleep in to noon on his days off hehe :)! He will then have to continue the path to his last surprise:

A man bouquet is always a sure winner in this household!! I hope he loves it!


Some activities I have done for my classroom are the following:

The kids LOVED them!


On top of Valentines day March is a very busy month for us too! It will be our 3 year anniversary! I am doing a whole week long celebration! Since I will actually be away the week of our anniversary I am having "items" delivered to our home for him to enjoy while I am gone! Each item comes with a clue, a gift and a picture of me imitating the clue! My friend was awesome enough to come over and take the pictures for me! It was a real hoot! Here are two of the ideas with pictures, clues and gift ideas!

This is day 2 clue and picture ( me with my cute red apron and a spatula!) the gift is a batch of his favorite homemade cookies that I make! : I am sassy and sweet so here is your favorite baked treat!

This is day 5 clue, picture ( I got back into my wedding dress) with gift ( the gift is a frame with our wedding song written on the inside and a picture of us during our first dance as husband and wife.: Everyday I live, try my best to give all I have to you thank the stars above that we share this love me and you... Till the end.

So as you can see I have been super busy with not just Valentines day but our anniversary that is creeping up on us! Enjoy! It is as Simple-As-1-2-3!

Happy Valentines Day Weekend!

Happy Valentines Day bloggers!! Here are the fun activities I did this weekend to celebrate Valentines Day!!

I made heart shaped pancakes for me and my husband for breakfast!


I made red velvet cupcakes! yum!!


And I made this cute craft for the kiddies in the class that I teach in! I received this cute craft off of another blog! Tic Tac Toe with “X’s” and “O’s”!


I hope you all have a happy and loving Valentines Day!!

xo

Enjoy!

If you haven’t already please stop by and check out my facebook page!!