juicy goodness.

"you have got to try _________"

we've all heard that at some point or another. right?

but how often does what you're trying actually live up to the hype?

probably not often. at least that's the case for me.

 but i have something exciting to tell you...if you live in seattle that is.

you've got to try one of the best sandwiches...ever.

no really, i'm not kidding.

a couple weeks ago, the husband and i went to a little hole in the wall place.

this 'hole in the wall' just so happens to sell the second best sandwich in america.

{according to the food network}

the hype was worth it.

if you're in seattle, or nearby, you've got to try paseo.

their cuban sandwiches are divine, juicy, messy, goodness... all tucked into a fresh baguette.

the only problem, i want one of these sandwiches all.the.time. now.

{he'd kill me if he knew i was posting this picture}

excuse me while i go dream of one of those puppies.

cookie thief

the kitchen in my house growing up was always busy during the holiday season.

during december, my mom was a baking fool.

i don't think there is anything she cannot bake...

and it all tastes amazing!

i can remember our living room table during christmas time vividly.

it was a large, dark, wood table.

but during the holiday's, you could barely see the table at all.

my mom had that table covered with cookies, pies, lemon bars, 

and basically every treat you could dream of...

but there was one treat in particular that i dreamed of.

chocolate chip mint puffs.

{excuse me while a drool a little}

of a whole table covered in sweets, 

those were the cookies i would stealthily sneak into the living room to gobble up.

i couldn't ever get enough of them.

they are christmas to me.

and they are delicious!

now i just need to figure out how to make them, because i tried...and let's just say it wasn't pretty.
ugh.

sure, they look ok from the pictures...but after telling my mom what they tasted like,
and more specifically the texture they were,
there was a list of things that i need to do differently next time.
did that stop me from eating about 10 of these babies in one sitting?
nope.

wrapping up 2013.

2014, you have a lot to live up to... 

i can honestly say that 2013 has been one of the best {if not the best} years of my life.

it's going to be hard to beat the birth of a child...but somehow, i think 2014 might just be even better.

and because you are all dying to know, no i didn't finish my bucket list, but i came pretty darn close.

and that makes me very happy! 

here are some highlights:
a quick side note:
 i have many, many more pictures,
which are way better than these,
 but they are on the husband's camera.
maybe i'll get a chance to share them someday soon!
until then, you'll have to live with my crumby iphone pictures! 

{chloe's first snow day}

{mom's mint meringue's...kinda}

{sugar cookie fest, 2013}

{our little elf. hat courtesy of chlo's aunt lindsey}

{chloe's first christmas. bib courtesy of grandpa and grandma at the beach}

{i couldn't be happier}

i hope you all had a fabulous holiday season, and that as you pack up your decorations, your home is still full of love and happiness.

here's to 2014!