Fancy Jelly-Filled Thumbprint Cookies (thank you, may I have another?)

Today, I'm sharing my favorite Christmas cookie ever. Like, forever ever. Forever and ever and ever.  They're beautifully sweet, light and buttery, bite-sized treats sent straight from cookie heaven.  My mom was generous enough to share this recipe with me, even though she knows it's one of the reasons I come home for Christmas every year! I enjoy making and giving these cuties. They are perfect for cookie swaps, and look gorgeous resting on a bright platter!



Fancy Jelly-Filled Thumbprint Cookies

Cookie Dough/filling:
3/4 C. sugar

3/4 C. butter (softened)
2 tsp. grated orange peel
1  3oz. block cream cheese (not the full size (8 oz.) package)
1 egg
2 1/4 C.  All-purpose flour
3/4 tsp.  baking powder
1/2 C. seedless red raspberry preserves (or seedless jelly/preserves flavor of your choice)

Glaze
1/2 C. white chocolate chips (melted)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat cheese, sugar, and butter together; add egg and orange peel, blend.  Add dry ingredients; blend well.

Cool cookie dough in refridgerator for easier handling.

Shape into 1" balls and place 2" apart on cookie sheet.
Using the rounded end of a wooden spoon handle, gently press a "hole" into each ball, being careful not to poke all the way through to the surface of the sheet.

Fill "holes" with 1/4 tsp. preserves

Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until firm to touch.Melt white chocolate chips; drizzle glaze over cooled cookies.

Makes 2-3 dozen. Enjoy!

Great Gift Ideas for the Stumped Shopper

Still searching for the perfect gift? Yep, most of us are.  Time is running out! Most online orders need to be placed by the end of this week to ensure timely delivery for Christmas, so you may want to get to mouse clicking lickety split - or haul your rear to the mall before all of the great gifts run out! Continuing with the 25 Days of Christmas, here are my gift picks for both girlies and guys - some of which I may have actually purchased for special loved ones of my own! 




Shop books at Anthropologie

My absolute favorite items of the year are the fresh-cut clothbound literary classics by Penguin.  I stumbled upon these at Anthropologie, but unfortunately, I had already shopped for the bookworms on my Christmas list! I'm definitely keeping them in mind for friends and family - and for myself, too - for future gift giving occasions. The brightly colored and classy embossed canvas covers  accompanied by a color coordinating thin satin ribbon bookmark and thick, shaggy-edged pages would look great stacked on coffee and end tables, and bookshelves, of course! Choose from great works like Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility, Brontë's Wuthering Heights, and Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  These gorgeous books are also available in Children's classics such as Peter Pan and Huckleberry Fin.

And now... some of my other favorites!  Get a pen and a piece of paper, and take some notes! 

1. Silk Tie ($60) and 2. Collar Stays ($12.50 for 8), Banana Republic; 3. Power Stretch Glove, $30, The North Face; 4. NFL Training Camp for Nintendo Wii, $100, NFL Shop; 5. "Assistant to the Regional Manager" Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute bobbleheads, NBC Universal Store; 6. Showtime's The Tudors complete series DVD collection, $129, Barnes & Noble; 7. Charcoal keg-a-cue grill by Wincraft (available in all NFL teams), $109, NFL Shop; 8. Picnictime football cutting board, $30, Bed, Bath, & Beyond; 9. Kobalt utility toolbox ($30), long-nose pliars ($9), hammer ($8), and screwdriver set ($20), Lowes.

1. Tree Coin pendant necklace, "Live the Green Life" collection ($28), Fossil; 2. C.O. Bigelow Lemon-Lime body care, $12-$16.50, C.O. Bigelow; 3. Year of Cookie Cutters (set of 12), $25, Crate & Barrel; 4. Peppermint Hot Cocoa mix (8 servings), $6, Starbucks; 5. Martha Stewart Collection non-skid mixing bowl set, $17, Macy's; 6. Knit muk-luk slippers, $15, Old Navy; 7. Boyfriend lounge pant, $40, Pink by Victoria's Secret; 8. "Love" print socks, $7, Gap; 9. Ragtime throw, $50, Coldwater Creek. 

...I'll take one of each, please! Happy Shopping!

Christmas Cards & the Winter Wonderland Sign Winner!

I hope all of my snow bunnies are staying warm after the big snow storm this weekend! I thought of all my Minnesota bloggers as I watched the footage of the Metrodome caving in - Stay safe and cozy, girls!

After a fun week of hosting a giveaway for the "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland" wooden sign I hand-painted as part of a Christmas craft blog post for 25 Days of Christmas, we finally have a winner!  Random.org chose lucky #62 out of 84 total entries as the winner. I will be mailing the sign to Jessica @ My Simply Complicated sometime this week!  Jessica is currently in school full time and runs her own graphic design business as well.  She attended the SITS girls' Bloggy Boot Camp earlier this fall (which I am so jealous of!) Make sure to check out her gorgeous blog and try the Bacon-Cheddar Pinwheel recipe she recently posted!

Quotable Cards

It's already day 15 of Star & Jmo's 25 Days of Christmas - I cannot believe it!  December is flying by, but my shopping list is 98% complete and all of my cards have been given to/sent via snail mail to friends, family, and co-workers.  
Today's topic for 25 Days of Christmas is "Christmas Cards".  This year, I purchased three designs: a UNICEF card featuring deer in a snowy field for close family and friends, a fun and lighthearted glittery snowman note-sized card for co-workers, and a clean, colorful, pop-inspired square card featuring a fun quote by Walt Whitman for the blogging buds I've swapped mailing addy's with over the past few months.  I carefully choose Christmas cards each year; I understand that it would be a lot easier and way more cost effective to head to the local dollar store and buy a few boxes of the same exact card for all of my recipients, but that is zero fun! I take pride in signing each card and addressing the envelope with pretty handwriting.  As I fill them out, I take a minute to actually think about the person I'm sending or giving the card to.  Preparing Christmas cards to give to my friends and family is one of my favorite hobbies during the holiday season.  If you get a card from me, just know that it is sent with love and warm wishes! Really!

Cards by UNICEF.

I chose these UNICEF cards for the close friends and family I exchange with every year.  I thought the design was very wintry and peaceful. The light glittery iridescent shimmer isn't visible in the photo to the left, but it - along with the sweet and simple wording inside ("Wishing you beautiful winter moments, Happy Holidays") - sealed the deal on my purchase.  Yes, I'm one of those "Happy Holidays" card senders.  I believe it's the simplest way to acknowledge all of the holidays that one may celebrate during the winter season.  When I send or give a card that says "Happy Holidays", that is exactly what I mean. Whatever it is you're celebrating, whether it be the New Year, religious holidays, or in my case, family birthdays, have a happy time! 'Tis the season to be jolly, ya'll!

Notecards by Artworks, available at B&N Stores.

I love being part of a workplace that is all about celebrating the season.  We enjoy great food and fun mingling during our annual luncheon that's held in December, and share our favorite dishes and swap gifts during our Christmas potluck and gift exchange.  Most of us share more personal gifts and treats with each other as Christmastime nears (which reminds me - I have a huge batch of Oreo Truffles to make! Hello cream cheese!)
I absolutely love the first day of December, when I stick Christmas cards in everyone's mailboxes at the office.  They always tease that I'm "on the ball" or "too early!" but I know they love the cards - they display them ASAP! This year's "co-worker" cards are definitely the best yet - I actually think the envelopes were almost as cute as the card itself! 

Hallmark Contest Winner
Jen McQuinn, Cincinnatti, OH

Become a Hallmark Star!
This past Spring, I took advantage of a really cool opportunity and entered Hallmark's "That Says Christmas" card design contest (read about my experience - and being named a finalist - here!)  Although I wasn't chosen as a winner, I had a blast networking with the other Hallmark fans and Hallmark staff on facebook.  I made a few cool buds and now, when I'm out card shopping for a specific person, I only choose the Hallmark Contest winners' cards! I'm sure you've seen 'em around.  Check out the winners for this year's "That Says Christmas" contest - and if you're looking for a single card to suit someone on your list, show my Hallmark friends some love and choose one of their designs!
If you're into photography and/or illustration, and think it might be neat to see your very own design in Hallmark stores and card displays across the country (and win a few hundred dollars, too!), I highly suggest entering Hallmark's card design contests! Visit http://www.hallmarkcontests.com to get the scoop on upcoming events, details, how-to's, and past winners.


That's it for this snowy and blustery Monday! Dress cute and cozy, use plenty of moisturizing balm underneath and on top of that long-wearing lipstick, and get those Christmas cards out if you haven't already!

Holiday $hopping Tip$

Over the years, I've learned some great tricks of the trade when it comes to Holiday Shopping, via trial, error, and complete success. We're well on our way to Christmas, and most are probably well on their way to finishing up shopping, but what the hay - if you're like me and you just started, you may benefit from these little tips:

1. Make a frickin' list. And stick to the frickin' list. Write or type all of your little friends and family members' names, and beside their names, jot down a gift idea, where to find it, and the estimated price.  How do you know all of this info already?  Hopefully you've searched the web up and down for ideas.  Now take your completed list to the mall and get to work - and mark 'em off, one by one. Once a person is marked off, he or she is D-O-N-E done!

2. Budget, ya'll.  Know how much you can comfortably spend during the holiday season, and do not overspend.  When buying a gift for someone who may be gifting you in return, keep in mind how much they're likely to spend on you. This will prevent any awkwardness when you swap gifts:  you don't want to spend $100 on a scarf for your friend while she purchases an $18 Bath and Body Works travel-sized gift set for you. Just plain awkwardness.
Also, if you're sticking to your list and your budget, you're not going to feel that awful guilt when you get home and start wrapping gifts ("did I buy too much? Not enough? Oh no, will she even like this gift? Or did I actually like it for myself?") Stick to list. Stick to budget. Plan, my friends!

3. Purchase One Great Gift.  Not a crap ton of tiny crappy craptastic ones.  You will save money, trust me on this: I'm guilty of committing the crime, "Just one more thing... oh, just another little thing, ohhh she'll love this extra little thing!"  Can we say, "Cha-Ching"?! Don't do it.  One great thing.  Which is what I'm doing for the peeps on my list this year - my husband and I are all about simplifying this holiday season, as our life is slightly chaotic and out of balance with the rest of the world, with the dissertation/job hunt and all. I can truly speak from experience and TRUST me - the gifts I remember are the great ones, which weren't even that all expensive.  Just great gifts - that were useable, thoughtful, and from the heart.



Join us!

 Have any great shopping tips you would like to share?  Link 'em up at the 25 Days of Christmas!

It's not too late to join up - and don't even worry about trying to play catch up, just hop in with tomorrow's topic: "Favorite Christmas Activities"!



Happy $hopping!

The Best Christmas Gifts and a Giveaway!

Happy Monday!
I hope everyone is having fun Christmas shopping, filling and mailing out cards, and decorating! We're well on our way to December 25th.  I love the most wonderful time of the year!
WIN IT! - Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland" wooden sign hand painted by moi! I created the sign as part of the 25 Days of Christmas, and featured a tutorial in yesterday's post.  Click on the icon at the right hand side of the screen for more details!

You may have noticed that there's been a bit of a wintry change around here.  I'm gradually phasing into a new look and feel for my blog, and working toward the format of aprofessorswife.com.  (Notice how the composition notebook graphic shrinked?  That's because my husband's adventure as a graduate student is coming to an end.) Loving that font? It's "Another Typewriter", and you can download it for free here! As for the cute tree graphic, it's all mine - a wing it attempt at free-handing on Photoshop.  The snowflakes come courtesy of Crate & Barrel (check the ornament page), and the snowy pine cones were found at Microsoft Office Clipart online.


It's time to kick off a new week of Star & Jmo's 25 Days of Christmas; the topic for Day 8 is "the best gift you've ever received".  I simply can't pick one, so I picked a couple of the best gifts from my childhood, and a few from my adult life. 
I'm sure most of the gals out there remember the magic that Happy Holidays Barbie brought on Christmas morning! I collected these throughout my childhood; now that I'm blogging about them, I wish I would have continued to collect them! My favorite Happy Holidays Barbie is from 1990, which is the first doll on the left:

As i grew out of Holiday Barbies, I grew into a tomboyish phase. The Chicago Bulls Starter Jacket I opened on Christmas 1997 was my favorite gift as a teen. Sorry there isn't an image; the only one i could find on Google was a pic of the jacket hanging on a fence post.  Yeah, I didn't understand it either.
My three favorite gifts as an adult are still being used/worn/admired on a daily basis.  My in-laws hooked me up with an engraved lime green iPod Nano and JVC dock for my office.   Two years later, the iPod is completely full.  It's my best friend!
My husband gave me a framed print of Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards Stadium, matted in green.  It was a complete surprise, and I will always have it hanging in my home as long as I live!  
There's always a jewelry gift involved in "the best gifts I received", isn't there?  For me, it's definitely the Tiffany & Co Bar pendant/necklace my husband gifted me last year.  It's my first piece of Tiffany, and I wear it every single day.  Timeless, classy, elegant, simple - perfect for me! And the best part? He picked it out all by himself!

What are the best gifts you've received?  Blog a little about it, and link up!


Catch up on my 25 Days of Christmas:
Day 1 - Christmas Decorations
Day 2 - Christmas Traditions
Day 3 - My dreambook (Wishlist)
Day 4 - Favorite Christmas Movies
Day 5 - Favorite Christmas Songs
Day 6 - Dresses for the Holiday Season
Day 7 - Christmas Crafts

Winter Wonderland Wooden Sign

Occasionally, I like to get a little artsy and crafty.  This week, I  completed a new project especially for Day 7 (Christmas Crafts!) of the "25 Days of Christmas", hosted by Jmo and Star: 

**the Winter Wonderland wooden sign**

You will need: 1 wooden board, a few different shades of acrylic craft paint, craft paint brushes, word stencils and a relaxing workspace with good lighting. For this project, I used a 26'w x 7"h pine craft board and Ceramcoat brand acrylic paint in Metallic Silver, Pearl Finish, White, and Ultra Blue.  

Board Prep: Paint with brown base coat - I use cheap interior/exterior paint, because one coat is all that's needed, and it dries quickly.  Any type of paint or varnish can be used.

Paint Prep:  I blended Ceramcoat White with Ultra Blue to create a creamy blue hue that is used for some of lettering on the sign.

Begin by painting the background design. I free handed snowflakes using Silver and Pearl Finish paints, and alternated shapes and sizes until the entire board was covered:

You can't really mess up a snowflake design; I always start with a circle in the center, and work my way outward with a variety of lines, circles, and curls -use your imagination! You can always google "snowflake clipart" for inspiration.

You don't need to spend money on pre-cut stencils; create your very own custom designs on any word processing program, print them out, and "trace"them onto the board. Simply lay the design on top of the board and trace around the edges with a thick ball point pen or dull pencil, applying pressure as you trace.  When you remove the paper, you will see the design etched into the board. Simple and cheap? I think so! 

I filled in the first row of "etched" letters with the creamy blue paint I mixed when prepping for the project. The blue stands out nicely against the silver and pearl snowflakes.  (Can you guess what the bottom row of words will be?)

I free-handed the phrase "Winter Wonderland" with white paint; I opted to use my own handwriting and paint directly onto the board rather than trace a design in, as I wanted to add a personal touch (you will find out why at the end of this tutorial!)

To hang the sign, I decided to use two "loops" of sturdy craft wire (one on each side of the board) rather than a bracket.  The board I used for this project was thin (1/4") and light enough to be supported securely by the wire. A bracket can also be used.  I carefully measured a few inches inward from each side of  the board and drilled small holes toward the top. 

I cut two 7" pieces of craft wire, which i then folded in half and threaded through each drilled hole.  I left a "loop" in the front, and twisted the wire tightly on the backside of the sign so that the wire hangers would be secure.  

The sign can easily be hung by two nails - gorgeous!

Isn't she lovely?  You may recognize the typewriter font - I use it frequently when blogging! As for the free-handed "Winter Wonderland" lettering, I felt it was necessary to add a completely personal touch - I want to make sure that whoever wins this beauty receives a one-of-a-kind, uniquely "Stephanie" piece of work!  

Oh yes - I said "win".  WIN, as in, I'm giving the "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland" hand- painted wooden sign away to one of my awesome readers!

Enter to win:

1. Let me know that you'd like to win the sign by leaving a comment (1 entry)

2. Follow the blog! And if you already do, AWESOME.  Leave a comment either way. (1 entry)

3. "Like" A Grad Student's Wife on Facebook (see Right column) and leave a comment letting me know. (2 entries)

3. Blog it! And leave a comment with the link to your post. (3 entries)

4. Tweet it! Make sure to mention @herdfan in your tweet. (3 entries)

5. BONUS ENTRY:  What's your favorite thing about Wintertime?  Comment and let me know!

The winner will get to enjoy the sign for months to come!

**Giveaway ends Sunday, December 12th at 12:01am**

Dress You Up in My Love (Holiday Edition)

Dress up w/us!

Today we're getting dressed up for some holiday fun! Let me be straight with my readers: I'm from rural appalachia, central West Virginia to be exact.  At this point in my life, I'm not exactly attending ritzy soirees or Black Tie Christmas parties (although I would love to - who doesn't want to sport a fab sparkly dress and feel amazing for an evening out?) My schedule consists of family get togethers and casual parties at work, so short n' sassy dresses and minis with a lot of glitz are kind of out of the question for me this season.  On this 6th day of the 25 Days of Christmas, I've selected pieces that I would realistically buy - and wear - for an occasion during the Holiday season. You're going to love every single item, so go ahead and print 'em out - Happy shopping! 

This is how a Grad Student's Wife dresses during the Holidays:



Michelle dress, Abercrombie; Kacy Suede Wedge Boot, Anne Taylor LOFT; Hathaway studded tote, Fossil; ribbon & shine necklace and rhinestone bracelet, Aerie.

Ruffle bib dress and leggings, Gap; strappy sandal, Colin Stuart for Victoria's Secret; party clutch, J.Crew; sparkling headband, ForeverXXI. 

Double-breasted shirtdress, Anthropologie; beret, White House Black Market; "Laura" satchel handbag by Melie Bianco, Piperlime; Owlet pendant necklace, Barberry & Lace; signature scarf, Coach; "Linzy" pump by Kelsi Dagger, Endless.com.



I dearly love all three ensembles and would happily sport any of them this time of year.  What's your fave? 

Ding-a-ling-along-ding-dong-Ding!



Count Down w/us!

 Day 5 of the "25 Days of Christmas" is one of the main reasons I decided to participate.  I really...dearly... freakishly... LOVE Christmas music! Two months ago, while everyone else was doin' the Monster Mash, I was ready to listen to my jingly-jolly favorites, but figured someone would check me in to the Athens Lunatic Asylum if I tried.  Thankfully, it's December - and I can listen to as many *ho**ho**ho*s and *ding* *dong* *dings* as I please!

To get my Christmas music fix, I tune in to 93.3 WLZT-Columbus the entire length of every single workday.  Their playlist is extremely long with tons of variety, the DJs have vibrant personalities, and they give away tons of prizes throughout the holiday season.  (Last year, I won tickets to see Mariah Carey!)


As for favorite songs, "Sleigh Ride" by the Ronettes is THE one. It must be the Ronettes version. Must. Fast-paced, retro, and fun, it makes me want to go frolic in the snow! I have it set as my ring tone, and lucky for you, I found a less-than-decent video with decent sound quality on Youtube. Please, listen. And feel free to get up, dance around, and smile - it's a totally normal response to this super happy holiday tune!



The following songs round out my top 10 Christmas tunes list:
2. Wham! - Last Christmas
3. Carpenters - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. Vince Guarauldi - Christmastime is Here (aka Charlie Brown Christmas) 
5. Burl Ives - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
7. Elvis Presley - Here Comes Santa Claus
8. Michael Buble - Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
9. Jackson 5 - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
10. Carrie Underwood - Do You Hear What I Hear?

Mariah Carey's version of "Christmastime is Here" - ya know - the Charlie Brown tune - is absolutely amazing, and can be purchased on itunes from her newest album, "Merry Christmas II You".

I'm going to sign off with a fantastic video of my family singing a classic tune originally released by the Dixie Cups in 1964 and later recorded by the Ronettes. Enjoy my fam's version of "Chapel of Love", performed last week on Thanksgiving Day!

25 Days of Christmas and Mom's Pitchforks

Join in the Fun!



On the 4th day of the 25 Days of Christmas, we're blogging about movies!

 I have to admit, I'm not a big Christmas-themed movie watcher.  I love them, but hardly ever take a time out to enjoy watching one during the holiday season.  The movies I tend to gravitate toward this time of year "take me back" a decade or two. Not all of them are Christmas themed, but still carry that holiday-cozyish spirit; many of them were my favorites as a kid, and I would spend my entire holiday break(s) watching them over and over.  My Christmastime faves:

And of course, who can forget Shrek?!?

I was a late Shrek bloomer; I didn't watch any of them until after the Third came out on DVD! I totally jumped aboard the bandwagon when I received the Shrek boxed set of three as a Christmas present in 2007; I watched all of them in just a couple of days. I'm totally hooked. And I totally love Gingy the gingerbread man.

What are your favorite Christmas movies? Er, movies that you like to watch around Christmastime, if you're a weirdo like me? Blog about it and join up at Star & Jmo's 25 Days of Christmas!

Earlier in the week, I mentioned that I got a chance to sneak around my mom's West Virginia home and take a few pics of her decor while I was visiting for Turkey Day. I must share her style, because it's chic-country-cozy. She pulls it off, and with lots of effort.  You can't just slap a barn star on the wall and call it "country" - you've gotta be like my mom, put lots of thought into it, and search high and low for new pieces to add here and there: 

Of course she has the collegiate flags! (This pic was taken earlier in the fall.)

The backyard: It's spitting snow! The swing was put up for winter.

My favorite part is the fire pit.

Mom's had this for years - it's my favorite piece of wall decor! And appropriate - the room it's hanging in is definitely a cat nap cozy kind of room. 

You know what they say: "A house is not a home without a pitchfork".

Kitchen pic #1

I know it's dark, but dim lights are a big thing at mom's house.

So are antique popcorn poppers! (Be Merry!)

You know... the necessities. TV, CD player, Spice rack, Peppermints.

Currently burning: Cranberry Woods Candle by Slatkin & Co.

One of my favorite items - the Grand Central Station clock!

You can write on the rooster with chalk! Cool!

There are many a skinny cabinet in mom's home - in just about every corner :)

Fiestaware and a pitchfork! Goes together like a charm, who would have thought?

It's not uncommon to find Mac sleeping in the bathroom -

or anywhere else, for that matter!

The gorgeous tree - which she is planning to replace with a tall, "skinny" tree next year. Of course, she says that every year - for like, the past five years.

Now that you've taken a little tour of mom's West Virginia home, it's time to relax in at the "Cat Nap Inn".

As you can see, it's impossible to not feel cozy when visiting this home in the mountains of central West Virginia.  I spend most of my "visiting" time in a sleepy, lazy daze! And the magic that happens in the kitchen?  Let's just say that mom's brownies keep me coming back to WV.