Coffee Break

Happy new week to you! Wanted to spend some time catching up this morning.

Lots happening: I just got back from Minnesota where I visited with friends and attended Pinch of Yum’s photography workshop. More on that over on my photography blog soon. Speaking of– I have a new post up today too!

5 days in MN was just what the doctor ordered. I met up with some friends after the workshop– we grabbed ice cream from Licks Unlimited in Excelsior and brunch at Longfellow Grill. That ice cream place was pretty much out of a storybook. It was teeeeeeeny tiny and the epitome of charm. 🙂 I got a flavor called “this just got serious” which was salted caramel with dark chocolate fudge ripple and salted candied cashews. It was dangerous, delicious, and completely RIDICULOUS.

For brunch, nothing but a big ol’ stack of buttermilk pancakes. ↑ ↑

The weather was a dream– I heard I just missed snow last weekend! We walked around town, ate outside, drank wine on the balcony, all was perfect. But the best part?? PUPPY. My friends just got a cockapoo named Cooper, and in the milliseconds he wasn’t running around and moving at the speed of light, I was able to capture a few snaps. After about 5 hours of darting around the apartment, he finally plopped down on the couch, rolled over, and passed out on his back. He’s only 12 weeks and 6 pounds. And, yes, I want about 10 of him. Puppy addiction.

Currently loving Skinny Supers from my friend Brooke of the site Skinny Mom. I know I mentioned her cookbook to you recently, but I tried another recipe from it for dinner 2 weeks ago: Greek turkey meatballs. They were insanely good. Have you ever been to her site before? I love cooking her recipes for dinner because they’re all super straightforward, healthy, simple, approachable, etc.

Also currently loving pumpkin the raccoon. PLEASE is this not the cutest thing?

Also also currently loving allllll the fresh tulips. I’ve been traveling so much this month that I can’t justify having a gorgeous bouquet on my kitchen table, but aren’t these orange little numbers just peachy?? Lindsay had them at the workshop.

The book tour is just about over, but I have two last book signings! I’ll be in Stamford, CT next Tuesday and Salt Lake City on May 18th. Here’s the book tour page for more details on each. I had the best time of my life touring for this book, but oh my gosh! It was a lot on my plate for a good 6 months traveling, working ahead, and trying to stay afloat. It’s back to normal life, normal routine, back in the kitchen, getting inspired*, and lots of new baking and photography blog content from here on out.

*That’s sort of the reason I attended the workshop in the first place. I mentioned this on Instagram the other day– (and, by the way, thank you for all your support, encouragement, and comments!) lately I’ve just been feeling uninspired behind the camera. A little meh in my photography routine. Everything seems to look the same, photos don’t feel authentic or thought out, I rush through shoots, etc etc. Basically, I’ve just been feeling lost. Do you get in creative ruts too? I think it’s just because my mind has been elsewhere as we dive into 2016. New house, traveling, hiring an assistant. There’s been some big changes in only 4 months but today, I’m feeling undeniably refreshed. I think the time spent behind the camera at the workshop as well as the whole mini vacation is exactly what I needed. And puppy snuggles too, of course.

A creative recharge, if you will 🙂

Besides all that, it’s business as usual around here. I’ve got a couple new recipes in the pipeline including a healthier zucchini bread recipe and cinco de mayo-ish cupcakes. Very excited about both. Zucchini bread coming tomorrow!

What’s new with you? And how was your weekend?

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