Life through pictures

I haven't blogged in over a week!!! I haven't even begun to post a recipe in quite a while either...I have been a slacker! No really it's because I was not feeling good and food was the last thing I want to mess with...so cooking was out!!! I do however promise to post a home fall tour AND my pumpkin muffins soon because who doesn't love a pumpkin muffin?

Brandon's Birthday :) August 29th ...we celebrated with In and Out burger and a movie... my guy is so simple :) He did however get the shotgun he has been lusting over so he had a pretty great birthday!

In & Out

The next morning we had breakfast at my favorite spot #BakeryLorraine in the Pearl Brewery...it is the cutest little spot to sit with your cappuccino and just people watch. We love it...and the macaroons are pretty amazing too!

After breakfast we went to the Japanese Tea gardens to hike and look at the pretty scenery.. I love it once it gets a little cooler..the views are awesome.

The three fall bags I am loving right now!!! I am so obsessed...I think my favorite is the orange :)

Fall Plaid! Headed to the movies!

At the ranch..Brandon was about to go dove hunting!

Friday Favorites Fall Edition

true..so true...

I love love LOVE me some fall!!! Maybe it's because it's the calm before the crazy Christmas storm or the fact that things are falling back into place with school starting and routines settling, or maybe it is just the fact that the weather starts to change ever so slightly and you can feel a little bit of cool creep into our Texas hearts..maybe...

I just love fall

Pure Autumn beauty right here ^^

My next post will be over my Fall home tour!! I have a few new fall decorations and cannot wait to show off my cute fall porch this year!!! Here are my Friday Favorites

1.    

I mean Starbucks PSL...need I say more? Def. A favorite!

2.  Spiced Pecan Pumpkin from William Sonoma!

Every year I scour William Sonoma for this stuff and it usually comes out mid August. I buy a TON for gifts, to make, and to share :) My teacher's at school LOVE when I bring this stuff to the lounge...it is def. A fall favorite!

3.  

Bath and Body works Fall candles are a must!!! I figured because it is only September, I can get away with burning a "fall-ish" candle but maybe my beloved pumpkin ones should stay put until October :)I literally cannot buy enough of these!!!!!!

4.  If you are not a subscriber to Southern Living I feel that you should remedy that ASAP!!!

I love reading this magazine..it has so many cute styling tips and yummy recipes for Fall food..the apple cake listed in this edition is to die for

5. 

I am in love with booties!! I bought the Toms desert wedge last year in all of the colors but this cheetah print is so cute! I am thinking of wearing these in our Christmas card picture this year:) Love 'em!!!

6. The true reason I really love fall is this

My wedding anniversary is celebrated during the beautiful season of fall. I remember it so clearly, how we stood underneath the pergola with a beautiful fall sunset shining down on us in all it's glory. The colors were the epidemy of what an autumn wedding should look like and it was just beautiful. I wish I could go back to that day all the time... I am so blessed to be able to share such a beautiful life with him. 

Next up Fall home tour and a pumpkin spice bread!!!!!

Book Review

 

 

Good afternoon!!!

 

I wanted to share a few of my favorite recent reads because I am one of those girls who will literally talk your ear off until you go and purchase/rent a book that I have just absolutely fallen in love with. Here's the thing, I am not a one type book kinda' person. I love thrilling mysteries, romances, biographies, historical renditions, autobiographies, Christian authors, and cook books. If it looks interesting I am going to try it. 9 times out of 10 I end up finding a new author that I really enjoy thus expanding my broad view of literature! This book that I am going to suggest today is one of the best books I have ever read.  The book " Bread & Wine" is written by Shauna Niequist, a pure genius in her writing where her words completely captured my heart. She writes about food and wine ( two of my favorite things EVER) but also about her memoirs of life. She is raw and honest in telling her tales of 3 miscarriages, life's beautiful moments with her family and friends, delicious recipes and friendships that gather together at her table. Intertwined with her lovely and truly page turning stories, she shares her faith and testimonies. I cannot quite put into words what the style of her book is like except that it's worth reading...try it.. grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine and curl up on your couch and read this book. I put it at the top of my review list!!!!

 

Other books that I suggest are

 

Liane Moriarty: The Husband's Secret, What Alice forgot, and Big little lies

 

She is a really easy read.. if you want something light, fun and page turning she is great for that.

 

If you are looking for something dark and twisted I invite you to read

 

V.C. Andrews The Flowers in the Attic saga

 

These are SUPER old books but are now recently coming back to life as I saw they created the saga in a movie series on lifetime. I read these books in College, and like I sad if you want light hearted these are not for you. This tells a story of a truly devious family secret, a hauntingly chilling story of four siblings locked in the attic.. try it you may like it!

 

Julie Julia Project

 

This is easily one of my favorite books ever.. I am sure you have heard of the movie Julie/Julia?? It is basically an collection of stories from a blogger who has decided to write her way through Julia child's famous cook book. Having recently received this amazing cookbook last Christmas I decided to read the novel that went along with it. I read this book in three days flat, it was cute, funny, and honest. Easy little read!

 

 

 

 

Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Muffins

As promised...I baked yesterday afternoon and perhaps made some of THE BEST muffins I have ever made. These little muffins are perfect for breakfasts on the go, an afternoon snack, or to share with friends like I plan to do :) My taste testers AKA Brandon and Elein said they were really yummy, so I am fulfilling my duty to my blog friends and posting them!

Easy Peasy!

Shopping List

* I substituted some of the ingredients to make ours a bit healthier so I will put my substitutions in Italics.

Ingredients:

•     1/2 cup butter, melted ( Instead I used two containers of cinnamon applesauce)
•     1 cup white sugar ( I used raw cane sugar found in the health aisle of your grocery store)
•     1 egg
•     1/2 cup chopped walnuts (  I discarded this for nut allergy people at my work)
•     1 cup all-purpose flour ( I used whole grain organic unbleached flour)
•     1/4 teaspoon salt
•     1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•     1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•     1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix well with your  mixer and pour into your greased muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes!!!!

These taste like a little bit of fall heaven :) You don't have to use my substitutions, the original recipe will taste great on its own I just attempted to tweak it to make it fit our needs!

Tuesday Life Lately

I have not posted ANY recipes lately.. I have been super busy..

BUT ...today I am making Apple Brownies and I am going to post them tomorrow!

Since my friends told me it was to early to decorate my house for fall I figured I could at least start making "fall-ish" food...nobody will complain with some apple brownies :)

Happy Back to school everyone!!!!

Life lately...

Evening walks in our neighborhood are truly gorgeous..we live in the hill country and at certain points you can see a huge view of san antonio.. I love where we live.

This my friends is my first DIY project!!!!! My mom and dad are buying a house and I wanted to create a sentimental housewarming gift...that I did myself! I plan on distressing this bench and painting it a really cute color...then changing out the cushion and adding super cute throw pillows for either an outdoor porch or somewhere inside..either way I hope it turns out as I envision!!!!

This is my boy and me right before our walk :)

My husband Brandon and me out to dinner for an early Bday celebration!!! I will say that this Cali boy of mine is the most supportive and hardworking man I know. He is so good to me and I appreciate him...love you B!

Right before Meet the Teacher! I have the cutest group of kids this year!

The day that my annual Erin Condren planner arrives is usually a fantastic day. I live for organization..and since I am super OCD type A this planner is so necessary for my life. Even if you are not crazy-plan-girl like me this will fit your needs for sure!!! Visit her website HERE

I am binge watching Grey's Anatomy right now with Brandon... I know ya'll are like " GF you have been hiding under a rock with this Grey's Anatomy business!!!" I know...I just discovered what it is like to "binge watch". I am telling you there is nothing better than lazing on your couch on a saturday or sunday evening and watching your favorite show :) Happiness!

That's it for life lately!! Lots of Preschool teaching, playdoh making, and lounge time...I am ready for Fall, Pumpkins, and cooler weather. I think I may have stated this 3894385437859 times in  my last posts.. just keeping it real!!!!! #FALLROCKS #ITSTOOHOT

Weekend In ATX

These are SO my #vibes right now...

Tis' the Sunday night before school starts....:) 

Anyways...

Brandon and I spent the weekend in one of our favorite cities in Texas...Austin. Brandon and I actually were supposed to go to our annual Colorado summer vacation but couldn't due to a various amount of reasons..and one of those being that I start working tomorrow!!! So we improvised and he mentioned a hotel that has always piqued my interest ;)...the W! I was very happy at the thought of staying at this swanky hotel downtown and enjoying a little getaway with my hubby so I said book it and he did :)

Starting our trip off right ...

at Trudy's of course!!!!

#favoriterestauraunt

Once we arrived and checked in we walked the streets of downtown and shopped...and stopped at Jo's for some iced coffee bc it was 101 degrees....

Happy to be here!

Changed and ready to lay out at the pool!!!! 

The W pool is amazing... well the "area" is amazing.. the pool is just one tiny strip encompassing about 324732382438237 drunk people. Brandon and I opted *not* to get in the pee infested  over populated pool. Instead we lounged in the cabanas, people watched ( literally the best thing ever!), and then decided it was way to hot to be at the pool if you aren't exactly going to be * in * the pool.. so we left to get ready for dinner :)

Hi!!!!!!!!

see....this strip goes ALLL THE WAYYYY DOWNNNN...with lots of people :) 

this was my spot!!!!! The people watchin' spot!

We were pretty tired from the day and had 8 pm reservations at my favorite restauraunt Eddie V's...however I not feeling the urge to put on the 6 inch sparkle stilettos I brought with me, or the need to spend 2 hours getting all fancy for our elaborate date...so I asked brandon if he was cool with just finding a local hot spot to dine at and he ( more than happily) obliged :) 

Barchi- a very great sushi spot downtown!!! We devoured it!

The next morning at Jo's...coffee and breakfi...

after breakfast we headed to Zilker park and then home. 

The End!

September Goals

I wish it felt like this looked outside right now...

I know Texas feels me.

In San Antonio the heat has risen to a whopping 101 degrees each and every day..unlike the humid heat over in Houston, San Antonio has a dry desert like heat...its lovely ...especially when you are walking from the parking lot into the grocery store and look like you just took a shower...in your own sweat. 

(sigh)

Here is a list of goals from a Texas girl dreaming of cooler temps..

September

1. Bake once a week

I do this usually every fall but I really want to try and stick to it because it is so awesome to see how much one little batch of cupcakes or one apple loaf can do to make a neighbor or friend feel special. The teachers at my school LIVED...I mean LIVED for my pumpkin loaf and pumpkin butter...I actually ended up creating recipe cards to go along with whatever I was making so that they could have their own copy. 

2. Decorate for Fall

Yep, September 1st is Fall decorating day in the Frankhouser house!!!! I cannot WAIT to get out my pumpkins and autumn leaves and turn my house into a fall wonderland. I already have my new pumpkin Volupspa candle waiting to be burned..and a host of new pumpkins I found on sale from Hobby Lobby...

3. Evening Walk 

It is insanely hot right now...to hot to walk the dog during the day..to hot to pretty much even breathe outside...I am hoping that once september hits and "hopefully" cools down a little bit we can start doing our evening walks again. I love going on a walk with my hubby and dog our neighborhood is developing a new section where we walk and during our stroll we love to look at the pretty pond and all the hills..a perk of living in the hill country :) its just pretty!

4,  Take it Easy

I am normally such a  go go go person... but right now I am having to take it easy for a little while and it is SO HARD! There is nothing better to me than waking up grabbing coffee, working out, running a million errands, doing chores, cooking dinner, and ending my day with a glass of wine and my hubby... for now, Brandon has been cooking most dinners while I relax with a book on the couch..I cannot go to the gym..so I am trying to find time just reading and watching movies and hanging out. 

5. Pick out Carpet for the upstairs

we are ripping out our old carpet and replacing it-simple goal but needs to be done!!!

6.  Dare I say Christmas shop???

Oh would that be too much!!!!? I think not!

I think I could snag a gift or two right now while the hefty bustle of the season is gone and out of the way... hmm I think this is a brilliant plan!!!

Just us!!! In leiu of our trip to ATX today 

us last year in Austin! Our favorite town!!:)