Does it get any better??

Ok, so after weeks of being incredibly busy and not being able to blog or even scrap a thing, I am now back on schedule! And I am going to start this post off by asking you a question: Do you like cookies? I love cookies! As long as they don't include raisins, peanuts, or anything...gross=( LOL! So, if yo do like cookies and are willing to spend at least half an hour to make 'em and bake 'em, then you have got to try this recipe!

Me and my fam of 11 just got together with some good friends of ours who are also a family of 11 (Hey Tirzah! You know who you are :)) and me and an incredibly good friend of mine (who is by the way absolutely awesome) made some pretty awesome 'white chocolate macadamian nut cookies'. So, the recipe calls for...

*1 pound (2 cups) butter, room temperature
*1 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
*1 cup granulated sugar
*3 large eggs, room temperature
*1 Tablespoon vanilla
*4 1/4 cup all purpose unbleached white flour
*2 teaspoons baking soda
*1 teaspoon salt
*2 cups (12 ounce bag) white chocolate chips or chunks (Use a high quality white chocolate like Ghirardelli, Callebaut or Godiva. It does make a difference.)
*1 1/4 cup (4 ounces) macadamia nuts, chopped
 
Directions:
*This recipe makes a large batch of 48 full size cookies. The full batch will fit in a 5 quart mixer. Divide the recipe in half if needed.
*Make sure the oven keeps the right temperature. The cookies may need a minute or two more or less than stated.
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
*Line baking sheets with parchment paper (no need to grease).
*Measure flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and blend together. Set aside.
*In a large mixing bowl, preferably a heavy-duty mixer, and using the paddle or beater attachment, beat butter until creamy.
*Add brown sugar and beat again. Scrape down the bowl and add the granualted sugar. Beat until fluffy.
*Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
*Add vanilla, beat and scrape again.
*On low speed, add flour mixture 2 cups at a time, and mix well.
*Mix in white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Mix only until blended.
*Using a cookie scoop, place dough on prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly to allow for spreading.
*Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Do NOT over bake these cookies. They continue to bake for a few minutes after they are removed from the oven.
*Transfer to cooling racks. Store in air tight container or plastic bag to stay soft and moist.
*Makes 48 warm and gooey cookies.
 
Yeah, I know. That was a pretty long recipe (thank goodness there's such a thing as copy & paste!) but it is totally well worth it! Oh, and P.S. You better have a glass of milk ready for when you start to devour these cookies!  Does it get any better??? =D
 
Ok, now onto the layouts!
I am so totally off schedule with the ' My lifetime story challenge' (guilty). I infact just finished last weeks challenge TODAY! =0 Mmm-hmm...that just shows you how busy i've been=)

So this is a lo that I actually started on a looong time ago, I just took for ever to print the picture off!

I used a sketch from 52 sketches and the sketch included hidden journaling underneath the picture, but (of course=) I had to make it "my own", so I turned the picture into a flap that you can open up. Although, this is not the journaling. I wrote the journaling on the outside of the brown, circle mat.

The journaling says:

You are always so active, so energetic. You can never stand still for more than a few seconds. But, this picture captures a moment when you are, for once,...Content.

My sis (the one who likes to act. I really need to come up with some nick names for every one in my fam! LOL!) took this picture. Awesome huh!

And now, here is my lo for last weeks 'my lifetime story challenge' challenge=D

It seriously took me forever to find good pictures of me when I was little=D

The journaling was originally written by a good friend of ours. It says, "A new day, A new year, A new life." I was born on Jan. 1st, so the morning I was born, our good friend took pictures of the sun rise and created a cool collage and included those words. =)

And yeah, I was a very fat baby. LOL! (But what baby isn't!)

I looove to rip and distress papers (now that I know exactly how to do it....thanks Rita=)

And, of course, I had to add a little brown in there=) I really do like to use and wear the color brown=D

That's it for today! Thanks so much for stoppin' by and hey! don't be shy! leave a comment! =)