Blahblahblah

I seemed to be in a bit of a funk this week. I don't have anything particularly exciting going on this week so maybe that's why.

I need some excitement!

At least I can just close my eyes and relive my skydive.

I have to say...sometimes when things get really bad or I'm a little down, I remember what it felt like to jump out of an airplane. Seriously, things slide into perspective real quick.



Also, saying I'm in a "funk" is a cop out. I honestly believe I have a choice in how I feel. I can choose to stay funky or just force myself to be happy. May the force be with me. And you, if you need it.

Higher Altitudes

Songs! Because it's Sunday!



This song came on my iPod today and it made me happy. So peaceful and sweet. It was pretty chilly all weekend and even though it's supposed to warm up a little this week, we all know that Fall is coming.

Jessie Baylin is a great singer/songwriter. I adore her voice. She's also, supposedly, ScarJo's bff. WHOA. Not really that big of a deal.

OH.

For those of you wondering, I in fact made an apple pie. I couldn't let the delicious fall apples pass me by. That being said I had never made an applie pie before. I opted for a caramel apple pie. I messed up my apple layering though. It turned out to mainly be a caramel pie with some apple added. Still really good. :)


I also managed to blog every day this week. I promise I won't throw the daily themes in your face anymore. They will just be the inspiration.

Enjoy the start to a new week!

Pumpkins or Apples?

Sweets! Because it's a SWEET Saturday!

I found a delicious sounding recipe for Pumpkin Cupcakes:


Ingredients

Makes 18

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.
3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Thank you Martha.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to use a regular cream cheese icing or this yummy maple sounding icing, thank you Ina.

Now that I'm home and making an ingredient list I'm suddenly feeling guilty. Apples are still in season. I should probably make something with yummy tasty delicious apples. They don't always taste this good. But apple cupcakes don't sound as appetizing you know? I could make an apple pie...hmmm...wait a sec....

AHHHH!

I'll let you know what I decide.

That FACE!

Friday is all about what makes the heart sing.

This little guy basically has my whole heart. At least the part that his big sister doesn't have.


Mr. Gavin, my nephew in case you haven't heard me sing his name a million times a day, is knocking on 6 months now. I've only gotten to see him for one short trip since he was born. Gah, look at that old man face and tell me you don't love it? I DARE you.

Sometimes I think that I am missing something and that I shouldn't be here anymore and I should be where my little niece and nephew and the rest of my family are.

Then I remember how ticked off they would all be at me if I gave up pursuing my dreams to spend more time with them. They wouldn't spend time with anymore and it would defeat the whole purpose.

Besides, I'm supposed to be working toward supporting my parents in a "lifestyle they would like to become accustomed too." Those are my dads words.

I also want to be the kick-ass aunt who makes and buys kick-ass Christmas presents.

Cheers!

I'm thirstday. Yeah, I meant it that way.

I like having cocktails. I think it's fun and makes me feel like a cool kid. That being said, I don't like fruity girl drinks. Don't like them. I mean, every once in awhile they're okay, but I like a little manly alcoholy taste to my cocktail. Sometimes really sweet drinks just taste like sugar to me.

One of my favorites: The Manhattan.


Here's a simple recipe for one of the greats:

• Dash angostura bitters
• 2 lemon twists
• 4 ounces bourbon whisky
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• Ice
• 2 maraschino cherries

Pour 1 drop of bitters into each of 2 tall stemmed cocktail glasses and swirl to coat the inside of the glass. Pour any remaining bitters from the glasses. Rub the lemon peel over the rims of each glass and place inside the glass.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, vermouth, and 6 cubes of ice. Shake well until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain and divide the mixture between the 2 glasses. Garnish each glass with stemmed cherry and serve.

recipe from emeril lagasse

Snacks!

Wednesdays theme is to go Wayback. Wayback could mean something from 5 years ago, something from 20 years ago, something from 100 years ago.

Today's memory is all about my favorite snack. I ate a lot as a child. I did. Each morning was either 10-12 bowls of cereal or 6-8 bowls of oatmeal or cream of wheat. I was also a skinny tiny child, cause I know what you were thinking.

Whenever I cam home from school I would have what I still think is the best snack every, slices of velveeta melted on a bagel. Yuuuuummmm...


You're thinking, "that looks disgusting." My mom and I are thinking, "don't knock it til you try it."

Seriously. I bought some today so I could relive my memrees. Julia Cameron style*.

I did buy wheat bagels though. As a kid it was bad for ya white bread bagels ALL THE WAY. Gotta do what I can. Also, this is a really cheap filling meal. It's not healthy but it's cheap. Cheap is what I need nowadays.

*The Artist's Way. You're not really a writer until you've committed to that book and lived it and breathed it and beat yourself up over it. I kind of honestly believe that.

I Would Run Too

So Tuesdays theme is....

Tomboy Tuesday (CHEESE CHEESE!)

Tuesday is to celebrate men that rock or manly things that rock.

This video may not seem very "manly." Originally I had written a post about the versatility of suit jackets, but then I saw this video. The facial reactions of every man in this video are...priceless. The judge's reaction at the end, when the touching of the...the things...begins, is my favorite.


Busty Heart on Das Supertalent- by nappyxheadedxho for ONTD
Uploaded by samiam2546. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.

Today we're going to celebrate the men in this video. Cause they made me laugh and everyone needs a good laugh now and then.