Obsessions + Confessions: Pumpkin Edition!!!

Time for my latest obsessions + confessions, but this time it's pumpkin edition! All of my recent pumpkin obsessions (and a few pumpkin confessions).

Last week I made some of Veronica's Brown Butter Pumpkin Spice Krispies Treats and they were the domb.com. Recipe and post coming soon!

Then I went to photograph them. I had bought mini pumpkins to use as props in the photo. What do you know, they had gone bad and gotten moldy! Shoot! These were fresh mini pumpkins, so no clue why they had gone bad so quickly. According to Eat By Date, I should have been able to get a couple months out of em (unopened, fresh). No clue what happened there.

And now I'm scared to buy pumpkins for fear that they'll go bad on me. 

Oh well. At least I've got some of these fantastic Pumpkin Oreos. What do you know, again, PJ thought he wasn't a pumpkin fan but he liked these! 

 













































I'll be posting another pumpkin recipe soon too. I just need to get better photos. Think mini pies + bourbon. You're welcome :)


Now for my pumpkin obsessions! Let's start with the sweet pumpkin stuff.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce... because pumpkin + caramel is heaven on earth.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffle Mummies (No-Bake) ... super cute and easy enough to make in time for Halloween still!

Pumpkin Spice Macarons... never had a macaron in my life but I'm obsessed with them somehow.

Chocolate Pumpkin Fudge with Pecan Crunch... love the two-toned look!

Roasted Pumpkin Five Spice Ice Cream ... because sometimes fall and October call for ice cream.

Pumpkin Spice Oreo Balls... now you have another reason to buy some of those oreos!

Maple Glazed Pumpkin Coffee Cake... because cake for breakfast.

Pumpkin Toffee Angel Food Cake... I'm a sucker for Angel Food cake and that pumpkin layer.... oh no she didn't! (oh yes she did, and I thank her!)

Pumpkin Pancakes with Brown Butter Pecan Syrup or Cream Cheese Glaze... let's face it, this is basically dessert for breakfast. And I aint mad.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies... these "bake me happy." Get it? Cuz I used her blog name? I already know I'm corny.

And now for the savory pumpkin goodness.... 

Caramelized Onion, Bacon, & Pumpkin Dip... Anything served in a pumpkin has gotta be good. Plus bacon and caramelized onions, 2 of my favorite things. 

Pumpkin, Ginger & Kaffir Lime Soup... well aren't you pretty and fancy.

Healthy Bacon & Pumpkin Pasta... mmm the pumpkin looks just like cheese! Intrigued.

Turkey Melt with Caramelized Onions and Spicy Pumpkin Mayo... I said spicy.pumpkin.mayo.

Spicy Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili... pumpkin + chili scream fall! Plus served in a pumpkin.... adorbs.

Pumpkin Naan Pizza with Gruyere & Fresh Herbs... pizza + pumpkin. On naan bread. That is all.

Pumpkin Biscuits {with Pecan-Honey Butter}... the perfect side dish for some pumpkin chili!

Spicy Sausage and Pumpkin Mac & Cheese... + sage!

Pumpkin Braised Short Ribs... short ribs are seriously one of my fave things on earth. Never woulda thunk to add some pumpkin! Genius.

Skillet Pumpkin Cornbread... I bet it's amazing topped with that cinnamon butter!

Who's ready for Halloween? Not I! I don't have a costume, not that I need one this year since I won't be at our company's Halloween party. And I don't have any Halloween candy yet to pass out to the kiddos. The past few years only a handful of kids have showed up. And it's supposed to be crappy weather too. What are you all doing for Halloween? Any traditions? 


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

Hey you!

Time for another round of my latest obsessions + confessions! Ready? I know I am!

It's fall, it's fall! Fall means apples. But wait, apple cider in margarita form? Pinch me please.

Speaking of apple.... these Apple Cinnamon Pretzel Bites with Caramel Dipping Sauce are like the best thing since sliced bread. Actually, sliced bread is pretty lame compared to these.

This soup = the epitome of fall. 

If I were on death row, this would be part of my last meal... Smothered Sweet Potato Fries!

It is fall and all, but I can't lie, I'm still dreaming of sangrias and ice cream.

Since it's fall, that officially means it's pumpkin season! I'm weird... when it comes to pumpkin, sometimes I love it, sometimes not so much. But lately I've been bookmarking all things pumpkin. I plan on doing a pumpkin roundup here soon  :)

WHO lives like this??? And WHOSE husband does this???  #fairytalereallife

My dream sanctuary. 

What I Instagrammed vs What Was Really Happening. Ha I can definitely relate.

Lovin this photo editing app! It's one of the best I've used, not that I've used a lot. But it's so helpful for when I unfortunately have to take orange yucky dimly lit food photos in restaurants... it can turn them into decent pics and remove all that orange and add some exposure. So glad I found you.

This just made my life. DWTS meets Fresh Prince. Whoever made this happen, thank you. We all thank you.

Personally, I've been going through some things lately. Last week I lost a good friend to suicide, and my cousin to an overdose. Both only 28 years old. Life is so hard sometimes. So needless to say, I've been doing a lot of grieving lately. Please please please, if you know anyone struggling with depression - try to reach out, get them professional help, be there. We need to stop the stigma associated with mental illness so people won't be so hesitant to reach out and ask for help when they need it. Obviously, depression and suicide are much more complicated than that but I just wanted to put that out there. Same goes for addiction. Death is tragic enough, but when it comes so unexpectedly, to young people who have full lives ahead of them and it wasn't necessarily their time, it just amplifies that pain. I'll never forget my dear friend, Ben. And I'll NEVER forget my little cousin Dustin, who I was lucky enough to have shared so many years of my life with. Some of my favorite childhood memories are because of him. I'll see them again one day....

I hope to get back in my recipe-posting groove. But let's face it, ever since I went back to school, the blog has took a hit and I'm not posting as often. I hope to get back to posting recipes, restaurant reviews, and of course these obsessions + confessions posts. 

How are all of you lovelies doing?! I'll be by your blogs eventually to get caught up! 


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

Time for my latest obsessions + confessions!


This may be the best thing I've ever laid my food-loving eyes on. JALAPENO CHEDDAR BUNS!!!

Or fill it with a hot dog. 

This recipe and these photos have me re-thinking my supposed dislike of cucumbers. That is the prettiest green gazpacho I've ever seen!

Now this is just foodie art right here. Early Girl Gazpacho.

Obsessed with A Cozy Kitchen's instagram. 

Speaking of A Cozy Kitchen, these Frozen Pineapple Daiquiris are everything.

I'm loving everything about these sweet and savory popsicles.

More popsicles... this time with booze. 

I love summah foods! These Reese’s Frozen Ice Cream Cups are the perfect size... mini and yet so satisfying I bet!

I could certainly hop on the healthy board with this Peaches & Cream Green Smoothie.  

Best ice cream of all time. 

Or is this?

Maybe this? I can't choose! I want all the ice creams!

Love this pregnancy foodie project idea! I just may have to borrow this if and when I ever get pregnant...

I shouldn't be laughing this hard at kids getting hurt. Oops.

This past weekend, me, my brother and niece celebrated my brother's birthday at the Columbus Zoo! Um, packed. For one, it's connected to a water park. First mistake. Who makes zoos connected to water parks? What about us people who just wanna take a simple trip to the zoo? Nope, be prepared for chaos on a Saturday! It took an hour just to get out of the parking lot!! Probably never going there again lol, but we had fun! 

(Yep I'm doin the booty tooch  :) I didn't say I was doing it correctly though....)

And look at all the cool animals we saw!


































Aw look at his polar bear butt peeking around the corner! Polar bears are so cute and look so cuddly. The brown bear was looking up because he was about to be fed a giant watermelon!

































Spots and stripes! Isn't the photo of the tiger in the water so mystical and fantasy-like? I like, I like.

The zoo was really cool because they have an African safari area that is HUGE and all the giraffes and zebras and other African wildlife can roam free. It was amazing. 



































Some of the animals were sleeping or hibernating so I wish I could have seen more. Or some zoo babies! Baby elephants please!!! 

The festivities continue this weekend with a birthday dinner for my bro. Cuz he deserves it. 

That's all for now. Come back soon, ya hear? 


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

Hey you!

I love love love writing these obsessions + confessions posts. No photo editing or finding the right words to say about a recipe or restaurant. It's all about what I'm currently loving and stuff that's going on in my life (though hardly exciting), and if I can't find time to edit photos, I can always find time to share my current obsessions + confessions.

SUMMMMMMMMMMMMER!!!!!! .... is almost here. But pretty much, right? The weather has been amazing (except for this week, yucky rain!) and I've been grilling up a storm. I've got a whole summer bucket list going on (think festivals, grilling, farmers markets, vacations, kayaking, s'mores-making, and more). I love bucket lists, what can I say?? Really just lists in general. I have so many lists in my life right now. With hardly anything crossed off  :) I can seriously make a list for anything. Dare me. Anyways, on to my obsessions + confessions. 


I can't even! Ice cream cone-shaped s'mores!

Homemade Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino, you know, like from Starbucks. I'm so happy I found you. 

Like I said, summer is upon us!! Whole Fruit Popsicles!

Can I have this Grilled Lobster with Sriracha Butter everyday this summer??

To go with all those grilled sliders? How about some Everything Slider Buns? 

Annnnd since it's basically summer, of course I'm dreaming of beaches and islands. Ok this Hawaiian Hula Pork Fajitas with Pineapple Slaw + Coconut Rice is close enough.

I love Amy Schumer. 

This girl's got moves. Chunky adorable cuteness!

RIP to the great, inspiration, powerful Maya Angelou. She was always such a role model for me, I loved writing and poetry growing up. I cherish some of her books and quotes to this day. 




And since I'm on the topic of poetry - this touched my soul.

Ok one more soul-touching moment. Inspirational, real, poignant, tear-jerking. (Disclaimer: I do cry at the drop of a dime though). Speeches like this should happen more often at graduations, maybe teens will listen!

What else have I been up to, you ask? Well, the usual. Work, internship, and FOOD. Like these cupcakes I've been eating from Gigi's Cupcakes. 

I'm also trying to plan a FOODIE VACATION!! I love the beach, but I always want to try so many restaurants around the country, so this summer we're going to hit up some places I've heard about that I want to try! We're going to stop at a restaurant in Tennessee, and then another in Atlanta. Then we'll probably see a few touristy places, stay in a hotel in Atlanta, and then be on our way back home. Any hotels, restaurants, bakeries etc you recommend? We'll be staying either near the Decatur, downtown Atlanta, or Buckhead area. 

Well that's all for now. Recipes and restaurant reviews coming soon!


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

I've been MIA from the blog and I'm suuuuuuuuuuuuper sad about it. 

Guess what though?? 

Saturday was my last Saturday class eva! I'm officially all done with clinicals. I have one more class to finish up tonight and then it's official... I only have internship left to complete and then I'll have my Master's degree and hopefully a license to be a counselor if I pass the NCE in the fall  :) AHhhhhhhhhh I'M SO EXCITED!!! Can you tell?? I see you, light at the end of that tunnel!!! And I'm coming for you.

Anyways, I guess that qualifies as one of my latest confessions.... onto more confessions + obsessions!


One of my fave dessert bloggers on TV sharing a recipe and her cookbook! She's so likeable :)

Ok I'm giving in to my macaron obsession yet again... look at these Samoa Macarons!

Cheesecake + M&Ms + a sweet and salty pretzel crust? Yes yes and yes. 

I'm on an M&M kick lately apparently. Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream! Y to the um. 

I recently discovered that I love arugula on pizza, so you can imagine my excitement seeing this Pear, Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza. 

This Hawaiian Ono with Pineapple Ginger Salsa has me dreaming of beaches and tropical drinks and Hawaii. Don't know what ono is but that doesn't really matter now does it?

Since we're talking about pizza, how about a Breakfast Pizza? I said it. Pizza. For breakfast.

OMG these nachos! Cheese galore, steak, creamy spinach. These is a God.

I love everything about the food styling in this photo! Cracker jacks and baseball go together like chocolate and reality-tv-watching. Wait, what?

Oh, the art of procrastination. I was all of these last week. Grad students, you feel me?

Chilling and touching. What would you write to your younger self?

PJ and I have been trying to come up with more of our own recipes lately. It's hard though! When I think up something that seems so creative in my head, chances are it's already been thought of by all the other brilliant foodies out there in the blogosphere! But we're working hard to perfect a recipe that we LOVE from a local restaurant. Hint. It involves avocados.

Ok because you know I have no life besides school, work, food, and TV... let's talk TV. TURN!!! Have you guys seen it? I never thought I'd like it since it's about the Red Coats and Blue Coats but it's so interesting. They really should have shown shows like this in history class if they wanted me to pay attention :)

And another fave right now is Fargo, with my guy Billy Bob Thornton. SUCH a great actor. The show is kinda weird and creepy and disturbing at parts, but what can I say? I'm a weird and creepy and disturbing kinda gurl at times :)


Well that's all for now. Maybe I can get in more than 3 posts in May!! 


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

Time for my latest obsessions + confessions. Ready set go!

Oh Ben & Jerry's, you sure know how to sucker a girl in! Salted Caramel Core Ice Cream? MUST FIND THIS.

Are these not the most beautiful cupcakes you've ever seen?

Veggies disguised as fries. I dig it.

You don't have to go all the way to Philly for this pizza... you can make it at home. Thank you, cooking gods.

Philly food, take 2. How about some Philly Cheese Steak Potato Skins? Done and done.

Butterscotch Fluffernutter Krispy Bars. I love everything about you.

You guys know about my love of macarons, right? Never tried one, but I love them all the same. They are just too dang cute! I just may have found the cutest macaron of all time though... Cookie Monster Macarons!!! I know, I'm dying too.

DJ Tanner, Winnie Cooper, AND Nene Leakes all on DWTS. Yesssssssssssssss.

Wanna know someone you should be following on instagram? GrandmaBetty33. It will make her day, and mine, and yours too. I love cute old people.

Immediately started crying when I read this. I'm such a cryer!  

PJ's birthday was earlier this month. We celebrated allllll weekend long with good food and drinks. mmmm mudslides. 






















Oh and I also made him these delicious Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. Because I'm a good fiance, and he's an even better fiance and deserves them and the world.


Peace, and bacon grease!

Obsessions + Confessions

Are you ready for my latest obsessions + confessions? Where I tell you about all things I'm currently obsessin over, and share my latest confessions and things going on in my little ole life.


Finally getting over negative degree temps, but I'll still take a warm, comforting bowl of this Buffalo Chicken Chili.

Blood Orange-Champagne Crème Brûlée. So so so pretty. 

Banana Split Cupcakes on my mind!

Still got Girl Scout cookies on the brain? How about some Simple Samoas Bars?

Homemade Velveeta. Yes, homemade.

I'm sure by now you guys know I'm not much of a salmon fan. I really want to like it. And I feel like I could with the right recipe. This could be that right recipe. Or this. Or both. 

This looks like the perfect breakfast... eggs, bacon and spice.

Bye bye, Jay Leno. You're cute for this. I didn't really watch the show much but I always loved when he did the "headlines"  :)

Prepare yourself for cuteness + inspiration. That little girl brightens up my soul.

10 of the coolest food jobs. They definitely need to add Food Blogger to that list!

All done with two more Saturday clinical classes! Woohoo! I had to celebrate with fried food and beer, and sushi too  :)  

♥ Love these ladies ♥

Peace, and bacon grease!

  

Obsessions + Confessions

Hiya!

Time for another edition of my current obsessions + confessions. I love these posts. Hope you do too!


Justified is back on! Is Raylan Givens not the epitome of manness? My family grew up in Harlan, KY :)

One more Christmas obsession.... before I have to wait another 11 months.... this Winter Berry Salad Wreath w/ Lemon Poppyseed Dressing... omgomg!

Homemade marshmallows are on my bucket list. Dip em in chocolate and toasted coconut and call it a day.

Girl Scout cookie season is upon us! Mmm, homemade Black Bottom Samoa Cookie Bars.

This Chocolate Crepe Cake is a foodie masterpiece!

This Smoked Salmon Spread would be a nice addition to your Super Bowl roundup. What are you all making for the big day?

This gorgeous White Pizza could be my Friday night date. All the cheeses!

New Oreo flavors coming out soon. Can not wait.

And Red Velvet M&Ms? She seriously has all the scoop! Need these in my life like stat. 

Still trying to find these bad boys too. Why yes those are chocolate covered Lay's potato chips.

Is it just me or is everyone just overreacting a tad to the Seahawk's Sherman's rant? Really, a thug? It's football! It was the heat of the moment and he just won the NFC championship! I guess I'm just used to the smack talk cuz I watch so much UFC. Poor lil Erin Andrews looked so uncomfortable though lol. 

This deaf NFL player inspired a little girl, and he took the time to let her know how much she inspired him too. Can we just talk about how times have changed? You don't even have to mail a letter anymore... just post it on twitter. Try to ignore the grown man's spelling errors though... which was hard for me cuz I'm a grammar nut! Grammar aside, it's a sweet story.






I hope it snows tomorrow and they cancel my class and I don't have to take my midterm. Fingers crossed! 

And now I want a pet baby lamb.




Peace, and bacon grease!