Instagram November

stilby_m
 
November through my instagram.

Byredo perfume, candles (lots of candles), my favorite Scandinavian candy, magazines and books, leather pants, outfit details, more candles... I feel like candles and magazines are what helped me through November's darkness.

Really, all of the cozy days and nights at home with my family in Vermont (even that night where I had to help my mother put furniture from Ikea together), coming to Los Angeles, getting to spend time with my best (and all of the magazines and books he gave me) got me through November.

That being said,
Happy December!

Gluten Free Maple Sugar Cookies

One thing that people usually do not know about me is that despite the fact that I do not eat gluten, dairy (eggs not included), and hardly any sugar (especially cane sugar), I love baking, especially cookies. I find the process of baking to be extremely calming and it is something I am actually quite good at, which makes it all the more enjoyable. I also like figuring out how I can modify recipes to fit my dietary restrictions (it makes me feel like a scientist or something...I am lame, I know). That being said, I have never done a recipe post before or even photographed food so I am a little nervous!

I do know that these Gluten Free Maple Sugar Cookies are extremely delicious (I had multiple people test them just to be sure) and that they are also extremely easy to make!

Here is the recipe :

Gluten Free Maple Sugar Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

• 1/4 cup Butter/dairy free alternative (these were made using Earth Balance's Vegan Buttery Sticks)
• 2 Tbsp Honey
• 1/2 cup Maple Sugar (plus extra for dusting/icing)
• 1/2 cup MapleSyrup (plus extra if adding icing)
• 1-1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 1-3/4 cups GF All Purpose Baking Flour
• 3/4 tsp Xanthan Gum
• 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 large Egg White

Directions :

1. In a Vitamix or a food processor blend butter (at room temperature, not melted), honey, maple sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Add flour, xanthan gum, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and egg white, blending until mixture is well combined. 
   *If using electric mixer, blend ingredients, then add water if needed, 1 tablespoon at a time.
3. Shape dough into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 325°F.
5. Using a cookie scoop, shape the dough into 24 one-inch balls and roll in sifted maple sugar.

6. Place 2” apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (or a greased cookie sheet).

7. Bake 10 minutes or until edges are set. Rotate the position of the pan halfway through baking for even heat distribution.
8. Remove from oven; wait two minutes before transferring to a rack to cool.

Four of the cookies I flattened with the back of a spoon

Icing (optional) :

• After the cookies have cooled completely, sift a few table spoons of maple sugar into a small bowl and add a small amount of maple syrup. Combine with a spoon. Quantities of both maple sugar and maple syrup depend on how thick you want the icing to be and how much you want to make (if you want the icing to be thicker, add less maple syrup/if you want the icing to be more of a glaze, add more maple syrup).

After the icing has hardened, store cookies in an airtight container.

Done!

This is a modified version of Bob's Red Mill's recipe for Gluten Free Sugar Cookies, which you can find here!

Instagram October

stilby_m
 
October through my instagram.

The days are getting shorter and the air is getting colder. With each passing day you can notice the beauty of fall disappearing into the quiet, bleakness of winter.

I try to surround myself with things that are beautiful, practical, and simple... knit socks, lovely blankets, good books and magazines that are well designed, beauty products with lovely packaging, nice candles (candles are so important this time of year), cashmere sweaters...you know, those types of things.

Either way,
Happy November!

October in Vermont

Photo : Dillon

Dillon took this photo of me by the lake the other day (I stole it from his instagram). It was one of 
those intensely beautiful, cold fall days where it is hard to tell if you are dreaming or you are awake.

October in Vermont is whimsical like that. The sunlight is flat and bright, somewhere in between sunny and grey.
 There isn't any summer left here. The leaves are a deep orange and they are so lifeless. It is almost as if they are in pain, like they want to die and fall to the ground but the tree branches are holding on so tightly.

Perhaps I am a bit the same...

Renovations are not calming

Today I woke up to a quintessential fall morning in Vermont. The kind of morning that makes you feel happy, inspired, and at peace. The sun is shining, the leaves are starting to change, and the cold air feels fresh and crisp.

There is something so lovely about that Autumn chill. It is cold enough that you start thinking about sweaters, boots, flannel and corduroys (serious Vermont staples) but not so cold that you dread going outside. It kind of feels like everyone is pretending that there is no such thing as winter even though you can feel it lingering in the air.

Unfortunately, this morning I was awoken by the sound of workers screaming to each other from the bathroom down the hall. Even though the world around me is seemingly tranquil, my house is currently undergoing a serious renovation and is anything but serene.

All of my clothing, beauty products, office supplies…possessions (etc.) are now in piles on my bedroom floor. Everything feels chaotic and going through it all feels a little hopeless. I have so many things to give away, put into storage, or just get rid of. I am excited to get organized but I do not know where to start...

Flower Garden

 

This was the flower garden on Sunday
evening as the sun was setting. So lovely.
Since then it has been nonstop rain, but
I think the rain is clearing up for a bit.

For the first time in a while I can see the

blue sky peeking out through the clouds.

Already I am feeling more creative.

Hopefully I will have time to pick some

peonies before the rain starts again!

Happy Wednesday!

♥

Monday's Moodboard

Source : 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 & 9 / 10 /

I thought I would share some images that were on
my mind today, the last one is of my arm.

I hope that you all had a lovely Monday
and I wish you all a happy Tuesday!
♥