… Reflection…

...she's such a trooper... we bundled her up and took to alaska last summer... and she just went right along with it...

… this is going to be a more personal post than i usually write… no recipe or recommendation… just reflection…

… this weekend my mom and grandma were in town to celebrate my grandmother’s 78th birthday… they’ve come to visit for grandma’s birthday every year since i’ve lived down here… but this year was particularly poignant because we had such a wonderful time and witnessed the peace and power of prayer… after they left, i cried, because i was so proud and so grateful that we had the chance to celebrate a 78th year of grandma…

…T.G.I.F.F. November 6, 2009…

… Pumpkin Waffles for a cozy Fall Brunch…

… isn’t it nice to actually get to sleep in on a Saturday and then enjoy a leisurely brunch…

… well that’s exactly what i did last weekend… and since it was a Halloween Saturday… we thought it appropriate to have PUMPKIN pancakes and caldron coffee…

…i used the Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix from Trader Joe’s… and my beloved Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker…

… i’m just gonna carry on with the pumpkin obsession right through thanksgiving in case you haven’t noticed… but, i’ll be intentionally and intensely throwing in Peppermint, gingerbread, and other yule tide cheer… especially starting at the end of this month with Fa-la-la Fridays (a fitting follow-up to Thank Goodness it’s Fall Fridays, don’t ya think)…

… but for today… Pumpkin Mickey Mouse Waffles…

… Ghoul’s Night…

… get it… GIRLS night all hallows eve style…

… as i mentioned in a TGIFF post about a month ago it is TRADITION to watch Disney’s Hocus Pocus at least 10 or 12 times during October… and specifically with my dear friend Ashley who is responsible for the Chic Bachelorette Cupcakes everyone loves so much…

… well, we decided to go all out this year and invite some of our best witches over for an evening of spooky entertainment (a muck, a muck, a muck , a muck- can’t resist)… and LOTS  and LOTS of treats…

… here’s a teaser photo of our table spread… with more photos and recipe links after the jump…

…Oh the Cheer! Christmas Colors are Here…

…oh wow… that was CHEESY but i don’t care…

… saw an ad for OPI’s Christmas colors in Real Simple last week… and I kinda wanna try them all just because of their clever names… (i love OPI for that)…

… Ginger Bells… Shim-mery Chic… All A-Bordeaux the Sled… Holiday Glow… Sapphire in the Snow… Merry Midnight… Comet Loves Cupid… Dear Santa… Glove You So Much … Smitten with Mittens… Meet & Jingle… Crimson Carol…

…Pumpkin Cheesecake…

 

… i’ll apologize in advance, as this post is going to be a little bias, seeing as i might be a little emotionally attached to this particular treat…

… but, I felt it was my responsibility as a dedicated pumpkin bloggette to let you know that Marie Calendar’s has a DELICIOUSLY intense Pumpkin Cheesecake…

… it’s taken me nearly a week to make a dent in this decadence as it is extremely rich… BUT, i applaud Marie for her ability to make something that embodies the ideal pumpkin flavor… it’s so much more than just cheesecake- it’s definitely pumpkin… and so much more than pumpkin pie– it’s definitely cheesecake…

… this concludes my review of the delightful treat pictured above… cheesy story and one more photo after the jump… read at your own risk…

…TGIFF: October 30th, 2009…

…is… DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME… only joking, it’s HALLOWEEN…

… whether you’re trick or treating… bobbing for apples… or just hanging out with friends… be clever- and be safe…

… Pumpkin Cupcakes…

… i saw this recipe in Real Simple last month… and considering my love of pumpkin AND baking, it was obviously a match made in heaven…

… plus the fact that I had the perfect excuse to make cupcakes, as my friend and I were hosting Ghoul’s Night (get it– Girl’s Night)…

… aaaaaand the minor detail that i was supposed to be doing homework… but anyways, CUPCAKES…

… they were super easy and super yummy... not overwhelmingly pumpkin-y… but definitely fall flavored…

… recipe after the jump…

…My New Travel MUST Have…

… maybe i’m behind on the times… but i got introduced to this product while I was in Idaho last month for a dear friends wedding (that’s a whole different story: surprise plane trip/most incredible and original wedding i’ve ever been to)…

… but anyways, VOLUMIZING DRY SHAMPOO…

… have you ever used this stuff… it’s incredible…

… now is when i admit something really gross… i’m kind of a greasy person… ewwww… i know… please don’t judge me… but i am just one of those people who HAS to wash their hair EVERY DAY or it’s just, well, ew… it could have something to do with the obtuse amount of hairspray i use (i like big hair)…

… now i’m a seasoned traveler… and will forgo my pride (and the pride of those with me)… get up and go, greasy hair and all, in order to see what there is to see in a new town… BUT I AM THRILLED THAT I WON’T EVER HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN…

…in a hurry on a fine fall morning…

… Einstein’s Bros Bagels has you in mind this fall…

… with new Pumpkin Bagel Poppers…

…balls of pumpkin bagel… iced in a “pumpkin cream cheese”- of a slightly sticky rather than creamy consistency… i haven’t had the chance to try them yet but you can be sure I will… and at $2.99 for a container of 10-12 poppers… they seem like an economical breakfast for a certain fall Saturday in the very near future (this saturday- halloween- in case you didn’t catch my implication)…

 

… Pumpkins…

… as promised…a couple pics of our pumpkin trip…

… and this poorly shadowed corn maze pic is pretty much what i have to offer … because i’m NOT sharing pics of my pumpkin… it was a disaster…

… things started out great… i was SUPER excited as i wiped all of the dust and hay from my pumpkin’s skin… then thoroughly enjoyed the cleaning and prepping process…

… but things quickly turned sour after this… the pumpkin rind was much thicker than i remember and i chose a design that had a few precarious edges… for which i completely had a plan but did not-so-successfully navigate…

… there were tears… small ones at first because i was disappointed but thought i could save it…  then a full fledged sob as one slightly forceful slice left a gaping hole in the front of my pumpkin…

… yes, i take my seasonal activities THAT seriously…;)

… once i realized the design could NOT be salvaged… i may have had a momentary pity party… where i spun the mutilated orb around… and carved this in the opposite side… lol…

… but my mom,  in true mom fashion, offered a brilliant  solution to my disappointing disaster… TOOTHPICKS… i was completely encouraged and immediately dug the separated chunk from the trash (ok, really it was more like retrieved it from the top of the bin)… while he emerged with said reparation tools…

… and with a little team work, innovation, and his strong fingers pushing tiny stakes through the stubborn pumpkin skin (i promise you this sucker was tougher than most)…………..