Showing posts with label Fall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fall. Show all posts

Monday, November 4, 2013

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.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!

 Trick or Treat
This Halloween I went with the super simple ghost nail. 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

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.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

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.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

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!!

Monday, September 30, 2013

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. 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

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.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

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.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

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.

Monday, October 29, 2012

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.

Monday, October 22, 2012

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.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

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.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

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.

Monday, September 17, 2012

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.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Inspiration at Starbucks

Emilie by Julep
When D had his Dinosaur themed birthday party I got this nail polish. I was trying to keep with the theme & thought it was a Velociraptor color. I really loved this color green. Then it dawned on me of course I love this color it is Starbucks Green! It really compliments my trenta Starbucks green iced tea.
Every time we go to Starbucks the boys want a pastry. D loves the Madeleines. F.W. loves the Petite Vanilla Scones. I like the Maple Oat Scone. Today I stopped by Starbucks enjoying my independence after dropping off the boys at school. I was tempted to buy some prepackaged pastries when I was inspired to make some Madeleine cookies at home. Now I just need the boys to get home before I am tempted to eat them all.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

School Days

7th Grade

 1st day of kindergarten 
Waiting in line for the playground.

D's Aunt and cousins surprised him by getting him after school.
It was a GREAT first day of school. No tears only high hopes. I am bummed poor F.W. has P.E. for his second to last period of the day. It is going to be SO hot for him. Other than that I think it is going to be a great school year! Time to clean the cobwebs off my sewing machine.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Looking Ahead

It is so bittersweet with Summer coming to an end. The boys starting school will leave me alone all day for the 1st time in five years. Yikes, I am at a crossroad to say the least. I am trying to think of the positives. One wonderful event I am looking forward to this Fall, is the return of the Queen Bee Market! I love me some crafts! I can't wait to see what people out in the crafting universe have been working on. I'd like to find some wall art for the house.


QBM

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Fall walk & Blue Nights

D&I went on a walk to find the color maroon...



I read Blue Nights By Joan Didion. I have never read her books before but she is one of the authors you keep hearing about. She loves California as much as I do. I felt like I should read something by her. Blue Nights is Didion's newest book. It is a follow up memoir to A Year of Magical Thinking (I love that title). In A Year of Magical Thinking she writes about her husband's death. Blue Nights is about her daughter's illness and eventual death. Although this book is sad she writes candidly about motherhood, aging & loss that will never heal.

The memoir flows along like it's a long conversation & she is talking to herself in the car. "When we talk about mortality we are talking about our children." I like how she name drops about Hollywood in the 60s,70s&80s. It's a somber memoir but I really liked it.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle...

This Halloween both the boys wanted to dress up as something I couldn't buy at Party City. So the Hubby and I went head to head in a costume building composition. The challenge was for him to help FW be a shower. His inspiration: the original Karate Kid. I had to help D become Leonardo aka the blue Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I think both the costumes turned out great! Happy Halloween
D was a very lucky turtle. He got to go trick or treating with both his Grandmas, an Aunt and Mom&Dad!


I found this backpack at Sea World. It really pulls the whole ensemble together!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

What time is it?

How was your weekend? Here is a peek into mine...

This weekend the dog woke me at 3:45am to be let outside. I let him out and I crawled back into bed. Moments later I hear "Moooooom I need to go to the bathroom." I get out of bed and the bed is already WET! Once you change a child and remake a bed at 4am you know you're not going back to sleep. I laid in bed till 5am waiting for the sandman. He never showed up. So at 5 I slipped out of the house in search of coffee. I left in such a rush that I didn't grab my phone or camera. I hung out at a Starbucks in silence till 6. I figured if I was awake this early I might as well make the most of it. I drove to the Pacific ocean for the sunrise. It was really strange for me to be awake that early on a Saturday. However it was really peaceful. The birds were awake. The sea lions were already making lots of noise. I kept wishing I had my camera!! The sunrise was beautiful because there were a few clouds. I don't want to get woken up again that early anytime soon but it was really nice me time...next time I'll remember my camera!