i'd rather be baking

The presents are wrapped and packed away in a suitcase, the house is relatively clean, and my toenails are freshly painted. We’re heading home for the holidays on a non-6 a.m. flight for once in our lives and I couldn’t be happier about it. I hope all is just as merry in your house!

We’re eating leftover Mexican takeout for “brunch” and dropping off the dogs, but if we weren’t airplane bound you can believe I’d be baking these cookies again. Don’t they just look festive enough for Santa himself? They’re easy enough to get the kids involved and allow for the liberal use of sprinkles. Do I need to say more?

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You guys, it’s almost Christmas! I’m pretty thrilled. I’m also pretty tired. I bought the very last present yesterday but am still working on sewing a few little gifts, because I just had to give myself one more project. I know, I know.

I would try to figure how many cupcakes I’ve made this week, but math makes my brain hurt. Let’s just say it’s a lot. My house still needs to be cleaned and a couple of gifts still need wrapping, but guess what? I’m done baking! I kept these last few treats super simple on purpose. It’s the eleventh hour, people! Santa is breathing down all of our necks! Or maybe just mine – I’ve had a lot of caffeine these last few days.

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I don’t know about you, but for having the world’s biggest sweet tooth I’m already about sugared out, and it’s not even Christmas yet. I got pretty excited to make this snack mix and you’d better believe that none of it is being shared with Ryan’s officemates.

I know this might seem a bit basic, but who doesn’t love chex mix? The great thing is that you can use whatever you’d like in it. And it travels well (which I’m looking forward to, come Friday).

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Today’s recipe comes from the lovely Megan. She lives super far away but we seem to agree on a lot of things, like the importance of chocolate, magazines, and cute dogs. I appreciate that.

I can now attest that Megan is exactly right in saying that these are what you should make when you feel like a disaster. I made these yesterday somewhere around the middle of a long and ridiculous Monday. I came home feeling covered in powdered sugar and with the kind of headache that twenty screaming five-year-olds at a birthday party cause. I turned the oven on as soon as I walked in the door. I made these, and I felt better. Or butter. Either way.

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Two years ago today, we were married! It was very cold, but we were very happy. Happy anniversary, my dear!