The December Print

You now what goes hand and hand with December? Tartan. One look at the pattern, the colors, the texture, and you are reminded of fireplaces, snowmen, and hot cocoa. You can style it preppy, classic, or rocker. It's the do it all for December.

Topshop, White Tartan Asymmetrical Skort, $68

Not your standard mini skirt. Check out how the pattern falls with the asymmetrical lines.

Anthropologie, Tartan Tights, $24

This is a perfect holiday tight with a red mini dress and heels.

Zara, Combination Checkered Biker Jacket, $59

Not all tartan is sweet, try this relaxed moto jacket.

Modcloth, Footwork and Play Flat, $98

Safe to say these are my new favorite holiday shoes.

Tartan is surprisingly versatile as one of the bolder prints out there. Pair it with black, but think outside of the box this time of year and maybe pair it with black sequins!

Be fabulous today!

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday! Here are my favorite holiday cookie recipes!

Candy Cane Crinkles

℅ Lauren's Latest

Ingredients

3 whole candy canes, crushed
½ cups Butter, Softened
1 cup Granulated Sugar
½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 whole Egg
¼ teaspoons Salt
¼ teaspoons Baking Powder
⅛ teaspoons Baking Soda
1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
½ cups Powdered Sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease light colored baking sheets with non stick cooking spray, line with parchment paper or use silicone baking mat and set aside.

Place candy canes into a plastic food storage bag and crush using a rolling pin. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Whip in vanilla and egg. Scrape sides and mix again. Stir all dry ingredients together in a small bowl and then in pour into mixer and slowly mix until just combined, excluding the powdered sugar. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again briefly. Stir in crushed candy canes. Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate. Roll a heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball and roll in powdered sugar. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until bottoms begin to barely brown and cookies look matte {not melty or shiny}. Remove from oven and cool cookies about 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Chocolate Milk Cookies

℅ Cassie Craves

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened 

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

1/2 cup chocolate milk powder 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 to 4 tablespoons chocolate milk

Red and green sugar or sprinkles for decorating, if desired

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Combine flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. In a large bowl, mix butter, sugar, chocolate milk powder, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add eggs one at a time. Gradually add in flour mixture and mix until thoroughly combined.

3. Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten cookies with the back of a spoon.

4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Combine powdered sugar and chocolate milk. Glaze cooled cookies, then garnish with red and green sugar or sprinkles if desired.

Chocolate Peppermint Patty Cookies

℅ Buns in My Oven

Ingredients

1 box devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
18 peppermint patties (the small ones)
powdered sugar, for sprinkling

Directions

Beat together the cake mix, eggs, and oil until well combined and a sticky dough forms.
Place dough in the fridge for 20 minutes to chill. If you skip this step, the dough will be very hard to work with, but if you're in a hurry just make sure your hands are cold by running them under cold water after you shape each cookie.
Grab a golf ball sized ball of dough, roll into a ball, and flatten it into a disc.Place a peppermint patty in the center and bring the excess dough up and around the patty to cover it.
Repeat with remaining dough and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart from each other.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 9 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle on powdered sugar.
Cool on a wire rack.

She's So Fake

Keeping with yesterday's holiday party theme, I thought we would move to dressed up scarves. Believe me, there is a time and place for this but when its cold and you've got your party dress on, it's time to swank it up. Enter the faux fur scarf. 

Anthropologie, Ulrica Faux Fur Scarf, $78

This is glamour. This is how we dress up and grow up. Feel free to add some blinded out broach.

Ann Taylor, Faux Fur Scarf, $89

Do you have a bright colored winter coat? This is a great neutral to add.

Banana Republic, Jules Faux Fur Trim Scarf, $79

Here's a nice hybrid option if you don't want to go full out furry.

Limited, Keyhole Scarf, $29

This scarf reminds me of my grandmother in the best possible way. I think it is so beautiful.

Do you faux? I love my fun and colorful scarves, but sometimes an event demands something a little bit more.

Be fabulous today!

Carried Away with Holidays

So you're going to 74 holiday parties this month and you've got the dress(es) on lockdown, it's the bag you need help with. The clutch is your best friend. Simple, small, chic this bag is going to be your do it all and still make a statement.

Banana Republic, Penny Lucite Clutch, $98

What did I tell you about making a statement? Find me an LBD, stat. We're going out.

Nordstrom, Deco Clutch, $48

A little Gatsby, a lot holiday.

Modcloth, Elegance in Velvet, $44

A beautiful vintage looking bag with a nice cranberry hue.

Betsey Johnson, Black Sequin Clutch, $78 

I think this would be a great bag for New Years. just enough punch.

What are you carrying to your holiday soirees this month? Remember, all you really need to fit is keys, wallet, phone, and lip gloss. Less is more ladies.