Merry Christmas to all of you! Here are a few photos from my a trip to downtown Denver with my family the other night.
Advertise @ The Trunk in January
Friday, December 23, 2011
January 2012 is fast approaching (ahhhh) and it becomes a slow month for sales and shopping. Don't let your small business fall victim to absent sales and low action. Let The Elephant's Trunk help you! I adore support handmade business and sharing them with my readers. I love to do all that I can to support my advertisers and that means more than just via the blog- also through social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and more.
Large Ad ($20 a month or $50 for 3 months):
Includes- Twitter shout outs, solo highlight post, chance to offer coupon code and or giveaway with highlight post.
Small Ad ($10 a month or $25 for 3 months):
Includes- Twitter shout outs, monthly group highlight post and the chance to offer coupon code.
Stats:
The Elephant’s Trunk started in August 2010 and has
drastically grown and continues to do so.
-Monthly Page Views: 8,000+
-Google Connect Followers: 880+
-Twitter Followers: 900+
-Facebook: 290+
Details:
-All payments for ad spots will be made through PayPal
-Each ad will begin at the first of the month
If you are interested in advertising at the Elephant's Trunk please e-mail us: elephantstrunk{@}gmail.com
Sponsor Spotlight: LaunchHer
Thursday, December 22, 2011
LaunchHer is a fabulous resource for women owned brands. LaunchHer provides a place for women to learn everything there is to know about owning your own business. The best part about LaunchHer is the vast amount of free information, services, law advice, business tidbits and exposure available for women owned brands.
One great way to get your brand exposed via LaunchHer is to submit yourself to be Freshly Launched. LaunchHer allows women owned businesses, brands, and more to suggest themselves to be launched for their very own special feature on the LaunchHer website. I was lucky enough to have my own LaunchHer feature and I couldn't have been prouder and more excited that day when I became...Freshly Launched.
Other FREE ways that LaunchHer can boost women owned brands:
-Subscribe to the LaunchHer Newsletter
-Follow LaunchHer on Facebook
-Follow LaunchHer on Twitter
-Submit to be launched in LaunchHer's special photography section {photograpHER}
-Participate in Look @ Me Monday
-Hang with LaunchHer on Linked In
Another great service that LauchHer offers is the LaunchHer League. The LaunchHer League is a member only league where those who are members receive information first, fast and before anyone else. The members are quoted and mentioned in LaunchHer articles that give members extra special exposure to their brands. Members of the league are members for a full year and receive exclusive advertising in the LaunchHer League Member Directory. The directory advertising includes a graphic ad with links to a members' website, Facebook and Twitter. Rotating advertising on the LanchHer side bar main page is also included in a membership. There are numerous extras involved in being a member of the LaunchHer League and it is worth the investment for a way to boost a women's brand.
Kara and Tracy are the two talented ladies behind LaunchHer. I encourage you all to take a peek at all that LaunchHer has to offer you if you have a women owned brand or if you would like to support women owned brands.
Sponsor Spotlight: Wonder Forest
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
For all those who may not be familiar with the whimsical talent that is Wonder Forest, allow me to introduce you...
Wonder Forest is a beautiful shop that has you fighting the urge to not add everything in the shop to your cart. You can find camera straps, plush animals, stockings, pillows, digital prints, and more in the Wonder Forest Shop. If you haven't yet visited Wonder Forest head over there, but be prepared to shop! You should also be sure to check out Wonder Forest- The Blog where you can be engulfed reading creative tutorials, beautiful DIY ideas, fashion tips, giveaways and makeup style hints. I hope you are able to take a peek at the magic that is Wonder Forest.
Wonder Forest On The Web:
Holiday DIY
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
I'm loving being in Colorado (home) for the holidays. I'm having a great time with family. What have you been up to so far?
I've got that DIY itch and here is what has been tickling my fancy lately in the category of holiday projects...
I'm linking up today with Sarah for Tickle Me Tuesdays (a linky party dedicated to all things that tickle your fancy).
San Antonio Magazine
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Elephant's Trunk Shop received a very exciting feature by The San Antonio Magazine. Would love for you to take a peek.
Sugar Cookies To Die For
Sunday, December 18, 2011
I love sugar cookies (I do not love what they do to my back side however). The other evening Brendan and I whipped up these cookies and they were not only easy but TO DIE FOR! I started out with a simple sugar cookie recipe from AllRecipes.com. The secret to these cookies is my Mom's cream cheese frosting recipe.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
Start out with the following ingredients...
-1 8oz package of cream cheese
-a tablespoon of milk
-1 cup of powdered sugar
Place all these ingredients in a mixer and continue to add powdered sugar and milk until you get the perfect frosting consistency.
I of course added some red food coloring to my frosting. I simply used the back of a spoon to decorate each cookie evenly with frosting, added a few festive sprinkles and poof I was done! I hope you are enjoying your holidays.
I'm linking up to these parties.
Holiday Comforts
Thursday, December 15, 2011
This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love.
This truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Wouldn't you agree? I love the holiday season because of all the great comforts that surround us during this time.
The comfort of family.
The comfort of a warm fire.
The comforts of cuddling.
The comforts of red wine.
The comforts of shopping (it's a comfort in my book).
There are so many things that I find comforting about this time of the year that my list could quite frankly go on and on, but I think you get the point. One of the most important comforting aspects of this time of year for me though is definitely reflecting on my blessings. I find so much comfort in being able to know that I am blessed with family, a warm fire, someone to cuddle with, red wine, the ability to go to shopping and much more. Remember to always count your blessings and find comfort in them no matter how big, how small or how many or how few. Happy Holidays everyone!
Sponsor Highlight: Reinventing The Ordinary
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
I'm so excited to introduce you all to Becky of Reinventing the Ordinary a creative blog and fabulous Etsy Shop. Becky's blog is such a fun read and I highly suggest you check it out. Becky has great tutorials, creative finds and a little bit of her beautiful family all mixed in. Becky's Etsy shop is full of stunning items that you are sure to find no where else.
How fantastic is this Plush Minky Dog Crate cover? I so wish Carmelo was small enough to fit in a crate that size so I could jazz up his kennel with one of these covers!
This Magnolia Leaf Wreath is the perfect statement piece for any room in your house, I love the pop of green it would add to brighten things up.
How fantastic is this Red Burlap Bubble Wreath? I adore the deep red color of the wreath and the fun ribbon detail.
This Romantic Ruffle Paper Lantern is so soft and beautiful. It works perfectly in this nursery.
Becky is so incredibly talented and creative! Her shop is fantastic and you need to run over there to check it out, BUT WAIT- I do have a coupon code to offer you : )
Becky is offering The Trunk Readers 20% off your ENTIRE purchase with code: ELEPHANTS.
Where you can find Becky and Reinventing the Ordinary:
Shortbread Cookies
Monday, December 12, 2011
Tis the season.. the season for baking. I have been experimenting this year with multiple new recipes. I think I've gone through 4-5 bags of flour so far. It takes a lot of trial and error to get a new recipe just right. Yesterday I made a couple batches until I was satisfied with this recipe I thought up while laying in bed the other night- shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate (I do understand I'm not the first person to think of this). I started out by using this classic shortbread recipe from the Food Network.
Beat two sticks of butter, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Whisk 2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt, then stir into the butter mixture. Press into a buttered 8-inch square. Score into wedges with a fork and then chill for 30 minutes. Bake about 1 hour at 300 degrees. Cool, then slice along the scored lines.
For those who are like me and don't know what "score" means it simply means use a fork to create dotted lines in the dough for where you will cut the wedges once the shortbread is cooled. Once my shortbread had cooled I cut along my dotted scored lines as if I were in preschool and placed all the wedges on wax paper. After I had completed all that needed to be done for the shortbread I moved on to more important things- chocolate.
The easiest way to do the chocolate is to buy the microwavable dipping chocolate at your local grocery store that most people use to make chocolate strawberries. Simply follow the directions on the package, dip each shortbread wedge's tip in the melted chocolate and place back on the wax paper. Continue until each wedge's tip is covered in chocolate. Before the chocolate dries sprinkle your shortbread cookies with sprinkles. I had left over chocolate so I dipped a fork in it and created swirls over the un-chocolate part of each wedge because I didn't want to go wasting chocolate! The last step is to place your cookies in the fridge to harden the chocolate. (side note: I placed my cookies on a glass plate in the fridge and the chocolate hardened on that plate. I would suggest putting wax paper down on a plate so your cookies don't stick to the plate). I hope you all are enjoying your holiday baking!
Sponsor Highlight: Cooking With Books
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Allow me to introduce to you all the talented baker Nelly of Cooking With Books. Nelly is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and now she shares her intense knowledge of food on a daily basis. Are you a foodie yourself or know a foodie? Currently Nelly has 7 great giveaways happening on her blog that you have to check out:
5. Takeya Brews
These giveaways are great and I know you don't want to miss out on a single one!
Nelly is also a part of the Virtual Potluck which is a group of 12 food bloggers who work together, "to find interesting ways to support and promote each other in ways that our readers would enjoy". These 12 food bloggers pick a theme and they each bring to the party what they are good at within the realms of that theme. These ladies Tweet, Facebook, and Blog about each of their pot lucks so make sure you follow along with Nelly and her potluck pals to see what the next potluck theme might be!
Make sure you stop by Nelly in one of these locations and tell her I sent you!
Also this past weekend Nelly became a newlywed! So wish a big congrats : )
Insta-Friday: The Best Time of The Year
Friday, December 9, 2011
I truly believe that this is the best time of the year! It is time spent with family, friends, cooking, baking, eating, shopping, gifting, listening to holiday music, looking at holiday lights, watching Elf, and the list could go on and on. Here are some of the things I've been up to lately via Instagram.
There will be better pictures soon, but this is our very first Christmas tree and my very first REAL tree.
My sister and parents came to visit for Thanksgiving and Anna found this beauty while Black Friday shopping :).
Were not going crazy decorating since we will be in Colorado for the holidays but we wanted a bit of Christmas cheer around so here is what our mantle looks like.
This is my sock monkey pooch from Marine Parents and I am in love with it! I get so many compliments from it. I ordered it as a gift only to open it up and keep it for myself!
Just Carmelo- being Carmelo.
I've been a baking machine trying to find some new cookie recipes.
I know I take too many pictures of my dog.
I get ready with a little help from my friend Diet Coke.
"No Mom, I did not chew this hanger. I was just minding my own business and playing with my monkey."
A sneak peek at a new piece I am working on in the first stages, can't wait to show you the final product.
TGIF
