A Happy Halloween to all of our little crows! Be Safe & Eat lots of Sweets!

My Friend Jack

Friday was a poopy day for me.  It was cold and cloudy and all I really wanted to do was close the blinds and curl up in bed.  It was just one of those days where things weren't quite working in any way, shape, or form.  I had class in the morning and by the time I got home, I decided that baking a pie was really the only way to go.

There is something about a pie that is warm, cozy, nostalgic, comforting - like dropping by your grandmother's house for a hug and a kind word.  Since I don't have a grandmother here I had to settle for my own slice of pie. 

I flipped through my beloved pie recipe book and found one that I knew instantly was perfect for the day:  Jack Daniel's Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie. Not only was it appropriate for the colder days and coming holidays, but a little whiskey never hurt anybody!

Here is the recipe I used:

1 single pie crust (you can use any recipe that works for you or a pre-made pie crust)

Filling:

4 large eggs at room temperature

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup dark corn syrup (this gives it a delightful maple-ish, caramel-y flavor)

2 tbs Jack Daniel's whiskey

2 tbs unsalted butter, melted

1 cup pecan halves

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1.  Prepare the pie crust (if necessary) and refrigerate until firm enough to roll. I usually do 1 hour.

2.  Roll your pie crust and place in 9 1/2 inch deep pie pan.  Place in freezer for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

3.  Place pie weights or dried beans on pie shell and pre-bake for 15 minutes.  Reduce oven to 375 degrees, take out pie weights, and continue to bake for 10-12 minutes.

4.  Allow pie shell to completely cool.

5.  Combine eggs, sugar, and corn syrup in a large bowl.  Whisk to combine.  Add whiskey, butter, and vanilla.  Whisk again until combined.  Scatter pecans and chocolate chips over bottom of pie shell.  Pour filling over the pecans and chips.  

6.  Place pie on center rack and back about 45 minutes or until pie is set.  I rotate the pie halfway through the process so it cooks evenly.  When it is done, the top of the filling will be toasted brown and slightly puffed around the edges.  

7.  Allow pie to cool on a rack.  You can serve at room temperature or serve chilled.  I prefer room temperature. 

This pie ended up being perfect and just what I needed.  Baking has a way of calming my nerves and centering me.  My mind is free to wander but not too much.

And of course I always have to have music while I bake.  Jill Scott was my artist of choice yesterday.  Specifically I was listening to her album Beautifully Human - Words and Sounds Vol. 2.  If you have never listened to Jill Scott and enjoy soul or jazzy music, she is absolutely phenomenal.

If you're having a crappy day like I was, consider a little pie in your life.  It always helps me out.

-- Eagle

P.S. I had every intention of posting a picture of my finished pie, but there seems to be technical difficulties.  I will add a picture as soon as it will let me!

Let The Birds Fly

Hey guys! So as Magpie previously mentioned, I recently took a trip to Houston for my fall break. It was a much-needed get away as school as been running me ragged.

It was such a wonderful weekend full of all kinds of great, hilarious, relaxing moments.

On Thursday night Magpie and I had the pleasure of baking a pie together. It was a gluten-free apple pie and apparently we were so busy enjoying our pie that we didn't take one picture of our creation. Sad times :(

Friday and Saturday were filled with great food, great wine, a little line dancing, hopeful window shopping, and tattoos. I ended up getting my fourth tattoo and I'm not going to lie, I'm a little obsessed with it.

Sunday I had to say good bye, which is never fun. BUT hopefully Magpie will be making a much-needed and well-deserved trip to Nashville!!

Until then Eagle & Magpie will be blogging from afar.

Here's to my dear friend Magpie and a wonderful mini vacay :)

Halloween!

Halloween is fast approaching and while I don't necessarily like all the scary, creepy parts, I really love any opportunity to dress up and eat sweets. Eagle and I also share an obsession with most things kitschy and retro, so this year I decided to merge the kitsch and costume. For a friend's Halloween party, I decided to go as a 'beehive.'

I apologize for the quality of the picture but, meh. You get the gist. I styled my hair into a traditional 50's/60's style beehive (didn't get it quite as high as I've seen them- but I was short on time!) Then I attached craft bees (found in the floral section of my craft store) to wires and wrapped them around bobbypins. I finished it off with retro make up- lots of powder, cat eyeliner, false lashes, and red lipstick! I was pretty pleased with the outcome!

This is me and very sweet Tigerlily. We had a blast!

Anyone else have creative costume ideas?

Happy Halloween,
Magpie-

Reunited!!

Guess which Birdies had a little get-together this weekend!? That's right- Eagle & Magpie in one place at the same time! Amazing! 

I hope Eagle posts more on her trip, but here's what I have to say on the subject:

Having Eagle in Texas was marvelous for my soul. This weekend was chock full of beautiful, Godly women, gluten free apple pie, lots of laughing, and a little bit of wine. Even though she just headed back to Tennessee today, I cannot wait until the next time!

Love,

Magpie

Oh just a little of this...

Hey guys. So recently I was a guest blogger for paNASH style, which is run by Lori Bumgarner, who is an image consultant in Nashville for much of the music industry. I wrote about the issues that I deal with as a "curvy woman" and threw in a few style tips just for the heck of it. Check it out!

http://panashstyle.blogspot.com/2011/10/plight-of-curvy-woman-by-ashley-balding.html

- Eagle

A Little Weaving Makes the Heart Happy

So I'm on fall break which means I can finally breathe and catch up on sleep for once. These are positive things. Of course I have many-a projects to do on my fall break, one of which is weaving for my textiles class. Being the nerdy textile lover that I am, this assignment was like an early Christmas present. I kept it very simple and made a loom out of some thin cardboard I had lying around. I bought three different colors of yarn and went at it. It took me a few days but I finished up my little weaving last night. It definitely made me want to have a huge loom and learn how to make super chic intricate tapestries for the modern textile lover. I'll just put it on my list of things to want...

- Eagle

The Happiest Place on Earth

Hi Everyone!
Now it's my turn to apologize for absences!! I just returned from an absolutely wonderful vacation. First, and most specially, I got to see almost all of the amazing women I was blessed to know in college. These women were so crucial to my spiritual and emotional formation and oh-em-gee do I love them.

Secondly, we all got be witnesses at the wedding for one of these ladies. The bride was gorgeous, her husband cried, and fete was lovely- we danced the night away!!

Lastly, a full day of my 4 day trip was dedicated to my all-time favorite place on earth. While one doesn't have to know me well to know what a special place the Mouse has in my heart, let me just state that I seriously heart Disneyland. Now, don't be tempted to think that my love for Disneyland only exists because I just haven't been anywhere cooler- not so. Without tooting my own horn too much, I am a very well traveled 23-year-old. For me, there really is no place happier. As soon as I break through the front gates, my heart is light. I get so nostalgic for the generations of people who have walked Main Street U.S.A before me, and for the joy that countless generations after me will get to experience. It's magical. Confession: Disneyland fireworks make me cry. Every. Single. Time. Even more so at Christmastime when they make it 'snow'.

The only negative experience I've ever had with Mickey and Co. was when they informed me that I was too tall to be a princess and I could leave the casting call. Other than realizing I would never be a Radio City Music Hall Rockette, this experience was one of the most heart breaking. I've put it as far behind me as I can, though I expect there will always be a twinge of bitterness.

Anywho- Here's some documentation of the happiness!

Some quality time at our favorite pumpkin patch in Santa Barbara!

Enjoying the Wedding Reception

 The Happiest Place on Earth!

Hope you got your own little mini vaca from my pictures!
Happy Monday!!

-Magpie the Mousketeer!

The good, the bad, the ugly.

Well everyone. Hello. I'm alive.

First, I would just like to say THANK YOU to Magpie for the lovely birthday wish!! It was indeed my birthday on Sunday. I turned the epic 2-5. I had a relaxing day with lots of friends and family. It was exactly what I needed!

My life has been...hectic at best. I have cried more than I care to admit and hyperventilated more than a couple of times recently. See, I have this problem. I take on way too much for my little eagle self to handle. I don't believe it's a problem with saying no to things so much as it is a problem turning down things that a). Benefit myself or b). Benefit my eventual career. This is where I'm trying to learn to streamline and only take on a limited amount of projects and opportunities.

One opportunity that has literally dropped into my lap recently is an internship. I definitely was NOT planning on having one, but it was one of those things that presents itself and you know that no matter what you will not say no to it. It is for you and only you.

So long story short, I will be interning with a textile designer beginning next week. I could not be more excited. *enter Chandler Bing saying "could I BE more excited?"*

I hope to bring you guys many updates from the studio where I'll be doing a heck of a lot of ironing and maybe a little printing of my own!

I will desperately try to be around more often on here... Please forgive me Magpie!!

Sincerely,

A newly 25 Eagle.

Well Wishes for a Special Someone!

Happy Birthday, Eagle!!!

You are such a special person! I hope your day is filled with love! Many happy returns!

Love, Magpie and the entire blogosphere!

It's Finally Fall!

Well, it's almost fall here in Houston. It's not supposed to get about 90 this week which is as close to fall as we're going to get! Lucky Eagle- she gets the gloriousness of changing leaves and chunky sweaters in Nashville.... Not to mention that fall is the absolute best season for redheads, which I aspire to and Eagle comes by naturally. My colors are totally supposed to be fall colors!

 What I'm getting at, is that regardless of Houston's lack of fall, just knowing that summer is over and that everywhere else people are enjoying the brisk mornings with hot coffee, the uber-golden sunlight, pumpkin patches, crock-pot meals, boots and sweaters, and glorious fall colors makes me so so so happy.  It's my favorite time of year and I'm really excited to share it with you!

Love,
Magpie

PS: Aren't these precious? I'm using up the last plums and 

nectarines of the season!