'tis the season...

...to make gingersnaps,

...to assemble baby beds,

...to go to women's teas at church,

...and to be with family.

Love Linz

Coconut Macaroons

I have so much fun with this blog - it's a little bit of this and that, not much rhyme or reason, but that's where I have the freedom to write whatever I want...

So today, I give you coconut macaroons !
{different than French macaroons, just to clarify}

When Tonio and I first got married, my mom gave me this recipe book.

I wasn't sure how much I would use it, but it has been such a useful tool in cooking and baking.

Sometimes I just look inside for inspiration.  For example, yesterday I found a bag of coconut in the cupboard, so I opened the book and found this great recipe for low fat coconut macaroons.

 Here they are before and after baking.

The recipe if you'd like to give it a whirl.

And I love this book, because I can take out the pages and put them on the fridge next to the picture of little Tonio in the snow, next to the dog butts from Seb, next to the salt and pepper bunnies from Manny and Karey, next to the "Kiss the Cook" apron from Mom and Dad, under the Alaska knife from Tanner... (reminders of loved ones everywhere).

If I drank espresso, I would probably drink one with a few of these babies, but since I don't, I just eat more cookies instead =)

Wish you could come eat some with me and Tonio !  Hurry, they're almost gone ! {actually, by the time you read this, they will be gone... sorry}

Love Linz

It's begginning to look...

... a lot like Christmas

 Christmas cards.

 Chocolate-Mint Pinwheels.

 Strawberry Shortbread.

 Pecan Snowballs.

 Goody bags for our family, friends and neighbors.

Tree at night.

Tree in morning.

 Tonio, Sebastien, Lindsey, Tim, Andrew.

 Pierre, Nancy, and army men.

 Christmas pillows.

 Treats for my Dad !

 Notes by his bed.

Can't wait to have my Dad here to celebrate Christmas with all of us... such a great Christmas gift.  The only thing that would have made it that much better is if my Mom could have come too... next year Mama !

Love Linz

Off to pick up my Dad from the airport {giggle with glee}.

more Christmassy stuff

just a little glimpse of what is going on around here...

 cookies

 more cookies

naked cookies

i made a pillow case (Gunther likes it)

and the back of the pillow

I made another one (thanks mom for all the cute Christmas fabric)

and the backside of this one

 my friends Nasim and Sahar (Nasim's beauty shop)

Sahar with Borki (I get my doggie fix with this little guy)

white elephant gift exchange at church

 tonio explains the rules

he's so handsome (i love him !!!)

 gifts revealed

discussing which gift to steal

funny, thoughtful, entertaining, practical and just silly gifts

fun week

i'll be back with more i'm sure

stayed tuned

--Love Linz