{Give, Laugh, Love}: Modcloth Holidays

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Be sure to check it out! 

xoxo

Caramel Apples and {Butterbeer} - Recipe!

Butterbeer!

Ever since reading Harry Potter, and then watching the movies, and then enviously looking at all those wonderful Instagram photos of Butterbeer from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I have wanted to try a butterbeer. I love butterscotch, foamy drinks, and wishing I was a wizard (alas, I am only a muggle). It has been my dream to either go to Florida and try it for myself, or to make it at home. Since Florida is currently out of the budget, I looked for lots of recipes on Pinterest, and I'm sure to try others in the future, but this one was the easiest!

Butterbeer Recipe 

Froth: 

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon Butterscotch-flavored Jell-O Instant Pudding Mix

*The original recipe also calls for 1/4 cup powdered sugar but I'm trying to reduce my sugar intake so I didn't include it and it still tasted wonderful!

Directions: With an electric mixer (or whisk), mix all the ingredients until it resembles whipped cream, then set aside.

Cold Butterbeer:

cream soda (chilled)
1-2 teaspoons butterscotch-flavored sundae syrup (per mug)
prepared Froth (recipe above)

Directions: Pour the chilled cream soda into your glass, leaving an inch or so at the top for froth. 

Add in 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the butterscotch syrup and stir well. 

Top off your glass with the prepared froth and give it a few minutes to settle.

Enjoy! 

*adapted from The Disney Diner

We also decided to make caramel apples that day, and it was a very autumnal.

We had so much fun!

We bought some Granny Smith Apples and Kraft caramel bits, popped the caramel bits onto the stove for a little while and then dipped our cut apples into it - delicious!

How have you been enjoying these autumn days?

Tell me in a comment below!

xoxo 

Nautical {Pumpkins}

My anchor pumpkin and my housemate's lighthouse pumpkin

We went to the pumpkin patch the other day, and then carved them and it was so much fun! I will warn you all though, carving pumpkins with an extremely food-motivated dog becomes a very difficult task. There was a dog in my face, my arms were elbow-deep in pumpkin guts, and the Nightmare Before Christmas was playing loudly in the background. 

It was hectic but wonderful. 

I really love how my pumpkin turned out! I wanted to carve nautical pumpkins last year when I moved to Santa Cruz, but I ended up with a super cute white fairy tale pumpkin that I just didn't have it in me to carve. Now, I am so excited to say that I have had my nautical pumpkin carving experience! 

 I love love love my anchor pumpkin!

xoxo

{Pumpkin Patch}

I am sitting in a giant pumpkin, 

and I am so freakin' excited about it! 

I was fortunate enough to head back to the same pumpkin patch I fell in love with last year. This year I went with my new housemate, who loves Halloween just as much as I do, and my old housemate, who went along so she could have an Autumnal experience with us. It was such a beautiful day and there were so many types and sizes of pumpkins to choose from!

This pumpkin patch is just so darn cute, I had to come back this year!

I will be continuing to return here because I think it's about time I start establishing some traditions in my new town. (Is it still okay to call my town new after living here for a year and a half?) There's more posts to come: 

We just carved the pumpkins into an anchor and a lighthouse! 

I can't wait to share!

xoxo

Oh, {Happy} Day!

Last month, I had the privilege of standing next to my best friend as she said, "I do." It was really a fun and beautiful wedding in the heart of the Santa Cruz mountains. Surrounded by redwood trees, some that are over 1,700 years old, we were able to celebrate love and happiness and a new beginning. It was magical and I am absolutely happy for them both!

My job that morning was to grab the most important meal of the day: breakfast! We had to do the whole bride-to-be Starbucks cup thing, of course! Then everyone else wanted theirs to say what their importance was today - my personal favorite was my mom's "Mother of the Maid of Honor" cup - those poor baristas spent as much time writing as they did making our drinks!

Her dress was absolutely gorgeous, and she looked stunning. I'm so proud of the woman that she is and so happy that she found someone to share her life with - he is so sweet to her! 

Oh, so happy!

xoxo

Miss {Bee}

Just "Bee"-in' Me.

Lately, I've been feeling very cared for and special - it's a great feeling and I'm savoring it because it has been a while. It's certainly a good way to end the summer. I start my fall classes online next week, and the one class I'm taking at a campus starts the first week of September. I'm ready for Autumn but also quite sad to see the Summer go. 

These last few weeks of Summer, I hope to be able to spend lots of time with my friends, my new love, and my family. The second weekend in September, I will be a maid of honor in a wedding.

It's all quite exciting, but hard to keep anxiety to a minimum! 

So I will just continue to "bee" me and enjoy the summer while it lasts, because there's a whole lot headed my way this Fall!

Oh, and in other news: I was totally spoiled by my mother, who bought me this Heidi Daus ring:

It's a bit gaudy for my usual taste, but it's a bumble bee so I'm totally into it. 

What are you up to these last few weeks of Summer?

xoxo

Bridal Shower {part 2}

He stole her heart. So she stole his last name. 

Yesterday, I made this post about the bridal shower I threw for my friend, Kimberly. Seeing as I had a certain vision in mind, but also having a budget, I had to improvise. 

Instead of buying certain things, especially things I saw on Etsy, I made them myself. Firstly, the sign above! I saw a similar sign in San Francisco on a trip and kicked myself for not purchasing it when I was there. It would be perfect for the bridal shower and eventually, the wedding. My mother was particularly sad that we didn't buy it, so I ran to the local art supply store and decided to make it myself! 

It ended up being a big hit during the shower, and a bunch of people want one now.

I also wanted a candy bar with the theme of "Something Blue."

It ended up being fairly small since most of the women coming were older and don't really enjoy candy anymore. However, the younger women all loved the Something Blue bar!


We had blue rock candy, two shades of blue M&M's, blue Lindt truffles, some blue mints, blueberry cheesecake, and lastly, blue rock candy pops.

I loved searching for the candy and putting this part of the shower together.
It was a blast!

xoxo