Articles:

Open shelving is one of the biggest home trends, and it’s a bit disconcerting that no homeowner seems to have any intention of ever using their shelves for actual books.

Preheat oven to 350°.In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and both sugars.Add the vanilla, peppermint extract, and eggs, and continue mixing until everything comes together into a smooth mixture.. With the mixer running on low, slowly add in the dry ingredients, a little at a time, and keep mixing until you have a uniform cookie dough.. Add the chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of the candy cane bits and stir until everything is evenly distributed.. Scoop the cookie dough out using a medium cookie scoop and place the dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat.Bake for 16 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through the baking time..

When the baking time is up, remove the cookies from the oven and add a pinch of the remaining candy cane bits to the top of each cookie.The heat will melt the candy just enough to allow it to stick without making it melt or making the colors run..

Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack, then store in an airtight container or freeze them to serve later.. An all-time Christmas favorite.

Soft and Chewy Ginger Molasses CookiesThis year’s garden-themed Christmas decorations use natural elements from our property to bring the beauty of the winter garden to life indoors..It’s funny how nature takes so many months of quiet time to renew, but we give ourselves about a week between Christmas and the New Year and expect ourselves to be completely ready to reinvent every part of our lives.

So happy New Year to you, friends, whatever that looks like for you this year.. I’m still plugging away at my little bathroom refresh from the fall.. Kennedy and I went for another visit to.our favorite local antique market.

, and I found the perfect little plant stand for next to the tub.Isn’t a vintage piece always the answer to every decorating dilemma?