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It's been a little quiet around here. I wish I could say it's because I have been so busy with fun and inspiring activities...but I can't.

If I'm being honest with you guys, it's because I have been feeling a little low lately. It may have something to do with it being dark at 5pm, the carb binge I have been on/lack of exercise, or the fact that my heater isn't working and I can constantly see my own breath inside my house. Those things may be contributing, but bottom line is that I have been feeling a little (or a lot) lost.

I have just been having such a hard time motivating myself lately. On my days off, I have found myself spending a large majority of the day in pajamas. Which feels great at first, but around 4 it starts to get dark and I realize I have totally wasted the day. Because of this unmotivated attitude, this blog has been ignored. I used to feel guilty after not posting for a few days...but I haven't recently, and I hate it.

After graduating college in the spring, I have been struggling to find a new direction to take. I enjoyed studying psychology, but now I'm wondering what to do with my degree. I always saw myself as a somewhat creative person, and I'm a little scared to start a career behind a desk. I know it's time for me to grow up, use my degree and get going...but ahhhhh.

Anyway, if you've read this thanks. I think I just need a change of some kind (probably in the job area...) but I'm scared because there are a lot of things I love about my life, that I don't want to change. Taking a new job possibly means leaving Bellingham, which I'm not quite ready to do. Almost, but not quite. And I definitely don't want to move without Tommy.

Bottom line is thanks for hanging in there with me, blogging friends.

sister style

Coat: Nordstrom

Sweater: Thrifted

Jeans: Nordstrom

Shoes: Tom's

Earrings: Forever 21

Purse: Macy's

Amber wore this cute and comfy outfit for our day of antiquing. It is officially rain season in Washington (September through, oh...about June) so a coat with a hood is a must! Speaking of, why is it so hard to find a cute coat with a hood? It drives me crazy. 

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

"This is the best cornbread I've ever had." - Tommy (aka: the boyfriend)

Regardless of what you make, when you get that kind of reaction you know it's a winner. I made this cornbread a few weeks ago to go along with some chili, and I have to admit, it was probably the best cornbread I have ever had as well. It's a little spicy, a little cheesy, and a whole lotta yum. 

I used this Martha Stewart recipe as my base, but tweaked it slightly. I didn't have any buttermilk on hand, so I used sour cream. I also used more jalapenos, corn kernels and cheese. Go big or go home, as my dad would say. 

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more, room temperature, for pan
• 1 1/2 cups yellow or white cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar
• 1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 1/2 cup chopped drained pickled jalapenos

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. In a large bowl, stir together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, sour cream, milk, and eggs. Add sour cream mixture to flour mixture and stir just until combined (do not overmix). Stir grated cheddar, corn kernels, and jalapenos into batter. Transfer batter to pan and smooth top. 
2. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack, 15 minutes, before serving.

treasure hunting

Yesterday I got to spend some time antiquing with my sister Amber in downtown Snohomish. I frequently visit the antique stores in Bellingham, so it was fun to shop stores I haven't been to in a while. I love looking for treasures! Even though we didn't find what I was looking for, (chairs for my kitchen table) it was still a super fun day.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween all! I'm not really sure what the night has in store for me, but I'm hoping it will be a grand ol' time. On Sunday I drove down and visited the fam. We got festive carving pumpkins and making caramel apples. Yum!

Hope your Halloween is great! Oh, and do you wanna see the CUTEST costume ever? Head over to my aunt Britta's blog and check it out!

Chocolate Chip & Pistachio Cookies

Is there anything better than a delicious chocolate chip cookie? Other than chocolate chip cookie dough, of course. Warm and gooey in the center, crispy around the edges, with a cold glass of milk to wash it down...my mouth is watering just thinking about it. 

I got a craving for chocolate chip cookies Saturday night, and decided to do a little research regarding cookie recipes. Holy moly, there are so many out there! I finally decided on Lovin' From the Oven's "Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies", but wanted just a little bit of saltiness to them. Cookies, meet pistachios. 

I love the texture, color and flavor pistachios add to chocolate chip cookies. It's that whole sweet and salty thing. Nom nom. 

Recipe from Lovin' From the Oven

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup shelled pistachio

1. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and pistachios by hand using a wooden spoon.
3. Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour. When it's time, Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
4. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
5. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

life lately

Phew. Life has been a little crazy lately, but things are slowing down. In fact, I have a few days off in a row. Weee! I'm going to try and stay productive, but I'm also super excited to just be lazy.

Top to bottom, left to right.

Find me @amandakerz

1. Went to Clinique class on Tuesday in Seattle.

2. Pho! So perfect on a rainy day.

3. Leaf-face.

4. Finally found a kitchen table! Now to find some chairs...

5. My reading buddy.

6. Chia seeds on cereal. 

7. Lovin' my polka dot pants! 

8. Cool antique letters.

9. Atticus loves the fire.

10. Some art downtown.

11. Colorful bowl of thread.

12. Breakfast. 

atticus loves dress up!

If there is one thing cats are known for, it is their love for playing dress up (hah!). So when I was strolling around Target and I saw this kitty Santa hat...I just knew Atticus was going to love it (hah, hah!).  Clearly, he did.

This made me laugh probably a little more than it should have. It was the beard that really put me over the edge.

Tommy took a video of one of our many attempts to get the hat on him. You can tell by my annoying "pose faces" that I didn't know he was taking a video, and instead thought he was taking pictures.  I laughed so hard I thought I was going to choke. Man, animals are entertaining!

a very mod halloween

Last year for Halloween Tommy and I just watched movies and handed out candy. That was fun, but this year I am ready to get dressed up and go out! I have been trying to figure out a fun and easy Halloween costume for a few weeks now, but just couldn't decide.

Then it hit me, MOD! Fun and dramatic eye makeup, bright tights, cute shift dress and maybe some awesome boots if I can find them. Halloween, let's do this.