Grandma Jane's Sandtart Christmas Cookies

Nothing says Christmas time more to me than spending hours and hours in the kitchen baking countless amounts of cookies and treats for loved ones. This all started with my mom. My mom makes dozens of different kinds of cookies each year and in the last few years she's even let me help her out in the kitchen. Baking Christmas cookies with my mom is one of the things I cherish most about the holiday season and can't wait to travel home to Ohio in a couple weeks to whip up some of our favorites together! We make trays of her famous cookies and give them to friends, neighbors and family. I've found that there isn't much that people love more than a plate of homemade Christmas cookies and a hot cup of coffee.

So much has changed since last year. I've graduated college and moved across the country from Ohio to Arizona with D. D and I have our own Christmas tree and are starting our own traditions, even baking cookies in the kitchen together! Over the weekend D was craving some of his Grandma Jane's festive sandtarts so I offered to attempt to make some. I'm sure I didn't do Grandma Jane justice, but these cookies are absolutely delicious and addicting. Like D said, "You can eat them like they're potato chips." Truth.

This is such a yummy and fun recipe. I can't wait to share it with my mom!

Grandma Jane's Sandtart Cookies

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup (room temp) Butter

1/2 Tsp Salt

2 Eggs

3 Cups Flour

1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1 Tsp Almond Extract

Green and Red Sugar Sprinkles

You'll also need a rolling pin and Christmas cookie cutters

1. Cream together the sugar, butter, salt and eggs

2. Add in flour, vanilla extract and almond extract

3. Mix it all together

4. Chill the dough in the fridge

5. Take a nap, watch a Christmas movie or decorate the tree! Come back to the dough in a couple hours. :)

6. CLEAN and then flour the surface of your counter. You'll need a lot of flour for this part!

7. Preheat the over to 350 degrees

8. Roll out the dough VERY thin. We made some too thick before getting the hang of it, but the charm of these cookies are their thin, crispy deliciousness

9. Start cutting out the cookies! We used trees, stars and candy cane shaped cookie cutters

10. Sprinkle the cookies! You can use a good amount of sprinkles- my favorite part!

11. Place them on a cookie sheet and pop 'em in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Be sure to watch them, their thinness makes them prone to burning!

12. There will be enough remaining dough to do this about three times

13. Last step- eat them up! Share with friends and family.

Enjoy the classic recipe! I plan on making more (D and I will definitely eat this first batch by ourselves...) and packaging them up to give to local friends for Christmas :)

Arm Candy

Nothing makes a more classic statement than a watch. Even today, in the age of cell phones and gadgets, watches are making a huge comeback with large faces, fun colors and as the life of arm parties on women everywhere.

Here are some of my favorites-

Now I just need to find a way for Santa to read this post. Anyone have his email?

Happy December!

I can't believe it's already December! Time must really fly when you're having fun (or maybe it's just a getting older thing?), but this year has been a whirlwind!

Now that it's December, it's time to break out the tree and the trimmings. Start the holiday gift shopping. Break out the egg nog and Christmas cheer. Wish for snow everyday and blast the seasonal music. It really is the best time of the year, isn't it?

This weekend, enjoy time with loved ones and soak up every little bit of the holidays that you can. It only comes once a year.

Here are some festive links to take a look at between baking and decorating to get you in the mood for the season-

Turning an old light bulb into an ornament

Adorably designed holiday printables

Obsessed with these holiday photo booth props to leave out at a party this season

Cozy, Christmas engagement shoot

An amazing playlist of all the best Christmas music-- both modern and old:

Friendsgiving in San Francisco

This Thanksgiving marked my first time away from my family for the holiday. And also my first visit to San Francisco. Of course, being away from my family was something that was heavy in my heart, but I was so happy I was able to spend the day feasting, laughing and loving with my amazing friends in San Francisco.

The city was absolutely beautiful. More charming and lovely than I ever imagined. Oh, and absolutely delicious. :)

Fresh Oysters at the Ferry Building

Beer and the Bay Bridge

Seagull Friend

Isn't he handsome?

Sipping hot cocoa on the beach

Friend in the City Center

Kale Kraving

Hi, my name is Sam and I'm an addict. A potato chip addict that is-- I crave them and can never stop at just one. Lucky for me, this is a common problem to have and there is a (tasty) solution out there!

Say hellllllllo to kale chips! Wait, kale chips...? The weird, green mostly known as a garnish? Yeahhh, that kale. I was unsure at first too, but after trying this recipe for kale chips I'm hooked!

This recipe is everything a girl would want- easy, quick, cheap, healthy and it tastes like potato chips! Perfection.

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. Cut yourself up some kale! Only use the leaves-- the stem is super bitter. And make sure the pieces you are cutting aren't too small, and aren't too big. Just perfect bite size pieces.

3. Clean that kale and dry it.

4. Line a baking sheet with some foil.

5. Put the clean, dry kale on the baking sheet. Spread the kale over the entire sheet.

6. Drizzle with about a tablespoon of Olive Oil and then sprinkle salt over all of it. I also added some garlic salt because I'm garlic's #1 fan.

7. Pop 'em in the oven for about 10 minutes and Ta-da! You've made kale chips. Easy right?

I'll be honest, these babes aren't as good as the real things, but they are pretty darn delicious. I made them as a side for soup and the meal was super satisfying. Delish.

So instead of going for that bag of potato chips to cure your late night salty food cravings, whip up a batch of these yummy, crunchy and healthy chips :)

For best results, drink with a glass of wine:

Lipstick Junkie

Is it just me or does fall weather call for an extra dose of drama to play into your look?

I personally take the chilly temps as a sign to break out my most fabulous and dramatic lipstick. I strayed away from lipstick during the hot months here in Phoenix, because it usually resulted in me smearing it across my face when I wiped away sweat. Ew. That is the definition of "hot mess."

Luckily, the weather here is absolutely lovely now and it's allowing me to transform my makeup regimen!

Hello lip color and a semi-smokey eye! Please excuse my wild mane of hair.

Some of my favorite lip colors- (from left) Clinique, A Different Grape; Revlon, Cherry Ice; Clinique Chubby Stick (Love that name!) in Mega Melon; and another Revlon shade in Red Revival.

The beauty of lipstick is that it can take any look and completely transform it into a put-together and classic ensemble. For example, last Saturday morning the boy and I wanted to go to the Farmer's Market in Old Town Scottsdale. We wanted to go early, but there was NO way I was showering before noon on a Saturday (It's just a rule of mine. I also refuse to workout on Fridays), so I threw on a pair of leggings, an oversize jean shirt, black flats, my Ray-Bans and OF COURSE a shiny pair of red lips (I forgot to take a picture- sorry!). My boyfriend then admitted to me that "lipstick freaks him out," but OH WELL I felt like the epitome of fall chic fashion regardless! :)

Do you have a go-to make-up or accessory that makes you feel instantly glamourous? Have you found that "perfect shade" of lip color?

Grey Daze

Grey days are limited here in Phoenix (I've lived here five months and have yet to use an umbrella!), but the weekend forecast is calling for rainy, chilly weather and I'm NOT complaining! Of course, the Midwestern girl in me is super excited to feel real fall weather in the Valley of the Sun, and I wore my favorite grey sweater in celebration.

One of my favorite parts about Phoenix this time of year is the ability to intermix my summer and fall wardrobe. More options = more outfits. Here, I'm wearing a black and white floral dress from Forever 21 and my favorite slouchy sweater from American Eagle tied in a knot.

I love being able to get away with open-toe shoes in November! These are Vera Wang for Kohls and I'm wearing a shiny, shimmery metallic polish on my toes called Midnight Haze by Revlon.

Other great components to grey fall days= good books, new nail polish and fun, shiny rings (they brighten up the grey days a little).

Am I the only one who enjoys a good grey day once in a while? What are your favorite rainy day activities?