Pumpkin Crazy!

I went a little overboard in Trader Joe's this weekend and ended up purchasing a lot of pumpkin things I don't need. But hey, I'm pregnant and I am blaming it on the baby.

 



I got: Pumpkin Chai Tea (love it so far), pumkin pancake/waffle mix (had this last year, also love), punkin bread/ muffin mix (making tonight I'll let you know how it goes), pumpkin soup (probably won't be as good as my mom's), pumpkin bread pudding and pumpkin cream cheese muffins (better than Starbucks!)

I'm probably making my grandmother VERY mad by using a pumpkin bread mix, but I am going for simplicity here, so we will see how it turns out! We have a potluck at work on Wednesday so I am bringing that as my item. TJ's also had: pumpkin butter, pumpkin bagles, pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin breakfast bars and pumpkin biscotti. I know that some people think pumpkin things are overrrated and are tired of hearing about them, but let's be honest. This is the one time of year we can go a little pumpkin crazy and get away with it!

Five on Friday!

So happy this week is coming to a close, mostly because it is UGA v. LSU weekend here in Athens! I have been looking forward to this game ever since we beat South Carolina. College Game Day is on campus and there is just an excited atmosphere all around. I am happy it is Friday, but I will be even more happy when it is Saturday in Athens!
I'm linking up for Five on Friday!

1. First, my Hokies beat GA Tech last night. So proud! Wish I could have been in Atlanta to cheer them on!

2. This morning I am starting with some UGA spirit though. I didn't have a full length mirror, and the belly is getting in the way. Don't you love the carpet in my office?!





jeans Target, shirt Old Navy, shoes Jack Rogers

3. Kyle and I are checking out a daycare center today. The Today Show is doing a series on being born in America and posted this article. I have been thinking a lot about my maternity leave and already making plans at work about how my responsibilities will be covered while I am gone. I am the type of person that checks their work email while on vacation. I know some people think that is ridiculous, but honestly I love working and being busy. I will have enough time saved up by February to take 10 weeks off. I have a SUPER supportive office environment and supervisor that have no problem with being away that long, but I have a problem with it. February, March and April are three of the biggest recruiting months for our field both for graduate students and professional staff. I was looking forward to coordinating these processes and traveling to conferences. But I know now that is just not possible. I really hope the worker bee in me calms down after Baby D is here so that I can adjust to my new role as momma.

4. I am still trying to figure out what to bring to our tailgate this Saturday. I swear football is the ONLY reason I will wake up at 6am on a Saturday. I was thinking of baking these:

via

 

or these:

via

5. I got my birthday present from my parents early this week: a flight to VA in October to see these ladies! Can't wait!!!!

 

 

 

Saw it. Pinned it. Did it.

I decided to link up with Stephanie and Katie for Saw it. Pinned it. Did it. I am all about some recipe Pins, especially DESSERT! I saw these Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip cookies from Skinny Taste and thought I would try them out.

Original pin

My version:
I love baking with pumpkin and I love Skinny Tastes recipes because then I don't feel 100% guilty in eating all the baked goodies, so I was excited to try these out! FYI: when I was about to take this picture I thought to myself "You are the poster child for WalMart Great Value products!" kind of embarrassing!The recipe calls for whole wheat pastry flour, I don;t think Great Value makes that :) Gina left comments on the recipe saying you could use one cup of regular flour, so that's what I did.

My little helper!

Looks good!

My first batch came out kind of "under cooked" so I cooked the second batch for almost 14 minutes opposed to the 8-10 recommended in the Pin!

They are delicious! And my husband loved them too! Happy Pinning!

Weekend Recap

What a wonderful weekend! We started off Friday night by cleaning out the kitchen (I know, super exciting). We needed to distract Gigi for like an hour, enter the famous 2 liter bottle toy! I honestly don't know why we spend any money on toys when she LOVE chewing up empty 2 liter bottles.

Saturday morning we woke up and Gigi and I had a mini photo shoot. Check out those armpit rolls! Ha!

Kyle made me pumpkin pancakes! I LOVE this mix from Trader Joe's! So good!

Then I decided to bake. Tis' the season for all things pumpkin.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread

Saturday night, Kyle's friend Rich came to Athens to visit! We of course took him to Pauleys.

Then to All Good.

I was smart and put a Pumpkin French Toast Bake in the fridge the night before, so all I had to do Sunday morning when we woke up was throw it in the oven. It came out GREAT!

Delicious!

Gigi loved spending time with Rich.

Gigi had her first obedience class Sunday. She is the second youngest and the second smallest. I really like the class. I think she has sit down, but we are working on laying down now. She did pretty good in the play group before class, but in the play group after class she was much more outgoing.

Making new friends!

Man puppy class will ware you out!

Coconut Lime Cookies

So it is spring.... feeling more like summer. It got up to 90 yesterday. I have been feeling beachy and thought I would celebrate by making COCONUT LIME SUGAR COOKIES! They turned out delicious! I used Two Peas and Their Pod's recipe you can find here.

I could have eaten all of them by myself! However, I shared! They were a big hit at the sorority house!

Coconut I toasted myself!

Yum, lime.

Roll them in SUGAR

Delicious!

Five Things Friday!

1. I am headed to DC for my brother and his fiance's wedding shower! I have not been to my parents house since June of 2011. I am beyond excited to get back to the nations capital! I have totally been missing the fam and this little face.

2. Wear Red Friday! Go Pack! I am more of a football girl, but I can't help cheering on the University I spent two wonderful years at for grad school!

3. I am loving this dress from Piperlime

4. Kyle picked me up a treat at the store yesterday, yummy!

5. I am doing it. I am going to read Hunger Games. I really just want to know what all the hype is about. And it seems like a good way to kill my airport and fly time this weekend.

What I am Loving Wednesday!

I am linking up this Wednesday for WILW from this kind of love.

Right now it is spring break for our students. But that doesn't mean it is spring break for me. I am in my office. I WOULD LOVE to be here:

However the weather in Athens is AMAZING and I am planning on going on a nice long walk after work tonight. I am LOVING the idea of stopping for some fro yo along the way. (leave it to me to fatten up exercise!)

I am LOVING these tunics from Cape Madras. I want like five! Perfect for the beach!

I am loving this super happy face! My husband is GREAT!

I am loving that my mother in law sent my Girl Scout cookies.... yum thin mints! 

I am also loving these wedges, I think I need them right now!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Baking FAIL

Yall, it has been awhile since I baked. Like a long while. And that was completely evident by my failed attempt at Snickers Caramel Cheesecake Cookies. It was wrong, just all wrong. The graham cracker crust was wrong. I did something wrong with the cheesecake batter. I just messed up. I blame it on lack of patience and practice. I NEED TO GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN! Hopefully I will change that this weekend.

For a HOT SECOND I even thought I broke my mixer, thank goodness it was just a loose screw and I fixed it by myself!

Finished product falling apart. Great.

They were SUPER sweet.

Sometimes you just have to admit defeat and eat popcorn.