It's pumpkin "go time!"

I am adventurous in many aspects of life, the one area my adventurous attitude does not apply is food. I do not venture happily into food unknowns. I like predictable foods and flavors. I know, I know, incredibly boring. When my husband and I started dating many moons ago, he got very excited when "pumpkin spice" latte season rolled around. I had never had one, but decided to try it since he was so excited about the coffee. One word for these lattes: delicious. Oh my goodness delicious. He was so right to love those lattes. He also loves pumpkin beer, which is really interesting to sample if you are a craft beer drinker.
Pumpkin flavored drinks, breads, and desserts are one of my favorite things about the fall season. I have recently consumed pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin pie...can one consume too much pumpkin? I am looking forward to a Thanksgiving feast in a couple weeks full of my favorite traditional Thanksgiving fare and lots and lots of pumpkin pie. What is your favorite pumpkin creation?

Halloween Boo-goodness

Booooooooooooooooooo! Halloween is a fun holiday. Sweet costumes, silly costumes, sweet treats and fun times. Back in the day, I was rockin' some pretty great looks on Halloween.

I decided to spread the Halloween love a few years ago and have been preparing and sending some "Boo" care packages to loved ones for Halloween. I found some great images to print off and cover the boxes with on Martha Stewart and Matthew Mead. It is always great to find project resources and ideas when you are short on time and long on things to do...

Last year I got these finger cookies in the mail from my amazing friend Carrie. They looked so gross...I almost couldn't eat them. The keyword there is almost. Hope you are enjoying the fall season and Halloween festivities.

This Moment 10.28.11

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. (From Soule Mama...love this tradition so I am striving to do this as well...I need to take more time to savor and it will be such a treat to look back and remember these moments)

Georgetown Cupcakes

I know I have been writing often about cupcakes as of late, but I just had to write a quick blog about some cupcakes I tried from Georgetown Cupcakes in Washington DC. They are famous due to their show "DC Cupcakes" on the cable network TLC. I have heard they have horrible lines due to their popularity and tv show notoriety. Fortunately for me, my good friend Jamie's mom lives there and brought some down a few weekends ago. Jamie was nice enough to share some with me. (I am not sure I am nice enough to share cupcakes, but she is a sweetheart.) I had three different flavors: Red Velvet, Lemon Blossom, and Apple Cinnamon.

My favorite out of the bunch was probably Red Velvet. I am a red velvet junkie. I think I could eat Red Velvet cake or cupcakes everyday for the rest of my life and not grow tired of it...yes, my sweet tooth is that big and I really do love some Red Velvet desserts. Have you purchased or baked Red Velvet cupcakes or cakes that you would like to recommend? The blog comment box is always open for baked good suggestions and comments.

Book Review Wednesday 10.19.11 "Sewing Green"

Book of the week: Sewing Green by Betz White

Betz White is awesome. I love, love her website and blog. They are filled with inspired and inspiring ideas and projects. In our disposable culture, it is truly refreshing to see someone whose work advocates the opposite. She really does live by the manta "reduce, reuse, recycle." Her latest book, Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed and Organic Materials, is full of projects that give new life to old items. The variety of projects in the book include: an apron, coasters, lounge pants, pillows, and a wrap skirt. Two projects that I am pondering are the "woodland draft buster" and the "breezy sundress." Living in an old condo building means that every door and window in the place is drafty. I start each winter thinking that a draft blocker would be helpful and never quite get to the store with that in mind. The breezy sundress is just adorable and would look so summer-y and perfect on my little bird. Attempting this project might require some sewing lessons with my mom or with Kristin at the Craft and Sew Studio. If nothing else, the book reminds me that repurposing can be fun and fabulous. Check out Betz White's work and see what you can repurpose this winter.

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This Moment 10.14.11

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. (From Soule Mama...love this tradition so I am striving to do this as well...I need to take more time to savor and it will be such a treat to look back and remember these moments)

Book Review Wednesday 10.12.11 "Felt Jewelry"

Going to take a break from highlighting knitting books for the next little bit. I could probably write about different knitting books everyday of my life, but variety is, as they say, the spice of life.

Book of the week: Felt Jewelry by Teresa Searle


This book includes 25 different projects using a variety of felting techniques. A few of the projects are a little too over the top for my jewelry taste (I am not a fan of large felted flower bouquet necklaces or felted flower headdresses.) I would love to tackle a few of the other projects, including a tye-dye necklace, bangles, and a bird brooch. I have never actually felted something so I am going to keep my fingers crossed and attempt a bird brooch. This book seems like it would please felting newbies and pros alike. The leaf shadow scarf, inspired by a photo of clematis vine, seems like it would be a great challenge for experienced felters, and is just gorgeous. If you are interested in felting and jewelry crafting, take a look.