this is our happily ever after

two reasons

I love TJ Maxx...got both of these for under $60...and they will be packed in my suitcase for my weekend Mystery trip

first photos with the 7D

You can bet I've been taking photos all week and playing with my new Canon 7D that Brian surprised me with for my 3rd Heart Birthday...

random side note that someone pointed out to me--third heart, third heart birthday :)  and the third times a charm, right? 

ok...back to the post...so I've been taking photos all week, reading my camera manual because this camera has a learning curve, and just having fun.  The sound the camera makes when the shutter closes is music to my ears.  The reason it's taken me so long to upload the photos I've taken is because the 7D takes a compact flash and the Rebel takes an SD card...and my computer only accepts the SD cards.  So, I had to make a trip to Best Buy to purchase an adapter. 

After work today I uploaded my photos from the 7D and was thrilled with most of them.  I still want to get an external flash for the pictures I take at night while I'm cooking.  I only have one window in my kitchen and it's not near the food prep area..and once it gets dark earlier I'll have no natural light to work with.

Here are a few shots that I've gotten this week. 

First photo taken...not original, but I love it anyway!

taken in the lobby of the Four Seasons

I get giddy when I catch bokeh..and this picture could be the best I've ever caught it!  The photo was taken from the window of Ken and Danice's residence in downtown Houston.

"Cheers to good health!"

Zoe found that my Vera Bradley duffle bag made a cozy bed

I made cupcakes Tuesday night because they sounded good...and they were good...

but then by Thursday I felt like I needed to be snacking on veggies rather than cupcakes

mint chocolate chip cookies

 

I saw this recipe advertised in a magazine and had to share the recipe.  Although I haven't tried it yet, it looks delicious...and if looks delicious to me I thought it might look delicious to you too! It begins with Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix, which I normally wouldn't use, but for the Mom who's in a time crunch or just doesn't like to be in the kitchen this is for you!

I am a firm believer in cooking from scratch...most of the time...but sometimes we all need a little help.  I don't know about you, but whenever flour is involved somehow I tend to make the biggest mess.  I've even seen Giada, yes that Giada, use prepared mixes just like this a few times on her show....and I will pretty much do whatever she says! 

So without further ado, here is the recipe for the Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies and a few other links related to using this Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix

1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4	to 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
6	to 8 drops green food color
1	egg
1	cup creme de menthe baking chips
1	cup semisweet chocolate chunks

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1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolate chunks.
2. Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

Almond Poppy Tea Cookies

Red Velvet Cookies

Eckerts Orchards

One of the lovely things about the Midwest in the fall is going to the pumpkin farm and apple orchard. With Eckert's you get those two things and a whole lot more!  Mom had to take care of some things at Eckerts one afternoon, so I tagged along...with my camera of course!  Here are some shots I got

a day in St. Louis

Last Monday Mom and I spent part of the day in St. Louis.  We looked for antiques on Cherokee Street and visited the Missouri Botanical Gardens. 

 

The picture below may not seem that special, but it is...that is the exact spot where Brian proposed to me 9 years ago!

and we ended our afternoon with delicious salads from Sassafras located at the gardens

Indiana: day two

The whole point of going to Indiana was to be able to see my cousins; Kristina, Kate, and Emma.  My Mom had driven through the quaint town of Madison, IN and said it would be the perfect place for all of us to meet. 

We couldn't have picked a better weekend: a sunny, crisp fall day...exactly what I prayed for! 

Then we headed to the outdoor farmers market where we found out they served freshly cooked omelets

that tree was really THAT color...these photos are not edited!

After lunch we headed out of town to the state park where we enjoyed a hike among the gorgeous fall trees

kate, I think these could be used for Christmas cards this year ;)

and then we capped off the day with wine and a great dinner in downtown Madison

blessed beyond measure, seriously!

Three years ago today I received a precious gift of life...a gift given in the midst of a horrific time for a precious family in Georgia...a family whose daughter died tragically at a young age...and in, what I would imagine to be, one of the fiercest storms in their lives they looked beyond themselves and chose to donate her heart (and quite possibly other vital organs).  Little did they know that her strong, perfect heart would find a home in a girl many states away.  I am blessed beyond measure and am continually amazed at God's faithfulness to me.   I know that as he brought the perfect heart to me...he will bring the perfect baby to Brian and I.  He is faithful...it's just that simple. 

I only do this once a year, but today I will take the moment to encourage you to talk with your family about organ donation.  It's an uncomfortable topic, I get it, but it's important.  Here's a link to some more information about organ donation for Texans: Life Gift  And here's a link for the rest of the US: Donate Life America

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Now let me tell you about my day...I woke up this morning with plans to meet my friend Karin for breakfast...little did I know that Brian (aka Sneaky Sneakerson) had bought me a little something

and by little something I mean HUGE SOMETHING...something I wasn't expecting at all...hadn't asked for...hadn't hoped for...had only wished for (someday...way down the road) 

I totally don't deserve this...but I am grateful for a husband who knows me so well and wants nothing more than to see me excited and happy....and as if a Canon 7D weren't enough...he's planned a secret getaway for the two of us next weekend!!! 

I am fully aware that I could possibly be the luckiest, most blessed girl in the entire world

Indiana: day one

Last weekend my Mom and I headed to Indiana for a girl's weekend.  Why Indiana, you might ask...well I can sum it up in two reasons: 1. To see my cousins who live in Ohio (close to IN) 2. Fall colors

We left midmorning on Friday and thought the trip would take about 4 hours...well, six hours later we finally arrived at our first destination: Nashville, IN.  We did stop a few places though:

A random little antique store where I bought some old blue canning jars and an old window for $10.  The window is still at my parent's...not sure how I'll get it here, but someday I will...and I have some great ideas for how I will use it (later in this post)

As we were driving the back roads of Indiana we came across the most adorable, storybook town; Story, Indiana...where we stopped because I had to take photos

 

I adore these next two photos: in their own way they speak of the changing season

Then it was off to Nashville, IN...the cutest little town with shops galore that I didn't get to enjoy near enough...but now I know it's there...and someday I will go back...on our way there I snapped a few photos

Photos from Nashville

I loved all the fall decor in this town...pumpkins and mums were everywhere...seriously adorable

and one idea I have for my old, antique window

Day Two in Madison, IN coming soon!

 

photos from mom's garden

My Mom loves her garden...she spends hours planting, tending, and weeding it each year.  It's definitely autumn in the Midwest and plants are making their last attempt at beauty until next Spring.

ok...technically not the garden, but there's something I like about this simple photo

my dad's old work boots...now work as planters

what exactly was I thinking?

At the beginning of the month I committed to blogging something fall related each day of October...I guess I forgot that I'd be out of town for a week visiting my family in Illinois...I will have lots to blog about when I return...but for now...here are some fun fallish recipes from Southern Living

Monster Meatball Sandwiches

 

Jack O Lantern Cheeseburger Pie