Recipe // Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

YOU GUYS. These are the BEST pumpkin chocolate chip cookies you will ever taste! They're so light and fluffy and full of the flavor of fall. No, this is not the healthiest recipe to feature, but it is great for your happiness ;) This is the second weekend in a row that I've made these for Tim and I. Tim is a cookie connoisseur and these are husband-approved, so you know they're good. This weekend I made a few extra so some lucky coworkers will get to try them tomorrow (and, let's be honest, so we could have a few extra as well).

You can find the pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe on Creme de la Crumb. If you're like me and can't get enough of everything pumpkin in the fall, you will not regret making these! Happy baking!

Home Tour // Family Room

Our apartment is a constant work in progress, but we've come a long way since moving in! Working with 580 square feet isn't the easiest thing to do, but it's definitely doable and so, so worth it for the location we're in. We've made additions here and there to make it feel like home and the family room is probably one of my favorite rooms in our space. If you're curious, I wrote a post about creating our DIY gallery wall pictured below.

Working with such a limited amount of space, we've had to get creative with storage. Other than our closet, we only have one teeny tiny closet in the entryway, so some of our items are stored in corners of our family room. Can you spot the yoga mat and extra pillows in the back right corner of the photos above? Or our vacuum hidden behind the side table with the bird cage on top of it shown below? ;-) Eventually we'll need to just go through all of our belongings and purge, but for now, it works.

What do you think about our funky vintage green plaid chair? I've had a love/hate relationship with it, but we're currently on good terms ;-) I love the shape of it; it's the perfect size for our small-ish living area and the 70s vibe goes well with some of our other eclectic decor. I'm not sure why I sometimes want to replace it. It might be because when we ultimately replace our couch (it's from my family and we've had it since I was about 7!) I'm not sure if it will still go as well in our family room, but for now it's a great conversation starter and is pulling at my heartstrings. :-) If you're in a DIY mood, check out my post about making the yarn wall hanging pictured above.

The Portland artwork pictured above on the right and also below is the newest addition to our family room. We purchased the artwork from Powell's about 2 years ago and just recently got it framed. If you can't tell, it pictures and names all of the bridges in the city (minus the newest bridge). The artwork was only about $20, but the framing was a bit pricey. Luckily, we were able to get 60% off at Michael's during one of their custom framing sales. We absolutely love it, so it was definitely worth every penny!

We're in love with our little home and wouldn't trade it for the world (well, as long as rent stays manageable). ;-) It's amazing just how little you need when you have the world to explore right outside your door.

Should You Take Essential Oil Supplements?

Tim and I love the doTERRA® Lifelong Vitality Pack®! We've noticed a huge difference in our energy levels and overall feelings of wellbeing since we started taking these supplements. When taken together, this system provides targeted levels of essential nutrients and metabolic elements for optimal energy, health, and longevity.* Two other benefits I've noticed that are very important to me are support for more balanced hormones and promoting clearer, healthier skin.*

Alpha CRS+®

The doTERRA Alpha CRS+ Cellular Vitality Complex combines metabolic elements of cellular energy and natural botanical extracts that support healthy cellular function.* Its primary benefits include:

• Supports healthy cell function and cellular energy*
• Promotes healthy cellular immune function*
• Supports brain function, including mental clarity*
• Contains doTERRA's proprietary antioxidant cellular longevity blend
• Includes tummy tamer botanical extract blend to prevent stomach upset*

xEO Mega®

The doTERRA xEO Mega Essential Oil Omega Complex combines a proprietary blend of marine- and land-sourced omega fatty acids and Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils. Why are omega fatty acids important? They help support joint, brain, cardiovascular, and immune function health.* Its primary benefits include:

• Supports heart and circulatory health*
• Supplies immune-boosting nutrients*
• Promotes healthy joint function and comfort*
• Supports healthy brain, eyes, and nervous system function*
• Promotes healthy skin*
• Made with Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Clove, Thyme, Peppermint, Frankincense, Cumin, Wild Orange, Caraway, Ginger, and German Chamomile oils, doTERRA's proprietary blend

Microplex VMz®

The doTERRA Microplex VMz Food Nutrient Complex is a formula comprised of bioavailable vitamins and minerals that are deficient in our modern diets, including antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, and an energy complex of B vitamins. This supplement supports optimal metabolic and bone health, along with a calming tummy tamer blend great for those who may have experienced stomach upset when using other vitamin and mineral products.* Its primary benefits include:

• 22 essential minerals and vitamins that support normal function and growth of cells*
• Supports healthy cellular energy and healthy metabolism*
• Fights free radicals with antioxidant vitamins of A, C, and E*
  • What are free radicals? Free radicals are uncharged molecules that have an unpaired valence electron. They are unstable and react quickly with other compounds trying to gain stability. Free radicals will attack the nearest stable molecule and steal its electron. That molecule then becomes a free radical and starts a chain reaction. This process can disrupt and cause damage to living cells and lead to homeostatic disruption.
• Promotes bone health*
• Supports healthy digestion and immune function*
• Includes a whole-food botanical blend of kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, parsley, dandelion, kelp, spinach, and cabbage

Should you take essential oil supplements? If you want a better-than-organic, natural supplement solution, essential oil supplements are for you! The biggest difference I've noticed from switching to natural supplements from over-the-counter supplements is that I don't feel like I'm just maintaining my health, rather, I'm truly enhancing my health!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.