Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies Recipe

A delicious cookie full of the bright flavors of orange and a hint of mint. Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies delight and tickle your taste buds. #Cookies #Recipe

 

Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies Recipe

A deliciously aromatic soft-style cookie

 

This easy to make cookie is a must add to your recipe box. Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies are perfect all year round. Citrus with a hint of mint is deliciously paired with ricotta cheese for a soft-style cookie. My family gobbles them up!

Are you looking for a new and refreshing recipe for a cookie exchange party this coming holiday season? Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies are a tasty option. Plus, the aromas from baking these cookies makes your home smell fantastic!

Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies - an aromatic and flavorful cookie your family will love! Get the recipe! #cookies #recipe #dessert #holiday Click To Tweet

Let’s get baking!

Ingredients:

  • 2 Cups – Granulated Sugar
  • 2 – 3 – fresh Oranges (for 6 Tablespoons Juice and 3 – 4 Tablespoons Zest)
  • Fresh Mint (for 1 – 2 Tablespoons finely chopped)
  • 2-1/2 Cups – All-purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon – Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon – Salt
  • 2 – large Eggs
  • 1 Stick – Butter (softened)
  • 15 Ounces (one container) – Ricotta Cheese
  • 1-1/2 Cups – Powdered Sugar.

 

Directions:

for the cookies…

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
  • Line baking sheets with Parchment Paper.
  • Zest the rinds of 2-3 Oranges (enough to get 3 – 4 tablespoons of zest).
  • Finely Chop Mint (enough to get 1 – 2 tablespoons).
  • In a medium bowl, pour 2-Cups Granulated Sugar.
  • Add 2 – 3 Tablespoons Orange Zest and all of the Chopped Mint to sugar, and mix well with your fingertips.

  • Set aside and stir occasionally with fingertips. Allow sugar to become very fragrant.
  • Whisk together 2 1/2 Cups Flour, 1 teaspoon Baking Powder, and 1 teaspoon Salt in a medium bowl.
  • In a large bowl (or stand mixer), combine 1 stick Butter and the prepared Orange Sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
  • Add 2 Eggs, one at a time, mixing slightly after each addition.
  • Mix in 15 ounces (1 container) Ricotta Cheese and 3 Tablespoons Orange Juice until incorporated.
  • Stir in dry ingredients a little at a time, until just combined.
  • Spoon dough onto prepared baking sheets (about 1 1/2 – 2 Tablespoons for each cookie).
  • Bake for 13 – 15 minutes, until just slightly turning golden at the edges.
  • Remove from the oven, let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes.
  • Transfer to wire racks (placed on top of the wax paper), and allow to cool completely.
  • Prepare the Orange Glaze/Icing.

for the Glaze/Icing…

  • Sift 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar into a small to medium bowl.
  • Add 2 – 3 Tablespoons Orange Juice, and 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest.
  • Mix well.
  • Adjust Powdered Sugar for the thickness of the glaze/icing.

 

A Printable Recipe for you.

5 from 1 reviews
Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies Recipe
 
A delicious cookie full of the bright flavors of orange and a hint of mint. Orange Mint Ricotta Cookies delight and tickle your taste buds.
from:
Type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 40 cookies
Ingredients:
  • 2 Cups - Granulated Sugar
  • 2 - 3 - fresh Oranges (for 6 Tablespoons Juice and 3 - 4 Tablespoons Zest)
  • Fresh Mint (for 1 - 2 Tablespoons finely chopped)
  • 2-1/2 Cups - All-purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon - Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon - Salt
  • 2 - large Eggs
  • 1 Stick - Butter (softened)
  • 15 Ounces (one container) - Ricotta Cheese
  • 1-1/2 Cups - Powdered Sugar.
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
  2. Line baking sheets with Parchment Paper.
  3. Zest the rinds of 2-3 Oranges (enough to get 3 - 4 tablespoons of zest).
  4. Finely Chop Mint (enough to get 1 - 2 tablespoons).
  5. In a medium bowl, pour 2-Cups Granulated Sugar.
  6. Add 2 - 3 Tablespoons Orange Zest and all of the Chopped Mint to sugar, and mix well with your fingertips.
  7. Set aside and stir occasionally with fingertips. Allow sugar to become very fragrant.
  8. Whisk together 2 1/2 Cups Flour, 1 teaspoon Baking Powder, and 1 teaspoon Salt in a medium bowl.
  9. In a large bowl (or stand mixer), combine 1 stick Butter and the prepared Orange Sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
  10. Add 2 Eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition.
  11. Mix in 15 ounces (1 container) Ricotta Cheese and 3 Tablespoons Orange Juice until incorporated.
  12. Stir in dry ingredients a little at a time, until just combined.
  13. Spoon dough onto prepared baking sheets (about 1 1/2 - 2 Tablespoons for each cookie).
  14. Bake for 13 - 15 minutes, until just slightly turning golden at the edges.
  15. Remove from the oven, let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes.
  16. Transfer to wire racks (placed on top of the wax paper), and allow to cool completely.
  17. Prepare the Orange Glaze/Icing.

    For the Glaze/Icing:

  18. Sift 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar into a small to medium bowl.
  19. Add 2 - 3 Tablespoons Orange Juice, and 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest.
  20. Mix well.
  21. Adjust Powdered Sugar for the thickness of the glaze/icing.
3.5.3226

 

More Cookies!

Try these cookies with other citrus flavors like my Lemon Ricotta Cookies. Looking for other cookie recipes for your jar? Check these out…

S’mores Cookies, Candy Corn Cookies, Haystacks, and Mexican Wedding Cakes.

 

 

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Cold Weather Meals – Comfort Foods Satisfy + HM #172

Recipe ideas for those cold weather meals. Comfort food that satisfies your family. Plus link up at Home Matters Linky Party #172 with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #ColdWeatherMeals #HomeMattersParty

Cold Weather Meals – Comfort Foods Satisfy + HM #172

It has been cold here this week, so I am so thankful to have Cold Weather Meals as the theme for our roundup. My mouth is watering, and I cannot  wait to give these scrumptious recipes a try. And, let  me just say, first-hand experience says that the Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage is fantastic! Bon Appetit…

 

Crock Pot Irish Stew from Alli @ An Alli Event

 

Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage from Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

 

Bourbon Chicken in the Crock Pot from Holly @ Spend With Pennies

 

Easy Chocolate Molten Lava Cake from Christine Byrne BuzzFeed Staff

 

 

Cold Weather Meals – Comfort Foods Satisfy Blog Hop

Click through all the Hosts and Co-hosts blogs to see the complete Themed Roundup!

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A Home Matters Themed Roundup

Last Week’s Theme: Snow Day Ideas

Next Week’s Theme: National Dadgum That’s Good Day!



Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With LorelaiFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Kristen @ The Road to DomesticationFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ VikalpahFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nicole @ Mom Always Finds OutFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic DeadlineFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On MonticelloFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s CottageFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea LifestyleFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Jenny @ Cookies, Coffee and CraftsFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our
NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!
And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

 

Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!

Check out this week’s features below.

 

Mint Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie from Gina @ Kleinworth & Co.

PIN here.


Upcycle Sweaters Into A Gorgeous DIY Felt Rug from Claire @ APillar Box Blue

PIN here.


20 Frugal Depression Era Recipes from Joy @ Artful Homemaking

PIN here.


9 Pretty DIY Sun Catcher Projects from Susan @ Suzy’s Sitcom

PIN here.


Colorful Rainbow Recipes from Easy Holiday Ideas

PIN here.

 

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…

Are you ready to Party?

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag

 

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

  1. Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)
  1. Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.
  1. Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.
  1. We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.
  1. We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.
  1. On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

Recipe ideas for those cold weather meals. Comfort food that satisfies your family. Plus link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #ColdWeatherMeals #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

We are looking for Co-Hosts for March 2018. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please

Click Here for DETAILS!

Link Up!

By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, and across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source. Also, you will receive a weekly email reminder regarding the new week’s Home Matters Linky Party.

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Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

 

Don’t have a blog, but want to Remember to Party With Us each week?
Forgot to leave your email while linking up your post?
You can still sign up for our Email Party Reminders. Click below for a form…

 

 

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Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

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Snow Day Ideas – Rock the Boredom + HM #171

Rock the boredom for kids and adults with these super fun, creative Snow Day Ideas. Plus link up at Home Matters Linky Party #171 with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #SnowDayIdeas #HomeMattersParty

Snow Day Ideas – Rock the Boredom + HM #171

Here at the beach in Southern California, we have to travel an hour and a half to two hours to get a snow day. But, I can say that I have seen it snow here in Huntington Beach on at least two occasions in my lifetime. Of course, the snow melted nearly as fast as it hit the ground, but the excitement was fantastic!

I know the majority of you experience snow days regularly every winter, so it is with that in mind that we decided to offer you some fun and fabulous snow day ideas. Be inspired and let your creativity flow and watch your kids have a great time. Rock the boredom and the cabin fever!

 

Ice Balloon Marbles from Vanessa @ Queen Vanna Creations

 

87 Energy-Busting Indoor Games & Activities for Kids (Because Cabin Fever Is No Joke) from What Moms Love

 

20 Must Try Winter Science Experiments for Kids from Dayna @ Lemon Lime Adventures

 

California Snowball Fights & Other Fun Stuff from Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

 

Snow Day Ideas – Rock the Boredom Blog Hop

Click through all the Hosts and Co-hosts blogs to see the complete Themed Roundup!

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A Home Matters Themed Roundup

Last Week’s Theme: Valentine’s Day Fun & Romance

Next Week’s Theme: Cold Weather Meals



Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With LorelaiFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Kristen @ The Road to DomesticationFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ VikalpahFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nicole @ Mom Always Finds OutFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic DeadlineFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On MonticelloFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s CottageFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea LifestyleFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Jenny @ Cookies, Coffee and CraftsFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our
NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!
And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

 

Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!

Check out this week’s features below.

 

Hearts & Lovebirds Valentine’s Day Wreath from Bev @ Flamingo Toes

PIN here.


Shrimp & Asparagus Stir Fry with Lemon Sauce from Brandie @ Home Cooking Memories

PIN here.


New Project Reveal from Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage

PIN here.


A Peter Rabbit Spring Party with Free Printables from Bird @ Bird’s Party

PIN here.


Mason Jar Herb Garden from Joanna @ Gingham Gardens

PIN here.

 

Thank you to all who linked up at Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…

Are you ready to Party?

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag

 

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

  1. Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)
  1. Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.
  1. Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.
  1. We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.
  1. We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.
  1. On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

Snow Days got you down? Rock the boredom for kids and adults with these super fun, creative Snow Day Ideas. Plus link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #SnowDayIdeas #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

We are looking for Co-Hosts for March 2018. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please

Click Here for DETAILS!

Link Up!

By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, and across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source. Also, you will receive a weekly email reminder regarding the new week’s Home Matters Linky Party.

 Loading InLinkz ...

Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

 

Don’t have a blog, but want to Remember to Party With Us each week?
Forgot to leave your email while linking up your post?
You can still sign up for our Email Party Reminders. Click below for a form…

 

 

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Chalkboard Art Tips And Cozy Winter Nights

Do you love chalkboard art? Get the chalkboard art tips you need to make beautiful chalkboards for your home – the easy way! Plus get a free design perfect for those cozy winter nights and drinking hot cocoa. Snuggle up with some fun and fabulous winter decor. #ad #ChalkboardArt #Winter

Some of the products in this post were provided by Oriental Trading Company.

 

Chalkboard Art Tips And Cozy Winter Nights

When the weather outside is cold, it is the perfect time to snuggle up and get cozy. We love to use our White Winter Ceramic Mugs that look like cable knit sweaters and enjoy some hot cocoa. We snuggle up in the den and turn on one of our favorite shows or movie. The den is all decked out in Buffalo Plaid winter decor.

One of the items I picked up from Oriental Trading was this super cute Buffalo Plaid Chalkboard. I absolutely LOVE chalk art (check out my Sidewalk Chalk Art). So, I couldn’t resist this board and creating a fun design. There are a few tips and tricks I want to share with you on how you can make your own chalk art design and transfer it easily to your own chalkboard. You won’t believe how easy it is!

I wanted to celebrate cozy winter nights with a chalkboard design that featured the hot cocoa we enjoy. So, I drew a steaming mug to compliment the saying, “Warm Mugs of Hot Cocoa Served All Winter Long.” I am thrilled with how it turned out.

Get the Chalkboard Art Tips

Create your design

  • Create your design. Use fancy fonts, choose or draw graphics.
  • Put them all together how you want them in a word document, photo program, or whatever you like to use.
  • Make your design the size you need for your chalkboard.
  • Print a black and white copy of your design.

Transfer your design to the Chalkboard

  • Use the side of a piece of chalk to chalk the back side of your design paper. Be sure to cover every bit of your design area.
  • Place the chalked side of paper against your chalkboard and lightly tape it into place. This just keeps the pattern still and in the proper position.
  • Trace over your design to transfer it to the chalkboard.
  • Remove the tape and pattern.
  • Use Chalk Markers to draw your design onto the chalkboard. Follow your pattern, it is easy peasy!
  • Once finished, let your chalk marker DRY thoroughly.
  • After the chalk marker is completely dry, you can dust off the remaining chalk dust and have a perfect chalkboard decor.

FREE Printable Design Pattern

Warm Mugs of Hot Cocoa Served All Winter Long

Download HERE — prints on a legal size paper (11 inch x 14 inch)

Do you love chalkboard art? Get the chalkboard art tips you need to make beautiful chalkboards for your home - the easy way! #chalkboard #chalkboardtips #chalkboardart @LorelaisLife Click To Tweet

 

Get imaginative with your decor this winter. I’d love to see what chalkboard designs you create. Have some fun and stay cozy!

 

 

 

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Winter Trail Mix Recipe Party Snack Or On-the-Go Treat

This Winter Trail Mix recipe is great not just during the holidays but all year long. Use it as a party snack or take it on-the-go. Nuts, dried fruit. #WinterTrailMix #Recipe

Some of the products in this post were provided by Oriental Trading Company.

 

Winter Trail Mix Recipe

Party Snack or On-the-Go Treat

 

I love this time of year with all the parties and fun activities that surround the holidays — Christmas Caroling, Holiday Boat Parades, taking a ride or walk to see the Christmas lights and decorations. Sometimes you just need a quick little snack to take on-the-go.

This Winter Trail Mix recipe is super quick and easy. You can literally whip it together in a minute. The trail mix is not too sweet and not too salty and loaded with the wonderful flavors of the season. It’s perfect for snacking or it makes a fabulous party nibble that both kids and adults will love.

Take Winter Trail Mix on all your holiday outings! Great for parties too. Get the Recipe. #TrailMix #recipe #snack Click To Tweet

So, let’s get to the recipe!

Winter Trail Mix Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup – Roasted Salted Whole Cashews
  • 1 Cup – Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
  • 1 Cup – Candied Pecans
  • 1 Cup – Dried Cranberries
  • 1 Cup – Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 Cup – Mini Marshmallows

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, add all the above ingredients.
  2. Mix until well blended.

How easy is that? It does not get any easier, right? Yes, you will thank me. This is so yummy and packed with the delicious flavors of cashews, almonds, pecans, cranberries, cinnamon, and even some chocolate.

Printable Recipe – Winter Trail Mix

5 from 1 reviews
Winter Trail Mix Recipe
 
This Winter Trail Mix recipe is great not just during the holidays but all year long. Use it as a party snack or take it on-the-go.
from:
Type: Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients:
  • 1 Cup - Roasted Salted Whole Cashews
  • 1 Cup - Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
  • 1 Cup - Candied Pecans
  • 1 Cup - Dried Cranberries
  • 1 Cup - Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 Cup - Mini Marshmallows
Directions:
  1. In a large bowl, add all the above ingredients.
  2. Mix until well blended.
3.5.3226

Oriental Trading has the cutest Buffalo Plaid line available right now. I like to package my Winter Trail Mix in these adorable Buffalo Plaid Snack Bowls with Lids. They are so festive and fun for those holiday outings. Take thermoses or stop and pick-up a couple boxes of coffee or hot cocoa and fill up your Buffalo Plaid insulated coffee cups with lids. It is a perfect treat combo.

I even keep a snack bowl filled with my Winter Trail Mix on our Wooden Buffalo Plaid Serving Tray in the den for evening snacking while we watch TV.

 

I know you will enjoy this snack, and I wish you the happiest of holidays.

If you are looking for other tasty winter snack ideas, check out my Sugared Cranberries.

Looking for great ideas to ring in the New Year? Check out the Oriental Trading New Year’s Eve collection!
 

 

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Bedding Styles That Are Cozy Winter Modern

Make your bed comfy and cozy with these modern bedding styles and ideas for winter. Relax and enjoy staying indoors cuddled up in your bedroom — nobody said you had to be alone…

 

Amazing Winter Modern Bedding Styles

Check Out These Cozy and Comfy Ideas

 

The winter season is here and it just makes us want to hide further inside the bedding layers and not deal with the cold world outside. A perfect bed is a must to make the whole room come to life and to unwind after work and lazy in on the weekends. However layering your bedding doesn’t in any way means that it can’t be cozy yet modern and stylish!

The Layered Trend

Add an extra layer of comforter and duvet to stay extra warm and on top of the layering trend. This season is all about fluffy bedding styles.

Stock up your pillow collection for this season. Adding a few extra pillows gives that added fluff and warmth to the bed which is just what we all need in this harsh winter. Having a large pillow collection also comes in handy when you want to change up your room a bit. Just throw in a few fun, quirky pillows and the whole vibe changes instantly!

Add Throws

Throw in a faux fur, nubby blanket in no particular order for that added texture and warmth. Let one end of it touch the floor and it just yells ‘come lets snuggle’
Keep a couple of these in your winter collection too to give the room a changed look with different colored throws

The Tassel-Pompom Trend

Adding to the throw trend, this season is all about incorporating latest clothing trends into bed sheets and comforters in one way or the other. Tassels and pompoms have been on a roll this year and the style is here to stay. Just add another layer or warm fuzzy sheet with tassels or pompoms hanging on the ends. Find a sheet that has a nice contrast with your comforter and voila! A chic new look to your bedroom.

Stock up on blankets

Just like pillows and throws, go get your blanket collection sorted! Blankets are what make the whole bed pop!  Add Egyptian cotton blankets (this can be used both in summers and winters) and wool blankets to your bedding list.

Colors and Patterns

A good color scheme is important to maintain a certain vibe of any room. Why must the bedding be left behind?! This season, change things up a bit by contrasting the colors. Keep the bedding in warm tones according to the overall theme of the room. This gives a very autumnal and warm feeling which makes any cold harsh day better. If you want to step aside from the norm, go all out and bring the color in. Throw in colored blankets and pillows to spice up any room. If you’re like me and you are into the white bedding trend but still want some color, throw in pillows of deep browns or burgundies. A white-lined bed with a colored blanket or pillows will look trendy yet classic.
If you’re someone who likes to be edgier than the rest, throw in some cushions with quirky patterns or sayings on them.

 

~Elena Juliet

Find Elena where she regularly blogs at mymattresspads.com

 

 

 

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Avoid High Energy Bills With 6 Tips For Winter

Check out these 6 tips for winterizing your home and save money on your energy bills! It’s easy. Learn more from regular contributor, Megan Wild.

 

How to Avoid High Winter Energy Bills

With These 6 Easy Tips!

With Christmas approaching quickly, the last thing you want to deal with is high energy bills just to keep your home warm and festive for the holidays. How can you put a price on Christmas spirit through decorations, trees, and lights? It may feel priceless to you, but the power company will be cashing in on those holiday memories by charging for every kilowatt hour.

Don’t be a Grinch and take away all things Christmas — instead, look for clever ways to save money on your bill this winter.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

If you don’t have one already, invest in a programmable thermostat for your home and make sure you actually use it. Turn the heat down a bit when no one is home and set the thermostat to come on about an hour before you arrive so the home is warm and inviting when you walk in.

Additionally, consider turning the temperature down two to three degrees and wear comfortable lounge pants and long-sleeved shirts in the house to stay warmer. Research shows that you could save as much as ten dollars per degree on your energy bill each month.

Seal Any Leaks

The windows and doors of your home may be costing you additional heating expenses each month. You don’t want to pay to heat up the outside of your home, so why are you letting heat escape? What’s even worse is that, while you’re paying for the heat to leave your home, you’re also allowing cold air to enter, which creates a higher daily need for electricity.

The best thing you can do to reduce this problem is to seal up your windows and doors to prevent cold air from entering and hot air from escaping. To seal window and door leaks, you can use caulk and weather stripping in most cases. If the sealing materials don’t make much of a difference, it may be time to look into double-paned windows, which are more energy-efficient and less drafty.

Another tip that’s often overlooked when it comes to your doors and windows letting cold air in is something that won’t cost you any money and very little time. Lock them up! When you lock your windows and doors, they close more tightly than when they’re unlocked. The tighter closure makes them push against the weather stripping harder, reducing the amount of cold air that comes in.

Invest in Routine Maintenance

Be sure that you’re getting your heating system serviced each year. A professional can come out and inspect your system and do any servicing it needs to keep it running efficiently all winter long.

Taking the time to do this each year not only reduces your heating bill because the heating system is more efficient, but it also may help you find heating repair needs before you end up without heat when there’s a foot of snow on the ground. Just think of routine maintenance as a little insurance policy for a cozy winter at home.

Be Aware of the Fireplace

Your fireplace isn’t just an entry point for Santa this holiday season — it could also be letting in cold air and increasing your heating bill. Unless you have a fire burning, be sure to close the damper in your fireplace to prevent cold air from coming in full-force.

When you have your heating system serviced each year, go ahead and call in a professional to inspect your fireplace and clean and seal it if necessary. The professional will know which areas cause the most drafts and how to seal them without endangering your family.

Modernize Your Christmas Lights

You may think you save a little money by using the same lights each year and just replacing a bulb here and there, but are you really? If you’re using standard Christmas lights that have been around for decades, you could be using more power than you actually need to make your home look beautiful.

Throw those lights out and invest in some LED holiday lights that are Energy Star qualified to reduce your power consumption. Energy Star-Certified lights use 75% less energy than your traditional incandescent lights, are cool to the touch and are known to last as much as 10 times longer than traditional lights.

These lights are more expensive, but the investment will pay off when you look at your power bill in January.

Use Your Ceiling Fans

You may think that your ceiling fan is just something handy to have in the summer to keep air moving in your home, but that’s not entirely true. In the winter months, you should flip the switch on your ceiling fan to have the blades turn clockwise. The blades will produce an updraft, forcing the warmer air at the ceiling down below, making the room feel warmer.

These are just a few ways to save on your energy bills. Instead of robbing your family of those magical Christmas memories of twinkling lights and fun decorations, take a little time to put these tips into action. With the reduced costs, your wallet may just grow three sizes this month!

 

~Megan

Visit Megan at her blog, Your Wild Home!

 

 

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5 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Family Christmas Party

Hosting a Family Christmas Party can be stressful. You want everything to be perfect, full of family tradition and holiday spirit in order to create those magical memories that will last a lifetime. So, we have some great tips and trick that will help you host a stress-free family Christmas Party. Of course, these tips will help in planning and in hosting any party!

5 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Family Christmas Party

 

With winter holidays straight ahead and drawing closer by the minute, we’re all looking forward to lip-smacking Christmas banquets and family reunions, right? Well, not exactly. Every time the season comes for Santa to slide down the chimney and deliver gifts, busy moms start bracing themselves for second helpings of stress and hard work required to host a pitch-perfect at-home Christmas celebration. Nevertheless, the fact that your whole family will be coming together to welcome Father Christmas in a few weeks’ time doesn’t have to be a source of angst or dread this time around. All you need to do is arm yourself with tried and tested tips on how to throw an unforgettable, stress-free Christmas party and act on them without delay.

1. Invitations Nobody Can Say No To

Before dashing off to decorate the dining table and whip up food for the Christmas party, pause for a second to do a brief guest count. Draw up the guest list and seating plan to make sure your party goes down without hitches or unpleasant guest table quibbles.

With the guest list in place, it’s time to send out invitations (preferably in the written, not digital form). You should send invites at least two weeks ahead of the celebration to allow your guests ample time to RVSP. Expert tip: be sure the invitations are so lovable your invitees can’t say No to them. If you hate the idea of DIY invitation crafting, you can find various printable Christmas party invites online. Use them to cheat your way to bonus party turnout.

2. Decide on the Food and Drink Menu

The next point on the stress-free Christmas party staging list, the choice of food and drinks you’ll serve your guests deserves an extra dose of attention. As a general rule, the party bar should contain both alcoholic and soft drinks, just to stay on the safe (and relatively sober) side of the dining table.

If possible, it would be a wise idea to check with the guests if they suffer from any food allergies or follow special diet plans: such a precious piece of info will help you stock the party table with delicacies all invitees will relish. If you don’t want to go through the food prep hassle, you can look up the offer of best finger food catering services in Melbourne and pick tasty bites that fit the party budget and your guests’ dietary preferences.

3. It’s Time to Dress Up the Party Venue

After you’ve sorted out the essentials for the Christmas party, you’ll need to dress the venue for the gathering. The rule of thumb here is that ornaments in red, gold, and green are best-suited to the biggest event of the winter season, but you can also use violet, blue, and orange details as accents.

To achieve a festive yet suave tablescape, you should bring out finest silverware and porcelain crockery: after all, Christmas is precisely the type of a special occasion that calls for such displays of elegance and luxury. For final touches, you can top the Christmas party table with fragrant candles, string lights nestled in jars, and a centerpiece in the form of an evergreen arrangement with red and white ribbon.

4. Devise a Fail-safe Entertainment Program

To keep boredom at bay and avoid awkward party silences, create a special playlist and pick a few games you and your guests will play after dinner. Christmas Carol Pictionary, white elephant gift exchange, and other themed games are a great entertainment choice, but you can also opt for non-Christmassy activities if your party crowd isn’t exactly a major fan of traditional festive amusement.

As far as music is concerned, you shouldn’t leave out Christmas melodies from the playlist, but you can structure it around handpicked non-seasonal tunes such as jazz, blues, R&B, and classic rock. Expert tip: melodies that make your guests’ ears prick up and set the mood to merry are a good choice of music for the Christmas party.

5. Party Favors, the Hospitable Hosts’ Way

No Christmas party is complete without gifts, but the Christmas tree shouldn’t be the only place for your guests to find tokens of appreciation, caring, and love. To bring home the medal as the most hospitable host ever, make cute party favors before the big event which you’ll place at the dining table.

Gingerbread cookies, lollies, tree ornaments, and chocolates in Christmas wrappers are just the tip of the party favor iceberg. If you want to go pro with the Christmas party staging, you can present the guests with personalized favors such as swag bags, printed mugs with funny slogans, spa and massage coupons, and creative cookie tins or favor bags which you can order online for bonus stress-free party organization.

All set? Don’t forget to put on your finest party clothes, don a wide smile, and have tons of fun –after all, joy, laughter, love, sharing, and positive mood are the whole point of winter holidays. Enjoy your family Christmas party to the fullest. Merry Christmas!


 

 

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How To Loom Knit A Scarf And Layer On Love

This post, How To Loom Knit A Scarf And Layer On Love, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #LayerOnLove #CollectiveBias

 

How To Loom Knit A Scarf

Layer On Love with Coca-Cola

 

Are you feeling the season? I love how fall brings the gorgeous colors of autumn leaves floating from the trees, the cold nights and brisk mornings that heighten your senses and put you in a holiday mood. But most of all, I love sharing the generosity, thankfulness, and blessings that abound with family and friends.

From Thanksgiving gatherings to Christmas, Chanukah, and New Year’s Eve, there is a lot of celebrating  to be done. It is always nice to count your blessings and share some too.

One of the best ways to share the love is by getting together and doing something for someone else. Today, I hope to inspire you to give back by joining Coca-Cola and working with One Warm Coat® to provide a layer of love for half a million people.

 

Coca-Cola challenges you to be a part of giving back this holiday season. Get together with friends, family, and co-workers to pay it forward. Hold your own coat drive. Are you looking for a great accessory for a coat? How about a scarf, hat, or gloves? have your friends over for a knit-a-thon. Celebrate the event by purchasing Coca-Cola at Walmart and serving it at a party or get-together. See, even the festive Santa Claus on the Coca-Cola bottle is wearing a coat!

 

How To Loom Knit A Scarf

So, that knit-a-thon sounds like a pretty fun idea, right? Just think of the laughter and fun you can have by getting the girls together for a random act of kindness party. What, you don’t knit? Neither did I. But Rory taught me how to loom knit — NO KNITTING NEEDLES REQUIRED! It is fun and super easy, and if I can do it, you certainly can.

We had a great time making a lovely scarf together. In fact, we have even put made a tutorial video for you, so you can make your own loom knit scarf. These scarfs would make great gifts, and what a warm idea to go along with a donated coat.

Here is what you need:

  • 1 – Skein of Yarn (our skein was 185 yards)
  • Loom Knitting Board
  • Loom Hook
  • Scissors

Watch the video for directions:

Coca-Cola Supports the Non-Profit Organization

One Warm Coat is a non-profit organization that has been providing coats to children, women, and men since 1992. They have taken their mission to give anyone in need a coat free of charge, from their first Thanksgiving weekend coat drive at one location in San Fransico, to a national organization supporting over 3,000 coat drives each year.

 

Make a donation, and don’t forget to shop Walmart for Coca-Cola, where you can find a wide variety of Coca-Cola products on the soda aisle.

 

 

Over the years, Rory and I have been greatly blessed by kind and generous people. Rory has a Mitochondrial Disorder, an energy metabolism disorder. She has been hospitalized over 100 times in her life. She was gifted knit hats and blankets, pillow cases, and more that made her stays more comfortable and cozy. We’ve had church members and friends that brought meals for our family to help ease the struggles of her illness. Experiencing these loving gestures warms your heart and means more than you could possibly express. They are moments and memories that last a lifetime.

I wrote about one such Random Act of Kindness that still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it – a true fairytale come true granted by a total stranger. The only way to say thank you is to pay it forward… and so we do. I hope you will help us give back this holiday season.

By coming together and donating to One Warm Coat® on Coke.com/LayerOnLove, we could collectively help to put a coat on one million people in need this winter.

 

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Potted Plants Keep Your Deck Colorful And Festive

Keep gardening through the autumn and winter months with potted plants. get ideas for colorful and festive ways to make your deck a garden to enjoy. Find out how from our regular contributor, Megan Wild.

Potted Plants

Keep Your Deck Colorful and Festive

Just because the autumn weather has set in doesn’t mean you have to put away your gardening tools until next year. In fact, there are actually loads of ideas to keep your deck looking bright and festive throughout the winter. With colorful, creative and decorative planters and the right choice of greenery, it can even be an activity for the whole family to enjoy.

Setting the Stage for Your Perfect Garden

Before you run out and buy out all the potted plants at your local greenhouse, make sure you’ve prepared your deck space properly. This can entail making sure the decking is properly sealed and prepared to handle multiple planters that will be watered periodically. Without adequately sealing, the constant watering of greenery on your deck can trap moisture in the wood and eventually cause the wood to rot.

To cut down on water use and make your garden more sustainable over the winter months, consider incorporating rain barrels or a rain garden to catch water runoff. This will be especially helpful during months when the snow melts and the spring thaw begins. You can also do research on which native plants in your area require less watering and can withstand heartier temperatures.

Now that you’ve prepped your space and have your plant ideas in mind, here are five easy and fun ideas to make your deck space vibrant and colorful for the autumn into the winter.

  1. Personalize Your Planter

Make it a family affair and repurpose an old cardboard letter to fill with your favorite plants in the shape of your family’s last name. Each member of the family can pick out their favorite addition to the planter, making it perfectly unique to your garden deck.

  1. Choose Bold Colors

One of the best things about fall plants is you have a great variety of succulents that have deep, rich colors of wines, greens and golds. Check this great list of thrillers, fillers and spillers so you have the best variety to put into your planter. They are sure to be eye-catching.

  1. Recycle Materials to Create a Unique Look

You can really make a statement and give new life to different materials by getting a little creative with your planter choices. For example, an old red wagon is great for succulents and will give your deck a fun conversation piece — and maybe a new purpose for old toys no longer in service.

  1. Get a Little Rustic With Reclaimed Wood

Reclaimed wood is such a versatile material and is another way to breathe new life into used materials. You can build your own reclaimed wood planter, or even put together a great little end table to display your recently potted bright chrysanthemums and deep Heucherella sweet tea. Make it fun for the kids too and add in a painting activity for the boards. You can personalize them each or just use solid colors — it’ll be a fun decision to make together.

  1. Utilize All Your Space

Even if you have a small deck space to work with, you can still find ways to have a great garden and utilize your available space. Grow bags are a great way to do this. They are a vertical way to grow anything from herbs to flowers and can add a homey look to any deck, especially in an urban setting.

Whether you’ve got a large or small space to work with, there are great options out there to make your deck garden unique and colorful. You can also do so while keeping the environment in mind with sustainable watering systems and responsible plant choice. And finally, it’s also an activity that can be fun for the whole family.

 

~Megan

Visit Megan at her blog, Your Wild Home!


 

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