Happy Fall Y'all!

Fall is officially here and I couldn't be happier!  This time of year triggers something in my brain that just brightens my mood.  I like summer and being in the sun, but get pretty sick of the oh-so-hot temperatures.  I know I live in the South and that's the way it is, but by August I've simply had enough!  I welcome fall with open arms :)

Last weekend I cleaned out my summer and winter clothes and picked some things I've had for awhile that I never wear.  How come it's so hard to get rid of clothes even if you haven't worm them for years?  It must be a woman thing (that's what Brad says, anyway).  I took them to Plato's Closet and sold a total of 2 items for a whopping $8.90.  Oh well, it was a good shot.  I will be selling the leftovers at a yard sale my mother and I are having sometime soon....I will update on that so y'all can come buy all my stuff!

Back to the apartment now...I pulled out my fall decorations and got to decoratin'!  I don't have many but I think a little is charming (just wait til my Christmas post....it'll seem Christmas threw up all over my apartment).  I wanted to share with y'all...

My table setting (I had red napkins somewhere but they seem to have gotten lost in the move)

 Mr. Gobbles here was a steal for $1 at Goodwill last year.  I like to make him talk while we eat...Brad always tells me to stop but he's just too cute to stop (the turkey, not Brad...well, Brad is too...)  Those are pumpkin salt & pepper shakers.

Another steal from Yankee Candle after the holidays last year...it was $3 if I remember correctly.  I sure do love a good deal!

My dollar store leaf that I use as a spoon rest and my wonderful sweet pea candle, courtesy of Uncle Rick (thank you so much!)

Last, but certainly not least, here is my fall wreath.  Don't they make a happy couple?

This time of year just BEGS for good home cookin'...why not start with a tasty pot of chili?  In case you were wondering, this is made with ground beef, tomato sauce, red onion, chili beans, black beans, jalapenos, garlic powder, chili powder, and lots of love.  It simmered for about 6 hours and made the house smell just AMAZING!

Add some homemade cornbread muffins (recipe is my mother-in-love's, the topping for her Yummy Mexican Stuff which you can find here:  http://lauralee-laura.blogspot.com/2010/01/yummy-mexican-stuff.html) and you have a wonderful supper.  Throw in some Auburn football and you've got yourself a date night with someone special!

My man of choice is this guy right here...he makes my heart smile :)

Happy Fall Everyone!

Love,

Hannah Elise

No More Splats!

Well I'm back already (did ya miss me?) to post a project I did last night.  You see, every time I make cookies they turn out awful.  I follow directions...most of the time...but even the rolls of dough you buy and just plop down on the pan I seem to mess up.  My family teases me about my special cookies and have named them "splats" because that's really what they are...dough that has been splatted on a pan.  They look like pancakes but flatter.  I couldn't figure out my problem.  Too much cooking spray on the pan?  Not enough baking soda or baking powder?  Surely I'm not doomed to make splats forever...

I decided yesterday to put an end to the reign of splats and make some completely-from-scratch chocolate chip cookies.  I have been just kinda throwing everything in the bowl and mixing it up (eventually it's all incorporated, right?).  Turns out that doesn't work.  I found that when I took my time and was careful to follow all the directions, they turned out perfectly!  Here is my step-by-step process to make homemade chocolate chip cookies for all of you cookie-making-challenged people out there like myself:

First, put on a fresh pot of coffee because...well, why not?

MMMMM!!!

 As my mother-in-love would say, "assemble your players!"

Notice my new vanilla, Spanish vainilla straight from Cancun  (Thanks, Abby!)

Okay, here we go.  First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Cream two sticks of room temperature butter with half a cup each of brown sugar and white sugar. 

 Then add two eggs and mix.

Add 1 tsp each of baking soda, salt, and vanilla.

Slowly add 2 cups flour.  I added it a half cup at a time to get it fully incorporated.

 The best part is next:  add the chocolate chips!  I used one and a half cups.

Now wipe your drool...don't want it ruining the cookies!

 Drop spoonfuls of dough two inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

While you're waiting on them to bake, fix yourself and your husband a cup of fresh java.  Add in pumpkin spice creamer for a fall explosion in your mouth!  I am drinking out of my new coffee cup from (can you guess) Cancun :)  (thanks again, Abby!) 

Would you look at these perfectly baked cookies?  This is my redemption batch:  no more splats!

I think I'll reward myself...this one has my name on it!

Last step:  share them with someone you love.  Enjoy baby!

Love, 

Hannah Elise

Welcome!

Hey y'all!  My name is Hannah Temple and I would like to welcome you to my blog, Southern Templer.  I live in the South and love everything Southern, from down home cookin' to backroads.  Well, I take that back.  I don't like the heat.  I am very ready for fall (even decorated!) and winter.  Let me show you the world from my view...

My husband Bradley and I married May 7, 2011 and now live in an apartment in Columbia, South Carolina.  I've spent a lot of time decorating and want y'all to see our place!

Hang on to your seat, 'cause here we go...

 The view from our balcony door.  The door in the corner is our front door.

The view from our bedroom door.

 See the beautiful quilt my mother-in-love made for Brad and me?  

You can check our her blog @ http://lauralee-laura.blogspot.com

 The view from our dining room.  Notice the beautiful picture on the wall...

The picture is blurry because I have a cheap camera, but you get the idea...such a beautiful Southern backroad picture.  Totally my style!

Our dining room, with the table set and a candle burning for a romantic dinner with my hubby!

One half of our kitchen, complete with mushrooms and BBQ sauce on the stove (baked BBQ porkchops and homemade mac & cheese are in the oven).

My sign over the stove.  So true.  A gift from my sister-in-love, who also has a blog: http://abbymtstclair.blogspot.com

The view from the front door.  You can see straight into the bedroom and bathroom.

The bedroom, with our bright new quilt/sheets from Target.  Nice and colorful, although the bed usually looks like this:

(We love pillows)

 The bathroom with our oh-so-wonderfully colorful shower curtain

The view from our balcony

Now that you've seen our place, it's time to end my first post.  I hope you liked reading it as much as I liked making it!  Ta ta for now...

Love,

Hannah Elise