My Favorites...and a fab cookie recipe

I've been spending some QT planning for and buying for the baby's room....and I am officially "nesting." I am admittedly WAY too into decorating the house and finishing projects, and I am sure being off work for the summer does not really help.

Favorite 1: Etsy
I've been looking for just the right paint colors and accessories, and I found this Etsy seller (if you don't know Etsy...check it out...it's like Ebay for hand made or homemade items!) who has the most beautiful throw pillow covers...and cheap! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6793400
Here's a few examples:



Favorite 2: fresh paint
Here are some options for our formal dining room...it's not a very big room, but I love these rich, fall-like colors. They go with the rest of our home, too, which is shades of tan, brown, buttery yellow, greens, and smoky blues...we're still deciding which looks best, or if we'll scrap the bold color in general and go with a lovely ivory shade with matching drapes. These colors are a form of rust, but on this blog they look pink-ish...Benjamin Moore Audobon Russet is our top choice - it is one of these pictures, but it looks way better than blogger portrays it.





Favorite 3: White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut COOKIES!
Adam was gone all weekend, so I wanted to surprise him with his favorite cookie, upon arrival home...not my favorites, usually, as I am not a fan of nuts in sweets. But honestly, these are some of the best cookies I've ever made - I took a recipe from the ever-faithful and divine Southern Living Cookbook, and added my own twist (a very small twist.) IMPORTANT: Do NOT over-bake or even let them get too brown - it changes the flavor dramatically. Enjoy and make them soon - Meijer sells pre-chopped nuts and the Godiva white chocolate bars are located in the rack directly above them!

White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening (I always use butter-flavored shortening when it calls for 'shortening' - not greasy)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
4-5 oz. macadamia nuts, chopped (I used the bag at Meijer, which were chopped pretty finely...this is good.)
1 (4 oz.) bar Godiva white chocolate, chopped into small chunks (don't use white choc chips - they have a stronger flavor and are not nearly as good, plus they don't melt very well.)

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer (I used the Kitchen Aid big mama) until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in white chocolate and nuts with a spoon.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. (Do NOT use warm/hot cookie sheets for the next round in the oven - use cool cookie sheets, or the cookies will flatten to nothing.) Bake at 350 for 6-9 minutes, or until very lightly browned on the bottom (not browned on the top.) Cool on cookie sheets slightly, until you can lift the cookie off without it falling apart. Cool completely on wire racks. Makes 5 dozen, approx.
*These cookies have such a lovely flavor, and the nuts were so small that I didn't feel like I was eating a nut-filled cookie, which I normally don't like. They taste like pecan sandies, and are the exact right amount of sweetness. Adam's favorite!