I'm Alive....Barely

I made it through Midterms. I think that was midterms? Tonight is the first night I've spent not writing a paper in two weeks. I know I will look back on my measly two weeks someday and  sass about writing for two months or something.

I refuse to let this put a damper on my blogging upswing! Stay tuned.

Russian Apple Cake

Look at me blogging! I love it! Breaking news California! Its officially fall here. Why? Because Caitlin started baking from scratch again thats why! I made two separate treats that I must share with you all.

Pumpkin Pie Chocolate Chip cookies (of course found via Pinterest Via Taste of Home):

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

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.

These cookies were a BIG hit at church this Sunday. I was shocked because I felt they were a little too cakey and may make a better bread. Which is the same recipe just stick the batter in a loaf pan and boom! 

Then I baked this amazing Russian Apple cake. I LOVED it!! So fluffy and moist. I didn't use granny smith apples I used some I already had on hand. I also opted out on the walnuts and only cooked for about 30 mins. All ovens are not made alike though. Recipe found at Kitchen Grrrls:

Loved the polka dots!

Russian Apple Pie

For 8 inch round baking pan, you will need:
1 cup of sugar,
1 cup of all purpose flour,
3 large eggs,
1 teaspoon of baking powder,
1 tablespoon of vanilla,
3 large granny smith apples,
1 cup of walnut pieces (I did not include)

Put in a big bowl eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix with hand mixer until the mixture becomes foamy and pale yellow. Sugar should be almost dissolved.

Add the flour and baking powder. Mix it again until the batter is smooth.

Wash the apples, cut them into big chunks removing apple hearts. I cut the apple into teeny pieces, just because I prefer smaller bits of apple throughout.Place the apple chunks in the batter, add walnuts pieces (optional), and mix the mixture with spoon or silicon spatula until all apples are covered with the batter.

Grease baking pan and sprinkle with flour. Bake it in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.

Way to go Pinterest on not failing my fall cravings. I hope you have a good time baking and eating these delicious treats as much as I did!

Mee Time

Last weekend my mom and I were supposed to go to Apple Hill together. Unfortunately I came down with the plague and our trip was postponed.  I woke up Saturday morning and was excited to go and finally collect on some apple goodies. My mom however was not as excited as I. So my trip turned into some me time. I even love the drive up there! Here are some Apple Hill tips I thought of as I explored around.

Last year with Stevie

1. Don't go to High Hill Ranch. Its one of the bigger and more popular orchards. It has a fish filled pond, apples (of course), and apple baked goods. There is nothing there you can't get at a smaller LESS PACKED vender. My tip? Go to Ables Acres. They have the best apple butter, bomb fudge, carmel covered apples, and you can get the famous apple cider doughnuts there while you have your picture taken with the fuzzy bears out front.

2. If you have kids there are a few seemingly fun places to check out. Like Kids INC. Sorry, I don't have kids so I haven't put too much foot work into this tip.

I love the apple on top of Denver Dan's

Apple dumpling and hot apple cider. Yum!

3. I love Denver Dan's. There is a guy that uses this apple peeler/corer/cutter thing. When he is done he plops the apple on your thumb for you to eat. This guy has been around a long time too. They have fantastic frozen pies (my favorite is the sour cream apple pie) and yummy apple dumplings. Don't forget the giant pickles (I did today. I was rushing).

Then I took a drive in search for a special place. I think I drove for over an hour in and around windy mountain roads. Sadly, or not, due to snow and ice I was unable to get to my spot. So I will continue dreaming about sitting on a ski lift swinging munching on apple cider doughnuts, drinking hot apple and admiring the snow capped mountains. "Mee" time is really important. I've gotten away from doing things on my own away from everyone. The drive up there listening to music, singing, and thinking was the most calm I have felt in a really long time. I highly recommend it!

Give your Heart a Break

Its so hard to think of what to blog about concerning break ups. Most the blogs I follow and see around the Internet are ladies who are married and usually have children. I actually couldn't tell you a single blogger (except for my home girl Kristen) off the top of my head. So when thinking of how to approach this topic, something I'm going through, I get stumped.

This blog is a personal lifestyle blog if I had to fit her into a box. Therefore this blog is going to have content personal to me. I'm ok with sharing most of it. There are a few things that are pretty personal though. Some topics that kind of scare me to blog about because I don't know what other people are going to think of me. Whatever you blog about effects people and the reaction from that is completely on the blogger if you ask me. Don't get me wrong. I want to blog about EVERYTHING! I like being real. So alright, here goes.

Via

Break ups are embarrassing. Especially for me. When I commit to a boyfriend I am typically going to put all my effort into that relationship. Its really how I do things in general. So when they fail I am typically devastated and blame myself a lot. Lately, what prompted this post, and as time draws farther from incident it starts to weigh heavy and I remember all the things that were perfect. That made me feel like I had finally made it home safe and sound. I start thinking of all the things I would have done differently. Answer with a soft voice. Be more forgiving.

Break ups are so good for me in a way because they help me to know what I should be working on. I just wish there was a better way to figure that out.

Facelift: In Progress

I gave my blog a face lift. I needed a change. Lace and Pearls was sorta me but I missed my old blog title which is much more me. I'm in the process of making it even more spiffy. Hence the "in progress" bit. I hope you all enjoy the change as much as I do. I've been feeling really inspired to blog more so I figured I'd invest more time on my little corner of the interwebz.

Its not officially Halloween anymore but happy Halloween none the less! I've enjoyed seeing all the awesome costumes on my Instagram.


Happy Halloween!

I Can Blog.

I swear I can. One shouldn't swear though. I've been up to a lot. I'm a big fancy college gal you know? I just survived my first midterm at big kid college (which isn't saying much since it was only for two classes). Last weekend I went on an eating spree with one of my best lady friends. I was calling it "Breakfast with Tiffany" get it? I'm sure she is annoyed at this phrase by now. I then went to my very first bridal shower. I unexpectedly had a blast! I had the best cupcakes, some magical whipped fruit dip, and brushed off my toilet paper dress designing skills. By the end of that party I was signed up to design two wedding dresses and plan three weddings (but not really...). This weekend I'm going to Apple Hill with my Mama. We've lived in the Sacramento area for 10+ years and she has never been!!!!!! 

Also.... GO GIANTS!!!!

Conference weekend

I have so much to blog about! I don't even think I blogged about my birthday. I spent conference weekend in SLC, UT. It was not only my first time there for general conference but my first time in Salt Lake in general. Ha! Of course I'm ready to move there. Salt Lake is so beautiful and clean! I loved where we stayed it was within a mile of temple square so I walked a lot. The salt flats were also a high light. I love how amazing nature is.

I don't have a huge place in my heart for California. Sure people move here because the weather is nice year round and there is a diverse climate. I miss the fall colors and getting all four seasons though. Not to mention when you visit other states like I do frequently (Oregon and now Utah) you realize that the cost of living, gas, etc is where its at because people want to live in California. I'm too poor to be a Californian. Don't even get me started on the public college system.

I'm on the brink of fine/happy and sad/depressed. I'm not acclimated to heart break right now. Its strange when you have so much to be happy about and feel blessed but feel so down in the dumps. So many changes are about to happen in the next 4 to 8 weeks (no I'm not pregnant! haha). Wish me luck!

my mom and I helped a girl from my church choose her wedding dress. She looked beautiful.

my girl Emily and I. It was really nice to be able to visit. Also my favorite side of the temple

Playing in the salt flats