Kentucky Bourbon Cake

This weekend we were invited to a pre New Year's Eve party. I got 2 new baking cookbooks for Christmas. For the party I made the Kentucky Bourbon Cake from Vintage Cakes By Julie Richardson.

 The batter is so fluffy

 My sad first attempt at a bunt cake

  I couldn't throw out a whole cake just because it is ugly...I took it to the party any ways. It was so fun to go to a party just the Hubby and me. 

Me and the lovely hostess.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Apron Simplicity 3949

 I finished that sewing project I started in November just in time for Christmas. Since I was making a gift I couldn't share too many details. It's a little bigger than I expected. I used the medium size but I wished I'd made a small. My sister really liked it and that was the BEST part of Christmas. I used Simplicity 3949 pattern. I love the Amy Butler fabric. 

 I had a hard time picking the fabric. I narrowed it down to these 2. I really liked the retro feel of the fabric on the left. However I picked the one on the right because it has purple and green in it and that was my sister's wedding colors.

Christmas Cookies

 Christmas Eve was filled with lots of baking for Santa. I made Sugar cookies so the boys could decorate. I also made Chocolate Chip and Snickerdoodle. 

Christmas Lights

 Hotel Del Coronado

 Looking at Christmas lights with friends

California Adventure

Carsland Christmas

Books

 Last month I had no luck at the used book store by my house. Well my luck has changed. I scored 2 best sellers! I already started reading Gone Girl & it is a real page turner.  

Christmas Bunting

 Over the Thanksgiving break I wanted to give F.W. a project to work on. I thought bunting would be a great sewing project for him. The pattern is simple. Just measure a triangle on paper. I wanted this to be something he could do on his own and be proud of. I took him to a nearby fabric store to let him pick the materials. He did it all except for the ironing. It was fun to sew with him.

I couldn't help but get a sweet picture of a sleepy Angus. I swear during the day he is part house cat...unless the Mailman comes then Angus is ALL dog.

 Merry Christmas from Disneyland!

 I love California Adventures' Main Street.

 Everything was Christmasy at Disneyland. Cinderella's castle is covered in snow. It's a Small World ride sings Christmas carols. It's a Small World was a sensory over load! I kept thinking this is what some people dream their lawns look like during Christmas.

A Prince and Princess

Thanksgiving Eve

 Here are the cookbooks I'm using for Thanksgiving dinner. 

Along with the traditional turkey and mashed potatoes I have some new recipes to try this Thanksgiving. I'm making Gwyneth Paltrow's My Father's Daughter caramelized Brussels sprout and America's Test Kitchen classic stuffing.

Fingers crossed!

My cooking taste tends to be on the traditional or simple side. I like classic foods. However this year I'm trying a different pumpkin pie recipe. I am making a pumpkin pie from the More from Magnolia cookbook by Allysa Torey. It uses 3 tablespoons bourbon. I am thinking of baking a second pie in case the bourbon pie bombs.

Queen Bee Market

 This weekend I went to the Queen Bee Market in Carlsbad, CA. I took FW along for the fun. He is a good partner to bring to a craft show. Most of the time FW is able talk me out of overspending. The vendors had lots of original items to buy. I can't show any more pictures because I bought Christmas gifts.

Photo Both Fun 

Too Soon?

I inadvertently painted my nails for Christmas. I think all of the ads and the stores already having Christmas trees & decorations up has gotten to my subconscious. I made pumpkin muffins today so that's a win for Fall/ Thanksgiving.

Fall Sewing

Happy to report...I am currently sewing something. I am fueled by Halloween candy. It is a new pattern and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it turns out good. As soon as I finish I will post pictures.

Halloween Round Up

Even our pumpkin has freckles.

Harry Potter and the Halloween Kid

 Yee Ha-lloween

F.W threw his Halloween costume together at the last minute. I think he looks so handsome and warm. This year Halloween was a strange night for us. D is just getting over strep throat so he wasn't up for much. We walked around for 45 minutes. Our neighborhood was dead. We didn't get any trick-or-treaters at our house but we did get tricked. Someone ran off with D's Jack-O-Lantern. This morning we found it smashed in the neighbor's driveway. He was very upset about it. Poor guy.

Candy Corn Nails

Getting in the Halloween spirit. I painted my nails candy corn. It is easy to do but time consuming. Start by painting your nails orange. I recommend painting the orange base coat the day before. Cut strips of tape and place them horizontally on your nails. paint above the tape yellow. Paint below the tape white.  Peel the tape off and apply a top coat of clear nail polish.

Halloween Books for Kids

Fun for everyone

These are some of the Halloween books I like to read at bedtime.
 The Halloween Play By Felicia Bond is a short and sweet.
10 Trick-or-Treaters By Janet Schulman fun with math. Who doesn't like to count candy?
The Halloween Kid By Rhode Montijo Love this book!
Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet By Diane de Groat good for k-3rd grade.

On the scary side

Both these books have great illustrations. Boris and Bella even has the lesson that just because you are different doesn't mean you can't get along.
 Vampire Boy's Good Night By Lisa Brown
Boris and Bella By Carolyn Crimi

The Halloween Kid By Rhode Montijo is by far our favorite Halloween book. It is really fun to read aloud with a twangy southern accent. This book inspired D's Halloween costume.

Oktoberfest

 Pink Pumpkins for Breast Cancer Awarness

We went to an Oktoberfest this weekend. There was a great German band playing Polkas. This Oktoberfest benefits the local Elementary, Middle and High schools. It is put together by edUCate! EdUCate! is a nonprofit foundation that was founded in 1993. It gives supplemental funding to all UC schools. EdUCate! helps fund field trips and art classes... Pretty much anything that the district cuts from the budget. It also awards a scholarship to a University City student every year. So it was a great time and a great cause.

Morena's Corner: Puffy Flower Hair Pin

I've seen these flowers before and always thought they were cute. I found a tutorial (the link is below). I had no idea how easy theses are to make! It's a great project because you can use your fabric scraps. It took me about 45 minutes to do this. However now that I know how to make them it will be faster.

I made a pin

The blog I got the tutorial from made the flowers into a headband. I think I am going to try that next. Theses flowers are so cool because you can experiment with different fabric textures. Depending on the style of button and fabric you can make your pin look vintage or modern.
Morena's Corner: Puffy Flower Hair Pin: This project is so easy and can be done in less than thirty minutes.

Bewitching

So pretty I don't want to open it

I received my Julep Maven box in the mail today. I got 3 nail colors, some nail glitter and candy corns. I love getting treats in the mail. The Halloween theme is great. The boys are still fine tuning what they will be this year for Halloween. I can't wait to go Trick or Treating with them.

Downton Abbey Withdrawls

I can't believe Downton Abbey won't return to television in the US till January 2013! UGH It seems so far away. If you need to get your rich English people fix might I recommend the book The American Heiress By Daisy Goodwin. This is Daisy Goodwin's first novel. The book was published the same year Downton Abbey first aired on TV. I've just started it and I am really enjoying it. It starts off in Newport, Rhode Island in 1893. The main character is 18 year old Cora Cash who's family is nouveau riche. They have loads of money and she is the closest thing in American society to royalty however her Mother wants her to have a real title. They are in England hunting for a husband. So far this book is delicious. The author really did her research so it's great historical fiction.

Birthday Cupcakes

So pretty I didn't want to frost them

 Marble Cupcakes

 Our family September's Birthdays

I can't believe he is turning 12.

This past weekend was HOT. The News kept saying it was going to be a scorcher but I didn't think it would really get to 100 degrees. My side of the family had already planned a little birthday get together. I was planning on baking a cake for it. However since it was SO hot I decided to spend less time in the kitchen by making a box cake. First the Birthday Boy wanted a strawberry cake then he changed his mind to marble cupcakes. They turned out lovely.