Somewhere Over the Rainbow Cake

 Taste the rainbow

I made Duff's tie-dye cake from a box. The mix comes with tiny food coloring packets. The cake is really soft…I don't know how to describe it. It was on the delicate side so it was hard to frost. I'd like to try making the cake from scratch and doing the food coloring trick and seeing how that turns out.

What I Wore Sunday

We made it to children's Mass. I was so happy we did because we got to hear the children's choir sing.  Today's outfit was inspired by the character Jesse from the tv show New Girl. She always wears tight and bright flats. If only I had Zooey Deschanel's bangs!

Check out more Sunday outfits and a great blog fine linen and purple

Minty Winter Nails

I've been dreaming of getting a mint green color. I found this on Black Friday and I love it! This color is a nice change from all the red and green of the season.

What I wore Sunday…Winter White

 Happy second Sunday of Advent. Today was pretty chilly but as I watch the football games I know it's nothing compared to the East Coast. I love wearing dresses and skirts. When the temperature dips I try hard not to wear jeans or pants to Mass. I stay warm with boots and lots of layers.

Sweater:: Old Navy

Shirt:: Eddie Bauer

Scarf:: street vendor in NYC

Tights:: Donna Karen @Costco

Boots:: BP Nordstorm

Find out what other ladies wore this Sunday at Fine Linen and Purple

 In my quest to find matchy nail colors…I've found the perfect Starbucks red Julep's Claudette.

 Currently I'm reading an inspiring book on Saint Therese of Lisieux by Heather King

When I asked F.W. to take my picture for this post I found over a dozen photos like this on my phone. haha

The Light Between Oceans

I just finished The Light Between Oceans. Good Golly there is a reason M.L. Stedman's novel has been on top of Oprah's fiction list! The Light Between Oceans is a real page turner. SOOO good! It is in paperback now…so you can buy it and pass it on to a friend.

Maple Oatmeal Cookies

 I got Jessica Seinfeld's new cookbook form the library. The Can't Cook Book is loaded with great recipes. It has lots of direction for people who are terrified of their kitchen...Think Carrie from Sex & the City. This cookbook has only a handful of baking recipes. One of the recipes is for Oatmeal, Maple & Raisin Cookies. I am a sucker for anything maple. 

These Maple Oatmeal cookies are super yummy! I didn't add raisins because that's how I roll. Both the Hubby & F.W. thought the cookies tasted like oatmeal snicker doodles. You couldn't taste the maple because the cinnamon is so overpowering.  

Queen Bee Market

This weekend I went to the Queen Bee Market in Oceanside with my sister.

Junk Art Gypsyz makes great signs. I got this one to hang over our fire place.

 I feel in love with Flea Market Sunday. They use vintage maps to make really cool wall hangings. I am  already regretting I didn't get the square vintage map of San Diego. 

 Award for cutest nativity set goes to Creme De La Gems

 I didn't purchase this but I love it.

My trusty sidekick who is always my voice of reason when I want to buy EVERYTHING at the Queen Bee Market. Last year had a lot of Christmas themed gift ideas…this year not so much. Great vendors and a great night shopping.

Happy Halloween!

 Trick or Treat

This Halloween I went with the super simple ghost nail. 

Fall Lip Obsession

New season means new look and time to change up my make up routine. Good bye Summer lip gloss and Hello matte lips. I am in LOVE with matte lip pencils! Just about every make up company makes them. From expensive Nars Velvet matte lip pencil to reasonably priced Revlon MatteBalm. I like the ones that you don't need to sharpen. Tarte Lipsurgence has a great minty taste and it is natural. Bite is a high pigment lip pencil that lasts the longest. It is a smaller pencil so it is easier to apply to thin lips. I like Bite in Rhubarb.

Revlon in Sultry

 Revlon is great because you just twist to sharpen.

It isn't matte but I really love Flower sheer lip tint in Airy Orchid. I am sure Flower Beauty will have a matte lip tint soon.    

New Hair
I am wearing Revlon MatteBalm in Standout

pretzel bowls

Last night I made A Beautiful Mess pretzel bowls. They turned out SO delicious! Everyone loved them. I filled the bowls with homemade broccoli potato cheddar soup. This recipe is a keeper.

Fin & Lady

Did I love this book? No...Did I like this book? Sure 

The reason I read Fin & Lady by Cathleen Schine is 1) The main character is named Fin. 2) The novel takes place in NYC in the 1960s. Lady is Fin's older half sister, she becomes his guardian. I thought this novel could have been a short story. The story went around and around in a circle and didn't really pick up until page 183. Then I eagerly zoomed to the end or the fin of the book.

What I Wore Sunday

This Sunday I got to wear boots for the 1st time this season, hooray for Fall. 

This whole get up is Target 

except the boots: BP at Nordstorm 

Bag: Fossil

What are the ladies at Fine Linen and Purple wearing this Sunday?? Do yourself a favor and check it out HERE.

 Nails: OPI You don't know Jacques!

I kind of forgot about this color, I haven't worn it all year. I think it is the perfect neutral for Autumn.  

My sweet F.W. and I were color coordinated today. I feel like photos of me turn out SO much better if I have one of the boys with me. Being a parent to a teenager is a new challenge...the mood swings alone are crazy. I just keep thinking this to shall pass and try not to say something sarcastic that I will regret saying later. I am so thankful we go to Mass every Sunday together as a family.

Actors Anonymous

I won this book from GoodReads. I am not sure if I'm even hip enough to read it. I'm a little intimidated by it this book.

Fall Baking Pumpkin Bread

 Making the topping I just used my hands to mix it. 

Bread with crumble top before going in the oven.

Every time I go to Starbucks I am tempted by their little square of pumpkin bread. I love Starbucks' pumpkin bread because it has no nuts or chocolate chips. I  also like the little pumpkin seeds on top. Today I stopped myself from buying their pumpkin bread because when you think about it a can of pure pumpkin is cheaper than a slice of Starbucks pumpkin bread.

Pumpkin bread is awesome because if you have a can of pumpkin, you most likely have all the other ingredients in your cupboard. Nothing makes a house smell like Fall than pumpkin bread. I found the recipe I liked because it used brown sugar and vanilla.  

Pumpkin Bread:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup oil
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
⅓ cup water
½ tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1¾ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp salt
 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

Topping:
1 Tbl flour
5 Tbl brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbl cold butter

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 8″x4″ loaf pan (or three small loaf pans) with baking spray. Set aside. In large bowl with electric mixer, beat butter, oil, sugar, and brown sugar. Add pumpkin puree, water, and vanilla, mix until smooth. Add one egg at a time, mixing after each addition. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture, mix just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan. Set aside.

Make topping, in small bowl combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in cold butter with pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. I used my hands to make the crumble. Sprinkle topping over batter.

Bake for 1 hour (35-40 minutes for small pans), or until pick inserted in center comes out clean. Topping will begin to darken but should not burn. Cool in pan, then on wire rack.

So easy and yummy!!

Fall Baking Triple-Chocolate Bread

 This weekend I baked a Triple-Chocolate Bread from Better Homes and Gardens Fall Baking magazine. This issue is full of lovely baking ideas! It is 10 bucks but I think well worth the money. The great thing about this the triple-choclate bread recipe is you most likely already have all the ingredients in your pantry.

 This bread is wonderful! It is really chocolaty. It was a nice change from cake. 

I recommend eating it warm with a scope of vanilla ice cream. Per my usual I forgot to take a picture until after everyone had finished dessert. 

13 candles

This weekend F.W. turned 13! Every birthday we take F.W. and his friend to the Corvette Diner.

2006

2013

 F.W. wanted a strawberry cake made from a box and store bought frosting! I was kind of bummed he didn't want a grander cake.

13 Candles

Someday, Someday, Maybe...I'll like this book

Someday, Someday, Maybe is Lauren Graham's (who played Lorelei Gilmore) first novel. If you like the TV show Gilmore Girls you will most likely enjoy Someday, Someday, Maybe. It is about a 20 something actress, Franny. It is 1995 in NYC Franny Banks is trying to make it into movies, Broadway, TV, commercials- really she'll take any acting job. I liked the quick witted dialogue. However this book gave me anxiety because of the main character's constant self doubt and her terrible audition dreams. I decided not to finish reading this because I found the energy of the book a little exhausting.

One last Summer Book: The Great Gatsby

Although the boys are back in school it doesn't feel like Fall yet. I keep hoping Autumn will arrive but the days are still long and hot. I thought since it still feels like July I should take advantage and read the quintessential summer book...The Great Gatsby. I also wanted to read it before I see the movie. I hadn't read The Great Gatsby since high school. I had forgotten how great this book is. So simple and elegant.

Endless Summer

Me Before You

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is the perfect Summer book as long as you don't mind crying on the beach. Me Before You draws you in on the first page and you don't want to put it down. So good.

Big Red Trolley

Today we took the trolley to Seaport Village. Our family used to ride the trolley often when we lived closer to it. Back then D was a baby and he doesn't remember those days. So I told him it was his first time on the trolley. He loved the freedom of no seat belt. It really is convenient getting to downtown. I wish we would have used the trolley this summer to get to an afternoon Padres game. I am definitely going to do it next summer.

I love Summer but I am looking forward to Fall.

Primrose Bakery Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes

 These strawberry cupcakes have a little surprise in the center.

This is the second time I used the book Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery. I really love the book's frosting recipes.  Their frosting is simple and you don't have a ton of left over frosting.

 You add 1/2 cup fresh pureed strawberries to these cupcakes.

This recipe calls for mixing everything in a food processor. I don't have a food processor so I used my mixer and I think I over mixed the ingredients. 

1:: cut hole with a sharp knife
2:: scoop out hole
3:: fill hole with room temperature jam