sometimes.

Sometimes I don't have time to craft and take pictures of it.

Because sometimes I get to entertain people with theatre.

And sometimes I have time to put some pumpkin spice cappuccino in my gas station coffee after the Stairmaster kicks my tush.

Sometimes I'd rather eat Sunday morning breakfast with some of my dearest dears instead of look at a computer screen.

Sometimes I knit and watch Seinfeld instead of sleep.

Because sometimes knitting makes me feel more accomplished than most other things.

When I wake up in the morning, I sometimes just listen to jazz.

Sometimes you just need to quit your job at Starbucks because something better came along. And on the day that is your last, you should definitely draw hearts all over everyone's cup and maybe not charge them for their scone.

Sometimes your grandmother sends you a picture of herself dressed up as a bumblebee for a Halloween party. That day is the best day.

Sometimes I want a dog to pet. All of the time.

Sometimes there's a mega possibility you left your camera at that lovely Sunday morning breakfast. Real talk.

Peace out, girl scout. The craft projects in my brain want to be real, but the Hispanic Cultures midterm on Thursday says, "No way, José".

apple cider muffins.

"Danie. How do you have time to bake?!"

1. I like mornings a lot
2. I do a lot of my homework...on the weekends. (HI, MOM AND DAD.)
3. I like baking enough to make time for it
4. I live too close to the food co-op
5. Because I just do. I just have time.

Theatre majors like snacks. And when you're at rehearsal for 3+ hours a night, you most likely, at some point, want a snack.

Vegan Apple Cider Muffins

Makes 16 muffins.

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 Tbs cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 flax egg or other egg substitute

1/3 cup plain soy yogurt (or not soy)

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup apple butter (can sub applesauce, or pumpkin..or pumpkin butter)

1/3 cup apple cider

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup canola oil

turbinado sugar for muffin tops (optional)

Optional mix-ins: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1 chopped apple

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare two muffin tins. 

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Fold in walnuts, if desired.  In another bowl, whisk together flax egg, yogurt, maple syrup, sugar, apple cider, apple butter, vanilla, and oil. Stir in chopped apple. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until just combined. Fill muffin cups with batter and sprinkle turbinado sugar on top. Cook for 15-20 or until a toothpick, inserted, comes out clean.

Let cool for two minutes before moving to a wire rack. 

diy tribal print earrings.

Something exciting has happened.

For the first time I completely, totally filled each and every page of a journal. I started this journal during the summer after my senior year of high school. Sydney (one of the loveliest friends) and I sat down at my dining room table at my homehome and covered our composition notebooks with whatever we could find.

We also vowed to start a list of things we love. Mine fills up the last five pages of my journal. The last five pages of my journal are filled with 403 things I love. I could go on, but bottom line: you need to start one.

I'm so incredibly proud to have filled up those pages with so many thoughts. On people and things and pets and love and confusion (so much confusion) and happiness and home and here and this one entry where I talk about why I love coffee.

And now I get to start a new one. 

On to crafternooning! Tribal prints are way in for the fall...did you know?! These DIY earrings are made from mostly dollar store finds. You got this.

DIY Tribal Print Earrings

You'll need: Clear decorative marbles (you know what I mean...dollar store find for sure), nail polish, superglue, and earring posts.

1. Choose one color of nail polish that will be the outline of the design. On the flat side of the marble, paint any sort of design. Simple is best. Let dry.

2. Paint over the lines of the design with other colors of nail polish. You'll probably use more than one coat. Don't worry about it being perfect, imperfections won't show (and are beautiful!) Let that dry completely.

3. Attach earring posts to the flat part of the marble with superglue. Let dry.

Get yourself some earring backs and stick those bad boys in! You should probably make a million designs and then mix and match. Probably meaning definitely.

the proudest of thursdays.

If there was a song playing at the conclusion of my nut butter making experience, it would be the reprise of "Climb Evr'y Mountain" from The Sound of Music. It would feature me (in traditional Austrian garb), ascending up a grassy hill, jar of almond butter in hand.

If you ever want to feel proud of yourself, take the time to make your own nut butter. It's not hard, it just takes time. 

You can totally handle it, though. And oh, goodness! I'm sorry! Do YOU carry cinnamon honey flaxseed almond butter, Mr. Grocery Store? I didn't think so.

Look at it. The lone champion of the nut butter challenge. I love you, homemade almond butter. You make me feel ALIVE. 

And now I need a nap.

Inspiration (with the addition of everyone's favorite font, Curlz MT):

P.S. I used this recipe as a basis for mine.

baked pumpkin chai donuts.

My parents came to visit this weekend. 

LOOK AT THEIR LOVELY MUGS.

This means a few things:

1. I will be reminded of how I absolutely cannot maintain a clean room.
2. A completely justified purchase of not only one...but TWO boxes of cereal. A highlight of the weekend.
3. When I enter their SUV, I will be re-immersed into the land of my father's beloved 70s rock Sirius Radio station, think I will be able to name every artist of every song but then end of guessing REO Speedwagon instead of The Rolling Stones. Rookie mistake.
4. There will be so. much. good. food.

That's the most important part--the food. We like it. Minneapolis has it. We find it. 

These baked donuts are inspired by the pumpkin-pecan donuts at my neighborhood's Birchwood Cafe. (Which is actually the MOST amazing). I don't have a fancy donut pan so I just used a less fancy muffin one. Sue me.

Vegan Baked Pumpkin Chai Donuts

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbs baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 ginger

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup almond milk with 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar whisked in

2 Tbs melted non-dairy butter

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1 tsp vanilla

Optional: cinnamon-sugar and more melted non-dairy butter for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, melted butter, pumpkin, sugars, and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir to combine. Pipe "donut holes" onto a greased or lined cookie sheet or spoon batter into greased muffin tins, filling each well half-way. Bake for about 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes before dipping into melted butter and rolling in cinnamon sugar. If desired. You desire it though. 

Store in an airtight container.

P.S. Props to the lovely being that can explain to me why I have to wait until the next day for my pumpkin treats to taste the most pumpkiny.

diy wrapped and knotted cord bracelet.

I want to share something with you.

I'm taking an improv class. I thought that this class would be the worst thing in the world because I was scared. I thought I was scared. 

Turns out, my improv class is my favorite class this semester. I get to laugh for an entire hour and fifteen minutes two days each week and surprisingly, there's zero pressure. What a privilege. And a testament to doing things you're absolutely entirely terrified to do. It's good for you--like vitamins. 

Hey, I made you a craft this afternoon! In fact, I improvised this craft. Look, professor! I'm applying what I learned in class to my every day life!

Super easy, super functional, super stripey. You're KNOT going to be scared to make this. I'm the funniest.

Knotted Cord Bracelet

Materials: Two 1.5 feet lengths of polycord (hardware store!) or other thick cord, four colors of embroidery floss--each 2.5 feet long, and a lighter to ensure that the polycord doesn't unravel.

1. Take two colors of embroidery floss and one length of cord. Tie embroidery floss onto cord about six inches down. You'll have one very short end of embroidery floss and one very long end.

2. Wrap the floss around the cord, leaving six inches of cord at the bottom. Knot the embroidery floss around the cord to secure. You can also put some clear nail polish on the knot to make sure it doesn't come loose.

3. Repeat steps 1-2 with the other length of cord and embroidery floss colors.

4. Holding both cords together, and make one knot in the middle.

5. Time to make a closure! Take the ends of the cord and cross them in the back so they lie on top of each other. Cut a foot long piece of embroidery thread and tie it onto the cords. Both ends of this piece of floss will be equal.

6. Knot using square knots. You'll want at least a half inch of knotting before tying both ends together to secure.

7. Trim the ends of the cord and melt the raw ends with a lighter to make sure it doesn't unravel.

Presto! 

You're going to look real nice wearing that knotted bracelet, kiddo.

you need this kind of night.

 Essentials for a productive and sassy ladypants night.

1. Crusty bread.

2. Lipstick and cat butt magnets.

3. Co-op cheese and a really good cucumber.

4. Both dark and milk chocolates.

5. Conversations that don't leave the room.

 Solid. You're golden, sunshine.