Yummy Peppermint Bark ♥

December 22, 2016

If you've been following me for a little while, you'll know that I'm not much of a baker, cooker, or anything in the kitchen-er. This isn't to say, however, that I don't try to cook! Maybe 10 years from now, I'll have a whole cooking section on my blog dedicated to all of my yummy creations, but until then, I'm all about keeping things as simple as possible so that I can't possibly mess things up!

One of my favorite holiday treats ispeppermint bark, and this year, I decided to try making my own for a change! I went with one of the simplest recipes from All Recipes andam so happy with the results! This was so easy to make - it'd be the perfect treat to bring to a last minute holiday party or for anyone who is inept at cooking like I am!

For this recipe you will need:

8 oz semi-sweet chocolate
8 oz white chocolate
2 teaspoons canola oil
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
25 peppermint candies (crushed)

You simply melt the semisweet chocolate (with a little mint extract and canola oil), spread it onto the bottom of a pan, wait for it to cool, do the same with the white chocolate, and sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on the top! Okay, I think it might be a little more complicated than that but it was incredibly simple. See the recipe (here) for more detailed instructions!

What are your favorite easy-to-make holiday treats? I'd love to try them out!

★ Bargain Christmas Décor Haul ★

December 4, 2016

Last year, I really slacked on the holiday décor (and apartment decorating in general) because I didn't see the point in decorating my home if I was just going to move in less than a year! At the time, we were subletting a small apartment and planning on moving to a more permanent place in a couple of months. Fast forward another 6 months and we've moved twice! This year? I've decided to just go for it! I've realized how much a personalized home means to me and what a huge impact it has on my mood.

This is the first year that my boyfriend and I will be having our own little Christmas set up and while it's nothing big, I love that it's playful, filled with different colors, and really a mishmash of random little bits and pieces. One of my favorite things about decorating a space is that you can truly infuse your personality into the space. While our little apartment set-up may seem a little messy and all over the place, I think it's a nice reflection of all the random little things that make up our little family.

Since holiday décor usually only lasts a month or so, I find this to be a great area to save a little money. Although the tree was a gift to us, everything else was found at either Target or the dollar store with a grand total of $26 for all of it. Yep, you read that correctly. I successfully christmasified my house with a little more than twenty bucks. I love a good deal and my first go-to place for all things décor is my local dollar store. It might not be the most glamorous place in the world but you would not believe some of the stuff that I've stumbled upon in there! As long as my holiday decorations are colorful, fun, and festive, I'm happy! :) What are your favorite ways to decorate for the holiday season? I'd love to see your ideas!

November in Photos

November 30, 2016

Photos are everything to me. I love how they can capture a moment, trigger a memory, and lift my spirits. Granted, most of the photos on my phone are of my cat (oops!) - but when I do decide to take photos of things other than my cat, I end up with the prettiest collection of colors. It's crazy. This world is beautiful. I'm looking forward to taking some beautiful snow-filled photos in December and I hope you all had a wonderful November!