Grand Prismatic Spring

After two trips to the airport, I am happy to report that our vacation was fantastic. Here's just a little taste of one of my favorite sights- the Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone National Park.

I asked my dad to take a photo of me and after standing there with the camera in his hands I wasn't sure he actually took anything. So this is what we got. I think it turned out pretty well, considering I was standing there for 3 minutes not moving.

My contemplative husband: 

Not pictured: our trip to the local creek where we jumped off the bridge, Ole Faithful,  my parent's lovely retirement ceremony, family games and sitting around the fire. It was really a wonderful trip and in this case, I don't think words or photos will do it justice!

lazy sunday

husband had lots of work to do, and i had several different projects to juggle, but we still found time for some relaxing. 

i love a lazy day together. and it couldn't have come at a better time.

scenes from our little thanksgiving

we had a wonderful thanksgiving {and i hope you did, too!}

i was extremely proud of myself for making us a feast and getting it ready on time {i don't cook often, so it's nice to know i can if i want to} 

the menu:

-rotisserie chicken {we're not big meat-eaters, so husband grabbed one of these from the store}

but everything else was made by me:

-homemade bread

 -cranberry relish

-cheesy potatoes {we cheated and made these the night before and had them for dinner!} 

-stuffing

-green bean cassarole

- chocolate crackle cookies

   

we borrowed a table and had dinner in the middle of the livingroom, with good music in the background, and the football game on mute {i don't know how the lions are able to keep fans when they're always so disappointing and heartbreaking, but husband always goes back for more} he sat on a desk chair and i sat on an ottoman.

and besides the food, i also made some decorations. {told you i wanted a leaf theme!}

like some leaf swags:

 and leaf candle holders {using jars i already had}:

and some mini pumpkin votives, too:

i got a remnant of cream-colored burlap a couple weeks ago and made it into a table runner:

i embroidered leaves on it, with one side mirroring the other:

 {the middle} 

 {with graduated colors}

 {from dark brown}

 {to green}

and even though it was just the two of us, i had a little fun with "place cards" using our initials:

i convinced husband to take this photo quick, before we ate:

{and don't be fooled, we put on sweaters over our pj's for about 2 minutes, and then quickly switched back the rest of the day}

so, even though we were far away from family and friends, we had a wonderful day together, with way too much food! 

and then we went and saw harry potter.

i wish thanksgiving came more than once a year!

ode to my favorite season

i love all the beautiful colors.

{outdoors}

{and indoors}

not even adorable kitties can resist a beautiful, crunchy leaf.

jackets are necessary {because i'm always cold and i like to hide in a big turtle neck}

but socks aren't! {because, really, who likes socks?}

i went on an acorn-cap hunt and came home with handfuls

and everything just seems bigger.

i just love fall!

{what's your favorite part??}

a message from the king

happy halloween!

chalkboard doodles

just before my gloomy week i did this little chalkboard doodle.

it was a great reminder and helped me {try} to stay positive.

i loved it so much, i took a walk today and left these little doodles all along the way...

 and i couldn't resist my staircase...

i may have found my new favorite sunny-day activity.

just holding my foot...

sugar baking high

so this weekend i looked at my life and realized that what i'm missing is french pastries in a rainbow of colors. plus all the uppity snotty-ness that goes along with being a master baker! which is laughable because the only things i can do in the kitchen is make mac and cheese and cupcakes. look at me branching out and growing up! {and lets not focus on the fact that all the things i can make are really unhealthy in large doses}

so. macarons. i've been seeing them everywhere lately, and they look so yummy and adorable {is that a word i can use to describe food?} all at the same time. i keep describing them as "the next cupcake" because that really seems to wrap it up. so this weekend i attacked them! i scoured the internets for directions and a recipe and relied heavily on this one. which i followed as closely as possible. 

these are the results:

batch #1

success! these little babies got feet! which is huge, but unfortunately the only good thing about them. 

 problems: texture {i didn't sift the mixture well enough}

i over-beat the egg whites

i didn't cook them long enough {they were gooey inside}

very inconsistent shape/size. who knew circles could be so difficult!

but they still tasted pretty good. and they look, well, pretty!

{they're purple in real life, not this weird grey}

batch #2

 success! i am in love with these. they're much lighter and the texture is finer. and they didn't just get feet, they got big feet! yays! i got the size and shape much more consistent this time, too.

i made them yellow and filled with nutella {which i just noticed makes them look like mini-burgers...} and then ate way too many before bedtime. 

luckily the only supply i didn't already own was a kitchen scale, so i just got a cheap one. now i think it may be time to invest in an awesome macaron book, too. i'm pretty proud of my new venture, and i'm already thinking of some halloween macarons!

 not perfect yet, but oh so close and oh so yummy!