Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies for Halloween

Halloween is rapidly approaching and time seems to be flying by, so last week I decided to slow down the pace a little and bake some pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to savor the flavor of the season.  I found this recipe online and the cookies turned out fluffy, delicious, and in my opinion taste much better than candy!  

Ingredients: 

-1 cup butter, softened

-3/4 cup sugar

-3/4 cup packed brown sugar

-1 egg

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-2 cups all purpose flour

-1 cup quick cooking oats

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

-1 cup canned pumpkin

-1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

*I added a little extra oats, cinnamon, and chocolate chips! After all can't ever have enough chocolate! 

Directions: 

• In a bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda and cinnamon; stir into creamed mixture alternately with pumpkin. Fold in chocolate chips.
• Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-13 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: 4 dozen.

{ Recipe found from Taste of Home }

Follow your Dreams

Free Art Friday

This past weekend Dan and I were walking around in one of our favorite areas of town, the Third Ward, and we happened to stumble upon a work of art.  Dan saw it out of the corner of his eye as we were walking down the street.  I went and picked it up and on the back it said "Finders, Keepers! Enjoy, Share".  I visited the URL on the back of the drawing and it lead me to a facebook page full of creative people who have a passion for sharing art.  I love the idea of free art Friday in Milwaukee and I fully plan on joining in and leaving a piece of art from me somewhere around the city.  The drawing, by Dan Kirchen, is now in my living room and it makes me smile when I look at it :) Enjoy your Monday evening! 

"join the movement & let's start an artistic revolution!" 

Military Coats for Fall

For fall it is tough to find the perfect jacket, you really want something to keep you warm enough, but nothing too thick especially for those balmy days before the rain.  I am basically obsessed with my military jacket and although they have been "in" for a while now I love the look and wear it with basically everything from boots and jeans to an LBD with maroon tights. I know that soon it will be too cold out here in the midwest to wear this as my "coat", but for all of you lucky Californians you could probably get away with wearing this until Thanksgiving.  Mine is Roxy and you can find it here, and below are a few other options I have found on the web. 

{Find them here and here }

Moving Forward

This week and the past few have been tough and sometimes with everything that dental school throws at me I am happy to just be keeping my head above water.  I am learning to take things one step at a time, not to be overwhelmed, and recognize my mistakes and learn from them.  Stress is a terrible feeling that can destroy productivity and I am slowly learning how to defeat it!

Regardless of the stresses and worries that you have in your life I hope that you can learn to take a step back, take some deep breaths, and believe that you can do whatever your heart desires. 

Image found here

Links for your Weekend!

Hello everyone! I am so happy that it is the weekend and I am thrilled to say I am planning on staying in to relax, watching a movie, and studying! This weekend the Milwaukee forecast is chilly (freezing! according to my California standards...) and rainy.  Perfect weekend for busting out my furry blanket.  Enjoy these fun links (found during my numerous study breaks!). 

My new booties...I am obsessed...Cheetah and gold what's not to LOVE

Free online yoga for those relaxing mornings in. 

Way to wear a maxi skirt in Winter! 

Amazing website for home decor sales! 

White bean, kale, and sausage soup.  I fully intend on surviving on soup this winter.

Hurrying always looks more glamorous in stilettos.

{Image found here}

Wouldn't it be amazing to travel in autumn?

I have always thought that it would be incredibly romantic to vacation in Autumn.  The most popular time of the year to to go on trip is in the summer, but I would love to fly away somewhere in the fall when the colors are changing and the streets are filled with busy locals.  Have you ever vacationed in the fall? Where would you love to go? 

Image found here

Perfectly Cozy Jacket

For my birthday my mom and dad got me this amazingly soft jacket and I have been so excited for the weather to get chilly enough for me to wear it! It is from lululemon and sporty enough to wear after yoga, soft enough to wear while snuggled up for a movie, and fashionable enough to wear with jeans and boots! I don't really think you can beat that! I have it in black and online I saw that they also have it in "bordeaux drama", which is so in for fall!  And if that wasn't enough to have you convinced, it just went on sale.  So much of me wants to buy a second one....