KINDLE & CHRISTMAS COOKIES

All is well in the Ng-Chee + 1 household. Cash has become an Olympic gold medalist walker, and pretty much stays on his feet most of the day. It's nice that he's developed a huge sense of independence, but I can't deny that the feeling of him needing me less & less is beginning to make me sad. (This is where all you mom's of teens can ZIP YOUR LIP, and stop before you use the overdone phrase "Oh, just wait until he's 16!") Anybody who has a baby/toddler knows how AWFUL it is to here this statement 24/7. I know.. I get it.. He'll be a teenager who finds me uncool one day, but until then LEAVE ME BE! Sorry for that bratty rant but you ALL know it's true ;) Aside from a lot of walking in this house, there's been a lot of READING going on as well.. I'm not just talking about the daily children's Christmas book that Cash forces out of me every night, I'm talking about gool ol' fuzzy robe & slippers, mint julep face mask, hot chocolate in hand, MAMA reading! On THIS bad boy might I add..

Not only am I obsessed with the fact that I got this amazing contraption in BLACK, (the new, sleeker version!), but I'm also gushing over the easy interface, and accessibility. I'm an avid reader, and some of the books off of my book list are literally 1/8 of the price.. Such a great investment! Here's what I'm currently reading:

I'm only into the third chapter, but so far its made for a quite hilarious read! I loved watching Tori & Dean's show, because we seemed to have a similar obsession with our kids, organization, event planning, cooking, fashion and all things pretty. The book starts out with Tori admitting the shallow statement that she was scared her first born son's nose was too big after seeing the 3D ultrasound while pregnant. How amazingly honest is this broad?!?! (Although I can't relate: Cash looked as perfect in his 3D as he does now.. Now THAT'S shallow for ya ;) But true.. hehehe) Can't wait to get further into this book..

My friend came to me because she is going to a Cookie Exchange Party next week, and needed an idea for what to bring. For anyone who is in a similar bind, here are the two I suggest!

LAURA BUSH'S COWBOY COOKIES

I suggest these for a Cookie Exchange Party, Baby Shower, Lady's Luncheon, Afternoon Tea.. ANYWHERE! Of course I'm biased towards all things Laura Bush being from Texas, but this recipe is absolutely DIVINE! It makes the biggest, most perfect cookies in the world. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

LAURA BUSH'S COWBOY COOKIES

NEED:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups butter (at room temperature)
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened flake coconut
2 cups chopped pecans

STEPS:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl. In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla extract. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans. For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through. Remove cookies from rack to cool. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

REINDEER COOKIES

If you're going to something a little more "kid friendly" I'd suggest these cuties! These Reindeer Cookies are fun & easy to make, and even more fun to eat! I used a basic roll-out Sugar Cookie dough from the grocery store, and rolled it onto a lightly floured surface. Use a cookie cutter/rim of glass to cut the faces of the "reindeer." Use two pretzels as the "antlers", matching M&M's for the eyes, and a red M&M for the nose (ALL the kids want a Rudolph, of course!) Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, and have the perfect sweet treat for any Cookie Exchange or Kid's Christmas Party. I'd love to wrap these up in cellophane and a cute bow, and give them as party favors.. Hope ya'll put them to good use!

P.S. Not only am I obsessing over my kindle, but I'm at a loss of words over the amount of FABULOUS designer kindle covers there are available out there! Can't decide whether to go designer with a cute print, or stick to my favorite color?!? HELP!!

Cutesy leather zebra cover from Dianne Von Furstenburg?



Whimsical pink & black cover from Kate Spade?



or Basic leather cover in Baby Pink?