PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE DONUTS

Hey there! Thanks for stoppin' by! I hope everyone's week is off to a lovely start. I am sharing a super good recipe that I tried recently today on the blog. Its no secret to my friends and family that I have a baking "problem". That is only second to my mason jar "problem". I had a family friend comment on that recently. I have at least 3 different types of mason jars, and I think I total at least 30 or 40. yeah I told you its a problem. Hey they're indestructible and can be used for just about anything!

I digress... Baking. Pumpkin Spice. Yes I've jumped on that band wagon along with everyone else. Though I AM probably the ONLY person in the world who doesn't like a Pumpkin Spice Latte (or a PSL for you Starbucks-ites). Yeah. I'm coming clean. It tastes like armpits smell to me. Don't ask me why I think that. I'm now entering into the PSL witness protection program.

The below recipe that I tested is from king Arthur. They have the best recipes. We have one of their cookbooks and use their flower as much as we can. ( I did not this time because target had a sale on their 48,000 LB bag of flower this past week). I also did not follow the recipe perfectly. If you like Walter White level perfection in baking and cooking recipes then you have come to the wrong place, Darlin' because I use what I have and bake on the fly. For example, I couldn't locate the half jar of coconut oil (which I usually use to replace shortening or veg. oil in recipes) that I KNOW that I have somewhere, so I used olive oil. Relax, it doesn't show up once it's baked. I have used it several times in baking and I've never noticed it in the final product, (in the batter, yes), and neither has my super sensitive husband.

I also used a 15. something-ounce can of pumpkin puree instead of an exact 1.5 cups,  because I didn't want to waste, and it turned out just fine. Oh, and I also omitted the extra half cup of sugar because I have a sugar allergy- I use all natural organic sugar so it has a richer flavor. I am sure that you can even use only a half a cup of sugar if you wanted to because the pumpkin puree is sweet and the donuts are coated in sugar and cinnamon.

 I imagine they would taste amaze-fest if you subbed out sugar all together and used barley malt or brown rice syrup- you'd have to cut the amount of sweetner or puree or up the flour since both of those are liquid sweeteners. In fact- those two sweeteners are my absolute favorite for fall-time flavor combinations, and things like rich muffins or granola. Yumsies.

• 
  
• Here's what you'll need: 
• Mixing Bowl
• Spatula
• Whisk or Large Spoon
• Measuring Cups and spoons 
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin purée (canned pumpkin)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, or 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus heaping 1/4 teaspoon each ground nutmeg and ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons 

1. Preheat oven to 350. Mix everything together in a mixing bowl except the flour. Once all other ingredients are combined, slowly add flour, stirring. 

2. Spoon the batter into a donut pan and bake at 350* for 15-18 minutes. 

3. Mix together about a cup total of sugar and cinnamon. (Use a ratio of your liking. I ADORE Pensy's Cinnamon so I used something like 4 T of cinnamon to 3/4 cup of sugar). Melt you up some butta (a whole stick for 12-15 donuts) 

4. Let them cool until they can be handled, and aren't crumbly. Dip 'em in the buttah. 

5. Dip 'em in the cinnamon sugar. Dip 'em real good. 

6. You're welcome. 

I loved loved this recipe, as I do ALL of King Arthur's recipes. I had 15 minutes until it was time to face-time with my family and I had time to take photos AND mix everything and pop them in the oven before it was time to talk. It was SO easy, and my husband appreciated that he only had to wash ONE bowl and a couple of measuring cups. (Especially since I made waffles this morning and it called for 3 separate bowls and 87 measuring spoons). I may be prone to hyperbole. It's an affliction. Also dishes is the hubby's thing, I promise I'm not a proponent of forced labor.  I also liked how forgiving it is to the many few changes I made to the ingredients. 

Okay, yea or nay to the Pumpkin Spice Trend? If so, whats you're fave thing? Make something fun to eat/share this week y'all! 

Recipe Source

WHAT I'M THANKFUL FOR

Hi there lovelies! I hope everyone had a great weekend! This weekend has been intense but good! 

So this is what I'm thankful for this week:

1.  We started potty training on Friday, using the three day method outlined by Becky of your modern family. I have to say that so far this has been good. We are not finished, as I write this, but I find her book is very common sense and non complex.  And Becky herself is the sweetest. She's also a play therapist, a profession which has a special place in my heart. I'm thankful that H seems to be ready to potty train- that makes life a little less expensive for us (diapers!) , but I'm not so ready for him to grow up! I am also thankful for other mamas who share their advice and make my life easier! 

2.  As always, I'm thankful for my dreamboat of a husband. I am also thankful that he is a personal trainer and has helped me get back into the gym. I feel better mentally and physically- for real- my back probs and circulation probs go away within a week of starting up again!  I'm inviting him later this week  for a series I'm starting called "Ask the Trainer". A few weeks ago I asked my followers on instagram if they had special requests for workouts. Stay tuned to see what he chose out of their requests! 

3. This Book is changing my life. I recommend it to so many people. I read it a few months ago and I am already re-reading it. The only book I have ever read twice is life of Pi, so that's saying a lot. It is so positive, and FUN and exciting, daring, and convicting. Bob (i use his first name because I imagine we are BFFs in my head) is basically my hero, AND he was a Young Life leader like I was in college so, I'm a  fan of that too (YL represent!!).

(via)

4. Pensacola Weather. Windows open and fans on.  Just sayin'. But really, we took the little guy outside  while potty training today to let him let loose and play "BEE BAAALLLLL" in his words. (The kid already has a mean lefty hit AND Pitch) and he was naked as a jaybird (we were in the back yard and potty training-- no judging!!) and it was just so so so  gorgeous outside. 

5. Friends! I have been trying to put more effort into friendships as of lately- and it has been SO so nice to reconnect with people. I really have such amazing people in my life that truly inspire me to be a better person.

Thats just a few things I'm thankful for lately, what are you thankful for? Y'all-- have a fabulous week! P. S. Come back tomorrow for a DELICIOUS post!

SAYING GOODBYE: PART II [A LINK UP]

Hi there! Hope you are having a wonderful day! Last week I linked up with Casey Leigh and  started the "goodbye" story. I'm linking up again, and finishing the story. 

It was nice to look back over the early years of our lives together. This is not the best picture of this home, but this was our last home in VA, this time, it was in Norfolk. 

I found out that I got into the program February 2011 and Robert started school a year and some change prior. We would both be making the 30 minute commute daily, and the gas prices were a risin'. So we started looking casually, thinking we would move that summer.  We found an apartment within a week, and signed a lease. We moved in April 2nd to this dreamy little duplex in midtown Norfolk. It was on a sleepy little street with a little park and within a 5 minute walk of a Starbucks. 

A month after moving in, we found out we were pregnant! Definitely NOT what was in my plans. (You get that part, MY plans). I was freaking out, to say the very least. My neat tidy little plan was all tied up in a bow: I was going to finish school, and we were going to move, and I was going to get a great job, and then go back to school, and then get another great job, and maybe have kids when I was 40. Yowza. Well I don't like to admit it often (even though this in and of itself is laughable) but I was WRONG. 

I still hadn't figured out how awesome it would be to have a baby, I was working full time as  a director of an art camp and I was on my feet ALL DAY LONG on concrete floors, in the middle of summer. Only you ladies who've been pregnant will get that one. It was not awesome. 

The summer came to an end, and I was about to start school. I still had no clue HOW I was going to do this whole grad school thing at this point- still definitely freaking out at this point. And after a lot of thinking, encouragement, and a LOT LOT LOT of prayer, I decided I was going to do this thing. I was not sure how, but I was going to do it. 

I remember my mother saying "you will get through this, you it may be a complete blur, but you'll do it'. And she was right, I blinked, and it was over.  And its also true what they say about motherhood - the days are long but the weeks are short. That was true about school too. 

This part of my life was the hardest to move on from. This home bore witness to the best time in our lives and marriage and some of the hardest. It is not easy to be a new parent, and it is not easy to be a new parent and both go to school full time. It's not easy to be a parent and to be sitting IN a classroom 20 hours a week (i calculated it once- physically sitting in a seat yes- 20 hours) not including homework and other things. Its not easy to be a parent, a full time student, and to work 3 additional jobs. Yeah I'm really not sure how my darling husband did it. I know that there was a lot of Spark involved, that's for sure. 

Another story yet, is the massive post-partum depression that I experienced for months after having Henry, and the subsequent hormonal imbalance that I experienced and continue to experience even now. That may have been the most difficult piece to the whole story. But as I said, that's another story for another time. 

This home was perfect for us. It ended up physically being way too small for us by the end of it, but it was the most wonderful home. It was on these amazing tree-lined streets, and it held so many memories. I made some of my dearest friends that I will have for the rest of my life while living in that home, and had some awesome parties (the important part, no?).

I got to know the people who worked in the community around us, I knew everyone who worked in the local Starbucks just up the street, and they would have my drink waiting for me when they saw me walk in. They came to adore Henry and always had treats for him.

Robert interned at a local gym right down the street and Henry and I would walk down to visit the owners and their daughter who was just a bit younger than H. 

And finally, the women who cared for Henry the first year of his life were truly angels on earth. Saying goodbye to them was one of the hardest things to do. To find people who love your child even as half as much as you do (mamas you know that's a lot) then that is something truly special.  

I remember pulling away from that empty home in my tiny little car packed to the rim with things, a dog, and Henry and I, and weeping. 

HERE'S WHAT

Hey y'all I hope you're having a fantastic day! I'm sharing  a few things that have made my life a little easier this week.

image via

This blazer: I got this before moving because I knew I'd be applying for jobs. When I got it home I realized I had dress pants that matched it exactly, so I have a full suit ready to go. I also got it on an insane mark down (like 70% ) so it did not break the bank! I got a call back for an interview next week (fingers crossed!) so it was one less thing I had to think of in preperation for it. I am probably going to pair it with a white oxford and my black pearls.

image via

Weck Mold Jars. Sorry for the tiny picture- its all I have. I went on a major nesting kick AFTER Henry was born and got rid of all of our plastic tupperware containers. I hated them because they would fall out of the cabinet whenever I opened the door, and they would stain. I bit the bullet and purchased these jars in two sizes- this one and a smaller one and I have LOVED them. I was unsure if the separate clips and gasket would make life harder but they really havent. We keep the clips in a cup for when we need them, and the gaskets can wash in the sink with the other dishes and hang to dry. They are such great quality and we use them for EVERYTHING. Because they are canning jars I have even canned small batch strawberry jam, and I microwave them all of the time. I also use them as drinking glasses. I definitely have a mason jar problem- and these make me very okay with that :).

image via

Starbucks espresso roast. I have had the hardest time finding whole bean coffee or ground espresso in the grocery where I shop, so I finally bit the bullet and went to the starbucks on base and found their espresso roast. I have a little italian stove-top espresso maker and I don't like making Americano in it. This stuff is awesome. SO good and Sbux will grind it however you want- even if you buy their coffee from another store like Tarjay or Publix. 

(image via)

Guys. We are there. Henry is ready for potty training...and I keep asking myself if I am ready. I read this book a while back and It made me feel like this is much more doable than I anticipated originally. I read Baby Wise when I first had Henry and it SAVED our sanity being students, and new parents. It also really worked for Henry's personality and personal needs. Henry already had to be on a schedule in the hospital due to his feeding problems and the fact that he slept non-stop and would not eat- so it was easy (thats a relative term- nothing seems easy when you have a newborn) to transition him from the hospital schedule to the schedule outlined in Baby Wise. I am all for doing what works for YOU, and this worked like a charm. So I feel much less trepidatious going into this weekend. Pray for me y'all. (P.S. ANY potty training advise would be much appreciated!) 

image via

I have worn asics since they still made the 8020. I ran track in college and they were so comfortable. For a shoe to be comfortable with all the problems i have with my feet (ex ballerina here) - I was sold. I have worn asics until I recently went into a running store and they did not have any that I actually liked. So I tried the Mizuno Wave Rider and I was SOLD. I can't believe that I like something MORE than my trusty asics, but these are SO light (almost as light as sprinting flats) and I'm not mad at the cute color combo. They've made getting back into running (a little) less painful. 

WHAT I WORE WEDNESDAYS [ A LINK UP ]

Hi Lovelies! I hope everyone is having a great day! It's dreary here but I kinda like it :). Today I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy for What I wore Wednesday. I love this link up because it was born out of her desire to spend a little more time on herself. 




1. I was feeling under the weather this day, and I wanted to be super comf so I threw on my oldest pair of jeans (likeee from college) and then wore a college sweat shirt from my hubby's alma mater, go Monarchs!

2. This top is another piece of clothing from my college days (you'll soon learn that I hold onto clothes for a long time- as long as they still look good). Jeans are J.Crew Matchstick (you'll also learn if you haven't already that J.Crew or J.Crew Factory is my fave place to shop. I definitely find what works for me and stick with it ) 

3. Woodstock Top- Target Men's section (yep, I went there. their shirts are cute and good for tall ladies). 

4. & 5. Top is Old Navy on clearance and jeans are  J.crew Matchsticks.  Shoes J.Crew Factory (these are my all time favorite shoes, y'all. SO comfy. You can get them very reasonably priced from the Factory stores and on sale). That day was so hot that I lasted about an hour in that outfit and change into my Reebok yoga capris.

6. Top- Target (Men's section again) and 7 for all mankind jeans. Shoes are Chuck Taylors. I have always been a little bit of a tom boy  (after age 4- I can hear my mama's eyes rolling all the way in TN as she reads this. I refused to wear anything but dresses and chuck taylor's together until I was 4 years old). 
And I love a good jean and t-shirt combo. I also have always adored cars- and I grew up going to car shows with my grandfather, so I have to have a Shelby shirt. 

Do y'all have any favorite old pieces of clothing? Any favorite uniform you wish you could wear every day? 

I hope y'all have a wonderful day! Make someone else smile! 

IN MY DREAMS

Hi there lovelies. Hope everyone is having a beautiful day! I'm starting a new series on the blog about my home. I've had a lot of requests to see the new house, so I thought that this would be the best way to share it. I'm going to do a room or two every so often and include my dreams for the rooms. 

Our home was so tiny before that I could not really do anything to decorate. We also didn't really need to because it was a cool older home in the middle of a small city and had a lot of character and neat features. We had awesome track lighting in one of our SUPER long hallways so we turned the walls into a gallery of my art and the coach's photography (sporty, smart, cute, AND artistic- he's a keeper I tell ya) . We also had exposed brick walls and suuuper high ceilings. So We basically had to do nothing to have a cool home.

Now that we have moved, we are in a home that is 2 times (YEP) the size of our old house. We had so much furniture that we actually don't need to buy any furniture. I would like to replace some of our items because they don't fit our style anymore, or don't fit our needs anylonger (or broke in the move).

My goal is to thrift or antique and/ or build a lot of what I want to replace. My goal is also to be very intentional about what we do add to the home. I really don't want to spend money on something just to have it, just to fill the spot. I have done that in the past and I felt so wasteful, and ultimately did not love what I purchased. I want our home to really reflect who we are, and our life, and I love for pieces to have meaning/ a story behind them. 

Today I'm focusing on the living room. 

This is what we are currently working with: 

We hand pictures over time because 3m strips are pricey y'all. (keepin' it real) So that is why we still have boxes. Also, we have not figured out exactly where or how to store our outdoor stereo system (pictured by the window) because it has to stay by the window. 

The plan is for the sofa and coffee table to eventually go into the man-cave. I love the sofa as it is super comf. and it is slipcovered so I can wash as needed (read: every week), but I'm not sure if I'm gonna go for a white sofa out here with the little dude running around. I am super strict about him sitting down to eat/drink not only for cleanliness, but also because he is not allowed to run around at restaurants, so why would he be allowed to do it at home? That said, his little sticky fingers leave something behind every. day. 

I love the rug but I am unsure if it will stay there or go elsewhere. as I mentioned in a previous post, the carpet in the house is grody so I'm using it to cover it as much as I can. 

Below is an inspiration board I've put together for the living room.

I love the idea of neutral furniture with sassy accessories. I also love love love funky textiles with a LOT of color. My mother is currently making me pillows from textiles that my grand parents bought while they lived in Central and South America. They are fun and brightly colored and will add a lot of sass to the room. I'd like to re-cover the red chair with a linen fabric as well. I am not sure what kind of curtains to use, and what kind of rug to use. Any thoughts or suggestions? Also, any thoughts about what to do on or above the mantle? 

I have a love affair with gold picture frames, so I'm hoping to use what we have and thrift some more. I also want to put some big fun artwork in the living room. I am in LOVE with everything about Kate Spade's whole house ( her living room shown on the right), so that is a source of inspiration for my house. I love that it is funky, and includes a lot of colors and patterns, and that she elevates her style with formal silhouettes and/or gold accents. 

I'd love to know if you all have a favorite source for furniture or textiles, and any suggestions for artwork/ and rugs/window treatments! 

Sources: 

one // two // three // four // five

HERE'S WHAT

 Today I'm linking up to talk about the things that've made my days a little brighter this week. 

1. Henry is becoming more and more independent. He has always been independent, but he can do so much more on his own, like coloring. I don't have to watch him quite so closely, and I don't have to worry quite as much that he will color on furniture. He also enjoys it so much that he asks quite often for "bapur" to color on. This makes my little artist heart so happy! 

2. Petsmart! We try to take Henry on a little adventure every week. There is not a true aquarium where we live, and his most recent favorite animals are "fitchies". I got a suggestion recently to just take him to Petsmart and it was the greatest suggestion! He was entertained for a good hour looking at the fish, birds, reptiles, and rodents (ew).  

3. We always have friends over now that we are out of school, and most recently we had pizza night with some friends. We played risk afterwards, which is the funnest game ever. We were floored when we looked up from the game and saw it was almost 2 AM. (sorry from the blurry pic). We decided that having regular game nights would be so fun. 

4. Home made breakfast sammies. Since I'm not working currently, I have time to make breakfast sammies every morning. I made cheddar chive biscuits a la Americas Test Kitchen Family Cookbook (so good), and added an egg and cheese. This is the perfect meal for a major breakfast lover (which I am) . I even figured it out so that I can make them in a jiffy when I do go back to work. These will definitely be in regular rotation around here! 

5. I have always said that I LOVE all 4 seasons, and I expected that living in FL would be hard for me. Butttt going to lunch  in October wearing shorts and a T-shirt and being able to sit outside with this view? NOT complaining. And its all the better that we found a GREAT super cheap place to get a mean po'boy.




6. One extra "Here's What". LOVING my new site design. And it did not break the bank. I'm not mad at that! Sasssyyyy.