The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2015 - Hot Chocolate & Marshmallow Cookies

My favorite time of the year is upon us and one of my favorite activities has come to an end... 


*sigh*

For the second year in a row, I participated in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2015, which is just about the coolest thing ever! If you aren't familiar with the swap, here's how it works: "The GREAT FOOD BLOGGER COOKIE SWAP brings together food bloggers from around the world in celebration of all things scrumptious. The premise is this: sign up. Receive the addresses of three other food bloggers. Send each of them one dozen delicious homemade cookies. Receive three different boxes of scrumptious cookies from other bloggers. Eat them all yourself (or, you know, share. If you want. No judgement either way.) Post your cookie recipe on your blog. See everyone else’s cookie recipes. Salivate. Get lots of great ideas for next year’s cookie swap. Rinse and repeat."

Super fun, right?! In addition to receiving 3 separate boxes of homemade cookies in the mail, you are also benefiting Cookies' for Kids Cancer, which funds new therapies for children with cancer. 

Since I was crunched on time with all of our recent travels, I decided to make these Hot Cocoa Cookies with Marshmallows that I found on Pinterest. Best. Decision. Ever. 

Dianna from The Kitchen Prep, who received a shipment of my cookies, took this picture and I absolutely love it!

Since I wasn't the mastermind behind this recipe, I won't be taking credit and will forward you along to where I found it :)

As I mentioned before, we not only mailed cookies, but received some fabulous ones as well, including: 

Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies from Stark Raving Delicious.

Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies from Chew Nibble Nosh. 

Chocolate Ganache Filled Gingerbread Cups from the Suburban Soapbox

Mystery cookies from a mystery baker :(

If you think this sounds fun (trust me, it is), be sure to get yourself signed up for next year!! As always, thank you to Lindsay and Julie for organizing this highly anticipated event <3 

Pumpkin Spice Nutella Swirl Muffins

You know the saying "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels"? Yeah, whoever said that has obviously never tried Nutella. I'll keep my soft tummy in exchange for some of that smooth, hazelnut goodness thank you very much! 

Anyway, I was making my go-to 3 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins the other day when it hit me... Why not add a little Nutella to the top? Friends: I did it and it couldn't be simpler or more delicious! 

Here's whatcha do:

 ~Pour your batter into muffin tins

 ~Add a small dollop of Nutella to the center of each tin

 ~Swirl

~Bake and eat all of them in one sitting!

It really is that easy, folks! Here are some more in-depth instructions :)

Anngredients:

1 box spice cake mix

1 can pumpkin

Desired amount of Nutella

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the cake mix and pumpkin together until well combined.
3. Coat muffin/cupcake tins with non-stick cooking spray and spoon in mixture (cups only need to be about 2/3 full -- it will rise!). 
4. Add desired amount of Nutella to the center of each tin (I added maybe a teaspoon to each). Swirl with fork.
5. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Serve with your favorite fall beverage and enjoy.

Cookie S'Mores

Okay gang, I'm mixing it up a bit today!!

I typically try to keep my recipe posts to Wednesdays (whenever I do have a recipe post!) but am posting it today because I have a special kick off to Lent that I'll be sharing instead on Wednesday..

..which means you can enjoy these amazing Cookie S'mores from my girl Ruthie a few days early! You're very welcome!

You can find the full recipe on Ruthie's blog -- Jackson and I made some on Friday and they were fabulously crunchy, decadent, and chocolatey. In addition to the chocolate chips and marshmallows, I also added toffee bits and highly recommend it. 

Since tomorrow is Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, I highly recommend you make and eat a ton of these. 

Skinny Reese's Peanut Butter Bars

We're almost one month into 2015..

..how's your New Year's resolution coming?

Mine is going great! I resolved (as I do every year) to not even make a resolution and so far, it's going really well! But wait.. did I break my resolution to not make a resolution by resolving to not make one?

I digress.

Anyway, if you have a super sweet tooth like I do and resolved to eat better in 2015, you're in luck! Today I am sharing some super yummy Reese's like bars that are low in calories and high in flavor. Brandon found this recipe and I made a few simple tweaks to keep skinny.

Enjoy these simple no bake Skinny Reese's Peanut Butter Bars!

Anngredients:

• 1 cup margarine (melted)
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 
• 2 cups all-natural sugar substitute (like Whey Low, Truvia, or SweetLeaf)
• 1 cup + 4 tablespoons all-natural peanut butter 
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1) In a medium bowl, mix together the melted margarine, graham cracker crumbs, sugar substitute, and 1 cup natural peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan.
2) In a metal bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer.
3) Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

My 2016 resolution is to make these more often.

Rudolph's Nose Christmas Cookies

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen;
But do you recall?
The most famous cookie of all?

Or something like that.

I had such a blast participating in this year's Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap! It was my first year and it was a blast thinking up creative cookies, packaging, and of course eating lots of delicious cookies from fabulous food bloggers across the world. 

If you're unfamiliar with the FB Cookie Swap, here's the gist (via their website): The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap brings together food bloggers from around the world in celebration of all things scrumptious. The premise is this: sign up. Receive the addresses of three other food bloggers. Send each of them one dozen delicious homemade cookies. Receive three different boxes of scrumptious cookies from other bloggers. Eat them all yourself (or, you know, share. If you want. No judgement either way.) Post your cookie recipe on your blog. See everyone else’s cookie recipes. Salivate. Get lots of great ideas for next year’s cookie swap. Rinse and repeat.

Fun, right?!

Anyway, I wanted to do something fun for my cookie and perused Pinterest and kicked around several ideas until it finally came to me (while introducing Jackson to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"): Rudolph's Nose Cookies! 

These cookies are ridiculously simple to make, taste amazing, and look extremely festive! It's definitely a recipe I'll make again in the future (in fact, I'm already planning to make them to eat during "Rudolph" next year. #newtraditions). 

I didn't have reindeer ears so I edited them in..

Anngredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter or margarine (softened)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 egg
• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Red sprinkles

1. Stir together sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. 
2. Shape chilled dough into a rounded tablespoon and evenly coat in red sprinkles. Place balls, 1 inch apart, on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 375ºF for 9 to 12 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!

Tip: These do not ship well--I learned that the hard way (sorry Nancy!)!

4 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Hello.

Are you keeping warm in this crazy winter polar vortex weather?

We are here in CO (thanks to lots of coffee, footie pajamas, and baby snuggles)!

Instead of complaining about this crazy snow and how I'm feeling a bit of cabin fever (Jax and I are used to being out and about during the day.. not gonna happen when the high is 16 degrees!), I'm going to introduce you to your new favorite dessert.

You're welcome.

I found this recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars on my girl Ruthie Hart's blog and they are seriously the most amazing thing I have ever tasted. Chocolate? Check. Cookies? Check. Cream Cheese? Ah, heck yeah!

These are so simple to make, taste amazing, and would be perfect to take to any upcoming holiday parties!

Recipe from The Chronicles of Ruthie Hart

• 1 pkg chocolate chip cookie dough
• 1 pkg cream cheese
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg

1. Press 1/2 of the cookie dough in the bottom of a greased 8X8 pan.
2. Cream together the cream cheese, egg, and sugar until the mixture is a thick liquid. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cookie dough in the pan.
3. Flatten the remaining pieces of cookie dough and place on top of the cream cheese mix.
4. Bake for approx. 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees (25-30 minutes for high altitude).
5. Let cool and enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Banana Pumpkin Bread

Hello.

My name is Annie and I am a pumpkin-a-holic.

Whew! That feels good to get off my chest.

I didn't realize I had such a problem until last weekend when my brother pointed it out.. my family was visiting and I offered them my homemade pumpkin muffins, Trader Joe's pumpkin croissants, Pumpkin Spice Oreos, Pumpkin Ale, and Pumpkin Chai Lattes (all while my pumpkin candle is burning on the counter).

"What is it with you and pumpkin? You have a problem." -Joey (my bro-ey)

He's right.. I do have a problem.

Buuuuut, my addiction benefits YOU because I start messing around in the kitchen and adding pumpkin to everything and creating delicious treats!

Case in point: this moist, delicious, and simple to make Chocolate Chip Banana Pumpkin Bread.

I found this recipe for banana bread and added my beloved pumpkin and chocolate.. and you know what?

It's AMAZING!

Chocolate Chip Banana Pumpkin Bread

Adapted from Inspired Taste's Classic Banana Bread Recipe

 Anngredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 medium ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree 
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. To make the batter, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together, and set aside. In the bottom of a medium bowl, mash bananas into a chunky paste. Whisk the melted butter, sugar, eggs, pumpkin puree and vanilla into the bananas until blended.
3. Switch to a large rubber spatula. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl then add the dry ingredients in 3 parts, stirring gently until they disappear and the batter is smooth. Stir in chocolate chips
4. Pour batter bread pan, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes. 
5. Let bread completely cool before serving.

Serve with hot coffee & a swipe or two of butter and you're set to go! Enjoy

Random side note: Did you know that you can bake peeled bananas in the oven to drastically speed up their ripening?! I found that out on Jilllee's blog and it works like a charm! I will never again have to wait to get my banana bread fix.. yippee!!

Sea Salt Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Brownies

Read the title again.

Are you drooling yet?

I am just thinking about them..

I decided to combine my four favorite things (chocolate, Nutella, pumpkin, & salt) into a delicious dessert and boy oh boy are they yummy!

These Sea Salt Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Brownies are so moist, simple & quick to prepare, and make for the perfect after school snack!

Anngredients:

• 1 "Family Size" box (19.5 oz) brownie mix
• 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin 
• 1/3 cup Nutella Hazelnut Spread
• 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a bowl mix together brownie mix and pumpkin until smooth. Spread batter into pan. Add Nutella to microwave safe bowl and heat for 15 seconds. Stir in salt.
3. Spoon Nutella mixture over brownie batter and gently swirl it into the mix. 
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, let cool, and enjoy!

No egg=safe & delicious (and Jackson approved!) batter.

3 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

It's fall, y'all! 

September=Fall in the book of Annie

I absolutely love fall; the overpriced 1,000 calorie Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks, the changing leaves, pumpkin scented candles, cooler temperatures, pumpkin desserts.. It's all my favorite!

This fits me to a T.

One 95 degree day in July, I was dreaming of double digit months and decided to whip up a batch of these 3 Ingredient Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins to satisfy my autumn cravings. 

It worked (well, that and a pumpkin candle)!

These are the simplest, tastiest, most fool proof muffins you will ever make; they are only three ingredients and can be whipped up in a few short minutes (because nobody should have to wait to get their pumpkin fix)! 

Anngredients:

1 box spice cake mix

1 can pumpkin

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix the cake mix, pumpkin, and chocolate chips together until well combined.
3. Coat muffin/cupcake tins with non-stick cooking spray and spoon in mixture (cups only need to be about 2/3 full -- it will rise!). 
4. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Serve with your favorite fall beverage and enjoy.

Thumb Print Tea Cookies

Have I ever mentioned how much I love tea and anything tea related?

I have?

Oh (Was it the tea party bridal shower that gave it away?).

Anyway, today I'm sharing a sweet, buttery, and oh so crumbly thumb (fork) print cookie that's perfect for your next tea party, special occasion, or crummy Monday.

Adapted from All Recipes
Yields 5 dozen cookies

•  1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Shape cookie dough into balls. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Dent each cookie with thumb.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Serve these thumb (err.. fork) print cookies with a cup of black tea and enjoy!

Simple Homemade Easter Cookies

Are you looking for a simple and festive dessert for Easter Sunday?

Don't worry; I gotcha covered!

Here is a recipe for some really simple (and yummy!) sugar cookies and frosting--seriously, if I can make them, anyone can!

I made the cookies and set them in the fridge overnight and had nightmares about how they would turn out.. The result? These are by far the best cookies I have ever had (and I've tried a lot of different cookies in my day)--Brandon, who isn't a big fan of sweets, even agreed!

Seriously, make them. 

Here's the recipe (from allrecipes.com): 

Original recipe makes 5 dozen

•  1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely. 

The frosting is super easy make too; I made a big batch of this buttercream frosting (from Taste of Home), separated it into three different bowls, and mixed in blue, yellow, and pink food coloring.

Easy, pretty, and festive!

Mamma's Christmas Party/Surprise Baby Shower!

Wow! What a fun and eventful week this has already been--and it's only Wednesday! Can't wait to see what the rest of the days have to bring. But before I get started, have you entered my fabulous giveaway for a free 8x10" custom photo canvas from Easy Canvas Prints (a $44.71 value)?! No? Well, you better hop on it!

On with the post!

If you know me, you know that I am all about Christmas--it's such a magical time of the year and I just love all of the wonderful spirit and the meaning of the season. So now that you know this (if you didn't before), you know that I was excited when an opportunity to host a Christmas party/gift exchange came about!

These women are such a wonderful blessing in my life!

I have been a member of our local Catholic mother's group since August--I am always looking to meet new people/make new friends so I was thrilled to learn about this group (plus, I figured this would be a great way to meet other moms/friends for Jr.)! I quickly learned that this isn't just a group; it's a sisterhood. These women are all so warm, caring, and are always there for you when you need help, advice, or support. Our group meets two times a month, so I jumped at the chance to host one of the December meetings so I could do something Christmas related!

A couple cool cats enjoying the Christmas season (poor Bits.. she was finished with pictures after this one)!

I made my favorite Christmas cookies and English Toffee (recipe from the TomKat Studio Holiday Gift Guide) for the party!
I also set up a little hot cocoa bar with leftover supplies from our wedding.

So many gifts for the gift exchange!

Gift exchange fun with the gals!

Here's another little "if you know me" tidbit: I am terrible at catching on to surprises. 

Like, awful. 

It takes awhile for things to sink in with me so there is always a bit of a delay.. I definitely had one of those moments at the party. 

One of the ladies from the group was going to be coming late so we had planned to wait until after she arrived to do our gift exchange. When she drove up to the house, two of the gals went out to the car to meet her, which I didn't think anything about. When they came back a couple minutes later, they were carrying more gifts and a cake. My friend Jeanna came walking toward me with the cake--the cake had blue frosting and said "Boy oh Boy, It's a Boy!" 

"Huh, that's a cute cake," I thought to myself. "I mean, kind of random for a Christmas party, but still cute."

And then it finally clicked.

We were having a surprise baby shower for Baby Sand!

Baby and I were definitely spoiled at the party--not only did the girls bake a cake, but they gave us an adorable diaper cake, play mat, diapers, books (for mamma and baby!), and an extremely generous gift card to Wal-Mart that is going to help out tremendously. 

Words cannot describe how much this meant to me--these girls are such a blessing in my life and I thank God every day for this group of girlfriends. Thank you, thank you to all of the moms who came to the shower/were there in spirit/contributed in some way or another. I will never forget your kindness and warmth!

It was a perfect night full of good food, good friends, and good conversation--what a perfect way to start the Advent season!

Dreams of Basic Instinct and Mini Fruit Pizzas

Before I get started on the upsetting dream I had last night, I wanted to once again share my recipe for mini fruit pizzas.

Recipe (I used blueberries & raspberries this time and drizzled the extra icing over the top with my cake pen)

I attended a Catholic moms group last night and it was wonderful! The ladies were really fun and welcoming and I'm so excited to get involved and make new friends! I didn't sleep at all the night before so toward the end of the night, my body began shutting down and my allergies started to badly flare up. Yuck. 

Anyway, that leads me to my story..

I got home last night, took a quick shower, got into bed and laid there congested and miserable. I started to doze off when I felt a familiar presence breathing down my neck.. followed by the loudest meow I have ever heard. 

This is the look I got on Monday morning when I woke her up at 4am.

I slowly opened my heavy, aching eyes and just stared--I couldn't find the energy to talk or reach out and pet her so we just annoyingly stared at each other until my eyes slowly closed..

Then, when I was finally able to fall asleep, I had a dream that Brandon and I were staying in some gigantic vacation house with a bunch of my friends from high school which should have been a fun dream but quickly became a bust when I lost Bitsy (there was another cat in the house and Bits got her feelings hurt and ran away.. typical!) and Brandon wouldn't socialize because he was too busy watching Basic Instinct over and over.

Why is it that when I finally fall asleep for one minute, I dream about losing my cat and Sharon Stone? Ack.

A Betty Crocker Successful Fail

I don't think things through. 

Seriously. 

I thought moving stuff to the new place was a good idea.. with a fractured back.. yeah. 

Anyway, I'm not feeling too hot tonight and don't have too much pep or energy so I'd like to share a guest post I did a few months back for Beth at Arrow in the Eye. 

Enjoy my Betty Crocker Successful Fail.

If you're familiar with my blog, you know that I have a terrible sugar addiction--I can never get enough! The great thing problem is that when I make something sweet, it's usually just for my husband and me to enjoy. So I was so thrilled and honored when I was asked to make cupcakes for our local humane societies annual fundraiser. I knew right off the bat that it needed to be something animal related but I couldn't figure out what.
Until I was flipping through my Betty Crocker Just Cupcakes cookbook.. Look at what I found right away:

B.I.N.G.O. And these were the cupcakes I was gonna make--o!

Seriously, how adorable are these little guys? And they look like they'd be a cinch to make, right?

Wrong, Annie. Wrong.

I took the easy route and used boxed white cake mix (I usually do homemade but I was trying to save a little time). They came out beautifully from the oven.

Perfect, right?

Then I began to frost. And frost. And frost (I was making 3 dozen).

Whew, now the hard part was over. Time for decorating fun!!

*3 1/2 Hours Later*

Oh no.. they didn't look anything like the picture. Wa-wa-waaaa. I was so bummed..

Then my husband came home and gave me a little bit of a pep talk and I decided they weren't so bad after all. They were kind of cute in their own Betty Crocker fail sort of way..

By morning, I decided I was really proud of my cupcakes. This is the first time I've ever done any kind of dessert decorating like this (minus my 4H cake decorating fails--I was the only person in my division and I still placed 2nd or 3rd in my category). I guess you gotta start somewhere, right?

Here they are on display at the fundraiser. I got so many nice compliments on them and they went over very well!

If you're wanting to make critter cupcakes, here are the candies I used:

 Puppies

Mini Oreos--cut in half (for ears)

Chocolate chips (eyes)

M&Ms (nose)

Small gumdrop--cut vertically into thirds (tongue)

Kittens

Small gumdrops (ears)

Chocolate chips (eyes and nose)

Twizzlers--cut into 1 inch strips (whiskers)--cut additional tiny piece for mouth

 

A Wedding and (Rockin' Chalk) Grooms Cake

These last couple of weeks, I have been sharing our professional wedding photos with you.

Today, I planned to post pictures from the reception but I ended up going back to work for a few hours yesterday (YAY!), wore myself out and napped off and on the rest of the day. Ugh.

So instead, I will be sharing photos of our beautiful wedding cakes!

 

A local bakery created this beauty for us--we wanted something simple and elegant and couldn't have been more pleased with the way it turned out! Brandon and I both liked that it wasn't too over the top and how it subtly added more of our wedding colors to the reception hall.

If you know Brandon, you know he LOVES his University of Kansas Jayhawks; so I knew I had to get him a Jayhawk grooms cake. Instead of going through a bakery, I asked Brandon's and my friend, Jana, to make it--and as you can see, she did an amazing job! Brandon and Jana have been good friends for 5 years now so it made the surprise even more special. Thanks, Jana!

Party, Party, I like to Party

 Joyful Homemaking, 

A Tea-ny Obsession of Mine

I have a major obsession with like tea.

Hot tea. Iced tea. Tea parties. Tea pots. Tea towels. Tea Cups. I just really like tea.

I date my love of tea back to my best friends 16th birthday party when we got all dressed up and enjoyed a high tea at the Molly Brown Palace in Denver.

From the looks on our faces, I'm guessing that we were all terrified to be drinking tea?

We sipped fruity hot teas, nibbled on tiny tea sandwiches, and indulged in decadent desserts.

Yep, I was sold.

Fast forward 7 years and I still love tea.. and tea parties. So much so that my mom, Aunt Brigette, and close friend of the family Dorothy threw me a tea party bridal shower!

Since I'm such a self-proclaimed tea expert (I'm also a connoisseur of nachos--but I'll save that post for another day), I'd like to share a few of my favorite teas, accessories and recipes with you!

My Favorite Teas

1.) Aveda Comforting Tea ($17 for box of 20)--Oh. Em. Gee. This is my all time favorite tea. It is infused with licorice root and peppermint and leaves your mind and body feeling refreshed and renewed--and it's decaffeinated, so it's the perfect tea to help you de-stress and unwind. Available at your local Aveda store.

2.) Tazo Zen Green Tea ($4.99 for box of 20)--This is the perfect morning pick-me-up tea and is created using "select full-flavored, pan-fired green teas from China, long fabled for their legendary properties." It's very light with the taste of lemon verbena leaves, lemongrass and spearmint leaves--yum! Available at most drug and health food stores. 

3.) Stash Ginger Peach Green Tea ($3.99 for box of 18)--This is actually my preferred tea for whenever I'm sick because of the kick of ginger (great for sore throats or blocked sinuses). In addition to the ginger, this tea packs a refreshing punch of green tea and juicy peach. Available at most drug and health food stores. 

My Favorite Accessories

1.) Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle ($42.99 on Amazon)--I actually got one of these for my wedding shower (from my Aunt Nancy, who has one of her own!) and LOVE it! It is so much quicker and more convenient than using a stove top kettle AND you don't have to worry about boiling water spewing out of the top. 

2.) Classic Coffee & Tea Polka Dot Teacup and Saucer - Set of 6 ($45.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond)--this is another wedding gift/registry item that I was thrilled to receive! I fell in love with the fun and colorful polka dot pattern and adore the beautiful hat box that houses them. I think a pretty tea cup and saucer set should be mandatory for everyone!

3.) A Quirky Mug ($8.00 at Pier One Imports)--Okay, so it doesn't necessarily have to be an owl mug.. but I don't see how anyone couldn't want this adorable guy! Quirky and colorful oversize mugs are just a fun way to start the day. Check your local thrift store, Ross or Home Goods for an array of mugs at low prices.

My Favorite High Tea Menu Items

1.) How beautiful would these Caramel Topped Shortbread Bites be on a tray of tea party treats? Pair this with a rich black tea or spicy chai for a combination that is sure to awaken the senses.
2.) Blackberry Lemon Goat Cheese Squares. No caption needed (best paired with a fruity tea or cider).
3.) These Classic Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches will impress even the most refined taste buds. Pair with a green or spicy ginger tea for a heavenly culinary experience.

I hope this post inspires you to try some new teas or host a tea party in the near future! I think I'm going to go make myself a cup right now to help me unwind. Cheers!

Party, Party, I like to Party

 Southern Lovely, Stone Gable, Bloom Designs, The Frugal Girls, Practically Functional, Six Sisters Stuff, Sew Can Do, This Gal Cooks, Kathe with an E,