snack of the week: trail mix

I'm munching on a yummy concoction of homemade trail mix this week. I'd probably be better off if I was actually hiking while eating it {the M&M's are my favorite part!} but nevertheless, it's a perfect morning or afternoon {or both!} snack at work.

Here's what I tossed in the mix:

bite size pretzel nuggets
golden raisins
honey nut cheerios
peanut butter M&M's
honey roasted peanuts
dry roasted peanuts
regular M&M's

To make your own, pour desired amount of each ingredient into a large tupperware bowl, cover with lid, shake and enjoy!

p.s. Look for posts all about the wedding weekend in TN coming soon! It was so much fun and such a joyous time with family and friends. 

take me home to tennessee

I'll be taking a little hiatus from posting for the next week as I head to Tennessee to celebrate my big sister's wedding! Can't wait to post pictures of the beautiful big day! Congrats Emily and Chris!

{here are some of their lovely engagement photos by Lindsay Jane Studios}

words to remember

{via}

I've seen this quote floating through the blogosphere lately so I'm certainly not posting something new and original with this one, but these are words I need to remember...and remember often. I might not sew anything from a pattern perfectly (it's hard I tell ya!), my creative dessert visions might end up tasting great but looking gross, and I might have to clip hundreds of magazines up before I figure out what I really want my dream house/kitchen/bedroom/closet to look like, but nothing I create can ever be wrong. It may not be right, but at least it will be creative! 

This little pearl of wisdom is just what I needed to keep stitching away on an "easy" shopping tote that probably should have been filed under "difficult" in my new Amy Butler book. I think I've already wandered off the instructional trail, but here's hoping I end up with a semi-functional bag in the end....

retro camera: mpls skyline

Just playing with my phone camera settings at a recent Twins game...

greetings from mn!

My sweet father came to MN on a business trip recently and we enjoyed a Saturday full of adventures around the Twin Cities including a stop at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Don't you just love "Greetings from..." postcards?

mini cherry cheesecake

Several weeks ago I made a famous family recipe for miniature cherry cheesecake. We've had this recipe in our family recipe box for many years---my sister originally made it as part of a children's cooking class when she was in elementary school! I think the secret is in the homemade crust...

Graham Cracker Crust:

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (one package)
1/4 cups confectioners sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Make crumbs by placing graham crackers in a plastic bag and rolling across it with a rolling pin. Mix crumbs together with the rest of the ingredients. Pack a spoonful of crumb mixture into a lined muffin pan (I used aluminum foil muffin cups) firmly with your fingers. Bake muffin tin in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Allow to cool.


Cheesecake:
2 eggs
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream together the cheese and sugar. Add eggs and beat until well mixed. Add vanilla and salt and mix well. Pour batter into the the muffin pan on top of the graham cracker crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and top with cherry pie topping when cool.