My Weekend in Review + Pumpkin Bread {Recipe}

Goodness! What a crazy weekend.  You'd think that weekends are meant to be spent relaxing from the busy week, but really weekends are just catch up on all the things I couldn't get done during the week! But, it was a great weekend nonetheless.  My younger brother swims at the University of South Dakota so my family and I went to visit him and watch his first race of the season (proud sister moment!)

Now, I'm going to go on record saying I cried when I had to leave him to go home.  This does not happen. Like ever. Why do I get more emotional the older I get?!  It gets harder and harder to be away from my little brother (never thought I'd ever say that!) So, there will be more trips up to South Dakota very soon.

Sunday was spent meeting up with a friend for lunch, and doing way too much homework.  Seriously- TOO much. And, because I can't focus on anything for longer than 20 seconds it seems, I decided it would be the perfect time to make some homemade pumpkin bread.  

This is my favorite bread to make.  It's very dense and the top has the perfect amount of a sugary crunch.  It smells delicious, is super easy, and tastes wonderful (plus it makes the house smell SOO good!) So, get your fall baking fix on and make this pumpkin bread! I'm telling you- this will be your fall baking go-to recipe.

Pumpkin Bread

• 3 c. flour
• 2 t. baking soda
• 1 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1 t. nutmeg
• dash of cloves
• 3 c sugar
• 1 1/2 t. salt
• 1 c oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 4 eggs
• 2 c or 1 can pumpkin

1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Place into 2 large or 4-5 small greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes (1 hour if large loaves) or until done.

And, if you all are like me and want to get a little crazy and you are not counting calories, I would suggest spreading some butter over the top to make it extra rich. 

What is your go-to fall baking recipe?

{Katie}

Teacher Talk {Teacher Outfits}

 

I'm loving this link-up- hosted by Southern Simplicity and Bloom! Today's is about sharing teacher outfits.  This is going to be a little difficult for me because I'm not teaching yet and I'm at school- so most of my "teacher" clothes are back home.

Since I have that Early Childhood major tacked onto the El Ed degree I'm hoping to teach Kindergarten or First grade.  Which means- there will be lots of moving around, sitting and standing, so my motto for dressing is it's got to be practical and COMFY! So, you will not see this girl wearing heels to teach. No way.

Also, because I haven't officially started teaching yet, I don't have all the staples I would need but I have started stocking up on cardigans and basic tees.  In the fall and winter I wear colored cords a lot- which I love! I have Loft to thank for all of those purchases.

My style would be simple, comfortable, and modest.  I will be teaching young kids- gotta cover the 3 B's (That's what my professors remind us each time we observe).

Here's a go-to outfit for me (with the availability of what I have down here at school) that I would wear to teach! (I obviously wouldn't be allowed to wear jeans, but of course I left all of my "teacher" pants back home).

Jeans: J Crew//Shirt: J Crew Factory//Cardigan: Gap//Shoes: Target

What else do you all suggest I stock up on for "teacher" clothes?

{Katie}

This Week at Church {Grace}

Hello loves!

You know those times at church where the message just speaks to you and you leave feeling so humbled? Not that I don't feel those ways every other time, but you know what I mean.  Today I got that feeling!

Today's message was all about {grace}.

Now, I'm sure we've all heard about the grace God gives us, but what does it really mean to have been given grace?

Let me give you a little background about myself before I dive in here.. I grew up going to a Lutheran church and they always pushed, "well you can receive grace if you (fill in the blank)." Or, "you can receive grace but you also have to (fill in the blank)." A lot of times I left church feeling guilty or unworthy of grace because I didn't read my bible every day or I missed going to church some Sundays.

As we walked through Galatians 1, verses 6-7 really hit home.

6-"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel 7- which is really no gospel at all.  Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ."

If we have to do other things in order to receive grace that's not really receiving grace.  We are just "perverting the gospel of Christ."
 God didn't give us stipulations when he gave us grace- he just gave it! What a great God we have that no matter how many times we screw up he loves us just the same.

"If his grace is an ocean we're all sinking"

I want to encourage you all, as my pastor encouraged us today, to "sink in God's grace".

And- I'll leave you with this little tune :)

{Katie}

A Link Up {Five on Friday}

Wow, it's been a crazy couple of weeks! School has been keeping me so busy- homework, papers, group projects. I finally am back into the blogging world- and it feels great! Linking up again for Five on Friday with some of my favorites from this week!

-ONE-
I want both of these boots- SO BAD.  I love them because they are shorter than riding boots and would be so perfect with a pair of skinnies.  I can't decided on which one to get...Help!!

-TWO-

   I'm loving this Essie polish In Stitches.  It's the perfect red for fall. Love it love it love it!!

-THREE-

   My favorite pumpkin patch of all time opens TODAY. I've been visiting since I was very young and go multiple times every year.  Just one more reason why I love fall. Not to mention- their kettle corn is uhhh-mazing! (I buy it every time..and I do not share.)

-FOUR-

   This weekend my brother is coming down for the Nebraska football game and I'm so excited! I haven't seen him since he went back to school in August...so it's about dang time! 

-FIVE-

   With as stressful and busy as school has been I'm loving it! Everyday I'm closer and closer to that classroom of my own.  I'm tutoring a first grader in reading and writing, which, this semester, is basically my only interaction with kids.  Sometimes it can be stressful getting the lessons together with all the outside homework and commitments, but I love it.  This week after we were done with the tutoring session, her parents told me how much she loves coming to tutoring because she has a great time with me.  It was such a rewarding feeling and just one more reason I know I am supposed to be a teacher. 

I hope all of you have the greatest weekend! 

Much love,

{Katie}

A Case of the Mondays

As I scroll through social media today, it seems to me like everyone is having a case of the Mondays! Here are some positive thoughts to get you through your day!

All Pictures Found via Pinterest

Enjoy (or at least try) to enjoy your Monday! 

{Katie}