Autumn Amelia

Hello everyone!

If you did not know, each year I do the Fourteen Days of Valentines, a present each day from February 1st to February 14th, for Erik.

I have done this each year since we have been married.

Last year was the fifth year and I thought it would be a good stopping point and allow me to try something new.

I mentioned this to Erik a few weeks ago and he was pretty bummed out.

A lot more than I expected...

I always said I would continue to do it if I could find new treats and new sayings so, here we are with another Fourteen Days of Valentine's.

Lucky for me Erik isn't a picky eater and is always finding new things he likes.

I missed putting a few years on the blog but, check out 2015, 2017 and 2018 here.

Almond Joy

It is a "joy" being your wife!

Razor Heads

You are "sharp!"

M&M's

I "melt" in your hands!

Nacho Cheese Dorito's 

You are "nacho" average husband!

Apple Slicer

Anyway you "slice" it, you are the best!

Barbecue Sauce

You are awesome "sauce!"

Coffee Grounds

Where you "bean" all my life?

Outshine Bars

You are one "cool" guy!

Star Wars Lego Set

"Yoda" one for me!

You could do any Lego set and say we "click" or  never "Lego."

I just can't pass up a good Star Wars pun...

Torani Cherry Syrup
I love you "cherry" much!

S'mores Cereal

I love you "S'more" than anything!

Coke Zero

I would  be "nothing" without you!

Donut Pans

You drive me "glazy!"

I did a donut pun a few years ago with a bag of donuts that said, "Donut" know what I would do without you!

Since this wasn't edible and I used a different pun I am saying it doesn't count as a repeat.

Nike Running Shoes

Are your "feet" tired? 

Cause you've been "running" through my mind all day!


I am very excited to start gifting these to Erik.
It makes me so happy to be able to show him some love with a little goodie for fourteen days in a row.
Also, I am a huge fan of puns...
What has been your favorite Valentine pun?


All my love,
Autumn

Hello everyone! 

This past weekend my bestie Shea and I had ourselves a little girls weekend.

We took Thursday and Friday off and headed south for some warmer weather.

We saw a movie, got pedicures, watched several chick flicks, put on some face masks and ate a lot of goodies.

It was a much needed break.

It was so nice to be irresponsible and it reminded me how important it is to treat yourself. 

My throat was sore from all the talking we did and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

I felt very refreshed coming back home and it was good for Erik and I to spend some time away from each other. 

As I mentioned in this post, I think it is important for couples to spend time apart.

You get time to be your own person and the opportunity to miss each other.

I came home and had a new appreciation for Erik, and he got time to work on some of his projects. 

I could tell he felt accomplished and found some passion for them again. 

I am so grateful I had the opportunity to take some time off to unwind.

I have more energy and am ready to take on the last few days of my least favorite month!

I think we will have to make a trip in January a new annual tradition. 😉

How did you spend your weekend?

All my love,

Autumn

Hello everyone!

As you may have noticed, I am a huge fan of adding fun into everyday.

I believe that life is meant to be celebrated.

It even says so in my bio. 😊
Something I get asked a lot is, how do I had celebration into everyday?

For me it's easy, because adding celebration can be anything.
Here are some of my favorite ways to celebrate.
I love to indulge in each holiday, or the "real" holidays.
From Christmas to Cinco De Mayo to Groundhog Day I take any occasion to celebrate.
I love to go all out for these holidays with decorations and a fun themed menu.
We dress up, eat treats and enjoy some sort of entertainment.
We love to have wear kimonos on Chinese New Year and eat green pancakes on St. Patrick's Day.
I also love to keep up with national holidays, or the "fake" holidays.
There is one (or two) almost everyday.
I choose which ones I want or have the time to celebrate.
For instance this weekend was National Popcorn Day.
I LOVE popcorn...
We had to celebrate!
It just happened to also be Dolly Parton's birthday so, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to watch a Dolly Parton movie while enjoying some salty buttery popcorn.


But, it doesn't have to be a holiday (real or fake) to celebrate.
I believe that there should always be dancing in the kitchen.
Erik and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
Whether cooking dinner, baking a favorite treat or trying a new recipe for the blog, our kitchen gets good use.
We take the time the food is cooking to dance to our favorite songs.
Which brings me to our playlists.
We have a playlist for every occasion.
From Valentine's Day to paying bills we have songs at the ready.
I believe music makes everything better.
We also love to play games, go for long walks at new places or just make a huge deal of grabbing a treat from the gas station.
I feel like people put a lot of pressure on having fun.
Which takes away from the whole point.
FUN!
Do whatever you love and have time for.
From going all out on a themed party, to watching a movie to having a dance party in the kitchen while dinner cooks.
Find the celebration in everyday.

All my love,
Autumn

Hello everyone!
It's officially time to start thinking about Valentine's Day!
I am horrible at shopping for men so, here is a gift guide for the ladies in your life.
Whether you are shopping for your wife, your sister, your daughter or your best friend, from the feminist to the fashionista, I've got you covered with 10 gifts for her under $30!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub $11

A great inexpensive gift, perfect for all ages and the current cold weather.
Apply a small dab of this to your lips and rub them together to scrub off dead skin and reveal smooth lips.
Lick of the excess and enjoy the taste of bubblegum.
It makes me feel like a kid again, every time.
And we all need kissable lips for Valentine's Day right?

Forever 21 Babes Club Crew Neck Tee $15

This cute long sleeve tee is perfect for any girl in your life.
The long sleeves are great for the current drop in temperature and the color is perfect for the month of February.
A little color helps to chase off those winter blues.
Plus, who doesn't love being called a babe?

Daisy Love Perfume $27

I love Daisy Perfume by Marc Jacobs but, it tends to be on the more expensive side.
That's why grabbing a smaller size is an amazing option.
It's the perfect trial size in case you are hesitant whether they will like it, fits conveniently inside a purse or backpack and you don't have to drop as much cash.
Daisy Perfume comes in several different scents but, the scent Love is definitely the way to go for Valentine's Day.

Bauble Bar Tassel Earrings $13

Tassel earrings are a fun way to amp up any outfit.
It can take a simple jean and T-shirt look to the next level.
That's one of the many reasons I think they are such a hit right now.
Little effort for a big payoff.
These cute pink ones are a great (and inexpensive) gift to amp up your Valentine's Day.

NARS Lipstick Duo $20

NARS is a high end make up line that can set you back cash wise.
That's why, like the Marc Jacobs Perfume, travel size is the way to go.
You get a more expensive item without the risk of wasting cash.
This set includes two shades of their five-star lip pencils.
One red, Cruella, and one pink, Dolce Vita.
Perfect for Valentine's.

Pink Faux Fur Blanket $25

Bad Girls Throughout History Book $16



The gift of empowerment right here.
This book is filled with beautiful artwork of inspiring women who changed history.
From Cleopatra, to Joan Jett, to Madame Curie to Oprah.
This will leave them feeling ready to take on the world and make a difference.
Also, pink...

Glitter Filled Lip Pool Float $13



This is the perfect gift for that "fun" person in your life.
Pool floats add color to a day by the water but, they can also be used inside all year round.
I have several pool floats that I love to bring out to decorate for parties.
I have also seen them used in all types of rooms for decoration.
So, if you don't live in a year-round sunny climate don't count this out just yet.
It's the perfect fun year-round toy.
Did I mention it is filled with glitter?!

Heart Sunglasses $5



Heart sunglasses have grown very popular over the last several years.
(Thanks Red Era Taylor Swift)
I love this pair as they are a vintage take on the more modern classic.
They have a fun cat eye vibe to set you apart.
They will be rocking these all Valentine's (and all year) long.

Sugarfina Gummy Candy $9-$20



A fun way to change up the candy you pass out for Valentine's Day.
These cute Sugarfina gummies are made with alcohol and come in a variety of flavors, including champagne and rosé.
Another fun option are the sugar lip gummies that would be perfect for your Valentine.
They come in both small or large cubes.
When all is said and done the gummies have less than 1% alcohol so, they are appropriate for all ages.

I hope this gift guide was helpful.
I filled it with things I would personally love to receive and tried to cover all the bases.
What would you love to receive for Valentine's Day?
If you decide to gift any of these items be sure to let me know!
Now, what do you get guys for Valentine's Day?
All suggestions are appreciated and welcome!

All my love,
Autumn

Hello everyone!

Does anyone still have their Christmas decorations up?

I finally bit the bullet this weekend and took ours down.

It's seriously one of my least favorite days of the year.

It's like a bad break up.

Christmas just decides to leave me and I am taken by surprise. 

I thought we meant something to each other.

I thought we had something special.

Time passes and it gets easier.

My friends and family tell me it's time to move on but it's too soon.

Then one day, I wake up and I have accepted that it's over and it's time to move forward without Christmas.

All of it's stuff gets put into boxes.

And what's this?

Someone new to share my life with?

Valentine's Day, you say?

I have mentioned before that January is not my favorite month.
Christmas breaking up with me every year really doesn't help...
But, something that does help is my first ever giveaway!
I love to give people gifts so, giveaways have always been something that interested me.
I am proud to say we are finally doing it!
My hope is to do one giveaway each month this year.
This month I am giving away a bando planner on my Instagram.

Hello everyone!

I don't know about you, but I am a huge fan of baking during the winter.

I love being in my warm house, watching the cold weather outside and smelling baked goods cooking in the oven.

I was trying to think of something new I could bake this winter and it hit me, Cinnamon Rolls.

They sounded like the perfect thing to eat my sad winter feelings away with.

Who doesn't enjoy being comforted by dough, sugar and frosting?

I went to Pinterest and found this recipe that said it was the BEST.

And let me tell you, they were gooood.

You've got to try these bad boys out.

You will need:

1 Cup of Milk, Warm

1 Tablespoon of Instant Dry Yeast

2 Tablespoons of Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Salt

3 Tablespoons of Salted Butter, Softened

1 Large Egg

3 Cups of Flour,  More If Needed

For The Filling:

1/2 a Cup of Salted Butter, Melted

1 Cup of Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Cinnamon

For The Glaze:

4 Ounces of Cream Cheese, Softened

1/4 a Cup of Salted Butter, Softened

1 to 1 and a 1/2 Cups of Powdered Sugar

1/2 a Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
1 to 2 Teaspoons of Milk

Warm your milk in the microwave in a safe dish for 30 - 45 seconds.

It should be warm not HOT!

Combine the warm milk, yeast and sugar in a large bowl.

Mix together for five minutes or until the yeast has become frothy.

Add the salt, butter and egg and mix until just combined.

Add in your flour slowly one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Add more or less flour as needed.

The dough should be tacky but should not stick to your hands.

I used 3 and 1/2 cups but it will differ each time.

Transfer the dough to a large lightly greased bowl.

Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for one hour.

While the dough is rising make your filling.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and cinnamon until well combined.

Set aside.

Once the dough has risen, remove from the bowl and punch down to release air.

Roll the dough into a 12 X 18 inch rectangle

Brush dough with 1/2 cup of melted butter.

Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture on top of the melted butter leaving a small border around the edges so the filling won't fall out while rolling.

Roll the dough tightly lengthwise to create one long roll.

I found it best to roll pulling the dough towards me, it made it nice and tight.

Lightly grease a cookie sheet.

Using string or a very sharp knife cut the roll into 12, 1 inch slices.

Place slices onto greased cookie sheet.

Cover and let rise for 30 - 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325o.

Bake rolls for 15 - 20 minutes, until golden brown.

While the rolls are baking make your glaze.

In a medium bowl mix the cream cheese and butter together until light and fluffy.

Slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix until well combined. 

 Add in the vanilla extract.

Slowly add in the milk until a drizzle like consistency is reached.

Frost rolls while they are still warm from the oven. 

Enjoy!

The rolls turned out delicious.

And I really enjoyed making them.

I love working with fresh handmade dough.

Erik loved them so much he felt inspired to write a poem.

Cinnamon Rolls, A Haiku
Oh, Cinnamon Rolls
How I love to eat your face
Delicious, gooey

If you give these a try we would love to hear your thoughts or Haikus.

What is your favorite winter treat?

All my love, 

Autumn