White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Baking festive treats around the holidays is just the best! Cookies are by far my favorite thing to bake and I have so much fun experimenting with new iterations by simply changing up the add-ins to my base cookie dough recipe.

I saw a bag of Andes peppermint chips while perusing Target and they inspired me to make white chocolate peppermint cookies for my office holiday party. They turned out amazing - creamy white chocolate, bits of refreshing peppermint, all in a soft & chewy cookie!

ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) of butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 package of vanilla pudding mix
1 cup Andes peppermint chips
1 cup white chocolate chips

directions

{1}

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a stand mixer, combine softened butter with white sugar and brown sugar and beat until creamy.

{2}

Add vanilla to the stand mixer, then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

{3}

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, pudding mix, baking soda and salt.

{4}

Slowly add the flour mixture to the stand mixer on low speed. Stop halfway through to scrape down the bowl and make sure all ingredients are incorporated.

{5}

Add Andes peppermint chips & white chocolate chips and mix until evenly dispersed.

{6}

Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, place dough on baking sheets. Bake for 9 minutes. Enjoy!

Dear Jack - Part 4

 Four years old on the 4th - Happy Golden Birthday, my sweet boy! To say you are thriving would be an understatement. You have grown in so many ways this past year, it's crazy to look at pictures of you from the beginning of the year until now - losing some of the plumpness of your baby cheeks and looking more like a little boy every day. 

In August, you began going to preschool five days a week and have been learning so much! Mom and Dad are so proud of you and the person you are becoming - kind, smart, silly, empathetic and affectionate. Your imagination is so fun and entertaining. I love listening to your creative mind at work, telling us stories and playing games you have made up. You are still obsessed with all kinds of trucks and construction vehicles, the color red, and building things out of legos and magnatiles. 

This fall was filled with more weekend adventures (thanks to Dad's new schedule!) and it has filled my heart with so much joy to make more memories together as a family. New experiences, holiday traditions and all the fun times with family and friends in between. 

Some things I never want to forget from this age: 

the way you put your hand on your hip with so much sass, especially when you're trying to negotiate

the way you always wear your hood on your head if you have a sweatshirt on

the way you deliver a one-liner in prefect context that equal parts puzzles & humors Dad and I as to where you even heard or learned how to use that phrase

the way you ask to drive the car as soon as we enter our neighborhood, and climb onto Dad's lap to practice steering, using the blinker and looking both ways

the way you and I both say "I'm not done yet" when we're hugging, and we just relish in the embrace together as long as possible until the other one starts trying to squirm free

the way you stick your tongue out when you're concentrating really hard - usually building a tower of legos or writing your name on the glass door in the shower

the way you introduce yourself as “Jack Buckman” if a friendly stranger asks your name

- - -

The last 1,460 days of you have been the absolute best of my life. I love you to the moon and back, Jackman.

Outfits of the Week

M O N D A Y

{midi dress - abercrombie // lace up booties - bcbgeneration // suede hobo bag - rebecca minkoff}

T U E S D A Y

{cream button down blouse - henri girl // black leather skirt - bcbg // leopard flats - target // olive green bag - rebecca minkoff}

W E D N E S D A Y

{rolling stones tee - free people // faux leather leggings - t.j. maxx // sneakers - target // bag - coach}

T H U R S D A Y

{black sweater - bcbg // grey jeans - abercrombie // snakeskin booties - bealls outlet // black bag - coach}

I'll be out of the office Friday and next Monday - we're spending a long weekend at Disney World's Fort Wilderness for Jack's Birthday!

Outfits of the Week

M O N D A Y

{white button down - rip curl // white and tan striped jeans - old navy // woven sandals - target // cognac bag - dooney & bourke}

 

T U E S D A Y

{black sweater dress - abercrombie (similar) // snakeskin booties - bealls outlet // black quilted leather bag - zara}

W E D N E S D A Y

{def leppard tee - tilly's // plaid flannel - volcom (borrowed from Greg) // faux leather leggings - spanx // leopard sneakers - vans (similar) // cognac backpack - lucky brand}

T H U R S D A Y

{tan cardigan - abercrombie // jeans - abercrombie // suede booties - dolce vita // orange bucket bag - choies (gifted)

F R I D A Y

{faux leather jacket - topshop (similar) // white v-neck - victoria's secret // black jeans - current/elliott // leopard booties - sam edelman // red bag - tory burch}

Currently Obsessed

{Essie Speed-Setter Top Coat over Sally Hansen "Midnight Mod"}

I love doing an at-home manicure, however waiting for my nails to dry is agonizing. Especially with a toddler that asks me to make play-doh creations with him 5 minutes after I'm done painting my nails.

My co-worker told me about this Essie Speed-Setter Top Coat that helps your nails dry in 1 minute and I instantly bought it the next day. I can confirm the dry time is super quick and this top coat will always be part of my DIY mani routine from here on out.

Outfits of the Week

 M O N D A Y

{printed maxi dress - diane's // cognac satchel - vintage coach}

T U E S D A Y

{black knit jumpsuit - elan // pearl studded sandals - target // black leather bag - coach}

W E D N E S D A Y

{home for Hurricane Nicole = staying in my outfit from my morning MWH pilates class: one-shoulder sports bra - amazon // snakeskin leggings - amazon}

T H U R S D A Y

{still home and without power from Hurricane Nicole = comfy workout set: heather grey top & leggings - amazon // sherpa slippers - target}

F R I D A Y

{olive green button down - zara // raw hem jeans - madewell //  belt - target // peep-toe booties - steve madden // cognac bag - dooney & bourke}

Outfits of the Week

 M O N D A Y

{light grey cinch top - t.j. maxx // button front black skinny jeans - abercrombie // snakeskin booties - bealls outlet // quilted black leather bag - zara}

T U E S D A Y

{embroidered blouse - old navy // vintage style jeans - madewell // braided boho bag - zara // cognac leather sandals - steve madden}

W E D N E S D A Y

{floral maxi dress - abercrombie (other prints & colors) // white denim jacket - gap // lace-up sandals - target // cognac leather bag - vintage coach}

T H U R S D A Y

{button-front dress - rvca // black cardigan - target // black belt - target (similar) // black wavy sandals - madewell // braided boho bag - zara}

F R I D A Y

{striped v-neck - madewell // boyfriend jeans - levi's // woven sandals - target // braided boho bag - zara}