Simply trying to bake some holiday cookies for the family or friends can be stressful. I find that you can even get more stressed out when someone you love tries to tell you to relax. One technique I like, breathing in through the nose and slowly exhaling through the mouth a few times. I think that it really helps. Try it!

And if none of the above works, check out our Lavinia Lingerie site. We have some lovely new items and colors within our active wear collection for yoga or pilates classes. Check out our capri leggings, sports bras, bandeau tube tops and yoga shorts. Maybe there’s a nice piece that’s perfect for one of your friends. Hey, don’t forget something nice for yourself, you deserve it. I know most of my friends seem to forget their troubles when they do a little shopping for themselves; it’s definitely a distressed.

And if you still feel like baking, try out these delicious cookies:

Chocolate Almond Fingers

3/4 cup of butter

3 ounces of almond paste

1/3 cup of sugar

6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 egg yolk

1/2 cup of finely chopped pistachios

1 2/3 cups of flour

Note: Nuts are optional

Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper or grease and lightly flour it.

Cream butter and sugar until blended; add almond paste and egg yolk, beat until light and fluffy. Blend in flour to make smooth dough; refrigerate the dough for a little while if the dough seems too soft to handle. Lightly flour your baking board and divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12 inch rope and cut each cookie into a 2 inch length. Place 2 inches apart on a prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Place on a rack to cool. Melt your chocolate in a bowl over hot water, stirring until smooth. Dip both ends of the cookie in the chocolate and then in the pistachios, or if you have small children, maybe you can dip them in colored sprinkles. Enjoy!

To all my friends and fellow shoppers, I wish you a Joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

Enjoy!