Saturday Snapshot {December 7}

December is alive and kicking! We've been busy shopping, baking, and celebrating, some of which we're capturing in this week's wintry snapshot:

1. GrayPaperie, a new shop that makes chic and trendy announcements, greeting cards, and invitations, is worth a look! Check out the shop, and enter to win a digital download of your choice!
2. ComfyFeely's easy and cozy baby and children's clothes are too sweet. Take advantage of 20% off all month using the code 2013Anniversary!
3. We're walking in a winter woodsy wonderland! Check out our favorite ways the woodland trend is brought home!
4. Gingersnaps just may become your new holiday treat! This recipe is the best. (Seriously.)

Happy weekend, friends! Hope some of your time is spent cozying up by a fire with a cup of hot cocoa and one of those gingersnaps ;)

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Gingersnaps, Santa's New Favorite Cookie!

No matter how busy I may be during the holiday season, I always make time to bake gingersnaps. Ever since my mother-in-law introduced these to me, they have become a household staple from November to January. These cookies are delicious––chewy, spicy, slightly crunchy on the edges, perfect with a cup of coffee or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. And they are just lovely with their golden color and sugar crackle on top.

While these cookies need no improving, I couldn't help but try out my new reindeer cookie cutter. Except for learning (again!) the hard way that dough must be extra chilled to make cut-out cookies, they were easy and enjoyable to make. Simple white piping along the edge, a cinnamon candy nose, and a mini chocolate chip eye bring these cookies to life. (You can find this cookie cutter at P.S. I Love You Too, in case you're interested! It comes with a santa hat cutter, too!)

Chewy Gingersnap Cookies

Cream together:
3/4 cup butter, room temp.
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg

Blend together:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 teaspoon cardamom

Mix all ingredients together, adding in the dry ingredients to the wet little by little.

To make classic round cookies, use a cookie scoop (or your hands) to make balls, then roll the balls in white sugar. Place an inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. To give as a gift, stack cookies in a mason jar, top with a white paper doily, and make someone quite happy!

To make gingerbread cutout cookies, you must refrigerate the dough until it is firm (overnight, if possible). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Generously flour your work surface and rolling pin, then roll out half of the dough to an even 1/4 inch thickness. (Put the rest of the dough back in the fridge to keep cold.) Dip your cookie cutter in flour for each use. Cut, then place cookie on a cookie sheet, leaving about an inch between cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for six minutes. Let cool completely before decorating. (These turn out a bit harder than the traditional round version, so they'll hold up nicely when decorating.)

White Icing
Mix together 1.5 cups powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon almond milk (add more as needed), a drop of vanilla extract, and a dash of salt. You want your icing to be thick so it pipes easily.

Decorate reindeer by piping the edge with white icing, then adding a red cinnamon candy for a nose and a mini chocolate chip for an eye.

Aren't they the cutest? Cute enough to eat, that's for sure.

And eat them, I will! Try them, friends. I know you'll love them deerly.
*Sorry for all the animal puns lately. I'll try to stop. ;)

We're sharing this recipe with Domestic Superhero!

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Trends Brought Home: Wintry Woodsy Wildlife {Pinterest and Local Round-Up!}

We're feeling foxy these days! That's right: thanks to the wintry woodland trend out there, we've fallen for just about anything with a fox, moose, deer, or bunny on it!

Today, we're sharing our favorite woodland-inspired DIYs and tutorials, as well as a few fantastic local items that you simply moose know about.

First up, our favorite pins from our Woodland Wildlife board. There's a bit of everything here, from simple fingerprint art to fun party cups to beautiful printable tags. Find the full tutorials and printables at the links below.

1. Faux Pallet Deer Head Art by Lolli Jane {Tutorial}
2. Woodland Creatures Gift Tags from Lia Griffith {Free Printable}
3. Funky Moose Party Cup {Tutorial}
4. Whimsical Woodland Animal Cookies from Dollhouse Bake Shoppe {Tutorial}
5. Anthro-Inspired Blooming Deer Pillow by Sew Homegrown {Pattern and Tutorial}
6. Foxy Tights from Anthropologie
7. Woodland Friends DIY Felt Finger Puppets from Lia Griffith {Pattern and Tutorial}
8. Fox and Friends Fingerprint Art by Rudy and the Dodo {Tutorial}

Rather shop than tackle a DIY? Check out some of our favorite local items...just in time for Christmas decorating and shopping!

Love You Deerly Print by Anchor and Vine

fox says ting ting necklace by make pie not war

Birch Wood Deer Tags by Distressed Beautiful

Red Moose Custom Sign by Junk in the Trunk 559

Bunny necklace with custom name charm by juliethefish

Rustic Moose Invitation by GrayPaperie

Custom Woodlands Set by ComfyFeely

What do you think about this trend? Do you love it deerly?

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Meet this month's Cream of the Crop! {ComfyFeely: Handmade Children's Items}

This month's Cream of the Crop is ComfyFeely, a local Etsy shop that specializes in bright and comfortable items for babies and toddlers. Since the shop's feature in September (read the post here), ComfyFeely has grown, adding soft toys, bags, and dolls to the collection. We think these items are perfect for Christmas stockings and gifts, and the best part is that the shop is currently having a 20% off Anniversary sale! (Use code 2013Anniversary at checkout.)

While I love the shop for what it offers, it is most dear to my heart because of Debbie, the owner and creator of each and every item. She is my sweet mother-in-law, and I can honestly say she is one of the kindest people I know! When you purchase from her shop, not only are you going to receive a one-of-a-kind item (most of which are completely reversible...love that!), but you are also helping her continue her ministry of donating a ComfyCare Set to every baby born through the Care Pregnancy Center of Tulare County. Each mama receives for her baby an entire set of brand-new, hand-made items from ComfyFeely, which includes a blanket, a coordinating outfit, booties, a bonnet, and now a soft toy. 

Check out our favorites below, and be sure and take advantage of the sale this December!

1. Reversible Zoo Animals Comfy Cover
2. Gray Pony Softie Toy
3. Festive Vest & Bowtie
4. Handbag and Softie Doll Set
5. Reversible Lime Hooded Jacket
6. Drawstring Backpack 

Thanks for supporting Citrus and Cream, Debbie! And happy anniversary!

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Local Highlight: GrayPaperie {Custom Invitations, Announcements, & Greeting Cards}

Every time I throw a party, I make a grand plan to create beautiful invitations. The problem is always the same, though: Time quickly gets away from me, and my beautiful invitations get demoted to a Facebook invite, or even worse, a last-minute text.

In comes Meghan of GrayPaperie to save the day! This lovely Etsy shop is stocked full of sweet invitations, announcements, party printables, and holiday cards––all customizable and all easy to order as digital files or prints. You will love the chic and trendy options Meghan provides, but if there is something specific you're looking for, she'll work with you to create it. Read on to learn more about GrayPaperie!

Tell us about yourself!
I am a wife to Jeff, the tallest and kindest man you’ll meet. I am a mommy to Jack, the cutest and chattiest two and a half year old I know. And I’m a volleyball coach at CVC to the very recent 2013 Valley Champions! I am the daughter of a third generation dairy farmer which makes Jeff number 4. And most importantly, I am the daughter of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ!

What does GrayPaperie offer?
GrayPaperie is an Etsy shop that offers printable invitations, announcements, and photo greeting cards. While I do offer professional printing services, the bulk of business is simply for the design of an invitation at a reasonable cost that the customer can then print as many times as they like from home, from a local printer, or from an online printing company.

Why and how did you get started selling?
I have always loved art and have been interested in graphic design. I bought an ancient version of Photoshop Elements at a garage sale and started working with it, learning as I went. Soon I was designing cards and invitations for family members. I created an invitation for my sister’s baby shower and she insisted that I start an Etsy shop to sell it. Kacie has a way of getting me to get things done that I normally wouldn’t, so thanks to her, GrayPaperie got its start six months ago.

What does your week look like as a shop owner?
Life is busy right now between being a stay at home mom, a volleyball coach, and a math tutor. I usually find time in the evenings to work on fulfilling Etsy orders and creating new designs. I love designing––it doesn’t feel like work.

What is your inspiration for creativity?
I like to take popular trends and put them to paper. I also like to draw, so some of the designs in my shop are inspired from doodles of mine.

I love that I get to use this love and gift of mine to serve my church family. Some of the designs I have posted on Etsy originated as flyers or invitations for events at Grace Church of the Valley.

How can people request a custom order?
I love working with customers until I’ve created a design they love, whether it’s an invitation that sets the tone for the party they’ve planned or an announcement that captures the moment they are sharing. To request a custom order, email me at graypaperie@gmail.com or go to GrayPaperie and click on the blue button labeled “Request Custom Order.”

What’s playing on your iPod? The Rend Collective.

Some things I couldn’t live without are…the word of God, my phone, and my retainer.

My top five faves this month are...Thanksgiving dinner, volleyball playoffs, colored leaves, sweaters and Jack’s newfound love for the song 10,000 reasons by Matt Redman. 

Stay connected with GrayPaperie by favoriting her Etsy shop and following her Pinterest board. And contact Meghan directly by e-mailing her at graypaperie@gmail.com.

As a special treat for Citrus and Cream readers, Meghan is offering 10% off, just in time for the holidays! Simply enter the code citrusandcream at checkout, and you'll receive 10% off your order until December 16th.

And if that isn't sweet enough, Meghan has a gift to give! Enter the giveaway to win a printable card, invitation, or announcement! In order to enter, you must favorite GrayPaperie on Etsy or pin a GrayPaperie item, then do as many other entries as you can!
a Rafflecopter giveaway Meghan, we're so glad to have gotten to know you! Thanks for sharing your shop and talent with us!

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