Last night Ben and I headed to Downtown Disney to meet up with my fam.
It was Matt’s birthday and he chose to have his birthday dinner at Rainforest café (I think it’s the 4th year in a row now!). 
Unfortunately, that place was PACKED and there was a problem with getting seated that resulted in a longer wait than was quoted. We messed around in the store for a long time waiting and waiting and waiting.
Fortunately, the manager realized the error and sent two HUGE appetizer plates for us to share when we finally got a table! The service completely made up for the error 
Apparently we can be bought with mozzarella sticks – any takers?
Ben and I sat across from the birthday boy and his friend. It made for some less than stellar pictures, but fun conversation.Eleven year olds have a lot of opinions on black holes, aliens and airplanes! I learned a lot!
Michael and Heather joined in the fun My brother’s ‘stache isn’t this creeptastic in person. Swear.
Ben wanted in on the creeper pic too I guess…
I ordered the macadamia nut crusted tilapia with coconut shrimp. I’m not a big fan of shrimp so I shared those with Ben. But the tilapia was AMAZING.
I also jacked some of Ben’s fajitas. They were adequate, but we didn’t expect much considering the place.
When someone orders a Volcano cake the waiters bring it out screaming, “VOLCANOOOOOO!!!!” The entire time we were eating Matt stopped what he was doing hoping it was his volcano when it came out of the kitchen. Who am I kidding? So did I.
Finally his birthday volcano arrived! I ate it. Not all of it, but I put a BIG dent. Trust. Everyone else (besides me and Matt) was too full from their dinner to help us attack it. Party poopers. More for me.
I got home way past my bed time and had to force myself out of bed for boot camp. I headed home for French Toast after 
I recently announced it will be my life’s work to find the world’s best Chocolate Chip Cookie! Well, Mason Jar Cookie Company recently let me try and make my own. You can go to their website and create the cookie combinations of your dreams!
This is what my dreams are made of…
My mix has an oatmeal cookie base, toffee bits, almonds and dark chocolate chips. I named it “ChOatmeal Toffee Cookies”. 
Um, I am super excited about this! If you want to make your own combination to bake and send to me you can use the code TENOFF to get 10% off your order. 
The Mason Jar Cookie company is letting one lucky RER reader make their own combo for free! To enter: Leave a comment with your favorite cookie.
Contest open to US residents only. Ends TODAY at 6pm PST. I will announce the winner tonight.
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Hi Monica! Love you blog!
My mom use to have this Rainforest Cafe club member card that gave us the power to cut the line and we never have to wait! I’m not sure if the card is available anymore, but it was definitely worth it!
Yum, your choatmeal toffee cookie sounds right up my alley! Oatmeal is the best base for cookies!
Long-time reader, first-timer commenter! LOVE myself a good chocolate chip cookie, or maybe a few. Even if they are not that great, I tend to keep ‘sampling’.
I absolutely love sugar cookies and snicker doodles!
peanut butter dark chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies!
My favorite cookie is a class peanut butter with a hershey kiss on top. Reminds me of my childhood!
I love a good sugar cookie, homemade of course. I have yet to find a store-bought cookie I like.
Love the classic chocolate chip cookies
I made these pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal cookies once that were amazing!!
I love all cookies but my favorites are white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies or chocolate chip cookies….but they must be soft/gooey! Crunchy cookies are blasphemous.
mmm… Give me peanut butter/chocolate anything!
Happy Birthday to Matt! His birthday dinner looked like fun. I’m a simple oatmeal raisin girl…oh who am I kidding I just saw white chocolate macadamia in the comments. Those are to die for!
I make these brownie cookies that are unbelievable. So easy, too.
Your little brother is too cute! I also love this cookie company. It’d totally make a oatmeal, chocolate chip, and butterscotch chip cookie mix. YUMMY!
Looks like Matt had a great birthday dinner!
I love peanut butter chocolate chip cookies!
i just made my own of those so dont pick me. obviously im too cool.
you wanna go for a walk tomorrow? coffee walk? colk?
I pretty much love ANY cookie with chocolate in it, but my absolute favorite type of cookies are half-moons!
My fav cookie … hmmm… why is it so hard to just pick one? I guess I’d have to say oatmeal raisin.
My favorite cookies are M&M!!! YUM!
choc chip are my fave, but when im REALLY looking to add a few inches to my waistline, i bust out a batch of no-bakes. mm
That cookie company is adorable! As far as my favorite cookie, it’s between oatmeal raisin, coffee toffee bars (family recipe…mmmmm) and my grandmother’s “gramma cookies” which are chocolate chip walnut oatmeal. Who can really pick one favorite cookie type?!
I love plain old chocolate chip cookies.
It’s so tough to pick a favorite cookie! If I had to I’d probably say mint chocolate chip. mmmm!
Soft baked Choc chip oatmeal cookies…nice and simple!
Oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies for me please!!!
Chocolate cholate chip with raisins & nuts. And butterscotch chips. And PB chips.
I love peanut butter cookies, especially warm with ice cream on top!
Favorite cookie: MONSTER COOKIES! I love those jars!
Cranberry coconut chews are delicious!
Oatmeal chocolate chip!!! Now I’m craving cookies. I might need to do some baking this weekend…….
Looks like you all had a great time. I think it is so awesome that you’re so close to your little brother despite the age difference. My brother is 6.5 years older and I feel we never got to know each other until we got much older.
And Choatmeal Toffee sounds like a winner!
i love peanut butter cookies with m and ms!
plain ol chocolate chip!
Oooh, cute! I’ve been wanting to make oatmeal cookies for a while (plain white chocolate is my fav), and though I could probably do this myself, I’d like to see how the pros do it!
My FAVORITE cookie is the snickerdoodle! I can’t go to Noodles and Company without purchasing one (or 2) with my meal. YUMMY!
My favorite are chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven.
Cant go wrong with chocolate chip cookies.
White chocolate macadamia nut cookies- as long as somebody else is making them for me.
These Dark Chocolate Sour Cherry cookies are my absolute favorite homemade cookies! http://www.marthastewart.com/337684/dark-chocolate-cookies-with-sour-cherrie
They are perfectly chewy and chocolate-y without being too sweet! The tart cherries are awesome!!
Dark chocolate cherry chip. Delicious. SO SO DELICIOUS.
you should make these if you haven’t already! http://www.marthastewart.com/337684/dark-chocolate-cookies-with-sour-cherrie
If I can only pick one cookie, I guess I’d go with oatmeal coconut chocolate chip lemon date raisin pumpkin pecan cranberry almond sugar-coated sugar cookies.
My favorite cookie is a classic sugar cookie with lots of sprinkles!
Favorite cookie ever is snickerdoodle!
Mmmm I love white chocolate chip cranberry oatmeal cookies. They are a holiday favorite <3
My favorite cookie is white chocolate macadmia nut!
Oatmeal chocolate chip!
Peanut butter with nutella are my fav!
My favorite is white choc chip, cranberry, & macadamia nut.
Gotta go with oatmeal raisin or white choc macadamia
ahhh lucky i miss disneyland.. we use to go every year but haven’t the last few…. and my fav cookie is peanut butter.. but also choco chip so i think i would want to try to combine the two!!
Your mix sounds fantastic! Hopefully they’ll come out amazing.
Now I always use real butter in my chocolate chip cookies (the fake stuff just doesn’t taste the same) and double the vanilla. Always makes for a great cookie!
Your mix sounds so good!
My favorite cookie is a carrot cake oatmeal cookie with cream cheese frosting. Yumm
fave cookie? easy. peanut butter. or maybe snickdoodles. or sugar cookies? hmmm…
white chocolate macadamia nut!!
My favorite cookie would be double fudge white chocolate chip!
Cookies are kind of my thing, so it’s hard to pick just one favorite. If you’re going to make me pick, I’d probably have to go with plain, old chocolate chip.
I’m a fan of the classic chocolate chip cookie too!
It’s a toss up between choc chip and white choc macadamia nut cookies
mmm a delicious smores cookie: oamteal base, marshmallow, dark chocolate and graham crackers
A great big soft sugar cookie with lots of frosting! Yum.
i have a new favorite cookie – the compost cookie! (found here if you are cookie obsessed: http://www.oprah.com/food/Compost-Cookies-Recipe)
I am just as obsessed with cookies as you are! My favorite has always been white chocolate macadamia nut!!
My favorite cookie is a snickerdoodle.
Peanut Butter!
Peanut Butter cookies for sure!
I love cookies.
My favorite has to be white chocolate macadamia nut with cranberries. 
Chocolate chip cookies!
Any kind of cookie involving M&Ms tends to be a favorite.
Or guava cookies from Kauai. So amazing.
fav cookie? anything with chocolate and peanut butter.. YUMMM!
Anything with chocolate! I think my most favorite have to be monster cookies though – oats, butterscotch chips, mms, sometimes even pretzels – so good!
I’m in love with this idea! I might make some jars of my own for my friends
I love ANY cookie with an oatmeal base, and add a few milk chocolate chips and mac nuts and I’m in heaven!
The classic chocolate chip cookie wins me over time and time again. Any cookie will do so long as there are no raisins in it.
Any cookie with big chocolate chunks is a winner in my book.
I love chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal raisin cookies!
Loooove oatmeal butterscotch cookies! They’re good any time – including breakfast (it has oatmeal!).
My favorite cookies are chocolate chip.
Favorite cookie has to be anything with chocolate!
Those cookies sound amaze and all that food does too. I love the R.F. Cafe but the wait is always long here too.
You look super cute with your side braid. Jessica
runningtobeskinny.com
Favorite cookie: Oatmeal chocolate chip
peanut butter & chocolate chip!
oatmeal chocolate chip…FTW.
awesome! I looove cookies with toffee in them!
I love any cookie with tons of chocolatey chips!
i love any spice cookies like ginger! but also love oatmeal ones with lots o’ mix ins!
Chocolate chip always!
Peanut butter chocolate chip…hands down.
I love flourless peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips! They taste like fudge!
Oatmeal banana chocolate chip. Nom.
i think you just described my new favorite cookie! that sounds amazing!
homemade chocolate chip
ooo I love chocolate chocolate chip with chocolate icing
I’m totally boring but I love a classic oatmeal raisin cookie fresh out of the oven!
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip! The oatmeal helps me pretend it’s ‘healthy-ish’!
Anything with coconut works for me!
I’m not good at making my own, (I fail at Mongolian BBQ every time) so I would have someone else do it for me. I like mint and chocolate or peanut butter/chocolate combos.
1. Your brother Matt is too cute. Happy belated birthday to him!!!
2. I love me some oatmeal raisin cookies!!!
Mine would have to be some sort of peanut butter base with peanut butter chips, toffee chips, choc chips. Something like that.
The Kidless Kronicles
I love monster cookies…everything wonderful in one cookie!
My fav cookie is oatmeal raisin. Free food rocks! Waiting doesn’t.
Lofthouse cookies- apparently one can be bought by mozzarella sticks or storebought cookies!
My real and true favorite though is a monster cookie my mother-in-law makes only at Christmas- hershey’s bar chunks, chocolate chips, nuts, oats… lots of butter and brown sugar… we calculated one year: each cookie is 350 calories… with a glass of milk it’s our favorite holiday lunch!
I’m always a sucker for a chocolate chip or M&M cookie. Oh and sugar cookies. Okay, just about any cookie.
My favorite cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip.
Funny – my friend got engaged last night by the tree at disneyland. Did you happen to see any engagements? lol
Just call me the cookie monster! I have met very few cookies I don’t like but there are some from a local bakery that get sent to our work on occasion that have chocolate chunks and caramel in them and they are out of this world!
ummmm..CHOATMEAL toffee!! :))
I love the Rainforest Cafe. I’ve visited the one in San Francisco and I felt in love. I feel like such a kid when I go there. Wait, I always feel like a kid at heart.
My favorite cookie is peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal, with toffee bits if I’m feeling crazy.
Oatmeal chocolate chip!! Yummmm!!
Anything with peanut butter! Especially the ones with the Hersey’s kisses in the middle. Yum!
My favorite cookie is chocolate chip with macadamia nuts! Yum!
Oatmeal!!!! With lots of raisins!
snickerdoodle, oatmeal raisin, or good old fashioned sugar. i heart cookies.
A chewy chocolate chip cookie is my favorite!
Oatmeal with chocolate chips are my all-time favourite!
I love triple chocolate cookies! Caramel and Toffee bits are greatly appreciated
Pb chocolate chip oatmeal or no bake cookies.
Call me boring but there is nothing better than a soft chewy chocolate chipped cookie! I make mine with dark brown sugar to keep them extra chewy!! Yum!
Our little brothers are birthday twins.
Okay, and I am now officially jealous after seeing these Mason Jar Cookie Company goodies for the umpteenth time today. They all look and sound SOOO good!
Favorite cookie? I have no idea how in the world to choose. I’ll have to go with my Heath Bar Crunch cookies. You can never go wrong with Heath bars, right?
My favorite cookie is white chocolate macadamia nut! So good.
I’d have to say chocolate/peanut butter chip cookies are my absolute favorite!!
My ultimate favorite is simple snickerdoodles but the occasional chocolate chip is good too.
Monster cookies! Peanut butter, oatmeal, choc chips, and m&m’s!!
I like a chocolate chip cookie with shredded coconut and almonds. Kind of like an.almond joy!
white chocolate macadamia all day!
Cookies!! I love aatmeal with chocolate and peanut butter chips!
You can’t beat no bake cookies…the melted chocolate and oats does me in every time!
My favorite cookies are those PB ones with Hershey Kisses in the center. Classic! I love that volcano cake, I shared one with a friend once right before heading to college.
I like ummm …oh who am I kidding I don’t think I’ve met a cookie I didn’t like..they are all so yummy & delish!
Oatmeal raisin are my favorite cookie, it makes me feel like a weirdo sometimes because almost everyone I know hates raisins. Oh well, more for me!
My favorite is cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip! Yummy!
Definitely sugar cookie. Nothing beats a delicious sugar cookie…well, shortbread coming in a close second
one of my favorite cookies is a family recipe tradition at Christmas: sugar twists!
oatmeal dark chocolate and raisinets! delicious
i actually made my own version of this for my work holiday Christmas exchange!
pb cookie base w/ raisinets, oreos, and pecans. And maybe extra raisins? Oh my word I am weird!
Choosing a favorite cookie is hard, but pb, oatmeal choc chip are delicious!
I wanna win this!! Love me some Chocolate P.B. Cookies!!
snickerdoodles are my all time favorite
Tina from CNC got a cookie mix from this company that has butterscotch chips, dark chocolate chips, and pistachios… and I have not gotten it out of my head since. I would LOVE to get these for free!!!
I like oatmeal raisin cookies with some coconut tossed in!
Oatmeal raisin is my favorite cookie!!
pumpkin chocolate chip!
I’m definitely a fan of snicker doodles…..oh my god sooo good!
cinnamon oatmeal – RIGHT out of the oven
My favorite cookie is anything to do with peanut butter! yum!
My all time favorite cookies are soft molassas cookies. Yum!
I have an obsession with “Monster Cookies”. Peanut Butter (crunchy please!), oatmeal, and M&M’s. No flour in this recipe, so I tell myself they are slightly healthier!
My favorite cookies are white chocolate macadamia – but there isn’t a cookie in existence I would turn down!
my favorite cookie is any kind of cookie. i like cookies.
Mnnnn..Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with white and milk chips!
I love snicker doodles and oatmeal cookies! Yum!
my favorite cookies are oatmeal raisin! i know i’m weird, but i think they’re so delicious!
I’d love to win! My faves are peanut butter chocolate chip
Peanut Butter Cup cookies ARE the best.
definitely oatmeal…even without any chocolate or anything inside. love the chew!
Peanut butter with a chocolate kiss!
chocolate chip no contest!
Double chocolate chip cookies are the best!
probably nothing beats chocolate chip..they are ALWAYS good. i also love ginger molasses cookies…they smell and taste amaaaaazing.
My favorite cookie is definitely oatmeal chocolate chip!
That is a really cute picture of you and Ben (the first, non-creeper one)! My favorite cookies are Monster cookies because they have everything in them
Anything peanut butter!!! But from this site, I envision an oatmeal, cashew, dark chocolate & raisin cookie. Mmmmm
That is a tough one. I absolutely love double chocolate cookies. I probably a few too many of them when I worked at Subway
Hands DOWN my favorite is oatmeal chocolate chip… and WARM! Oh soooo good!
I love cookies. But hands down.. Paula Deen’s monster cookies are the BEST. Oatmeal base, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and m&ms. To die.
I make some amazing coconut chocolate chip cookies – delicious!
Chocolate chip!!!
Thanks, now I want mozzarella sticks
I’ve never met a cookie I didn’t like, but Oatmeal Pecan Chocolate Chip are my favorite.
I am such a sucker for Oatmeal Scotchies! Love, love, love them!!
chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are my fave. plain chocolate chip will do as well
I am an oatmeal lover!!! Soo delicious!
wow how cool! My favorite cookies are chocolate with chocolate mint chips, and coated in powdered sugar..I don’t have a recipe for these..but I have a local restaurant that makes them…
Chocolate chip Cranberry are the BEST!!!
Oatmeal….I just made some with dried blueberries instead of raisins….so I am telling myself I can eat as many as I want cause they are full of antioxidants.
I love my mom’s sugar cookies at Christmas time but just plain ol’ chocolate chip is my favorite all the time!
Favorite cookie – soft ewwy gooey chocolate chip with some milk, of course.
mmmm… cookies!
i love any kind of peanut butter cookie (or oatmeal!) with dried fruit. YUM!
I have been eating cookies like crazy lately, but I think my favorite goes between a ginger cookie that is extra thick and gooey and a great chocolate chip!
I like Mrs Fields chocolate chip cookies. Boring, I know, but they taste like each one is made with an entire stick of butter so they are soooo good.
Favorite cookie? Peanut butter cup bites – peanut butter cookie dough that you smoosh a peanut butter cup into as soon as they come out of the oven.
Oatmeal Raisin with dark chocolate chips!! mmmmm
chocolate chip cookies hands down!
I’d get chocolate cookie with peanut butter chips, coconut, and macadamia nuts!
Chocolate chip cookies all the way.
Peanut butter chocolate chip walnut oatmeal with a twist of toffee (:
I love anything with chocolate!! I love making oatmeal chocolate chip cherry…
Wow…its hard to pinpoint a favorite. Would either be classic chocolate chip or ginger snaps.
I love oatmeal raisin cookies! But no chocolate or nuts in them!
Ive only been to the Elephant Bar a few times, but i love the atmosphere inside!
My favorite cookie??! a soft peanut butter cookie with butterscotch, chocolate, and white chocolate chips! Go big or go home!
My favorite cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip. I LOVE that dough!
My favorite cookies are ones with “the works” – pretty much anything I can find to mix in! Chocolate chips (white, dark, peanut butter, butterscotch), raisins and dried fruit, toffee, cookies, candies… Kitchen sink cookies!
Hard to pick just one…but probably a big chewy oatmeal raisin. Yum!
oatmeal and currents with some lemon, delicious!
ginger molasses with pumpkin!
I have two favorites. My Moms chocolate chip cookies and my friends sugar drop cookies. Both must be laces with something because they are addicting! Both are to die for!
My favorite cookie right now is probably peanut butter… which I can’t seem to successfully make!
white chip chocolate cookies!
Seriously unoriginal but I have to go with Chocolate Chip. Not too chewy though.
My favorite cookies are chocolate chip cookies with toffee pieces!!
My favorite cookies are chocolate chips (specifically, the recipe from joy of cooking).
White chocolate chip gingerbread cookies…yum!
right now I’m totally on a molasses cookie kick! but c’mon, all cookies are my favourite.
Love me a snickerdoodle!
Peanut butte cookies!!
Chocolate chip cookies ROCK!!
White chocolate macademia nut cookies.
My favorite cookie is Molasses!
Chocolate chip with walnuts. Yum!
fav cookie: peanut butter buckeye cookies
ummm YUM! I’m obsessed with cranberry walnut oatmeal cookies…no, I don’t make these from scratch. my local grocery store has ‘em in break and bake, SCORE!
Chocolate chips with pecans
My favorite is plain ‘ol gooey chocolate chip!
Oatmeal chocolate chip!
White chocolate macadamia nut!
Peanut butter all the way.
My favorite are snickerdoodles!
Cookies are my weakness…I like making them AND eating them so I don’t know if I can pick just one. Lately my favorite is pumpkin snickerdoodles.
My favorite cookies are oatmeal cookies! The deli right by my work makes the best ones ever.
Recently made these, and they were fabulous: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mexican-chocolate-cookies-10000001687654/
So unique with ground red and black pepper and melted chocolate. Rather than be spicy, the peppers make the chocolate chocolatey-er. It’s my new favorite! Plus, who doesn’t want a cookie you can eat with red wine!
My current favorite (because it changes) is oatmeal chocolate chip with dried cranberries . . . the best of all possible worlds!