Wednesday Thoughts....

In a world of chaos and uncertainty, cling to the things that bring you the most comfort.  For me it's hot coffee, the changing leaving, and knowing nature is constant.  

Fall will never let me down ♥

Happy Wednesday, friends! xx 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies ♥

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful FALL weekend!  Can you believe this was the last weekend of September?!  Seriously, where did it go??  The leaves are changing right in front of our eyes!

Well, keeping on my pace of fall baking, I made a batch of pumpkin chocolate chip blondies today.  I had never made them before so I was excited to try something new.  Over the past month I have been going down the list of my usual fall baked goods....pumpkin bread ✔, pies ✔, donuts ✔, apple cake ✔... time to shake things up.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised by these blondies.  I was expecting more of a brownie and what I got was more like cake, which is always OK with me.  

I found the recipe through Pinterest on a site called I Heart Naptime.  Here is a link to the original recipe (here) if you want to check out the website.  Jamielyn Nye has some delicious stuff on there there so I highly recommend you take a peek : )

Here's all you need to whip these together.  Last week I remembered to stock up on canned pumpkin, so I had everything I needed on hand. 

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice 

1 cup softened, unsalted butter (2 sticks)

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree

2 tbsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips 

Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.  In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar.  Add in the egg, vanilla, and pumpkin.  Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet pumpkin mixture. When combined, stir in the chocolate chips.  Spread batter in a greased 9x13 baking pan.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 35-40 minutes. Mine was perfectly done in 35 mins.

Very delicious on a late September evening with a cup of tea :)

I filmed a little video today while making these.  I filmed the process of me making them plus a few of my favorite things for fall.  It's a bit cringy, but I hope you enjoy it!! : ) 

Happy new week everyone! ♥

Apple Swirl Cake ♥

Today was a bit stressful, I'm not gonna lie.  I really wanted to enjoy today because it's the first day of fall.  In my mind I pictured myself sitting on the porch, sipping pumpkin spice in a cozy cardigan watching the leaves flutter by.  Instead real life got in the way.  A last minute zoom work session (that I was not mentally prepared for), technical internet issues which left my face frozen on screen for way too long, and general 8th grade assignment issues that I had to help John with... all garbled into one hot mess of a day.  By the time 5:00 rolled around I was a walking zombie.  Just when I wanted to sit and rest, the lovely people I live with reminded me they wanted to eat dinner.  Again?  The nerve.  

One meatloaf, a sink full of dishes, and a cup of tea later...here I am.  It's over.  My feet are up and I'm counting the minutes until my head hits the pillow.  

My day didn't go as planned but that happens sometimes.  I know I'll have many cardigan wearing, pumpkin spice sipping on the porch days ahead of me because it's FALL.  It happened.... and that's something to smile about.  

I haven't been apple picking yet but hopefully next week.  It's one of our favorite fall activities and I'm hoping we can still go.  It's all outside so fingers crossed all will be well.

No doubt September is APPLE month.  I love seeing all the varieties in the supermarket this time of year.  If you are looking for an easy apple cake recipe I have one for you.  I picked up some extra apples when I went food shopping last week specifically so I could make this cake.  It's so cinnamon-y and apple-y and there is a secret ingredient that makes it extra special....orange juice! 

After dinner tonight I cut myself a big slice of this cake to have with my tea.  It made me feel so good and I thought it a nice way to celebrate the first day of fall. So even though most of my day was a disaster, it's ending on a delicious note : ) 

♥

~Apple Swirl Cake ~

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2 cups chopped, peeled  apples
3 tbs sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Mix apples, 3 tbs sugar, and 1 tsp cinnamon in a bowl.  Set aside.

In a large bowl combine 2 cups of sugar and oil. 

Beat in eggs, orange juice, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. 

Add to creamed mixture a little at a time.  Beat until smooth.

  

Pour 1/2 batter into a greased bunt pan.  Add the apple mixture on top of the batter.

Pour the rest of the batter on top.

Bake for 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

Cool for at least 10-15 minutes in the pan before "doing the flip".... 

Turn onto a rack to cool completely. 

Enjoy! 

Happy first day of fall everyone!!!

I'm back on zoom tomorrow so wish me luck : )

♥

Happy Sunday! ♥

 

Hello Friends! As I type this post it's Sunday morning....my favorite day of the week.  I love Sundays because usually it's my day to stay home all day and putter.  I do my housework and cooking for the week.  I always make a batch of cookies for John and Rob's lunch and a homemade pizza that we snack on all week as well.  This morning it was CHILLY. I believe it was in the 40's! Mr. Weatherman says it will warm up a bit this week but I think FALL weather is here to stay.  YAY! 

Here's a peek at what I've been up to this weekend. 

♥

Planning.... 

I love my slow cooker (or as I say "crock pot").  

I'm looking for more recipes to try! : ) 

Wearing...

With the cool temps I was able to bring out my cozy wear!  

Soooo happy it's sweater weather! 

Drinking...

I love my pumpkin spice and I'm not afraid to say it!

Reading...

This.  Because I get so much inspiration from it.  I'm determined to make every recipe in this book.

Eating...

Comfort food ♥

Doing...

Still decorating and finding spots for little pumpkins here and there.  Is it too early to bring out the Halloween decor?? 

Not for me!  

The Great Pumpkin is my favorite! ♥

Watching...

Yes, I'm still working my way through Downton Abbey.  I've been rewatching the series again sloooowly because I don't want it to end.  The problem I have with binging is it's over too soon.  Yup. I'm taking my time with this one. 

But more importantly I'm watching this...

I'm patiently waiting for the leaves to change.  Soon all this green will be a beautiful rainbow of yellow & red & orange.  I see little hints here and there to remind me it's coming.  I'm glad it's a slow progression.  That's the beauty of September. 

And with that I'll leave you with this quote I found online yesterday that spoke to my heart.  

The sweet simple things in life are the best things ♥

Have a wonderful day friends! I'm off to putter and bake something because I just want to put the oven on to warm the kitchen.  

Happy Sunday! xo 

September ♥

 I went to bed last night dreaming about gingerbread cake, so naturally I had to make one when I got up this morning.  After coffee of course.  We slept with the windows open.  When I woke up it was a glorious 53 degrees in the bedroom.  So cozy under the covers with the fresh air wafting through the house. I had to put on a sweater before making my way to the kitchen where I could smell the coffee because Rob already made it before he left for work.  It was early and John was still sleeping.  I poured my cup, plugged in my twinkle lights, and lit the candles.  It felt like fall.  And I loved it.  Into the oven went the gingerbread cake and that's how my Saturday began  ♥

Last weekend I finally made my way back to Bath & Body Works after a 6 month hiatus (no explanation needed) and treated myself to a few seasonal goodies.  The most delicious smelling body lotion *sweet cinnamon pumpkin* that I have been putting on every night before bed.  I swear it's also working as aromatherapy to help me sleep : )  and my favorite seasonal hand soap *autumn pumpkin* because I adore how it looks on the counter.  Yes I still have the antibacterial stuff that will surly kill an elephant, but because this bottle is so darn cute I had to get it for fall.  

I put on a long sleeve shirt today for the first time in months! Ok, it's quarter length but close enough. John and I went out today to run some errands and I was very comfortable. There was a cool breeze and it was actually a bit chilly. Yup....it's fall!  I noticed the leaves are starting to change too! They are so pretty and it's only the beginning  ♥

School has started and we are desperately trying to get back into a routine (what's that??).  We'll get there eventually. My fear is that we'll get used to it and then things will change again.  Nothing is constant these days but we are doing our best. I was happy to hear that John had several classes and lunch outside last week.  They will continue to do that as long as the weather allows. As for me, I'm still working from home. We have no plans to return in the foreseeable future, which is just fine with me. 

It's safer and cozier at home  ♥

 

And that's what September looks like around here.  Different but the same  ♥

Tomorrow is my favorite day of the week....Sunday! I'm planning a yummy dinner in the crockpot and I may not even get out of my pj's.  No doubt we will be finishing off the gingerbread cake too! 

Have a lovely day, friends.  Stay safe and be well  ♥

xoxox

First Day of 8th Grade

 Today is John's first day of 8th grade.  His school has decided to go back to in person learning 5 days a week.  I am a mix of emotions.  Is this the right decision? After weeks of thinking it over we decided to let him go.  Since he goes to a smaller, private school they have the means to space the kids out and social distance.  There will still be many rules (like this mask for one) and restrictions but I feel the school is doing everything possible to stay safe and at the same time give the kids the best school experience under the circumstances.  What a crazy world right now. 

If you are wondering if he's smiling under that mask, the answer is definitely not.  He hasn't been up this early since March! 

Sending good thoughts and prayers to all families who are trying to make it work the best way they know how to during this unprecedented time. 

Stay safe my friends! Remember to be grateful for the little things 💟

Can you relate? ♥

Hello Friends!  So tell me....can you relate? 

 This is SO me...every time.  

(a bad Facebook tag can be devastating 😵)

Also me - every morning...

Diets can be brutal.

I am a party girl. No denying it. 

Yup. 

I don't see a thing. 

The horror!

Truth. 

...and repeat....

I recently skipped a shower because there was a spider in the bathroom. 

Rob is the official bug killer in our house.  If he's not home, I'm doomed. 

I feel this more and more every day ♥

I hope these made you chuckle today.  You have no idea how many hours of my life are lost on Pinterest! LOL

Have a great day, friends!  It's almost Friday!!  : )