#christmas tips

[abramsbooks]

RECIPE: Fudge Cake with Caramel-Bourbon Buttercream (from Christmas with Southern Living 2022)

This swoon-worthy layer cake is a chocolate-lovers’ dream!

Serves 16

Active: 1 hour

Total: 3 hours, 10 minutes

FUDGE CAKE

1½ cups bittersweet chocolate chips

½ cup butter, softened

1 (1-lb.) pkg. light brown sugar

3 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. table salt

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

1 (8-oz.) container sour cream

1 cup hot strong brewed coffee

1 Tbsp. (½ oz.) bourbon

CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup heavy cream

¼ cup butter, chilled and cut into ½-inch pieces

1 cup butter, softened

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

½ tsp. vanilla extract

¼ tsp. table salt

4 cups unsifted powdered sugar

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

8 oz. semisweet baking chocolate (2 [4-oz.] baking chocolate bars), chopped

6 oz. bittersweet baking chocolate (from 2 [4-oz.] baking chocolate bars), chopped

1½ cups heavy cream

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT

Shaved bittersweet chocolate

Prepare the Cake: Coat 2 (9-inch) square cake pans with cooking spray; dust with flour. Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl on MEDIUM (50% power) until melted, about 2 minutes, stopping to stir every 30 seconds. Stir until completely smooth.

Beat butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer on medium until combined, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating to combine after each addition. Add melted chocolate, beating until just combined.

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add to chocolate mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating on low speed to blend after each addition. Gradually add coffee, beating on low. Stir in bourbon. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake cake layers in preheated oven until a wooden pick comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans; transfer to wire racks to cool completely, about 1 hour.

Prepare the Buttercream: Place sugar and water in a saucepan; cook, stirring, over medium-high, until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Bring to a boil over medium-high. Cook, without stirring but swirling pan occasionally, until deep amber, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cream in a steady stream, stirring constantly. Stir in chilled butter until smooth; transfer to a bowl to cool, about 1 hour.

Beat softened butter and cream cheese in bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer on medium until creamy, 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla and salt. Add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, beating on low until smooth, 2 minutes. Add caramel; beat on medium until combined, 2 minutes. Beat in remaining 2 cups powdered sugar on low to combine.

Prepare the Chocolate Ganache: Microwave semisweet and bittersweet baking chocolates and cream in a microwavable bowl on MEDIUM (50% power) for 1 minute. Remove and stir. Microwave until melted, 3 to 3½ minutes, stopping to stir every 30 seconds.

Assemble Cake: Place 1 cake layer on a platter; pour half of ganache on top, allowing some to drip over edges. Freeze to set, about 5 minutes. Spread half of buttercream to edges. Top with remaining layer; repeat with remaining ganache and buttercream. Garnish with shaved chocolate.

From the editors at Southern Living, warm and welcoming holiday recipes and creative ideas for decorating, entertaining, and handmade gifts

Discover fun and creative new ways to decorate, entertain, and handcraft gifts for the holidays. Sparkling menus and easy décor ideas, along with more than 100 brand-new recipes from the professionals of the South's most trusted kitchen, make entertaining a breeze for celebrations of all sizes. Inside, the editors of Southern Living reveal their favorite cooking tips and make-ahead secrets that take the pressure off hosting and put the focus on family and friends. There is also a special gifts-from-the-kitchen section with recipes for treats to wrap and share. More than 200 photographs show off dazzling holiday decorations and table settings to try, plus inspired designs for holiday wreaths, trees, centerpieces, and mantel arrangements. Christmas with Southern Living is the go-to resource for everything you need to make your holiday bright.

For more information, click here.

[lucidsaintdahlia]

this holiday season, get festive by hanging any leftover entrails you may have from Dogsmeal Day up around your house!

[cwbullet]

Christmas: A time of family dysfunction

How to survive with your sanity after the holidays with your family. Christmas Bow I have often thought about a vacation in sub-Sahara Africa during the holiday season to avoid my family.  I guess I could play possum or just stop answering the door and phone.  I love my family, but ten minutes with them and I feel like Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation.  He needed help to make the perfect…

[thoughtsmillionaire]

Tips For Creating An Effective Christmas Activity Book

Are you looking to create a Christmas book that will bring joy to your family this holiday season? If so, then you’ve come to the right place! With the right tips and tricks, you can create an effective and fun Christmas book that your family can enjoy for years to come. In this blog post, we’ll discuss seven tips for creating an effective Christmas book of activities for the whole family. Whether it’s a book of puzzles, coloring pages, recipes, or games, your family will love having a special Christmas book to enjoy during the holidays.

Do you want to learn the BEST way to create Christmas Book click below

[bizadvisor]

Don't overspend this Christmas | By adding items for free shipping!

[magicalwildlifeknittingthing]

Just A Bunch of Christmas Vibes // Wednesday Whatevers

Just A Bunch of Christmas Vibes // Wednesday Whatevers

Hello everyone, I hope you’re having a lovely morning, afternoon, or evening! With Christmas literally right around the corner, I thought I’d share some last minute holiday cheer and just send you a slew of Christmas vibes. I’ve put together a wild assortment of Christmas mood boards, outfit inspiration, and even jokes just to pump up that holiday spirit inside you. Enjoy! P.S. still haven’t…

[thatsbelievable]

[me-writes-prompts]

:-“It’s finally Christmas!” Christmas prompts for your otp-:

(Looks like someone’s out of their writing block👀 Merry Christmas everyone!)

By @me-writes-prompts

Baking sugar cookies together :)))

Having snow ball fights and taking cute pictures of each other in the said snow fights!

Knitting Christmas sweater/scarves together!

Making snow flakes out of paper and hanging it as ornaments on their Christmas tree!

^^Decorating Christmas tree together

“You know…I always wanted to know how it feels to kiss under the mistletoe.” “We should do it.” “Wait, really?” “Yeah. Definitely. Let’s do it right now!”

“Can you like tell that I am who I am under the Santa Claus costume?” Their partner shakes their head thoughtfully. “No. Not at all, in fact you look like the Santa Claus himself.” “Hey! Be serious.” <3333

Cuddling in and having hot chocolate together while they watch hallmark Christmas movies :))

^^ “These movies never change do they?” “Yep, never. Just like you….*grins as their partner raises an eyebrow* that was supposed to be a compliment, sweetheart.”

“Why are you acting like the grinch on this fine Christmas morning?” “Me, acting like the grinch? Oh please, you’re wearing the grinch costume not me!”

They both dress up as Santas to surprise the other one. Lmaooooo chaos

Having a Christmas song themed karaoke!

When they hug each other to keep them warm <3

Sneaking a gift into their partner’s coat/pant pockets

“I could really use some help, babe.” They say, trying to hang the little star on top of the Christmas tree. “I believe you, you got this.” The other one says, intently watching them and trying not to laugh as they watch their partner struggle.

^^In the end, they help them out anyway

[wishingstarinajar]

A tiny belated New Year's gift for @stankychee with her Reverie and my Ephialtes enjoying a lot of sparkles!

*mwah* Hope you'll have a good year, Chee!

[fox-teeth]

Merychippus and a happy new year!

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Autism and the Christmas Season

The Autistic Teacher

[becca-e-barnes]

I’m feral for subby Bucky. I need him on the floor crying and begging for my pussy, a babbling bitch of a mess.

Okay love youuu💜

Maybe I've got too soft recently but I'm so into the thought of being sweet and gentle and encouraging with subby Bucky?

I can't stop thinking about how pretty he could look on his knees in dim bedroom lighting and the way it would accentuate those muscular thighs. He's naked, watching you, stroking his cock a little more frantically than you'd usually allow.

"Please." He sounds more composed than he looks and he's not afraid to keep eye contact with you while he begs.

"I need to feel you." He watches as you trail your finger gently across your own glistening sex, spreading your legs nice and wide so he's got a perfect view from the floor.

You don't respond. There's no sense in breaking a silence that heavy. Not when you know his mouth is watering, imagining the way you'll feel when you engulf his cock and then the way you'll taste while he licks his cum out of your freshly fucked pussy.

"I need you." He whispers, his mouth running faster than his brain. His dick throbs in his hand, precum dribbling down his shaft, over his fingers, making each stroke a little more slick.

"Then have me, sweetheart. I'm all yours." He didn't expect the softness in your voice or the way you tenderly hold his chin to pull him in for a kiss.

He's slipping just a little faster than he wants to but it feels lovely. He's safe, he's loved, he's free to explore interests he's never given much time to and it's all starting to feel quite comfortable and natural to him.

"I love you, I hope you know that." You whisper, kissing his forehead while you line his tip up to your entrance.

"Oh God." He whimpers, his head falling onto your shoulder because he can't look at you now. Not as he's pressing into you and you're being so gentle with him. It'll be overwhelming and he simply can't have that.

"I love how you make me feel. I love getting to see you like this." You coo softly, stroking the back of his head, enjoying his hot, erratic breathing on your neck.

Inch by inch, he slides inside you. It's slow and reverent and considerate and downright perfect.

"You don't need to last, sweetheart. Let me take care of you for now and we can go a little bit longer later." Your offer isn't one he can turn down. He's been too aroused for too long and taking the edge off is exactly what he needs so he can focus on your pleasure.

His thrusts from then on are much faster, his tip rubbing your sweet spot delightfully and while it's not enough to get you off, it leaves you arching yourself closer to him.

It doesn't take long for him to become a babbling mess, panting and moaning against your neck, begging to be allowed to cum inside you.

"I'm so proud of you." You remind him, holding him as close as you can. There is no closer than this; not with him inside you but it still feels important to be unreserved in how much you want him. "I'm so proud of you. It's okay sweetheart, I've got you. You're okay, I've got you."

You feel his hips stutter, his shaft pulsing and throbbing as he shoots his first load into you, buried as deep inside you as he can manage. There are a few tender moments where you just hold him, kissing his broad shoulders while he catches his breath, letting him get comfortable on your chest.

[cwbullet]

Christmas: A time of family dysfunction

Christmas: A time of family dysfunction

How to survive with your sanity after the holidays with your family. Christmas Bow I have often thought about a vacation in sub-Sahara Africa during the holiday season to avoid my family.  I guess I could play possum or just stop answering the door and phone.  I love my family, but ten minutes with them and I feel like Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation.  He needed help to make the perfect…

[helluvatimes]

A First Glimpse Of Poinsettias

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) standing by for the upcoming A Botanical Christmas with Carl Linnaeus in the Flower Dome. Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

This was taken at a dimly lit lay-by in the conservatory and the ISO was pushed up to 6400 to get a decent shutter speed. Details therefore didn’t seem to look as good.

[toadallytickles]

Omg at work today my coworkers were in a group talking and I overheard one say sadly, “I wish I was-“, then disagreement from the others. I pipe in and ask what she wishes… and no one is going to believe me …. I can’t believe it, but ..

She wished she was ticklish.

I immediately go back to whatever I’m doing with an “oH—” because I short circuit for a few seconds. Any w a y. 🙂 wish I heard the whole conversation

[silly-boozer]

Sat down and did a LD/Neil cic doodle page. Pretty proud of it. Remember not to sit for a long time gang and have a Jaws dance break in between.

Click on image because tumblr fucks up the quality for everything. Close ups under cut. Please make sure to reblog art! it helps me and so many other artists.

Very proud of my VM and Clown Circus design, feel free to ask about any of the drawings in my ask box :]