Loaded Oatmeal Monster Cookies { + loads of updates! }

Loaded-Oatmeal-MM-Cookies 2--051215

Time for some SERIOUS updates.

I know, I’ve been flagging on the writing/commenting/replying end of things (which is a total shame, because that’s the part of blogging I love best). In between teaching, prepping for my Part II exam (more on that in a sec), and some really exciting new developments in the cooking/baking part of my life, I’ve been catching about 4 hours of shuteye a night…when I’m lucky and don’t get insomnia. So to perk things up around here, I thought I’d take a big break from everything else, share some of the BEST colorful cookies I know … Read more

The BIG Blog THANK YOU { + peanut butter chocolate rice krispies-smothered jumbo marshmallows }

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareYourSummer #CollectiveBias

Peanut-Butter-Chocolate-Rice-Krispy-Jumbo-Marshmallows 2--050715

The post you’re about to read to me is SUPER near and dear to my heart in many ways, mostly because it features two of my DEAREST friends, fans, and unconditional supporters (who you’ll be meeting today, yeee!). What’s more, today’s post is a rare chance for me to put my blogging overdrive on pause and say a BIG thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the people who have meant the most to me throughout this amazing blogging journey: yep, … Read more

How to Host Your Own Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich + Sundae Bar

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StartSummer and #CollectiveBias

No-Churn-Twix-Ice-Cream 8--042915

Last Wednesday, I did a wonderful thing. I did a wonderful, very cool thing. I did a wonderful, very cool, crazy thing that has revolutionized the way I think about summer. Can I get a Josh Gad/Olaf solo about summer in here? No? Well bully that, here it is anyway….

I hosted my very own ice cream cookie sandwich + sundae bar!

No-Churn-Twix-Ice-Cream 2--042915

No-Churn-Twix-Ice-Cream 9--042915

The only thing better than getting together to celebrate the arrival of summer with friends in late April … Read more

Pumpkin Banana Breakfast Cookies

Whether we’re out searching for our ideal partner, building relationships with friends, or already happily settled in a 50-year marriage, it’s no surprise that we spend the better of our lives seeking affirmation from the people around us. On a recent trip to Seattle, we gave ourselves plenty of “nothing” time–time to really back away from our busy day-to-day lives and think about what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, where our lives our headed. Every night at the hotel, Richard would look over and grin when he saw me just sitting on the bed and hugging my pillow, thinking.… Read more

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Crumble Peanut Butter Mousse Parfaits for #SundaySupper

Semi-serious writer’s note: I am currently struggling through a prolonged, increasingly aggravated case of carpal tunnel onset. While I’m doing my best to keep this blog running in the meantime, if I don’t reply right away to your comments or leave comments on your blog, don’t think I don’t care–I do! It’s just this silly problem, so I’ll get back to you as I can 🙂 thanks for reading!

GlutenFreeChocolateChipCookieCrumbleParfaits 1--022115

My first time on a red carpet was at my friend’s Netflix celebration, which took place at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles a few months ago. Sparkly gowns, diamond … Read more

No-Bake Cookie Butter Avalanche Cookies

No-Bake Cookie Butter Avalanche Cookies 2--020515

So apparently one of my students lives next door to me.

Forgive me if I don’t jump for joy.

No-Bake Cookie Butter Avalanche Cookies 4--020515

Living next door to any of my students–as you can probably imagine–isn’t exactly my idea of a delightful development. I guess this means I’ll have to actually put on pants now when I open the windows.

Kidding. I’m totally kidding. (Except maybe on laundry day.)

No-Bake Cookie Butter Avalanche Cookies 7--020515

Though this news has made me self-conscious enough to stop blasting Taylor Swift out the open window at odd hours of the day now, weirdly enough, my first reaction when s/he asked me if I lived … Read more

Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Funfetti Sugar Cookies 2--012215

When: Last Thursday. Location: Starbucks Coffee Shop. What: Story material. Lots of it.

If you have spent any time in my company or on my blog, you’ll appreciate how much I love meeting strangers. When I walked into the coffee shop last week for a late-night study sesh, I had no idea what the next four hours had in store for me.

Here’s a spoiler: It’s not a romance story. It’s something much better than that, believe it or not.

It’s a story of humanity.

Funfetti Sugar Cookies 4--012215

The funny part–and my personal favorite part–of the encounter was that it … Read more

One-Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

One-Bowl Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies 2--012615

 This weekend I did nothing. Nothing except go to my first women’s basketball (and Harry Potter themed?!!!) game, drop in with a friend to a grad housing social filled with free veggie rice bowls + orange soda, swim at a club meet, have an epic girls’ night sleepover watching Dirty Dancing (first time!!) + Grease10 Things I Hate About You, annnnd eat dim sum. Also known as dim yum. Also known as say whattttt.

I might have graded a few papers here and there, and done a lesson plan along the way. I dunno, it’s pretty hard … Read more

Coconut Oil Cranberry Hootycreeks {guest post for Brunch with Joy}

Coconut Oil Cranberry Hootycreeks 1--011215

Linda from Brunch with Joy and I met a few months back through Sunday Supper–she’s one of the loveliest ladies on the planet, and I immediately fell in love with her vibrant blog. Since I began blogging back in 2012, I’ve had the chance to meet so many amazing people like Linda from every nook and cranny of the internet. Today, I’m the lucky gal who’s guest posting on her blog–check it out!

Coconut Oil Cranberry Hootycreeks 4--011215

Coconut Oil Cranberry Hootycreeks 6--011215

In today’s post, I’m sharing a very near-and-dear story about one of my closest friends, M. We met in the unlikeliest of circumstances, separated … Read more

Thick, Puffy Ginger Molasses Sugar Cookies

{a year in Facebook statuses} 

Every once in a while, I stop spamming my feed with #bakerproblems and share something meaningful. Today I’m spreading the holiday joy with these warm, puffy, thick, ginger molasses sugar cookies and a glimpse back at where this year has taken us…

Ginger Molasses Cookies 2--121714

{December} 

Sitting at Starbucks, I bought a large coffee for a homeless man who was asking for any type of help people could give. As I continued working, I watched him, fascinated, as he limped around outside, cup out but constantly in motion. Then I realized that he was taking napkins and wiping Read more