a break in the fall

this past (long) weekend, the hubs and I took full advantage of the fact that he still gets "fall breaks." we headed to Pawley's Island for a few relaxing days to rejuvenate.

sun, sand, and beautiful sunrise/sunsets, one after the other. so much beauty. I can't help that every time I get near the ocean, scripture just flows through my mind...and I love that.

here are a few snaps of our quick trip. (sorry there are no humans in these pictures, we don't do well with the "selfies". hehe)

no fall leaves but still fabulously fall :)   ....have a wonderful week!

xoxo, Landrum

pumpkin goodness

I know everyone is on pumpkin overload right now. I get it. as much as I love pumpkin goodies myself, I agree sometimes its a little much.

but, hang with me for a second. I couldn't let Fall pass me by and not have made pumpkin muffins/bread. so I put a little twist on the normal pumpkin muffins.

I found a super duper easy recipe online that I changed up a little. the recipe uses all natural ingredients. very refreshing. most of the pumpkin muffin recipes I have used in the past call for the yellow cake mix (nothing wrong with that), but I just wanted to try something a little different.

what you need:

3 cups of all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 cups granulated sugar ( I actually used half granulated sugar and 1/2 brown sugar )

1 can (15 oz) of 100% pure pumpkin

4 large eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup water (I fresh squeezed orange juice instead here but used same amount, 1/2 cup)

the prep:

go ahead and preheat oven to 350 degrees. grease muffin cups (I like to be old-fashioned and use butter like my mom always does :) ) plus, I think it adds to the flavor.

combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. then combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil, and OJ in another large bowl. stir/beat until blended. I then slowly added flour mixture gradually (because I mixed by hand) to the pumpkin mix. stir until the two separate bowls of ingredients are fully blended. then place mixture into muffin cups. (about 3/4 full)

bake in oven for 25-30 min. or until fork comes out clean when placed in center of muffin.

I even had enough extra batter to make a loaf of pumpkin bread! you could also do mini muffins/jumbo muffins/bread pan, etc. whatever you wish. the batter is just "lick the spoon" delicious. :)

I really think the natural ingredients (including the freshly squeezed OJ) made such a difference in taste. this batch was head and shoulders better than last years.

enjoy, friends!

xoxo, Landrum

it's okay...

it's ok....?

do y'all remember those pages in one of the magazines (can't remember the name of the mag) that would say "It's ok"....and have a list of things that people would usually be afraid to admit? I always thought those were so funny.

I decided to make a list of my own and hope you will add to this list. I have been feeling guilty (and a little silly) about some of these things lately and just decided that IT IS OK. hope some of you can relate. :)  P.S. some of these are a little embarrassing but I decided to expose myself anyway, haha.

so, it's ok...

to go skipping up the steps of one of the houses on the battery jiggling your keys pretending like you live there? (hey, a girl can dream right?)

to reproduce canned items to make them look like you're own homegrown creation? (but I did hear Rachael Ray say that sautéing certain canned veggies such as corn helps bring out natural sugars and flavors, so there. )

to scream into a pillow as loud as you can every once in a while

to live for The Voice on Monday and Tuesday nights

to get ridiculously crazy excited for every new changing season

to spend majority of your days off in 'work out' clothes but hardly ever working out?

to live at the beach but long to be in the mountains? (esp. in the Fall)


please add to the list! I know I'll be adding quite a few to this over time. It's fun and keeps life light :)

have a good one!

 

xoxo, Landrum