Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nom nom nom...these are so good.  Made them yesterday.  Made a Vine about them.  They are that good!

Dallas doesn't normally like cookies, especially mine (he's ridiculous!) but he brought a whole container of these to work today.  Best day ever for him.  AND me as there is a whole 'nother container left for me. :)

INGREDIENTS

3/4

cup granulated sugar

3/4

cup packed brown sugar

1

cup butter or margarine, softened

1

teaspoon vanilla

1

egg

2

cups whole wheat flour

1

teaspoon baking soda

1/2

teaspoon salt

1

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

(For half the chocolate chips I substituted the little mini MiniEggs.  Sooooo cute.  And a bit crunchy because of candy shell....yuuuuummmmmmm....)

Heat oven to 375ºF.

Mix sugars, butter, vanilla and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt (dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. (I used a little extra warm water into the batter as I went as it was a bit dry and crumbly).

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown (centers will be soft). Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Recipe originally found at www.bettycrocker.com

Follow me on Vine to watch my video on making these bad boys, username: @roxcandymountain 

New Finds!

So, my phone is pooched after I dropped it and had front replaced at a mall kiosk and pretty much just #epicfail-ed my life up. (I mean, my phone IS my life) so I had to go back to the mall yesterday afternoon and kill some time with Jackie.  He was not interested in going to my usual haunts (The Bay, Sears, etc.) but he did like the bright look of Urban Planet (what?!) so we went in.  And I'm glad we did as I got some sweet scores to update my wardrobe.  Take a look:

After browsing aroung for a bit (we were killing time while my phone was being "fixed" remember, I spotted this on a mannequin paired with a black leather moto jacket.  So, I obviously set about looking for it in the racks.  I couldn't find it so I flagged down a sales girl and she found out it was the last one.  It was medium.  I tried it on.  It fit.  It was fate.

 Here I've paired it with a velour jacket I've had for ages from Le Chateau.  I just found this in the basement in a box of stuff I was going to donate.  (WTF?) How cute does it look with my new shirt?

 I would wear these adorable earrings I got from Shoppers Drug Mart with them because they are perfect!

 I'd pair it with this silver chain that I picked up as well.  It was like $4 and it's just so current and cute and goes with everything.  Love it!

 When I tried the shirt on I just quickly threw it on over the shirt I was already wearing (I was with jumping Jack flash!) and the shirt I was wearing was the same colour as skeleton tank but a long sleeve and it looked really nice and super casual together.  Here I've paired it with a short sleeve t-shirt of same colour and I think it looks just as well.  This might actually work better in warmer months as the tank top itself is a thicker terry type material and a long sleeve might get too hot.  I've changed up my accessories by adding a longer, thinner and darker chain and my gold watch.  Daytime fabulous!

 Here's another cute necklace I picked up for #cheap.

 And my glasses that I picked up in the post-Christmas sales in my new Urban Planet glasses case.

Here's a better picture of my little nugget.   How cute is that going to look coming out of my bag?

Long story short though, my phone is still messed up.  Boooooo!

xoxo

Roxanne

Early Spring Dressing Ideas

As I troll through the internet, the mall, boutiques and the like, I see a bunch of beautiful spring choices out there.  As it is still cold and snowy here, we definitely aren't into flimsy spring territory yet, but a hint of colour and some transitional pieces that will take us into late spring/summer are a must.
Here are some beautiful things I've seen that are wants for me for sure:

Pastel/coloured jeans.  They are everywhere, right?  I'm a little over them now that I've seen tweens wearing them for months (is that snobby?) but I think this periwinkle blue pair mixed with this adorable sweater and shoe combo hits all the right notes.  And all that gold?  You know I love that!

So, as I said above, it's still cold here so a jacket is still a requirement, and I just always love a good jacket.  This fuschia one over the denim on cropped denim with the black heels and the pop of colour from the bag.  All the right notes!

I need these jeans! They are 7 for All Mankind and I absolutely love them!  And with a sweet little blouse and cardi I think this is spring incarnate.

I pretty much want to eat these heels for breakfast! I have the black pants and a similar white shirt so all I need is a strappy pair of black heels in my life and I'm laughing.  I totally have pastel purses, I mean, c'mon.

Colour! This skirt is great for spring.  The length, the colours and then the sweater tucked into it just makes my heart sing.

And for when it gets warmer: consider leather with bare legs.  HAWT!  This is Sofi Farhman here and she is a couple months pregnant in this shot.  So guess what moms? The bar has been set sartorially.  No excuses. ;)

I love a 2 tone coat! Love! And the colours of this one just add a song to spring that I want to hear on and on.

Another skirt and sweater combo that lets you continue wearing your beautiful sweaters that you accumulated all winter and pair it with those skirts and sandals you've been saving since last summer.  Parfait! #shopyourclosetyousillybitches

Flats again! Please!!! I love a good pair of leopard ones and they can be worn with anything (as long as the snow as melted).

Another coloured jacket, this one a bit lighter for those warm spring days/hot summer nights.  And a nautical nod with the striped shirt is always a classic/springy look.

A clutch and an arm party.  Stiill en vogue as far as I'm concerned and you won't see me out with spring without it. 

Have fun with your fashion!
xoxo
RW

Homemade Playdough

Because it's fun and you just gotta!
This recipe is from mommyfootprint and it's as good as any.

Play Dough Recipe:
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoon cream of tartar (find it in the spice section)
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
food coloring

Mix first 4 ingredients in a pan.

 

Add water and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3 – 5 minutes.

 

Dough will become difficult to stir and form a “clump”.  Remove from stove and knead for 5 minutes.

Add food coloring during kneading process. I added mine seperately in bowls because we wanted to have some variety. Here we are getting ready to make green, pink, and blue.

 Kneed it up.

 

 Play dough will keep for a long time stored in a covered plastic container or plastic sandwich bag.  Here's mine in some colourful tupperware.  Yay!

 Kids like to play with cookie cutters, plastic cutlery and even little plastic (washable) toys when they dig into their dough.

Have fun and be creative!

RW

Roxanne's On Her Soap Box Again

I just went to one of my favorite sites to visit today (Cup of Jo) and she posted about taking her son to the beach and not having a swimsuit and therefore letting him go nude (he's 2).  People whispered and some were uncomfortable so she felt better putting his diaper back on and letting him play in that.
She then asked her readers if this is a do or a don't?
This is what I posted:

Our society is so weird in North America! This would never be an issue in Europe or South America!! It's a baby! It's a naked body! Hello, how beautiful! And normal! And guess what, everyone's naked under their clothes!
It's totally ok for tweens to have push up bras and wear stamped-sized shorts and skirts but a naked baby at the beach? Shocker!
I think it's awesome for children to see other children naked and see that they have the same things going on or that the opposite sex has other things going on and it's no big deal.
This is part of the reason why we have unprepared people getting pregnant or having difficult/scary sexual altercations: no one has a clue what's going on underneath and it's because of the lack of something as simple as casual nakedness in childhood.
As for people worried about pedophiles: they are out there no matter what and you have to look after your kids no matter what. Them being clothed or naked is not stopping or spurning on these sick people.

I encourage you to read the post and then the responses from other people.  Some are very educated and thought-provoking.
What do you think?

xoxo
RW

Ava's Forever 21 Haul!

My daughter Ava is 5 (going on 35) and she keeps seeing packages roll in for me and her Granny and she wanted to get in on the action.  So I went onto my favorite fast fashion site Forever 21 (cheap clothes/free shipping...hello!) and got her a few items from the Girls Sale section.  Here they are:

 A purple sequin skirt! Very cute.

 This mint green sequin hoodie had to be worn right away.  Finally something that isn't pink and at $12.99 it was the priciest item on this list and will probably be worn the most (I'm thinking it will be the go-to hoodie for summer).  Total no brainer.

 Not a great pic but this is a black tulle "tutu" with a sequin waistband.  Sensing a trend?  Sparkles, sparkles and more sparkles!  And Ava is all about a tutu...and every skirt is a tutu to her.

 

A pink princess dress with tulle underlay.  HELLO!

 Ava lives in stretch pants/tights.  We usually get her the little lace bottom ones from Old Navy but I thought these jazzed-up ones were cute for a change.  The pink ones have sequins down the side and the black ones are covered in little "diamonds"...what's not to love?

 This skirt is so beautiful.  It's a thick jaquard over fine tulle in this delcious creamy vanilla colour.  Very high class! It won't fit her until next year but when it does...oh my!

And of course the obligatory Paris shirt (it seems that all little girl clothes makers are obsessed with the Parisian theme right now) but 'round here we always worship the Eiffel Tower and the fact that the text is in French (Ava is in French Immersion) is parfait!

xoxo

RW

Things I've Bought & Liked

Hey ya'll!  I did some shopping and found some rad things I'd like to share.  Here they are:

 Periwinkle shirt from Costco (the brand is Dahlia).  It was under $10 and is made of the nicest slinky cottonish material and has these really nice buttons at the sleeves.  I wore it with my higher waisted black "leather" skirt and it looked really polished.

 Look at these rose gold sandals from Forever 21.  When is summer coming so I can wear them!?

 Also from Forever 21 these are wedge sneakers and they are sooooo cute! So cute.  I'll wear them with my black waxed skinnies or some denim skinnies (of which I need to get new ones--any suggestions?)

 I read a lot about this book and so ordered it from the library.  It's great.  It's a parenting book that is enjoyable and easy to read (an oxymoron usually).  It's about how French parenting is different and more laid back then American/Westernized "helicopter" parenting and French kids are better behaved and more well-adjusted because of it.  I think I like it because it really aligns with my own parenting sensibilities and makes me feel less bad about not being that parent at the party that's down on the floor entertaining their kids the whole time.  Go play!

 These are Guess Daredevil Bootcuts.  They are amaze.  That is all.

And a new workout top from Winners to spurn on my fitness regime.  I mean, you can't get fit if you look like shit.  I'm a poet and I didn't know it!

And also these pants.  Another Forever 21 find.  They are a bit crazy but I love  them.  They are a nice weight and have a proper trouser waist band (buttons and fly etc.) and I think they are pretty special.  I'll post a OOTD soon to show you how I styled them.

Happy Monday and stay tuned for my take on Oscar fashion.

xoxo

RW