Dessert Last Night

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I treated myself to a batch of these pumpkin cupcakes yesterday (albeit mine had store bought cream cheese frosting). Delicious, a perfect holiday treat!

image/stephmodo

Caramel Brulee Latte?

Starbucks just launched it's newest holiday beverage - the Caramel Brulee Latte. While caramel isn't my fave I'm extremely curious, as I've heard nothing but good things thus far. Anyone tried it yet? Do tell...

P.S. While I don't have confirmation, I think this drink is marketed as the Caramel Eclair Latte in Japan, interesting name change, huh?

image/lostintranslation

The Best Holiday Cards EVER!

These are AMAZING! Scratch and sniff holiday cards in all your favorite scents - gingerbread fresh from the oven, minty candy canes, and pine needles and winter snow. Happy Holidays!

images/etsy
via littlethings

New Moon Recap

Okay friends, I must admit, I might almost be swayed to Team Jacob after watching the latest episode of the Twilight saga: New Moon. Considering New Moon was my least favorite book, it did make for quite an exciting and eventful movie.

Mind you, Edward is absent for much of this movie, thus Bella turns her attention and affection to young-ling Jacob. Now, Jacob (a.k.a. actor Taylor Lautner) definitely beefed up for this movie, which was a little hysterical in that he and his wolf pack pretty much saunter around shirtless in jean shorts for the majority of the movie. Another thing - he is so wonderful and thoughtful to Bella throughout the movie, who in response in such a tease! I truly felt bad for Jacob as it's obvious Bella is an Edward-girl for life.

Ultimately, the one thing keeping me on Team Edward (don't forget Taylor Lautner is a baby at 17...jail bait). Go see it, it's excellent!

image/shockya

It's the Weekend!

It's the weekend, hooray! Super excited to see New Moon with my girls - who are you voting for - Team Edward or Team Jacob?

image/greenlight

Ode to Stinky Cheese

I adore cheese. Gruyere, gouda, or gorgonzola... I love it all! I was very intrigued to read about Joanna's experience with Langres, a French cow’s milk cheese best served by pouring Champagne over the top. Doesn't that sound exciting?? Until Joanna's post, this was a French cheese I didn't have on my radar.

Hoping that the next time I have something to celebrate, I'll break out the bubbly...and the Langres for good measure!

image/experienceparisienne

Top of My Wish List

I am crushing on this Coach bag, thinking it might just be #1 on my wish list this year...

image/coach

Study Abroad or Bust

My youngest sister is applying to many a study abroad program for next semester. She just heard back that she got into 2 New Zealand programs, Otoro and Auckland. Still waiting on Sydney and a few others... Can't wait to see what she decides!

image/endlessinspiration

Red Cups

While I typically would rather support the java underdog, I find Starbucks' red cups irresistible. Gingerbread, peppermint, and egg nog lattes - oh my! Well actually, nonfat gingerbread lattes and peppermint mochas are my drinks du jour, and since the season of red cups is short lived, 'tis the season to indulge!

image/iamblessed

Wine Your Turkey

Ever heard of marinating a turkey in wine? Ever a fan of the sweet wine Riesling, I was surprised to hear it could be used on a turkey! This year Martha's mixing it up with Maple Roasted Turkey with Riesling Gravy. What do you think? Would you make this for your Thanksgiving? What is your fave Thanksgiving dish?

image/marthastewart

Friends Thanksgiving

Our 3rd annual Friends Thanksgiving was a roaring success. This year we even had 28 people in attendance! This holiday party started 3 years ago, stemming from the fact that a good percentage of my friends are not from the Seattle area. With a few from Canada, one from England, and the rest scattered around the US, many of our friends are "transplants" to the Seattle area.

This potluck-style party brings everyone together to celebrate our friend "family." It's such a fun tradition, everyone brings something to the table, we had everything from ham to turkey to mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, gingerbread, all the fixings! I'm very thankful for my friends!

image/hornblowerholidays

Busy Weekend Bee

This weekend I'll be a busy, busy bee. With an engagement party Friday night, followed by a Friends-Thanksgiving celebration Saturday night, and finally seeing a Sunday matinee of The Christmas Carol, I'll be spent! And of course (let's not forget) writing report cards in my spare time...Phew, hope I have time to work out or at least get a yoga class in! We'll see...

Happy weekend!

image/wisheskisses

New Moon Rising

Who's excited?? Just one more week, can't wait for New Moon!

image/wisheskisses

Defying Gravity

For all you Wicked fans out there, did you hear "Defying Gravity" on Glee last night? It was AWESOME! I am continually impressed by the vocal talents of the cast. Have a listen, you won't be disappointed.

Edible Heaven

I've been channeling my inner-French girl by reading Joanna of Cup of Jo's latest blog experiment - Experience Parisienne. Her latest quest at finding all things Parisian - a pain au chocolat taste test. This is my version of edible heaven...

Pain au chocolat is literally my favorite pastry, more than all the tarts and brioches and canapes in all the world! I just love the flaky outside, soft inside of a croissant which is only improved by the hidden layer of chocolate inside - it is simply unbeatable in my mind! Next time I'm in NYC, I'm definitely stopping in to Balthazar - the winning pain au chocolat of Joanna's taste test. Yum!

image/experienceparisienne

Holiday Scents

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas at my house. Eager to kick off the upcoming holiday season I stopped into Bath & Body Works and picked up their scrumptious holiday scent - Winter. The scent is a lovely blend of crisp pine trees, apples and cinnamon, and a little bit of cloves thrown in for good measure. The best part is winter comes in the $5.00 mini candles, the perfect size to enjoy the season.

image/bathandbodyworks

Dinner Last Night

It's raining, it's pouring, I wish I was snoring....what better to cap off a gloomy, gray day than breakfast for dinner! Of course, I can't take all the credit, I owe a lot of my sweet meal to Trader Joe's pumpkin pancake mix. I of course added my own personal touches, on batch #2 I threw in a handful of chocolate chips, and in lieu of syrup I topped my stack with apple butter. Dinner never tasted so sweet!

image/bakerella

Can I Go Back to Bed?

Forgive my lack of posts, I'm seriously dragging today. I feel about like this, tired, exhausted, wanting to just crawl back into bead and pull the covers over my head. This is what it feels like when your energy runs out...

Hoping to recharge by tomorrow...

image/greenlight

Movie Madness

Holiday movie season is about to commence. Last weekend was A Christmas Carol, and just around the corner is New Moon, The Blind Side, and this movie that looks like a fun, flirty, romantic comedy - It's Complicated. Looks like I've got a few movie dates in my future! What movies are you looking forward to?

Happy Friday

This weekend I'll be watching a little football, getting a jump start on writing my Christmas list, and relaxing with friends. Have a lovely weekend!

image/absolutelyunique