Cookies + Conversation

Today's post is the first in a monthly series called Cookies + Conversation. I'm going to take a break from baking and sit down to chat with you… about life. Because although baking is SO much fun, sometimes it's nice to chat… and eat cookies. Preferably at the same time. So go ahead… grab yourself a cookie and lets chat! These soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies are what I've been enjoying this month.

A Family Adventure to Europe

This month Matthew and I traveled to Paris and Belgium with our 13 month daughter and my parents. Some people called us crazy… even I questioned our sanity. After all, an eight hour plane ride with a baby is enough to make any parent a little apprehensive. Yet, we threw our reservations to the wind and booked our vacation. And wouldn't you know, we had a fantastic time!

Vacation is at a different pace with a one year old. We needed plenty of time for naps and running about. We rented an Airbnb apartment which made logistics with a toddler much easier. Below is a picture we took after climbing up hundreds of steps to Sacre Coeur church. Although it was rainy and cloudy, the view was spectacular! On a sunny day, the Eiffel Tower would be there somewhere in the background.

The food on our trip did not disappoint. We had two bakeries down the street from us and the pastries were delicious! I'm already missing the croissant I would eat each morning with my coffee. Matthew and I had a lovely lunch one afternoon while my parents watched our daughter. We both ordered beef bourguignon and shared creme brulee for dessert. I even had a glass of wine which was a treat given that my alcohol consumption is minimal these days.

On a day trip to Brussels we stopped by Frederick Blondeel, a fantastic chocolatier. On our last visit to Belgium two years ago, we went on a beer and chocolate tour. This was our favorite chocolate shop so we returned with our daughter this time! We have a tradition where we each take turns selecting pieces of chocolate for our box. Then when we get home, we have "special moments" throughout the year when we sit down and eat a piece together.

#MOMLIFE ... Donating my Milk

This month I donated some of my milk to a local milk bank. Although people often talk about not having enough milk, oversupply is a real thing! And it comes with its own set of problems. Hello clogged ducts and mastitis, UGH. Anyways... I decided that it was time to stop hoarding milk in my freezer and put it to good use.

When all was said and done, I packaged up a 22.5 pound box containing 300 ounces of milk. And let me tell you, it was one heavy box! It was very bittersweet letting all that liquid gold go. But, if felt great knowing that babies in real need in the NICU would receive my milk.

All The Sweets in November

I have been eating ALL.THE.SWEETS. this month... it's a little ridiculous. It's not even Christmas and I feel the need for a detox. First there was leftover Halloween candy. Then there was a glorious pecan tart. Then there was a delicious pumpkin bundt cake. Then there were lemon bars from the Amish bakers at Eastern Market in Detroit. Seriously… there has been no end in sight to the onslaught of treats in our house.

I've been thinking about maybe doing a sugar-free challenge in January. Something that will be a bit of a reset after the madness of the holiday season. Do any of you have some detoxes that have worked well? Share any thoughts in the comments section below!

Coming Up in December

It's Christmas and that means it's time for COOKIES! I've got some great recipes headed your way next month. You'll be armed and ready for your Christmas Cookie Swap! I've have some creative ideas that will save you lots of time in the kitchen this holiday season. I'm planning to revisit these Peppermint Meltaways with an updated recipe. These are one of my favorite cookies for the holiday season!

I've already begun counting the number of desserts that I'll need to make in December. So far, I'm up to eight different events that will need a holiday dessert. I'm all about saving time in the kitchen and I'll share my tips and tricks with you!

Thanks for wandering over to my little corner of the web! Hopefully you'll come back next month for some delicious Christmas cookie recipes. Until then, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!