New years resolutions

So I've been told that there is something like a 86% failure rate on New Years resolutions according to some survey. This same survey told me that I am finally, the majority at something in my life. YAY! Or...?

Thing is, maybe it's just me but I swear, it takes me forever to come up with my New Years resolutions...FOREVER. So WHY take all that time and all the effort and all the sweat and tears and just not even follow through? Well, you can ask me and I will tell you. Every year is different but it's one of the following ALWAYS:

A) I change them because I am lazy- Lose 20 pounds? Well...20 is kinda a lot and I really don't want to let myself down so I am just going to start small with 2.

B) I get jealous of other people's resolution completion- So you've gotten through 6 of your 10 resolutions and it's only march? NICE. Me too...but I don't tell them that they are things I have already accomplished and they're really not special.

C) Sometimes I just plain forget- Yeah, whatever. I've got a lot of stuff to do. I lose a lot of calendars. I "forget" that I promised everyone around me that this year I would try my hardest to be funnier and instead I became lamer-ish. Nice!

After much negativity I will admit this has been a pretty amazing year for me! I've done a lot of growing up and accomplished a lot of things, met a lot of awesome people and I know 2011 is going to be BETTER (if that's even possible!) So this year I decided that since I had all you wonderful people around me it would be easier for me to make resolutions that are keepers...or MAYBE you guys taught me that baby steps are easier and more attainable and less scary!

So here they are! 10 totally legitimate (i promised I haven't accomplished these yet) and doable resolutions!!!

1. Meet 1,000 or more new people
Sorry, there is no clause saying I will remember everyone's names.

2. Update the packaging for Dough a Deer
Thinking about bells AND whistles

3. Clean the house more?
Hubby, this ones for you...probably one of the ones I don't follow through with though. ;)

4. Keep in touch with my grandparents
After what happened with my other nanny, it makes you appreciate people more. No ones time on earth is UNLIMITED so appreciate the time that you do have with people who matter.

5. Spend more time with my parents
They rock after all.

6. Call more than text
Although I DO text much faster than I talk!

7. Eat more green stuff
Green icing and sprinkles don't count. They really don't.

8. Go on more dates
With my husband...not other men! Unless he's cool with that...a free meal is a free meal, right?

9. Show my friends how much I appreciate them
I've learned a lot about people this year and the friends I have are real and they deserve all my love.

10. Take my pup on walks up steep hills
Why? For both of us...he's getting chubs and I've been chubs so it's some good bonding time ;)

So there it is! Did you write resolutions!? What are they? Did you keep the ones you made last year?! I gotta know!

<3 Love you guys, have an awesome and safe New Years Eve!!! Don't drink and drive, don't let someone else drink and drive and try not to puke. =]

See you in 2011!

MERRY CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright...so I am a strong believer in giving back! There is nothing better than the awesome people who love my product and my ideas! I LOVE YOU GUYS! Every business needs a great support system and that is what all of you are!! Dough a Deer's support system!!

So since it wouldn't be feasible for me to send you all a gift of a dozen doughnuts i wanted to have a holiday giveaway of something BIG! HUGE! AMAZING!

So here it is, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

From today, 12/23 until Saturday, 1/1 you have the chance to win an entire YEAR of Dough a Deer doughnuts.

Ummm, yeah, that's no typo. One lucky winner with get a dozen doughnuts every month until January 2012! WHATTTTTTTTTTTTT?!

Alright, so you may think I am crazy...I certainly think I am crazy, well I KNOW I am crazy but I think this is the best thing I can do to say how thank you I am for everything this year!!! :)

Here is what the winner will receive (oldies and some new flavors not even listed in our shop yet!)

One dozen of each:
January- Hot cocoa (chocolate with vanilla topping)
February- pink/red (raspberry and cherry topped)
March- Original doughnuts with green topping
April- Coffee and doughnut doughnut
May- Rose and lavendar sugar
June- PB and J doughnut
July- S'mores
August- Orange creamcicle- orange doughnut with vanilla topping
September- Apple spice
October- Pumpkin Spice
November- Sweet Potato with marshmallow glaze
December- Chocolate mint with peppermint glaze and crushed candy canes


So there ya go! I bet you're wondering how you can win this awesome prize?!

Here is what you do!

1. If you aren't a fan of our facebook page, friend us!!!

2. If you aren't a follower of our blog do so!

3. Suggest us to all of your FB friends and get them to say hello when they become a fan and that you sent them!

4. Post this giveaway link on your personal page, your business page, your twitter and/or your blog and let us know by posting the link!

5. Don't forget to leave a separate comment for each entry for more chances to win!

P.S. Give yourself an extra entry for every 5 people that become our fan because of you! :)

So there it is!!!

Good luck to everyone and thank you all for everything and I can't wait to see you all in the NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!! :)


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!


***no substitutions, please...winnings will be shipped every month for (1) year in the middle of the month!****

S'mores chocolate bars

Okay...I have something rather embarrassing (for me) to admit. Up until last summer I had never tasted a REAL s'more. I'm talking legit, old school, chocolate/fattie marshmallow (roasted over a campfire for authenticity) sandwiched in between 2 graham crackers. So I may have had a few "faux s'mores"...aka microwaved marshmallows OR marshmallows a roastin' over my gas stove top..ARE YOU JUDGING ME YET?!

When I tasted it I vowed to carry that flavor and happiness to anything I could. DOUGHNUTS came first! If you haven't tasted them yet, you must put it on your bucket list!!!

So what does Nicole do while she's not baking doughbabies for my wonderfully amazing customers/friends!?!?!?

Lots of stuff. BUT today I am sharing with you a fun thing that I found somewhere...can't remember where, sorry!!! I saw a photo of it and I knew I had to do it! SOOOOO...TAH DAH, S'mores chocolate bar!!!!!!

SO here is what you need:
1. Chocolate bar mold- Find this at cake supply stores, Michaels...etc.
2. Meltable chocolate (i don't recommend wilton...well, ever)
3. Mini marshmallows
4. Honey mini teddy grahams

EASY!

So here is what you DO:
1. Melt chocolate in the microwave...I recommend this chocolate, just because it's easy and separated. Note: I used 3 squares (3 ounces) per chocolate bar cavity...your amount depends on what kind of mold you buy!



2. Pour chocolate into each mold. You're going to have to swirl it around and get it to the edges with a spoon and then I suggest tapping on the counter to make it nice and smooth!


3. Now the fun part! You can get creative here...I was really anal and did alternating marshmallows and mini grahams. FRIENDS QUOTE "Now, you're going to want to put them in concentric circles."


4. Now NORMALLY, I don't recommend putting chocolate in the fridge but for right now, it's okay...Pop it in the fridge until they harden then take them out and wrap them however you choose! :)


As you can see...I put my chocolate bars in the fridge next to my huge costco sized bag of carrots...which one will I grab for first? hmmm.

Thanks for reading and enjoy! =]

Love and Dough,
Nicole
www.doughadeer.com

Tis the season!

It's been a great start for us over here at Dough a Deer and we have all of you to thank!

I've done so many things and had so many ideas before Dough a Deer came about...would you believe that I am a licensed phlebotomist? Random, right? My family have stuck through me during all of my mind changes and crazy ideas.

Believe me, I went from high school to office jobs to wanting to be a writer, then wanting to be in the medical industry then going to 1.5 semesters of culinary school for a pastry artist then back to wanting to be a journalist. I know...WHY DID MY PARENTS PUT UP WITH THAT!? I don't get it...but they have stuck by me and believed in me with everything I did and every stupid or silly business plan I had! That's what parents are for!!

I have been with my husband for 5 years and he was a little bit more skeptic about the doughnuts...I believe his words were "who is going to want doughnuts? Why did you buy so many sprinkles?" Then once I started getting orders and he saw how much people responded to these little babies he was on board. He carries my cards wherever he goes and hands them out to people telling them to "check out my wife's business". He's great...so is everyone else I am about to mention. I was helping a friend write a blog entry about thanking the people that matter and it inspired me to do the same.

The wedding professionals that believed in me and helped me and showed me off and whatever else awesome people do. You guys rock, seriously. Those of you that are seasoned in the industry have helped me in more ways than one. You keep my mind in the game! You showed me what fantastic customer service looks like!

The fantastic people I've worked with from Etsy and the other people i've collaborated with on photo shoots! It's been an honor to work with you and see my doughbabies on different dessert tables! Thank you for the opportunities!

The awesome people who have ordered from me and continue to order!!! THANK YOU for supporting handmade! Thank you for supporting a new business and thank you soooo much for your enthusiasm for my product!!! YOU GUYS ROCK! You all rock!!

I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC holiday season and an amazing new year! Next year is going to be great for everyone, I KNOW IT!!!


Love and Dough,
Nicole Anderson
www.doughadeer.com

A note about my photos and products!

Okay...so I don't like being mean at all...well, sometimes I do but this isn't one of those times!!!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEEEEEEASE don't use my photos without either linking back to one of my pages, or letting your readers know it's my stuff!! I can't stress this enough! I work really hard on recipes, flavors and most importantly, my PHOTOS and I don't want to have to start watermarking them! No fun!!!

Also, I am in the process of trademarking "doughbabies" "doughmamas" and "doughdaddies" so please don't use those either! I don't want to have to sick my attorney on you! ;)

I'm the nice doughnut gal! Treat me right and we'll treat you right! We love you guys! All of our fans and friends are more than welcome to post about us just please link us!! We work hard for you all!

<3 You guys rock!!!

Love and Dough,
Your dough-friend Nicole