happy halloween {from NH}

Flew from Texas to New Hampshire to spend some much needed time (a) away from work, and (b) with my sister and her brood (since my last visit, baby Paige made her debut and the leaves have changed from green to red and gold). I'm currently blogging from outside, surrounded by frisky dogs, a 4-year-old on a jeep, pine cones, and a blustery wind.

It's nice to almost relax (I'm getting there!).

H A L L O W E E N -- one of my favorite days of the year. And this one is particularly special.

Some shots of Aidan (one of my precious nephews) from yesterday/last night.

halloween

pretty li'l punkins

Etched pumpkin

Pretty pumpkin

Luminary pumpkins

Pumpkin cooler

Cookie cutter pumpkins

Pumpkin topiary

From Southern Living

go west [end]

Beautiful, brilliant, and industrious Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo (ABCD) has introduced At West End into my life, and I'm tickled about it. This is a store you'll want to check out. You can thank me ... er ... ABCD later.

I had to have this shabby chic bit of whimsy from AWE: recycled pop art / Texas.

While I think it looks perfect resting on a chair in my living room (ha), I'll probably hang it in the guest room. Friends and loved ones always appreciate a metallic rendering of The Great State :).

Go browse At West End. You'll drool. Their Halloween offerings are particularly delightful--the ideal mix of class, character, and authenticity. And their Christmas bounty ... oy.

AWE-struck.

ooey gooey saturday

Weekend afternoon in October ... hmmm ... what to do?

Ah, yes. Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Bars. One of my fall faves. Quick. Easy. And best of all, tasty as all get out.

You might ask, "But are they ooey and gooey?" Yes. Yes they are.

Ingredients

Cake:

1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer.

Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth.

Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together.

Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well.

Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with whipped cream.

high school "sports"

As part of an evaluation project on which we're currently working at the ol' place of employment, I've recently been conducting classroom observations at several public schools. As a long-time early childhood person, it's been--literally--just about 20 years since I've spent any time in high schools. That's changed quite a bit over the past two weeks.

Kindergarten & 10th grade are very different beasts.

(these are the insightful, scholarly revelations I have, resultant of extensive, systematic observations)

Five-year-olds say things to their teachers like, "Do you want to come to my birthday party this weekend?" Fifteen-year-olds say things to their teachers like (and I quote): "Aw man, Coach [male teacher] ... gettcha some."

Anyway, this morning I snapped the photo on the left in the hallway of one of the high schools.

Who knew?

Kids.

i hear today's a "holiday"

To all of my loved ones--near and far--I wish you a heartfelt, meaningful, memorable, Columbus Day. May we all stop to take a moment out of our busy, work-filled days to remember the message behind this special day.

{stopping ... taking a moment ... nuthin'}

whiskey river take my {mad} mind

Tonight's Mad Men cocktail: the Whiskey Sour. Classic. Vintage. Retro. Authentic.

Describe it however you will, but the whiskey sour is the perfect sipping companion to the political incorrectness and fashion fabulousness (I don't think that's a word) that is the world of Sterling Cooper Draper Price.

Currently making my preparations.

the bright & foamy side

I'm currently in the throes of putting the final touches on my dissertation proposal. (That's proposal, not the big enchilada/end-product/eventual orgasm.)

It's all good. Until, that is ... a textbook perfect Saturday--like the one currently doing a "Welcome, Autumn" ballet outside--taunts me. Then I become a tad distressed.

Enter Starbucks. More specifically, enter Pumpkin Spice Soy Latte (with no whip). You, my baby, are the reason I'm going to be ok.

Happy. Happy.

Yummy. Yummy.

Blah. Blah.

In the vein of pumpkins, I'll leave you with some advice from Linus in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: "Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker."

Happy Saturday.
xo

♥ctober

01 October, 2010. Oh, glorious day.

flickr photo - Pink Sherbet Photography

Day of the Dead Band - Wisteria

flickr photo - alves philho

flickr photo - Hotash

Christian Louboutin - N°Prive 120mm

flickr photo - Dimpleicious

Day of the Dead Terracotta Skull - Wisteria