January.

January is a month that I usually can't stand. I've even been known to say it's my least favorite month. So much so that if I can, I try to get away to someplace warm.

This photo is of my family in Maui for the NFC championship last year. 

This was how we spent this year.... Much colder, but equally as happy with a Seahawk win!

The end of 2014 was such a whirlwind between getting married, going on our honeymoon, fixing up the house, and the holidays. I'll be honest, it was exhausting. Wonderfully so, but still exhausting. It felt like I couldn't catch up. So this year, the lack of events and dreary winter weather are actually a welcome relief. I feel like I've finally been able to catch my breath and settle into my new life. 

Today is the 27th of January and I have not read a book this month. This is probably the first January that has happened since I graduated from college. Part of the problem is that I haven't been inspired by some of the books I've been picking up. So I've decided to pick up a book that I read a few years ago that was one of my favorite, The Alchemist. I believe that when a book comes to you at the right time it can capture and inspire you. If a book comes to you at the wrong time in your life then you probably think the book wasn't any good. I know a lot of people ( my husband included) who didn't enjoy reading The Alchemist. Maybe it didn't come to them at the right time in their lives, or wasn't their preferred genre, but I want to see if I still love it as much as I did the first time I opened its pages. I'm thinking about spending the next few days speed reading so I can finish before the 31st..... 

This month I've gotten the chance to do one of my favorite things.... Bake! Banana bread, pumpkin cookies, and pecan chocolate chip cookies!

Pecans are delicious. Chocolate chip cookies are delicious. Put them together and happiness and joy collide. This recipe is from my Grandma Pryde. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans

2 cups shortening

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon water

4 eggs

5 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons salt

12 ounces chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a large mixing bowl cream together shortening and sugars. Mix in vanilla, water and eggs. In a separate bowl sift together dry ingredients. Slowly mix dry ingredients with eggs mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, then add the pecans. On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper ( this is my preference for almost every cookie I bake, it makes cleanup way easier) scoop spoonfuls of dough. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

These cookies are super easy and oh so yummy!