Saturday Snapshot: Life Lately

1 & 2) We had a beautiful BEAUTIFUL autumn in Minnesota.
3 & 4) The leaves are all gone now, though, and winter is officially here.

It's been a while since I did a life lately post!  So much has changed in the last several months.  We moved into our new home, I started a new job teaching, and John got a new car (yay!).  Then again, the more things change, the more they stay the same.  We've been taking a lot of walks and hikes, I put up our Christmas decorations VERY early, and of course, I've been eating too many sweets :)

1) Inga looking cute (and miserable) in her festive sweater
2) Stockings and a really chimney to hang them by!
3) Maybe my new favorite ornament- the Eiffel Tower bought from Gilt

1) Poached pears
2) Cupcake and hot cocoa
3) Trader Joe's macarons- check them out!
4) Caribou coffee and donuts

What have you been up to?

Follow @goeslightly on Instagram for more like this.

Saturday Snapshot: Cabbage

Apple Bacon Pizza

Our new house has a double oven. Double. Oven.  It's amazing.  The top oven is small, so it heats up super fast and it's perfect for toasting sandwiches, baking some quick cookies, or making pizza.  And boy have we made pizza!

For this tasty pizza, you will need:

• My homemade quick crust (but substitute sage for the Italian seasoning)
• 4 pieces of bacon, cooked
• 1 apple, cored and sliced thin on a mandolin
• 1 1/2 cup or so Tillamook cheddar cheese, shredded

Simply make the pizza crust and pre-bake for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees.  Then, add the toppings.  Bake at 400 degrees until golden brown and bubbling, about 15 minutes.

Yum!  So delicious :)

Cheers! (it's delicious with champagne)

Saturday Snapshot: Ornamental Maple

Saturday Snapshot: Stone Fence

Saturday Snapshot: Little Mouse

Saturday Snapshot: Trodden

Saturday Snapshot: Purple Flora

Saturday Snapshot: Cone Flowers

I know I've featured cone flowers on the blog before, but I just really like them!  They're such neat shapes, bees love them, and they remind me of my grandma :)  Do you have a flower you just can't get enough of?

Saturday Snapshot: Last Glimpses of Autumn

Saturday Snapshot: Red Leaf

Saturday Snapshot: Into the Woods

Gratitude Journal

November is the time of year where we take one day to be thankful for all that we have.  But I think it would be nice if we took a lot more time than that.  I think it's too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day, especially when the holidays come near, and to forget all the really great things - big and small - that are in our lives.

So, I decided to start a gratitude journal.  Every day, I try to find something new that I'm thankful for.  I sometimes forget, but most days I jot down a line or two.  It's a great way to remind myself of what's beautiful in my life and to keep me from taking these things for granted.

Think you'd try something like this?

Saturday Snapshot: Sun Soaked Leaves

Last weekend, I took some time to try and take in the last days of fall weather.  Here in Minnesota, you can feel winter lurking around the corner.  So when the sun is out and the leaves are still golden, you have to take full advantage!

Pot Pies for Two

A few years ago, I shared an adapted recipe for pot pie.  Well, I'm going to adapt it again, this time serving it up in ramekins for a perfect fall dinner for two.

For the sauce, you will need:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 and 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons thyme leaves

For the rest, you will need:

• 1 sweet potato
• 1/4 yellow onion
• 2 servings baby carrots (about 6 ounces) 
• 1 tube Pillbury Grands biscuits

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Chop up your veggies, toss them in olive oil, and roast for about 30 minutes.

About halfway into your roasting time, make your sauce.  Melt the butter in a small saucepan and whisk in the flour. Then add in the white wine and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil and add in the thyme leaves.  Simmer on low heat until your veggies are done

Place two ramekins on a cool baking sheet.  When your veggies are done, spoon them into the two ramekins.

Ladle sauce over the top.

Place one biscuit on each ramekin.  You can bake the rest of the biscuits on the remaining space on the baking sheet.

Bake for another 15 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown.

Enjoy!  But be careful- these are hot!

DIY Autumn Leaves Wreath

It's time for yet another wreath, because I couldn't very well leave a skull with bugs all over it up in November.

You will need:

• Raffia wrapped wire
• Fabric leaves (find these at any craft store)
• Hot glue gun
• Wire cutters

This is so so so SO simple!  First, cut three strips of wire slightly longer than the size you want your wreath to be.

Braid these three together.  This will give your wreath stability.  Now, if you're tempted to just buy a foam wreath, don't!  The hot glue gun will melt the Styrofoam, and it will be a big mess.

Connect the ends to form a circle.

Then, just glue your leaves on one at a time.  I think it looks best if you mix up colors and directionality, but go with your gut!

And you're done!  Totally doable :)

Saturday Snapshot: Mum's the Word

Life Lately

1) My outfit for my mom's 60th birthday, festive fall flannel ;)
2) I love all the leaves around!  The autumn colors have really hung on here
3) I made a combination of lemons, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary in simmering water to make our house smell amazing!
4) Inga loves being in the leaves!  This picture of her was also featured by Better Homes and Gardens as their pet of the week on Instagram!

Happy Halloween!! For me, this month has been all about fall.  I'm embracing the chill in the air, taking Inga on lots of walks, and filling my home with the scents of autumn.  I've been busy with school, and substitute teaching a bit, too.

1) I love buying school supplies!  These colored pens have been so fun (sorry for the picture quality...)
2) My new Kate Spade iPhone case: whistle while you work!
3) I have mastered making homemade vanilla chai tea lattes!  So yummy!
4) Inga and I were out for a walk, and I couldn't help but snap a picture of this tree!

1) Substitute teaching: this was my view for the day!  Incredible :)
2) More autumn skies over Lake Hiawatha
3) And, of course, a trip to the dog park!

What's been keeping you busy lately?  Be sure to follow me on Instagram @goeslighty to see all these and more!

DIY Pumpkin Bookmark

Remember when I showed you how to make heart shaped book marks?  Well, this is the same idea, but made to look like a cute little pumpkin instead.  It's so easy!

You will need:

• 1 piece of orange felt
• Tiny scrap of green felt
• Scissors
• Orange thread (or two strands of embroidery floss) and a needle

First, cut out two squares of the orange felt, about three inches squared or a little smaller.

Next, cut scallops from one corner diagonally across to the other corner on one square.  It should kind of look like a sea shell.

Use this square as a template to repeat the process on the other square.

Then, use your orange thread and a running back stitch to make a line from the point of one scallop to the tip of the pumpkin.

Repeat the process for every scallop on one of the felt pieces.  You don't need to do both pieces (yay, less work!)

Then, take a small, rectangular piece of green felt and sandwich it between the two pieces of orange felt so that it is sticking out the top.

Use a whip stitch to join the two pieces of orange felt together, making sure you add a few extra stitches to secure the green piece of felt.

And you're done!  Totally doable or what?