Welcome Home Taylor

Guest Blogging on Welcome Home

Things have been awfully crazy over here in this little life of mine. To let some weight off my shoulders and to give other bloggers some opportunities, I thought I'd offer some guest posting on Welcome Home! I read blogs every day and I love seeing other people's viewpoints on certain things. I will be accepting 5-8 guest posts on the blog. All posts will be scheduled for Tuesdays or Thursdays (dates to be determined upon submission and acceptance). Writing and photos must all be original and must match the quality that is on Welcome Home. I would love to see recipes, outfit posts, DIYs, or homes!

If you're interested, submit 1-3 photos along with an idea and/or sample of your writing with your name, blog, and URL to my email welcomehometaylor[at]yahoo[dot]com. I cannot wait to hear from you!

Brown Butter Sugar Cookies

Last night, I had plans to make these delicious cookies. I was just about to make them when David said to me, "No! Wait just a half hour!" So, waited I did. Rather impatiently I might add. It was so worth being patient for once in my life though because sure enough, about a half hour later, I heard a knock on the door. I answered it and to my surprise, David's parents were standing there with a big box in their hands, which I assumed was a box full of things for David. I was so wrong though!

They set the box down on the table and told me that it was an early Christmas gift for me. I opened it up and the best suprise ever was inside: a pistachio-green KitchenAid! I was beyond thrilled! In fact, my deoderant got quite the workout because I sweat a lot when I'm excited...too much info? Oh well, it's true!

After I got it unwrapped, I rinsed it off and started making these yummy cookies! Let it now be known that these were the first ever cookies made in my awesome new KitchenAid!

 It was a good first cookie, if you ask me. I love a chewy sugar cookie and, as I've mentioned before, I adore brown sugar! It gives such a depth of flavor to cookies. I used to make my own brown sugar, but I ran out of molasses and haven't bought anymore yet...I should get on that soon because homemade brown sugar is truly the best.

to make brown butter sugar cookies:

14 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon baking powder3/4 teaspoon salt1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk1 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla extract1/8 cup white sugar
1/8 cup brown sugar

In a medium saucepan, melt and brown the butter. Let cool for 15 minutes.

When the butter is done cooling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. In your standing mixer or using a bowl and hand mixer, cream together the melted butter (making sure to scrape all the browned bits into the bowl as well) and the brown sugar together.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside

Add the egg into the butter and sugar mixture and mix together until incorporated. Scrap down the sides of the bowl and then add the egg yolk and mix again. Mix in the vanilla extract.

Stir the flour into the mixture until just incorporated.

In a small bowl, mix together the white and brown sugar. Scooping out cookie dough into tablespoon balls, roll in the sugar mixture until well coated. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat. Continue with the rest of the cookie dough, making sure to give the cookie dough balls two inches of space between one another. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the edges and set and the bottoms are slightly golden. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk.

 

Movie-a-Month Club: November

This month's film is Casablanca. You're probably all gasping at this moment thinking, "uhm, what? How have you never seen Casablanca??" Which is what most people's reaction is when I tell them this. I'm finally getting to it though! The reruns of Gilmore Girls that I've been watching may have influenced my decision a teeny bit, but it happend never the less and I'm excited for this. I also have a very special treat for you later this month that involves something SUPER cool related to the Movie-a-Month club! Keep an eye for it!

Flying with Anxiety

Recently, we went to California for a wedding. And I was terrified. When I say that I was terrified, I don't mean a deer-in-the-headlights, I mean that I shook; my stomach twisted and turned; my eyes stayed wide-open at night as my mind raced and my mouth watered in a rotten way. I spent four months in agony. Whenever I wasn't thinking about work, school, this blog, or the few things that kept my head above water in other parts of my life, I was thinking about this flight.

I can't tell you where my terror came from, but come it did. And it enveloped me whole. The anxiety came in waves and at times I could breath and at others I seemed to drown in it. I knew that I had to go through with it though and after months of struggling with this horror, I was finally able to find a few things that helped.

I'm not sure what changed, but all of a sudden, I was able to think of things other than flying. I was able relax a teeny bit and when I thought I flying, I didn't get the sudden urge to run away from my fear, but I had a calm feeling in the pit of my stomach. A few things had helped me during my flight (along with some prescription medication) and I wanted to share them with some people that may struggle with the same thing. I'm not sure if these will work for other people, but I hope that they do because they sure helped me.

1. Take a math-related distraction with you such as Sudoku or a small workbook of math problems. I was once taught that math helped to force the mind to think of something else by using separate parts of the brain. I can honestly say that this was my saving grace when things got rough. Even though my medication helped, I was still really anxious and while we were taking off, I just focused on Sudoku and it calmed my entire mind.

2. Bring music or your favorite t.v. show. I still own an old iPod (you know, pre-Wifi) and so I was able to watch some episodes of The Office during take-off, which helped. Focusing on things that are funny always help ease my anxiety so I made sure to fill up on those. I also brought some movies to watch on my laptop during the flight.

3. If you can, go with someone who understands your anxiety. Seriously. I pretty much hit the jackpot with David because he is the most patient and loving man I have ever met. During the three months when I was a wreck, David was always by my side to comfort and calm me. He is my breathing safety blanket and so I was extremely fortunate to have him not only on the plane with me, by all the time before that when I spent nights wide awake in fear or minutes that felt like hours because of anxiety.

I know these tips are few and there is a lot of really great advice out there that may help you out. I wanted to share a bit of my personal life on here that I don't normally talk about. Anxiety is a thing that people either completely understand or it makes people look at you like you're insane. I would love to share more about my anxiety and my sixteen year journey (yep, I've been dealing with it since I started having panic attacks at the age of six) with you if you'd like to hear it. I've become more aware over the years the amount of people that share this struggle, and I'd like to add my own story to the mix. Maybe it will help others and maybe you will just be able to understand me more. If you have any tips for flying, leave them in the comments below!

p.s. packing essentials for a carry on.

Movie-a-Month Club: October Discussion

This month's movie discussion is of the film Double Indemnity. We watched the movie last night with David's parents and it was good. I adore a lot of film nior flicks and so I assumed that I would adore this one as well. There was a lot of fast-paced talking and a twist and a cool detective storyline.

Here are some discussion questions for you to look over and answer in the comments below!

1. In your opinion, are there any heroes in Double Indemnity? If so, who and why?

2. Double Indemnity has been called, "a film without a single trace of love or pity." Do you agree with this statement?

3. How do you feel about the constant comments of "baby"? Do you think it reflects the time's views of feminism?

When answering discussion questions, please note which question you are responding to.

A Sweatshirt: Three Ways

Hey guys! I know it's been really quiet over here lately, but I've been sooo busy with school, work, life. We'll talk more about it later because today I'm here to show you how to style a sweatshirt, three different ways! My sweatshirt is, surprisingly, one of my favorite pieces of my wardrobe. It's cozy, comfy, and I can make it look like a pretty cute outfit! I'd love to see someone that has accessories (why I don't is beyond me) style it with a pretty scarf. Here are a few ways that I style it below.

Outfit #1: gray sweatshirt + black jeans + heels

This is equal parts comfy and cute with the heels and black jeans. I love this outfit for a casual date night because I can still be comfy and warm with my sweatshirt, but I have some awesome heels to make it date-appropriate.

Outfit #2: gray sweatshirt + striped pencil skirt + black flats

I was most excited about buying a sweatshirt because I wanted to style it with a pencil skirt. I adore the casual chic look and this is my favorite way to do it! I wore this outfit to my graphic design class one time and my teacher said that she could see my potential because I take risks with my wardrobe. I'm pretty sure that was a compliment, or maybe she was trying to tell me that I looked like an idiot, but either way I love this outfit a lot!

Outfit #3: gray sweatshirt + military jacket + blue jeans + gold and tan flats

I don't know about anywhere else, but it is starting to become so chilly here in Michigan and I'm not a huge fan of it. Pairing the sweatshirt with my military jacket makes me extra warm! I kept this outfit casual with jeans and flats.

So what do you think of the sweatshirt thing? Is it cute or not? How would you style it?

p.s. how to style a maxi dress, utility jacket, and vest three ways.

Our Trip to L.A.

Monday, David and I came home from a quick trip to Cali. We left on Thursday to visit his family and see his big sister get married. It was my first trip to the west coast and I'd never even been on a plane that long before (more on that later). We weren't able to do much sight-seeing things since we were there for a wedding, but it was great just being in the sunshine. One day, we visited Venice Beach. Let me tell you, it was not my jam. The beach itself was gorgeous, but everything else -- the outside gym, the "Green Doctors," and the crappy food were not really things that I enjoy. Nonetheless, it was interesting!

Another day, we headed to Santa Monica pier with David's brother to watch the sun set and walk about. Guys, I'm a huge Forrest Gump fan so I was thrilled to see the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. I picked up a pack of trivia cards and a postcard there (my only two souveniers from the entire trip) and we walked along the pier and munch on some fresh churros. mmm!

I didn't take many photos as we were either busy doing wedding things or I was working on homework (I know, the worst!). I love this last one though! It was a hotel off of the Santa Monica pier that reminded me of something that belonged in a Wes Anderson movie. We have plans to go back to California soon-ish. What are some places that you love in LA?

xoxo

 

A Carry On

Yesterday, David and I left for a trip to California to see his sister get married. I haven't flown since I was in ninth grade and, although I'm pretty positive that I made a very specific and in-depth list of things to pack, I don't really remember it at all. I was thrilled to be able to pack up my carry on and plan what I wanted to bring.

Entertainment was a priority for me (I think it is for anyone flying) so I packed up my favorite magazines, a new book, a big book of sudoku, and some movies. David brought the laptop in his carry on for us to watch the movies, but I got the headphone splitters and an external battery charger for our phones.

Snack things! Food is important. We got some mini babybel cheeses, chips, and chocolate hazelnut biscotti. I ordered some of these Bobble water bottles so that we could fill them up after security with water from anywhere (they have filters built in!). Not pictured: apples. We picked them up on the way to the airport. I know that this isn't probably the best food to take on an airplane as they're not all full of water, but I wanted some snacks that will make me comfortable and happy. These did the trick!

What would you bring on your carry on? xoxo

Loaded Baked Potato Pizza

The other day at work (I work in the office of a banquet hall) we received a magazine in the mail that's called "Pizza Today." On the cover was the yummiest looking pizza with crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and slices of potatoes. Oh yes! Obviously I decided right then and there I was going to make this pizza! It turned out perfectly!

mmm! Look at that crispy crust and bacon all sandwiching a creamy sauce and cheese!

To make pizza:

1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature3-4 small red potatoes5 slices of bacon6 ounces sour cream1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper1 teaspoon italian seasoning1 to 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheesechives

In a small post, add potatoes and fill with cold water until the potatoes are covered. Put over high heat and bring to a boil. Boil for 15-20 minutes until cooked through and fork tender (meaning you can easily put a fork through it). When the potatoes are cone, drain them, and let them cool until you can handle them. Then slice them into thin rounds. While the potatoes are cooking, cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat. Cook until the fat just starts to melt off them and they're slightly crip. You don't want to cook all the way because they will finish in the oven.

Preheat the oven to 525 degrees farenheit. In a ten-inch cast iron skilt lihgtly coated with olive oil, place the dough. Spread the dough out with your fingertips until it's touching all sides. It may spring back slightly, but it should be no more than a 1/2 inch away from the sides.

In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, garlic powder, pepper, and italian seasoning and mix until completely incorporated toegether. Spread mixture over the dough except for the outer inch for the crust. Top with sliced potatoes, cheddar cheese and bacon. Bake for 15-20 minutes until crust is golden brown on the sides and bottom and the cheese is melted and gooey. Once the pizza is done, sprinkle with chopped chives and let stand for a few minutes before taking it out of the skillet. Enjoy!

 

A Simple Movie Watching Party

Now that the weather is getting nice and cozy, watching a movie with some friends is the perfect way to spend an evening! I put together a wonderful and simple way to spend an evening with some friends. I love parties, but the only bummer about it is spending a lot of money to entertain. That's great for special occassions, but I wanted to keep this cheap, but still really fun!

Snacks! Popcorn is a must. I like to have two different kinds: kettlecorn and something either buttery or cheesy. As for candy, make sure you have chocolate, something sour, and something chewy. I chose an array of mini chocolate candies, sour gummy worms, licorice, and peanut m&m's. I also have some small bowls that people can use to fill up with their treats.

I chose some sodas that matched my movie decor: white and red! They're so delicious and adorable.

When you host your movie party, watch this month's movie of the month: Double Indemnity so that you can partake in the end-of-the-month discussion.

So when will you be hosting your movie party?

p.s. with Halloween coming up, maybe you should also host a Roaring Twenties party!