Fall Swing

Fall hit me hard this year, as you may have noticed my blog went nearly dead for a couple weeks, I couldn't get my legs under me and stay up. It was CRAZY for me. In the midst of it all life has been good. This past week Marc and I went up to Fritz Loven Park (where we got engaged) and spent some time wandering around hiking, and our crazy puppy swam (she is NUTS - that water was cold). Here are some pictures from our adventures:

Now we wait for the leaves to turn colors and I am sure it will be gorgeous then too and we will be back and I will take countless photos. I love fall.

What is your favorite season?

What do you enjoy about fall? For me it is all things pumpkin flavored and beautiful running weather!

Do you have any favorite pumpkin recipes you'd like to share?

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins - Review

This past week I made some delightful pumpkin streusel muffins that I found on pintrest (I LOVE pintrest). Here is the pin.

I followed the recipe exactly as it is written. It made 12 muffins although I think there was a ton of dough and could have easily made 18 muffins just as easily. If you make 12 know that your muffin cups will be super full, but it does still work out fine. This was a super easy recipe to make. I made them for our all board retreat at church, they were gone fast. I am making them again this week (I think I am going to take them down to my brother & his girlfriend).

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the cinnamon streusel topping:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits

For the glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1-2 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside.

To make the streusel topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter and toss to coat, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, butter, eggs and vanilla.

Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist.

Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tray. Sprinkle with reserved topping, using your fingertips to gently press the crumbs into the batter.

Place into oven and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

To make the glaze, combine confectioners’ sugar, butter and milk. Whisk until smooth. If the glaze is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar as needed.

When the muffins are done, cool for 10 minutes and drizzle the glaze on each muffin.

Allow glaze to set before serving.

Fall/Winter to-do list

As I got in my car this morning to head to work and the car told me it was 29 degrees I decided it was time to start creating my fall/winter (they are combined because they are slightly overlapping type - some things are obviously fall and some obviously winter but they are all going on one to-do list). Here is the start of my (probably ever growing) to-do list (in no particular order):

• get a wedding dress
• visit an apple orchard - and eat copious amounts of fresh apples
• go sledding - without it being for work (yes, I do have the world's coolest job)
• learn three new crochet patterns - ones that actually challenge me
• maintain my training schedule
• have a photoshoot in a pile of leaves
• visit a pumpkin patch
• carve pumpkins
• roast pumpkin seeds
• clean out closets and dresser - donate all the clothes that no longer fit or I just don't need/wear
• organize my "loft" space - I have this strange open space at the top of my stairs before you head into either bedroom upstairs and it needs some serious t.l.c.
• finish my Disney 2011 December trip photobook
• finish my 2011 photobook
• finish my 366 in 2012 photobook (super excited about this book)
• start and finish my 2012 photobook
• make a pie from scratch
• go skiing
• give someone totally unexpectedly a Christmas gift
• paint the upstairs bedroom
• have a photoshoot in the snow
• try making 5 new soups
• go snowshoeing
• write at least two letters a month
• go ice skating
• drive around to see the Christmas lights

What is on your fall/winter to-do list?
What am I missing from my fall/winter to-do list?
Do you have any fun winter projects?
How do you keep up your training in the months of ice and snow?

thoughts on life while running

Today as I was out for my run I was thinking about a lot of things but one of them is a quote that has been carrying me for quite some time now and I don't know who said it I found it on pintrest and it has been lovely for me it is "No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch." I love it! When I was out running earlier this morning I kept thinking about this quote over and over again. I am not certain why it sticks in my head but it does and I love it. Even when I am not running quickly I know that it is true that I am not racing anyone other than myself and I am always lapping everyone sitting on the couch.

Other thoughts while running today:

• I have become a snob and no longer can stand running in cotton t-shirts
• I have an amazing volunteer pool but it is a shallow and narrow pool - I need to intentionally work on increasing the size of my volunteer/adult leader pool
• I hate going to the dmv
• I love apple season and can't wait for honeycrisp season
• I want to eat all things pumpkin right now
• I need to catch up on some shutterfly books
• I am excited fall is coming/here sort of
• I have the world's best puppy
• I miss living by my family and friends from all over the country