a sweet little Christmas boutique

I did a little Christmas shopping today 

at our local school's Christmas boutique. 

Here are some of the cute things 

I came home with...

Lovely little mercury-glass votives that my friend Kimaleigh was selling 

Hand made birch bark votives and a little "Joyeux Noel" zinc tag from Linda Morgan. 

"Joyeux Noel" 

Here is the zinc tag on my apothecary jar

Amy makes the best Black Russian Rum Cakes every year and they sell out quickly!
Aren't they cute in these little ceramic bread dishes?
{scroll down for recipe at the end of this post}

Heidi from Chateau Designs makes these wine bottle votives out of re-purposed wine bottles
and then makes cute wine labels for them and fills them with a candle..  What a great idea!

Heidi also makes these great pillows, cubes and "fun saks" in a varietyof fabrics.
I got a black and white chevron accent pillow. 

Andrea Luna Reece creates 
and sells these sweet little owls, succulents and more.  

Amy's Black Russian Cake

1 box yellow cake mix 

1 large package chocolate pudding mix

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup strong coffee (prepared and cooled...I use leftover coffee from the morning)

1/4 cup Vodka

1/4 cup Kahlua

Glaze:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon rum extract 

Mix together all ingredients. I make these in cupcake form and in mini loafs (makes 6 mini loafs filled 3/4 high) 35 minutes, cupcakes less time. Remove from pan and cool slightly.

Glaze:  Bring ingredients for glaze to a boil and pour over cake.(I use about 1/2, some like more).

Dust with powdered sugar after it cools.  Serve with blackberries, raspberries and mint.

Great cake that some say tastes even better the next day.  Just freshen up with more powdered sugar and berries.

ciao! fabiana