lemon pop(py).

So, I made muffins a month ago, took pics to blog, edited the pics… and then tasted the muffins. The recipe sucked, but the pics weren’t too bad considering it was raining buckets. Also, because muffins make you feel warm inside and I want to inspire you to make some soon, here’s a few pics.

things to love: spring.

Cherry blossoms

They’re so in right now… so pretty and modern.

Short Sleeved turtlenecks.

They’re in hot spring colors and they’re so fab. Loving them right now!

EyesLipsFace!

They have great $1 regular makeup–so helpful for trying new colors–and they have (supposedly) great mineral sets for $20. Check out what’s available at http://eyeslipsface.com.

Cute Rose Purses from Etsy.com

This is from seller karenmeyers, who was recently featured on the front page. Love her stuff, very awesome for spring!

Lemon Cake

Something about Lemon Cake just makes me think of vintage spring–big hats, beautiful floral 40′s style dresses, tulips and tea in the garden. Here’s a great recipe for it: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Cake-with-Lemon-Filling-and-Lemon-Butter-Frosting/Detail.aspx

Bright Green Pumps

There’s something so fantastically spring about green pumps. Maybe because I love burying my bare feet into some fluffy, carpet-like spring grass–who knows? But they sure beat the winter blues by a LOT.

Picnic Basket for Two!

Spring reminds me of picnics as well… as that fresh grass is popping out and the air is warming, it’s a perfect weekend date. I want to invest in a good picnic basket!

So that’s my list–for now. I’ll probably post a lot more things I LOVE!

cookies are the new black.

The cookie swap was a terrific success! Ashley, Kit, Jessica and Betsy joined Mandy and I here at the apartment and it was fun! The bad part was that several people didn’t make it (Kelly and Carmen, I’m looking at you)–but they did have good reasons. I wanted to take pictures but the camera batteries were dead! Charging them now, going to take pictures of the wonderful Christmas festiveness that has taken over the apartment!

I decorated more, and still on the cheap. I made like 50 feet of paper chain (tiny little strips 3″ x 1/4″) with “gingerbread” colors–brown, white, green, red, beige. It turned out really cute. I bought $1 wire garland from Dollar Tree and tied two little bows in the corners of where I hung it above the doors. Mandy took a vase she got from IKEA for $1 or so, and filled it with holly berries (free–from the bush around the corner) and a $1 white candle from Dollar Tree, then we tied a green ribbon around it, cute!

What else to say… excited for christmas. I love the christmas spirit, the giving. We bought a lot of toys and clothes to donate this weekend. I think we’ve each spent around $15, and we have 3 outfits, a porcelain tea set, a bath play set, a play food set, two different packs of play-doh, disney princess playing cards, tinkerbell play makeup and walkie-talkies! I’m so glad we decided to do this, and it’s so easy that we can donate in the main office. It makes me feel good that some child will have a better christmas now.

Finals this week! Good luck and happy holidays!

fall brings….

pumpkin recipes! This one was so good, I couldn’t NOT share. Basically, it’s like pumpkin cheesecake for your bagel

try this: http://www.bellybytes.com/recipe/jams/jams22.html (original link)

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread

Ingredients:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Beat all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Makes 1-1/2 cups (24, 1-tablespoon servings).

Nutritional facts per serving: Calories: 43 , Total fat: 3g , Saturated fat: 2g , Cholesterol: 10 mg , Sodium: 28mg, Carbohydrate: 3g , Fiber: 0g , Protein: 1g

EDIT: Oct 9th – my friends, sister and I love this you should definitely make it!

we are what we say we are.

it’s funny to imagine that in a few years, i’d want to give up all that i’d worked for (career and education) to have and raise kids. i was thinking about that today–what is it that makes it so irresistable to become everything we can and then all of a sudden, drop it all to stay at home and wash dishes, make meals and spend more time with kids?

i guess i find it difficult because i really don’t aspire to think much about children at this point in my life. i want to see where the next few years go–and i don’t want them at this point to include children.

anyways. I made delish banana bread last night using this recipe, but i added a little apple pie spice (all i had — my cinnamon disappeared on me!) and a little maple syrup and voila! (Oops–I also added a little powdered sugar… just a LITTLE…. on top) I’m trying to get better at baking, it’s kind of one of those life skills. i made stuffed chicken the other day though and i’m def getting better at cooking and making my own sauces. I feel good about that! Moo is trying to eat healthy so i’m cooking a lot more veggies too, looking for new recipes for those, especially winter squash.

I guess that’s all for now. Still thinking about moving up to DC, still thinking about my future career. I’m excited to see what the future holds!