Pantone Pumpkin

Happy Birthday Sister!

We love you. 25 is a good year.

Books, Bikes and Tree Swings

Crystal Rings

I remember a time when I was about 10 or 11 and crystals were really popular. I'm not saying they are coming back, but these are seriously cool looking.

Halloween 2010

This year for halloween my geekness has reached new heights. My husband and I, and two of our friends, are going as characters from the cult-classic sci-fri TV show Firefly. They are going to be Jayne and Kaylee, while we are going as Mal and Inara.

This is my geek flag, and I'm waving it high.

Shiny.

Worlds Without End

{via a mon seul desir}

Kate Blanchett

Possibly my favorite contemporary actress. I think she is stunning and sophisticated... Two things I aspire to.

We Got Some Brains In This Family

We found out this morning that my brother got a 2250 on the SAT. Back when I took the test the scoring was different, so I had to look up some information on the new scoring system and this is what I found:

I'm totally going to go fill his room with ivy (not the poisonous kind) and leave a sweater with elbow patches on his bed. And possibly also a copy of the Oxford English Dictionary.

(Well done sir. Very well done.)

Four Generations

My mother, my grandmother, my great-grandmother and me.

For Kathy

"Those are the houses of Parliament.

Every mother's dog knows that."

Holy Cow

Where is this place and how can I get there?

{via theSteward}

I'll be in the tower

I love it when people turn odd spaces into homes. Lofts, lighthouses, fire stations. If I had the means to make one up I would love to live in a space like that.

This one is particularly cool. It is the uppermost part of the historic Smith Tower in Seattle.

Would you ever live in a unconventional space like this?

French Dresser

{via Design*Sponge}

Satin Dress Rainbow

Hi litte pumpkin

I am lovin' pumpkin season this year.

Sometimes I miss my red hair

{via bippity boppity boo}

Freakin' Cute People

At first you see this cake...

... And you think, what cute person made that happy little pumpkin cake?

And then, you see what happens when you cut into that cute little pumpkin cake...

... And you want to poke her in the eyeball for being even cuter than you thought.

But then you think better of it and decide to be friends instead so that you can and absorb her creativity by osmosis.

Bookshelf Narratives

These clever photographs make me want to rethink alphabetizing as my organizational method of choice.

Weekends, Corn Dogs, and another reason I love my husband

My husband should be sainted for putting up with some of my hair brained schemes. Like last week when I wanted to throw a make-your-own-corn-dog party for my Sunday School class and he spent the week listening to my recipe ideas for everything from onion rings to deep fried snickers bars and then spent his Friday afternoon peeling potatoes for homemade french fries.

And then when I found out I had inadvertently planned this party for the same night as the other high school's Homecoming football game, and most (actually ALL) of the class wouldn't make it, he rallied his forces and managed to have 9 of our friends and family there half an hour later to help us eat the truck load of food that we had made and have our own little party playing Catch Phrase, Blockus Trigon and Ticket to Ride.

And instead of giving me grief for all of my extravagant and pointless planning, he just helped me do dishes. Lots and lots of really greasy dishes. See what I mean about the sainting? If Mormon's had saints, I would nominate my husband.

So here is what I learned this weekend:

1. Three onions make A LOT of onion rings.
2. Ikea does sell extra shelves for my bookshelf. Hallelujah.
3. If you are throwing a party for teenagers and expect them to show up, be sure to tell their mom's about it.
4. My in-laws will drop everything and come over for an insta-party if you use the words food and games. They are my kind of people.

Pumpkin Pie Bars

The Pumpkin Parade continues. These are delicious, but I really recommend that you try them cold. They were mutch better the next day after I left them in the fridge overnight.

Pumpkin Pie Bars

1 1/3 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar, separated
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 c.)
1 c. old fashioned oats
1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 15 oz can pumpkin or 2 c. pumpkin puree
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract
Handful of butterscotch or chocolate chips (I used butterscotch)

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 9x13 pan with foil and make sure the long ends fold over the sides, spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Combine flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar and all of the brown sugar in a medium bowl. Add butter and cut together with knives or a pastry cutter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. With a spoon, stir in oats and nuts.

3. Reserve 1 cup of the flour mixture and press the rest into the pan.  Bake for 15 minutes

4. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, remaining sugar, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin and spices until well blended then pour over the crust. Sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture and chips of your choice. Return to oven and bake for 25 mins.

5. Allow the pan to cool for 10 mins, then, using the foil, lift the bars out of the pan and onto a wire rack and allow to cool completely. Consider even cooling them overnight in the fridge. Cut into squares.

If you're feeling fancy, serve with a dallop of whipped cream on top and sprinkle very lightly with nutmeg.

Maggie Austin Black Pearl Oyster Cake

Corn Dog Party

I'm hosting a corn dog party tonight for a bunch of 14 & 15 year olds. It's going to be epic. Expect a report on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Stay Cool

Someday when I have a teenage daughter (Oh please, oh please, don't let me have all sons) I want to put these posters up in her room. They are giant reminders (no joke, 13 x 19!) of a few pearls of wisdom that would have helped me get through those years with a little more perspective. Heck, I could still use the reminders, maybe I'll put them in the family room... and maybe down the hall... in the bathroom too?

 ...Overkill?

.. Nah.

{via Design Crush}

Can I get a clothes pin?

{via milk}

House on the Water

Yes please.

I especially adore the first floor room with windows on three sides. I have a thing for windows. And skylights.

Field Nymph

Maggie Austion Peony Frill Cake

This one looks like someone took one of Scarlett O'Hara's dresses and turned it into a cake.

I Sea

The Miss Bennets

How cute are Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley?

Geek Swimsuits

Ha! How fun are these?!

Black on Black

I wear a lot of black. It is classy, flattering, minimalist... the ulitmate in sophistication, as far as colors go.

It's shots like this that make me want to keep up my monochromatic color palette, and to keep growing my hair out until reaches my elbows.

Village

I want to visit this little village. It looks like the kind of place where a story should start.