Happy Halloween...

happy halloween eve.....

happy pumpkin carving...
i received a text message earlier this week and it read "buzz lightyear and woody would like to visit you on saturday night". i can't wait.






this week has been early alarms and late nights. i roll out of bed step into the shower and realize another week is wrapping up. i wonder how the time goes so fast. then i remember there are errands to run, bills to pay, emails to return, dishes to do, appointments to make, people to see ... that's why.

i think saturday muffins would be nice.

coffee cake miniatures.

1/3 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 pkg. (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 T. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. milk

topping
2/3 c. brown sugar
4 T. melted butter
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

icing
1 c. powdered sugar
1-2 T. milk or cream








1. in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar, then beat in egg.
2. in a medium bowl, combine flour, pudding mix, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk and beat until blended.
3. fill paper-lined muffin cups 1/3 full.
4. combine topping ingredients and sprinkle 1/2 of topping mixture over batter in muffin cups.
5. fill muffin cups with remaining batter and sprinkle remaining topping over tops.
6. bake at 375 degrees for 20 -25 minutes, cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack.
7. when cool, drizzle icing over tops.
yields about 1 dozen bakery size muffins.

+ if you are ultra grown-up and like nuts in your baked goods, you can add chopped walnuts to the batter and the topping.
+ and if you're like me and like cinnamon, go ahead and add a pinch more. i think you should be able to smell it over the brown sugar when you stir the topping. i think that should be my new rule.

this weekend i wish you a cozy bed, nice lightning, a piece of quiet, some shopping, a margarita, a hug or two. and one more thing. i like you . thanks for being my friend.

on a gorgeous fall morning...

it's okay to dream about spring isn't it?







these images are just beautiful... xox

d a c e Spring 2010 videolook from André Pinces on Vimeo.

weekend wrap...

so the weekend flew by as usual, but, i got lots done…

finally got my hair touched up ……
lucky for me i have special people that look after me to make sure
that i can look my best… the color is great! thanks for squeezing me in your
already very busy schedule. … let me know what i can do for you… xo
peach crepes? or extra strong coffee? whichever one you prefer.

sat nite’s get together was fun. glad you liked the martha stewart macaroni and cheese and chicken piccata . think i will skip the cinnamon martinis next time - taste great but turns out the color is hard to get past, at least for me. the cinnamon sugar rim is a keeper. i’ll find a new martini to use the rim on. the wine .. and… oh… the wine….. lots of new ones to put on my shopping list.

david, thanks for the special single cookie but more importantly, for all future gatherings you are on for the lobster tail from luberto's - not sure i ever had anything better.

i am determined to appreciate and photograph every beautiful day before the cold days of winter creep in. mornings are dark and nights are chilly and this coming weekend clocks will be turning back. soon we will all be settling in for a long winters nap. so until then jump on your bike and hit the bike trail.... i know i had to work off all the food i ate on sat night.

save me...

wine...

i'm a sucker for pretty packaging and though i don't advise this tactic, i typically pick out a bottle of wine based on it's label. sometimes, this works in my favor. other times, definitely not. tonight i discovered cupcake vineyards sauvignon blanc and although i didn't pick it, i love the packaging. simple french country blue illustration, sweet and mighty tasty. the label says " serve chilled with oysters on the half shell or with rich creamy lobster ravioli." Um, yes please. i would have bought the bottle just for that statement. makes me wish i was once again visitng california and roaming through the vineyards.

happy tuesday...

today was a spectacular fall day. hope yours was happy. xoxo

good good times....

how about we just hold hands and we’ll all walk together. and we’ll take each day one step at a time. and we’ll try not to worry about tomorrow. because tomorrow’s too far away. but we’ll enjoy the moment we’re in. because right now we don’t want to be anywhere else but walking together. we can give each other strength - your hand in mine is a beautiful thing.

my bff's got together for a quick overnight to celebrate the moment. we gathered together where we usually take the famous bike ride. but there were no bikes rides there were walks along the ocean and memories of the summer just past - the beach is so silent at this time of year on a dark sunday. we spent lots of time catching up, shopping, movies, pchycotherapy sessions and love... we played, fought, and slept hard we reminded ourselves to check the short list.
1. slow down. 2. enjoy.

i love you guys......
thanks, christine. xoxo

mixed feelings...

i love october with a passion. i am totally enamored with falls audacious beauty. but on a morning this chilly i am reminded that slushy, salty, boots and heavy coats are nearby. so bottle up a moment and enjoy today. it's a chilly, sweater wearing day for sure. a stay at home and make soups, roast chickens, cook up some acorn squash and crusty breads kind of day. dive wholeheartedly into where you are.

the kitchen project....

is finally complete... and i do love it

for lynne...

wish we were sitting drinking tea and chatting... so, so, much to chat about .. i miss you....xo

sour cream apple pie

topping
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 c. plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 t. cinnamon
2 tablespoons flour

filling
1 1/3 c. sour cream
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 or 5 large granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

pie crust (you can make your own, or use a pre-made one from the refrigerator section of the grocery store —( i know, i know, i would never do that but i am just saying ) fitted into a deep-dish 9" or 10" pie plate and chilled

to make the topping, in a bowl blend the butter, sugar, cinnamon, and flour until the mixture is combined well. cover and chill the topping.

to make the filling, whisk together the sour cream, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs, and flour until the mixture is smooth. add the peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples and stir the filling and apples together.

spoon the filling into the chilled shell and crumble the topping evenly over it. Bake the pie on a baking sheet in the middle of a pre-heated 350-degree oven, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. (you might need to put a bit of tinfoil on top of the pie during the last 15 minutes to prevent the top from burning.) transfer it to a rack and let it cool completely. enjoy xo

make it fun....

look how many people chose the stairs when you make it fun ....
hope you find some fun in your day... xo

when you are not trying to be healthy...

it's halloween time and the kids will have lots of parties to attend. so take a half hour and whip up these chocolatey spooky special treats for them. i promise it'll be quick and easy, you will be a hit. these ghosts will be flying out of your kitchen in just no time. little kids love these and actually so do big kids.
4 ingredients
wax paper
nutter butters
white chocolate
mini white chocolate chips
lay out the wax paper, melt the white chocolate
dip each nutter butter, lay on the wax paper
add 2 mini chocolate chips for eyes = done.

simple and fun. happy haunting.

then for the grown ups you can make

simple crock pot chili


1 big jar of great northern beans
1 pound and a half of cooked ground hamburger
24 ounces chunky salsa
6 oz can green chile
3 cups chicken broth (2 cans)
2 tablespoons cumin

cook in a crock pot on low all day!

spoon out into bowls add lots of shredded cheese
serve with tortilla chips + enjoy!

and…

add a cocktail. a candy corn martini

for the infused vodka:
• 1/2 cup candy corn
• 1 1/2 cups vodka

for the cordials:
• 2 ounces orange liqueur
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 large egg white
• candy corn, for garnish
directions
infuse the vodka: combine the candy corn and vodka in an airtight container; set aside for at least 3 hours, then strain.

make the cordials: add 4 ounces of the candy corn vodka, the orange liqueur, lemon juice and egg white to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds. strain into 2 chilled martini glasses and garnish with candy corn.

that's the story...

most people don't know it but there are angels whose only job is to make sure you don't get to comfortable, fall asleep, and miss your life. xoxo

you are....

so brand new...


congratulations carolyn and alex.


baby benjamin david kosowski
10-06-09 9lbs. 2 oz. 21"

love to all. xo

perfect for a fall morning...

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
4 whole eggs
2 cups Sugar
16 ounces canned pumpkin puree
1-½ cup Oil or applesauce
3 cups flour - white or whole wheat
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
12 ounces, weight chocolate chips


preparation instructions

1. mix together the first 4 ingredients.
2. when mixed well, add the dry ingredients.
3. if you’re going to add choc. chips, you should mix 1/2 the package into the batter. then, fill well-greased muffin tins or muffin cups 2/3 full of batter. then, sprinkle the rest of the choc. chips on top of the batter. this spreads out your chocolatey goodness instead of having it all at the bottom of the muffin. although, it tastes good no matter where the chocolate lands.

4. bake in 400 degree oven 16-18 minutes. enjoy xo

babies...babies... babies....

i think people were really busy during last years ice storm...

not sure where this baby is hiding but how can this woman be 8 months pregnant?





showered with love...


















baby jake and baby john






sweet cousins...




peach bellini's









i want this porch ......

have you guys seen the trailor for this new romantic comedy? i think it looks hilarious. it comes out november 5th.

hold on to every moment....

i came home thinking how fast my emotional well is draining these days. stars are dancing on the water tonight. after tucking in my thoughts of why you didn't let me know you would be leaving this earth i moved on to remember all the good. running through yesterday i spent a lot of time having an imaginary conversation with you - the conversations we used to have. if you were here you could have told me a story about your lifetime that would add 10 more layers to the huge collection of interesting things you had done. you were such a noble sensitive soul so kind and accepting of others. i thought about you all day, even as i looked out at the red leaves spreading across the beautiful sky. i believe that those who leave this life go back to heaven. our spirits go back home and we are reunited with people who love us. i dream you are surrounded by angels and i know that the music has improved a million times since you have arrived. i miss you my friend, and i will never forget all the ways you touched my life. peter, you will always remain in my heart.
sleep well.

so much love.....

and then there were three.....
i can tell by your faces it's hard to put into words the whirlwind of love that has
fallen into your lap. savor every moment it goes so fast. the light she will bring into
your lives will be immeasureable. congratulations.