Merry Christmas from A Girl's Best Friend

Christmas is almost here, and 2013 is almost at its end. We would like to take a moment to wish you all a Merry Christmas, a very happy holiday, and a wonderful new year. We will be taking the rest of the year off from the internet to spend quality time with our loved ones, and hope you get to do the same. 

My (Mahaley) holiday plans consist of Coco, coffee, mom, dad, and multiple viewings of Christmas Vacation and Home Alone (1&2). 

But, we wouldn't feel right without leaving you with one last holiday recipe. I have chosen to share my Pecan Pie recipe with you all. It's super easy to make if you use a bought crust, and there are many GF/Dairy Free options in the stores. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix the following: 

1 1/4 cup agave 2tbsp (melted) vegan butter 3 eggs Pinch of salt 1 tsp vanilla 

Stir in 1 cup chopped pecans

Stir well with whisk, but don't over beat 

Pour filling into crust and bake for 35-45 minutes. You know it's done when the filling doesn't jiggle anymore. If edges start to darken, cover with foil mid way through baking.

Also - if you use a 9 inch crust, you may need to add about 2 tbsp of agave and 1/4 cup pecans (eyeball it). I've used this recipe for both 8 and 9 inch, and I end up either adding a tiny bit or having a little leftover. 

A Girl's Best Friend is still in an internal debate about how to pronounce "pecan" - please feel free to weigh in. 

*cough cough* peCAN *cough* Well my holiday plans include me (Bailey) staying put in Los Angeles for the first time! Believe it or not, but I'm super excited to be missing the white Christmas this year! I'll be spanding time with my west coast family with extra cuddles from Harley and trips to the barn to ride. I also have quite a few appointments with some tea and a few good books!

Since the holidays are a time to be merry, I'd like to share my favorite holiday drink with you! Its is so easy to make, it looks so festive, and it is sure to make you merry!  Everyone loves a Poinsettia or two!

All you need for a Poinsettia is some champagne, cranberry juice and some pomegranate seeds. It is totally up to you how you make the champagne to cranberry juice ratio, I prefer 3/4 champagne, 1/4 cranberry juice.

The  best part is tossing in the pomegranate seeds and watching them dance as the glass fizzes! If you want to be extra fancy rim the glass with some sugar crystals.

Put it in a different glass and it is totally manly too!

Thank you for the continued support throughout this year, and we will see you in 2014!

12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide: Dr. Lucy's Treats

Today is the last day of our gift guide! And Christmas is almost here. Which means you will be needing some cookies for Santa! We have featured a variety of gift ideas, and we've saved one of the tastiest for the end - Dr. Lucy's Treats.

Dr. Lucy's cookies are gluten free, vegan, milk and egg free, and peanut free. I was shocked when I tasted them and how good they were. They are low in calorie, and have a great ingredient list. Thus far, Dr. Lucy's are my favorite vegan/gluten free cookie on the market. These make a great stocking stuffer, thank you gift, or addition to any gift, especially someone with a food allergy. 

Here is a sample of their different flavors. They are sold in Target, Whole Foods, and a variety of other stores depending on where you live. If you are in a rush, they are available on Amazon Prime as well. 

(These are Santa's Favorite.)

(But the reindeer are all about the sugar cookies!)

The best news? Dr. Lucy's has been kind enough to gift one of our readers 5 boxes! You know the drill by now - follow us on twitter and instagram, like us on facebook, and leave a comment below. We will be choosing the winner on New Year's Day, so hurry up and enter! 

You can visit Dr. Lucy's site here

Please Follow us, Like us, Watch us, and Subscribe to us! Thank you so much for your support!

12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide: Red Apple Lipstick

More 12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend's Gift Guide!

Perfect for your gluten free friends and pretty much anyone who likes makeup.

You may be familiar with Red Apple Lipstick from some of our previous posts. We have been big fans since we met them at the GFAF Expo in Dallas and we think you will be instant fans once you try some of these new products too! 

Here is what Mahaley has to say about the Rallye Balm and Lip Exfoliator

I have never seen anything quite like the Rallye Balm or the Lip Exfoliator from Red Apple Lipstick. I love that they come in a pack, because they are both worth having. The Lip Exfoliator is so gentle, but really does make your lips look and feel amazing. The Rallye balm is so moisturizing, and I can definitely noticed a decrease in how chapped my lips are during the winter (because 70 degrees in LA is considered the arctic). 

The great thing about this as a gift option is that it's suitable for every girl and every skin tone. There's no guessing as to what color might look good, or what that person will like. The balm and exfoliator are also sold separately, but, like I said, it's worth the combo :)

Bailey sampled some of the Red Apple Lipstick eye shadows. We both really loved the lipstick and the lipgloss, but had no idea what to expect with the eye-shadow. 

Bailey tried the Twinkle Taupe, Violet Vixen, Graphite Glam and Iced Mocha colors. Seriously, Twinkle Taupe. Everyone should get this color just because the name will automatically make you happy!

Take a look at Bailey trying out the eye shadows.

This quickly became a favorite and all the poor old eye shadows are collecting dust in the back of a drawer someone in the bathroom. This would be a great gift for the girl who is a beauty guru, and also that girl who only sometimes wears makeup. Either way it is going to look great and it doesn't have any of those nasty ingredients that will bother their skin.

There are also pre-designed palettes to choose from :)

They eye shadow may be a difficult gift to get for someone if you don't know their colors, but there is always a gift card if you are not up for the challenge. Any girl would be excited to pick out some new colors! Perfect timing too, everyone wants to start fresh and try something new in the New Year. What better way to start than having some new eye-shadow to rock at that New Year's Eve Party! 

Happy Shopping! Be sure to check out everything Red Apple Lipstick has to offer.  

12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide: Anthropologie

More 12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend! Today we give you something you can easily find in your local area so you don't have to worry about shipping, only long lines and crowded stores.




Mugs are the perfect gift for almost any occasion. Everyone uses them, they are inexpensive, and you can find one to match just about anyone's style. Anthropologie carries some of my favorite mugs, with a nice range in price and style. 

Check out Anthropologie's mugs here

We hope our gift guide is making things a little easier for you this year! 

12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide: Just Fab Shoes

Our next 12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide is...

Shoes are great to get any time of the year, but they just might look best wrapped in a big ol box under a Christmas tree!

We have become huge fans of Just Fab and wear their shoes or boots pretty regularly. They always get compliments and people seem to think they are much, much, much more expensive than they really are.  Double bonus.

Since it is holiday time and everything looks good in boots this time of year, we wanted to show you some  of our favorite boots and shoes from Just Fab. Any of you last minute shoppers might want to grab a pen and paper!

Here are some of Bailey's recent picks from Just Fab!

Just Fab shoes are surprisingly comfortable for something that doesn't cost a lot of money. They are also super cute and versatile. 

The Leander in black is Bailey's new go-to shoe! Skinny jeans, boot cut jeans, or skirts, they go with everything!

Bailey is also patiently waiting for the Just Fab Santa to deliver the Thandie boots!

Check out some of Mahaley's favorites!

Jesse in cognac 

Blake in black 

Marlo in brown 

There's so many to choose from, which makes holiday shopping even easier for those of your loved ones that tend to be harder to buy for. Just Fab is an easy and affordable way to give someone a great gift. 

Order soon and keep your eyes open for great deals! Remember shoes are not just for Christmas, chances are you or a loved one need a new pair to go with a New Year's Eve outfit! (wink wink)

Happy Holidays!

12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide: Harney and Sons

Day 7 of our 12 Days of a Girl's Best Friend is...

Bailey first found this at a friends birthday party. She instantly became obsessed and insisted Mahaley give it a try. One sip and Mahaley was obsessed too. Needless to say, our kitchens have multiple Harney & Sons tea tins and gradually it seems like our tea collection is heavily weighted by Harney & Sons, and more specifically their Hot Cinnamon Spice. 

It is like the Holiday's in your mouth! So amazing, and it is good and strong so you don't even have to add any sugar or cream to it. It taste like a super fancy tea drink you would pay a lot for, but it comes out of one tea bag!

We were pleasantly surprised that it was also available in Decaf! 

Perfect for curling up with a book right before bed. Or perfect for those of you who just don't do caffeine 

Not only do they have fantastic tea, but they really know their stuff. They want you to know it too. Since being introduced to Harney and Sons, Bailey has developed a bit of an obsession with tea and is learning all about it. Here is a bit of info from their This is Tea gives you all the basics and a bit more if you are interested.

They also have lots of fun tea accessories for you! Pick up a new tea pot, or maybe some new tea cups!

How pretty is this lace tea cup!

Whatever you need grab some strainers, filters, tea kettles, or maybe just a whole bunch of tea! They have great gift packages and their tea alone would make a great stocking stuffer!

Go check it out and pick something fun! They have lots of sales during the holidays so be sure to check out their website! Hurry Hurry today is the last day for Free Shipping!

www.harney.com

12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide: Deux Lux

Today is Day 6 of our 12 days of A Girls Best Friend Gift Guid!

I came across Deux Lux's cute wallets two Christmas' ago, when my best friend gave me one. Deux Lux's bags, wallets, and other accessories are super cute, well made, and make great gifts. I decided to include photos of my favorite cosmetic pouches, wallets, and ID cards (all under $70). 

Check out Deux Lux here

12 Days of A Girl's Best Friend Gift Guide- MADE Eyewear

I was recently introduced to MADE Eyewear and I'm pretty excited because I need a pair ASAP!

These are a great gift for that fashionable guy or gal in your life. 

What is great about these glasses is that they are completely customizable. Pick the style, color, and lenses. You can choose to have your prescription added as well!

1st just pick out the frames you like...

Next, pick out your colors, go basic or get fancy!

Finally, pick  the lenses you want! You can even add your Rx :)

Bailey was lucky enough to try some on a couple weeks ago*...

* new line is already out so shop away!

What is great about MADE is you can do a virtual try on or an at home try on if you prefer that. Either way, there is free shipping and if for whatever reason you don't like them, go ahead and send them back. I'm guessing that wont be a problem!

Today only you can get 15% off gift cards so your friends and family can design their own! Use the Code: GC15OFF
Hurry the deal ends tonight (12/13) at Midnight!

Made will even help you pick out your style if you aren't sure, just in case!

Here are a few of their fun new styles and colors. There  are tons more, so go check it out! These would be great wrapped under the tree or snug in a stocking!

Oh, one more thing, They give one pair of glasses to the charity One Sight for every pair born! You are  basically giving to charity when buying a pair, so go ahead you are getting a gift for two people!

Also, their motto makes me laugh... 

Made Eyewear:  We put the "fun" back in glasses.  Wait, that's not right.  We put the "ass" back in glasses?  Umm...nope...not that either.  Oh well.