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