Christmas Baking

{Apron: Anthropologie}

Baking Christmas cookies and candies is always one of my favorite times of the holiday season. This past Sunday was my designated Christmas baking day, and it was definitely a successful one! By the time we were finished (we baked from about 2pm to about 7pm), our kitchen was overflowing with sweets! One of my absolute favorite recipes of the season is a gingerbread man recipe that has been passed down through my family! Yum! 

Here are a few of my favorite Holiday recipes:

{Peanut Blossom Cookies // "Belly Button" Chocolate Pretzels // Sugar Cookies // Snowball Cookies}

What have you been doing to prepare for the holidays?

Oh Christmas Tree

Last weekend I spent a day picking out the perfect Christmas tree with my family. We always go to a local tree farm to cut our own tree down. It is definitely a tradition that we have had since I was little, and since this is my last year living at home I decided I wanted to capture it! I wore my favorite Christmas bow from Bows & Kites for the occasion. I just love Christmas and the holiday spirit, and now that we have our tree, it really feels like Christmas is just around the corner. Our tree looks beautiful all lit up in the family room.

My December Playlist

This month I have gotten back into Alternative Rock; I had forgotten how much I loved it! For this reason, I decided to make a playlist of my favorites!

What music have you been loving lately?

Tuesday Two {13}

A sneak peak of my new Lilly Pulitzer dress that I bought at the store on Madison Avenue! I had been looking for this dress for a while, and I got it on sale!

My second "favorite" does not have a corresponding picture. Instead, it is just the fact that I only have three more days until Christmas break!

NYC Street Style: Ankle Boots

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I spent a lot of time this past weekend in the SoHo/Chelsea neighborhoods of New York City and noticed that many people, mainly the people that actually live in NYC, are wearing some sort of ankle boots. I just love ankle boots for the fall and winter time, especially the pairs that have a small heel. I actually ended up going to the Rag & Bone sample sale at Chelsea Market in Chelsea, and most of the sample sale shoes were some form of bootie. Definitely a fun staple piece that can be worn in many different ways!

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{Rag & Bone Suede Bootie // Miz Mooz Ankle Boot // Steve Madden Peep Toe Bootie // Steve Madden Suede Ankle Boot}

Chocolatey Chunk Cookies Recipe

The holiday season is the season for baking. I absolutely love baking any time of the year. Today I decided to try out a new recipe I found on Pinterest. I adapted it a little bit to work with the ingredients that I had. These cookies are definitely for the chocolate lovers out there!

Chocolately Chunk Cookies Recipe:

• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips3/4
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 extra large Hershey bar, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease two baking sheets with Pam. Microwave butter and semi-sweet chocolate in a microwave safe bowl until melted. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, salt and baking powder.
2. Beat eggs, vanilla and brown sugar in a third bowl until fluffy. Add the melted chocolate mixture, and mix until combined.
3. Stir in flour mixture, then add Hershey's chocolate chunks.
4. Bake for 12 minutes at 350. The cookies SHOULD NOT be crisp; they are meant to be chewy!

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart: Outrageous Chocolate Cookies

A Weekend in Photos: New York City

 1. The view from our hotel looking over to the New Jersey side // 2. Giant Christmas lights near Rockefeller center // 3. One of the Christmas window displays at the iconic Macy's in Manhattan // 4. Breakfast at Junior's- My favorite! // 5. The Diane von Furstenberg building in the Meatpacking District // 6. My absolute favorite cake from Amy's Bread in Chelsea Market // 7. Lunch at Katz's Deli- So good! // 8. Watching Born Cages perform at the Studio at Webster Hall- I am definitely loving their EP // 9. Trying my first ever Ladurée macaron- I had the gingerbread flavor and it was delicious! // 10. Trying on (and ordering, oops!) some Lilly Pulitzer dresses at the store on Madison Avenue!

Needless to say, I had a fantastic time in the City. Over the years I have acquired a list of my favorite places, shops and restaurants. I miss it already and am looking forward to my next trip in early summer.