No Bake Pecan Clusters

Last Friday I made these little Pecan Clusters. My dear friend Lindsay came over and helped me with them. I love baking and/or doing crafts with friends – it’s a nice way to catch up and bond, and is a fun alternative to the usual coffee or dinner date.

You will need:

Pecan Halves (1 or 2 bags depending on how many you want to make)

Candy Melts: I used chocolate for the base and decorated with white, green, and red (found at your local craft store)

Squirt Bottles or Plastic Sandwich Baggies

Parchment Paper

Make little star/flower clusters with the pecans (on the parchment paper). Melt chocolate using the instructions on the bag, and spoon onto pecans. I left the pecan tips showing for a star effect, but you can also cover the entire cluster. Refrigerate for 12-15 minutes to allow chocolate to harden before decorating.

Melt the different colors/toppings. I like to add a few drops of vegetable oil so they are easier to drizzle. You can use squirt bottles or pour the melts into plastic baggies and cut the tip off. Have fun decorating, refrigerate for approximately 15 more minutes, and enjoy!

Oh, hello.

                 {Top: Thrifted, Scarf: Target, Boots: Jessica Simpson via Marshalls, Jeans: Thrifted}

I had such a great time over the holiday weekend. There were parties, potlucks, good people, and lots of food. I was excited to wear this scarf because I thought the colors were very fitting for Thanksgiving. I felt very festive, and ended up wearing it Wednesday and Friday (outfit repeaters unite!).

The end of Thanksgiving is also significant because it officially begins Christmas time. This is Ryan and me’s first Christmas together as a married couple – so, needless to say, I am pretty excited. There will be lots of decorating, baking, and crafting underway. Cheers!

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving, from me to you. I think it is so important to have a day, such as Thanksgiving, to reflect on the many blessings we are given. And I, for one, am thankful that you are reading this. 

There is so much in life to be thankful for that it is hard to know where to begin. I am so incredibly thankful for my wonderful husband, whom I get to experience life with and chase my dreams with. I am thankful for my faith and the loving community of friends and family that I have around me. I am thankful for my job and for my beautiful apartment that has become a home. And, lastly, I am thankful that I have special people in my life whom I get to share this holiday with. 

I wish you well on this wonderful day.

♥,

Monika

Mini Pies

This past Sunday my lovely friend Natalie came over and we baked mini pies. We made mini pumpkin pies, cherry pies, and apple pies. They were super cute and tasted really good too! Doing the lattice on the mini pies proved to be very difficult… so they didn’t look “perfect” but I was in love with them anyways. They’re also really fun to make and experiment with. I’m already planning on making the heart shaped cherry pies for Valentines day. Perfect!

You can find the recipes here and here.

If you make them I recommend using non stick pans, or a very good amount of cooking spray. Also, ensuring the crust is thoroughly cooked will make them easier to remove from the tray.

Easy/Lucky/Free

 {Cardigan: Target, White Tee: Forever 21, Boots: Charlotte Russe, Jeans: Forever 21, Hat: H&M, Necklace: Forever 21} 

This past weekend was great. I got to bake, craft, relax, and spend time with good friends. This outfit was a fun Sunday mix… and I love my oversized black cardigan. So cozy. On another note: hats are great for covering up greasy hair and jazzing up outfits. Wee!