Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

Today, everyone is coming to our house-- my dad is making the turkey, stuffing, and ham, and I'm in charge of the corn casserole, pumpkin tart, and orange-currant scones! Everyone else will be bringing bits and pieces of the rest of the meal. Enjoy your holiday!

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like.... Summer?

So it's November 15th and today here in lovely eastern Pennsylvania, it was about 65 degrees out today. I mean, WHAT?! My hope and wish and prayer every single year for Thanksgiving is that it snows on Thanksgiving Day, thus throwing us into a snowy, white, unbearable winter when we all say, "What in the heck am I doing here? I hate winter and I want to live in Louisiana." Love it. It's my favorite thing. But I can't remember the last Thanksgiving where I've gotten snow. There has been snow here already, flurries really, but that was way back in October. And here it is, the middle of November and not a flurry in sight. Rather, sun. Warmth. A lovely breeze. And not the fall breeze where you need a hoodie or jacket to keep you from breaking out in goosebumps. The kind of breeze where you think, wow this is a great day; I could jog for 4 hours and not break a sweat if this breeze keeps up like this.

Also, my birthday is FINALLY here-- here in the sense that this year I'll FINALLY be 23 on the 23rd. I've been waiting, well, 23 years. Alas, it's on a Wednesday and I have to work. In the evening. How lame is that? It's not like I can have a birthday party at 10am. I'm planning on doing some serious maneuvering of my schedule in order to be off at least in the evening of my birthday, Christmas Eve, and the day after Christmas just so I can see my lovely family in Maryland. And not work the day after Christmas when all the crazies will be out.

All this to say, I've finished my birthday and Christmas wish list and distributed it to the poor souls who have to look at it and think, "Is she serious with all this crap on here?" Yes, I am serious, and it's not like I'm holding a gun to your head saying, "Buy me the cooking section at Borders!" In all honesty, I do have about 8 cookbooks on my list-- it was longer, but I couldn't stop myself and I ordered 2 this weekend-- Joy of Cooking (because seriously, how have I been functioning without this?) and I Know How to Cook which is a HUGE cookbook just like The Silver Spoon but instead of Italian cooking, it's French cooking. I'm so excited. Also, I'm mad at Martha because her Dutch ovens used to be $60 and now the Macy's website lists them for $139! What happened? Are they plated with gold?

November 6th!

Wow! It's been awhile since I've made my presence here, hasn't it? Life has been busy but that is what I always say. I don't know if I included this picture recently, but it's a dinner I made awhile ago.. sausage and  hash brown potatoes with apples. It was so yummy and easy! Let me know if anyone wants the recipe!

Also, some pictures from the Martha show, which my Aunt Mary and I went to about a month ago. It was awesome and I'm hoping to go again soon!!

Here's some of the things on the web I've been keeping myself preoccupied with:

• Martha's blog-- she was at King of Prussia this week at Williams-Sonoma and I missed her!!! I can't believe it!!
• Toast scarves and socks-- I love Toast, they make me want to live in a remote cottage in the English countryside.
• Luisa is moving back home and writing a book!
• I am seriously pining for this dress from J. Crew. Please go on sale soon. For everyone's sake.

I'll really try to put forth more of an effort to post more often, at least what I cook. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Jet Set

Next week is going to be incredibly busy. On Monday, I have to go to Philadelphia for a class for Dermalogica. The only stinky part is, it's right across the street from KoP mall but I can't shop there... but the class doesn't provide lunch for us, SO WE HAVE TO GO TO THE MALL FOOD COURT just to eat. Isn't that ridiculous? I'm dying to go to H&M. Gah. Plus, I have to drive. The last thing my poor car needs is more miles on it. At least I'll get paid for 12 hours of work.

On Thursday, my aunt and I are going to New York for the Martha Stewart Show. I'm so excited-- mostly for all the free stuff, but it's been awhile since I've gone to NY. The show will be done taping mid-morning so we can shop all afternoon! Luckily, it's in Chelsea so it's really easy to get to. Lord, please let Lincoln Tunnel be free of traffic next week!

And finally, Saturday, we're planning on going to Cumberland to visit Jeremy's parents. I hope I can see Kirsten too. I'm dying for some of her breakfast.

I'm not excited to go to Philadelphia, I am overly excited for Martha, and I'm so-so about Cumberland. I'm hoping it will be a weekend of relaxing at home and not running around town. I'm really worried about leaving George for 2 days. I hope he'll be ok.

I made chicken & sausage gumbo the other night. It was delicious but I forgot to put in the okra, but okra doesn't lend a lot of taste so it didn't really matter. Also, we went to Petsmart the other night and bought George the largest bone ever made. It weighed about 5 lbs and George had no idea what to do except dance around it frantically before deciding to plop down next to it and gnaw on it for 3 hours.

J. Crew has the best clothes this season-- their dresses are just fabulous. I wish I needed fancy party dresses for work but I don't work at Sotheby's.

I've also decided I must live in a cottage. I've found the perfect one in Kent, CT but unfortunately, it is overpriced and about 5 miles away from too many ex-friends. I think I'll put all my thought into finding a cottage in Maine.

Cranberry-Sour Cream Coffee Cake

For our staff meeting tomorrow, I decided to make a cranberry-sour cream coffee cake. I wanted to make muffins, but I don't have oranges, lemons, raspberries, or active yeast. So coffee cake it is. But first to the dirty dishes taking over my kitchen. Doesn't this look yummy?

Guten Tag!

This week has been marvelous. The weather is perfect, the sun is out. Warm, but not hot. A cool breeze. I took these pictures this morning. The first 3 are from a plant by the house, I'm not sure what it is, but it's gorgeous. The last one is probably a weed in the field next to our house but the colors are gorgeous.