Peanut Butter Cups

This week I attended a cookie exchange with one of my coworkers and a fun group of ladies she has done cookie exchanges with for over 10 years. We had dinner at a local Italian restaurant and had our own private room with such a cozy ambiance. The room was complete with stone walls and a warm fire place which created a perfect environment for an enjoyable girls night. We spent a lovely evening chatting, drinking red wine and of course eating cookies! I made a couple of different kinds but one of my favorites (and easiest) recipes is for Peanut Butter Cups. Growing up I always made this with my mom to give our teachers and her coworkers during the holiday season. These treats are so delicious and could not be any easier to make!

Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:

9oz white baking chocolate

1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter

8oz semi sweet baking chocolate

1/2 cup lightly salted peanuts (chopped)

Directions:

1. Arrange 50 miniature (1 inch) baking cups on a baking sheet

2. Heat white chocolate and 3/4 cups of peanut butter over low heat until melted and combined

3. Spoon mixture into baking cups

4. Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes or until hardened

5.  Heat semi sweet chocolate and remaining peanut butter over low heat until melted and combined

6. Spoon mixture into hardened baking cups and top with chopped peanuts

7. Refrigerate again until hardened then enjoy!

Christmas Gift Traditions

Jameson and I will be celebrating our second Christmas as husband and wife this year and we are doing something a little different as far as gifts go this year. Friday we are going to our local mall to divide and conquer. We will have 1 hour and a set budget then be set free in the mall to go shopping for one another. After an hour is up we will head home and exchange our gifts. We thought this would be a fun way to do gifts this year and create special memories together!

When it comes to the 5 Love Languages receiving gifts is not high on either of our lists. We both would prefer spending quality time together at a local coffee shop over getting a gift any day. That being said we don't want to completely skip over Christmas gifts all together so we try and find creative ways to exchange . Last year we only did stocking stuffers and we had 4 categories we had to buy gifts for: something you want, something you need, something to eat, and something to read. This was a fun way to keep the gift spending at a minimum but still create a special first Christmas together! Here is what I got him last year:

want: cologne | eat: starbucks gift card | 

need: undershirts | read: Car Guys vs. Bean Counters

Every year we will probably continue to switch up what we do for Christmas gifts just to keep things interesting. I would love to hear if you have any fun Christmas gift traditions. Do you go all out? Or keep things simple?

Linking up today with Lisa and the girls

Thanksgiving 2014

We spent turkey day this year in Pennsylvania spending quality time with both sides of our family. We got into town Tuesday night in order the beat the snow then spent most of Wednesday cuddled inside watching the snow come down and prepping some food for the big day.

This year I was in charge of the pecan pie, homemade rolls, and some roasted vegetables. I turned to the trusty Pioneer Woman for both recipes and they did not disappoint. I also love her step by step instructions with pictures, it gives me more confidence to try new things because I can make sure it looks right every step of the way.  The rolls were a labor of love considering they had to sit and rise for multiple hours, but they turned out delicious! This Georgia girl also represented well with a pecan pie, but beware this pie is not for the faint of heart when it comes to sugar. There is lots of it! But perhaps that is why it is so yummy.

This year Jameson's sister hosted and I love going over to her house for the holidays because she has such perfect decor and this year she did not disappoint! Isn't her chalkboard adorable?

Friday morning we packed up for a quick trip to my grandparents house to spend some time with my aunts, cousins, parents, and of course grandma and grandpa! We enjoyed (another) big, yummy meal and spent the night engaged in a rather intense game of Phase 10. I am so grateful to have been able to spend time with them! Saturday we headed back to State College so the boys could go to the last football game of the season. All in all we had such a wonderful time with all our family and returned back to Michigan on Sunday with full stomach's and even fuller hearts!

Soaking Up Fall

Recently a lot has been going down in the Lietzke household. And by a lot clearly I mean mostly activities revolving around football and home improvement projects. Are we predictable or what? Jameson and I have been lucky enough to take a few quick trips back to State College to watch our beloved Nittany Lions play (let's just not talk about the outcome of the games, deal?) We also got to enjoy a game in Ann Arbor with my parents to watch PSU play at the Big House. (another 1001 in 101 goal accomplished!)

Fall is always such a wonderful time of the year and I'm trying to soak up as much of it as I can! We got our first snow flurries this morning so I know it is only a matter of time before winter is here to stay. But never fear my friends, I will be burning my autumn candles all the way until the Christmas tree gets put up (which in my family is never until after Thanksgiving). I think Fall is one of my favorite seasons simply because of it's candles. You can find me burning this Spiced Pumpkin one starting in August and I recently discovered Autumn Harvest Soy Candle (Target Limited Edition) and it sure is scrumptious as well. Nothing makes me want to curl up in a blanket with a good book quite like a pumpkin candle.

Jameson and I have also managed to do a some home improvement projects, including painting a couple of rooms. When first picking out paint for the house we settled on a very light grey figuring it would be the perfect neutral. Well low and behold that light grey turned out to be way too light, almost completely white is some lighting. Like stark hospital wall white. It was no good! We decided on a darker grey color for the kitchen and living room so that the white cabinets, trim, and cove ceiling would pop. We absolutely adore it now! It's amazing what transformation a can of paint can have. All of a sudden these beautiful features are a focal point instead of just blending in with the walls. Both Jameson and I agree that these rooms finally feel finished (or as finished as they can be considering I change my mind on decor about every 8 days).

The same weekend we tackled painting our bonus room upstairs. For the first 6 month of us living here it was simply a glorified storage room/walkway to the master bedroom. This room is open to the stairs so it cannot be completely closed off, but it definitely still provides enough practical and useful space. We splashed on same paint, moved some furniture and before you know it we have a brand new office room. This little area has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the house.

Milton wanted to be a part of the pictures

I was also super excited because I could finally showcase this beautiful print from BW Prints.We met Bobbi and her husband in our young marrieds small group at our church and she is such a talented artist and designer! Go check out her website and Etsy shop, you won't be disappointed!