Autumn Amelia

Hello everyone!

Last weekend we celebrated our dog Ziggy's first birthday!

As you probably remember from our first puppy Scout, we LOVE to throw themed parties for our pups.

For Ziggy's first birthday we decided to go with a space theme.

He is Ziggy STARdog after all...

I used a black table cloth as a backdrop and set up our banquet table in front of it with a navy tablecloth on top.

On the left side of the table, we placed Ziggy's presents dressed up in dark colors and metallics.

In the middle, his birthday cake.

I displayed it on a silver cake stand to give it an industrial feel and topped it with a number 1 and a few star candles.

In front of the cake, gold plates, and napkins to help us serve. 

On the right side of the table, we have a few random items from around the house that I felt were "spacey."

A gold geometric sculpture, some decorative geodes for moon rocks, and our Google speaker.

I thought it looked like a space communication device?

To the left of the banquet table, we had our letterboard surrounded by a few gold stars.

It read:

3...

2..

One...

Blast off! 

With one spelled out as it is his first birthday.

The thing I was most satisfied with was my balloon garland.

This was the first thing I envisioned when we started planning his birthday.

I placed it above the right side of the table.

I stayed with my deep space colors of black and blue.

To make it feel more space like I added a few star cutouts, 

some metallic accents, star balloons, a moon balloon,

 and I turned one of the balloons into a planet.

This bad boy did not want to stay up but with some persistence (lots of tape and thumbtacks) we got it up for good.

We spent the day opening presents, eating cake and playing at the park.

I think that Ziggy really enjoyed his first birthday.

His tail wouldn't stop wagging and he crashed hard at the end of the day.

I can't wait until he experiences his first Christmas with us.

I think he's gonna love it!

Do you celebrate your furry friends birthdays?

All my love,

Autumn

Hello everyone!
As you may remember, because I haven't shut up about it, I set out to do 26 new things in my 26th year.
Last week I officially turned 27 and am happy to report that I actually did it?!?
There were a few things on my original list that I didn't complete but, I switched them out with some other things I had never done and had always wanted to.
So, here it is.
My 26 for 26.

Attend The Halloween Party At Disneyland



Went to the first-ever Oogie Boogie Bash as fox Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
It did not disappoint!

Visit Harry Potter World



Visited Harry Potter world and drank way too much Butterbeer.
Worth it!

Watch My First Rated R Movie

Spent Memorial Day weekend downtown and decided it was the perfect place to view my first rated R movie, Pulp Fiction.

Attend Balloon Fest

Kind of a fail as the wind didn't allow the balloons to be inflated for more than fifteen minutes but I did go!
It counts!

Take My First Cycle Class



Tested out the newly opened CycleBar and fell in love!
I went several more times and can't wait to go back.

Work With My First Brand

I had the opportunity to work with several brands this year, including Friday Apparel whose sweater I am rocking above.
Do yourself a favor and head to their website and buy yourself something with the code AUTUMN20 for 20% off your order!

Go On My First Hike Trail



Okay, I have "technically" hiked before but not on an actual trail.
Look at those fall colors!

Giraffe Encounter At The Zoo



I legit sobbed after feeding the giraffes.
It was everything I wanted...

Attend Swiss Days



Ate a scone the size of a small toddler.
10/10 would recommend.

Disneybound



Went as Genie and Jafar to see Aladdin the musical.

Earn My First Paycheck From My Side Hustle

See The Legend That Is Elton John



Erik and I spent weeks trying to win tickets on the radio.
We ended up spending a small fortune from our savings.
No regrets.

Attend My First Blogger Event



Had the pleasure of previewing Vintage Market Days with fellow bloggers and Instagrammers.
I still don't know how/why?

Have My First Taste Of Alcohol

Buy An Extra AF Piece Of Clothing

Work For A Company I Admire


I have always wanted to work for a local company in Utah who's shop and product I adored.
I was hired on for seasonal help at Letterfolk and am still there!

Get A Passport

Attend My First Therapy Session

Pay For A Stranger

Penguin Encounter At The Aquarium

Adopt A Doggo


We adopted Ziggy from the Utah Humane Society a few weeks ago.
He is perfect and I love him.

Rock A Temporary Hair Color

I don't know about rocked...
But my hair was temporarily rose gold and I low key loved it.

Visit The Ice Castles

Elsa, who?

Do Goat Yoga

Hello everyone!

I know we just recently posted a cake on here but, it's my birthday month so what do you expect?
Erik came across a giant Oreo cake in the Delish Insane Sweets Cookbook he received for Christmas.
I love anything Cookies and Cream so, we decided it should be my birthday cake.

You will need:

2 and 1/2 cups of Flour
2 Cups of Sugar
1 Cup of Brown Sugar
1 Cup of Unsweetened Dark Cocoa Powder
2 Teaspoons of Baking Soda
1/2 A Teaspoon of Baking Powder
1/2 A Teaspoon of Salt
1 Cup of Butter, Softened
2 Large Eggs

Preheat oven to 350o.
Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Add the butter and mix until a dough starts to form.
Add egg and mix until incorporated.
The dough should feel sandy.
Split dough evenly and press into the prepared pans.
Press a large fork around the edges of the cookie to make indentations similar to those on an Oreo.
Bake until cookies are sightly cracked on top, about 20 minutes.
Let cool in pans for 10 minutes.
Invert onto wire racks to cool completely.
Prepare the filling.

You will need:
1 Cup of Butter, Softened
2 Teaspoons of Vanilla
4 Cups of Powdered Sugar

In a large bowl, beat the butter and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.
Gradually add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and beat until smooth.
Gather filling into a large ball and transfer to a piece of parchment paper.
Pat filling into a large disc, about 8 inches in diameter.
Transfer one cooled cookie to a serving dish, indentation side down.
Save the prettier of the two for the top layer.
Place filling on top, then sandwich with the remaining cookie, indentation side up.
Slice into wedges.
Enjoy!

I have to be honest guys...
This was not my favorite...
The cookie layers were VERY dry.
I believe that was on purpose to reflect a real Oreo but, we could NOT get our 8-inch Chef's knife through the cookie layers!
The knife felt like it was going to break!
It could have been user error, but Erik and I have baked an item or two in our day and nothing has ever turned out almost inedible.
Erik ended up running to the store and buying me a Cookies and Creme pie because this cake was definitely not birthday worthy...
I will say that the filling was delicious!
It was the best part.
Just like a real Oreo. 😉
It tastes SO similar to the filling in an Oreo, it's almost eery.
Because of the filling, I'd give it a 2/5.
Just buy yourself a Cookies and Cream cake.

Have you ever had a recipe fail?
Leave it in the comments below!
I'd love to hear about it!

All my love,
Autumn