Cookie Party
Nothing makes a house smell strangely amazing like the aroma of macaroons dehydrating
and a pot of fresh refried beans on the stove.
(I’ll probably do a bean tutorial sometime soon- they’re super easy, and sooooo good)
It was an afternoon of dancing over here:
I took a Zumba class at work, and a couple of hours later went in to assist Bellydance (one of my faves) and a low-impact beginner aerobic class. Even though I took it easy, it was fun to see everyone and be there. Just like when I worked retail, I still like working around the holidays- most people are in such wonderful moods, and I just love the feel of it.
(definitely not my flowers… I only seem to own the brown variety right now)
Bonus: gluten-free cookies from my little bro
After work, I finished making the frijoles, and my mom and nana came over to make cookies for tomorrow night’s cookie decorating party. The Pilot worked on his man cave and assembling furniture, and we all enjoyed beans and tamales for dinner.
We bought these from a family friend as a football fundraiser, and while they’re good –tamales are like pizza, they’re good even when they’re bad- I prefer the ones from our family’s tamale guy. I do appreciate the size and girth of these ones, though…
We made regular sugar cookies and gluten-free ones for everyone to decorate tomorrow night, with a side of shenanigans, cracking up, measuring mishaps, and Michael Buble Christmas on TV. A fabulous night <3
I’m off to bed, but before I go, here’s the last shaggy picture of Bella for a while:
She’s off to the groomer’s in the morning 🙁 The long and sassy hair is my favorite, but it’s getting a little out of hand.
See ya in the morning <3
xoxo
Gina
Something to read:
–The caloric expense of alcohol
-5 amazing and anonymous Secret Santa stories
Something to do: Stability ball blitz! Loving the feedback on this one so far- let me know if you’ve tried it this week 🙂
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My mom and I still talk about your delicious macaroons! I am so lucky that I got the chance to taste them 🙂
Awww, she looks so cuddly like that. However, I understand. I had a schnauzer. Holy tangles, batman. Enjoy your party!
Why do alcoholic drinks have to be so bad for you? Ah I wish I liked beer, I’m a cocktails kind of girl.
Love sassy Bella, and those macaroons! They look so yummy!!
Why do you dehydrate the macaroons, and not bake them? Just curious…never heard of that before. Have you ever posted the recipe? I love macaroons, and would like to try your recipe, but I would need to bake them.
BTW, you are looking more beautiful every time I see a pic! Almost there!
What a fun kinda party!! Decorating cookies with the fam while watching Buble is like the BEST Christmas gathering EVER!!!!!!!
I swoon for gluten free, vegan shortbread right now….but sugar cookies are equally amazing 🙂
Have fun!
xxoo
I love that you have a family frijole guy!! Bella is too cute.
Your macaroons look wonderful, as always
And so does that GF cookie and your flowers…so pretty this time of year. Nothing like a white Christmas, eh?
kidding 🙂
Ooooh I would LOVE to get your bean recipe!!! They always look so good when you make them!
Haha that’s so true about pizza – even the worst pizza I’ve had was still pretty darn good! 😛
Cookies and Michael Buble sounds like a perfect night!
Aww I cut my dogs longer hair a couple of days ago and I much prefer hers long too! On a seperate note, is this your bro? http://www.langphotographers.com/blog/megan-kyle/ I saw it completely randomly and I was like Kyle… Chef… Tucson… why are these things all ringing a bell??? Haha 🙂
hahah yes that is my brother, and my soon-to-be sis in law 🙂 aren’t they so cute??
I would love to get your bean recipe! I LOOVE refried beans, but have never made them from scratch. (Embarrassed to say I’ve only had canned!!)
How do you make those macaroons? They look so good. I really want to try making them!
i haven’t posted the recipe yet. i usually make the almond flour for them and tried something new last night! we’ll see how they turn out…
Oh. I love macaroons and would love to make them. How were they? They look soooo good. Is there a certain recipe(s) you suggest?
matthew kenney has a few amazing ones (everyday raw and raw food, real world)
Bell is so cute with her long hair! So cute!
I can’t wait for the next post about the Cookie Party tonight! When I lived in Florida we use to have them all the time. Now living so far from my friends I just bake for my staff and boss, though they love it I miss having friends in the kitchen. I am so excited for you tonight!! Hope you have a blast!
thank you! it should be a lot of fun 🙂
Holiday cookies are the best. I’ve had a mad cookie craving ever since baking + decorating sugar cookies with my mom and sister this past weekend – good thing they stayed at her house!
I love when that have long shaggy hair too and I always get so depressed when I pick Sydney up from the groomer and her hair is shaved 🙁 She usually has to get shaved because of all the things she tends to get in to.
I hope her ears are covered … I think Sydney looks like a rat when it’s shaved! haha.
Hi Gina! I’m so glad you also like working during the holidays! I worked at Wendys my senior year of high school and during college breaks for a couple of years and LOVED working between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I was always sure that by the mall there was plenty of cursing and horn honking, but once people got inside and got some preservative-a-licious food in them they seemed to get a lot more mellow and friendly. Plus it was always non-stop busy, which stopped me from eating all the fries and nuggets. lol.
Can’t wait to try some of the quickie workouts this weekend in between all of the Chrismakkuh festivities! 🙂
Mmm Macaroons are to die for! I can’t wait for the bean tutorial – I am learning to love them.
I always love pups when they get long and shaggy too – and she looks so cute!
You sound like you have such a great family – lots of them and all so close! I wish all my family lived close by, that just sounds so ideal especially at the holidays 🙂
You liked working retail during the holidays?! Maybe you were at a better store than I was! I always felt like people were impatient and frustrated. The only good thing about working retail during the holidays in my opinion is that it would be really busy so time would fly by.*
Mmm, mmm, beans, the magical food, the more you eat, the more you ___ 😛 [but not true in my case, I guess I’m immune to their powers [haha]?!
Yes on the beans tutorial please!
I would really really love your recipe for those beans! My boyfriend loves refried beans but I can’t bring myself to buy the canned ones for him!
Who is this “family-friend tamale-guy”??? I’ve seen you talk about him before, too! I live in Tucson and although I’m out of town for the holidays I would love to hit him up for some tamales if they’re as good as you’ve made them sound!
‘I do appreciate the size and girth of these guys…’ TWSS?! haha just. cannot. help. it.
thank you! i was waiting for someone to get it haha
love that red color on that dress! love!