in my cookie jar.

these were d-e-l-c-i-o-u-s! although, i think next time i will add more chili powder to give a real kick!

:: mexican hot-chocolate cookies ::
adapted from martha stewart

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 :: preheat oven to 400 degrees. in a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2 :: in a large bowl, using a mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed for about 2 minutes. add eggs and beat to combine.

3 :: stir in the flour mixture gradually by hand.

4 :: combine the cinnamon, chili powder and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar in a small bowl. line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

5 :: scoop up tablespoons of the dough and roll them into 1 inch balls. then roll the ball in the cinnamon/sugar/chili powder mixture. space cookies about 3 inches apart on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until they start to crack. transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.

enjoy!

 

happy weekend friends!

plow (with kitty) pose.

{ photo: gosia janik }


halasana (plow pose) with your kitty (or dog)!

i stumbled across this photo on austin eavesdropper that was taken by gosia janik (thank you Grace!) and fell in love with it....when i attempt a home practice, i'm always joined by my furry friend, miss izzy, who interestingly enough looks just like this cat...

icicle.

on my walk into work yesterday morning, i noticed this...

so strange, yet so beautiful.

i usually embrace the wintry weather, but these past few weeks here in new england have been brutal.

i've been keeping myself busy inside, however. i'll have some fun updates to share with you later this week.

stay warm friends!

no, no!

this video of a little girl named charlotte is just too cute for words. i keep watching it over and over again.

a handmade christmas.

remember the ugly scarf i was working on...um...nearly three years ago? well, i'm happy to report that i finally finished it. and i finished just time in for the first ever handmade christmas gift exchange with my sister.

rather than spend money on something that neither of us really need, we opted to go the handmade route, with one caveat - we were not aloud to spend a single dime on the gift. it had to be constructed using materials we already own.

as i got thinking about what to make, i remembered that i had started a scarf for her. i opened my suitcase of knitting goods (and unfinished projects...we all have them), and pulled out the "ugly scarf." the yarn was still as fabulously thick as i had remembered it. and the green hemp that i weaved in was a nice contrast. i'm glad it took me this long to finish it because i ended up making it into an infinity scarf/chunky cowl of sorts! and the best part, she totally LOVES it! and so do i. so much so that i want to make another one, but i don't have enough yarn. does anyone want the leftover skein? if so, leave a comment below.

----

when it came time for me to open my gift from her, i felt like a little girl on christmas morning, filled with so much excitement. i was so anxious to finally see what she had been created. as i was opening the box, i commented on how much i liked the string she used to tie around it. she chuckled.

yet little did i know that the string was what she used to hand braid a plant hanger for me!! isn't it soo lovely?? and if you look closely at the photo above, you will see that she sewed in different sized buttons on it, too. how clever is that! how creative! I LOVE IT!!! i really do. and she so adorably wrapped up the plant that's hanging in it for my birthday present. so the homemade plant hanger immediately had a friend. :-)

needless to say, a handmade gift exchange was a such a great idea! my sister and i are sold on doing it again next year and for many, many christmas' to come! because really when it comes to gift giving, the handmade presents are the most treasured of all.

p.s. the photos in this post were taken with my new ipod touch (thank you andy!) using the hipstamatic app. 

my top ten in 2010.

i can't believe it's already new year's eve. it's been quite a year filled with so many sweet memories and milestones. here are my top ten from 2010 (in no particular order):

1 :: finishing my master's degree (while working full-time!)
2 :: deepening my yoga practice...in a hammock of all places!
3 :: launching My Yoga Story Project (share your yoga story!)
4 :: skiing at Stowe with my sister and experiencing a "freshie."
5 :: going to the Brimfield Antique Show for the first time.
6 :: loving a handmade Christmas (more to come on this.)
7 :: vacationing with my girlfriends in hyannis.
8 :: investing in an electra townie.
9 :: spending the holidays with my family (thanksgiving with my feet in the sand in florida and christmas with my snow boots on shoveling mounds of snow in connecticut)
10 :: and most of all, giving back to the organizations that i am most passionate about throughout the year (Off the Mat into the World, Yoga Reaches Out, Everybody Wins, Share Our Strength, Heifer International, and Semester at Sea).