LATE NIGHT SNACK: LAVENDER LEMON SUGAR COOKIES

I'm a huge lavender advocate - its uses are endless! I'm always using lavender essential oils on cuts, bruises and a pesky pimple or two. Not only does it have its medicinal uses, it really makes for a unique and tasty treat. 

A sweet friend of mine gave me a baggie of fresh lavender -- straight from the farm! I've been dying to give this recipe a go ever since I started seeing different variations crop up on Pinterest. 

I included a similar recipe on my post THINGS I LOVE ABOUT VALENTINES DAY: FOUR OF MY FAVORITE SWEET AND SIMPLE DIY PROJECTS. This recipe is a little bit different, but I'm absolutely addicted now, and I'm sure you will be too.

This is really a great tea-time cookie, btw. I've been eating them with earl grey and it's delicious! 

Give these delicious LAVENDER LEMON SUGAR COOKIES a try!

INGREDIENTS: 

Makes about four dozen.

3/4 cup sugar

1 and 3/4 cups flour

1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 and 1/2 sticks of slightly melted butter (I used salted!)

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons grated lemon zest

*If you don't have lemons, try oranges!*

2 tablespoons of lemon juice (1-2 lemons)

3 teaspoons dried lavender

START HERE:

Heat oven to 350 degrees

* If you want to use a cookie cutter to create cute shapes - make dough in advance and leave it in the fridge for a few hours until you're ready to roll it out to make shapes. *

Mix sugar, lemon zest and juice and lavender together in a blender on high for about 30 seconds to a minute. 

After you've blended these ingredients leave them to sit while you stir together the flour, baking powder, vanilla, butter and egg. 

Combine lemon/lavender sugar mixture and continue to stir (if you have an electric mixer it's recommended!)

Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil and give it a light spray of oil to keep cookies from getting stuck. 

Space cookies about an inch apart on the sheet, Bake for 10-12 minutes until light golden brown. Enjoy!

THE NAIL REPORT: 3 TRENDS WORTH TRYING

I've fallen in love with the creative nail trends of the last two years, watching them become more and more bold and somewhat outlandish. But the thing about them that I love the most is how personalized they've become. You can tell exactly who a girl is through her manicure. Timid, bold, a sports fan, a total queen, a no nonsense type. The list goes on. 

Find your own style with this helpful cheat sheet of manicure shapes via Nails Magazine.

You can find a detailed list on how to achieve this shape and others HERE.

We've spent so much of time past on drab shades of candy apple red, but no longer! Bring on the glitter, the gold, holographic, neon and reverse french manies!

What could be more stylish than well filed nails? Holographic well filed nails. I dreamt about such a magic as a little girl and I'm so pleased I've lived to see such a thing. In fact, the more holographic things I see the happier I become.

Image via Beautylish nail color via GOSH

There's some serious archaic power in flaunting long, pointed paws. Lana knows this, Adele knows this. Celebs are going the witchy route in full force this season. I can't imagine what we'll see when fall comes around.

Image via Terry Richardson