Archive for January 2015

Is it crazy to wear shorts in winter?! I recently bought these adorable shorts at Forever 21 on clearance though and just had to wear them immediately. Anything with floral or lace I fall in love with -- so these are my new favorite shorts. I love how feminine they are! I paired them with a coral shirt of the same color and my fun mint oxfords. Unfortunately it was a rainy day so I had to take my pictures inside, awful lighting and all.

Shirt: Thrifted // Cardigan: Kohl's // Shorts: Forever 21 // Tights: Target // Shoes: Target // Necklace: Gift

It's the Great Falls Mill Ruins -- originally built in 1869 and used up until the Great Depression. Then the mill caught fire in 1972, and all that's left now is some of the frame and scraps of old machinery. It can be found just off the highway at 307 W Broad Avenue in Rockingham, NC. Be warned: the surrounding area is completely overgrown with itchy weeds that are waist-deep, so dress appropriately. But you can't miss it; it's directly beside the highway.




Walking around this serene area, it was very peaceful and pretty. I adored the huge brick wall that was left standing, reaching up to the sky. It was also neat finding old rusty bits of machinery half hidden in the grass. Beyond the ruins is a little waterfall and creek. It was a really pretty place! When I visited this site, it was a super hot day in May, but I would love to see it again sometime in the cooler months.

These yummy cinnamon roll cookies taste just like a regular cinnamon roll, but are a much smaller portion! The icing is my favorite part of it all and really brings the cookie together as a whole.


Ingredients:

VANILLA COOKIE DOUGH:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2/4 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

CINNAMON MIDDLE TOPPING:
1 large egg white
1 Tablespoon water
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

ICING:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a medium-sized bowl, cream together the sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla. Add the flour, stirring until the dough stays together.
2. Lightly flour a piece of parchment paper and transfer the dough to it. Flatten the dough into a 9 x 12 inch thin rectangle.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white and water until foamy. Brush onto rolled out dough.
4. In another small bowl, whisk together the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle it evenly over the entire dough.
5. Starting with a long edge, carefully roll the dough into a log, sealing the edge. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until firm.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease two cookie sheets.
7. Remove dough from the freezer and unwrap it. Using a sharp knife, cut the log into 1/2-inch slices.
8. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes, until they are a light golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to a rack to cool.
9. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, cream, vanilla, and cinnamon to make a smooth icing. Drizzle icing onto cookies. (I put my icing in a bag, and then cut a hole in the corner). Enjoy!
*Makes 2 dozen cookies.