PILLOWS

I've been noticing more often than not, lately, that I've been having to dust my sewing machine.

Which translates into: I've not been using it enough!

I had some bare pillow forms and scrap fabric that I like to pick up at yard sales or the craft store when it's on clearance; so in a couple short hours last wednesday night, my bed got a little pillow make over.

Navy and white flowered in the back and light pink in the front are the new additions.

 I love them.

Mainly because they're new and I love a good change of pace in house decorations, but also because they were so cheap! We all know I'm a sucker for a good deal and now I won't feel bad if I get sick of them next season and want to make new ones :)

DANG iPHONE.

All I wanted to do was update you with iOS 5, that's all! It's good for you!

And you thought it would be funny to play a trick on me and completely delete every piece of information I've ever stored on you. I bet you knew that I didn't have anything backed up, didn't you?

Maybe you're sad that you were my second iPhone and not my first? I'm sorry, that wasn't my fault, you shouldn't hold it against me.

You're laughing, I know it.

It's ok, I'll laugh some day too. But right now? Right now I'm not laughing and I don't trust you, not one bit. You're on my bad list. You're probably on Santa's too.

Watch out.

And don't try to pull anything like this again because I'll have you backed up in so many places I'll restore you like nobody's business.

But thanks for the wake-up call; my life probably shouldn't reside in and be centered around you. Lesson learned. You win iPhone. Just this one time.

TODAY IS RAINY

All week has been rainy, actually.

But it's Friday! Thank goodness. And that means it's:

1.   The most selfless thing I've ever done was     always let Kyle win at Monopoly when we were little so that he'd keep playing with me. (Ok, maybe he legitimately won, but it helped my little 8-year-old self-esteem at the time!)   .

2.   When it comes to working out    I've been slacking lately, but I do enjoy it! 

3.  A woman should always   have a cute apron   .

4. I wish I could    bake all day and grow money on trees    because then I'd    start a cute little baking blog and open RooCakes (my dream bakery) in the cozy, yellow, vacant corner shop down the street across from starbucks. Chubbs would lazy around in the window all day and be our store mascot    .

5.  A best friend is    essential in life; they're just wonderful .

6.  I can't get enough of     baking (PUMPKIN!) and fall-scented candles these days .

7.  This weekend I am    yard-saling, cleaning the house, and then enjoying the clean house with a glass of wine and my latest knitting project   .

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

I ALMOST FORGOT!

Pete won some tickets through work and took me on a date to see my first (and his too) Eagles Game!

It was rainy, it was intense, we lost and the crowd got mad, but I had great company (and a cold brewski in my cup holder). I was one content little Eagles fan.

SPECIAL DELIVERIES

I LOVE to bake...surprise right?

A sunny day in the kitchen, windows open, apron on, pandora streamed quietly in the background and a recipe just waiting for me to fix it up? Heaven.

There's just one slight problem. 

I only have so many neighbors, coworkers, friends, mailmen boyfriend and dog to consume my creations.

My coworkers are conviced I'm trying to get them all fat and I think my neighbors are getting sketched out by all the random goodies (I promise they're not poison!). And although I believe most things in moderation are ok and I usually healthfully-amend my recipes, trying to consume an entire batch of cookies before they 'go bad' is not good for anyone.

Soooo my recently-discovered solution?

Surprise! Special Delivery :)

I whipped up a batch of these BEST-EVER Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, these Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! Cookies, and [modified] Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread (all compliments of Pinterest) over the weekend and off they went!

Nowadays with all communication going electronic everyone loves receiving some good-old-fashioned, non-bill mail right? Now imagine that mail edible and delicious...JACKPOT

Keep an eye out, you might be next!

FILL-IN-THE-BLANK FRIDAY

1.   Something popular that I can't stand/just don't "get" is     Ugg boots. Horrible, just horrible .

2.   Something unpopular that I secretly love is    roller blading. It's so good for you, why did it become nerdy?!? 

3.  When I've had a bad day I   sit on the front porch with Chubbs and a glass of wine   .

4. I'd prefer    mexican [food]    to    italian [food]      any day.

5.  Something that makes me nervous is    all this rain/hurricane/tornado business .

6.  Something worth fighting for is     family .

7.  When people think of me, I hope they think    something nice or else I'm doing something wrong :)  .

Want to get in on the fun? Check out Lauren's blog here.

Happy Friday...I have a three day weekend and the Horns play tomorrow...Woohoo!

IT'S PUMPKIN SEASON...

...Although, I think it's always pumpkin season in my house. Ask The Mom, she's the only one that truly understands this; the boy is learning, but I think he still just assumes I've got the temporary cold-weather pumpkin bug.

Sorry Pete, it's not temporary. And I can't help it, I just. Love. Pumpkin.

Flashback 2 months ago, a vendor brought these adorable Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops into the office. A perfect bite-size piece of cake on a stick covered in frosting. Genious. Could not get them out of my head, but needed perfect recipe.

Enter perfect recipe: Pumpkin-Spice Cake Balls dipped in White Chocolate Frosting. Oh my. So yummy. And the extras make for some very happy co-workers.

(adapted from bakeat350.com)

Pumpkin Spice Cake Balls1 Box Yellow Cake Mix

1 Can (15oz.) Pumpkin Puree
2 t. Cinnamon
1/2 t. Ground Ginger
1/4 t. Allspice
1/4 t. Ground Nutmeg
1/2 C. Water
1/4 C. Vegetable Oil
3 Eggs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1/2 - 3/4 can cream cheese frosting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
White Chocolate Candy Melts

Beat everything together (ending with the eggs) and bake in a 13 X 9" pan according to the package instructions. Make sure the cake is completely baked before removing from the oven. Let cool completely on a wire rack.


Crumble the cake apart in a bowl and add cream cheese frosting. Using your fingers (this is the fun part!), mix thoroughly until the cake holds together when formed into a ball. Add more frosting if necessary. Roll into bite-size balls, place on cookie sheets lined with wax paper and refrigerate several hours.

When ready to dip, melt the white chocolate following the directions on the package. Roll with a spoon and place on another waxed paper lined sheet to harden. Store at room temperature.

Enjoy!