Pumpkin muffins

I LOVE everything pumpkin! Pie, bread, muffins, bagels, creamcheese, icecream, cheesecake, etc.

I made these pumpkin muffins for a friend, and thought I'd share the recipe. It's REALLY easy and I am always on the lookout for easy fast recipes. Do you have any good ones to share?

Pumpkin Muffins

1 boxed spice cake mix

1 15 oz. can of pumpkin (small can)

2 cups of chocolate chips (1 regular sized bag)

That's it! pour all the ingredients in a bowl and mix it together. Plop them cupcake tins 3/4 way full. (would also make great Bars or loafs of bread) I used a silpat decorative tray.

Optional: I dropped melted cream cheese frosting on the top with bits of chopped chocolate. Bake at 375 for 12+ minutes depending on how big the muffins are.

Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week
Here is glimpse of my favs from Paris Fashion week (narrowed down from over 450). This sample inlcudes designers from all over the world. Yes I do wear more colors then gray black and white. These designs just jumped at me with clean lines, unique embelishments, and creative ideas, but most importantly, something I would actually wear!

There were pictures of the designers who created the collections. Most didn't look very stylish, and left me thinking, "They Design clothing?" This designer below (first picture) Alessandra Facchinetti wore something stylish, which screams she has good taste. She was just named the new Creative Director for the house of Valentino.

Isn't that a unique handbag?

Am I THAT out of style or do people really wear this? Did her 3 year old dress her?

Probably my Fav, LOVE the square tabs on the coat

Milan Fashion Week

Overall, I like the Milan designs better. Aren't they great!?! I didn't peruse through as many of their pictures, but here are a few of my favs.

Do try LARABAR

I'm always on the lookout for tasty but healthy snacks. I might be the only one still in the dark, but my sister just introduced me to these tasty + healthy bars. Most have less then 6 ingredients. They are made entirely of fruits, nuts and spices. It's unprocessed, no added sugar, gluten free, soy free, dairy free, and lots more. It first glance of these things, I thought how could it really taste like apple pie? Especially with the lack of ingredients. But it does! I've only tasted the apple pie, cherry pie, and lemon bar, (because those are the flavors in the pack available at Costco) and they were all delicious. Some more flavors I've heard of but haven't tried are Pistachio, Key Lime Pie, Ginger Snap, Banana Cookie, Cashew Cookie, Pecan Pie, Cinnamon Roll, Cocoa Mole, Chocolate Mint and Chocolate Coconut. It is high protien + fiber. There is fat and sugar, but is the natural sugars and fats from the nuts and fruits. Healthy eating at it's best.I just snacked on a apple pie bar. The ingredients are Dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts raisins and cinnamon. That's it! Yum! Do try.

Julian Beever

Julian Beever is an amazing English artist. Oh how I'd love to see his artwork in person. He is best known for his pavement art. They are so real it's deceiving. At the bottom of the stairs this is a flat surface. Crazy huh?!

This one's probably the coolest in my opinion. The hose, water, everything... drawings!

Looks like he just poked the water.

A Good Sleep

I'm always open to ideas on how to get more restful sleep. My days are always better when I get some good ZZZZzzzzzzz in. Here are some tips from "Real Simple Magazine" with some comments of my own thrown in. Photo:Anita Calero

Light can be a problem.

"Light is a signal to our brains that it's time to be up and at 'em, which is why bright electric bulbs and television and computer screens make it hard for us to get sleepy at bedtime. "Limiting your light exposure in the evening tends to transition you into sleep," says Helene Emsellem, M.D." I've also read somewhere that light in the room while you sleep doesn't allow you to go into as deep of a sleep, and this can disrupt your sleep cycles.

• Seal off your window so light cannot get in


• Use an eye mask


• Turn the light on your alarm clock down so it isn't as bright (even this light can be disruptive)


• Turn off the t.v. before falling asleep

If you can't relax before sleeping:

"After dashing at top speed through a busy day, trying to pack in every last e-mail, phone call, and laundry load, how can anyone expect to jump into bed and immediately nod off? Even when you're relaxed, it typically takes about 20 minutes to fall asleep, says sleep expert James B. Maas."

• Listen to soft music


• Sip warm drinks


• Breathe soothing scents

If Noise Is Keeping You Awake at Night. The key is keeping a steady stream of sound so abrupt noises outside are muffled and don't wake you up.

• Add white noise


• Plug your ears using Earplugs

I also learned in a Psychology stress management class that I took that while lying down; deep, slow, steady, breathing works REALLY well in relaxing your body and helping you unwind for the day so you can fall asleep.

Fun Fact: If you fall asleep within 5 minutes of laying down your body is sleep deprived. Get more sleep!!

Welcome to Florida!

My sister and bro-in-law and my 3 neices and nephews are coming in town. They're not sure quite what to expect. I'm excited to play tour guide. These are a few pics I've taken that show off the more natural side of Florida, minus Disney. I'll update you on the fun stuff we're doing incase you come this way!

Outside my back door. All the jungle looking plants, make me feel like I'm in Hawaii all over again... sigh...
Isn't he huge? If the family's naughty we'll take em to Lake Jessup where all the alligators from local ponds and lakes are dumped.
I didn't take this pic. This is on clearwater beach, voted one of the top beaches in the nation. St. Augustine... one of my favorite destinations.

Squeeze it

Every day that I use this gadget I am in awe of its wonder and hope that the person out there who invented it, is well compensated for their ingenious efforts. I am sure this little gadget has solved many marital spats on "the squeezing of the toothpaste tube". Squeeze from the bottom or the top? Doesn't matter with this. You also get more out of the tube, and it's only 2.99 for a 2 pack. Sorry about the bad lighting in the pics :)

Turquiose

I want, I need.

Every woman should a have a great real turquiose jewelry set. Check out this beauty from shabbyapple. It needs a big ol turquiose stone ring to go with it. That's what I"m really on the hunt for. A big real turquiose ring. Any suggestions?

Florence- "The Spark"

Sorry guys, I think all of you reading will get sick of Italy before I will :) I might just give you a tour of the whole country one city at a time.
Florence, it's your turn! Florence sparked the renaissance. Not surprising. It is such an artistic city. Florence is also known as the center for leather goods. Would kill to get a purse there! Some views of the city...

If you have a fear of heights, talk about "living in fear".

This is inside one of the palaces...wouldn't a tour be great?

Don't do it! You live in such a pretty city!

All I can say is wow, I never got this far with sidewalk chalk. Its a shame that someday it will rain and wash this masterpeice away. Must be nice to have such amazing talent that he can do another one just as amazing the next day. When I go to Italy, I am going to do the cliche thing and do a painting in city.

Another reason Italy is deemed such a romantic place. At this monument. Couples engrave their names on a lock and lock it at this monument, and throw the key in the river. It is to symbolize eternal love. Very clever idea, much more advanced then throwing a penny in the wishing well.

Giddy Up

I think every little boy should have something cowboy. There is just something about a little cowboy that makes me smile. Check out a blanket I made for my nephew awhile ago. If you look close I stitched his name on the bottom corner. The pattern includes, cactus, cowboys/cowgirls, moons, horseshoes, hats, cows and boots. This was a simple throw together quilt, no mad skill involved, but turned out cute!

Front

Back

Favorite kind of Ride

Everyone have a good weekend? My little guy and I went on a bike ride. I got this super handy basket at a local bike store. It is easy to take on and off of the bike, and is great for rides with puppy. He loves to "go for a ride". We rode all over the neighborhood and to the local park. He ran with me on the trails while I rode, and I put him in the basket on busy roads for safety. There's nothing quite like the wind on your face!

Gotta love those ears!

Rice Rice Rice

Rice... There are many different kinds. I have always heard that brown rice is way better for you then white. But why? At Uncle Ben's Website there is an educational area. It breaks down the anatomy of a grain of rice and tells you what nutrients are in the different parts. Brown is better!! Recipes are also available on the website.
Speaking of Uncle Ben, The best invention yet is their 90 second pouches of rice. there are tons of different flavors including wild, brown, pilaf, spanish etc. You stick the pouch in the micro for 90 seconds and whala! Perfectly cooked brown rice! Affordable too. Great for those on the go like myself.