For Those Off Days

We all have those days. You know what ones I'm referring too. The day where you got enough sleep but are just exhausted. Or maybe it's that you just did absolutely awful on a test (not my case, I just killed my feminism midterm). Or you're just starving and can't find anything good to eat, or rather anything that you actually want to eat. Or your all time favorite jeans decided that a hole in your knee was so fetch l-a-m-e. Or you just don't know why you're having such an off day but you just are and that's good enough. Well, I'm having one of those "table for one with a big serving of self pitying soup" kind of days.

As per usual I turned to Pinterest to try and cheer myself up. But the quote section was just not doing it today. It actually just made me feel like I'm being a baby for having a pity party day. Well Pinterest quote makers let me tell you something, we all have these days so boo on you. I then did what any normal person would do and found cute pictures of cuddly animals instead, and now I feel better. So here's to sharing!

How you feel now (pre-cuteness overload): 

Cuteness:

How you feel now (post-cuteness overload): 

Oh, and I also found a video of a giggling penguin. Because if a giggling penguin doesn't make you smile nothing will.

Hope these pictures cheered up anyone who was having a "meh" day. I know they helped with mine!

Ciao love bugs. xoxo. 

Grandma's Pumpkin Squares & Cream Cheese Frosting

The leaves are starting to change, the air's getting crisp, and pumpkin's on my brain. Everywhere I turn there are either pumpkins or pumpkin flavored things. Not to mention mums!! I've never seen mums before, or maybe I have and I just never noticed them, but they're so fall. I love them!

The fact that I'm experiencing fall for the first time is fabulous except my cake/cupcake/doughnut cravings have escalated to unbearable levels. Being gluten free isn't terrible but I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that I can't order a pumpkin loaf with my pumpkin spice latte while going through the Starbucks drive-thru. Combine that with thinking about my grandmother's pumpkin squares and I'm going insane. To try and save some sanity I decided to try the pumpkin squares with a gluten free twist. I mentioned the plan to Nic and he was just as excited as I was so I figured we'd do it.

Pumpkin Squares:
- 1 (16oz) can of Libby's Pumpkin Puree
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/3 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of oil
Stir together 
- 2 cups of flour (I use Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free flour mix)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
Mix the wet mixture into the flour mixture until smooth 

Pour into a baking dish (what you would use for brownies) and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes

Cream-cheese Icing
- 3 ounces of cream cheese
- 1/2 cup of soft butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Powdered sugar to taste (it's a lot)
Beat together until smooth 

Once the pumpkin squares have cooled spread the cream-cheese icing over them. Enjoy!

 

Enjoy with coffee brewed at home with Bailey's Pumpkin Spice coffee creamer (it's actually really delicious) and I promise you'll be in a pumpkin heaven.

Happy baking! And happy fall!

Ciao! xox

FreeFest & The Weekend

I had a fabulously fun weekend spent with friends and lots of cuddling. It was exactly what I needed after the last two weeks of mayhem with school. After much convincing and perfect timing Nic finally dragged me along to a music festival. I was really hesitant on whether I'd like it or not since I'm not at all into Skrillex. It's a bunch of scratching and not a lot of words to sing along with and I like to sing while I dance. But much to my very happy surprise it was a blast! I got to dance around like I was at eighties night again -- SCORE -- and wear a crazy outfit. Yes, that is my "crazy", sorry I'm not sorry about it. Anyways, the lights were awesome, the base was loud and I was with great people. Oh, and I'm starting to like margaritas again which is most definitely noteworthy.

The rest of the weekend was a lot more relaxing. We had planned on going to Grape Stomp on Sunday which is this amazing festival at a vineyard we love where you actually get to stomp grapes!! I've been looking forward to going since we visited the vineyard in April but it rained both here and there and an outdoor festival in the rain just didn't seem worth the hour drive. :( Hopefully we'll be able to make the trek next week. 

The rain brought in a drastic weather change. Saturday I was wearing a skirt and tank in the day and today I'm in a Northface, boots and considering turning on the heat. Fall has finally arrived! 

I must share some shots of how absolutely adorable Eevah is with the two of us. I love her (and Nicy, of course) beyond belief.  

I'll bid y'all adaeu with another good quote. It seemed fitting after FreeFest. Whether it's country, rock, techno or a good ol' banjo make sure to take the time to step away from everything and dance for a moment or two.

Have a fabulous week and don't forget to break it down a few times.

Ciao! xoxo

One Day at a Time

I am willing to bet that these last two weeks have been the most overwhelming ones of my life so far. Between getting engaged and an important test in every class I am both exhausted and constantly excited and giddy. My sparkly left finger has acted as good therapy for whenever I get upset (I mean how can you be upset long when you remember you're marrying your best friend?! It's impossible).

While my motivation book is un-motivating to read and this weekend's on my brain I just keep telling myself to make it until Friday. I'll be free from all of my tests for a week and can turn the apartment into a fall heaven. Just keep swimming.

I found this little gem on pinterest the other day and thought it was worth sharing, especially since it's something I don't remember nearly as much as I should. It's easy to look at everything I need to do, and then get overwhelmed but life is a lot less scary when we look at each day individually.

Here's to conquering the rest of this week one day at a time! 

Ciao! 

xoxoxo