{12 Days of Christmas} Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• 3/4 cup extra-crunchy Peanut Butter 
• (*The original recipe uses creamy but I much prefer crunchy*)
• 1/2 stick Crisco Baking Sticks All-Vegetable Shortening 
  (Or 1/2 cup Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening)
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Combine peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg. Beat only until blended.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix until blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly in a crisscross pattern with a fork.
3. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until set and just beginning to brown. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to cooling racks to cool completely.

*recipe adapted from Jif*

This is my absolute favorite cookie to make and to enjoy!

It is always a favorite at Christmas parties and my friends always ask me to make them these cookies. 

I hope you try them out this holiday season - and if you do, let me know how you like them in the comments!

Happy Christmas!

xoxo

Summer {Bucket List}

1. Bonfire!

2. Make 2 new recipes from Pinterest!

3. Throw the most kick-butt bridal shower

4. Go to a concert!

5. Midnight movie premiere

6. Watch the sunrise

7. California State Fair

8. Lose 20 more pounds (I'm down 20 already!)

9. Have a picnic

10. Meet someone new!

Some of these came from my 101 things in 1,001 days challenge, and others are random, but I hope to be able to accomplish these all by September!

What's on your summer bucket list?

xoxo

June is here!

Hello, everyone! 

June is here, and with it comes summer! For most places, that means warm, summer weather, but here it fluctuates between foggy and grey, and hot and sunny. I love that we get such variety all year long. 

I love the feeling in the beginning of summer: hope and joy and readiness for the feel of the sun on our backs.

It's like anything can happen during summer. 

This summer, I have so many plans and it is certain to fly by! I just hope that I can slow down and enjoy it for a moment or two. I'll post a summer bucket list (many of which will come from my 101 things in 1,001 days challenge) soon!

Enjoy your summer!
What are your plans for this season?

xoxo

New Year's {Resolutions}

This year, I have only three resolutions:

1. Lose 40 pounds by eating healthy and exercising 5x/week.

2. Complete at least 30 more items in my 101 in 1,001 challenge.

3. Travel to at least one new place.

I know that I can accomplish these things. I have a few things already planned, but I know that I will find a way to complete all of this. I am filled with hope for 2014, and I am confident in myself and my abilities.

I already began my weight loss journey in 2013, and while I lost only a few pounds (only to regain them over Christmas... whoops) I have been losing again since then. I have been walking at least 10,000 steps per day and plan to continue to do so. I plan on incorporating running, strength training, dance, and hopefully some yoga/pilates in order to achieve my goal and become a healthier, happier person.

I made a list of 101 in 1,001 - 101 things to complete in 1,001 days - last September and I plan to continue working on that list. I have many things that are half-way or almost complete, and many things yet to do. I hope to knock out at least 30 of my goals in the upcoming year.

Lastly, I would like to travel somewhere new. Even if it's in California. I've been itching to travel but not having the time or money, but I will find a way because there is so much that I long to see and do.

I will find my way to happiness in the upcoming year.

What are your resolutions for 2014?

xoxo

Recipe: {Broccoli Bites}

Broccoli Bites

I found this recipe on Pinterest a while back and decided to try it out. It wasn't my favorite, but they are interesting for a somewhat-healthy snack. 

Ingredients:

16 oz. package of frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained of liquid

1 1/2 cup of grated cheddar cheese or low fat cheese (I used a mix of shredded cheeses)

3 eggs

salt & pepper



1 cup of seasoned Italian breadcrumbs


Pre-oven

Directions:

Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl,

then form small patties with your hands, 

placing them on a baking sheet lined with parchment.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes.

Be sure to flip the patties over after the first 15 minutes!


All done!

As you can see, I used muffin liners (I was all out of parchment, unfortunately) and I would 

highly recommend only using the parchment method.

I could not get the patties to come off of the muffin liner, so I had liner-bits to pick out as I 

was attempting to eat. No fun.



If you try them out, I hope you enjoy them!

Source: thinnrecipes.blogspot.com, stacysnacksonline.com

xoxo

101 in 1,001: My Signature Scent

As mentioned in prior posts, I have created a list of 101 things to do in 1,001 days (my list ends midway through 2016) and one of those things was to find my signature scent - and I did!

The brand is called Lollia, and I actually enjoyed almost all of their scents, but I was particularly taken to Wish. According to Lollia's webpage, it smells of vanilla bean (a long-time favorite scent of mine), rice flower, sugar pastille, jasmine and sugar cane, as well as ylang ylang and amber woods. It smells soft, sweet, and delicate; I adore it.

My mom bought me the hand creme as a gift, which I love. My hands are so soft! Which, during Autumn, and with winter approaching, makes me so happy.

And look! The pattern on the box & side of the perfume is so adorable. I love it and I'm so excited to have found my signature scent.

xoxo

Recipe: Basic French Toast

Basic French Toast Recipe
Ingredients:

5 or 6 thick slices bread

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

dash of salt

syrup

Directions:

1. Mix together eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt.

2. Lightly grease a skillet and put over medium heat.

3. Dunk each side of bread in the mixture, making sure to soak both sides. Place in the pan and cook on both sides. Serve warm with (maple) syrup.

Adapted from allrecipes.com.

Enjoy! Happy Saturday!

xoxo

Recipe: Turkey Meatloaf

Not the best picture, but it was delicious! New photo coming soon! (:

We had turkey meatloaf and green bean casserole for dinner the other night. It was like a mini-Thanksgiving in here! Delicious!

Ingredients: 

2 beaten eggs

2/3 cup dry bread crumbs

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1 1/2 lb ground turkey

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tbsp packed brown sugar

Directions: 
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 5x9" loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, mix together beaten eggs, bread crumbs, milk, salt, pepper, and ground turkey. Feel free to add an extra dash of bread crumbs if the mix is too runny. 
3. Place in loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. While that is cooking, mix together 1/4 cup ketchup and 2 tbsp brown sugar. 
5. Remove meat loaf, remove white fat that has been baked out, cover in ketchup & brown sugar mix. 
6. Bake for another 5-10 minutes. 
7. Enjoy!

Adapted from AllRecipes.com

xoxo

Auburn Autumn

In my 101 in 1,001 Things to Do list, I decided that I wanted to cut & color my hair. It's all done, finished this weekend. I love it! Perfect for Autumn, which is coming up this weekend! 

It certainly doesn't feel like Autumn here yet (80 degrees today!) but I cannot wait!

xoxo

Summer is Sailing Away

As made clear through many of my prior posts, I am very much looking forward to Autumn. It is my favorite season: I love the crisp, chilly air, especially when it is foggy. I love the sweaters, pumpkins, Halloween, hot cocoa, and so much more.

But, I will also miss Summer: the heat, daily walks on the beach, swimming, shorts, smoothies. It's all sailing away now. This summer, I was not able to go sailing, although I have had a very strong urge to. I've admired the cute sail boat fence (above), watched sail boat races and went to see the regatta at the harbor:

A grey day, but well worth it!

Since I was not able to go sailing this Summer, I have resolved to go sailing within the next 1,001 days (well, now we're at 997, but you get the picture). It's a part of my 101 in 1,001 to-do-list/challenge, and I am very much looking forward to it!

xoxo

101 in 1,001

Inspired by Mackenzie Horan's (of Design Darling) 101 things in 1,001 days, I have decided to make my own list! It's a lot to complete but I believe that I can do it! 

{1 complete, 100 to go!}

Start date: September 3, 2013

Finish: May 31, 2016

1. Think up 101 things to do  (Sept. 2013)
2. Finish the classes I need to become a preschool teacher
3. Read 100 books {0/100}
4. Get my bachelor's degree
5. Read 10 classic books {0/10}
6. Finish decorating my house
7. Go through my closet & sell/donate anything I don't wear
8. Make 10 meals using recipes from Pinterest
9. Buy fresh flowers every week for a month
10. Make 10 things off of Pinterest {0/10}
11. Invest in 3 beautiful coffee table books
12. Spend 2 months in Europe - mainly Italy, but I have so much I want to see!
13. Go apple picking
14. Plan & go on a girls' trip
15. Go for a sunrise walk on the beach
16. Go to a concert
17. Visit an art gallery
18. Ride on a sailboat
19. Go to a midnight movie premiere
20. Go hiking
21. Take a dance class
22. Go camping
23. Visit Hearst Castle
24. Go to an Aquarium
25. Drink 8 glasses of water every day for a month
26. Cook breakfast every day for a week
27. Lose 40 pounds {0/40}
28. Invest in a great handbag
29. Find a signature scent
30. Redesign my blog
31. Find my signature drink
32. Go to Disneyland again
33. Get a haircut, not just a trim
34. Try a new hair color
35. Send 30 handwritten cards/letters/notes {2/30}
36. Turn my grandparents' recipes into a book
37. Find out my blood type
38. Have a picnic
39. Throw a surprise party for a friend
40. Write a novel
41. Spend two weeks with my little cousins
42. Host a dinner party
43. Visit 10 new cities {0/10}
44. Walk on the beach every day for a month
45. Learn how to use an espresso machine
46. Send out holiday cards
47. Buy a cruiser bike
48. Set and stick to a budget
49. Post an “outfit of the day” every day for a month
50. Try five new foods
51. Send someone flowers “just because”
52. Kiss in the rain
53. Host a theme party
54. Purchase a Lilly Pulitzer item
55. Go to the snow
56. Have a Girls' Night In/old-school-slumber-party
57. Learn another language
58. Get a second tattoo
59. Learn how to do calligraphy
60. Visit the air museum where my dad used to be a docent
61. Spend a weekend completely #unplugged
62. Buy a new -to me, anyway- car
63. Knit a blanket
64. Get dressed up and go somewhere fancy for New Year's Eve
65. Run the Disneyland ½ Marathon
66. Get my own Christmas tree
67. Spend a whole month without buying clothes/shoes/etc.
68. Learn how to do a sock bun
69. Go to San Diego
70. Purchase coffee for a stranger
71. Make my bed every morning for a week
72. Plan a surprise date night
73. Go wine tasting
74. Plant an herb garden
75. Get a gold monogrammed necklace
76. Start a retirement fund
77. Go to Harry Potter World
78. Keep a one-line-a-day journal
79. Create a “Where I've Been/Where I'm Going” map
80. Make bread from scratch
81. Go to a haunted house
82. No soda for a month
83. Make sushi at home
84. Get a new stamp on my passport
85. Go to a football game
86. Get personalized stationary
87. Watch a movie in theatres by myself
88. organize my iTunes
89. Have a girls' night out
90. Buy something on Etsy
91. Have a board game night with friends
92. Design & have my very own business cards
93. Give my mom a gift she'll really love
94. Get a library card in my new town
95. Visit a psychic/have my palm read
96. Style my hair nicely every day for a week
97. Complete a photo-a-day challenge on Instagram
98. Write a letter to my 25-year-old self
99. Watch a play
100. Find my perfect lipstick shades in: red, coral, pink, and burgundy
101. Put $10 into savings for each goal accomplished {0/101}
     You can keep track of what I have completed here!
     
     
     xoxo