The week of Christmas never goes like I planned.
EVER.
As of right now, my house is a mess, I’ve only baked about half of what I originally planned on, and I’ve got a full box of blank Christmas cards I will not be mailing out.
Which is a total shame because they are stinkin’ hilarious.
I just want to be one of “those moms”. Is that so wrong?
I want to have cute little care packages of home baked goodies to give to all of my acquaintances, including my mailman.
I want to go caroling.
I want to have friends over for holiday cheer, and serve hot chocolate from a big pot on the stove.
I want to send out cards with a picture of my family sitting in front of the fireplace.
I want my toenails to be painted red with little Christmas designs.
None of that stuff is happening.
Not even the toe nail part. Seriously, if you could see my feet right now, you would so judge me and I wouldn’t blame you.
So, I make sure I wear cute boots. I don’t invite people over to see my messy house. And I bake cute, quick, and easy stuff that looks super duper time consuming.
It’s all an illusion. Which is fine, I think.
It’s much more fun to seem perfect and be a hot mess on the inside, anyways.
Some of you may remember my Cupcake Cupcake Toppers. They are my most popular creation yet, and I have run across many different versions of them on various blogs.
The thing I love most about them is that they are great in a pinch. I live an hour from any craft store, and I don’t always have the week it would take for a topper to arrive from an online store.
If you want a tutorial and list of ingredients, click HERE to view my original post.
For those of you needing a quick and easy candy recipe, I can’t recommend these enough:
These bonbons are from one of my all time favorite cookbooks, Southern Plate. They are also my husband’s favorite candy ever, and even my baby boy who hates coconut and pecans, loves them.
Of course, I didn’t tell him that there are coconut in pecans in them.
The author of Southern Plate, Christy Jordan, has never featured this recipe on her blog, but so kindly gave her blessing for me to share it on mine.
She is really sweet and awesome like that.
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds confectioners sugar
One 14-ounce can (1 2/3 cups) sweetened flaked coconut
2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine, melted
1 package chocolate almond bark, for coating
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients except the almond bark well with your hands and form into balls with damp hands. Place on cookie sheets and refrigerate. Melt the chocolate bark by heating in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until completely melted. Dip the bonbons into the topping with a toothpick. Refrigerate before serving.
If a Mexican wedding cookie and a chocolate bonbon got married and had a baby, it would taste like this candy.
Okay, that sounded really weird.
You know what I meant, right?
If you haven’t checked out the Southern Plate blog or cookbook, I really encourage you to do so. All of Christy’s recipes I have tried so far have been completely yummy, and her book would make an excellent and inexpensive Christmas gift.
Now that you have a super easy cupcake and candy recipe in your arsenal, you can join me in creating the illusion of Christmas Mom Perfection.
(But we can still eat our kid’s Fruit Roll-Ups and drink cheap white wine, don’t worry)
Happy Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!!
Oh my sweetness..I am so making those bon bons!
SOO making them!
and this is the first day the entire month that I feel like I can breathe. The season has overtaken me and I am a little bummed because I haven't had a chance to enjoy it all.
But, know this..if we lived closer I would totally come over and drink hot chocolate…and of course I would call first ;)
I don't care for coconut either, I'm with your little one on that, but my dad and the fiancee love it, so I might have to try those. Just a side note — why are they called coffee can bonbons? Is it because they are cheap, so they're more likely to be out of a coffee can (or from your coffee can money) rather than an expensive box? I also love your toppers and have done them a couple of times. So fun and they look adorable!
Thanks for the quick & easy ideas! Long time listener, first time caller, OMG! Can I just tell you how much I love reading your osts everyday! Love your blog, your attitude and how you always say what the rest of us are thinking :) I'm so relieved I'm not the only one who wants to look incredibly well composed and "super-mom-ish" but is a major last minute Larry and a big hot mess on the inside! Thanks for helping so many, well me anyway, feel more normal during this crazy time of year! Totally making the bonbons!
LOL no one likes the perfect mom/wife/person anyway! oh and i need a pedicure like you would never believe….
Oh I love all of those ingredients. This needs to happen in my kitchen, if not for this weekend, for New Years.
I try to be "that person" too. It's not possible. At least, not for me.
You crack me up! And these look delicious.
I totally know what you mean! I always try to be more prepared, but it never works out that way. I have these visions of getting professional Christmas cards made up and mailing them all over the country. I think making presents is so much more personal and sweet too. It's the thought that counts right?
Here's how on top of things I am. Yesterday during a playdate my boys' friend sat down in a chair and my darling son told her "Don't sit there, that's the laundry chair!" Thanks for making normal seem much more entertaining that it really is! Have a very Merry Christmas!
I love your Christmas version of the little cupcake topper and cupcake! So cute! I love the jumbo sprinkles too. This post made me laugh, which helps defuse some of my own holiday stress:)
I've been a follower of yours for a while now and I just wanted to thank you for always providing me with a much needed laugh through your posts. You are a joy! And your baked goodies are always both adorable and delicious!
Thank you and here's wishing you the picture perfect Christmas this year.(We can all dream, right?)
Um, I love this post. Not only the SWEETS, of course, but everything you wrote about getting ready for Christmas!!!! I'll just add a big, fat DITTO to that.
{PS…treating myself to a pedicure today! MY toes need it more than yours, I bet!}
well I found you through twitter tonight and I am so glad I did! your hilarious! here I am 2 days before Christmas semi organised ….no that's a big fat lie lol I am sitting here laughing at your funny blog instead of cleaning and baking :-/ I will however be making a note of your delicious recipes and promise to make them ooohhh sometime soon! x
Love your blog! I have tried only a few recipes, and come mostly for the funny stuff you have to see. Cheers!
sweetblissinfl.blogspot.com
P.S. I added your button to my blog!
Awesome post. The bonbons look wonderful.
Psht on all the coconut haters. I LOVE coconut. Almond Joys are fantastic. ;) Thanks for the recipe!
Could those toppers be any cuter! And you get a bonus Reese's!! I hate that I missed your original post but will definitely keep these in mind next time I make cupcakes! Thanks
Que ricoooos.
Feliz Navidad.
Your cupcakes are so pretty and the bon-bons…irresistible! I think most of us are in the same boat as you when is comes to preparing for the holidays and those who aren't probably forgot to cook, bake, buy, decorate, wrap or mail something! Have a wonderful, panic- free Christmas with your family and loved ones.
I just wanted to wish you and your family a wonderful and fun holidays season and a happy New Year! I hope Santa spoils you with more fun baking supplies and sprinkles to be creative with and people would judge my feet too if they saw them so you're not alone! Merry Christmas!
I want those bon bons for breakfast. Seriously. And I already had like 4 cookies for breakfast.
Your cupcake cupcake topper link goes to a fudgy cookie post…. Unless I’m missing something…. but I did read another post that was hilarious and that I can totally relate to! I always ask my 7 year old those same questions and get the same generic, vague answers usually… or “Dad/Grandma/Grandpa already asked me that” since I’m the last one home to see him usually… sad face….
:) love these things!
Thanks, girlie, I fixed it!! It was going to my home page…since my move to WordPress a few of my old links got messed up. Merry Christmas!!
Awesome, I am going to make my 13 year old step-son his birthday (which is on Christmas) cake a Naruto one with them fighting in the forest-using the ice cream cones for trees…so I’m looking up the best way to pipe on the leaves and such… ;) IF I can find the Naruto toys of course… I haven’t heard you mention your son liking Naruto-is that on his radar? Merry Christmas to you as well!
We all wish we could have everything in line and perfect for Christmas. But my house is a mess, and I sit here on the computer….such is life!
Love the cupcake toppers, and what a great candy to put on them!
I want to be one of THOSE moms too and sadly I am not. I do try, I feel like I fail miserably all of the time. I guess I should take come credit for going to help make 24 gingerbread houses on my lunch hour yesterday and the fact that I didnt go the gym all week and baked cookies at 5 am.! I am still not done wrapping or shopping I am not done baking and I too want to do fun stuff, but as a working mom, I lose out on much just keeping a roof over the head of my family. Christmas can be VERY depressing but your blog just made me realize that I am not alone….and you made me laugh and today I needed that.
Yeah I quit my career to become one of those moms and ya know what? I became less of one, I learned to enjoy the mess and my kids while I can. I got to slow down and wouldn’t change a thing. My sons friends came over yesterday (2 brothers, their parents are great friends of ours). The younger boy walks in my house and says “this place is a mess”. I told him that was rude and he said he was sorry, he’s is a sweet boy. His older brother says “that’s ok I live in a very messy house it doesn’t bother me”. I love him and his messy house!
But i forgot to add, I did find time for a pedicure last week before the kids got out of school…
Merry Christmas, you make me smile, alot! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year1 Kit
I can totally relate to your post. I’m still searching for the top of the dining room table and the tree was JUST decorated. No wonder stores start putting things out in October!
Thanks for making us laugh – it takes the stress away!! Also -thanks for the adorable cupcake cupcake toppers & those yummy coffee can bonbons. That’s why there’s elastic waistbands, correct?!
Wishing you a reasonably stress-free Merry Christmas & look forward to seeing what unfolds for you in the coming New Year!
I too, am one of those mom’s. My son is 38 and I still have a roll of film waiting to be developed with his baby picture on it. The candy sounded wonder, and will make it. Thanks!
O.K. It is now Feb. 4, 2012 and I’m still laughing. You win the prize, take the cake. Congrats!
Now I don’t feel like such a failure. I was so happy today that I got my son’s Christmas presents in the mail and they will get there on Dec. 24th, I did a jig in the post office. Everyone high-fived me from the line as I left. LOL
Merry Christmas to you!!! xoxo