My Friday Five

1.  These Precious Days by Ann Patchett. I am LOVING this book of essays. Of course, I always seem to LOVE Patchett's writing, so I'm not really surprised by how much I am enjoying dipping in and out of this lovely tome. 

2.  TV shows. Hallmark was on 24/7 during the holiday seasons and now I am trying to figure out what to watch next.  I've started re-watching The Office and I am watching the new seasons of Real Housewives - Miami and OC. However, I am itching to get obsessed with a new-to-me TV show. Hmm...what to watch.

3. Music.  Yesterday I listened to The Lumineers all day long and today I have The Beatles on. I seem to be craving my favorite bands and wanting to listen to them constantly.  By the way I watched the new documentary on The Beatles called, The Beatles: Get Back. It was so good! I just loved watching them create music and work together. Of course there was drama, which I was captivated by. It was such a fun documentary to watch.  I loved their rooftop concert - excellent! 

4. Planners. What to use? So many choices. I tend to use several, which is the problem. I use one for my book blog, one for finances, one for general appointments, and one for gratitude. I was even thinking of starting one this year for social media and another for creative projects. However, I feel like that seems excessive. LOL! I think my addiction to planners stems from my addiction to journals and all things stationery. Hmm...

5.  Cookies. I am a cookie monster. Or at least it feels that way. I blame the holiday season for this addiction. I am currently noshing on Chesapeake cookies from Pepperidge Farms and these wafer cookies from some store brand I found at Aldi. They are all soooo delicious!

And now, I'm off to read some more Patchett. Hope you are having a great first week of the new year. Happy reading!!

Its beginning to look a lot like...baking season?

Look what came in the post:

((Thank you to Blogging for Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

Yep! A cookbook all about holiday cookies - talk about arriving in time for the upcoming holiday season! 

about book:

From Icebox Pinwheel Cookies to Red-and-White Meringue Kisses to Apple Cider Caramels, find new inspiration for the best of seasonal baking with Holiday Cookies.
 
This instant holiday classic is packed with 50 recipes, each gorgeously photographed and meticulously tested, along with dozens of decorating and packaging ideas. Filled with reimagined favorites like Giant Molasses Spice Cookies and Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies; confections like Peppermint Bark, Smoked Almond and Cacao Nib Brittle, and Dark Chocolate–Hazelnut Fudge; and detailed instructions for gorgeous gingerbread houses, cookie place cards, and edible ornaments, this is a cookie book like no other. Because the recipes are easy to scale up or down, Holiday Cookies is perfect for cookie exchanges, gift-giving, and just enjoying throughout the season. From a veteran baker and recipe developer, each cookie in this collection is guaranteed to be a stand-out, and destined to become your new Christmas classic.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love!! I absolutely LOVED this cookbook! I am a huge fan of baking during the holiday season, so I was super thrilled to receive a copy of Holiday Cookies to review. I just knew that I was going to enjoy flipping through it and looking at all the wonderful photos of seriously delicious looking cookies. OMG - talk about cookie bliss!!  My mouth couldn't stop watering just thinking about how scrumptious these cookies must taste -  YUM!!  And the recipes - so many great ones to choose from.  There's Candy Cane Cookies, Apple Cider Caramels, Hungarian Kiffles, and Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  And the Espresso Thins, Cinnamon-Sugar Palmiers, Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies...oh, and the Red Velvet Crackle Cookies.  I am already trying to figure out which recipes I want to use later this year.  I've tabbed up my copy of Holiday Cookies with possibilities, but I still keep looking through the book for more ideas. I just can't wait to start baking. 

Holiday Cookies by Elisabet der Nederlanden is a must-have for anyone who loves to bake.  I'm serious! This book has loads of recipes, tons of photos, and so many great tips - from decorating, packaging to storing your cookies.  Holiday Cookies has it all!!  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone who loves cookbooks - you are going to fall in love with this one! And you are going to want to start baking for the holidays ASAP.

I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review.