9 DAYS!!

I am super excited about Christmas! I go home in 9 days! Here are a few of the reasons I'm excited:

1. new baby, Kate!
2. my sugar fast will be over and I'm already planning yummy things to make and eat!
3. mi familia
4. slumber party at Abbey's
5. Mexico Joe's with my college gals

And last but not least, I love Christmas because of the warm Christmas spirit that is all around. I wish I could bottle it up and keep it year-round!

I've already done a lot of fun Christmas activities:

1. Christmas decor with my roomies
2. Christmas shopping
3. Christmas devotional at church
4. watched people make gingerbread houses
5. work gift exchange & dinner
6. Christmas caroling
7. saw "It's A Wonderful Life" at the historic Lido Theater
8. Fashion Island Christmas tree
9. Ugly Sweater Party
10. sang in the church Christmas program
11. went to a church Christmas concert
12. another Christmas party
13. helped get two live trees with friends
14. biked the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights
15. learned how to play Silent Night on my guitar (thanks, Nat!)

Still to come:
1. Disneyland Christmas lights
2. LA temple Christmas lights
3. more shopping
4. golfing (no, it's not related to Christmas but we do it yearly before Christmas so it counts)
5. Balboa Boat Parade
6. at least one more Christmas party
7. slumber party at Steph's (including watching The Grinch!)

I'm sure I forgot some stuff. Such a fun month! Everyone enjoy! And spread the cheer! xoxo

Best. Cookies. Ever.

Ok, so Cowboy Cookies are probably my favorite cookies ever but these bad boys are a really close second! We were having friends over to play games at my house the night before Thanksgiving so I thought I should make some goodies. My go-to recipe website, allrecipes.com, delivered again! These cookies were sooooo good! I will definitely make them again! Here's a picture and the recipe:

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies III

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1/2 cup peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add egg and beat well.
2. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add these dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir. Add oatmeal and stir.
3. Drop by teaspoons onto greased baking sheet, and press each mound down with a fork to form 1/4 inch thick cookies. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes, or until cookies are a light brown.
4. To Make Filling: Cream 3 tablespoons butter or margarine with the confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, and the cream. Spread filling onto half of the cooled cookies, then top with the other half to form sandwiches.

I used my handy dandy cookie scoop to make sure the cookies were the same size so the sandwiches would work nicely. And I didn't want to buy heavy whipping cream so I just used milk and it worked great. I doubled the recipe (something I always do for some reason...I guess because we did it growing up with a big family and now I just like to feed people) and made the second half a few days later. The second batch was a little different but still oh so delicious. The dough was cold so the cookies didn't spread out as much. And I must have added more milk because the filling was a little thinner (still tasted great but the filling oozed out the sides when you took a bite). Anyway, you should make these. Right. Now. You won't be sorry!

In search of warmth

My bed is the only warm place I can find. Seriously, how I am expected to get out of it?!? Today I put together my outfit around warm socks. These socks are awesome. I borrowed them from my dad, they are his winter work socks (some people might call it stealing since I never gave them back but I might still give them back someday so I'm sticking with borrowing). I slept in them last night and didn't want to take them off. I have several pairs of boots but most of them would be a little uncomfortable worn over these thick winter socks so I chose my pair of Ugg-ish boots, which I don't even really like but they are warm so I'll keep them forever, with jeans that would fit nicely tucked into the boots and a shirt/cardi combo with a scarf. Unfortunately I'm still not warm...but my feet are! I started the morning with some hot herbal tea and I just keep refilling my thermos with hot water. I love Christmas time but I certainly don't love the cold! Peace out and I hope you are all warmer than me.