Cookiepalooza

PHOTO: Country Living

 

Every year the agency I’m currently freelancing at has a massive cookie exchange party. We’re talking dozen upon dozen, conference tables loaded to their breaking point. It’s no secret that I’m happy to be apart of this year’s festivities and have done my due diligence in research hours. At one point or another these were all in contention – care to venture a guess as to which cookie recipe I settled on?

 

1. Brown Butter, Brown Sugar Cookies

2. Brown Sugar Shortbread

3. Brownie Cookies

4. Candy Cane Biscotti

5. Chai-Iced Pumpkin Cookies

6. Chocolate Fudge S’mores Thumbprints

7. Crackly Chocolate Swirl Cookies

8. Eggnog Sugar and Spice Sandwich Cookies 

9. Fudgy Triple Chocolate Bliss Cookies

10. Gooey Vanilla Sparkle Cookies

11. Honey Cookies

12. Magic in the Middle Cookies

13. Peppermint Cream-filled Butter Cookies

14. Peppermint Patty Cocoa Cookies

15. Peppermint Snickerdoodles

16. Pretzel Cookies with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chips

17. Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

18. Raspberry Thumbprints

19. Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies

20. Red Velvet Crackles

21. Salted Brown Butter Shortbreads

22. Winter Cookies

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Happy Weekend

PHOTO: Brent Schoepf

01/ love these modern perforated trees
02/ fantastic patterned tights
03/ candy cane weapons of the North Pole
04/ need help pairing red wine and dinner? this dish towel is where it’s at
05/ learn how to make gold-dipped faux porcelain bowl
06/ hamburger wrapping paper!
07/ the chromatic typewriter
08/ make a geometric holiday garland
09/ the real Daria + Jane

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Paper Tree

Here it is, my Christmas tree! Well, just for this year that is. I’m living bare bones in my sublet and didn’t even think I’d have one at all until I came across a free printable. He’s about four feet tall and pretty naked, but I’m going to figure out a way to add a little pizzazz. You can get your own right here!

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Win It: Diana Mini

 

Photography has always been one of my favorite art forms, one big reason being that it’s so easily accessible to just about everyone. I’ve been lucky enough to create my own little collection of cameras over the past twelve years or so, but one that was missing was a Diana. A Diana shoots lomography-style photos, heavy on color and saturation. I’ve been playing around with a white Diana Mini for the past month or so, and having a blast. And guess what? You’ve got a chance to win one of your own from Lomography!

How to enter:
1. Click here and sign up for the Lomography newsletter.
2. Pop back over here and let me know!
3. Do both before December 11th at midnight EST.

As a little treat, sign up for your own LomoHome page and get $10 to use in the Lomography online store! You can also check them out on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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Happy Weekend

PHOTO: Abby Trys Again

01/ I love this Charlie Brown wreath made from tree trimmings
02/ super well-designed pop-up trash + recycling bins
03/ I had no clue disposable loaf pans existed, perfect for gifting
04/ the most insane ornaments + trimmings roundup
05/ learn how to make the perfect omelette in a baggie
06/ Mountain Dew + Dorito cupcakes, whoa
07/ pretty field of light blossoms
08/ make these paper gem tree ornaments
09/ love these revamped Virginia Woolf bookcovers
10/ the storybook fantasies of Dara Scully
11/ 14 charity gift sites, add one to your list

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An Autumn Blogger Party in NYC

A few weeks ago I got to spend a Saturday afternoon with some lovely NYC bloggers, all thanks to Amy of Old Sweet Song and Natalie of The SoHo who put together a fall-themed soiree.

Amy and Natalie were the perfect hostesses, there was more wine than we could ever hope to drink. As there should be!

Each of us was asked to bring a fall-themed dessert. Since I’m currently living in a sublet with none of my usual kitchen gadgetry (not even a hand mixer!) I opted to go kitschy with a Rice Krispies Cake with caramel apple candy corn. Lovely, no?

Susan of House of Brinson brought, literally, pounds of homemade and hand-wrapped gingerbread caramels. And on top of that she packaged us each up a little bag of our own to take home.

My mom makes this every Christmas, we call it Cracker Candy and oh my God. I dare you to eat just one piece. You already lost.

This was the most inventive in my eyes, pear and apple wrapped “mini pies” with pumpkin cream cheese dip. I’m so lucky there were only two left once I got around to trying them!

We tried as many different sweets as we wanted (or until we got high on sugar), Natalie’s caramel sea salt brownies were my vote for best. A perfectly fudgey brownie with crunchy caramel edges, heavenly.

And yes, we totally voted for favorite – there was even a prize! This anise and pine nut pie was the winner.

However, the ladies were sweet enough to put together goodie bags for all of us to leave with. So much good stuff.

An afternoon well spent, indeed. Thanks so much to Amy and Natalie for putting it all together!

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DIY Holiday Box Advent

If I’m not mistaken this will be the first December of my life that I don’t have an advent calendar. I’m kind of bummed, but dig deep and pull through (can you tell I’ve been watching a lot of Friday Night Lights lately?). If I were making one for someone else, however, I’d be super into this graphic holiday box advent from Oh Happy Day, great colors and patterns, and of course treats!

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