The snow is falling, Christmas music is playing, and I am in the kitchen baking up a storm! Well, not a storm, but a delicious batch of cookies! I wanted to try something new and I came across this recipe for these cocoa crinkles at Hershey's.

They look so pretty with the powdered sugar coating. The only down side to this recipe is that to takes 6 hours for the dough to chill, but they are well worth the wait!

 These cookies are what's made when a cookie and a brownie have a baby ;) Gooey, chewy, chocolatey, and with just enough crunch to know it's a cookie. They are really delicious! And so pretty! Just look how pretty these are...

This is another great cookie recipe for a cookie exchange and Santa ;)
Here's what you'll need to make these adorable cookies...

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Granulated Sugar
• 3/4 cup Canola Oil
• 3/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa
• 4 Eggs
• 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/3 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar, to roll the dough in

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil; add cocoa, beating until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla. 
2. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to cocoa mixture, beating well. Dough will be sticky.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or until dough is firm and easy to handle, like the consistency of peanut butter cookie dough.
4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat and lightly grease. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar to coat. 
5. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. I put 12 cookies on each cookie sheet because they will expand a little bit.
6. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes and then remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a minute or two. 
7. Remove cookies from baking sheets and allow to finish cooling on a wire rack.

Yield: about 4 dozen

Here's a few tips I found helpful along the way.

• Use canola oil, I've tried other oils and for some reason they don't turn out as good.
• Spray your hands with a little bit of cooking spray when forming the cookie balls to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
• Between batches, put the cookie dough back into the refrigerator to keep it cool and at the right consistency.
• When rolling the dough in the powdered sugar make sure and coat them pretty heavily
• Don't over bake, it's better to under bake than to over bake when it comes to these cookies.

Let me know how you like them and if you bake them up this holiday season.

Thanks for reading :)

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!!! These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

*CLOSED*

For me it always feels better to give than receive, so in the spirit of the season, I am doing my very first GIVEAWAY!!! Actually, not just one giveaway, but THREE!!! I am so excited to put together these gifts! Each one is filled with a few of my favorite things! There will be 3 winners, one for each giveaway! You can read more about my favorites here & here. 

Giveaway #1 Holly Jolly Hair

• The Body Shop: Paddle Hair Brush  
• Kenra: Platinum Blow-Dry Spray  
• Loreal: Total Repair 5, Damage Repairing Balm    

Give Away #2 Festive Fragrances

• Bath & Body Works: Mini Candles (Marshmallow Fireside, 'Tis the Season, & Winter)
• Marc Jacobs: Daisy Roller Ball Perfume  

Giveaway #3 Peaceful Pampering

• Ulta: Ultra Soft Spa Bathrobe, Size S/M  
• Ulta: Nail Polishes (Tink-Her-Bell, Ruby Slipper, High Roller, & Super Mauve)   
• Lindt Lindor: Assorted Chocolate Truffles 
• Bath & Body Works: Shea Infused Lounge Socks  

Here is what you need to do to enter to win...

1. Follow me on Instagram
2. Like & Tag 3 friends in my giveaway photo
3. Share/Repost the photo

For a second entry

1. Follow me on Pinterest
2. Pin my giveaway photo

For a third entry

1. Follow me on bloglovin.com or on blogger.com and comment on this blog post to let me know you've done all three.

That's it!! Do one, or two, or do all three for a better chance at winning!

Contest ends Sunday, December 20th 2015 at 5pm MST. I will draw the winners randomly. Then I will announce, tag, and then Direct Message the winners on Instagram to get their addresses. Goodies will be shipped out on Monday the 21st :)

*ONE WINNER PER GIVEAWAY

Merry Christmas to you all and good luck! Thank you for following me on this adventure :)

*I am not sponsored or being compensated by these brands or companies. These are my own opinions and everything was bought with my own money. All items are brand new and come from a smoke and pet free home.

Christmas Cookies ~ Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Chip Mini Pudding Cookies

Today I am sharing my second recipe for Christmas Cookies, Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Chip Mini Pudding Cookies! Whew that's a mouthful! But it needs to be because these bad boys are bursting with flavor! These are for the chocolate lovers and they are delicious!

These cookies are so cute! They remind me of hot cocoa with little marshmallows on top! These are made almost exactly the same way as the other pudding cookie recipe I shared with you here, so you know they're going to be good and easy! And they are another great choice for your cookie exchanges, holiday parties, and for Santa's midnight snack...he told me he loves these ;)

Here's what you'll need to bake up these beauties...

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup Salted Butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 small box Instant Chocolate Pudding, dry mix
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 cup Peanut Butter Chips
• 1/4 cup White Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees & line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. 
2. Yield: 80 mini cookies
3. Mix together butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, dry pudding mix, baking soda and vanilla until combined, do not over mix.
4. Add in the flour and mix on low until it's incorporated.
5. Add in peanut butter chips and white chocolate chips, and mix on low a until evenly distributed throughout dough.
6. Scoop dough on to cookie sheets using a mini scoop (I fit 20 mini cookies onto 1 baking sheet).
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes, do not over bake.
8. Remove them from the oven, let them cool in the pan about a minute, and then transfer them onto a wire rack.
9. Enjoy with a nice glass of milk and store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! Happy Baking :)

Christmas Cookies ~ Mini M&M Pudding Cookies with Chocolate Chips

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Is there anything cuter than mini food? How about mini Christmas cookies!!! Today I am sharing my first Christmas cookie recipe of the season, Mini M&M Pudding Cookies with Chocolate Chips. These cookies are sooo easy to make and they turn out so dang cute! Just look at these darlings...

These are so festive and fun! They are perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, holiday parties, snacking on while wrapping gifts, and sitting out for Santa on Christmas Eve :) The little red and green mini M&M's make me so happy and put me in the mood for holiday baking! My husband and his co-workers will sure be excited!

 Here's what you'll need to whip up these cute and festive cookies...

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup Salted Butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 small box Instant Vanilla Pudding, dry mix
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 cup Mini M&M's
• 1/4 cup Mini Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees & line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
2. Yield: 80 mini cookies
3. Mix together butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, dry pudding mix, baking soda and vanilla until combined, do not over mix.
4. Add in the flour and mix on low until it's incorporated.
5. Add in chocolate chips and mix on low a until evenly distributed throughout dough.
6. Pour in the M&M's and mix them in by hand (or else the mixer with break them apart and you'll end up with M&M pieces).
7. Scoop dough on to cookie sheets using a mini scoop (I fit 20 mini cookies onto 1 baking sheet).
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes, do not over bake.
9. Remove them from the oven, let them cool in the pan about a minute, and then transfer them onto a wire rack.
10. Enjoy with a nice glass of milk and store any leftovers in an airtight container.

Bake up some love this holiday season and share it with your family & friends!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy Baking!

Christmas Home Tour | Holiday Housewalk 2015

I think I have finally finished up all of my Christmas projects, crafts, and decorating! Yay! Now it's time to finish my Christmas shopping and relax. Here's just a few pictures of my Christmas decor this year. This is my first Holiday Housewalk...

I am in love with my tree this year! I was wanting a winter wonderland look and I think I nailed it lol!  White, silver, and champagne colors are my thing this year! I found all of my tree decorations, tree skirt and stockings at Hobby Lobby this year. I also love that darling little rocker, my dad had it forever and then he refinished it and gave it to me!

This snowflake pillow is so gorgeous! I found it at Kohl's the day after Thanksgiving.

I just LOVE this handmade BELIEVE sign I bought from my friend Jennifer, you can see her stuff on Instagram at #jenndesignco

A few presents all wrapped up and ready. Wrapping paper is from Target.

Someday I'll have a mantle, but until then I can improvise :)

These pretty winter branches and pitcher are from Michael's.

My most favorite candle ever is from Bath & Body Works, Marshmallow Fireside.

And YES! That's snow on the ground outside! Yippee!

Quick tip: if you have a large picture on your wall that isn't Christmas-y, wrap it in wrapping paper.

Pretty little pictures from Hobby Lobby, 'May your days be Merry & Bright' and 'comfort & joy'.

The latest and last of my DIY projects I made at a craft party, reversible blocks. The other side says 'Count your blessings'.

Console table decor, I decided to throw in a little bit of red here and there. What's Christmas without a little red?

The block calendar was another one of my DIY projects.

I love this sweet little hand stitched sign I bought from a friend at a craft bazaar :) Seriously, how cute!?!

I love this cute shabby red drawer, I put the Christmas cards I receive in it.

Pretty little floral arrangement I put together. Everything is from Michael's.

 There's just something so cozy about this pillow from Cracker Barrel and throw from Target, I just love them.

End table decor, complete with my little Charlie Brown tree in my grandma's old Mason jar and marquee 'let it snow' sign from Michael's, 

 My adorable DIY Handmade Christmas Trees brighten up my dining room.

 Dining room table decor. I thought that this was a fun way to incorporate my grandmas pearls into the centerpiece.

 The top of my fridge is where my late mother-in-laws cherished Santa cookie jar sits.

 Bathroom decor, my mom's antique bell, and an apothecary jar full of ornaments for a splash of color.

 The sweet little penguin footprints of my niece and nephews! This was seriously such a fun DIY project! This was Mason at 4 1/2 years old, Millie at 4 months, and Bennett at 6 weeks.

 My home is not large or fancy, and it definitely doesn't look like a picture in a magazine or Pinterest...but I do love what I have, so that's the most important thing, right?