Chilly Treats & A Festive 4th

Behold. The power of a glorious homemade ice cream sandwich! 

Bringing smiles and sugar highs to wonderful 4th of July.

Our holiday was a mellow one. I woke up to a surprise delivery of my favorite lola coffee (#heartmelt), then breakfast at LGO, poolside bronzing, a smorgasbord BBQ feast for dinner, then iced tea lemonade cocktails and sparklers in the backyard. Honestly, I couldn't think of a better way to spend the day!

Lucky for Chris, the baking bug bit at about 9pm, so I whipped up some chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (my all time favorite). Tillamook recently sent me a few of their ice creams to try, since they are now going to be sold in Arizona (three cheers!). Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, there was no other option to what kind of cheese you would use. Tillamook is hands down the creamiest and most flavorful. I had no idea they made ice cream as well, and I have to say - that vanilla bean is some of the best I've ever had. And I am picky! I want to be able to see tons and tons of bean flecks throughout the entire thing. The ice cream smashed between two cookies? Heaven.

Now that I've tried the staple flavors - oregon strawberry, chocolate mudslide & vanilla bean, I'm ready to graduate to some of their more fun varieties. Marionberry Pie, S'mores & Chocolaty Chip Cookie Dough? YES PLEASE.

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from All Recipies

• 1/2 C. butter, softened
• 1/2 C. light brown sugar
• 1/4 C. white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 Tsp. vanilla 
• 1/2 C. plus 2 tbl. flour
• 1/4 Tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 Tsp. kosher salt
• 1 1/2 C. quick cook oats
• 1/2 C. semi sweet chocolate chips

- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- In a large bowl or mixer, cream together the butter, white & brown sugar until smooth. Beat in egg, then add vanilla.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add gradually to the wet mixture.
- Hand mix the oats, then chocolate chips.
- Drop about a heaping tablespoon onto a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 12 minutes. Remove and allow cookies to cool and set for at least 5 minutes before noshing!

...

Desert Botanical Gardens: Las Noches de las Luminarias

Pretty close to my apartment, there is a lovely hidden gem - the Desert Botanical Gardens. The gardens are a local secret, that I just happened to stumble across this past holiday season.

My mom has always been a fan of any kind of botanical garden, often dragging me along to visit the blooming acres of flora that can be found all over Seattle. Naturally, I had little to no appreciation for it until I aged a few years (although, full disclosure, I still get a little twitchy staring at bushes for more than two minutes before continuing on our stroll).

I knew I needed to work this into her December visit, but apparently due to the secret popularness of the Desert Botanical Gardens, tickets had sold out all the way through Christmas. Damn you out of towners!

Thankfully a few tickets opened up for the day after Christmas, and I scooped them up as fast as possible. The Gardens hold what is called Las Noches de las Luminarias each holiday season, lining each and every path of the gardens with candle lit luminaries.

As you curve around the paths, viewing the beautiful Chihuly installations, cactus varieties and desert friendly bushes, you come across stations of musical talent, singing, caroling, storytelling and playing all kinds of instruments.

With hot apple cider in hand (if I hadn't been sick, I would have been all over that mulled wine!), we stolled throughout the park. A four person steel drum band, and man with a didgeridoo, a native american story teller who played a hand whittled flute, even a quartet of old time carolers filled our ears with the wonderful sounds of the holidays.

It was an amazing evening, and a new tradition which I'm sure we will enjoy each Christmas. If you haven't had a chance to check out the Desert Botanical Gardens, I can't think of a better place to pack a picnic, grab a good read and a pair of shades this Spring. Unwind and step away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

...

Happy New Year!

You can almost feel it in the air, can't you?

Last year was harder than most. Which has left me feeling so crazy optimistic about the year to come. I'm not sure what's causing it, but I really do believe that this will be a wonderful year to remember. With that, I've decided to forgo resolutions this year, in exchange for the goal of really truly listening to my gut. Going with the flow. Being myself, 100%. And above all, having fun. 

Welcome 2013! 

I've been waiting for you. 

...

An Organized Holiday I - Festigrams

Shout out to all of the holiday procrastinators out there! Without fail, each year you can find me joining in the frenzy of shoppers digging through what's left in the mall Dec. 20-23. The panic, the regret, the guilt - not feelings that go well with the cheer, Christmas merriment & joy you're supposed to feel during this time of year.

This year, I'm finally changing my ways. I've given myself the green light to start celebrating early, with the understanding that I cannot procrastinate on the less exciting things. Each garland strand or glittery holiday ornament I pull out of storage will be followed by things like ordering gift wrap online, and picking up mail friendly packaging & stamps before a trip to the post office becomes a three hour excursion.

First on the agenda - cards! With so many places to choose your festive holidaygram, I thought I'd narrow down a few of my favorite online stops to purchase snail mail.

1// Etsy - Ordering off of this handmade site always makes me feel good about supporting people who are following the entrepreneurial dreams. A great way to find & support the art of letterpress cards, my favorite, for a surprisingly lower cost than you might think. Parrott Design Studio - $18 for 6

2// Papyrus - Easily one of the most well known greeting card companies in the country. Papyrus products can be found in big retailers, like Target, but also in neighborhood shops and their standalone boutiques. A pricier price tag per card, but anything heavily saturated with glitter and rhinestones I really can't resist. Papyrus Snowflake - $6.50

3// Tinyprints - For newlyweds, engaged couples, families with cute kiddos or even cute pets, ordering custom photo cards is the way to go. I qualify for none of these, although I was completely tempted by Tinyprints' modern calligraphy, cute layouts and supremely low cost. Tinyprints 'Merry Christmas' - about $2.25 each if you order 10, less the more you order!

4// World Market - A favorite store for home & kitchen things, World Market also has a great yearly holiday shop filled with inexpensive wrapping paper, tissue, tags, gift bags & more. It's one of my must-stops for holiday giving. Even better, they offer boxed card sets for much less than other stores. This is great if your Christmasgram must-send list is as long as your Santa wishlist. (Guilty) World Market - $9.99 for 10

More An Organized Holiday Tips to come!

Get festive!

...

{Breakfast for Leprechauns}

Oh St. Patrick's Day, you've always been one of my favorites! The day after my highly celebrated half birthday, you always meant endless gold chocolate coins, treats from mom and building bigger and better leprechaun traps. We'd spray paint gold rocks in the hopes of luring the leprechauns into the perfectly balanced traps, but alas! Each year they got away leaving behind shamrock stickers, candy, coloring books and more. Sneaky little fellas.

I've grown up (somewhat) and replaced the traps with other fun things like drinking green beer and pretending to be irish. Somethings will just never go away though, like fun socks and green eggs & ham with some broccoli and sauteed onion. A little pot of golden pineapple on the side and it already feels like a lucky day!

{A little Valentine's Day whoopie}

Pies people, whoopie pies.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling to be exact!

Happy Valentines Day! 

Give your loved ones an extra squeeze today.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

From Annie's Eats

For the cookies:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
• 1 oz. red food coloring

For the frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 5 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

- Preheat oven to 375.
- Using a heart cookie cutter, trace hearts on parchment paper & place on a cookie sheet.
- In a med. bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Beat in the egg until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.  Add vanilla.
- With the mixer on low, beat in about a third of the dry ingredients, followed by half of the buttermilk, beating each addition  until incorporated.  Repeat until all the buttermilk & dry ingredients are added.
- Finally, add in the food coloring.

-Fill a large freezer bag with the batter, snip the tip, and pipe heart shapes onto the parchment paper, but don't fill the entire outline.
- Bake 7-9 minutes, rotating the pans half way through.
- Let cool, then match similar shaped hearts (one up & one down)
- Fill the face-up heart with cream cheese frosting, then form the delicious sandwiches!

{A New Year & Fancy Shoes}

New Years Eve 2011 was such a success. My friends & I piled aboard an Argosy Cruise in Seattle, and sailed around on a beautiful, clear night. We drank champagne, saw fireworks erupt from the Space Needle, and eventually kicked off our shoes and had a wild dance party. Apart from a few rocky waves that nearly knocked me over, and a very slow bartending staff...the night was perfect!

Dress: Francesca's, Belt: Banana Republic, Boots: Vince Camuto

My last purchase of 2011, I decided to go out with a bang. I saw these booties from across the store and knew it was love. Some pushing from my mom to put my practicality aside for a moment, and all of a sudden I was checking out. Probably the best decision I made all year.

Hope you all had a fun & safe evening!

{Holiday Cheer}

My annual christmas blog break started a few days earlier than expected, and I couldn't be happier. I'm back in Seattle for this first time in a year, days have been overcast, foggy and beautifully dreary. 

{my mom's beautiful red & white themed christmas tree}

{mother & daughter christmas pants}

{my ornament to chris}

{chris' ornament to me - look familiar?}

{my favorite early christmas present from the boyfriend!}

Wishing you all the merriest happiest last days of the holiday season, dear readers! Posting will be back again in the new year. Until then I'll be baking up a storm, visiting with friends & family, and trying to get sick of the rain. I'll of course still be posting to instagram (find me at: sparklefarkle!), and of course to twitter. Happy new year!

{Pioneer Woman's Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes}

I bow down to the Pioneer Woman. Seriously, that woman is a food genius. Thankfully, calories do not count on Thanksgiving so I am free to scroll through her hundreds of delicious recipes, picking whichever suits my fancy for one day of the year. Okay, maybe Christmas too.

Enter, the Costco bag of potatoes, which filled half of my sink to the brim. My mom took on the daunting task of washing & peeling, and I jumped in during the boiling/straining/burning limbs portion. Lucky me. 

We made the roasted garlic ahead of time, the night before. It couldn't be simpler. Chop the tips off each bulb of garlic, exposing part of the cloves. Start wrapping in tinfoil, drizzling olive oil into the package before sealing. Pop in the oven for an hour at XX. When it's done, let cool and squish out the garlic cloves. Voila!

When the potatoes are done boiling, strain and place back on the stove, low heat. This helps the steam evaporate so your potatoes will be fluffier. If you happen to have a potato ricer laying around (which I do, because my mom RULES and she bought me one!), use it. It will save your arms from having to mash the potatoes into oblivion, saves time and makes your potatoes so wonderfully fluffy!

I made mashed potatoes once with a fork. Never, never again. 

Then add the two most sinful ingredients. Quickly, before you change your mind and images of your slinky new years dress float into your head. I halved the cream cheese because I let these thoughts run rampant, and have a conscience.

Sweet creaminess. Goodness gracious.

Half & half go into the pot, then the roasted garlic. Get your power arms ready and whip some air into the potatoes for extra fluffygoodness. Salt & pepper to taste, which is code for secretly stuffing your face because you can't resist any longer. 

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

adapted from the Pioneer Woman

• 5 pounds russet  or yukon gold potatoes, peeled and rinsed
• 3 - 5 heads roasted garlic
• 1-1/2 stick  salted Butter (3/4 Cup)
• 8 oz. softened cream cheese (I used 4)
• 1/2 cup half & half
• Salt to taste
• Black Pepper to taste

- Cut the peeled potatoes into pieces and cook in boiling water until fork-tender (about 30 minutes).
- Drain water and return to pot, rice/mash potatoes over low heat until the steam has escaped.
- Mash in softened butter, cream cheese, half-and-half, and salt to taste.
- Dump in roasted garlic cloves, stir together, then check seasoning. Be sure there's enough salt.
- Reheat in the oven at 350 for 20-30 minutes before serving. Then, pat yourself on the back for making people's lives better via food.

{Our Turkey Day}

A glimpse into our crazy day with family and so much food. My mom & I woke up way too early to start prepping the  15lbs. of potatoes we needed to bring to our multiple Thanksgivings. We peeled, roasted garlic & mashed all morning, barely leaving enough time to throw on an outfit before we were out the door.

{mama & chris}

Party #1 at my cousin Johnny's house in Paradise Valley, where he hosts an orphan Thanksgiving each year for anyone who doesn't have a family to dine with. The party has grown year after year and now 60+ people eat, drink & bring potluck dishes to share for an all-day feast.

They cooked 10 whole turkeys, had at least 10 pies, bags and bags of rolls, and all kids of other goodies. My aunt & uncle flew in from Georgia to hang out with us for the weekend, and made the most amazing BBQ shrimp, roasted veggies and mac&cheese for the party. I sampled (a tiny bit!) because all the food looked and smelled sooo good. Had to try a deep fried turkey since I haven't before. We brought crackers and dip, somehow we were the only ones... and I totally scored a new pretty platter (thanks mom!).

Then we were off to Chris' parents for the traditional sit down meal. I made roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and Chris' mom wowed us with the most beautiful turkey, stuffing, a sweet potato and apricot dish, broccoli with gorgonzola casserole and oyster dressing. Naturally we ate until we couldn't move. Then I insisted on taking some photos.

Chris' parents are trying to convince me to take on the task of planning & hosting Thanksgiving next year, which I've decided shouldn't be forced on someone until they're a real adult and married. Hooray! I have a few years left to push it off.

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving with family or friends that act as family. I'll be eating lettuce & celery for the next two months.

{Thankful}

A few snapshots via the phone, with so many more sitting on my memory card. Plenty of time to upload them later, but I'll be spending the day with my mama shopping and touring AZ.

What a wonderful Thanksgiving. Two dinners, relatives from out of town, family time, lots and lots of cooking, delicious food, texts from friends near & far, and thoughts spent feeling so thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life.

{the turkey & prepping my apple crisp}

I spent this Thanksgiving watching very closely how to successfully cook an entire 20+ lb. bird, since I have a feeling it's going to be my turn sooner than later. Better start preparing now! Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving with family, friends, or both! Even though the day is over, keep telling the how much they mean to you all year round. They deserve it!

{When We're Together...}

A mini hump day post.

A little holiday spirit to cheer up your day.

And a walk down memory lane.

Today, last year & even the year before.

 To keep the tradition going, {today, 64 degrees, Phoenix AZ}. 

Is it sad I'm marking the debut of Starbucks Holiday cups as my yearly reminiscing milestone?

...it really has been quite the year.

Hope your day is lovely!