So first off, my apologies for being a bit MIA lately. Last week was quite a hectic one and I got rather behind. But I'm back now. Hi! I missed you all. Part of the hecticness in the past week was preparing for Aaron's birthday party on Sunday. He threw me one pretty unmatchable 30th back in September, so I really wanted to up my party game a bit from the last few, which were mostly just having a couple friends over for cake. This one needed to be something a bit more special

Confession. (shhhhh!) I've never made jam before. Or rather, I'd never made jam until this month. I always liked to think about making jam, but I never really got around to actually trying it. Partly it was because I'd never learned how to can things and partly it was because I thought it would be way too much work for a small payoff. You know, those conjured images of stirring fruit in large vats over steaming stovetops, hair tied back in a kerchief and wiping sweat from you

Christmas is coming This writer's getting fat It's time to put the candied pecans In someone else's hat Or something like that. Point being, I need to stop snacking on these leftover cinnamon spiced nuts, so I'm going to make them someone else's problem. And what better way to do that than to tidy them into a nice little package and wrap them up as a present? Perfection. I love making stocking stuffers for friends and family (sorry, siblings.. here be spoilers). I got into th