Thoughts & Updates

Well hello! It's been a little while, hasn't it? Almost two months to be exact...sorry about that. I've been wanting to post more, I really have! Sometimes I find myself looking at my blog, reading old posts and wanting to write, but I don't know what to say. Does that ever happen to any of you? It's a problem. I have still been reading my favorite blogs daily, so I'm not completely off the map. Today I wanted to check in with a few thoughts and updates in the hopes that it may trigger my inspiration and get me to start writing a little bit more. Fingers crossed.

1. First and foremost, The Everygirl relaunched last week! We went from this...

to this!

And I love love love it. If you've been reading my blog for a while you know just how much this website means to me. I've been with the TEG team since September 2012 and it is the most fun, rewarding work experience I've ever had. When I saw the new site for the first time, I couldn't have been more thrilled. It's easier to navigate, the design is beautiful, AND there's an Everygirl shop! I've also been named an Associate Editor along with Allyson at Mimosas in the Morning and I am so excited about it.

2. Relatedly, a few weeks ago I helped out at a shoot for The Everygirl and it was so. much. fun. The shoot was for a feature on Minneapolis favorite Parc Boutique and the amazing woman behind it, Thao Nguyen. It's the first feature I've coordinated from the start so I'm naturally really excited about it. Keep an eye out for the full feature early next year! Photography by the crazy talented Wing Ta of Canary Grey.

3. Someway, somehow, I am slowly learning to cook. I have no idea where this sudden interest came from, but I'm just going with it. I think every single new recipe I try is from a blog or pinterest, and yesterday, I discovered a new favorite food blog. It's called Half Baked Harvest and I think you should check it out immediately. I plan to make this, this, and especially this pizza as soon as possible.

Can you believe how good this looks? And don't even get me started on the dessert recipes...

4. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I couldn't possibly be more excited about the fact that the holidays are right around the corner. I love everything about them - the baking, the decorating, the gift giving, the time with friends and family, and just all of the joy that comes with this time of year.

5. Black Friday is just a few days away...are you participating this year? I'm one of the crazy people who actually enjoys going shopping in the early hours of the morning. It seems oddly festive to me. I'm not sure if I'll go this year but even if I don't, I'm sure I'll be taking advantage of Cyber Monday deals.

I hope you have a lovely day and a festive Thanksgiving tomorrow!

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!