Every year we make several batches of these biscotti & pizzelle. They are the quinessential Italian Christmas cookies.

In fact, I love them so much we served them at my wedding (thanks to my mom and aunt slaving away the days leading up to our wedding weekend).

I am proud to share my grandmother’s recipe with you all, scroll to bottom if you need gluten free substitutions:

Ingredients

• -2 cups flour
• -2/3 cups sugar
• -2 tsp baking powder
• -1/4 tsp salt
• -1 and 2/3 cups slivered almonds
• -3 large eggs

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  

Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients. Add the almonds and mix again.

In a small bowl lightly whisk the eggs.  With a spoon make an indentation (size of a fist)  in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the eggs in the center.

****Challenging part**** With a wooden spoon keep covering the eggs with the dry ingredients but try not to touch the spoon to the wet eggs because it will turn into a gloppy mess stuck to the spoon and half wasted.  OR LIFE HACK: I use my kitchen aid mixer to avoid the mess.

Once mixed, divide into 4 and roll each section into a log (use flour on your hands and board so it won’t stick).  The logs can be the length of the cookie sheet.  

Place the logs on the baking sheet and Bake for 25 minutes until firm to touch and deep golden.

Cut at a diagonal, spread slices on baking sheet, bake for 6-10 minutes, turn each slice over and bake again for 6- 10 minutes.

Tip: Cut logs as soon as come out of the oven or else they will crumble when you try to slice them.  Every oven is different. The original recipe called for longer cooking times which I had to reduce them because they were getting burnt.

GLUTEN FREE Version (thanks to my GF Yoga Sister): Substitute cassava flour for all purpose flour in this recipe. Cassava is a root vegetable, so this makes them grain free too. But because gluten is a protein, aka the binder, she adds 2 extra eggs when doing the GF version.

While we already decorated our house the day after Thanksgiving, there is something about a holiday centerpiece that makes me smile every time I walk by. The ones in the store were up to $100 and honestly, they didn’t even look that great.

So this unemployed girl on a budget went the DIY route…. again!

First – think about your theme! Just greens or will there be flowers too? What kind of vase or container? Candles? And what kind of decorations? Having an idea will help you from walking in circles at the store.

Materials Needed:

• Gardening sheers
• Winter greens, try and gather as much locally outside as possible
  • Try and ensure you have a variety of textures and colors
• Vase/container
• Oasis floral foam
• Decorations of your choice
• Supplement if needed, buying greens & flowers
  • I bought eucalyptus (for smell) & red roses to match the candles

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Assembly Advice:

• Cut foam to fit your container
• Layout all your greens
• Trim pieces to have 1-2 inch clean edge to insert into foam
• Start on the outside and work your way in (see instagram video)
• Once all foam is covered decorate
• Trim roses to 4 inch stem and insert in each corner

Lastly, have the broom & soap ready for the pine needs & sap EVERYWHERE! ha

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I don’t like exercising with jewelry on, especially gripping the handlebar of the bike. I just don’t like it – the feeling of it, the need to clean it more often because of sweat….all of it.

But after having a wedding ring on for several years, it is weird to have nothing. I bought a few of these silicone rings on Cyber Week and absolutely love them.

They are light, comfortable & flexible. I even forgot I had them on last night and slept with them on. While they are sold individually, only about $10 each, I got 3 colors to stack/split between hands.

This Friday, December 4th was day 30 of my running challenge. I finished with a strong and fast (for me) 3 miles! I was really proud of completing the challenge for a few reasons:

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• I enjoyed the time alone
• I really enjoyed the time outside
• I ran a total of 54.2 miles. That is 54 miles I didn’t know I could do!
• As the days and miles went on, I started to get a little more confident on hills. My time got a little faster and my feet and legs felt stronger. Eventually I got to a place where I looked forward to my run each day, instead of it being daunting.
• I hadn’t run outside in a really long time, besides one random run in May it had been years! It felt good pick something back up.

I go into more detail on the hesitations, obstacles & challenges in an interview with Coach Eliza Miron. As I mentioned in earlier post about running, she has run every single day since 2002. She was part of the inspiration – I mean if she can do 18 years…what is 30 days??? On her podcast we discuss how I am the first woman to finish one of her challenges. WHAT?? Yes, you read that right!

I am doing another 30 days of motivation. I will keep up the running, but this time I will mix in additional cardio tactics (I missed my peloton bike and barre workouts) but continue to challenge myself everyday for another 30 days. Whatever your activity of choice, get moving for the next 30 days!

Anyone want to join?? You don’t have to wait for January 1st.

While my email inbox is filled with hundreds of emails regarding sales & deals leading up to Black Friday, I haven’t bought one thing (yet). While different, we are having a really nice (and smaller) Thanksgiving. So focus has been on family this week. 

We are trying to be practical, and I got most of my gifts on prime day, but I put a few things together for those out there who are still shopping. 

Many of the gift ideas from my Prime Day post aren’t sold out, so please reference that link.

You can also check out Amazon’s Black Friday Deals here

Here are some highlights:

• 30% off sitewide at my favorite chemical free beauty line: https://lawlessbeauty.com/  I especially love her foundation & long lasting lip!
• 30-50% off Lulu, http://www.lululemon.com  
• Don’t sleep on Kohl’s black friday deals either.
  • The $200 item I was going to spend on an item anyway, I got $60 cash back in Kohl Bucks to spend in Dec on stocking stuffers. No brainer!
• Airpods Pro – $169, lowest I have seen them

Her:

• The best pajamas ever! Pictured here – I gave my mother a pair yesterday, we both had them on cooking Thanksgiving Eve
• This asymmetrical sweater, under $36 and comes in every color
• Loungewear set
• Any/every Lulu knockoff for a fraction of the price in the ColorfulKoala Store: 
  • From these leggings I wear for spin, yoga or running or these joggers for everyday life.

Him: 

• All things Yeti – whether its a drink tumbler or cooler. You can never go wrong with a Yeti for him for the holidays
• 50-60% off everything at Travis Mathew
• UA socks
• After no shave November, I will be very happy to give my husband this trimmer on xmas morning

Kids:

• Stocking stuffers: markers, small toys, coloring playhouse, etc…
• Squigs brain toys, also fun for adults when drinking wine, just saying (wink wink)
• My girls got this gymnastics bar and mat last Christmas, and it is the gift that keeps on giving.  With quarantines & lockdowns happening again. This is worth the investment!
• Bouncey House – 2 in 1 deal including blower under $300

Home:

• $99 Nespresso
• InstaPot 50% off  
• My airfryer. Had it for a month and I am obsessed 
• Meat Thermometer
• I don’t even put my griddle in the cabinet anymore, it saves us at breakfast everyday. Pancakes, Eggs, Grilled Cheese…. these things rule!

Is it me or are these charcuterie boards almost too pretty to eat…..almost 🙂

I especially like to follow Cheese Gal out of Nashville, but making your own charcuterie or cheese board doesn’t have to be that daunting. Before you check out my video below, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Start with your larger items first on the outside (grapes & cheese)
  • Then work your way in with the smaller ones (crackers, nuts, meat, dried fruit, pickles/olives)
• Don’t go overboard! I actually had craisins & dried apricots that I didn’t end up needing.
• I recommend the following quantities based on the size of your board:
  • 3 kinds of cheese & meat
  • 2 kinds of crackers and fruit
  • Then depending on how big the board is, you can determine the amount of dried fruits, nuts, olives, pickles etc…
• “The finishings” as I like to call them are the final touches that make it look pretty. Honey drizzle or herb decoration. In the video you will see me garnish with rosemary & sage leaves. The herbs help fill in any gaps and add color & aromatics.
• Lastly, don’t just think about the size of the board or platter itself….consider how many people will be there. One of the biggest realizations in adulthood is that good cheese is F-ing expensive. Don’t build a massive board for 4 people and waste the precious stuff – use bigger items as fillers for space without breaking the bank, like grapes, a half a pomegranate or sliced baguette.

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