My go-to Holiday Snack

Who is headed to another weekend of holiday parties? 

I love a good party. I like to dress up, eat yummy food, and sip a good drink with all of my friends. So often, I need to bring something to parties and just don't have the time to make a massive dessert. 

Yet, the Martha Stewart in me refuses to buy something pre-made. So I cheat and whip up these pretzels in under 30 minutes. 

I buy chocolate and fun toppings: nuts, sprinkles, peppermints. Anything yummy, crunchy, and pretty. 

If you are heading to a party, anticipating friends stopping buy, or just wanting something yummy and pretty to snack on, here you go. Yummy and adorable AND easy. 

Party Worthy Chocolate Covered Pretzels 

You will need:
Milk or semi-sweet chocolate (either buy bars or good chocolate chips)
White chocolate (see above)
Pretzel rods (carefully check that you bag doesn't have too many broken ones!)
Toppings - crushed peppermints/candy canes, chopped pecan or peanuts, sprinkles, mini m&m's, anything.
** To crush peppermints, place unwrapped mints in a ziplock bag, seal, place on the floor, and hit with a rolling pin. Yep, those are my instructions. #letsbereal

Instructions: 
Line baking sheets with parchment paper (or foil, if you are in a pinch).

Pour one kind of chocolate into a microwavable bowl. Microwave for 40 seconds, stop and stir. Continue microwaving in 20-30 second increments and string in between. Once the chips/bars are half melted, stop heating and stir until fully melted. Do not add any butter/milk/oil. This can lead to grayish chocolate and prevent it from hardening.

Hold pretzel rod over the bowl and spoon chocolate over the rod. Gently spread the chocolate out evenly and place the rod on prepared pans.

Continue dipping until the pan is full. Sprinkle toppings over the pretzels while still melted and let harden. Cover with plastic wrap until chocolate is cool. If you are in a hurry, place the pans in the refrigerator for a few minutes!

For drizzle: Melt chocolate as above. Spoon melted chocolate into the corner of a plastic bag. Twist the top closed and clip a tiny hole in the corner. Quickly drizzle chocolate over contrasting pretzels. Let harden and enjoy!

What do you like to bring or eat at parties?

x0x0, 

Hannah 

Randomness

Life has been a little hectic lately, so here is where I am at.

1. Wedding planning is SO HARD! Okay, so it is not the planning that is hard, it is the decision making. I still have not selected a date/venue/STATE/anything. I cringe every time someone says "when is the wedding?" because I honestly do not know. In my defense, I had finals, and it was important that I stay focused. Because flowers and table settings are obviously more interesting than Bankruptcy Law.

2. I have made a million appointments to tour venues over the winter break. My goal is to book something by the 31st. Think I can do it?

3. Sneak peak at our fall photo session - which I threw together in time to order holiday cards. I absolutely LOVE them all and will post more after I mail out our cards. We got such perfect weather and fall colors for the shoot, I am so happy with them.

4. Speaking of cards, AR and I addressed them on Monday night and had so much fun. We have such amazing friends and family, I feel so blessed. Of course, when we ask people for their addresses, they ask if we are sending wedding invites. Nope, not yet. Just sending holiday cheer.

5. I am pretty much done with finals. I have on assignment due on Friday, and I am just about finished with it. In all honesty, I could submit it now and it would be great, but I always hold onto the last assignment of the semester because I want it to be perfect. It is a pass/fail advanced writing course. Being perfect won't make a difference, but here I am, color coding my edits.

6. I have not bought a single christmas gift. Not one. And all of my gifts need to be wrapped and ready when I fly to Texas next Thursday. I better work on that at some point...

7. My workouts have been on the struggle bus lately. I've been sick since saturday and have only worked out once. So much for combating all of the holiday sweets with strength training. Now I am just sitting on the couch eating Whole Foods organic pho-Oreos. #thisismylife

Has anyone purchased their christmas gifts? 

How many venues can I tour before I need to just pick one? 

x0x0, 

Hannah 

I am alive! {Weekend Recap}

I've been off blogland for a while.... :(

I apologize for the lack of posts and email responses - finals took over my life. After posting some lack-luster posts, I decided to let the blog take a rest while I focused on my studies. but I am back and have an action packed weekend to update you on!

(linking up with B Loved Boston and Champagne & Suburbs!)

Friday morning was my last in-class final. I finished at 12:30, and brought myself back to life at Ulta. Yep, retail therapy at its finest. They had tons of products specialist there, so I got a mini-facial from Philosophy, some brow filling lessons from Anastasia brow, and a red lipstick tutorial from Bare Minerals. By the time I left, I felt like a new person.

On Friday night, I went out with a group of girlfriends to celebrate MY BIRTHDAY (which was actually November 26, but who has time to celebrate with finals?). We went to Ecco, one of my favorite spots in midtown Atlanta.

We sipped wine, shared fried goat cheese and honey appetizers, and debriefed from the week. I ordered stuffed acorn squash with pesto, brussel sprouts, and a few bites of beets.

My amazing friend Luci (who you've seen all over this blog) brought the best cake for me, complete with HW sparkler candles! If you live in Atlanta, run to Alon's bakery and grab their chocolate mouse cake. It is to. die. for.

Saturday morning I woke up feeling sick. This always happens after finals... my body just crashes. My night out probably didn't help much either :P AR and I went to Target, Whole Foods, and Barnes & Nobles, before coming home to relax for the afternoon.

Check out this adorable rosemary bush I got at Whole Foods - it is cut to look like a christmas tree!! I got out all of my decorations, plus the 5 million christmas candles I bought at Target. My apartment is likely a fire hazard, but it smells incredible.

AR and I made chili on Saturday night, watched the holiday episode of Nashville, and snuggled under blankets. It felt so amazing to relax and not study - I cannot even explain it.

Sunday morning was church and brunch, followed by an evening holiday party in Buckhead. I brought a platter of chocolate covered pretzels (tutorial coming this week!), which disappeared shortly. The party was a blast - the food was wonderful and the view was spectacular.

They even had professional Bollywood dancers (random!), who lead up in dancing, followed by a professional flamingo guitarist. We left with sore feet and full bellies.

At the end of the night, we all took the ballon decorations and released them on the balcony. It was a beautiful start to the holiday break!

x0x0x, 

Hannah 

Five on Friday + Confessions 11/14

Friday! You came! Miracles Happen. Linking up with some ladies to share a mix of confessions and randomness (thank you Leslie & Natasha for hosting!).

1. I confess that... I have been a bad blogger this week. No posts, just studying. I am only three weeks out from finals right now, which we all know is a hot mess. For those just stopping by, I am in my second year of law school. If you are familiar with law school, you know that you entire grade in each class depends on a blind-graded final exam. No participation points. No midterms. Just the final. Panic.

2. Last night I went to the most fabulous even at the Atlanta Wedding Loft. It was full of planners, chefs, cake decorators, and photographers - all in an intimate setting. My friend Luci and I had fun exploring the options and brainstorming. Which brings me to my next confession...

3. I confess that... a whopping nothing has been done for my wedding planning process. And I plan on doing zilch until after finals. If I miss out on a venue or dress because I started late, so be it. How long did y'all wait before planning anything?

4. AR and I are having our christmas card photos taken this weekend. And I have yet to pick out what I will wear! I am planning on making a quick shopping run today if I get some time. Any suggestions? We are taking them outside at a park with all of the pretty leaves. I am thinking AR will do navy and maybe I will do cream with a bright scarf?

5. I confess that... I bought these online this weekend. My days will be merry and bright with outfit, no doubt. The best part is the matching one for AR - hahaha

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hannah 

5 on Friday {Confessions} 11/7

Hello ladies and happy weekend!

1. I confess that I have a shopping list like one mile long of new fall "must haves"... yet I won't get time to go shopping until after finals. By then fall will be done and I'll be on to winter. Heart. Broken.
Here is what I am looking at:

Blanket Scarf. Has anyone actually purchased the one from Target? Is it really a blanket scarf?

Fur Vest. Loving this one from Banana Republic. And it is 30% off right now...

love this one. No idea where it is from. 

2. I confess that my sugar cleanse is over and I am baking these cookies tonight. Don't they look amazing? I'd love to tell you that post-cleanse, I don't want sugar. But the truth is, I missed chocolate. I am using unrefined coconut sugar in the recipe, so I will let you know how that goes.

source

I am also planning on dipping them in melted chocolate. Go big or go home. 

3. I confess that Facebook has ruined election night for me. I love elections. I've worked in politics, lived in D.C., the whole deal. But I am over people and their rude "my state doesn't know what is good for them" comments. I am sorry your candidate lost, really, I am. But that is no excuse to be rude. #soapbox

4. I confess that... AR being home during the week is the best feeling in the world. He started a new job this week, and for the first time in years, we will be in the same city during the week. I am excited to watch cook and eat dinner together during the week.

5. I confess that... I turned on my Pandora Christmas Station this week!!!! Ahhhh, I think the radio said 48 days until Christmas. So excited. I was sharing my holiday to-do list with AR this week. Here was our exchange:
Me: ...and then we should go ice skating at Piedmont Park!
AR: I am a southern boy. I don't ice skate.
Me: What if I got you a cow boy hat to wear while you skate?
AR: Sweetheart, that's a pipe dream.

Apparently ice skiing is not on our list ;)

6. (Because I can't count) I confess that I need to take photos for our holiday cards and need a good photographer. Atlanta ladies, help me! Do you know any good photographers? I just want a little mini session for our holiday cards. Full engagement photos will come in the spring :)

Linking up with Leslie and Natasha today. Thanks for hosting, ladies!!!

x0x0, 

Hannah