Pumpkin Week!

I have officially dedicated this week to be... pumpkin week!  The weather is just right to cuddle up with a warm blanket, some spiced (or spiked!) cider, and a pumpkin treat.  The temperature is just right, I wear a cardigan to class and I don't wind up freezing or roasting!

Anyway, to start the week off, I'm featuring a recipe found via Pinterest (my current obsession)- pumpkin cookies with cream cheese icing.  

These cookies are soft and the icing has the perfect sweet and tangy balance to pair perfectly.  In a moment of ridiculousness, I decided to half the cookie recipe but make the full icing recipe.  This left me with enough icing to frost an entire wedding cake.  I do not recommend doing this.  Therefore, I will provide you with the halved recipe, which still makes a crazy amount of cookies.

Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing

Combine:

1/2 Cup Shortening

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

Add:

1 egg

Mix in:

1/2 can pumpkin (15 ounces)

Now add:

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

And then add:

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Now, bake @ 350 for about 10-12 minutes. Let cool & then ice using the following Cream Cheese icing.

Combine:

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

Gradually mix in: 

1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend until smooth. Store in the refrigerator after use.

I topped mine with cinnamon and nutmeg.  It added a little excitement.  :)

Original recipe: Click here!

Homeward Bound

First of all, Homeward Bound is truly the best movie ever. 

Second of all, I am truly Homeward Bound!  This is the first time sine Christmas that I've been able to go home, so I'm pretty excited.  My Spring Break was supposed to be to Charleston (considering this is my last SB ever), but we had to cancel our trip.  I'm still bitter.

Anyway, I've been trying to plan out my trip since I'll be there more than just 24 hours (which is how it normally goes).  Here are a few stops I'll be making:

1.  Moe's- Always a must.  I have never gone home without making some sort of visit to Moe's.

2.  The Sleepy Poet- I had my first Sleepy Poet experience last year, shopping for a cigar box for my love.  We were pressed for time, however, we still managed to spend 2+ hours there.  It's like nothing I've ever seen.

3.  SAS Cupcakes- I had heard about SAS Cupcakes a year or two ago, when I was beginning my cupcake craze.  I have wanted to go ever since, but couldn't justify the 30 minute drive.  The BFF recently went and lurved it, so we're having a BFF cupcake date.  Can't wait!

4.  Starbucks- I know I work at an individually owned coffee shop, so I should therefore hate Starbucks and everything it represents.  However, you just can't beat their Chai Tea Lattes.  Just enough spice.

5.  Target-  We don't have a Target.  I need Target.

As I'm sure you can tell, I'm really looking forward to spending time in the 704.  However, I'm having a hard time getting motivated to pack.  That's probably what resulted in this blog entry.

Got to run!

SuzyCoupon

I've discovered a miracle.  Upon recent searches, I came across a website entitled SuzyCoupon.  It magically knocks dollars upon dollars off of the regular prices of household items.  It's amazing; like magic!  Yogurt, shampoo, cereal, make-up, laundry detergent, you name it- they probably have a coupon for it.  

I've been trying to be more deliberate about saving money on groceries.  Food is literally what 75-85% of my income goes to.  So, I've been using CouponSuzy, searching name brand websites for coupons (which they normally have) and shopping at Dollar General for all my non-perishables.  Seriously, I probably saved about $20-$25 today on groceries.  Now, some of that might have had to do with my incredible luck as I stumbled upon a half off sale in the make-up section at Walgreens.  My foundation is normally $9-$10 at Walmart, but today I got it at Walgreens for $5!!  It made my entire day.  I even bought two!  And, to be honest, the only reason I went to Walgreens was because I had a "$3 off" coupon for a different kind of make-up, and then saw that the entire department was on sale.  So, essentially, the coupon ended up saving me $10.  I'm telling you, it has taken little to no effort on my part, and I'm saving $20-$30 on grocery trips. It's definitely worth it.

On another completely unrelated note, I have fallen in love.  With this.

It is the Fujifilm Instax MINI.  It prints out the cutest little business card sized instant photographs.  I absolutely love it and I want to purchase one ASAP.  Maybe I'll put all the money I save using coupons into a fund to save up for this camera.  The film looks like it's a little expensive, but that'll make taking photos such a sweet little treat!  A girl can dream...

For now, I must be content with my two $5 pots of Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse while listening to my roommate trying to convince me to read The Life of Fredrick Douglass out loud to her.  She's not much of a reader.

XOXO

Weekend

I had a ridiculous, fast paced, fun filled weekend.  It felt like the longest weekend I have had in a while, but it was so so worth it.

Friday afternoon, we left for Atlanta, Georgia to see the Avett Brothers in concert.  The boyfriend's birthday was back in July so I got him tickets to the closest/most reasonably priced concert, which ended up being in September.  Brandi Carlisle opened for them and we absolutely fell in love with her.  She had several hits in the late 80s and early 90s, but I guess she's coming back around.

The Avett Brothers were absolutely incredible.  They have so much energy and are so passionate about their music.  The 2 hour concert went by in what felt like 20 minutes.  I think I could have stayed all night. We loved it.

The next day we stopped by The Varsity on the way home.  You can always count on The Varsity.

After arriving home, I met up with Lori, Jenny, and Jess for a fabulous girls night to celebrate Lori's birthday.  We ate Mexican food, made a chocolate chip cookie cake with strawberry icing and (some of us- Lori) danced the Cupid Shuffle.  It was a great night to spend with friends.

The next day, after church, a group of MTV college students made our way up to Hawksbill- a beautiful 360 view of the high country.  The hike is a little tough (for those of us who haven't exercised since senior year of high school) but it was so so worth it.  The view is absolutely breath taking.

After the great climb, Rich and I made our way to his parents' house for an incredible dinner with blueberry and peach cobbler for dessert.  By the time I got home Sunday night, I was stuffed, sore, sleepy and completely content.  What a great way to spend a weekend.

Frosting

I have decided to strongly dislike frosting.  I hate it.  I loathe it.  

Why?  I can't make it.

There is something in my genes that decided long ago that I will never be able to make frosting.  I see these beautiful cupcakes and sweet little sugar cookies with intricately designed frosting patterns and I know in my heart that nothing I make will ever resemble that light and fluffy goodness.

Unfortunately, I'm excellent at making icing- that sickeningly sweet runny gunk people put on coffee cake and scones.  It's basically runny frosting.  That's what I can make- runny frosting.

Barf.

After recent prodding...

I've decided to re-attempt regular blogging.  Let's just say I took a break for the summer.  Sounds good.

School is back in session and I'm not hating it.  I have finally progressed into my major-related classes.  No more Accounting, Statistics, or Finance classes.  I'm taking a Food and Beverage class which is my favorite thus far.  I'm also enjoying my Marketing, Organizational Behavior, and Lodging classes.  The only one I've had a problem with is Production Operations Management.  I was confused halfway through the title.

Anyway, with school comes Autumn.  Oh, how in love I am with Autumn.  It is the only season that needed another name to capture its true essense.  There's something about red and orange leaves, bonfires, cardigans and apple cider that makes my heart happy.  I have a special place in my heart for all seasons, but Autumn is near and therefore it is my favorite at the moment.

I've found some pictures that I think really capture my feelings about this season:

Source

That's all I have for today!  XO

Busy busy bee.

Today is one of the busiest days I've had in a while.  I have 3 tests, 1 quiz, 2 projects, and a paper due.  Now, I must say, I'm incredibly proud of myself for completing: 1 test, 2 projects, and the paper.  I only have 2 tests and a quiz left!  Then it's woodcutting and the End of the Year Party!  It's going to be good.