MiniMolli

Check it out, make your own and be sure to leave a comment with a link for me to see! Enjoy!

You can also see mine here.

Apparently we're supposed to post our favorite HNT pic of the year. However since I haven't been doing this very long you can still see my favorite on this page. Scroll down to Happy HNT! from Dec. 15. Or click here. That is by far my favorite so far.

I love the stockings in this photo. I actually forgot I had them until recently. I bought them in Norway and I definately don't wear them enough! Happy HNT!!

Oh, I almost forgot - no new beads to post yet. All the beads from last week turned out horrible. I think the annealer was too hot and they all got gunk on them and lost some of their shape. Oh well, live and learn. Just means I'll know better next time.

It's official the "Time to Make the Donuts!" gentleman died. In other news, Gnat has heart palpatations, but was reached for comment and quoted:
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!".

Happy HNT! Apparently we are supposed to do some special christmas hnt today but since I never got the memo I'm not doin it! nah. I took this photo a couple of weeks ago. You can sort of see xmas lights in the background. We have the lights strung across the brick face of our fireplace. No lights on the mantle this year, not only because they caught on fire last xmas but because we STILL haven't replaced the mantle. I know, we suck.

I worked at the glass shop again last night. I think I made about 7 or 8 beads in 3 hours. Stay tuned for photos I still have to go pick them up today. Cross your fingers that none of them broke.

Oh, and you might notice I've removed the link to the gnat on account of he really sucks and he deleted his blog. I really don't know why except that he wasn't happy with the direction it was going. Maybe he'll start a new one for those of us who really like reading his random mind dumps. Huh gnat? huh? huh?!

I think this may be my new addiction. While I do enjoy glassblowing that damn furnace is so freakin hot! If you've ever been in a glass shop you know what I mean. My skin literally breaks out if I stand near it too long. 2300 degrees will do that to you. I know that your body builds tolerance to the heat after a while but damn it's hot!

Maybe I'll get into it more after the furnace is built at the house and I can practice in the back yard whenever I feel like it. But, until then I'm hooked on flameworking. There's something about playing with a large flame and molten glass. It's mesmerizing, relaxing, yet energizing all at the same time. I can't wait to do it again.

Here is a sample of what I've made so far. I know they're not very exciting but I'm still a beginner. I'm allowed to suck for a while. This shit is a lot more difficult than you think!

Oh, and on a side note: WARNING: Christmas Party + open bar + owner who lets you refill your own beer from the tap = Not so good Monday morning.
On days like today it comes in handy to be able to work on the couch in my pajamas!

Butterscotch Coconut Cookies

(You can thank Williams Sonoma for this awesome recipe.)
I've made these cookies several times and they always dissapear almost immediately. They're great for parties but save some at home for yourself or else you won't get any...

1 1/3 cups flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup unsalted butter at room temp
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups sweetened shredded dried coconut
1 ½ cups butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 325. Have ready 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Sift the flour, baking powder, paking soda, and salt together onto a sheet of waxed paper and set aside.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer on high, cream the butter until fluffy and pale yellow. Add the granulated and brown sugars and continue beating until the mixture is no longer gritty when rubbed between your finger and thumb. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on low until blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed or stir with a wooden spoon just until blended. Add the coconut and butterscotch chips, mixing or stirring just until blended.

With damp hands, shape the dough into 1-inch balls or drop by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies until golden brown around the edges, about 15 min. Let cookies cool briefly on the pans on wire racks before transferring them to the racks to cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
Enjoy!!

I told you I'd end up only posting once a week! I actually almost forgot about HNT but Gnat promptly reminded me this morning ;)

So you may or may not notice I've changed the look of my blog. I didn't like the old template at all so I sort of put together another one. I like it - for now.

On to the HNT (half nekkid thursday). I think it's a fun idea and a reason to take creative photos. Plus, who wouldn't like seeing half nekkid pictures of strangers once a week?! There's a link to the rules/descriptions on the sidebar. It will also give me a reason to try and post at least once a week.

So, here's my photo for today - it's a little shy but maybe i'll warm up in the weeks to come.