Chocolates on my mind

It's been almost two years since I've posted anything and I think it's about time to start up again! I now have 5 men in my life. My husband and four little ones. Today I was at a lost with what to do next with my 3 year old, Drake, since we had about 45 minutes till we needed to wait in the much anticipated carpool line at school to pick Jax and Xander. And since I'm constantly thinking about Chocolate and so is Drake I figured why not make my favorite cookies with him. He loves to cook with me but mainly to just take big helpings of the dough but the nonetheless its an activity we can do together that we both love! As I put drake on the counter I remembered that I thought I had lost the recipe and that i found it in a random box in the back art room. I told drake to wait as I ran and found it in all its glory on the floor on top of an assorted array of papers and pictures that have yet to be organized. You see I really do like to be organized but since the "art room" is not attached to the house I've somehow justified that it's okay that everything is not put nicely into bins and easily accesible. It is my new years project! Hopefully you will see photos of it when we have our "grand opening" for it next year :) Back to the recipe though, I want to share it with you! I have newly went gluten free due to a possible allergy (more on that later) so you can easily make it gluten free with replacement flour and it tastes just as good! Love that! Chocolate Cookies (somewhat of a shortbread) 3/4 cup flour (or gluten free flour) 1/4 unsweetened cocoa 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. soda 1 stick of butter room temp 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. vanilla 2 tbls. steel cut oats (is really better with the steel cut) 1/4 choc. chunks (I like scharffen berger

chunks, they sell them at target now!) cream butter and sugar and add flour, cocoa, salt, soda, then vanilla and oats and choc. chips (better if you let it sit in fridge to harden up for about 1/2 hour)(and makes great frozen dough!!) 350 for 14 minutes Its a really small recipe so it's good to double it! Hope you enjoy...we did! It didn't even make it to the oven today!

Pitfire Pizza

Yay, It came to Costa Mesa! Pitfire Pizza was one of Joe and I's favorite spots in downtown L.A. We loved that we could walk to it, which we did almost once a week and the variety of toppings as well as the price and consistency of the crust!! I had met the owner briefly and asked if he would open a Pitfire Pizza in Orange County, he said they were already looking! But that was over 4 years ago so I was so pleasantly surprised (to say the least) when I saw the sign that read "Pitfire Pizza" was opening in the old stomping grounds of Marie Calendars in Costa Mesa soon!!! I was actually ecstatic! When we went during opening week, it was packed and to my luck we met the owner again and told him my "little story" and how excited I was and he showed us around the place. They are also opening a really swanky "speak easy" and they have a party room complete with Paul the owners first wood fire pizza oven, where you can build your own pizzas and 4 long stainless steel tables with over sized candles for decor. I can't wait to have a party their!! If you are stumped on what to order, try the Pumpkin Pizza! My fav!

Ashley Anne

I love my sisters clutches! I find myself wanting a new design every few months! I'm carrying the wonder women one around now and can't wait for the junk food one! She made robot wallets for the boys for Christmas and is now making dish towels! Such a luxury to carry these fun designs around! It's crazy the amount of comments i get on them and its fun to have something unique to carry all my daily items in!

Thanks Ash!

Serena and Lily

when i have an extra moment of time (which i haven't had much lately)i love looking through new catalogs....they inspire me....and make me dream of new colors,designs and luxuries... i ran across a new catalog this week. Serena and Lily...early summer 2012...serenaandlily.com...love the outdoor summer ideas and the indian influence for beds, not to mention the type writer style pillows...hope you enjoy like i did!

Little tasty gems

I took this photo on Easter of the beautiful colors of berries!

These beautiful gems taste like a bit of heaven, or at least what I imagine heaven to be...

EGGS

The first time I dyed eggs with the boys! We had such a fun time and I just fell in love with the bright colors! I couldn't stop taking photos! Awww the little joys and beauties in life!

cute tape

I am so in love with www.cutetape.com! It adds just a little dot of joy to your stationary,gift wrapping, notes to your dear friends and just about anywhere else you can think of! Known first as japanese washi tape there are now websites dedicated to this adorable tape! My friends have used it to decorate vases for centerpieces and to spruce up recipe cards! There are so many designs now it's hard to choose! Hope it becomes a little luxury of yours!