Coffee has a Holiday?

(enjoying an iced coffee a few months ago)

So rumor...or facebook...told me that it is National Coffee Day. (I don't really know if this is true or not but I figured since the name of this blog contains coffee I better at least mention it) With that being said, if this rumor is false, oh well.
To celebrate I drank almost an entire pot of coffee myself.

 One cup before work

        A travel mug full of coffee while the students were at phy-ed./music.

                    And lastly a lovely mug of rewarmed coffee...now.


oops. (good thing I don't work tomorrow because chances are I won't be going to sleep anytime soon)

I'm treating today as my Friday. Whoop.

Oh and on a similar note, my lovely friend Bekah shared this article with me. (click on title below to read)

For women, risk of depression falls as coffee intake rises

So the study doesn't prove cause and effect......but at least I can continue rationalizing the reasons for my coffee addiction.

Right?! (just let me believe it)

Wednesday Words

                                                                                     Source: None via Britta on Pinterest

Sister Visit

My younger sister Beth is making the trip up north to visit us this weekend. I think we have some shopping in mind, and she also informed me we are going to attempt to make some Earl Gray ice cream....hmmm. I will let you know how that turns out!

It has been awhile since we've had a chance to spend time together so I am looking forward to getting her all weekend. I hope you have fun plans for the weekend as well :)

Not sure what we are doing in the above photo....

A Little Road trip & Pictures

Sometimes being in the car for 10 hours just makes for nice long conversations :)

Handmade Baby Blocks and Onsies.

 This was a project I completed over a month ago. In my rush to complete them before we left for our anniversary trip I remembered to take a few photos. Good thing I finished them too, because my nephew was born a few days later :) I enjoyed working on these simple projects, and had fun playing around with the bright fabrics. 

For the onsie appliques I ironed my fabric onto some interfacing and then cut out my design. I then ironed on the applique to the onsie and finally stitched around the edges to secure. There are quite a few tutorials online so I didn't worry about typing up another one. 

Now these blocks below took a little more time, but were still pretty easy to make. I used the following tutorial from Happy Together to make them.

It felt good to get back into my sewing. I have a few more projects in mind now that things are slowing down again, and schedules are actually in existence. 

Tonight I thought about starting a project but I ended up curling up on the couch watching a cheesy hallmark movie while sipping on coffee. Oh and there may have been some pumpkin bread involved as well...

I hope everyone is having a wonderful & cozy weekend too!

Wednesday Words

To love at all is to be vulnerable.

 Love anything and your heart will be 

wrung and possibly broken. 

If you want to make sure of keeping it intact 

you must give it to no one, 

not even an animal. 

Wrap it carefully round with hobbies 

and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. 

Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin

 of your selfishness. But in that casket,

 safe, dark, motionless, airless, 

it will change. 

It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable,

 impenetrable, irredeemable.

 To love is to be vulnerable.

C.S. Lewis

A Place to Eat

Once upon a time, two friends and I found a restaurant that we couldn't help but love. Good food, delicious desserts, and a fresh atmosphere. I have a  feeling we could have went anywhere and still enjoyed simply being with one another, but it helped that the food was delicious. So...if you are ever with friends and happen to be around Lake Calhoun area you should check out Yum!:Kitchen & Bakery

The End

The return of the homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

(this post was written a few days ago, but for some reason it never posted)

I am currently sitting at starbucks enjoying my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Mmmmmmm. 

So good.

Unfortunately, I do not have enough in my coffee budget to afford one of these everyday (I could seriously have one everyday). Soo....I bring you (again) the homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte. I had a couple of these at the cabin this past weekend. My sister-in-law Jen mentioned making them earlier in the week and of course I agreed to bring the espresso machine. Well, Ben was the one who actually had to bring it. He loves toting around my small kitchen appliances. (at least the espresso machine is a lot lighter then my kitchenaid mixer. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

*as requested by Liz*

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup strong coffee or one shot of espresso

2/3 cup evaporated milk (you may want to add more if you used espresso)

¼ cup Pure Pumpkin

1 tablespoon sugar (add more to taste if you want it sweeter)*

1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (can use ground cinnamon too)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine everything in a sauce pan and heat over stove until very hot (stir occasionally). 

To make a foamy top you can prepare as above and then carefully transfer the hot mixture into a blender and then blend for a minute, OR you can steam up some milk in your espresso machine ;) 

CAUTION: I have personally never tried the blender method. It just seemed a little messy for me, so I usually just steam some milk or take out the good ol’ can of whip cream and spray some on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon on top and sit back and watch autumn roll in.

*I have also used sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar when I mix up a big batch of this for a group.

It just seems a waste to open up a can and then only make one drink with it since you only need a small amount of it. I think every time I make this I change the recipe up a bit because I rarely measure. I just keep adding things until it tastes alright, so feel free to do the same. 

Raspberry-Oat Muffins

Raspberry-Oat Muffins

I made this muffins a few weeks ago after finding the recipe in a cookbook from the library. They are very filling and delicious. They are also somewhat healthy because they do not contain any butter, and have some delicious grains in them (oats, and bran too if you wish). I have included the original recipe from Pretty Delicious by Candice Kumai. I then included the substitutions I have made below the recipe. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup quick oats (I used old-fashioned ones before though too)

3/4 cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of sea salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tablespoons honey

1 cup raspberries (frozen or fresh)

Confectioner's sugar for topping

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.

Mix the eggs, applesauce, and honey together in another bowl, and then stir this mixture into the flour mixture until completely mixed. 

Finally, fold in the raspberries.

Fill a 12 cup muffin tin with liners if you wish, and then fill each cup 3/4 full. Bake until golden brown on top, and a toothpick will come out clean when inserted in the center. (about 20 minutes)

Let cool and then dust with confectioner's sugar before serving. 

Enjoy!

**substitutions I have made**

*If you prefer you can use non-fat greek yogurt instead of apple sauce.

*I have also added a cup of bran flour too, if  you do this make sure you add 1/4 cup of the applesauce or yogurt.

*I also added sliced almonds as well. You could add any type of nut, walnuts would be good too...

Wednesday Words

Source: onthelaundryline.com via Britta on Pinterest

and on that note-I am off to get my first Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. I whipped up a few homemade ones this weekend, but I know the real deal is going to be even better. Oh  sweet autumn....(I'm fooling myself, it is supposed to hit 84 degrees today) 

Happy Wednesday!

P.S. Do you like pumpkin spice lattes?

The Lake in Black and White (mostly)

A few weeks ago, we spent the weekend on a quiet lake. The sun was warm during the day, and the mosquitoes were thick at night. Here are the photos I meant to share a few weeks ago as well. 

an iced coffee for the road...

I am terrified of spiders but amazed by their abilities at the same time...

 an evening snack...chocolate and more coffee

and lastly a few in color...

because sometimes it is just necessary.

When I think of the Summer months that have passed I often think of time spent next to the lake. I can't imagine this season without the warm sun on my face and cool water on my toes. This is where I am off to for the weekend, and it gets even better...my sweet nephew will be there as well.