Skinny Vanilla Latte

… I know I’ve mentioned I have an affinity for coffee… and in an effort to be budget and calorie conscious I do try to make coffee at home most of the time, rather than forking over the bucks at ‘bucks… … I don’t mind… I do like coffee that much… but i REALLY enjoy seeking out new creamers and finding ways to dress up my kitchen cup… and as I sit here sipping, watching the snow fall… I think I have found a new favorite…

… have you tried International Delight’s new Coffeehouse Flavor: SKINNY VANILLA LATTE…

… toss a little cinnamon on top and you’ve got a cal-and-budget conscious gourmet cup of warm delight…

(oh, and if you visit the International Delight website linked above, there’s a printable coupon)

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…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…

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…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…

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…for the love of (literally) ALL things pumpkin…

…perhaps that’s what  i should temporarily rename this blog… since there seems to be a trend worse than the croc-pot kick (which quill be featured again this week)… but for now, pumpkin, Pumpkin, PUMPKIN…

… he let himself into the house last night (my hands were covered in flour, pie crust, and apple juices)… and from around the corner i heard him say, “i have a surprise for you”…

…and people, let me tell you how much i LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE surprises….

…and this one took the cake… well… actually, the pie…

…did you know they make pumpkin ice cream(!?!?!?!?!?)…

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…Thrill of the Grill…

… we FINALLY got to go to our cooking class at Great News Discount Cookware and Cooking School last Friday… we’ve been signed up for the class for months… and talking about taking one for even longer… so i was EXCITED to say the least… especially after i heard how much fun sharpinsandiego had when she attended a class earlier this summer…

…i’ve been to Great News in Pacific Beach several times, as they sell my favorite cookware at very reasonable prices… but this was the first time i have had the opportunity to take a class… so we scoured the class descriptions… and opted for a “hands on” option called, “Friday Night Dinner Party: Thrill of the Grill”…

…the “hands on” portion was really important to us… because we love to cook and wanted to learn and experience… and conveniently “hands-on” classes are mostly held only on Friday nights as a “Friday Night Dinner Party”… which translates to two glasses of wine for each participant…

…we were asked to bring our own aprons (which i thought was adorable)… and made: Grilled herbed pizzettes with Caprese Tomato Topping, Rosemary Mustard and Maple Syrup Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Grilled  Zucchini and Pepper Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Feta Cheese, Grilled Portobello Mushrooms filled with creamed corn and fresh herbs, AND S’more Bars with Graham Cracker Brownie Base and Chocolate Marshmallow topping… whew… yeah… i ate myself sick…

… more photos and details after the jump…

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…Books I Want to Read Right Now…

…i’m currently drowning in a sea of Higher Education literature… not that the information isn’t TERRIBLY interesting…  but there are other things i’d like to be reading right now too… and just can’t…

… i’m listing them for 2 reasons…

1) so i’ll remember what i want to read when my eyeballs and brain get a brief education break at the holidays

-and-

2) so, perhaps you’ll read them, sift through, and tell me which ones are worth my time and which ones aren’t… then i won’t waste what little leisure reading time i have….. thanks! (jk… sort of)

… extended list after the jump… with a brief description of my top 5 really-wanna-reads…

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…100th Post: CUPCAKES…

…wow… this is my 100th post… so it’s only proper that it’s about something celebratory… and near and dear to my heart…

…CUPCAKES (obviously)…

…specifically, cupcakes from CB’s Cupcakes located in the Westfield UTC in La Jolla, Ca… which i sampled yesterday on my lunch break as documented by the HORRIBLE cell phone shot after the jump… that i barely took time to snap before devouring…

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…Cowboy Boots…

… this is a cooking blog… and not a fashion blog… because i have absolutely no business talking about fashion… just ask sharpinsandiego…

…but there is ONE thing i know about… and that’s COWBOY BOOTS…

...me on the right... sharpinsandiego on the left...

… i happen to own 2 pair… but really only wear one… because they’ve got all the right scuffs and stains (from concerts… not the ranch)… that add great character…

…recently, i’ve been asked MULTIPLE times where one can find CUTE cowboy boots… for CHEAP…

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…best.sleep.ever…

… i am absolutely one of those people who wears a sleep mask… i can not stand any light whilst trying to sleep… seriously… even the smallest street lamp shining through the window… or an excessively bright alarm clock display… and i’m gonna lay there wide awake…

...i am so breakfast at tiffany's...

…in fact… last weekend while visiting a friends cabin… i removed my pillow case from my pillow to lay across my face- because i had forgotten my sleep mask… i know… i’m strange…

…buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut….the last few nights i have gotten the best sleep ever… sans a sleep mask (or medicinal sleep aids)…

…because i’ve recently invested in “black out” curtains…

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…inspiration in aprons…

… a friend recently directed me to the Heavenly Hostess website… i was, of course, intrigued and excited because that sounds exactly like a website/blog that would certainly fall within my realm of interest… but, once i visited the site… i was completely smitten…

… the home page is absolutely adorable… along with the name, “Heavenly Hostess” is the tag line, “Serve with Grace” and the accompanying verse, 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of us special abilities,  be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many blessings.”…

…gosh, such a wonderful reminder that my love for cooking and entertaining… is actually the gift of hospitality… that God has given me to use to serve others… with grace…

… so i’m completely sold… and i haven’t even seen the product yet…

… but then i started to click around… and i was even more in love… ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, COMPLETELY ADORABLE custom made aprons… check them out after the jump…

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