Happy Weekend

It's feeling like fall in Minnesota and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. I'm finally able to pull out my favorite jackets, boots, and scarves. I also really love the felt hats I've been seeing a lot of lately, like in the photo above. I'm not sure if I would be able to wear one very often but I think they're really cute. The hat above is from Asos and I'm sure I could find other inexpensive options, maybe at Zara or H&M. What are your thoughts on the felt hat trend?

Tonight I'm getting a much needed haircut at one of my favorite places, Aveda. I think if I were to tally up the amount of money I've spent at Aveda since my teenage years, it would be enough to feed a small country (proof here). Hey, we weren't all born with perfect hair. 

Saturday morning I'll be at an event for work. Waking up at 6 on a Saturday is not my favorite, but luckily the event is outside, so at least I'll get some fresh air in the process. Afterwards I'm meeting up with one of my best friends for brunch (cue excitement). I would, of course, love to make it to an apple orchard / pumpkin patch this weekend but I suppose that will just have to wait. Fall is young; there are plenty of weekends left for apples and pumpkins.

What are you up to this weekend? 

image via

The most delicious pumpkin cookies ever

It's Thursday. Let's talk cookies.

I don't usually post about cooking or baking on the blog because I'm not an expert in either of those areas. However, today I'm making an exception because I feel it would be wrong not to share the recipe for the cookies I made last weekend. These cookies were that good. So good, in fact, that my co-workers are still talking about them days after I brought them in to work. They were pretty impressed.

Behold, these melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin cookies. If you like cookies, have at least minimal baking abilities, and if autumn is your favorite season, I suggest you make these as soon as possible.

But really. Make them. Your friends and family will thank you.

And if you have any other go-to fall recipes, please please feel free to share them in the comments! I'm all about trying something new. Happy baking!

Ingredients:

2 cups butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 15-ounce can pumpkin

4 cups all-purpose flour

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 to 4 cups powdered sugar (add until desired consistency/firmness)

ground cinnamon sprinkled on top (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl beat the 2 cups of butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, the 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Beat until combined. Beat in the eggs and 2 teaspoons of vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin. Beat in as much of the four as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour with a wooden spoon.

2. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until tops are set. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

3. For frosting, in a small saucepan heat the 1/2 cup butter and brown sugar until melted and smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Spread frosting on cookies. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon if desired.

Lately

Yesterday in a moment of downtime I glanced through a few recent blog posts and realized I hadn't posted any snapshots in months. Months! I thought I would take some time to catch you up on a few things that have been happening around here lately, and show you some photos from August and September.

1. Trying out the whole running before work thing. The city is so pretty that time of day but waking up at 5 really isn't my cup of tea.

2. A quick froyo stop. One of my favorite summer activities. 

3. Played kickball on my friend's league one night. And I learned I am not the world's best kickball player.

4. The prettiest farmers market flowers. They brightened up my apartment beautifully. 

5. I ate so many brunches with friends this summer. And you know how happy brunch makes me.

6. Northeast Minneapolis. One of my favorite neighborhoods in town.

7. Lake Calhoun on a summer night.

8. Working from the comfort of my apartment on a rainy night. 

9. I moved at the end of August. Even though I've moved eight times since I was a freshman in college five years ago, I still get a little nostalgic every time I pack up an apartment. After all, it was in front of that window that I sat at my desk and wrote over 160 blog posts and designed more than 60 features for 

The Everygirl. Lots of late nights and lots of fun along the way.

10. Summer nights on a patio in Uptown with friends. My favorite. 

Now summer is over and I'm enjoying my favorite season of the year. I've been pretty busy lately but I'm hoping to start posting a few times a week again. I really do miss it.  

Hope you're having a lovely week. What have you been up to lately? I would love to get caught up!