It's coming...

 I plan to go to New England to see the Fall Foliage someday.

I stepped outside at 7:10 this morning to go to work and I noticed that it was a bit chillier than normal... and it felt lovely.

And then I realized that it is September 1st, which means Fall is coming.

It felt so much like fall this morning. It even smelled like fall. I love feeling like I need a sweater when I go outside!

Fall means a lot of things to me:

-Pretty leaves (I need pictures of this)
-delicious food, which includes but is not limited to:
         * pumpkin pancakes are a must have
         * I plan on making Spice Cake with Buttermilk Caramel Frosting... something that has never been attempted, but I plan on making it happen because it makes me drool and cry with joy at the thought of it. I will tell you to come over when I make it... unless I eat it all by myself, or it's a disaster.
         * Donuts. HOMEMADE donuts. Something I have never done... but want to try so bad.
         * Homemade donuts with HOMEMADE caramel apple cider. 
         * Butternut Squash Soup, and other delicious, comfort-food soups.
         * Pumpkin Steamers from Starbucks
         * Halloween candy, it really does taste different from regular candy

- umm Halloween of course. Best. Holiday. Ever.
-How about the NAMIWalk coming up in a few weeks? 
-how about general conference?!? heck yes! 
- new sweaters
-Thanksgiving
-ummm did I mention UTAH football!?!? pretty much.... it's awesome.


Now I am off to Boulder where it feels like deathly summer to help me get really excited for fall. 
        

Good-bye summer, hello fall

Ok, so I know it's been like... 10 years since I last blogged. For some reason... I really just didn't want to. Partly because I couldn't think of anything to write, and also because I didn't feel like it. Wedding planning and planning a fundraiser at the same time just takes a lot out of you (more on the fundraiser later).

BUT I am back. Not only back on the blog, but also back at work. I am at Rose Park Elementary working as a Pre-K assistant... it's pretty much awesome.

With summer coming to an ended, here are some great things that have been going on as we have ended the summer:

 How about that thunder storm a few nights ago?? That was crazy! you can't tell here, but our porch was flooding because there was so much water! Steven was shoveling it out moments before. See that bucket? That was filled just from water dripping from the porch above us within 2 or 3 minutes.

 Lots and lots of rain. Secret: I love summer thunder storms. 

Then there was "pie in the sky":

 I made this key lime pie for cousin Lara's bridal shower. I played around with a new recipe I found, so I'm glad it turned out ok (I was supposed to put zest in... but I didn't. I didn't want to bite into little green things in my pie).

 Pies at a shower? Best idea ever (thanks Lisa, Paige, and Courtney). Cupcake shops better watch out, because pies are making a comeback. There was also apple (with yummy streusel-type topping, best way to have apple pie), berry, pumpkin, heavenly coconut cream pie, two kinds of chocolate, lemon CHIFFON (love to say that) 

My mom and I did Holly's wedding cake/cupcakes/eclairs. Oh my gosh, the eclairs were so good.

We also had an ice cream party... which I have no pictures of. We just told people to bring ice cream, and it was wonderful. we made caramelized banana ice cream. and.... it was wonderful.

I was also going to blog about fall stuff I want to do, but I made mac and cheese (nope, not homemade... please don't judge) so I am going to go eat. I will try to blog more!

Vegan-Lady Gaga Bridal Shower

Last night me, Angie, and Heather threw a bridal shower for our extremely talented and wonderful friend Holly, who is getting married in August.

We wanted to do something different from a traditional bridal shower, so I told Angie to come up with a theme that she thought Holly would like.

And obviously, that theme was Lady Gaga. And the results were amazing.

Lady Gaga is a little wacky, so we needed wacky decor that was still bridal shower appropriate, and we needed to do it on a budget. And here is what we did:

Decorations:

-White Christmas lights strung around the room (borrowed from parents... thanks mom and dad)

-Roses covered in black wax (I know it sounds weird, but so is Lady Gaga) these were from Angie's garden 

-Random high heels around the room (from Heather) didn't get a picture of these... :(

-Sparkly white pebbles on a black table cloth for food... already had both of those

-Pictures of Holly and Russell displayed around the room

- And of course, Lady Gaga music

 Menu (Holly is vegan so all the food was vegan)

- Hummus with pita bread and carrot sticks

- Tortilla Chips with Guacamole and Salsa

- lots and lots of Peanuts

- Chocolate Olive Oil Cupcakes (that were so conveniently Vegan)

- Vegan Dark Chocolate Fondue with bananas, strawberries, and oreos (who knew those were vegan?? so great)

- Virgin Margaritas

- Mike and Ike's and Red Hots (those count as food, right?) 

Sadly... I didn't get very many great pictures, but here are a few more that I got:

We had so much fun last night and we loved putting it together. Congratulations Holly!

Cooking Adventures: Part 2

A couple of weeks ago I made a pie recipe that I've been wanting to try for a long time... and like all great recipes, it pretty much changed my life.

Introducing.....


Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie, or Tollhouse Pie

 This is what it looks like before you bake it, it doesn't look that pretty after... but it is yummmmmy

It's pretty much a chocolate chip cookie, but in pie form. And it's almost easier than cookies because you don't have to roll a bunch of cookies for the cookie sheet!

I found the recipe from the Ivory Cookbook.. but there wasn't a picture so I didn't really understand what it was. Then I checked out Our Best Bites and saw how glorious this pie is.

It's so easy, and delicious. I already want to make it again. You should try the recipe. You won't regret it.

Coming up in cooking adventures: Cinnamon-Banana Waffles!

Cooking Adventures: Part 1

Since I am now a college graduate and need something to do in the evenings, I made a goal to try some of the recipes I have been wanting to make for a while and also learn new things with baking and cooking. I just think food is so great, and that I should make more of it. Last night, I had the chance to go to a cupcake decorating class (something I've wanted to get more practice on) and took some pictures of what I got to make:

Exhibit A: The Daisy Cupcake

Exhibit B: Hydrangeas 

Exhibit C: Ice Cream Swirl (that's what I call it) 

I think the icing on this one is bigger than the cupcake itself, but that's what makes it soooo yummy.

Other things I'm going to try? Stuffed pasta shells, chocolate-almond torte, caramelized bananas, among other things. It will be wonderful and delicious... or at least I think it will be.