Pom Pom Wreaths

Beautiful Pom Pom Wreaths - now for sale! Contact me at alexa@uncommonfaith.com for details. 

3 Christmas Hairstyles to Help You Stand Out

This lovely hairstyle is incredibly easy to achieve! Simply create a top-knot bun and place a mini wreath over it. You can find some gorgeous mini wreaths here: https://www.etsy.com

                    

For this hairstyle, I twisted my hair back on both sides. I then created a twisted, low bun and used bobby pins to hold. I tucked the holly into my bun and used bobby pins to secure it. 

This is my personal favorite! For this hairstyle I twisted my hair to one side and then created a side-braid. I then twisted the braid into a bun. I used a garland that is usually used to decorate our Christmas tree! I secured it in my hair with a bobby pin. 

 I hope you enjoyed these lovely Christmas Hairstyles!

Quick Knit Gifts

Christmas is only a month away! We're running out of time to knit - too many projects, too little time. If you're like me, then you like to knit gifts for your whole family and friends too. The key is  getting everything done in time. Below I have my go-to projects for when I'm tight on time. These are all knitting projects that shouldn't take more then 2 days to complete (if you're committed)!

Cable Knit Headband

This is a gift most girls would LOVE to receive! I can whip up one of these headbands in two hours. I sit down to watch a movie and by the end I always have a headband finished. 

Find the pattern for sale here: https://www.etsy.com/listing

                             

Knit Ornaments 

I love making these as gifts for friends. I can make one ornament in about an hour. Once you memorize the pattern it's really easy to whip up a set of them. 

You can purchase the pattern here:https://www.etsy.com/listing

Knit Coasters 

These knit coasters are so easy you don't really even need a pattern. I use cotton yarn for these and knit a simple square with a boarder. You can knit a set of four within a day. 

 

Knit iPhone Case 

I always have left-over yarn from my headbands so I started making these. This is a great pattern to use up left over yarn. I can finish one of these cases in a day. They are super cute and great gifts. 

Find free patterns here: http://www.knittinghelp.com/free-patterns/categories

Drawstring Christmas Bag 

I knit a few of these last year and gave them away with gifts inside. I love knitting these because they require minimal sewing and can be completed in 2 days. They are perfect bags for giving jewelry or ornaments. 

Find free and simple knitting instructions here: http://lexalex-lexa.blogspot.com

Cable Knit Cowl

I just finished the pattern for this cowl since it has been so popular. I can knit this in 2 days - if I'm determined. If you're more chill this pattern could take you up to 4 days. If you have lots of time to spare, it's a great last minute gift. 

Buy the pattern here: https://www.etsy.com/listing

Christmas

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas in Chicago

My mom and I took the train to Chicago yesterday. I absolutely loved seeing all the Christmas decorations everywhere.

Lexalex Holiday Sale

Mocha Pomegranate Mousse

One of the desserts I made for Thanksgiving was this lovely Mocha Pomegranate Mousse! It turned out   very pretty and flavorful so I decided to share my recipe. If you aren't a huge pomegranate lover, no worries! You can easily substitute the pomegranate with almost any other fruit/ flavor. For example, you could try this recipe using raspberries, blackberries, lemon, peach, peppermint, or even eggnog! 

Mocha Pomegranate Mousse Recipe

Mocha Mousse Layer

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream 

4 ounces milk chocolate

4 ounces coffee chocolate

4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

3 tablespoons water 

2 tablespoons sugar

3 egg yolks, room temperature

1) Melt all the chocolate in a double boiler and set aside to cool

2) Crack three eggs and separate the yolks into a bowl. Set aside

3) Put the water and sugar in a small sauce pan. Stir on medium heat until it starts to bubble and become like syrup

4) Add the simple syrup (while still hot) to the egg yolks while constantly stirring 

5) Add the syrup and yolks to the chocolate and mix all together

6) Whip the heavy cream until peaks form

7) Carefully fold all the chocolate into cream until mixed together 

8) Pipe or spoon the mousse into cups/bowls and place in fridge for at least 30 minutes 

Pomegranate Mousse Layer

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

1/3 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 tablespoon sugar
6 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup heavy whipping cream 

1) Put the water and gelatin in a bowl and set aside (allow gelatin to bloom)

2) Put the pomegranate juice and sugar in a small sauce pan and stir on medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the juice becomes more concentrated (once the juice starts to bubble, continue to stir on heat for around 5 minutes). 

3) Put the bloomed gelatin in the pomegranate juice and stir

4) mix the chopped white chocolate into the pomegranate juice. The hot juice should melt the chocolate

5) Whip the heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. 

6) fold the pomegranate juice into the whipped cream

7) Pipe/spoon the pomegranate mousse onto the chilled mocha mousse

8) Put the mousse back into the fridge for at least and hour

Before Serving

1/2 cup of fresh pomegranate seeds

1/4 cup of chopped/shaved white chocolate 

1) Sprinkle the seeds and chocolate onto the cups of mousse right before serving 

Drawstring Christmas Bag

I knit this adorable little Christmas bag the other day. It only took me an hour to knit!

Here's how I did it:

I used a round needles (US15) and cast on using thick red and green yarn. I knit about half of it and then began to decrease a few stitches. In the end it was pretty much a square that got narrower at the top (it was just a little longer than the width). I then sewed the bottom half together. I braided the yarn for my drawstring. With a needle I pulled the braid through every 4 stitches.

If you have any questions about how I knit it, feel free to ask.

Tips for Knitters: Knit Gift Wrapping

With Christmas approaching quickly, I thought I would do a post on knit gift wrapping. Last year I did a post on knit gifts for the holidays which you can find here: http://lexalex-lexa.blogspot.com/2012

I love giving knit gifts but you can only give so many knit gifts. Sometimes you want to give someone cookies, or shoes for a change. Just because you aren't actually knitting a gift doesn't mean you can't use your knitting skills to beautifully wrap your gifts. Here are some creative ways to incorporate knitting with your gift wrapping!

1) Knit Clutch

This little bag is great for small gifts. You can stick some simple things in here like candy or nail polish. I sewed a button on the inside so it can snap shut like a purse. This is not only gift wrapping but it doubles as a clutch/wallet. 

 2) Knit Gift Bag

This knit bag is so easy to knit. The one in the picture only took my an hour to knit and sew. You can stick almost anything in here. I particularly like to use these bags for giving coffee or tea as a gift. 

3) Knit Jar Cozy

Giving something in a jar as a gift? Knit a cozy for it! I decorated mine with lace and buttons. You could also fill an empty jar with things like candy canes or pencils.

4) Knit Bow Garland

I used this bow garland in place of ribbon. It looks lovely on gifts and can be reused for many things. 

5) Knit 'Wrapping Paper'

It may seem like a strange idea but it actually works perfect for wrapping breakable items. In the picture below, I wrapped a little glass cup in knit 'wrapping paper'. 

6) Knit Bow Ornaments

I've used this idea in other posts. You can wrap little boxes with bows and they can double as ornaments or hair bows. You could knit any kind of ornament and use it to wrap another gift. (Some other ornament ideas include round ornaments, mini santa hats, knit snowmen, etc.)

Do you have any cool holiday knitting tips you'd like to share?