Happy Halloween!

I wouldn't really consider halloween one of my favorite holidays. No particular reason, I just don't get into it all that much. What I do love about this time is the tradition of carving pumpkins and watching Hocus Pocus! And candy. You can't forget the candy.

So what's better than an evening of pumpkin carving with the roommates before they leave for vacation?? Not much. Except they would probably say going to the beach. I guess I can't blame them there. But carving pumpkins with them is pretty dang fun too. 

Casey and I went with a Texas theme, which I'm sure doesn't come as much of a surprise. Joe embraced his love for the RedSox and put it in pumpkin form. 

I was hoping that we could get a Cowboys win to go with my pumpkin, but unfortunately that wasn't in the cards this week. 

Sports and Texas themes seem to be a trend for us, because this was the last time we carved pumpkins together, two years ago!

We also spiced things up a little bit with a delicious hot apple spice cocktail. It was the perfect drink for a chilly night and just screamed fall!

What you need:
Apple cider
1 tsp Cinnamon
1.5 oz Vanilla vodka (or caramel vodka)
Brown sugar
Apple

Directions:

Heat cider and cinnamon.

Add vodka toward the end of heating.

Rim glass with brown sugar and garnish with apple slice.

Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite halloween tradition? I'd love to hear!

XOXO, April

Dear Sister,

When you were born
I was only three. I don't remember much about that time, except I was a pumpkin for halloween that year. Mom says that I was so excited to have a baby sister. I wanted to feed you and hold you and play with you; basically I wanted to do everything with you. I thinks it's safe to say I welcomed you with open arms!

When you were five 

you were like my mini me. It was fun having you around, whether it was for playing in our playhouse, making a slip & slide on the trampoline, or finding whatever mischief we could. Even at such a young age I knew that we had a relationship unlike so many sisters.

[you aren't 5 years old in this picture but I had to use it!]

When you were nine
life got a little messy for us. I think this time made us both grow up early for our years, and also made us grow closer. We didn't always get along and there were definitely times that you drove me crazy. I was a bratty teenage and you were the sometimes annoying little sister. But when it came down to it I loved you more than anything.

When you were fifteen

I went away to college. I never realized how hard it was going to be to leave you. I had prepared to say bye to friends and even mom, but telling you bye that day at the dorms was heart breaking. Suddenly, I wasn't going to have my roommate I'd had the last 18 years. I wasn't going to have my partner in crime, my best friend. Our relationship was strong enough that the distance didn't matter and we always picked up where we left off.

When you were eighteen
it was your senior year of high school. You were on homecoming court and graduated in the top 10% of your class. I was such a proud big sister! I could not believe that you were so grown up! Where did the time go?! I prayed that I had been a good role model for you; I knew that you had an exciting, bright future up ahead. And you have proven me right.

Today you're turning twenty-two.

I can't believe how the years have flown. I am so proud of the young lady you have become. You have such a kind heart and exciting spirit; you light up any room you walk into and are a joy to be around! You are beautiful inside and out, sister. I look up to you and learn from you on a daily basis. I'm so thankful every day that I get to be your big sister and your best friend.

Happy birthday Sister! 

I love you to the moon and back!

Appledoodle Cookies

A couple weeks ago I got to go apple picking with the roomies and had a blast! My dad laughed at me when I told him because I used to hate berry picking at our family's farm when I was younger (mostly when I was a teenager). But then again it wasn't 100 degrees here while picking either.

We picked a half bushel. That's a lot of apples. And you can only eat so many apples before you get tired of them, no matter how delicious they taste! So that's when I turned to Pinterest for help. After sifting through the tons of apple recipes, I finally narrowed it down to one that sounded delicious. You can find the original recipe here.

I'm sure you've heard of snickerdoodle cookies, or even pumpkindoodle cookies before. Well appledoodles are an even better version (in my opinion at least)! These cookies are the perfect blend of apples and cinnamon and sugar. The inside is soft and moist (even though I really really dislike that word) while the outside has the perfect amount of crisp to it. I think I might have a new favorite cookie. And that's saying something for me!

What you need:

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

2 cups flour

1 small box instant cheesecake (or vanilla pudding mix) not prepared

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

pinch of nutmeg

1 cup apples- peeled and diced

Cinnamon Sugar:

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

*the recipe called for 1 teaspoon baking soda but I was out and since cookies don't really have to rise it didn't make much of a difference

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.

2. Cream together butter, brown sugar and sugar. Mix in vanilla and egg until smooth.

3. In separate bowl, mix together remaining dry ingredients (flour, cheesecake mix, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg).

4. Combine the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until it forms dough.

5. Stir in the apples.

6. Roll dough into approx. 2 inch balls, then coat with cinnamon/sugar mixture.

7. Place dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

8. Bake for 12-14 minutes; allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet.

I hope you enjoy these cookies as much as I have! But all this talk is making me want another so I'll be stuffing my face with cookies if you need me!

Xoxo,

April

The Best is Yet to Come

My quick trip to Texas last weekend was just what I needed. It was filled with hugs and catching up with family and friends, delicious food I've been craving, and new memories to hold onto.

First stop- Top Golf with the family. As long as I lived in DFW, I never went to Top Golf. (It's basically a giant driving range that scores each drive and serves food and drinks!) My drive was severely slacking, but I was hitting the irons like I play golf daily. Now I can't wait to get my clubs back and play again!

Next up was The Rustic in Uptown. Everything about this place was great, from the food and drinks to the live bands and fun atmosphere. It was even better getting to hang out with some college friends!

Finally, I continued the tradition (from the last 7 years) and went to the Texas State Fair. If you've never been, oh my. Be prepared to eat your weight in fried food- I know it's horrible for your health, but so delicious! I swear you can find anything fried you want there, including fried sweet tea! How is that even possible??

 

[fried red velvet cupcake. because yum.]

Surprisingly those aren't even the best parts. The realization I made driving to the airport on Tuesday might just be the highlight of the trip.

Once the excitement of things calmed down, that familiar feeling I've prayed to leave behind came creeping back in. I was only there for almost four days and the anxiety didn't waste any time before taking hold again. I can't pinpoint why or what brought it on, but there was no mistaking those feelings. I shouldn't have been shocked that being so close to those painful memories I intentionally left behind brought back some anxiety.

If I learned one thing from that moment and the trip, it's that living in New York (or anywhere that isn't DFW) is exactly what I should be doing right now.

Do you remember recently when I was questioning if I had done the right thing by moving, or if travel nursing was for me? (Shame on you if you don't!) Well let me just tell you that it is such a rewarding moment to get some affirmation that this is right! And I don't mean from my family or friends or just anyone; I'm talking about from THE only one that matters. This was definitely a Jesus moment, y'all! I just knew in that moment that moving, and continuing this adventure, is what I was meant to do. And it could not have come at better time… funny how that works, huh?

I will always miss my family and friends while I'm traveling, but now I can breathe easy and enjoy the ride! There are great things up ahead and I'm excited to see where God will take me! Now where should my next assignment be? The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

XOXO,

April

Life Lately

Oh hey there! Please excuse my a abcense around these parts. I'm still alive here, I promise. I've just been too busy enjoying myself and have yet to sit down to write a post! But I certainly haven't forgotten about you all! 

Here's an update of my life lately- iPhone camera style. 

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!

"Hildene" The Lincoln House, Manchester, Vermont

Have I ever mentioned that I love fall?

Apple picking @ Indian Ladder Farms

Picking out punks (aka pumpkins) for carving with the roomies

"Texas Star" Ferris wheel at the Texas State Fair

Typical Big Tex picture with my girls

Night out with my mom and sister

As you can see, I've been all over the place lately! Stop back by tomorrow for more on my trip to Texas!

Xoxo,

April

28 before 28

I was finally able to narrow down my bucket list of things to accomplish before I turn 28. I know most of these lists are "25 by 25" or "30 by 30", but seeing as I'm already 25 that wasn't an option. And 30 seems a little too far away at the moment, so I settled for 28. The way I see it, I can just create another list for 30 when the time comes.

I have until June 7, 2017 to complete this list, which is a little over 2.5 years. That may sound like a long time now, but as life usually goes I'm sure it will fly by. 

1. Be debt free
2. Run a 5K
3. Read my Bible cover to cover
4. Live somewhere other than Texas
5. Create a successful cookie business
6. Do yoga on a regular basis
7. Visit France
8. Start grad school
9. Visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
10. Learn a new language
11. Go kayaking
12. Ride in a hot air balloon 
13. Learn to ballroom dance
14. Visit Canada
15. Learn to crochet
16. Go on a mission trip outside of the US
17. Skydive
18. Take a cooking class
19. Go to Vegas
20. Be on Wheel of Fortune
21. Camp on the beach
22. Swing on a trapeze
23. Go to a RedSox game in Boston
24. Adopt a puppy
25. Get my CHL
26. Create a cook book full of family recipes
27. Go on a road trip with my girlfriends
28. Get LASIK surgery

What do you have on your bucket list? I'd love to hear about them!

XOXO- April

Hello, October

Can you believe it's already October?! I feel like the days seem to fly by quicker every month. With a new month starting, I wanted to share with you my goals for October.

//Stick to a routine for devotionals.

I can be sporadic when it comes to doing devotionals. I blame it on my schedule but I know I just need to commit. Also, I plan to dig deeper into Jesus and my relationship with Him during these times.

//Write more blog posts.

Since I'm fairly new to the blog world, I easily get stuck on what to write next. I try to post at least twice a week but I would love to increase that over time.

//Continue the healthy lifestyle.

It's only been a couple days since the 21 day fix started, but my goal it to continue the healthy eating and working out once it is over. This also includes getting back into yoga.

//Read two books.

I have a running list of books I want to read that I haven't gotten around to. This month that will change.

//Bake fall themed sugar cookies.

Because I love fall and sugar cookies.

//Save more money.

I'm guilty of a little too much shopping since I've moved to Albany. But a girl needs a new wardrobe when she moves to the north, right? Now that I have that (mostly) out of my system, I need to stick that extra money into savings. 

Do you have any goals for October? I'd love to hear them!

ps// happy birthday [month] to my baby sister! 

(yes, we like to celebrate the whole month!)