moody colors

I think it's so interesting how you can change the entire mood of a photograph just by altering the colors. I was playing with a few of mine earlier {I think the second photo looks pretty creepy}:

battle studies

John Mayer is set to release his latest album, Battle Studies, later this month. His seductive, smooth voice combined with those mad guitar skills, it's bound to be great. I think I may pre-order it. His albums just keep getting better {with the exception of a few songs on the Continuum album}. I wish I could watch him just play around with his guitar- I'm positive he's much better than he gets a chance to be on his songs.

{I'm also really excited about the duet with Taylor Swift.}

{via johnmayer.com}

sped pelicans

Today my friends and I are heading to the Boathouse to defend our title as trivia champs!

Last week we not only won the first and second rounds, we won the entire game. {Clean sweep!} There were a few ridiculously random questions, but luckily, we had a few ridiculous people on our team. You could tell from our team name: the Sped Pelicans.

I'm excited for a repeat of last week. {Knock on wood.} Wish us luck!

{Photo via flickr}

supernatural

I'm not really a fan of scary movies. Actually, I'm a wuss. I cover my eyes when horror movies preview during my TV shows-- and they still give me nightmares. Until about a week ago I used to cover my eyes and ears whenever something about the CW show Supernatural came on TV. Now, I'm addicted to it.

My friend's constant praise of the show convinced me to give it a chance. It's tortured, dark and disturbing. I love it. While I haven't slept well since I began watching, I can't stop. It's just too good.

I finished season one in less than a week. On to season two.

halloween weekend

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

I had a pretty low-key Halloween- it was great. I never think of great Halloween costumes until after the holiday, which is why I usually end up with a pretty boring one.

This year I was a fairy- cliche, I know- but it was cute. My big sister always comes up with the most creative costume ideas.

She was a Roy Lichtenstein pop art painting this year. I wish I had a better picture because it was such a creative, well-made costume, I'm sure.

{I stole this one from her facebook page}

I'm a little sad Halloween is over but next up is Thanksgiving and then Christmas so I have a lot to look forward to!

rainy day

One of my favorite blogs {Color Me Katie} had a fantastic rainy day idea... a fun, little quiz.

The first thing to make you smile today:

The giggles and smiles of my two-year-old friends. It's so adorable and contagious.

Your favorite thing to do:

Sit at a coffee shop with friends and talk for hours where conversation never breaks and caffeine is devoured by the mug-full.

Favorite Memory:

Watching Jeopardy with my Grandpa and counting correct answers on my fingers. He was always counting on his toes before I made it to my second hand, but it was still fun. I loved hanging out with my Grandpa.

Where you want to be right now:

In Boston. I thought it was beautiful when I went there in the summer but I bet it is ten times as beautiful in the fall. I would love to sit on a blanket in Boston Public Gardens, sip a latte and read for hours.

This was fun for a rainy day, but I hope tomorrow is nicer outside.

{image via flickr}

pumpkin treats

I love everything about pumpkins: the bright color, the way they smell, the slimy feel when you scoop out seeds, the way seeing one can cheer me up immediately, but I especially love the way they taste.

This weekend I decided to make a few of my favorite pumpkin treats.

Pumpkin Spice Latte:

• 2 Tb canned pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1-2 shots brewed espresso (i always lean toward more)

Combine the pumpkin, vanilla, sugar, pie spice and milk in a small saucepan.

Warm over medium heat, stirring constantly until frothy. Do not boil.

Pour the espresso into a mug and add the pumpkin spiced milk over it.

Add nutmeg and cinnamon to taste.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds:

Large pumpkin

Butter (or non-stick spray)

Salt (or other seasonings)

Clean seeds out of pumpkin, wash thoroughly. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Soak seeds in melted butter or thoroughly grease pan. Spread seeds out in a single layer.

Sprinkle seeds with salt or other seasoning. (i sometimes use seasoned salt or onion salt. sometimes even cinnamon.)

Bake for about 25 minutes or until toasted. Check and stir often.

Pumpkin Pecan Bread:

{Probably my favorite bread EVER}

3 1/2 cups flour

3 cups sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin

1 cup vegetable oil

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

2/3 cup water

1/2 cup pecans (i usually add more pecan or almonds and walnuts)

Combine the first six ingredients in a bowl. Combine the pumpkin, oil, eggs and water. Stir mixture into the dry ingredients. Add nuts.

Spoon into two greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for ten minutes before removing from pans.

(TIP: lay pans on their sides to easily remove loaves.)

{image via}

fall obsessions

It's fall, which means a whole new set of personal obsessions.

I honestly think they change with the seasons {this probably has a lot to do with many sports seasons following the tilt of the axis also}. What are my greatest fall loves/obsessions?

Pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, candy corn, football {college and pro}, hockey, red, yellow and orange, fleece coats, slippers, Oktoberfest beer... and anything and everything involving Christmas {yes, I realize it is still early}.

At least I have many things to keep me occupied on these chilly nights.

{image via Flickr}

why i love fall...

I had a family picnic this weekend. It was a little chilly but beautiful.

happy weekend

Happy Weekend!

For some reason, this week seemed to go by much slower than usual. I'm not sure why-- it must be that I am so excited for the weekend.

This weekend I am driving to Madison, Wis. with friends to watch my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin Badgers, play University of Iowa in the Homecoming game. I'm really excited to "go undergrad" with my friends {many of whom are flying in from across the country}. This may be the last time that all of us can get together for a football game for a while {one of my best friends leaves for Peace Corps for two years this winter}. This is also probably the last time we'll still blend in in the student section. {We're getting old. I'm sad.}

I also have a family reunion and tickets to see Dane Cook in Milwaukee on Sunday.

Sometime this weekend I even hope to find a few minutes to sip a pumpkin spice latte and finish my book. Maybe even sleep a little.

{image via weheartit}