Image Map

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

recipe | pumpkin spice cookies

 'Tis the season for pumpkin everything!!!  I am guilty of obsessing over pumpkin this time of year... 
I love going to the store & finding all of the special Pumpkin Spice goodies that are out there.
Yesterday I bought Pumpkin Spice English Muffins & had one for breakfast this morning... so good. 
I especially love the special Pumpkin Spice Kisses! If you have not tried them, you definitely should!
It is so easy to eat one after another... yikes! I knew they would be so great with Pumpkin Spice Cookies, 
which would make these cookies so cute for a fall party. Oh, how I love this time of year!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

Ingredients...
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2  cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions...
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed for 2 minutes. 
Add in the pumpkin and vanilla, beat on low for 2 more minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt. 
Add it to the butter/sugar mixture and beat on low just until combined.
Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix 1/2 cup sugar with a tablespoon of cinnamon in a bowl. 
Roll the dough into balls & coat each one in the cinnamon-sugar. 
Place on a cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes. 
Carefully remove cookies from cookie sheet & allow to cool for a few minutes. 

Eat the cookies just like this, because they are so amazing!! 
OR... for something extra special press a Pumpkin Spice Kiss into the center of each cookie!

These are perfect with a hot cup of spiced chai tea. A perfect fall treat! 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

pagosa springs | part three


Okay, here are the last of my photos from my trip to Pagosa Springs, a month ago... Most of these shots
were taken at Parelli Natural Horsemanship, which we first discover when we were in Pagosa last year
It is such a beautiful place, where they train people from all over the world to ride horses. I am so happy to
have found this place, because I love taking photos of horses... they are truly the most beautiful animal!!



Monday, October 14, 2013

pagosa springs | part two


Much of our time in Pagosa Springs was spent hiking. Just soaking in that amazing feeling of being surrounded by mountains, canyons, rivers, waterfalls, trees, flowers... I have seen the the beautiful Colorado scenery my whole live, but it still takes my breath away every single time. I remember standing in that spot pictured below, thinking about how I could never grow tired of seeing this. Of course, I try my best to capture the beauty in order to hold on to it for longer and I do love all of these photos, BUT photos can never capture it the way the eyes see it. What God has done is so good.


Saturday, October 12, 2013

pagosa springs | part one

 
Around this time last year, I was able to spend a few days in Pagosa Springs, CO with my family, thanks to some kind friends who go to my church.  Well, this year they blessed us with an opportunity to go again & I am so thankful to them for sharing this with us! The view from the big windows & the balcony of our room was even more beautiful this time. We ate dinner on the balcony one evening, watching the water & the beautiful mountains... it was perfect! Of course, one of my favorite things was all of the pretty daisies that were scattered all around the area. I was perfectly happy walking around & admiring them... Daisies are one of my favorites! Now that I have been to Pagosa twice, I can say that it is one of my favorite spots to visit in Colorado. Hiking in the beautiful mountains, swimming in the huge pool at the resort, visiting my favorite shop in town for the best homemade caramels and just spending time with my mom & sister... All of it makes for a pretty perfect mini-vacation!! So, even though our time spent there was short, it was worth the 4+ hour drive!
And now on to part one for my photos...
 
 
More photos to come soon....
 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

photography | apples, pumpkins & mums



Photos from apple picking a couple of weeks ago!
Fall is here & I am so happy!!