A New Twist on Chocolate Chip Cookies and Revealing Mr. Right.

I had a brilliant idea the other day while baking for a group of girlfriends for a Christmas get together. Now you know one of my favorite cookies is the chocolate chip cookie but I was getting kind of bored with the same 'ol thing. I tried to change it up a few times by putting in different brand chocolate chips, maybe darker chocolate chips and then when I saw this at the store, IT HIT ME! Why not chop up this orange ball into chips and put them in my cookies? I mean, I LOVE the combination of orange and chocolate. In fact, my favorite ice cream was from Swensens Ice Cream Shop, Swiss Orange Chip. Does anybody remember Swensens?
  

Well, suffice it to say, it was DELICIOUS! So, I prepared a package for each of the girls to have their own cookie dough to take home and bake with these goodies! To think of all the other flavors these chocolate balls come in too! Oh my, you could go crazy with variations!   Oh, I also used a great new recipe that I have been loving found on another blog.  Here is the link! 

 

Perseus thinks everything's for him

Okay....and.....I'm sure you are all dying to know about my love life. ;) Well, okay, maybe not. I have to realize I'm not always the center of attention or questions. Lol!  Here we are...me and Sergio. 

After hiking to the top of Multnomah Falls this past summer.  We both love hiking.

We met this summer (July to be exact) and have been dating ever since. I truly think my dream has come true (and praying that the dream lasts forever). Sergio is the most kindest, most respectful man I have ever met. I feel like the luckiest girl alive. I have never, EVER been treated this wonderfully in my life. He is always so positive, always thinks of me first when we're together, always encourages me and, *sigh*, translates Spanish love songs for me. The best part of all, he is as big (if not bigger) of an animal lover as I am. He loves my cats and my cats LOVE him.   Oh...all that aside from the fact he's HANDSOME! I'm not sure what I did right to deserve this but I am so thankful.


At my firms' Christmas party a few weeks ago.

A beach trip with Sergio and his two adorable dogs.  Sage is the German Shepherd (with his one floppy ear, lol) and spunky Max his Lab.  They are both as sweet as can be!

Well that's it for now!  I'm getting ready to head to sunny Southern California to be with my family and then off to Montana with my sister's family for some fun in the snow, maybe skiing and definitely a sleigh ride!   Will post more pictures later!  

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season (despite the recent tragedies).   I pray that the families of all the loved ones who have been affected by the tragedy in Newtown (and anywhere for that matter) will find healing in their heart come sooner rather than later. 

xoxo