In Focus Friday w/ My Mind's Lens: December Edition

As 2012 comes to a close there, is time to squeeze in one last installment of In Focus Friday w/ Kaeley before we wrap it all up and bid adieu to the year.

Not to worry, all of my sweet and talented contributors will be back next month to get 2013 kicked off right.  This month, Kaeley combined her love of baking with her love of photography, and what a treat she has for us.  Are mouth watering pictures even possible?  You be the judge, but my vote is YES!!!

**********

Is it just me or has this holiday season flown by?  I cannot believe how quickly Christmas came and went this year!  It is always interesting to me to see what different families keep as traditions for the holidays.  A couple of ours include putting up Christmas decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving and going out with the crowds to take advantage of the "after Christmas" sales.  One of my favorites, though, is baking cookies.  When I was younger, my mom used to make all kinds of different cookies around Christmas time.  As our family grew and we got busier, though, the cookies started to fall off the schedule.

Last year, I was excited to have a kitchen big enough to pick up on the cookie baking (it was our first Christmas to NOT be in an apartment and actually have counter space!).  This last week, I continued the tradition and made up five different kinds of cookies, plus M&M-pretzel bites, peppermint cupcakes, muddie buddies, dipped pretzel rods and my Grandpa's white chocolate Christmas candy.  Not only do I enjoy doing all of the baking and sharing my goodies with friends and families, but all those sweets actually make very good "practice dummies" as well for my camera!

Here are some snapshots of some of my favorites:

 

I would love it if you stopped by My Mind's Lens and shared some of your own traditions.  Also - feel free to ask for any recipes for the above featured treats!  They were all pretty easy.  I hope everyone has enjoyed time with friends and family this week.  From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.