SHUTTERFLY!

Above are a few of my favorite Holiday cards from Shutterfly this year! I have ordered Holiday cards from Shutterfly and have also gotten birth announcements from them. I was not disappointed. I loved them! The patterns are darling... in fact, I always have a hard time choosing which to use because they have so many wonderful options! They are great quality and look beautiful fresh out an envelope or in our scrapbooks.

I have also used Shutterfly for their photo books. I have yet to print them but have my little Vance's first year recorded. I loved that I can save my photos this way, but also that I can journal as much as I wanted in the book, too! These make great gifts. They also are perfect scrapbooks for those of who hate the scissors, stickers, glitter, and pens that are needed to make your own scrapbook.

Here are some ideas for last minute gifts this year...

Photo Gifts

(I want to do a puzzle for my boys. They would love putting together a picture of our family at Disneyland!)

Calendars

(Perfect for Dad's office!)

Address Labels

(Great to speed up the Christmas card sending process or they also make a great gift. My mom dig's things like this!)

I know we all love Shutterfly!!!! What are your fave's?

Look for our Holiday card in a mailbox near you!

*I am receiving 50 free cards for doing this blog, which is great. But the opinions here are mine~ I have always loved Shutterfly!

39 Favorite Fall Desserts

Pumpkin Squares with Cider Caramel Sauce

Pumpkin Pie-sicles

Check it out: 39 Favorite Fall Desserts!

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie

Prepared by Chef Tom

www.cookwithtom.com

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 oz bag milk chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.

Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. (tip from Caren: you will need extra flour, if not, flat cookies. So I add about 1/2 cup or until the dough thickens up quite a bit and so it is not so sticky/runny like.) Stir in the chocolate chips.

Chill the dough (abt and hour or two- if not, flat cookies), then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. (tip from Caren: make'em big! abt golf ball size and then shape them into hockey pucks- that is what the creater suggested. makes a big thick cookie:) ) Bake for 11 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

For an added zing, top each cookie with a few crystals of either fleur de sel, or coarse sea salt.