Love and Splendor – Official Blog

Happy Monday, everyone!!  I’m back with part two of Vipula and Dan’s fabulous and over-the-top gorgeous wedding… and you are in for some SERIOUS eye candy!

Let’s pick up post-cocktail hour and move straight into the reception, where guests encountered bright fabric tenting, colorful lanterns with clutches of orchids, exotic feathers and flowers grouped into eclectic vessels, a sultry custom-built ‘destination’ bar and of course… an incredible chai & dessert tent, with cabinets overflowing with sweet treats and cozy settees and cushions for snuggling up with a warm cup of tea.

texture everywhere…

some dining tables were wooden tables topped with intricately beaded runners…

while other tables were draped in sumptuously colored fabrics

the “napkin rings” were tri-fold menus that had three sections listed: drink, eat, sweets!  guests could review the signature cocktails available at the bar, read about the decadent dishes they’d feast upon during the traditional Indian dinner, and whet their appetite for a selection of sweets.

i spy… custom-designed stationery (by love and splendor) and elephants galore…

lounges surrounded the dancefloor

sweet and saucy provided the magnificent cake and always-mouth-watering desserts :)

table for two…

i can’t get enough of these over-the-top florals!!  r. jack balthazar ALWAYS brings the magic.

and the most stunning bar you’ve ever seen…

…turned on the drama when the sun set

grand entrance & first dance

i love these two a lot.

and as the sun set, the colorful scene seamlessly evolved into a jaw-droppingly sultry celebration with the perfect mood lighting for dining & dancing!

—

I hope you loved soaking up all the details of this wedding as much as I enjoyed dreaming them up and now reliving them through these amazing images.  :)  Another round of applause and deepest thanks to a team made up of some of my very favorite people…

photography : The Image is Found // planning, design & coordination : Events of Love and Splendor // floral & event design : R. Jack Balthazar // venue : Saddlerock Ranch // stationery & all printed materials : Kristin, in-house graphic designer for Events of Love and Splendor // cinematography : Elysium Productions // catering : Chakra Beverly Hills + Huntington Catering // mixologists : The Cocktail Consultant // DJ : Red Shoe LA // rentals : Classic Party Rentals // linens : La Tavola // cake & desserts : Sweet and Saucy Shop // photobooth : Smilebooth // entertainment : Bollywood Step Dance // security : Sandman Security // valet parking : Premiere Valet

And of course, lots of love to Vipula & Dan whose trust in me gave me the inspiration to put this day together for them!

I’ll wrap this post with some fun “on the job” photos of the Love and Splendor ladies… because we truly love what we do and it shows!!!  :)

me getting some help adjusting my sari… i now own two of my own saris (gifts from clients — LOVE!!) and can honestly say wearing a sari makes me feel like a million bucks.  i would wear one all the time if i could!

me and anna banana, snapped by niki of r. jack balthazar

love and splendor.

Hope you all have a lovely Valentine’s Day tomorrow…

xoxo, Angel

NOTE: This wedding was beautifully featured last Friday on Style Me Pretty!  Check it out over there — we thank the lovely team at SMP for always being sweet supporters of our work!  xox

Hello everyone!!  Today I’m kicking off a two-part post of a vibrant Indian wedding I planned and designed last year.  I remember meeting Vipula and Dan for the first time at a local coffee shop and soaking up their vision.  They both desired a quintessentially Indian wedding, embellished in vibrant hues and dripping with luxurious, exotic details.  They were getting married at Saddlerock Ranch (my home away from home), but at a different venue — the Oak Grove.  It was the perfect setting for their larger guest count because it provided a blank slate for the layout of the celebration, as well as lots of open, flat space (which was important for the tenting they eventually decided on).  We capitalized on all that space by creating three unique ‘venues’ on their wedding day.

Their traditional Hindu ceremony was held under a custom-built mandap made by the floral and event designers/geniuses at R. Jack Balthazar.  Rene & Niki are two of my favorite people in the wedding industry and they and their team always over-deliver with their incredibly creative work.  The wooden structure was draped with floral garlands and hanging lanterns for a lavish look.  Cocktail hour was held on an adjacent lawn, featuring a bar staffed by professional mixologists offering signature cocktails with exotic ingredients such as earl grey-infused vodka, thyme, tamarind syrup and fresh mango puree.  Upholstered lounge furniture and embroidered pillows made for a luxe yet warm setting for imbibing.  I especially enjoyed working on the escort card table design here, which played on Vipula’s love of elephants.  Escort cards were cut using a custom-made elephant-shaped die, and then nestled in shallow bowls of fragrant and colorful spices.  The entire table was covered with elephant figures and statues to further play out the motif.

Guests were moved to a grand “village” of tents for dinner and dancing.  Instead of a single tent structure, we utilized “destination” tents for dining, a custom-built bar, and a dessert and chair lounge.  All of the tents surrounded an inner ‘courtyard’ of sorts, which featured more tables, cushy lounges and the dancefloor.  Sumptuous fabrics, abundant florals and plush furniture made for a spectacular setting that was decidedly extravagant while also intimate and warm.  Per usual, my dear friends at R. Jack Balthazar pulled out all the stops for this wedding and did not overlook a single detail in setting each opulent table.  The overall setting was nothing short of spectacular.  It was pure magic to watch Vipula and Dan’s guests, many adorned in splendid saris, mingling in the lavish scene.

Because there is just *too much* deliciousness to share in just one post, I’ve decided to break up this wedding posting into two parts.  Today I’m sharing photos of the couple, the ceremony + the cocktail hour.  I’ll be back soon with the reception images, so make sure to come back to check them out.  ;-)  In the meanwhile, cozy up with your cup of chai (I like mine with milk and a hint of vanilla) and enjoy the gorgeous images courtesy of Nate and Jac Kaiser of The Image Is Found — two of my favorite people and photographers on the planet.

meet vipula and dan :)

i was completely in love with all THREE of vipula’s saris that day…

a sheet separates the couple before they can see each other for the first time

absolutely adorable kiddos <3

sari #2 — possibly my favorite :)

cocktail hour!

since dinner would be an all-out Indian feast, cocktail hour featured vip & dan’s favorite American-style bites

tented cards are much more fun when they’re elephant-shaped :)

Lots and LOTS more to come!!  :)  In the meanwhile, I hope you have an inspired Wednesday.

VENDORS (because it takes a village to create a sumptuous ‘village’ like this one!)

—

photography : The Image is Found // planning, design & coordination : Events of Love and Splendor // floral & event design : R. Jack Balthazar // venue : Saddlerock Ranch // stationery & all printed materials : Kristin, in-house graphic designer for Events of Love and Splendor // cinematography : Elysium Productions // catering : Chakra Beverly Hills + Huntington Catering // mixologists : The Cocktail Consultant // DJ : Red Shoe LA // rentals : Classic Party Rentals // linens : La Tavola // cake & desserts : Sweet and Saucy Shop // photobooth : Smilebooth // entertainment : Bollywood Step Dance // security : Sandman Security // valet parking : Premiere Valet

—

xoxo, Angel

Hello dear readers!  I’m excited to announce the inauguration of a new blog feature here!  I’m calling it {the nuptial primer}, and it will be a category of posts dedicated to practical wedding planning information, insights and tips.  The goal is to address various FAQs and major planning topics encountered by brides, as well as feature the expertise and pertinent input of some of my favorite wedding vendors along the way!

My first entry in the nuptial primer will debut soon, so keep your eyes peeled for it!  In the meanwhile, I’d love to solicit your initial thoughts and questions for future posts in the primer! Let me know if you have a topic or inquiry I can address down the line.  What do YOU want to know about wedding planning?   Or, as a former bride (or even a wedding vendor), what do you think needs to be addressed?  I am hoping to make this feature as educational and profitable as possible, so I look forward to your suggestions.

I hope you’re all having a fabulous week!

P.S. Today I am 35 weeks pregnant, 36 days away from my estimated due date.  :)

xoxo, Angel

Happy Monday, loves!!  All this stormy weather would typically get me down, but I’m choosing to look on the bright side: I get to wear my favorite violet glossy Hunter wellies!  I’m also looking forward to a fun-filled week, with a friend’s baby shower to attend, my 34-week prenatal appointment and another baby shower for Olive!  This week follows two consecutively amazing weeks.  Just last week I took maternity photos with Jose Villa, a photographer who endlessly inspires me and is also a dear, dear friend.  I cannot wait to see the special images he captured of our family of three.  <3 Just saying that makes my eyes sparkle with tears.  (and hugs to Jose, who made this pregnant lady feel like a million bucks)  The week before that I got to spend lots of time with family, celebrate baby Olivia with not one but TWO ridiculously, overwhelmingly, beautiful showers (can’t wait to share with you!), and had the honor of being featured on Style Me Pretty!  :)  Right now my cup is just overflowing with blessings and opportunities to savor the moment!  I pray I am always as mindful as I am today of how very blessed I have been.

an iPhone snap from one of my showers — me + two of my dearest friends from middle school and high school!  and disclaimer: my drink was non-alcoholic!  it was a scrumptious raspberry fennel concoction made just for my shower, and i wish i could have one right now!

I want to spread the love today by sharing some random inspiration with you all.  Here are some of my “lately-loves”: the things and sites that have sparked my creative soul recently.

a new favorite — a whisper of gray, a muddled celery, rich guava, teal and a soft aqua.  (original post HERE — from design-seeds)

• Design Seeds: oh my goodness this website. I am obsessed!! If you follow me on Pinterest, you’ve surely had your feed clogged with my incessant pinning of color palettes from this site.  If you like exploring unique color combinations, you will LOVE this site.  Every palette is accompanied by the loveliest photo to further spark the imagination.  If you’re anything like me, you could spend hours scanning and pinning and dreaming.  And I do.

• The Hunger Games: It had been a while since I read a fiction work, so after having my curiosity piqued about this series, I picked up book one at my local library. I devoured it in 24 hours. Same goes for book two (although it was my least favorite), Catching Fire.  I just wrapped up Mockingjay a couple weeks ago, the final book in the trilogy, and loved it. I always enjoy a good futuristic dystopian novel. (Brave New World, anyone??) Watching the film trailer for The Hunger Games makes me cry every.single.time.  The casting is brilliant!  If you’re looking for a gripping read (or 3), check these out!  Dreams of the games have been haunting me for weeks now…

• Chic & Cheap Nursery: This is my latest favorite blog, thanks to the immense amount of beautiful real nurseries featured.  Although I can appreciate a lovely inspiration board, there is nothing like seeing a fully-styled real nursery (or wedding, for that matter) to really spark my creativity.  I am working on pulling together little Olivia’s nursery now and can’t wait to share it with you eventually…

• Mom’s One Line A Day Journal: I received this from my sister-in-law, Megan, for Christmas.  I’d had my eye on it for a while but didn’t mention it, and then surprise, surprise!  Meggie saw it and thought I might like it.  :)  I LOVE it.  It’s a five-year journal that has space for a few sentences (more than just one, haha) everyday.  I cannot wait to write about Olivia’s milestones and little memories once she’s here.  For now (I started on January 1st), I enjoy writing about my nursery-prep progress and the things that Erik and I are doing as we look forward to Olive’s arrival.  I cherish the few reflective moments I spend jotting notes into this journal each night.  It is something of a gratitude journal for me, as I am actively reminded to reflect on the sweetness of the day.

Today I am SO delighted to share this charming, woodland-themed wedding with all of you…  It is a wedding that is dear to my heart for so many reasons.  :)  First – Jess & Scott are two of the loveliest, most creative and wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.  (I know I always share a lot of love for my clients but honestly, can you blame me when I work with the best clients in the world??  You’ve seen this couple on my blog already HERE and HERE and HERE (which you MUST click to see their wedding video)!  Working with these lovebirds was a dream from start to finish, because they had an incredible artistic vision and the most insane vintage-hunting skills ever.  ;-)  Most of the unique decor and furniture was individually sourced by them at flea markets from here to Indiana! 

Secondly – this wedding vendor team was made up of some of my very favorite people.  It is always an extra blessing to work alongside people I love, who inspire me!  In this case, I was fortunate to have both Ryan Ray Photo & Cana Video Productions along for the celebration.

Finally – everything about this celebration is both stunning yet approachable.  Truly, I was obsessed with every detail and aspect of this wedding because the warm, intimate, rustic and oftentimes quirky (love!!) design made me smile all night long.  Likewise, I loved watching the joy spread over the faces of guests, unexpectedly discovering gnomes, forest creatures and enchanted mushrooms nestled amongst the flowers and candles on their dinner tables.  From heart-warming ceremony to tearful wedding preview video showing, to late-night bonfire s’mores-roasting… being at this wedding was bliss.  Thank you to Jess & Scott for allowing me to be a part of the magical day…

Today we are honored to have this lovely celebration featured *all day* on Style Me Pretty, one of my favorite places on the web to be inspired.  :)  Enjoy checking out Jess’s inspiration boards, as well as these feature posts (HERE and HERE) for all the beauty you can handle.  Photos are courtesy of the painfully talented Ryan Ray Photography, whose imagery moves my heart.  It is a blessing to call him friend.

guest tables were individually themed after woodland creatures: bear, owl, fox, and you know… dinosaurs!!  :)  each table featured miniature toys and trinkets in the shape of the highlighted animal.  you would not believe the goodies jess and scott discovered!!

{ Vendors }

• Photography: Ryan Ray Photography
• Cinematography: Cana Video Productions
• Event Planning: Events of Love and Splendor
• Venue: The Flying Caballos Ranch, San Luis Obispo
• Catering: Two Cooks Catering
• Rentals: Unlimited Event Rentals; a handful of gems were also sourced fromour friends at {found} and Casa de Perrin; the rest was thrifting treasure from Jess and Scott!
• Flowers: April Flowers + a lot of DIY with flowers we brought up from the LA flower mart :)
• DJ: Malik from Goodbeat Productions
• Cupcakes: Enjoy Cupcakes
• Pies: Linn’s of Cambria (the same place I lunched on Christmas Eve!)
• Baklava: Jaffa (this is a MUST if you are ever in SLO!)
• Hair and Makeup: Rhonda Johnson
• Bride’s dress: Saja
• Bride’s shoes: Re-mix Vintage Shoes “Anita”
• Groom’s bowtie: Forage Bow Ties

Enjoy your Tuesday, loves!! 

xoxo, Angel

Happy New Year, everyone!!  On this first Friday of 2012, I wanted to share my goals and decisions for the upcoming year.  Instead of “resolutions,” I like to call my annual list goals and decisions because I feel it separates the wishful/hopeful ideas from the firm decisions I resolve to make.  My sweetie Erik preached a great message last Sunday on making resolutions that stick.  One major key is your commitment to consistently, frequently reviewing the things you resolve to do.  I hope that my blog will be another source of accountability for me as I press forward with the following goals & decisions….

In 2012 I endeavor to…

• Write daily in my new “mom” journal.  More on this later… but I have already started and am really enjoying the simple habit of penning short & sweet notes to my little girl.
• Send more snail mail.  It is sheer delight receiving letters & packages in the mail (thanks to my dear friend, Jules, who recently sent me such a thoughtful and unexpected package!!).  I hope to spontaneously send little love notes and goodies to friends and family throughout the year.
• Blog more.  I LOVE blogging (and writing in general) and hope to share more of my inspiration, heart, and life with you all here.  Thank you for all of your amazing support + comments, which spur me on!
• Become an intermediate seamstress, sewing fun projects for the home and even little clothes for my baby girl!

In 2012 I WILL…

michelle, me, anna — photo by our dear friend amelia lyon

• Continue to seek and serve Christ with all my heart.  I want to further deepen and enrich my relationship with my Lord and Savior — this is the most precious, valuable, worthwhile relationship in my life and I intend to treat it that way!
• Prioritize my family.  This is sort of an “always” resolution, but with my firstborn daughter slated to make her arrival in a couple months (!), I am further devoted to cherishing my husband and child.  After years of thinking I may never be able to bear a biological child, I am ready to fully embrace the immense blessing that I have been given in this little girl.  I don’t want to have any regrets about how I spend my best time and energy.
• Give greater planning + coordinating responsibilities to Michelle, Anna, and the other talented ladies that make up the Love and Splendor team.  These girls have done numerous weddings for L&S without me present, but now it is really time for them to shine.  I look forward to watching them blossom with additional roles as lead planners/coordinators on a number of weddings this year.  Although many may equate Love and Splendor with *me* personally, we truly are a team here and I could not be more proud of and thankful for the women I work alongside.
• Learn how to make a killer apple pie (Erik’s favorite).

Fairly simple, right?  What are some of YOUR goals and decisions for the year ahead?  From your grandest dreams to your ‘smallest’ decisions, I’d love to hear about them…  Thanks for letting me share mine!

Enjoy a lovely weekend!  I am DYING for it to be next week already, as I have tons of excitement in store.  We will be sharing an amazing wedding with you next week (after it is featured on a favorite blog), and I’ll be updating you on my 32nd (ahhh!) week of pregnancy.  I also have two baby showers next week!  I am so humbled by the sweet ladies planning both showers and cannot wait to celebrate my daughter with so many of my favorite ladies.  <3

xoxo, Angel

I’m not sure how we got here, but we’re here — it’s the last day of 2011!  I, for one, couldn’t be more excited for the new year ahead.  2012 promises to bring some amazing and exciting changes to my life, including the birth of my first child… Olivia!  I look forward to continuing to share my life & passions with you here on this blog.  I just want to take a moment to thank each and every person who takes the time to stop by my little piece of the web.  Some of you are here to follow my wedding design + planning work, while others are simply friends (new and old) who like to keep up with my life.  I truly enjoy writing for this blog, reading your comments, and interacting with my readers.  Thank you again for your love and support!

For my last post of 2011, I thought I’d share some snapshots of what we did to celebrate Christmas last weekend.  It already seems like Christmas was months ago…except for the fact that our tree and decorations are still up.  ;-)  We always keep them up until post New Year!  Here is how we spent Christmas Eve + Christmas, celebrating with family and remembering the birth of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior…

On Christmas Eve… We spent the day at Hearst Castle, had lunch at Linn’s in Cambria (YUM) and went to an intimate Christmas Eve service at church.  Dinner was at delicious Ciopinot, a fabulous seafood restaurant in San Luis Obispo.

rounding out at 30 weeks!

lunch at Linn’s is a MUST.  the entire menu is great, but i highly suggest the dungeness crab + gruyère panini and a slice of their famous olalieberry pie, à la mode, bien sûr!

On Christmas Day… I made a huge breakfast for Erik and my parents (mom + Raj), we went to church, and then we had supper + more celebrating with Erik’s family.

I made Thomas Keller’s leek bread pudding for breakfast (among other things) and it was INSANELY delish.

at Erik’s parents’… Erik got me an adorable Hello Kitty keychain USB drive.  ;-)  I’ll never grow up!

And the day after Christmas… we had a casual lunch celebrating my Dad’s birthday!

you can just glimpse some of daddy’s scars in this picture, from 2009 when he had not one but TWO experimental neurosurgeries.  everyday with my dad is a gift.

and finally, a glimpse of some Christmas cheer from our home…

our tree :)

It was a fabulous time…

Tonight we are hosting a dozen friends here at our house.  :)  The plan is to ring in the new year around a beach bonfire, have a slumber party, and then wake up and go to church together.  ;-)  I’m sure there will be campfire singing + s’mores somewhere in there.  To tell you the truth, I’m not sure if this nearly-31-weeks-pregnant lady can handle staying up til midnight!  LOL

I wish you all a very Happy New Year, filled with new adventures and joyful memories! See you in 2012!!!

xoxo, Angel

UPDATE: CONGRATULATIONS TO DEBBIE, the winner of our giveaway!!  Thank you to everyone for entering, and we’d still love to hear more of your holiday memories if you’re out there reading.  ;-)  xoxo, A+A+M

Hannukah has begun and we’re only a few days away from Christmas… I know I’m not alone when I say I LOVE this time of year.  As I anticipate the warm family gatherings to come, I thought I’d stir up some nostalgic warm fuzzies with my Love and Splendor girls.  :)  I asked Anna and Michelle to send me their personal lists of Christmas memories: the things that are quintessentially tied to their holiday celebrations.  After you have some fun peeking into their memories, we want to hear from YOU!!  At the end of the post we’ll share how you can receive a special sparkling package of goodies straight from us.  ;-)

{ anna’s list }

• peppermint mochas
• Christmas lights
• ringing of the bells (Salvation Army)
• Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas”
• fun wrapping paper
• ugly Christmas sweaters
• nativity scenes
• Christmas movies
• exchanging Christmas cards
• Christmas outfits for puppies :)

{ michelle’s list }

• advent calendars
• annual family Christmas picture
• white elephant gift exchanges
• A Christmas Story… “Ralphie, you’ll shoot your eye out with that thing!!”
• egg nog
• sugar cookies & gingerbread houses
• smell of wreaths and trees
• Christmas songs on KOST 103.5
• midnight mass
• giving back to those less fortunate

{ angel’s list }

• warm roasted chesnuts
• Ferrero Rocher chocolates
• Thymes Frasier Fir candles
• red velvet truffles
• “O Holy Night” — my favorite Christmas song
• hand bell choirs
• Christmas eve at Erik’s aunt house, celebrating festa dei sette pesci
• buying stocking stuffers at the 99 cents store :)
• “wearing” our Christmas stockings on our feet after we’ve emptied them
• Miracle on 34th Street — my favorite Christmas movie

me and my buddy feivel on a Christmas many moons ago :)

 

Now it’s YOUR turn!!  We can’t wait to hear about some of the things that remind our readers of the holiday season.  Tomorrow (Thursday!) at 12 noon PST we will pick a random winner and send you a special box of surprises.  It will include fun things we all love, like nail polish, sweet treats and more…  Let us surprise you.  ;-)  To enter, simply comment below with the THREE of your own random holiday “memories.”  Like our own lists above, we’re looking for specific items that jog your memories, not fleshed out stories.

Well here it is, everyone: the wedding you’ve been waiting to see in all its “perfection” and glory!!  :)  I am bursting with joy to share these phenomenal images with you, courtesy of my dear friends Nate & Jac Kaiser of The Image is Found.  If you haven’t already, make sure to watch the two videos from Cana VP in conjunction with this post.  I promise they will only add to the enchantment.

Since my other blog posts about this couple have given you the background about the day, I’ll keep this blog short and simple.  (Well, the writing will be short..I’m about to OVERWHELM you with incredible images!!)  Just a little list of fun “midnight” treats guests enjoyed at this non-stop party: singalong mariachi, quesadillas and esquites, fresh fruit with lime + chili powder, and a taco cart…

Enjoy soaking up a little of Natalia & Brian’s bliss via these photos.  They will transport you straight to the day and I can assure you: the day was just as fun as it looks.  ;-)  (more HERE)

nat & brian have the most amazing group of friends!  loooved this bridal party.

if you haven’t guessed, brian is a total character.  :)

all the guests had a BLAST… the energy was incredible that night!

love.

watching the wedding preview vid that the Cana boys made… ALWAYS a tearjerker with those guys!!!

parent dances

their thank you toast made me cry…

brian’s band played an amaaaazing set

anna, demonstrating the proper use of an inflatable guitar

the cana boys

the untouchable talents themselves: nate & jac.  i love these two like cah-ray-zee.

and us.  i LOVE these.  me & a couple that changed me forever.

—

Natalia & Brian — I will never be able to tell you how deeply your love touched me!  I thank God for the opportunity to have met you both, and to now call you dear and treasured friends.  Thank you for the ridiculous laughter we shared over the past year (seriously, we have the best stories!!), and for the tears of joy you brought to my eyes on your wedding day.  I couldn’t be happier to see two such wonderful people be united in marriage.  Your love inspires us all <3  xoxoxo, Angel

{ vendors: it sure helps to work with people who are amazing! }

PHOTOGRAPHY // THE IMAGE IS FOUND
PLANNING, DESIGN & COORDINATION // EVENTS OF LOVE AND SPLENDOR
VIDEOGRAPHY // CANA VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
VENUE // SADDLEROCK RANCH – malibu, ca
FLORAL DESIGN // HOLLYFLORA
RENTALS, TENTING, & LIGHTING // CLASSIC PARTY RENTALS
DJ // IAN with RED SHOE LA
VINTAGE RENTALS // FOUND VINTAGE RENTALS
STATIONARY // KRISTIN, in house graphic designer for LOVE AND SPLENDOR
DESSERTS // SWEET AND SAUCY SHOP //  CATERING // HUNTINGTON CATERING COMPANY // MARIACHI // MARIACHI MEXICO EN AMERICA

Christmas-time always puts me in the mood to bake.  I know I’m not alone on this one.  :)  While Thanksgiving conjures visions of a dinner table overflowing with savory treats, Christmas celebrations frequently star sweets.  I have participated in a number of Christmas cookie exchanges over the years, and this year is no exception.  I’m excited to see what the ladies at my church have created this year!  For my contribution, I almost always lean on this recipe for my VERY favorite cookie — a cranberry orange cookie dotted with chopped walnuts, drizzled with a tart citrus glaze.  I first “discovered” this cookie in college, when a friend made a variation of them.  I’ve since found many similar recipes online.  So, I can’t take credit for the recipe… only for introducing you to it!!

These cookies are my idea of baked good perfection.  :)  They have a lovely balance of tart & sweet, and an ideal texture balance as well (softer cookie, chewy cranberries, crunchy walnuts).  I can eat them by the dozen!!  My best friend, Kristin, came to visit this past weekend.  She tried a few of these cookies and agreed… they are highly addictive!!  I hope some of you whip up a batch of your own to see for yourself how wonderful these cookies truly are…

Cranberry Orange Cookies with Walnuts ~ Yield: 4 dozen

{Ingredients}

• 1 cup of butter, softened
• 1 cup of white sugar (I prefer turbinado sugar when available)
• 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp grated orange zest (or more, if you’re wild for oranges like I am)
• 2 TBS of orange juice (I use fresh juice from the oranges I’m zesting, rather than a store bought juice) — I used Cara Cara oranges, an incredible variety with a blush-tinged flesh and incredibly juicy sweet flavor with hints of cherry, blackberry and rose.  YUM!)

the cara cara orange

• 2.5 cups of AP flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt (I use pink HimalaSalt)
• 2 cups of chopped dried cranberries (dried currants would be a perfect alternative)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I typically add 3/4 cup instead… LOVE walnuts!)

{Instructions}

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, cream your butter and white + brown sugars until smooth.
3. Beat in the egg until thoroughly integrated.
4. Add your orange zest and orange juice and continue to mix.
5. In a separate bowl, combine flower, baking soda and salt.  Add this mixture to your wet batter.
6. Mix in cranberries + walnuts, until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
7. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets (I swear by Silpat liners).  **Make sure to give the cookies some room… at least 2″ apart on all sides.  They spread a bit.
8. Bake for 12-14 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are just golden brown.
9. Remove cookies from the sheets and cool on wire racks.
10. For the glaze: mix all three ingredients together until smooth.
11. Spread or drizzle glaze on the tops of the cooled cookies, and wait until glaze is set before storing cookies.

egg + orange juice + zest integrated

the finished dough is fragrant and beautiful, dotted with the ruby jewels of cranberry and specks of pretty orange zest

ready to devour!!  xo

Enjoy!!  xoxo, Angel