1. It feels SO good to be back to eating (most) normal foods again. Now if I could just get past that whole cornbread aversion. Sigh.
2. Last night I put together my first cookie trays of the season!
And I also ended up making a batch of Cheesecake Toffee Fudge at about 9pm last night.
I used the fudge recipe linked above but I subbed in Cheesecake flavored oil for the almond extract. OMG.
We have our holiday happy hour party at work today, so I figured I’d put together a couple of trays to share with my co-workers.
Oh, and I’ve had many of you ask how I store my cookies…I freeze them!
I’ve always stored them in the freezer (I use a combo of plastic storage containers and ziploc bags) and I’ve never had an issue with them tasting weird at all. I also don’t make anything too funky, so maybe that helps? But either way, it’s always worked well for me!
3. Have you guys ever heard of Oliviers & Co.? They’re a premier olive oil and specialty food company from Italy that I recently found out about, and after just a few minutes of browsing their site, I wanted about 20 things.
Right now they’re having 25% off their Top Holiday Gifts and I would definitely recommend checking them out; especially if you still have some last minute gifts to buy! I think I’m actually going to purchase the Italian Olive Oil & Premium Balsamic Duo for myself because it’s only $25 and, well, it just sounds amazing.
FYI: The links contained in this fun fact are affiliate links, but this post is not sponsored. Just excited to share some gift ideas with you from a fun, newly-found company!
4. I think I want a new book to read. I haven’t really read a book in a few months, since our Book Club sort of fizzled out while the hustle and bustle of the holidays has been going on. I’m sure we’ll be picking it back up again in a month or two, but I feel like I need something else to help me wind down at night…you know, rather than being stuck to my phone. Do you guys have any good recommendations?? If it helps, I was a huge fan of Gone Girl, so I’d say that’s more my speed when it comes to reading material.
5. How is it already less than a week until Christmas? I know, I know…how cliché of me to say. But seriously…wasn’t it just Thanksgiving?
6. I don’t know if it’s because we have a smaller house or what, but I swear, every time we cook bacon (which is actually fairly often these days), our house winds up smelling like bacon for what seems like forever. And then I’m just in a constant state of wanting bacon.
7. In case you guys are looking for another fun gift idea (or just a little something for yourself), I have to tell you about the Napa Wine Chiller.
It chills room temperature wine straight from the glass in less than two minutes and lasts for hours. I was recently sent one and I love the idea of them, but I also love how their company, OriginalBOS, donates 15% of the proceeds to their Charitable Mission for men’s health.
8. This guy. Our new nightly routine has consisted of some major blasting of Christmas tunes along with his stellar dance moves.
He is such a character. And I am totally obsessed with him. <3
9. I’m so looking forward to this weekend. I need a do-over from last weekend! We don’t have too many big plans on the agenda, and that’s a-okay by me. I’m hoping we can incorporate some sort of holiday fun, so I guess we’ll see where the days bring us!
Alright my friends, I’m out of stuff for today. I’ll catch you all next week, but have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend, whatever you may be doing!
Anna says
After reading Gone Girl, I read Gillian Flynn’s other novels, Dark Places and Sharp Objects, both of which I enjoyed. They were a bit “darker” than Gone Girl (language and some content), but in my opinion definitely worth a read!
Melissa says
Bake your bacon! LOL I am serious though, for 15-20min at 400*…it cooks up awesome and your house won’t smell like bacon for hours like it does when you pan fry it. I put it pieces on parchment paper and it’s super easy clean-up too! Have a great weekend! :)
Sara @ Lake Shore Runner says
Those cookies look amazing – I love how you go all out! I can’t wait to start baking mine this weekend :)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
SO MANY COOKIES! Girl, you go all out!
Haha, the little man is so cute! XOXO
Juliettek says
Book suggestion! I LOVED Gone Girl and read that We Were Liars by E. Lockhart was a great read after it. It was fantastic!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I’ve been a book reading machine lately!!!
1. Just Like Other Daughters
2. Finding Emma
3. Emma’s Secret
4. The Memory Child (SOOOO good – it had me guessing the entire time)
5. Right now I’m reading “Then She was Gone”, and I’m flying through it.
And I agree with “We Were Liars”!
Nikki says
Those cookies look amazing! Our book club recently read Defending Jacob, which I guess you could classify as mystery.
kate says
I loved Defending Jacob!!
Brynn says
I agree, baking bacon is where it’s at. Use a baking rack to keep it off the cookie sheet and it gets perfectly cooked in less than 20 min.
Dana says
You should try The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain. I am reading it now and am a fan (I also loved Gone Girl).
Marielle says
Oh those cookies….they look amazing! I wish I was your coworker, ha! I’m on the hunt for a new book as well….I just started reading 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult, it’s good so far!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says
Those cookies! You outdid yourself. I am hoping to catch up on my reading on my flight home for Christmas – I started The Secret and I have the newest Emily Giffin waiting on my kindle. Enjoy your weekend!
Lauri Doody says
Defending Jacob is great and so is we were liars. I also loved Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. Very entertaining, a little different writing style from Gone Girl, etc. but was goo.
Samantha @ Anatomy of My World says
I just finished up reading Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight and Goodnight June by Sarah Jio. Both of them I could not put down!
haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine says
cheesecake toffee fudge!? ohhhhh oh wow!
Alaina says
Glad you’re feeling better, Courtney! Just in time for the holidays! As for the oil site above, I am a fan of a similar company called “Branch and Vine”. Not sure if you have one near you, but if so, it’s worth a try! They have tons of deliciously flavored oils and vinegars, along with jellies, cedar planks, etc. As for books, anything by Emily Giffin is awesome! Enjoy your weekend!
Beks says
I’ve never tried freezing cookies. That’s a great idea, though!
Bethany says
SO many cookies! I am baking with my mother in law Sunday!!
Christen says
Have you read “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed yet? I’m a big fan and just wrapping it up now!
Danielle E. says
Go for Big Little Lies or the Husbands Secret by Liane Moriarty. or We Were Liars by Lockhart :)
Wendy says
If you liked Gone Girl, you would love Never look away by Linwood Barclay, similar story, but so much better!!!
Ann Fisher says
I was a big Gone Girl fan too. If you like biographies, I read Tina Feys Bossypants and was in tears laughing through most of it. I also about to read Amy Poehlers Yes Please.
Lisa @ Life as Lisa Knows it says
If you want a new book to read, I highly recommend That Night by Chevy Stevens. It was the best book that I have read in a very long time and I recommend it to everyone I know! :-)
http://www.amazon.com/That-Night-Novel-Chevy-Stevens/dp/1250034604
cait @pieceofcait says
OMG lucas is toooooo freaking cute! love the moves! my mom has always made cookies and froze them. I started doing it too.. they taste great!!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Cheesecake flavored oil?! Whaaaat? That sounds incredible. Where do you find such a thing?
I’m glad you guys seem to feeling better! Being sick around the holidays is the worst. At least you got it out of the way! Enjoy your weekend! xo
Shel@PeachyPalate says
Oh my word that is some amount of cookies!!! Cookie queen!
Laura M. says
If you like “Gone Girl” then you probably would enjoy “Before We Met” by Lucie Whitehouse. It’s similar in style. I actually liked it better!
Kelsey Bjelland says
I just finished “The Husband’s Secret” by Liane Moriarty and it was SO SO good. The wait list at the library for another one of her books, “Big Little Lies,” is 150 people long… if that’s any indication! :)
Kelly @ The Fit Skool says
What a great idea to freeze the cookies!! I am definitely doing that this year, thanks!! :)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
I need a good book too! I also liked Gone Girl, although a bit let down by the ending. And my little apartment smells like whatever is being cooked or eaten. Great if it’s been baked goods, bad if it’s been fish. Hope you have a better weekend!
Stacey M. says
I have to agree with the recommendation for Gillian Flynn’s other two books, “Dark Places” and “Sharp Objects”. I just finished reading “Dark Places” a week or so ago, and I absolutely LOVED it. It kept me interested the entire time … the “mystery” unravels perfectly and only at the very end of the book does everything seem to make sense. I’ve since started reading “Sharp Objects” (picked it up at BJ’s recently), but I haven’t gotten very far – holidays and other obligations getting in the way.
Oh, and I definitely feel you on the house smelling like food thing. I have a really hard time deciding when to roast veggies or sweet potatoes, or even make chili at our house because I don’t want to smell it for days after. I usually shut all the doors (to the bedrooms and bathrooms) just so I can spare them of catching the smells when I cook. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to roast a turkey at my house!
Glad to hear you’re over that terrible stomach bug … I had one a couple years ago and I couldn’t stand the thought of chicken noodle soup for a while. Enjoy your weekend Courtney!
Melissa Woodson says
Lucas is so stinkin’ cute!
So–books. I loved Gone Girl but not her other books. Here are a few I’ve read recently that I’ve enjoyed: What Alice Forgot, Sea of Tranquility (teen romance, but actually really good), Me Before You, The Violets of March (older, but my fav of the Sarah Jio books), and Sarah’s Key.
Michelle says
We always cook our bacon in a cast iron skillet on the grill. It crisps the bacon perfectly & solves the problem of stinking the house up.
Shawna says
i’m reading Rules of Civility by Amor Towles right now and it’s really good: well-written, great characterization, entertaining and set in NYC during the 1930s. def worth checking out!
Annette@FitnessPerks says
Wowzers, that’s an impressive array of cookies! Way to go!
I’ve really liked these books somewhat recently: “What Alice Forgot”, “Orphan Train” by Christina Kline,” If I Stay”, any Sarah Jio books, and many of Emily Griffin’s books.
Have a fun weekend!
Nancy says
I feel like I didn’t get enough time to celebrate Christmas! Lol. Thanksgiving was SO close to Christmas this year, not fair :)
I want to have some of those cookies! Do you happen to have a good recipe for a chocolate chip cookie? Dyin’ to break out the ghiradelli chocolate chips I bought.
Shari says
I’m currently reading Emily Liebert’s YOU KNEW ME WHEN and really enjoying it!!
Ange says
One of my fav books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This year i reached my goal of reading a book a week, now i’m aimig to one hundred in 2015.
Mandee says
Lucas is soooooooo cute!
Jessica says
The video of Lucas is adorable and those cookies look amazing! Have a merry Christmas and all the best for a wonderful New Year :) Thank you for brightening every day with your blog.
Jessica @ Prayers and Apples says
I’m so old school with my books… I love Tender is The Night (Fitzgerald) :) ..Love Lucas’s Christmas carol routine lol :)