Monday, December 6, 2010

monday musings: gift wrap

Today we are inspired by off the wall gift wrap. Here at S+S, the wrap is just as important the gift. We have included different themes for all of those different personalities in your life...

For the Anthropologie crazed...







For the traveling gnome...


add a luggage tag as the gift tag



For the glama gal...






For the recycled Target plastic bag enthusiast???



There has got to be one out there somewhere...

Diy post to come this week, as well as a recap from the cookie party. 

Thursday, December 2, 2010

S+S chow: simple sugar cookies

Lindsay will be hosting a Christmas cookie exchange party on Sunday. Guests each bring a few dozen of their favorite holiday cookies and the recipe to share. It is a fun way to celebrate the season and get some tasty new recipes! In anticipation of the party we wanted to share one of our favorites, these are the perfect cookies to decorate! enjoy!

Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough
Directions
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Divide the dough in half, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
                                                            
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sprinkle surface where you will roll out dough with powdered sugar. Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator at a time, sprinkle rolling pin with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thick. Move the dough around and check underneath frequently to make sure it is not sticking. If dough has warmed during rolling, place cold cookie sheet on top for 10 minutes to chill. Cut into desired shape, place at least 1-inch apart on greased baking sheet, parchment, or silicone baking mat, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are just beginning to turn brown around the edges, rotating cookie sheet halfway through baking time. Let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes after removal from oven and then move to complete cooling on wire rack. Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Featured on...

We are honored to be featured on Effortless Style's great designer blogs!!

deck the halls: wreaths

Wreaths make a big impression, as they are generally the first accessory noticed when someone walks through your front door. Whether you choose to display them outdoors, or even to jazz up a room indoors, they are a cheap and easy way to change the look of a space.

We have found some festive wreaths that would be extremely simple to recreate yourself. Every look below can be achieved with a trip to Michael's or a can of spray paint.








This makes for some creative reading...


We even made our own book page wreath here at S+S:

DIY post to come soon...

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

thanksgiving tablescape: S+S style

We know Christmas decorating is in full swing but we wanted to share with you the look we created for Lindsay's Thanksgiving table setting!


The peacock blue and gold from Eddie Ross' tablescape was the inspiration. The fabric was found in the remnants section at Joann's and napkins at World Market. The chargers, peacock feathers and votives were all Hobby Lobby finds.

deck the halls: mantels

In the spirit of Christmas, S+S feels that it is imperative to have an impressive display on our mantels in order to hold all of those goodies our loved ones will be placing in our stockings.

Mercury glass and to die for ornament jars...

Natural and vintage elements mixed with whites...

                                   

Perfect Stockings...

And for those of us that do not have the luxury of a mantel...

For those of us that do not have a piano...
If you don't have a piano or stairs, sorry. You are SOL. Be creative!

Here are a few items that we have found to achieve these looks


Mix and match different sizes and colors for your bauble jars






Monday, November 29, 2010

monday musings: deck the halls

This year we are both longing for a vintage Christmas tree adorned with gold and silver ornaments. Here are some of our inspirations...




Here are a few fun things we've found to get the look...








More Christmas decor inspiration, pictures of Lindsay's Thanksgiving tablescape and a silhouette ornament diy all coming soon!