open open open!

I'm daydreaming of stuffing... it needs to be Thursday already!!
Thanksgiving this year will be spent with the Bakers... as in Lindsey "formally-a-Baker" Olsen's family. We're mapping out our trip up to Sacramento, trying to plan the timing of it so we don't hit too much traffic, and are very VERY excited to be spending the holiday with our family away from family. Hurry up, Thursday!!

purchased.

So today we made a few fun purchases... one for me, one for we.

For me: a couple weeks ago I blogged about my obsession with J-Crew's shoe selection this fall. In my email today was an email from J-Crew announcing that all shoes are 20% off for a limited time. SOLD! I went for a non-high heel for practical reasons... not to mention comfort reasons... here she is:

Lovely. I'll be snuggling into those later next week hopefully...

For we: about a decade ago, Josh went with a then-girlfriend to the Nutcracker... little did he know it wasn't the toy soldiers fighting rats Nutcracker, but it was the Nutcracker Suite - which is JUST the orchestra. (Man - what a crappy girlfriend... good thing he upgraded :)) Which would still be lovely, but when you're expecting sugar plum fairies and, well, the Nutcracker, it just doesn't satisfy. I went to the Nutcracker growing up with my mom and other mother-daughter teams so I know that sugar plum fairy well.

So we decided to redeem Josh's Nutcracker mishap and go see the Ballet San Jose's The Nutcracker.

I didn't really think Josh would be super into it, but he's really excited and even suggested it... so mid-December we'll be dressed to the nines, watching the rats take on the toy soldiers... tis the season!

red is the new yellow.

In both Prescott and Santa Barbara, come fall time, the leaves change from green to yellow to bare. Welcome winter. But in our neighborhood we have maples galore and they turn from green to yellow to RED to most likely bare... and I LOVE the red. Josh loves the maple, well, for obvious reasons... (Oh Canada!) But what a lovely tree and what a brilliant color it is showing this fall season...

(Obviously I can say I love these trees because I don't have one in my back yard that requires me to rake EVERY Saturday... but I still love them!)

farm fresh to ME!

I love farmer's markets. I do. I love the people, the beautiful produce, the fun vendors, I love everything about it. The only thing I don't like: me being a scaredy cat when it comes to trying new things. I feel like I used to be more adventurous with my choices, but there were times when those adventurous choices ended up rotting in the fridge because I didn't know what I was going to do with it (hello swiss chard...). So now I stick to my onions, mushrooms, peppers, and... um... bread? Does that count? I want to reach out and try some new stuff! Solution?

Capay Organic Farms will deliver a box full of organic produce to my door step complete with recipes. Everything delivered is in season, from a local farm, and all organic. This week's selections included beets (Josh won't let me opt out of beets... he swears by borsch... yuck.), potatoes, cabbage, apples, pears, grapes, oranges, butternut squash, bok choy, chard, carrots, spinach, and cilantro. Holy cow! We're doing a "regular" sized box (you can specify) every other week... that way I can still use my farmer's market for the in-between stuff and of course all the local breads, pastas, and other yummy treats...

I think this will be a good solution. It will force us to step out of our comfort zone and yet give us the tools (produce and recipes) to be successful. Bring it on Capay!!

it's the freakin weeken!

FRIDAY!! I'm ready for it! I'm ready for lazy Saturday and it's sister, sleepy Sunday. Scheduled this weekend: nothing!! Opportunities are endless...
go on a walk?
hike?
sleep in (that's a given).
shop?
eat (again... a given).
sit?
movie marathon?
a book, blanket, and hot chocolate?

Yes yes and yes. Welcome weekend!

educate me

Last week I invaded sister time with Joanna and Julia and we went to go see An Education. An indie film about a brilliant 16 year old who falls in love with a man 20 years her senior. The cast is incredible and the acting is superb. "Jenny," played by Carey Mulligan, was amazing. She played the wiser-than-her-age 16 year old and her look reminded me of a younger (yet British and incredibly smart) Katie Holmes. Peter Sarsgaard plays David the late thirties something that steals young Jenny's heart... he walks the line of creepy and charming brilliantly. Don't take my word for it - go see it!

Marianne's

We found ourselves in Santa Cruz on Saturday night for some dinner/dessert with friends. Dessert happened to be a Santa Cruz tradition - Marianne's ice cream. It's been around for 50 years and has a gazillion flavors... including lavender and root beer and oatmeal raisin cookie dough and Mexican chocolate... it's so great. I went for the holiday classic peppermint stick. I'm not gonna lie - McConnell's may have them beat in the peppermint department. Marianne's was neon pink and didn't seem as natural as it could be. Next time, I'm hopping on board the oatmeal raisin cookie dough train. Booya!

too old for dress up?

Halloween has come and gone and Josh and I have gone another year as a pair... Year 1 - Kevin Federline and Brittney Spears. Year 2 - S'mores. Year 3 - New Zealand... they don't do Halloween. Year 4 - pregnant lady and OBGYN.

We hung out with a farmer and her ear of corn, Legends of the Hidden Temple contestants, a little birdie, and a few more awkward moments strolling around the party... overall, a very fun evening. Happy Halloween!

spooky, huh?

We sure have come a long way in the pumpkin world... I used to be a two triangles and a crooked smile kinda girl, but then I met Josh's wise co-worker, Shane, and he changed my pumpkin carving life. He trained me to kick ass in pumpkin carving contests which led to victory the last carving contest at work with LB (booya!). Winning design you ask? A haunted house carved and shaded to perfection, complete with bats and ghosts. I hope your Halloween is as fabulous as my carving skills... if I do say so myself... :)

Happy Halloween!!