Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, fellow blogosphere! I took a teeny weeny break from blogging after my 12 days of cookies and I’m not one bit sorry about it. I got to spend time with my family and friends while baking my little heart away. I hope you guys had a wonderful and safe holiday season! Here are some pictures of my usual Christmas baking. Once you start with the cookies, everyone expects them year after year. I guess that’s how traditions start and I don’t mind it one bit! This year, I made oatmeal toffee, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, andes mint, and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies (the two cookies without a link will be on the blog later this year!).

I’m excited for 2014– There’s so much to look forward to! Moving back to LA, a wedding, a honeymoon, DF graduates, DF takes the bar, older sister’s wedding… we just started the year and our schedule is already jam packed! Before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s do a recap of 2013:

• I got to work with some AMAZING brands through my blog this year. Some of them include: Betty Crocker, Chinet, Eagle Brand, The Pampered Chef, Pillsbury, Peeps, Grandma’s Molasses, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and Rodelle (just to name a few)! I am so grateful for every opportunity that I’ve been given am truly blessed to have worked with such wonderful companies. THANK YOU!
• I had my very first blogger trip, thanks to Medjool Dates. I couldn’t have asked for a better mid-week getaway. The group of bloggers that they brought together and everyone involved touched my heart in a way that I couldn’t have even imagined. I’ve never had a deeper appreciation for the blogging world and the date farming industry as I did in September.
• Not only did I have my very first blogger trip in 2013, but I also had my second. I got to attend the Pillsbury Bake-Off in Las Vegas thanks to Smuckers! I got to see the Bake-Off up close and personal while being behind the scenes. I’ve never marveled at an event quite like I did there. This was a very humbling experience for me and I couldn’t believe that I was lucky enough to be a part of it all.
• My DF and I traveled internationally together for the first time to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. I learned that traveling with him is pretty much like traveling with a child. I have to keep all of his papers/passport in order or he’ll lose it, but it’s extremely handy traveling with someone that speaks Spanish. We got to parasail for the first time and also realized secluded vacations are not for us. We like to be on our feet and explore, not be stuck on an island.. no matter how nice it is!
• Speaking of my DF, we got engaged and took some engagement photos! I guess that’s kind of a big one.
• I entered my very first contest and….. WON! That’s right folks, I won a trip to London from the Mystery Ingredient Blogger Showcase . I may not have won when they announced the winners, but after some investigating and technical glitches that occurred through the voting process, they ended up awarding two grand prizes. Thank you so much for all of your help voting and spreading the news for my Macaroni and Cheese recipe. I truly couldn’t have done it without you. Now my DF has an awesome graduation present! Also, that will definitely be my last voting contest that I enter. I felt like such a spammer during the voting period. Sorry I spammed you guys so much!!
• I purchased my wedding dress… more on that whole process later. 🙂
• I experienced my first mani/pedi in my whole 26 years of living! Thank you Smuckers for again, spoiling me on my blogger trip.

All in all, I couldn’t have done this without my readers. Thank you so much for your continued support throughout the year and for following along on this little ol’ blog of mine. I appreciate each and everyone one of you!

xoxo, kim