Several weeks ago Ryan and I had the luxury of going to Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Valley with some friends to wine taste & explore. It is so stunning there that I couldn’t help but take a ton of pictures. The rolling hills & mountains are majestic enough to take your breath away. We had the opportunity to tour Saarloos & Sons on the first day of harvest. The owners explained the winemaking process and even let us try some of the grapes! AHmazing. Here are some photos from the trip. ♥

   Fall is my favorite time of year, and I love anything pumpkin flavored. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin loafs, pumpkin pies… you get the idea. This year I decided to make pumpkin cupcakes! I’ve seen this two ingredient recipe for pumpkin muffins/cupcakes floating around Pinterest and it sparked my interest. Two ingredients? Sounded too good to be true, but I had to give it a shot.

I decided to make homemade cream cheese frosting to go with it (similar recipe here). The verdict: they turned out moist and yummy! Granted, they probably aren’t as delicious as gourmet cupcakes that one might slave over for hours, but they’re still pretty dang good. 

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350. Combine 18.25 oz. package of cake mix (classic vanilla or spice cake work best) and 15 oz. can of pumpkin. Mix well and spoon batter into paper muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Once completely cooled add cream cheese frosting, if desired (see link above).

                                                              [Aren’t they cute?!]

   Last week our very dear friends Jake and Dana came into town. They were two of our best friends when we lived in Orlando, and on the exact same day that we moved to LA, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia. They’re both amazing and we had so much fun spending a few days with them. We ate lots and lots, laughed till our bellies hurt, and had a blast exploring together. Can’t wait for our future adventures. ♥

                                                       [Magnolia Bakery, Los Angeles] 

                              [Dana and I hiked to the Hollywood sign for the first time]

Here are some looks that I am currently loving. The wavy hair, neutral colors, layers, and long satchels. ♥

   This past week Ryan and I visited family in our hometown of Orlando, Florida. We did all sorts of fun family things: played games (catchphrase & farkle… my faves!), had family dinners, played at the pool, went on walks, sang together, and sat outside by the fire talking & enjoying each other’s company. I wasn’t able to capture all of these perfect moments on my camera, but I was definitely able to capture my adorable little nephew Sawyer. He is such a sweetie pie and I already miss him tons! ♥

   I am now an official member of the Pinterest community! I had heard of it before but had never taken the time to visit the site. A few days ago I visited it for the first time, and fell in love. I must’ve spent at least an hour mesmerized by all the pretty images. I thought I would share some of the photos currently inspiring me. Most of them are places, as I’m experiencing quite an itch to travel. Soon. 

Have a beautiful & inspiring week. ♥  

Here are some pretty things that I would purchase if given the chance. (I have a thing for neutral tones… can you tell? ha.) I picked some fun pieces and some that would easily transition in the fall. Happy Shopping!

1. Knit Scarf Forever 21 2. Leatherette Handbag Forever 21 3. Juice Couture Watch ASOS 4. Cream Mini Dress Modcloth 5. Blue Frill Dress ASOS 6. Free People Pullover Piperlime 7. Silk Button Down Blouse Piperlime

Nothing is as comforting as classic chocolate chip cookies. Warm, fresh out of the oven, homemade cookies. MmmMmm! I used this recipe and they turned out moist and rich. Chocolate chip cookies are definitely one of my all time favorite treats. Enjoy!

Ryan and I went to a dinner party a little while ago, and a friend made this Italian appetizer. It was so delicious that I had been craving it ever since. I decided to make it a few weeks ago, and am so glad I did. I paired it with a salami & provolone plate for a light tapas style meal. (I love eating appetizers as entrees!) It’s really a pretty simple recipe, I definitely recommend trying it out.

What You’ll Need:

Heirloom Tomatoes
Burrata Cheese (Mozzarella Cheese Filled with Cream)
Arugula & Basil Pesto (quick recipe here)
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt & Pepper
Italian Loaf

Directions:

Dice the heirloom tomatoes into little pieces. Place burrata cheese on plate, and cover with pesto. Arrange the heirloom tomatoes around the cheese. Drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Top tomatoes with salt & pepper. Warm the bread, slice, and top with butter and garlic (if desired). Serve. (Scoop some tomatoes, cheese, and pesto onto the bread. Yum!)