Autumn Amelia

Hello everyone!

Today is my birthday!

I am 25.

I am 25 years old and have no idea what I am doing.

Five years ago Erik and I were engaged. 

We created a five year plan.

Five things to accomplish in five years.

1 - Couches: It was the only piece of furniture we needed for our apartment.

2 - Puppy: We both desperately wanted a yellow lab puppy.

3 - House: We wanted to purchase our own home around our one year anniversary.

4 - School: Have Erik graduate with his Bachelor Degree.

5 - Baby: We wanted to have at least one kid. Maybe more.

And here we are almost five years later...
We got the couches.

They were our first big purchase together.

We got the yellow lab puppy.

Who would have known it would have been for only a few short years.

We got our house.

It was not by our first anniversary.

Erik is till working on his Bachelors Degree.

We thought he would graduate in 2017 at the latest.

We will be lucky if he graduates in 2019.

And a baby couldn't be farther from our radar. (Sorry mom and dad)

Life has not gone as expected.
It rarely does.

It's time to start a new five year plan but I have no idea where I want to be in five years.

It's such a strange feeling.

I have had my whole life planned out since I can remember.

I am not where I was "supposed" to be.

And I have no idea where I want to go.

To find out what is next. 

To see what makes me happy.

I hope you are doing the same.

All my love,

Autumn

Hello everyone!

My friend and I are heading to Disneyland tomorrow morning to celebrate my 25th birthday.

I am so excited!

As you know I love to give gifts, so to celebrate I got her a little something.

I used:

Glitter Drink Tumbler

Crinkle Paper

Disney Princess Socks

Mouse Shaped Card Holder

Minnie Mouse Lip Balm

Hand Sanitizer

Gum

Chocolate

Washi Tape

I thought all of these items would come in handy for our trip.

The tumbler she can fill and use for the park or just in our hotel room.

I am a firm believer that any day is better with a pair of festive socks.

I got her a princess for each day we are at the park.

The mouse card holder is a lanyard she can keep her license, debit card and park ticket in while keeping her hands free.

My lips tend to get chapped after all the eating and wind from the rides and this Minnie Mouse balm was too cute to pass on!

Hand sanitizer is always a good idea.

Hurry and squeeze some on before meals or snacking.

After all that eating you are bound to need some gum to freshen your breathe.

The chocolate is for the plane rides or for a late night hotel snack.

I placed the crinkle paper at the bottom of the tumbler and added the rest of the items in.

To create more room I taped the straw to the outside of the tumbler with washi tape. 

I was not able to fit all the socks but got one pair in so she got the idea and gave the rest of them to her separately.

I am so excited for our Disneyland trip!

What are your must have items for the park?

Hello everyone!

Erik and I were recently talking about how we are such homebodies.

We love our house a little too much...

While we were discussing it Erik said "You are a homebody but you have a desire to do things too."

I was like what?! I am the biggest homebody ever!

Erik then pointed out several things I have lined up over the next few months and I thought maybe I am not such a homebody after all?

We came up with this description "a homebody with anxiety who likes to party."

That is my title.

I love to make plans and dream big but it doesn't mean I don't get nervous about trying new things.

I tend to overthink every situation.

Here is a step by step of my emotional roller coaster ride of making plans.

I'll plan something and be really excited about it.

It will start getting closer and I will start wondering if this was a good idea.

The day of I will wonder why I did this to myself.

Traveling to the event my anxiety continues to grow.

I start thinking crazy things like "What if a meteor falls from the sky and lands directly on our house and I was not there to die with Erik..."

I will hate myself for putting me in this position.

I'll get to my destination and my anxiety is at an all time high.

I partake in my plans and have the best time ever.

I wonder what all the fuss was about.

Repeat.

Needless to say trying new things or going on new adventures is never easy for me.

The fear of missing out is greater than the fear of all my what if's.

I hope that you don't hold yourself back.

You deserve to enjoy life.

Push yourself out of your comfort zone.

It won't be as bad as you think.

I promise!

What is something you have always wanted to do but have been too afraid to do?

I'd love to hear!

All my love,

Autumn

Hello everyone!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Erik and I love to celebrate every year.

Erik attended an authentic Chinese New Year at his friends house when he was a kid and it holds a special place in his heart.

It's a tradition we plan on sharing with our kids someday.

This year I thought it would be fun to try my hand at homemade fortune cookies.

You will need:

3 Egg Whites

3/4 a Cup of Sugar

1/2 a Cup of Butter, melted and cooled

1/4 a Teaspoon of Vanilla

1/4 a Teaspoon of Almond Extract

3 Tablespoons of Water

1 Cup of Flour

Paper Fortunes to fill

Prepare your paper fortunes.

They will need to be ready to place in your cookies.

I found mine via Pinterest.

Preheat oven to 375o.

Mix egg whites and sugar on high until frothy.

Mix in butter, vanilla, almond extract, water and flour one at a time.

Make sure each ingredient has been well combined before adding the next ingredient.

With a tablespoon, spoon the batter onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. 

Spread the batter evenly into a 3 inch circle. 

Only do 2 or 3 cookies at a time.

The cookies set quickly and you will not be able to fold more than 2 or 3 before they set.

Bake cookies for 8-9 minutes or until the edges start to brown.

If you overcook them they will break when folding.

If you undercook them they will tear when folding.

Remove cookies from the oven and quickly remove from the sheet with a spatula. 

Cookies will be very hot!

Use gloves or a thin towel to help you shape them so you do not completely burn your fingers.

Fold the cookie in half into a semi circle.

Slip in your prepared paper fortune.

Place the semi circle onto the edge of a cup and fold the edges down and into the shape of a fortune cookie.

Hold the cookie down to let set and move to a muffin tin to let cool.

This will help them keep their shape.
Enjoy!

After the cookies had completely set I used melted white and milk chocolate and sprinkles to decorate.

Since we were making these for Chinese New Year I decided to add some decorations for the festivities.

Erik and I have held onto this fortune for months.

We loved being told beaches and water were in our future.

Our five year wedding anniversary is coming up later this year.

Erik has been asking if we can go on a cruise.

Little does he know I already booked it...

I decided to surprise him and tell him tonight.

 I took the fortune off of the fridge and slipped it into one of the cookies.

I am going to give it to him tonight and tell him we are going!

I am so excited to surprise him.

Do you celebrate Chinese New Year?

How do you celebrate?

Hello everyone!

As you know Valentine's Day is on Wednesday.

I have always loved Valentine's Day. 

Pun intended...

Growing up it was so fun coming up with creative Valentine's Day boxes and making them.

Spending way too much time picking out the perfect Valentine's and choosing which ones went to who. 

Especially which one to give to your crush...

You couldn't be too forward, ya know?

My grandparents would give us Valentine's Day cards and candy.

My dad would buy my mom a dozen red roses and then get one rose for me and each of my sisters.

Decorating Valentine's Day sugar cookies!

I could go on and on...

I remember my first Valentine's Day in Junior High. 

I was so excited to find out what it would be like.

No more Valentine's exchanges because that was little kid stuff.

I got to school and the halls were filled with girls carrying HUGE teddy bears, roses, balloons chocolates and the girls who didn't have anything complaining about how Valentine's Day was the worst.

I was so disappointed...

I remember all my friends complaining and I couldn't wait to get home because I still thought Valentine's Day was awesome!

Valentine's Day isn't just for people who are in love.

It's for everybody who is loved!

That was when I decided to show my friends how much I cared about them.

The rest of my school years I spent Valentine's Day surprising my friends.

I would decorate their lockers, play cupid and deliver Valentine's on their behalf, give them kid Valentine's like back in Elementary school and write funny memories on them.

It was so much fun to make what would otherwise be a day full of dread a day full of love!

As Valentine's Day draws near I hope that you can find a way to show love to everyone in your life.

If you have a bae take a second to show some love to those who are flying solo.

If you are flying solo take some time and show some love to your family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, etc.

Not only will it make their day but I guarantee it will make your day too.

Happy Valentine's loves!

All my love,

Autumn

Hello everyone!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.
Erik and I have a pretty chill Valentine's Day tradition.
A heart shaped pizza picnic on the floor.
If we are feeling really fancy we will have chocolate fondue for dessert.

Today I wanted to share our favorite chocolate fondue recipe with you.

You will need:

10 Ounces of Chopped Chocolate (use your favorite)

1/3 a Cup of Milk

1/3 a Cup of Heavy Cream

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

Treats to Dip

In a saucepan combine the chocolate, milk and cream over low heat.

Stir consistently until the chocolate mixture is completely melted and smooth.

Stir in the vanilla.

Enjoy with your favorite treats!
 We use Rice Krispie treats, strawberries, bananas, wafer cookies, and marshmallows.

This recipe is so quick and easy.

It's the perfect treat to serve for all occasions.
New Years, Valentine's, Birthdays, Christmas you name it!

We enjoy ours right off the stove top but if you are planning to serve at a party you can keep it warm in a fondue pot or slow cooker. 

Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated later.

What do you like to dip in your fondue?

Hello everyone!

Happy Super Bowl weekend.

Whether you are rooting for the Eagles or the Patriots I have some fun goodies that you can whip up for the big game.

When it comes to the the Super Bowl I am always team food...

Homemade Pretzels

You will need:

2 and 1/4 Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast (1 standard packet)

1 Cup of Warm Water

1 Tablespoon of Unsalted Butter, melted

1 Teaspoon of Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Salt

3 Cups of All Purpose Flour, more if needed

2 Cups of Water

4 Tablespoons of Baking Soda

1 Tablespoon of Coarse Salt, for topping

6 Tablespoons of Salted Butter, melted

Preheat oven to 475o.

Combine yeast, warm water and sugar in a stand mixer with a hook attachment until "frothy."

When the mixture is "frothy" the yeast is ready.

Stir in salt and unsalted butter. 

Add flour a cup at a time until a dough forms and is no longer sticky, you may need to add more or less flour depending on your mixture.

Knead dough for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth.

Form into a ball, place back in bowl and let rest for 15 minutes. 

While the dough is resting mix two cups of water and 4 tablespoons of baking soda together and bring to a boil.

Once the majority of the baking soda has been dissolved, remove the mixture from heat and let the mixture cool to a lukewarm temperature.

Pour the cooled mixture into a shallow dish and set aside.

Remove the rested dough from the bowl and slightly pat down with your hands.

Cut the dough into eight sections like a pizza.

Take each triangle section and roll into a 19-20 inch rope.

Fold dough into a pretzel shape and place into the baking soda mixture for two minutes.

After the pretzel has soaked, place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Reshape the pretzel if needed.

Top the pretzel with coarse salt while wet, if desired.

Repeat until all eight pretzels are prepared.

Bake pretzels for 8-9 or until golden brown.

Remove from oven and immediately brush with 6 tablespoons of melted butter.

Enjoy warm!

This was the first time I made homemade pretzels.

They aren't difficult to make but are a little time consuming.

Totally worth it!

Team Color M&M Cookies

You will need:

2 and 1/4 Cups of Flour

1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon of Salt

1 Cup of Shortening

3/4 a Cup of Sugar

3/4 a Cup of Brown Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

2 Large Eggs

M&M's, sorted into team colors

Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.

Beat shortening, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in a large mixer bowl until creamy.

Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Gradually mix in the dry mixture until well combined.

Place tablespoon sized balls of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. 

Remove cookies from oven and immediately press M&M's into warm cookies.

Let cool.

Enjoy!

My family is all about the chocolate chip cookie recipe on the back of the nestle chocolate chip bags.

I have come to find that it is the perfect base dough for other cookies as well.

Instead of chocolate chips I used M&M's in teams colors.

Also, we substitute shortening for butter in the Nestle recipe.

Football Treat Bags

You will need:

Paper Bags

Tape

Your favorite snacks to fill

Lay paper bag flat.

Using the tape of your choice cut a six inch strip and place vertically down the middle of the bag.

Cut four three inch strips and place horizontally on top of the strip down the middle to replicate the seams of a football.

One on the top, two evenly spaced in the middle and one on the bottom.

Fill the bags with your desired treats.
Enjoy!

This treat is super easy mode.

My bags turned out a little more glam than I had originally planned when I realized the only tape that fit the theme was my gold Washi tape.

I am not complaining!

I put a few crinkled up paper bags in the bottom to take up space and to help them stand up.

The bag can hold quite a few snacks and you don't want to give all of your chips to one person.

I will probably cut my bags down for the game on Sunday.

I also thought this would also be a great bag to give to the kids.

You can fill it with healthier snack options, plush footballs and activities to keep them occupied during the game.

Erik and I are excited to chow down on these snacks during the game.
And to eat them for emotional comfort during This Is Us...
What does your family make for the big game?