How To: Properly Wrap a Present

In high school I worked as a sales assosicate at a Hallmark store. While working at the store I learned a lot about presentation, and how to make gifts look absolutely beautiful. Boxes are probably the easiest things to wrap, so if you’re giving an awkwardly shaped gift, putting it in a box first is the easiest solution. The hard edges allow you to create a tidy and professional-look. Here is how Hallmark taught me how to wrap a gift.

Step 1: Place the box face down on the paper, and pull up the short side and secure it with a piece of tape.

 Step 2: Fold the other side in about an inch.

 Step 3: Secure the folded side to the paper that you already secured down.

Step 4: Turn the present right way up and fold down the overhanging paper against the side of the box that remains exposed.

Step 5: Press in two side folds, smoothing the edges to give a clean finish. Next fold the bottom flap up to cover all the edges creating an envelope effect.

 Step 6: Secure with tape. Turn over and repeat the process for the other side.

How To: Make a Blanket Scarf

Blanket scarves have been trendy for the past few years, and it looks like the trend is here to stay for awhile. While roaming around Joann Fabric I found some absolutely gorgeous fabric that would make a beautiful scarf, and decided to buy two yards and create my very own blanket scarf - all you have to do is fray the edges.

Material List: 
2 yards of your chosen fabric. I used cotton flannel from Joann Fabrics (7.99 /per yard)
Measuring Tape
Scissors
Needle.  

Step 1: Cut down the width of the fabric to 25” wide (x72” long).  Use the fabric’s plaid grid as a guide when cutting your fabric to help you create straight, clean cuts. 

Step 2: To create on the ends of the scarf, simply remove the fabric’s weft yarns (the yarns that run left to right) along the short side of the fabric. I used a needle to release the yarns. Continue removing yarns until you reach your desired fringe length. I decided on 1 ½” fringe. 

Step 3: Repeat step 2 on the opposite end of the fabric. You should now have fringe on both of the short sides of the scarf.

 {I cut on the white line}

 {How I pulled up the yarns}

Coffee Swirl Yogurt Bread

One of my favorite family traditions is Christmas morning while unwrapping gifts, my mum would always have a beautiful array of breads, coffee cake, cookies and more. Despite the fact that my brother and I are no longer little, we still enjoy past traditions. We both now bring goodies to add to our Christmas morning breakfast and this year I will be sharing my coffee swirl yogurt bread. If you know me, you know that I absolutely HATE the taste and smell of coffee. However, this bread does not smell or taste anything like coffee - not to mention it's super addicting.

Coffee Swirl Yogurt Bread
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
dash of salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup butter; softened
1 ¼ cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 cup plain yogurt
¼ cup international instant coffee mix (any flavor)

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350.
2. Grease and flour the bottom only of a loaf pan.
3. Mix flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder; set aside.
4. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Beat in flour mixture alternately with yogurt, beating until smooth after each addition.
7. Remove 1 cup of the batter, stir in dry coffee
8. Pour half of the plain batter into the pan.
9. Drop coffee batter by spoonfuls onto batter in pan.
10. Add remaining plain batter.
11. Swirl batters deeply with handle of a spoon for marbled design.
12. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (about an hour).
13. Cool 10 minutes.
14. Loosen sides of loaf from pan and set on a wire rack.
15. Cool completely before slicing.