'Tis the Season

I hope you've all had a great Thanksgiving weekend. I had Friday off work and have loved the long weekend and quality family time. I've started to feel the Christmas gift-giving anxiousness that can creep in during the holidays and had to stop myself to enjoy the true meaning of this season. I've reminded myself I'll be loved by my family whether or not I snag the perfect gift ;). Getting rid of the anxiousness has left excitement and joy in its place. It's a good time just to tell our loved ones how much they mean to us. 

Here are some photos of our weekend. 

 We got up some decorations at my mom's this weekend. Putting up the Christmas decorations is one of my favorite days of the year! So much cheer. I love the joy and warmth of the Christmas season. 

I made Triple Chocolate Cupcakes (recipe here) for our Thanksgiving dessert and added a variety of toppings for fun. I did chopped walnuts, chocolate chips and cut up peppermint patties. This recipe is just so good:)

Homemade buttercream frosting is always beautiful if you ask me. 

This is Ranger and Nick practicing our homework for puppy class - this is "sit". I think Ranger looks adorable every time he sits. 

We watched Elf last night (one of my Christmas favorites!) and Ranger seemed to like it. He and Nick cuddling is always the cutest.

This was today after Ranger's puppy class. He has been learning really well so far! We still have areas to work on, but his sweet times {most days...} overshadow the tantrums and poor choices he makes;). We also gave him a haircut today, after this photo was taken, and he looks so different to me! His hair will grow back fast, but I'm not used to seeing him with shorter facial hair. I'm sure you'll notice in photos I post this week. 

I hope you've had a great weekend. Let's keep joy and gratitude in our hearts to give to others this week. We never know who may need some extra.

Today's Pinspiration:

(Source from Pinterest)

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes {gluten and dairy free!}

So many things to catch up on, where to start?!

I'll start with cookies:) I've been doing a lot of cooking and baking lately (recipes coming soon!). 

Chocolate Chip

Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal chocolate chip)

Trisha Yearwood's Fancy Chili

I got a pedicure a few weekends ago with my co-workers (I realized I hadn't had one since before Nick and I were married - over 3.5 years ago which seems crazy!). 

Our lovely landlord turned off our heat to our building. But we live in Minnesota and it's still been cold here. I was completely bundled in numerous layers to survive the weekend inside our apartment. I didn't even complain about it (ok.. that was sarcastic.. I totally complained - sorry honey:)).

Yesterday was Fibromyalgia Awareness Day! I wore my purple today (since I wore my PJs yesterday.. :)) to support it. The butterfly is also a recognized symbol for fibromyalgia. One day, fibro will no longer have a grip on me. 

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The good news is that our high jumps from 70 today to 92 tomorrow and I'm quite excited about it! I got a pedicure you know and I've hardly been able to show to the world yet with chillier temps! Things are also finally turning green outside (longest winter evvvvverrrrr).

Speaking of things I've baked lately, these cuties really take the cake! Cupcake that is ;)

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes
Makes 12 cupcakes

I baked these for a co-workers birthday a few weeks ago. OMGosh, if you like chocolate, make these. You won't regret it. 

I texted another co-worker to see what the birthday girl's favorite flavor was. Chocolate. So I went for it! The more chocolate, the merrier. 

These cupcakes are so dense, filling, and satisfying, I must say.

Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

2/3 cup Bob's Red Mill all purpose flour (or regular if you eat gluten)

2 1/2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt (I didn't add this since I used salted butter)

3 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped (mine is Ghirardelli's 72% cocoa (dairy free))

11 tbs Earth Balance butter (or regular dairy butter)

3/4 cup plus 2 tbs sugar

3 eggs at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-cup muffin pan with liners.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Place the chocolate and butter in a microwaveable bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and microwave in 15 second increments until it is melted and smooth (careful not to overcook). Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, 10-15 mins.

Using a wooden spoon, stir the sugar into the chocolate mixture until combined. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating until combined after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Gently fold in the flour mixture until no traces of flour remain; do not over mix.

Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each one about 3/4 fill. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 22-24 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes and transfer the cupcakes to the rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour. While they cool, whip up the buttercream frosting below. 

Chocolate Buttercream

Ingredients:

3 cups confectioners' (powdered) sugar

8 tbs Earth Balance Butter (or regular)

2 1/2 tbs almond milk (or regular), plus more if needed

Cocoa powder - I didn't measure, but maybe added 2-3 tbsp

Hershey's syrup (optional) - I didn't measure, but maybe added 1 tbsp (I tasted the frosting and tweaked it until I liked the amount of chocolate flavor)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp salt 

1 dash of cinnamon (optional - I just love it)

Mini chocolate chips as garnish - grated chocolate would be really cute on top too!

Directions:

Have all ingredients at room temperature

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, almond milk, and the vanilla and beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Then add the cocoa powder, let that get mixed in well, and add the hershey's syrup (this is optional) and allow it to mix together. When you like the chocolate flavor you've reached, increase the speed to medium and beat until you reach your desired consistency, adding more milk or powdered sugar if needed. 

I put the frosting into a ziplock baggie and cut off the corner to use to pipe on the frosting. I start on the outside, making a large circle, and keep circling in until you get to the middle, I typically build the middle a little higher for fun. I added the chocolate chips individually to get them to stick into the frosting.

I ended up having a little bit of frosting left over (warning - this frosting is highly addictive, and once you eat one spoonful, it may be difficult to stop). It's great on cookies, graham crackers, etc. to use up any extra. 

You've got to try these ones. 

Today's Pinspiration:

From Instagram - credit on photo

Capturing December Photo-A-Day Challenge; Days 1-15

Early in December, I came across this list of photos to take each day in December. I really liked the idea and wanted to partake via Instagram. I'll split it into two posts since there will be lots of photos. I'll add in other photos as well of our early December activities.

12/3 (the day I started the challenge) Red:

My comfy bed deserved to be recognized, especially with our electric blanket to keep us warm in these cold Minnesota winters.

12/4: Joyous:

The nativity scene Nick collected growing up.

12/5: Today's Temperature: 

This wasn't all that bad for early December! 

12/6: Shopping

I didn't shop that day (it was a Thursday anyway), but can show you my elf station. I did a lot of card making this Christmas to give away sets of cute blank cards:) 

12/7 Bright:

Our fresh snow sure brightened things up.

 12/8: Ornament(s)

12/9: Something You're Reading

I wish I could say I'm reading a great book, but most of my reading these days are blogs I follow. This one is Kelly's Korner, one of my favorite daily reads.

12/10: Wrapping Paper

 12/11: Green

The first year of our stockings - I love them! I got them last year on an after Christmas clearance at Pier 1 and got them for a great price.

12/12: A Beautiful Sight

Our nativity scenes and the glow of our Christmas tree.

12/13: Family

An old family classic:)

12/14: Christmas Tree

12/15: Favorite Holiday Song:

I didn't have anything to take a photo of, so used this one, but I truly enjoy all Christmas songs. I really like "Baby it's cold outside (love it in Elf:))", I've always loved "Christmas Canon" aka Canon in D by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and songs celebrating Jesus. Christmas songs just melt my heart. 

We also had a huge winter storm early December that dumped about 12 inches of snow:

It snowed ALL day Sunday and made for a messy commute for the next few days. 

We enjoyed Christmas with Nick's extended family in Northeast Iowa as well:

Santa made his annual appearance 

 We all enjoyed admiring my SIL's baby bump:)

Family photo with Grandma Lucy 

Typically this may be a husband and wife shot (which we got some of those too), but I really just wanted to show Amber's bump :) and the proud uncle. We can't wait to meet this little guy!!

I whipped up a batch of peppermint mini cupcakes to take to family Christmas as well. I used this recipe I made before and added peppermint instead of vanilla and swapped the butter to dairy free butter and used gluten free flour so I could enjoy them too. I received many compliments on these! 

In appreciation of the tree that brought many warm and fuzzies this Christmas season:

  

Part Two of Capturing December and the rest of our Christmas' coming up next. 

Today's New Year Pinspiration (and Happy Birthday to my mom, a New Year's baby!). This Pinspiration something I strive for:

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