Thursday, October 27, 2011

pumpkin night



Last night was pumpkin night at my house - 
we sipped apple cider margaritas,
munched on kicked-up pumpkin seeds,
and stuffed ourselves with warm pumpkin bread.

We made up pumpkin night to get us through a busy week, and it worked! We slaved away on tests and papers - straining towards pumpkin in our tummies -  and now we're  full and happy and ready for Ga/Fla.

In case you need a fall-ish motivator, or you just want to start the weekend early ;) here's a recipe for cider margaritas...

Apple Cider Margartias
serves 1, is easily multiples

1 ounce Grand Marnier

1 ounce gold tequila

5-6 ounces sweet apple cider

orange segments and apple slices

cinnamon + cane sugar + coarse sugar for glass rimming

cinnamon sticks for garnish

Add a few spoonfuls of cane sugar, coarse sugar and cinnamon to a plate. Run an orange segment around the edge of the glass, then press into the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat the rim. Add a few orange slices in the bottom of the glass, fill with ice, then add the Grand Marnier, tequila and apple cider and stir to mix. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks. Enjoy!

Happy fall break and go dawgs!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

run, run, run as fast as you can


This is my mom, Kaiti and I post half-marathon. We took a few pre-race pictures, but those were at 5:40 in the morning, so I decided to spare you ;)

I think we look pretty good for finishing 13.1 miles just moments before! This was Kaiti's first half-marathon ever, and she ran it with almost no training. My mom and I did train, and apparently our hard work paid off, because we cut our time from last year by 8 minutes! We were thrilled, and after showers, Aleve and church we treated ourselves to a big Mama's Boy breakfast.

I love my mama so much, and I'd been looking forward to this weekend for months. She came prepared with warm clothes and caffeinated goo, and her encouragement made the race enjoyable from start to finish. Well... the HUGE hill in mile 13 took away a little bit of finish line joy, but we were smiling again once our legs recovered.

**I know caffeinated goo sounds gross, but the Clif Bar mocha flavored one is so good! I had another one for breakfast post race, and I kind of want to stock up on them for late night studying.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

the most wonderful time of the year

No, not Christmas... pumpkin patch day! 

For as long as I can remember my favorite day of the year has been sometime in late October. The leaves start changing, the sweatshirts come out and my family heads to Burt's Pumpkin Patch in Ellijay.  We picnic, pick a pumpkin (...or a few), ride the hayride, hike up Amicalola Falls and eat dinner at the top. The tradition - in that order - is very set in stone, and Kate and I make sure everyone sticks to it.

Until this year...







This year, in the absence of Matt and Kate and in the presence of a half-marathon looming the next day, we decided to try Washington Farms near Athens. 

We still picnicked, picked pumpkins and realized once again that everyone else who goes to pumpkin patches is about five-years-old. But Washington Farms has a few other attractions too - a vortex, a hayride and pig races. (They also have a cow train and a trampoline, but we drew the age line there.)

I probably should have drawn the line at the vortex. Yes, you read that right, a vortex is a trailer with spinning light-up sides - and yes, I might have toppled down the stairs on my way out, skinned my knee, ripped my jeans and shed a few tears. But I'm a big girl, so after a bit of consoling from Jonathan we headed into the corn maze.

Despite a scraped knee to remind me how it feels to be five, I liked Washington Farms and loved the perfect fall weather - although it did make Jonathan and I a bit squinty ;) Next year though, I'd go back to Burt's. 

Friday, October 21, 2011

i'm on a roll



Lately I've been in the mood for a snuggly circle scarf. Well, really just cozy things in general. Warm scrunchy socks, flannels, old worn-in sweatshirts, leggings.... I could go on and on.
What fall clothes do you love most? I love the fact, that these people look lovely even with their hair thrown on top of their heads. I'm a big fan of the don't do anything and smush your messy hair in a bun look ;)

Have a cozy fall weekend!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

who says you can't blog twice a day?

Okay, while I'm at it, I have to say...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH BETH!


Sarah Beth is one of my best friends in the whole world, and today is her 22nd birthday. I met SB two weeks before I moved to Spain for a semester, but after those two weeks (or rather the first two hours) I felt like I'd known her forever.

She is so open, and so concerned for others, and she's the best listener. She also does incredibly sweet things like leave letters in my room when I'm having a rough day. Also, Sarah Beth can dougie like no body's business and make some mean oatmeal cookies.
Thank you for always wanting to eat Grit cake (or any dessert) with me, for coming into my life at the perfect time, and for being such a wonderful friend! I love you SB.



p.s. We've been thinking about 22nd birthdays all week and how to make them special. How do you top your 21st? After much deliberation we've decided not to compete with birthdays past - 22nd's can just be more sophisticated, and in SB's case full of fall-ish festivities. What are your ideas for 22nd birthdays?

fall in love

I'm so sorry I abandoned my blog! I promise I still love it, and I you if you read it, and to make amends I will put up a few cozy weekend pictures.


This weekend Brit, Jonathan, Tyler and I drove to Chattanooga along with many other friends for Liz and Alan's wedding. On Friday Jonathan's mom bought the four of us dinner from Nino's, and made us oatmeal butterscotch cookies (my favorite!). We were going to drive down the mountain and meet friends, but the fire pit was so toasty and we were so full and sleepy that we couldn't tear ourselves away.
__

After a Saturday morning run, 2 kinds of soup, college football and more cookies, we dressed up in our wedding best and headed to Lookout.
Liz was beaming and beautiful, and Alan winked at her dad as he kissed his new wife ;) They had one of the best receptions I've ever been to - mainly due to dancing and fall-ish food. Their wedding cake was apple spice with carmel frosting, and I can't even tell you how many helpings of baked brie-apple-cinnamon yumminess I ate.


Although you can't really see them in this picture, Brit's older sister Lauren let us go through her closet and pick out two beautiful dresses for the wedding.
I need to learn a thing or two about sharing, because I'm so bad at letting my own sister wear my clothes - let alone her friends! We came home with lots of compliments and no stains, so maybe loaning sisters clothes isn't so bad after all.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

running for cream cheese


In case this picture doesn't say enough, our weekend in Chattanooga was beautiful! And we took full advantage of it. We ate outside at Nino's on Friday, Lisa and I ran along the brow on Saturday, Jonathan and I took the dogs for a walk that afternoon and on Sunday we went for a post-church walk/workout... (Bob and Lisa surprised us with push-ups and planks every time we passed a bench).


I know that sounds very active, but we also spent a lot of time watching movies on the porch. I cut Jonathan's hair during Bridesmaids, and I don't recommend watching that movie while holding scissors near someone's head. He survived, but it wasn't the best haircut I've ever given ;)

On Saturday night we went to an engagement party for our friends Mark and Sarah, and got drinks with Addie, Doug and Kelsey at Urban Stack afterwards. It's a gourmet burger place, but their drinks are just as creative as their toppings - mine had ginger root sticking out of it.

Inspired by she and Bob's recent trip to Italy, Lisa made us an Italian feast for dinner on Sunday.


We ate outside, and the only thing better than homemade pasta and bruschetta was Catie and Martha's surprise visit! Martha is Jonathan's cousin, and her daughter Catie is the most adorable, imaginative girl in the world. She showed off her gymnastics moves and told us lots of stories about her friend Leo the Lion... he even stuck his toe in our bonfire.


I know this picture doesn't exactly fit in my post, but I can't write about Chattanooga without mentioning cream cheese muffins and cinnamon rolls. In addition to being tucked in the woods amidst creeks and waterfalls, Jonathan's neighborhood has a local bakery, apple orchard and farmer's market.

The Bread Basket has the softest, creamiest, melt-in-your-mouth cream cheese muffins. Jonathan and I usually split one, but after running 11.5!! miles in preparation for the Athens Half - I felt like I earned a whole one.

Monday, October 10, 2011

snuggly and sniffly


Look at Jonathan's adorable fairytale house with Annie out front! We spent the weekend here being cozy, eating Italian food, playing with dogs and going to a party for our friends Mark and Sarah. More pictures are coming, but right now I need to go be cozy in my own home and sip Terrapin Pumpkin Ale with my roomies. I hope you're having a happy Monday and not feeling quite as sniffly as I am right now!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

elephant ears

This Saturday I got to spend the whole day with my Grandma, and we baked elephant ears. They're also called palmiers, but I like the first name better. They look like fancy French cookies, but they're actually so easy to make!

Just roll out a sheet of puff pastry covered in sugar



fold the sides inward three times



cut 3/8 inch slices, bake them for 6 min on each side...



..and voila!
Beautiful heart-shapped, elephant ear cookies



Here's a link to the full recipe description from Ina Garten. She makes them with cinnamon, which I think would be even better.

Today my little sister's coming to visit me, and I can't wait! I hope you're having a happy Thursday, and if you live in Athens go see Emily Hearn at the Melting Point tonight. You can buy tickets for just $5 here ;)

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

falling for fall


I have oh so many pictures and many more things to say about this weekend, but they will have to wait until I have a bit more time.

For now can I just say that I think fall is the most romantic time of year? I'm not sure if it's because Jonathan and I started dating during the fall, so I always get a rush of memories and renewed butterflies in my stomach - or if it's just the smell, the air, the cozy boyfriend sweaters and spice chai lattes. Whatever the case I love fall, and it makes me fall in love with everything around me too... no pun intended ;)