Fall has arrived!

The air has a definite crispness that has announced to me "fall has arrived" and along with it comes my overwhelming urge to want to purchase lots and lots of new fall coats! Since I moved to the Pacific Northwest from San Diego nearly 10 years ago, one of the things I continue to adore is the actual change of seasons that occurs here... and the excuse to change my wardrobe along with it! I was delighted to wear my coats then, and I continue to love my fashionable coats still today! My collection has grown, but that has not stopped my from wanting to add to it.


Earlier this week, some anonymous soul left a small women's catalog on a co-workers desk. I casually picked it up... and never gave it back. I am in love. I could buy oh too many items from this British based company, Boden. With the chill in the air, I am naturally drawn to the coat and jacket collections. How can a girl choose?

1. The Rainbow Coat caught my eye first. With all it's colors, it would go with just about everything!

2. The Effortless Velvet Coat comes in 6 fabulous colors! I can pciture wearing this to all my holiday parties!

3. I don't need this Jazzy Trenchcoat but my love of gingham makes it hard to resist

4. Truth be told.... I already have a jacket nearly the exact same as this Marylebone Coat, but mine is black and white and this one is green! They also have it in navy with fabulous red buttons!

5. The Uptown Coat. So simple, so perfect.

6. The British Tweed Coat? Doesn't everyone need an aqua jacket? What else would you wear with your red scarf? To make matters worse.... they have it in a stunning plaid too.

Gooseberry Patch

I love cookbooks. I read them like other people read novels. I pick them up wherever I can find them... and often times I have to find new and creative places to store them.

My most reliable, and most oft used cookbooks (because, let's face it... sometimes we are tempted to buy cookbooks that we will never, ever actually cook from!) are those from the "Gooseberry Patch". At nearly every dinner party and holiday, you can bet that at least one dish will be made from one of the many gooseberry patch cookbooks I own.

Why? Because they are no-frills, fuss-free and just plain old, good down home style cookin'. The added perk, nearly all of them come with other ideas for decorating, gift giving, crafting and celebrating.

This weekend, I made a wonderful Sunday brunch... with nearly everything coming from, or at least inspired by, a recipe from one of these wonderful cookbooks.

I think the favorite was "Oven-Baked Maple Pancakes" from the "Merry Christmas" book. The syrup was almost like carmel, and drizzled over the top, it was divine!

Oven-Baked Maple Pancakes

No need for syrup... it's baked right in!

3/4 cup of brown sugar, packed and divided

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 1/2 cup biscuit baking mix

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup milk

2 eggs

Heat 1/2 cup of brown sugar, butter and syrup in a small saucepan over low heat; stir until melted. (I actually skipped the step of melting in a saucepan, and just used soft butter, then spreading the mixture in the bottom of the pan...worked great, and one less pan to clean!) Pour syrup mixture into a lightly greased 13' x 9'' baking pan. Combine remaining ingredients and beat with a whisk or fork until well blended; pour over syrup mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until top springs back when touched in the center. Cut into squares; invert onto a serving plate and serve immediately.

Serves 6-8

A New Cake Stand

I went to the farmer's market on Saturday, as there are only a few more left before we must wait until next year rolls around. While wandering about, I happened to end up in the "craft" section, honest mistake, really. I came across a booth full of lovely little cake stands, all different sizes, heights and types.

Upon further inspection and discussion with the crafter, it turned out that these adorable and wide variety of cake stands are simply plates adhered to a glass candlestick.... some new, some vintage.

Um... stinking cute, and I had cash burning a hole in my pocket... so, after MUCH review, here is what I went home with:

Now. If you are somebody who typically receives a plate or tin or basket of Christmas goodies from me... don't be too surprised if this is what it is delivered on this year. I can't wait to go "plate hunting" for the makings of my perfect cake stand gifts. I think the biggest challenge will be figuring out what adhesive to use.

Now, how in the world can I improve upon this already clever design? Hmmmm... let me think. How, oh how, can I make this cake stand even more perfect? OH! I know!.....

chocolate, caramel, ooey, gooey brownie goodness

Sunflower Soiree

Mother Nature has graced us with a few very nice, warm late summer days. I decided to take advantage of these last warm days before fall officially debuts and host a small, impromptu dinner party. I had previously been inspired by the Sunflower Soiree featured on "The Party Dress", and threw together my own version. I did it in one day, mostly with items I already had around. If I had spent more time planning in advance, I could have done more, but it still turned out pretty cute.

I confess, I made the invitation after the party. My friends are content with verbal/email invitations, but had I sent invitations this is what they would have looked like...

Outside: simple and elegant, folded and tied with a pretty ribbon

Inside: I sewed a button on a paper flower from my local scrapbooking store to create a sunflower. Black and white gingham paper shows once the flaps of the invitation open. Cute and easy!

A party is not a party if there are not fabulous favors to take home. That's my theory. Many years ago... when I turned 18 years old, and had a love of sunflowers, my creative aunt made a super cute sunflower cookie. Her's was as big as a plate and I remember loving it. So, what's a girl to do when throwing a sunflower themed party? Well call her dear auntie at 10pm asking if she remembers how she made it! Thanks for your help Aunt Rolayne!

So here is what we could remember, and how I attempted to re-create that beloved sunflower cookie (some trial and error involved, for sure).

• I used a heart cookie cutter to cut out the "petals" and a wide glass to cut out large circles. I cooked them separately (learned that after baking them together first, didn't work)
• Yellow icing and sanding sugar on the petals first ...allow it to set and dry well
• Chocolate icing on the circle centers
• Gently lay the heart "petals" around the chocolate circles, the icing acting as a "glue"
• Scatter mini Chocolate Chips over the chocolate icing while still wet

I realized that my versions were too big for the cellophane bags I had, so in this case, good ol' saran wrap had to do. Placed all the cookies in a pretty basket for my guests.

Before the rain and chill arrives, I wanted one last evening on my lovely back deck, and it was an especially nice and warm evening. We turned on the globe lights (courtesy of Target, and oh the lighting they create is P.E.R.F.E.C.T) and had all the food on a table with a huge bouquet of sunflowers. I picked up a dozen at my local farmers market for $9. They were huge, and I had enough for two very large bouquets.

The dinner? It disappeared before it could be photographed, but I will try to describe it in juicy detail. We had cheese and crackers and olives as an appetizer, tri-tip roast, baked potatoes with all the fixin's. I picked up some amazing heirloom tomatoes at the same farmers market I purchased the sunflowers at. I found a recipe for homemade blue cheese dressing to drizzle over the tomatoes with some fresh basil. For dessert, a berry cobbler and ice cream. Yummy.

Now sharing the tasty blue cheese dressing recipe. Because, I am not a huge fan of blue cheese dressing normally... but this one changed my mind.

• 4oz Roquefort, or another good crumbly blue cheese
• 1 cup good mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp tarragon wine vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Mix in a food processor until combined but still chunky. Easy? Yes! Delicious? Yes!

Feeling Seasonally Conflicted

I am not ready for the summer to end. I don't think I had enough days to soak in the suns rays, the warmth of the days nor the cool water our little Rattlesnake Lake provides. I didn't get enough grilled dinners, and not nearly enough time on our deck on a hot nights drinking a chilled beverage with friends under the glow of our outdoor globe lights. Not enough nights falling asleep to the sound of the whirring fan. Not enough opportunities to wear my cool and comfy sundresses. But alas, whether I like it or not... the summer's end is near. This is where my aforementioned confliction comes into play. I am not ready for summer to end... but I am oh so looking forward to the many wonderful things fall brings. Halloween, fall leaves, cozy sweaters, stormy days and nights, comfort foods and baking marathons, Thanksgiving, and my birthday! All that being said... I have given in to the overpowering temptation to feed my desire to surround myself in all the Halloween glory!

It innocently began with this... Mathew Mead's Halloween Magazine. Sitting there in checkout lane at my local grocery store, it drew me in and captured my little Halloween loving heart.

Then, to my sheer delight... this arrived in my mailbox. The whole issue is Halloween related. All of it. I have never seen such a thing. Typically, and I know this from having subscribed to Country Living Magazine for years, they only have some of the issue focused on Halloween items... never all of it?! Heaven.

Then it all becomes a blur, as I am not eactly sure when this BHG Special Halloween issue entered my life... but I do know it was the rhinstone covered pumpkin on the cover that sealed the deal and won me over, and I never looked back.

Last weekend, this Martha Stewart Halloween Magazine almost made it into my basket. But hubby was with me... so I was strong. For both of us. But I confess to you dear readers, I don't know how much longer I can hold off. I feel myself weakening even while typing this.

So, there you have it. I am conflicted between two loves. It is a love triangle, if you will. Truth be told... I love all seasons, and this is just something I have to work through at the end of every season and the beginning of every new one. Well... except the transition from winter to spring. Usually... I am glad to see those little tulips pop their heads out and the cold to subside... but, well, that is another blog, isn't it?

Party-rific!

I have parties on the brain! Since throwing a babyshower for my friend last month, I am starting to think that party planning may be a fun thing to do much, much more often. Who knows, perhaps someday there will be somebody who wants to pay me to do it? Keep checking in for future parties...

In the meantime, I went to my most favorite place, the Library, to find some free inspiration. Here is what I left with (You can see a few pages of all of these at Amazon as well!):

1. Essentially Lilly, A Guide to Colorful Holidays by Lilly Pulitzer and Jay Mulvaney:
By designer Lilly Pulitzer, this book was mostly personal accounts a various holidays and celebrations in Lilly's life. While the bright colors and illustrations were fun, for the most part I will take away a couple new recipes.

2. Nell Hill's Entertaining in Style by Mary Carol Garrity:
This book was not nearly as food focused (and let's face it, I have a million cookbooks...so more recipes are not what I need!). This book included much more about the decor of the table and home for various themed (and seasonal) parties.

3. The Part Planner by David Tutera:
I think this book balanced the aspects of party throwing quite well, David included fun recipes to suit the party theme, as well as examples of fun party decor and for each party he also includes a list of tips to use. My favorite part of this book however, is seeing a cheesy photo of himself on every other page.
4. Shabby Chic: Sumptuous Settings & Other Lovely Things by Rachel Ashwell:

How I adore all things Rachel Ashwell...always have. This book provides some very budget friendly ideas for not just party decor, but home decor as well. I have a new appreciation for plain old "Nit" dye's because of this book.

5. Styling for Entertaining by Susie Coelho:
The main focus of this book is upon re-configuring your existing homes decor to create a more party-like atmosphere. I really like seeing the before and after photos. The only downfall is... my home is not nearly as "plain" as the before photos, so I don't know how well the ideas would work for me. There are some nice recipes in this book as well. Like David, Susie also enjoys super cheesy pictures of herself scattered throughout her book.

All in all, some pretty good books... especially for free! Thank you King County Library System. I think I will see what I can get on an inter-library loan, not just those found at my own local library.

Now, I need to stop reading about parties... and start planning some!