I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Instead of turning to the age-old “I want to lose 10 pounds” New Year’s resolution this year, we wanted to consider the kind of resolutions that encourage a healthier, but also more intentional, routine in 2016. We’ve been on sort of a wellness kick lately as many of you know, and we’ve read up on healthy habits for women that improve overall mind and body wellness. So we’re welcoming the new year with open arms and thoughts of how we can deepen our relationships, improve our outlooks and nourish a balanced lifestyle. In the slideshow above, we’ve included ten intentional New Year’s resolutions that encourage that very concept for life in the coming year, whether that’s writing more letters, discovering your neighborhood hidden gems, or traveling more. Simply click on the image above for ten ideas for New Year’s resolutions that are way better than dieting. I’d love to know your ideas for resolutions in 2016 in the comments below! Cheers, Kat
SHOP THE STORY / CLICK LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TO EXPLORE
CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS
WHETHER OVER THE PHONE OR OVER COFFEE, MAKE TIME TO CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS IN THE NEW YEAR. WE ALL KNOW IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO LET TIME PASS. SO INSTEAD, CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON NURTURING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS THIS YEAR.
AVOID THE HEAPS OF DOWN COMFORTERS AND LINEN SHEETS BY MAKING IT A PRACTICE TO MAKE YOUR BED EVERY MORNING. IT MAY AMAZE YOU HOW MUCH BETTER YOU FEEL WITH A TIDIER SPACE.
ODDS ARE, YOU'D BE BETTER OFF IF YOU REFRAINED FROM APOLOGIZING ALL OF THE TIME. READ THIS PIECE ON THE NEW YORK TIMES AND SEE IF YOU CAN CUT OUT "SORRY" FROM YOUR VOCAB THIS YEAR. I DEFINITELY NEED TO!
REDISCOVER THE LOST ART OF SNAIL MAIL AND SEND A FEW (MORE) LETTERS THIS YEAR. YOU'LL MAKE SOMEONE ELSE SMILE (BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LOVE GETTING MAIL?!) BUT YOU'LL ALSO FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUCKS. DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY? A SIMPLE CARD LETTING THE PERSON KNOW YOU'RE THINKING OF THEM STILL DOES THE TRICK.
TAKE THE TIME TO PROPERLY CARE FOR YOUR BODY, INCLUDING HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN. ADOPTING AN ALL-NATURAL ROUTINE CAN BE JUST WHAT YOU NEED IN 2016.
APPRECIATE THE LITTLE DETAILS, AND GIFT YOURSELF AND OTHERS WITH REMINDERS OF THEM. OUR FAVORITE WAY TO DO THIS? BRING FRESH FLOWERS INTO THE HOME WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE, RIGHT? IT DAWNED ON ME A FEW YEARS AGO THAT IT'S AS SIMPLE AS PUTTING ASIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CASH EVERY MONTH (EVEN FOR LIKE A YEAR!) IN ORDER TO MAKE TRAVEL PLANS HAPPEN...NEAR AND FAR. MAKE SAVING FOR TRAVEL A PRIORITY IF IT MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU; THE MEMORIES ARE WELL WORTH IT.
DO YOU FALL INTO A GROOVE WITH YOUR FAVORITE PLACES FOR HAPPY HOUR, SUNDAY BRUNCH AND A CUP OF JO? I AM DEFINITELY GUILTY OF THIS; I LIVE IN NASHVILLE AND HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TO SOME OF THE PLACES MUSIC CITY IS FAMOUS FOR! THIS IS AN EASY (AND FUN!) RESOLUTION TO STICK TO THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH A WINGMAN IN TOW.
REGARDLESS OF YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERTISE (OR LACK THERE OF), THE ACT OF CREATING SOMETHING CAN BE SO FULFILLING. CARVE OUT TIME TO ENJOY A CREATIVE OUTLET AND YOU'LL QUICKLY SEE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS IN OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE.
LASTLY, AND SO SIMPLY, VOW TO READ MORE. I ALWAYS SLEEP BETTER WHEN I FINISH MY DAY IN BED READING (AND NOT LOOKING AT MY PHONE), AND I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT EVERYONE IS BETTERED BY READING AND LEARNING MORE.
With plans of baking sugar cookies and sipping on a festive holiday cocktail, you’re probably coasting right through the week and counting down until Santa comes. But with those holiday break prerequisites also comes a few things on the Christmas To Do list you may have forgotten…like stocking the fridge and prepping the guest room for out-of-towners who will be arriving in only a few hours. Maybe you’ll even need a reminder to be patient with loved ones and squeeze a sweat sesh in, too.
Check out the slideshow above for a few things you’ll want to do this week in anticipation for the big day and any holiday entertaining you have planned. From the entire WOM team, we hope you have a wonderful Christmastime! Cheers, Kat
You know what’s a real life saver this time of year? Groceries delivered to your front door. Obviously I’ve been hearing a lot about this new luxury, but I had never got around to trying it out until now. It was well past due though, because between errands and happy hours and last-minute shopping and photoshoots, I am officially maxed out. There’s simply just not enough hours of the day this time of year! So when Shipt reached out to me about its local on-demand grocery service app, I knew it was a sign from Santa’s helpers that it was the perfect time to give grocery delivery a go.
It’s amazing how much time you save (and even unnecessary food you avoid) when you have someone else grabbing items on your grocery list for you. This was especially true when I recently requested Shipt to deliver all of the ingredients for my Chocolate Peppermint Buttercream Cookie Cake, so I could focus my energies instead on wrapping gifts for the Mr. and Addy in the meantime. And did I mention same-day delivery, as soon as one hour? I couldn’t believe it either.
So I’m sure you’re wondering the same thing as I did… how much are the delivery costs? Delivery is free with orders over $35, which is of course so easy to do and very reasonable. And Shipt makes it so easy to see the current deals and coupons too. So often I swear I’ll use a coupon and forget it at home, and the app solves all of that. Thank you, thank you, Shipt, for making my life a little easier this time of year. Now on to the cake… Truly, MKR
P.S. Check out to see if Shipt is in your city! If yours isn’t listed, be sure to let them know you’re going to need it too. And if you’re wondering what to get the hostess with the mostess this year, I have a feeling that a gift of Shipt would be so appreciated! xo
Chocolate Peppermint Buttercream Cookie Cake with Chocolate Ganache
1/2 Package crushed Peppermint Jo Jo's (from Trader Joes)
...FOR THE GANACHE TOPPING
16 OUNCES HIGH QUALITY SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS
1 CUP HEAVY CREAM
Instructions
...FOR THE CAKE
PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES.
GREASE 3 - 8 OR 9 INCH ROUND CAKE PANS.
IN MEDIUM BOWL, POUR BOILING WATER OVER COCOA, AND WHISK UNTIL SMOOTH. LET MIXTURE COOL.
SIFT TOGETHER FLOUR, BAKING SODA, BAKING POWDER AND SALT; SET ASIDE.
IN A LARGE BOWL, CREAM BUTTER AND SUGAR TOGETHER UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY. BEAT IN EGGS ONE AT TIME, STIR IN VANILLA and peppermint extract.
ADD THE FLOUR MIXTURE WITH THE COCOA MIXTURE. SPREAD BATTER EVENLY BETWEEN THE 3 PREPARED PANS, BAKE FOR 30 TO 35 MINUTES.
ALLOW TO COMPLETELY COOL BEFORE LEVELING AND FROSTING, YOU CAN EVEN ALLOW THEM TO COOL OVERNIGHT.
...FOR THE BUTTER CREAM FROSTING
IN LARGE BOWL, BEAT SHORTENING AND BUTTER WITH ELECTRIC MIXER UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY. BEAT IN VANILLA.
GRADUALLY ADD SUGAR, ONE CUP AT A TIME, BEATING WELL ON MEDIUM SPEED. SCRAPE SIDES AND BOTTOM OF BOWL OFTEN.
GRADUALLY ADD MILK; BEAT AT MEDIUM SPEED UNTIL LIGHT AND FLUFFY.
stir in cookie crumbles and peppermint extract until combined
...FOR THE GANACHE TOPPING
COOK THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS AND HEAVY CREAM IN THE TOP OF A DOUBLE BOILER OVER SIMMERING WATER UNTIL SMOOTH AND WARM, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY.
...BUILD YOUR CAKE
YOU CAN MAKE THE CAKE 2 OR 3 LAYERS, IT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU.
LEVEL EACH CAKE USING A CAKE LEVELER OR LARGE KNIFE. SIMPLY PLACE YOUR HAND ON TOP OF THE CAKE AND CUT THE TOP, ROUNDED LAYER OFF TO MAKE IT FLAT AND THINNER.
PLACE YOUR FIRST LAYER ON A CAKE PLATE AND FROST THE TOP WITH A THIN LAYER OF BUTTERCREAM, CONTINUE WITH THE SECOND, AND THIRD LAYER IF DESIRED.
ONCE CAKE IS ASSEMBLED ADD REMAINING FROSTING TO THE TOP AND BEGIN FROSTING THE ENTIRE CAKE UNTIL THE ENTIRE TOP AND SIDES ARE FROSTED.
PLACE IN REFRIGERATOR TO CHILL FOR 20-30 MINUTES.
REMOVE AND POUR GANACHE ON THE TOP OF THE CAKE ALLOWING IT TO DRIP DOWN THE SIDES. ADD REMAINING COOKIE CRUMBLE, SERVE IMMEDIATELY.
By Mandy Kellogg Rye @Waiting On Martha
Welcome by Waiting on Martha https://waitingonmartha.com/
Photography, Kathryn McCrary | THIS STORY IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SHIPT, A BRAND WE LOVE AND USE REGULARLY. OPINIONS AND IMAGES ARE 100% OUR OWN.
