Quotes of the Week

Images here.

Vlogmas Catch-Up

Catch up on this week's vlogmas episodes.
Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Monthly Inspiration No. 3

Happy December y'all! Here are some photos that I've been inspired by lately...

Two Week Re-Cap

After a crazy snow storm before Thanksgiving, Union Station looked so pretty!

Happy week re-cap! Because of last week's holiday drink posts we didn't have a re-cap and now I have far too many photos but, oh well, y'all can scroll through them and drool at all the food, because that's mainly what this re-cap is. In it I go to Austin for Thanksgiving and then come back to get in the holiday spirit in Denver. Hope y'all enjoy — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Tried Mercantile and it was so good! 

Their fried chicken bahn-mi is delightful! 

First stop in Ausitn was Matt's El Rancho.

Fam Bam on a Thanksgiving walk through campus.

A cute flower wall near campus.

Thanksgiving dinner at Threadgill's.

Our Thanksgiving tradition, seeing Dale Watson at the Continental Club.

Gameday breakfast at Texas French Bread.

The game was fun but gross.

Austin got a Jeni's Ice Cream and I'm obsessed.

Made a stop at BookPeople.

And my favorite store in Austin — Make it Sweet.

Austen in Austin at the Harry Ransom Center.

Finally went to the Pinthouse Pizza in north Austin.

A morning walk downtown.

Forced my parents to go to the Glossier pop-up and I loved it.

A very cute brewery in downtown Austin.

Had the Lady Bird at Circle Brewing.

Finally made it out to Texas Beer Co. because I love the logo so much.

Tried the new and improved Swedish Hill and loved it.

Look at that chicken!!!

Sunday night at Mozart's Light Show.

Our volleyball team won the Big 12 Championship.

We made holiday cards at work last week. 

And a pasty truck came, and they were delightful.

Really happy with my bow wall. 

Took myself to dinner at Dos Santos last week.

Grabbed a chai from one of my favorite coffee shops, Link.

One of my favorite authors just published a new book.

Obsessed with my 2019 wrapped.

Eggnog Chai Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe

These might be my new favorite cookies. The icing is topnotch. Seriously, if you enjoy eggnog this icing is for you! And the cookies are nice and airy with that warm hint of spice. This recipe was only slightly adapted from Half Baked Harvest, so if you want her's (which are in the shapes of cute snowmen) go over here. Eggnog Chai Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe You'll Need:

Cookie Ingredients

2 3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

2 sticks salted butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 teaspoons chai concentrate

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Chai Spice 

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon all-spice

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

Icing

1 stick salted butter

2 1/4 cups powdered sugar

6 tablespoons eggnog

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. 

3. Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Gradually add the flour mixture.

4. To make the chai spice sugar. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, all-spice, and cardamom.

5. Roll the dough into balls. Then generously roll through the chai sugar. 

6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are just starting to set around the edges. Let cool completely. 

7. To make the frosting, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggnog and nutmeg, beat to combine.

8. Sprinkle with the extra chai spice & you’re done!