Chocolate Chunk Gingersnaps

Unlike Buddy the Elf, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is not only by singing loud for all to hear, but also through their sweet tooth (toothes? teeth?). I feel like Buddy would be on my side for this post too after tasting my Gingersnaps with chocolate chunks, courtesy of Real Simple.

Chocolate Espresso Cookies

Oh you read that right. We have Martha Stewart to thank for this one. 

I forget how many years ago, but I stumbled upon an issue of Martha Stewart's magazine one Christmas season but this time, it was a special issue all about cookies. At the time I wasn't the big cookie baker I am now but I think I have this magazine to thank (and Real Simple, but that's another post). I read that issue like it was the bible of cookie making. Martha supplied idea after idea that were delicious and practical to a amateur high school baker at the time (I'm still an amateur lbr, but thankfully not still in high school).

The one that stuck out the most was her recipe for Chocolate Espresso Cookies. I mean, what more could anyone what? Chocolate? Yes. Espresso? Double yes. Put together???? To quote a meme from beyond, what is air??? (cringe).

The Ultimate Christmas Cookies

As I write this, I finally have my favorite Marshmellow Fireside candle burning (!) thanks to National Candle Day this past Saturday at Bath & Body Works. The candles, normally $24.50, were just $8.95 and I stocked up. I went in the day before coupon-less (as no one should be in that fragrant abyss of sugar and soap), and picked up a loofa and hand soap, but left candle-less. Long story short, I happily walked out with two Marshmellow Fireside candles the day after and a new Cinnamon & Clove Bud candle (that smells exactly as it sounds: delicious). 

But when it comes to writing a food related post, I always feel like I should be some 30-year-old woman living in the cold Mid-west with some backstory about how much I love brown sugar and the symbolism behind it. Food posts always seem so fake deep to me...like I don't need a dissertation about these cookies. Let me grab the recipe and move on.

Christmas Crash Course

Hopefully you're in the full festive swing of Christmas by now. If not, I'm here to help. The Clark Griswold of 2017 if you will.

Recently, I had a close friend seek out my (festive) help to find her Christmas spirit again. I am known among many as that person who is ready to pull out the Christmas lights, put on Elf, and get my Starbucks holiday drink on November 1st. Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year, behind August which is my birthday month. The warmth and happiness that Christmas lights strung on the porch and around the tree set the ultimate Christmas mood. I live for the endless baking of delicious cookies, giving them out, and even eating a few myself. It's Christmas around the clock as soon as it's (somewhat) acceptable for me. Let's get cracking on how to achieve that glorious, maximum spirit.

All I Want for Christmas is...Lush

One thing is for sure this December, you can catch me singing and dancing along to Mariah Carey's incredible holiday hit, "All I Want for Christmas is You" every day. Every day another Christmas movie watched and a variety of songs play on my radio.

Lush also does Christmas beautifully. They're one of the most anticipated collections every year with products smelling of everything wonderful and reminiscent of Christmas days of old. Ahh, I can smell the cinnamon now...so tuck in and enjoy my ramblings about my favorite Christmas bits!

A Fenty Ramble

Finally, almost three months later, I finally got it all together to tell you my thoughts on Fenty. Honestly, I've been so up in the air about this foundation for myself but on all others, it's a broad spectrum as well. But before we dive too deep into the Fenty Sea (which I imagine glows and glistens softly like Rihanna in everything she does), let me talk a little about what you might not know so far about the OG collection.

The Shapetape Hype

While I love hearing and learning about the next new thing in makeup, I don't like to give into the hype and temptation right off the bat. I'd rather sit back leisurely and watch the hype build up before it all settles back down. That's when I take the plunge on my own. I do that with a lot of things besides makeup. But the hype of the Tarte Shapetape concealer hasn't stopped...which ended in me giving into temptation...and I'm not even sorry about it...even as I roll my eyes at myself again.

On the Rocks (Please!)

Aside from trying to find the perfect pair of Chelsea boots (Size 11 in black, please), I'm always looking for the best shampoo to keep my fine and oily hair clean for more than one day. Drybar helped me find the best dry shampoo to fake my clean hair days. They did it again with their new On the Rocks Clarifying Charcoal shampoo that actually keeps my hair cleaner for at least two to three days.

Drybar could sell their products just by the names of their products and how cute everything is. I'm all about some visual marketing and aesthetics around here.

My Best Body Wash Picks

You know how there are people out there that can't stop buying certain things? Like mugs (okay me), shoes, jeans, cats, I don't know but we all know someone like that. Mine is body washes. I flippin' love a good body wash over a plain bar of soap any day. Also soap freaks me out for some reason...I digress.

Body washes are so much easier to use too. I just pop open the cap, pour some on my loofa (currently light green), lather up and just like that, I'm clean and left with my scent of choice lingering around me. I love them and their practicality, and most of all, their scent.

Dry Shampoo Figured Out

Oh dry shampoo, you amazing and interesting product. Thank you for making my fine, needs-to-be-washed-every-day hair actually feel clean without the need for actual shampoo. I'll be honest, I didn't have a clue of how to properly use dry shampoo when I first came in contact with it about six years ago. I was like dry shampoo??? Literal question mark? Fear not, Hannah of the past, I found the dry shampoo perfect for myself and now I'm here to share. 

Skincare Routine | July

I flippin' love skincare. I almost love talking about it a tiny bit more than I do about makeup. The skincare world is just fascinating with different brands and how they take various ingredients from plants to superfoods to elements straight from the periodic table (looking at you, Sulfur). Maybe my Chemistry teacher should have taught me using skincare...because then I might have ended up with a better grade. If you want to hear me passionately go on about what I use on my face every day, twice a day, proceed with enthusiasm. 

Peachy Keen Eyes

I swear I wear other eyeshadows on my eyes besides my Sweet Peach palette from Too Faced. I just happen to mention it a lot on my blog and Instagram. I mean, when you have so many possibilities amongst the peach-inspired shades, can you blame me? This time, however, things went pink and I loved it.

January Favorites | 2017

It's still hard to believe we've made it to 2017, okay?

Like I still feel like I'm a teenager, wondering how about my twenties and how cool it would be to be an adult. 

Here I am, twenty two years old and another year full of possibilities.