on sale now.

Did you know?  Today, in stores only, Gap is having a 40% off everything sale.  (45% if you use your Gap Card.) I thought everyone knew this, but I spoke to a couple of my friends today, both are major shoppers (and have little girlies to buy for) and neither of them knew.  Thought I'd share just in case you were out of the loop!

And speaking of Gap, what's up with their new logo?  It pretty much sucks, as discussed here.

missing + girl crushin'.

Vanessa Jackman, where are you?

I'm going through withdrawal.  My favorite street style fashion photographer hasn't posted any of her stunning work in nearly 3 weeks.  I love her photographs and the amazing way she captures style and personality.  Plus, she writes like we're chatting over a latte at Joe's in NYC.  (Maybe that's just where I'd like to be this morning...)

Her last post coincides with my current (style and beauty) crush.

Let's talk about this girl, shall we?  Where to start?  The fabulous seventies inspired fashion that I could personally never pull off but that she kills? (I was born in the seventies so I've a little bias there.)  The fabulous smile that shows up in her fabulous crinkles (might I call them her fabulous wrinkles?) around her equally fabulous (slightly over) mascaraed eyes?  No, of course not.  Hello?  The hair.

cheater cheater pumpkin eater.

I have a confession to make.

I cheat.

It all started with this autumn recipe for (ridiculously easy, tasty, and cheap) pumpkin muffins.

Maria's (Cheater) Pumpkin Muffins

1 box spice cake mix
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin

Stir together well.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Yep, that's it.  You've probably seen this recipe before.  Or maybe you haven't, and in that case, you're welcome.

One day I decided to add this complicated step:

Mix in 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup raisins before baking. (I certainly don't measure, just throw a handful of each in.)

After that bold move, the five year old (then 3 and then 4) requested these every time we were appointed snack family at preschool.  And because they have raisins and an entire can of pumpkin, they are (sort of) healthy. (Appease me here.)

Personally, I love muffins.  (I even like the way the word rolls off the tongue. "MU-FIN."  Actually no tongue action involved at all with that word.  But I digress.)  Anything individually portioned is a winner in my book.  There's no issue with sharing or (my problem) eating too much.  Muffins can be savory or sweet, decadent or healthy.  You can "hide" many different types of veggies and fruits in them for that picky eater (In our house--Sparky, mostly.) You can make them ahead of time and then, freeze for breakfasts and snacks.  They often show up in cute wrappers.  They're good at room temperature, heated, or cold.  A pat of butter is sometimes a great addition to a muffin.  If you're really lucky, frosting is spread all over the top (a.k.a the cupcake.)  I mean really, what's not to love about a muffin?

A few days ago, the 30 girl posted about this muffin, which actually is healthy with apples, pumpkin, and oatmeal as the star ingredients (Oh, and no cake mix involved either.  Or sugar, for that matter.)  These muffins also looked delicious.  (I'm totally on board for healthy treats, but if it doesn't taste good I'm not eating it.)  So today, as I was headed to my gracious neighbor Jackie's for a play date, I decided to bake these muffins as our contribution to the lovely snack spread.  I've mentioned before that I'm not much of a baker.  It's partly because I like to eat entirely too much of what I bake, but also partly because baking involves too. much. exact. measuring of sugar and baking powder (or is it soda?), flour and flavorings, etc., etc., etc.  I usually just don't have the patience.  But I was going to give it the old college try for those precious two year olds.  Then, I remembered I had all that spice cake mix just sitting right there in the pantry.  So I cheated.  Again.

the 30 girl's Pumpkin Apple Breakfast Muffin, Cheater Style


1.5 cups spice cake mix
1.5 cups oatmeal
1 cup pumpkin
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup milk
scant 1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup shredded Granny Smith apple

Stir together cake mix and oatmeal.  Combine wet ingredients and then stir into dry ingredients until just mixed. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

*******

I can happily report that the muffins were well received by the mommies and two year olds, alike. Thanks to Katie for providing me with this amazing recipe.  Sorry for bastardizing it. Someday I will make the original true (healthier) version.  But until then, I'll make them cheater style, and next time I'll throw in a handful of chocolate chips. 

a little success.

Via Katherine Marie Photography.

Today I tried my hand at adapting one of my favorite recipes to the crock pot.  There is something that is warm and comforting about crock pot meals.  Who doesn't love coming home to the smell of a yummy dinner just waiting to be eaten?  Unfortunately,  sometimes the recipes I've found for slow cookers are either a) too complicated (isn't the point to be able to dump basically everything into it and end up with a meal?) or b) not very tasty (so why bother?)  I'm happy to report that my attempt was a smashing success, and I will most likely be sharing this recipe with you as part of the Roaming Fall Recipe Exchange (hosted by Pretty Mommy) that I mentioned earlier this week.  Until then, check out Torrie's recipes for Butternut Squash Soup and A Perfect Autumn Salad as well as Katie's recipes for Pumpkin Apple Breakfast Muffins and Chicken Pot Pie.  They all look delicious!


And more yumminess in store via the links below.  Enjoy!


Oct 4th - Michelle - Pretty Mommy

Oct 5th - Torrie - a place to share...

Oct 6th - Katie - the30girl.com

Oct 7th - Karen- It all started at Mother's

Oct 8th - Estelle - Under A Pink Moon

Oct 11th - Danielle - domestic dish

Oct 12th - Chassity - Look Linger Love

Oct 13th - Rebecca - Reluctant Floridian

Oct 14th - Elisabeth - You Plus Me Equals

Oct 15th - Jora -- Domestic Reflections

Oct 18th - catherine - Rikshaw Design

Oct 19th - Abby - 5th Joy

Oct 20th - ME! =) - Scrumptious

Oct 21st - jennifer - Whisk It Good

Oct 22nd - kate - Everything but the Squeal

Oct 25th - Tina - Bull In A China Shop

Oct 26th - Kim - Lighter and Local 
Oct 27th - Elaine - Mama Seasonings 
Oct 28th - Jess - Shades of Sunshine

for fall: need

Shorty cognac colored leather jacket.  Okay, it's a want.  But still.

Photo via the amazing Sartorialist.

And because I'm not really in the market to spend $500 to $1000 on a new leather jacket, I'm happy to have discovered this at Target. It looks even better in person; the color is richer.  What do you think?

really?

Trying to get G to sit and smile for a family picture last year.  Fail.

On Halloween every year I dress up to go trick-or-treating with the girlies in our very kid friendly neighborhood.  The last couple of years I've been an angel as it so obviously goes with my personality and demeanor.  This year I was hoping to change it up.  The five year old initially expressed a desire to be a honey bee, but has since changed her mind about a thousand times.  However, that bee idea is still buzzing around in my head.  I've decided I'm more of a bumble bee and I've been scouring the internet for a cute costume.  These are my basic choices:

this

or this.

Seriously?

finally fall.

Well, it officially feels like fall.  I walked the five year old to school today in a pretty heavy drizzle.  She wore thick polka dot tights and was stoked to do it. (It's clear I'm a child of the 80s after using the word "stoked," isn't it?) The weather is quite a change from last Monday, when it was, no joke, a smokin' sweaty hot 102 degrees!  So hurray fall!  Hurray boots!  Hurray jeans!  Hurray sweaters!  And hurray to cool(er) weather cooking, baking, and most importantly eating!

That said, I'm very excited to be part of a blogger fall recipe exchange that was the brain child of Michelle at Pretty Mommy.  She's kicking the exchange off today with a Taco Soup recipe that looks delicious.  I'll be sharing my recipe(s) on October 20, but check out Michelle's site for the full list of amazing bloggers that are participating.  I'll also be linking to the recipes each day so that you, my loyal 13 readers, can share in the wealth of some yummy recipes.

photo here.

Happy Monday!