2011 memories.

January - a special party just for my man and me.

these girls are the most incredible hostesses anyone could ask for!

February - lots of wedding prep.  Don't know how I could have gotten it all done without my friend Bethany.  This is not Oscar, by the way.  Her kitty is his doppelgänger.

March - the most amazing day of my life.  I got married to my best friend.

April - I got chosen to be the page turner for Pete the Cat, a book reading and signing that my brother and I took my nieces to.  This is my awkward face.

May - we were kinda boring during May.  However, we did make it to a party.  So here we are with our friend Burgin.

June - at the park picnicking and listening to the symphony.  Ah.  We're so cultured... haha.

July - I got a stress fracture.  Rocked the boot the best I could.

August - hit lots of rocks floating down the river.  

September - the mister's birthday... his cake ended up looking like a glowing orb.

October - cheeky pumpkin month.

November - I took some fun pictures of the mister.  He started a blog.  AND he got a real grown up job!  It was a good month.

December - my family.  I love them.  I especially love cooking with them.  

It's been a spectacular year filled with love, new beginnings and great experiences.  I hope you have a really wonderful New Year filled with light and love.  Happy 2012!

pumpkin. protein. fail.

I am on the hunt for the perfect protein bar recipe.  I feel like it's so difficult to find a protein bar with no artificial sweeteners and not a ton of sugar.... like super difficult.  So I found a recipe for pumpkin protein bars sweetened with stevia and loaded with vegan protein... yay!  I was so excited.

I was so excited to make this... this is after I baked it.  It was just a big rubbery failure.

sad face :(

the protein bar search continues...

happy halloween!!

did you carve a pumpkin this year?

pumpkin whoopie pies

it's October.  Time to get pumpkin-obsessed.  Come on.  Everbody's doing it...

dry ingredients.

pumpkin mix.

happy to use my little ice cream scoop to make perfect pumpkin balls.

whoopee!

I took these to my next door neighbor's house for an Oktoberfest party.  A hit.

butter.

For the past 7 years, I have enjoyed a baking day during the holidays with my friend Bethany.  We used to bake ginger snaps and other fun sweet treats, but this year we got together with a couple more friends and decided to make pumpkin butter and apple butter.  The pumpkin butter ended up with a better consistency, but they both had a great taste.  Here's how the canning went...

Robbie and put the butter in sterilized jars.

The jars go back into super hot boiling water... ouch!

I got the hiccups so I stopped to breathe deep and slow... it makes your hiccups go away instantly!  Has never failed me.

All done and ready to label and give away!

Let's pose for a picture...

I look like a sleepyhead... wait, I am!