Friday, September 30, 2011

Fall TV Shows

Happy Friday loves!  I'm joining Ashley and Neely for my very first Boob Tube Babble!


Boob Tube Babble

So let's talk NEW FALL TV!

My two new favorite shows are Hart of Dixie and Pan Am!

For one,  I love Rachel Bilson! 

She has great style and I loved her wardrobe in the first episode.

And I mean with this handsome man on the show ... how can you not watch?!

Oh and see the man all the way to the left ... did anyone see him and say "Hey, it's Deshawn Hardell from 90210?!"  ... because I so did! LOL

From the minute I saw previews for Pan Am,  I was intrigued and knew it was a show I wanted to watch.  I love to travel and have always wanted to be a flight attendant!  {I'll save that story for another time ;)}  When the show premiered on Sunday,  I enjoyed it and thought it was very good!  I'm hoping it continues to be good all season!



{images via}

Did you watch Hart of Dixie or Pan Am?  What did you think?

What shows are you watching this season?

Happy Weekend! xo


Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Interesting World of Dating

Hello lovelies!  After months of on and off dating,  I decided to re-join an online dating site.  I am optimistic that I will find the right person for me, but until then I'm enjoying myself and getting a good laugh out of some of the e-mails that I receive.  I thought it would be fun to share a few with you and hope they bring some humor to your day! 


{You may recall these first two e-mails ... I shared them in part to my Not Another Bad Date series.  They are from the same person who obviously didn't realize he e-mailed me twice.  HE WAS DEFINITELY INTERESTING!}

E-MAIL #1 

Lol ... The little monsters must love you :)

Ok Princess Poo-Poo :) ... I know you poop and fart on a regular basis... but shhhh ...pretty girls don't do that sort of thing ...it's okay. I won't tell ... ha ha ha!

Lights Camera Action...which (3) things make you stand out from the rest and (3) things make your friends and family run for the hills when you become Miss Cranky Pants?

If this all jives with your brain chemistry....read my profile and from there you know what to do...if not, it was nice meeting your computer and best of luck fishing...

Luv Always,
A. B.

P.S. You look like trouble...lol :)

E-MAIL #2

Hey Pumpkin Head you seem kinda cool :)

Those innocent eyes, that blond hair, that giggly smile, so hot! Enough about you, let’s talk about me. :)

Let's see, I've gone on 2 dates from this site. One was a lemon. One was a lime. I'm looking for a gal with a sweet bubbly personality and that special girlish charm that only a select few have.

So feel free to check my out my profile. If you like what you read, then you know what to do. If not, it was a pleasure meeting your computer and best of luck.

Peace Out Girlscout,  
Mr. A.B. :-)

___________________________________________________________

{The pick-up line e-mails.}

E-MAIL #1
I hope you know CPR cuz u take my breath away!

E-MAIL #2
Hey beautiful ... I think we belong together like peanut butter and jelly lol.

___________________________________________________________

{The marriage proposal e-mail.}

I love your profile.  I would marry you in a flash.  I would worship the ground you walk on.  I will treat you like a princess that you are.  I'm sorry to be so straight forward it is that you look like the ideal girl that any man would love to know better.  I should start by saying can I get to know you better instead of marry me?

___________________________________________________________

Aren't they a bunch of characters?  Needless to say,  I did not respond to any of these e-mails.  Would you?

Ever join an online dating site?  Have any success?

Happy Thursday!  xo

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Good Old US of A

Happy Wednesday friends!  I have been bitten by the travel bug BAD!  I have a few trips lined up and am also planning to do a few travel posts about the states I have previously visited {as part of a bucket list update}.

While browsing none other than pinterest for pictures,  I found some fun maps of the United States.






Where does your state fall?



Which ones can you identify?


What are some of your favorite "pins" this week?  

I'm linking up over at Michelle's blog and you should too!
google

Happy Hump Day! xo

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Fall Recipes!

Hello lovelies!  Fall is here and I love baking this time of year!   I have found a bunch of recipes that I can't wait to try ... thanks to pinterest!



Fabulous Fall Blog Challenge


Here are some of my faves that I'm sharing as part of Amber and Neely's Fabulous Fall Blog Challenge.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins [via]
{makes about 45 mini-muffins or 12 regular size}

Ingredients:
For the filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 large egg
1 tbsp. flour
1 cup confectioners’ sugar

For the muffins:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tbsp. plus 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

For the topping:
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tbsp. flour
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Directions:
1.  To prepare the filling, combine the cream cheese, egg, flour and confectioners’ sugar in a medium bowl and mix well until blended and smooth. Set aside.

2.  To make the muffins, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line muffin pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda; whisk to blend. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine the eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree and oil. Mix on medium-low speed until blended. With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.

3.  To make the topping, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl; whisk to blend. Add in the butter pieces and cut into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture is coarse and crumbly. Transfer to the refrigerator until ready to use.

4.  To assemble the muffins, fill each muffin about 2/3 full with batter. Add a dollop of filling on top. Sprinkle with topping. Bake or 14 minutes. Cool. Eat. Enjoy!

Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Bread [via]
{yields: 3 loaves}

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup nutella

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour or line three 7×3 inch loaf pans.

2.  In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Mix in the dry ingredients until it is just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.

3.  Take 1/4 cup nutella and drop spoonfuls across top of batter (1/4 cup for each loaf). Use a knife and begin to swirl nutella with batter, making figure eights across the batter several times.

4.  Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Enjoy!

How cute are these?!


[recipe here]

Enjoy! xo

{Linking up with Tasty Tuesday at FTLOB, Tasty Tuesday at 33 Shades of GreenTempt My Tummy Tuesday,  Tuesdays at the Table, 2 Maids a Baking at 2 Maids a MilkingLet's Do BrunchDelectable Tuesday

Monday, September 26, 2011

FUN with PHONES . . . Trip to Colorado Cafe

Hello lovelies!   As I've mentioned before,  I got a new phone almost 3 weeks ago and am OBSESSED with all of the fun photo apps!  {For those of you who previously asked, I have a Samsung Galaxy S 4G -- which has Android apps.  LOVE IT!}

Here are a few pictures I've taken . . .
{always have to have a picture of my sweet pea ♥}

{spinach wrap stuffed with grilled vegetables -- eggplant, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, zucchini, asparagus with fresh mozzarella and pesto dressing -- YUMMM!!}

{sushi ♥}


{Go Georgia Bulldogs!}

{Brandi is a country girl too ;)}

{Verrazano Bridge -- heading to New Jersey}

. . . The following pictures with the exception of the last one were taken with my camera . . .

On Saturday night,  my mom, sister, a bunch of friends and I headed to New Jersey to go to Colorado Cafe.   Colorado Cafe is the largest restaurant and bar for country music in New Jersey.  They have a large dance floor for line dancing, bull riding, and a separate bar area with a rock band.  It is definitely a great place for country music lovers and showed me that I really need to work on my line dancing skills! ;)


{OOTN}

{my sister ♥}


{mother and daughters ♥}

{the girls}


{love my boots!}

{Linking up with Savanah and Erin :)}

Happy Monday! xo

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Care for a CUPCAKE?

Hello loves!  Now as many of you know,  I love to explore new places and try new things.  For this week's Sweet Tooth Sunday,  I thought I would share a bakery that I can't wait to visit.  

. . . Little Cupcake Bakeshop . . .
{located in Brooklyn and New York City}


Billie Holiday. Frank Sinatra. Louie Armstrong. A portrait of the Jazz Age in all its luxury and splendor, Little Cupcake Bakeshop, blends the lively spirit of a bygone generation with the youthfulness of contemporary culture and design. Little Cupcake Bakeshop is a transportation of the senses, a whimsical wonderland of treats, an experience so cheerful, yet so subtle, patrons are amazed at the heart warming feeling that occurs.

::Mission Statement::

The Little Cupcake Initiative is a volunteer-driven community outreach program of the Little Cupcake Bakeshop. We create educational campaigns, volunteer activities and strategic tools that integrate businesses and communities to provide leadership in advancing education, sustainability and environmental responsibility. The Little Cupcake Initiative is working to ensure current and future generations live in a cleaner, healthier, and greener environment. We work together with a number of groups: members in education, environmental protection, and the community at large in supporting educational, environmental, and athletic activities.






{images via 1 / 2 / 3}

Isn't the place the cutest?  Doesn't everything look amazing? I definitely WILL BE visiting soon! :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend! xo 

Friday, September 23, 2011

Book Review: The First Husband


Hello lovelies!  I'm back joining my friends Heather at Blonde ... Undercover Blonde and Megan at A Day in the Life for Book Club Friday!  This week,  I am reviewing The First Husband by Laura Dave.

 

The First Husband
Synopsis:   Annie Adams thinks she has it all.  Her longtime boyfriend, Nick, is on the verge of becoming a successful film director, her travel column is nationally syndicated, and they've got a great dog.  Her life finally feels like it is falling into place.  Until, out of nowhere, Nick announces that he's reconnected with a woman from his past and he's moving out.

Reeling from Nick's exit, Annie stumbles into her neighborhood bar and finds Griffin, a down-to-earth chef who seems to be everything she didn't know she wanted.  Three months later,  they're married.  And Annie finds herself in a small Massachusetts town, completely unmoored and wondering if she's picked a life on the rebound.  When Nick returns, wanting a second chance, Annie's stuck -- truly torn between her husband and the man she might have been meant to marry.  [excerpt via book cover]

Review:  The First Husband is a novel that I couldn't put down and read in one sitting.  (Thank you, Hurricane Irene -- and no electricity for allowing me to do so!).  Author Laura Dave does an excellent job writing as she not only brings the readers into the novel with her descriptive writing and attention to detail, but as she steers clear all of the easy answers and explores the different sides of the romantic choices we make.  I think that may people will be able to relate or understand the feelings and emotions that the main character Annie goes through.  The First Husband is a realistic story of love and heartache.  It will have you questioning the choices you have made in your own life as you realize that sometimes the choices we make don't always goes as planned but in the end, you will hopefully realize that real love is not worth compromising.  DEFINITELY A MUST READ!

Another great book by Laura Dave ...

London is the Best City in America

Think you might want to read it?  Here's the synopsis:  

Emmy Everett is reluctantly heading home to New York for her brother Josh's wedding.  She has spent the last three years in a fishing town in Rhode Island and, having little to show for it, she doesn't particularly want to answer the questions she is sure to fave about her ex-fiance, her (questionable) career choices, her (unknown) future.  But she is still in shock when her typically resolute brother Josh confesses he is having doubts about his imminent marriage--and asks Emmy the hardest question of all:  What do I do now?

With seventy-two hours until the wedding,  Emmy embarks with Josh on a road trip to help him find a mystery woman, and to answer some long overdue questions about who he wants to spend his life with.  It isn't only Josh who has some lessons to learn.  Along the way Emmy discovers some undeniable truths about what she wants from her own life; and she begins to realize that perhaps her own happy ending is not as far away as it seems.  [excerpt via book cover]

{a few tweets with author Laura Dave! -- special thanks again to Heather for the book recommendation} 


Have you read The First Husband or any other books by Laura Dave?  What did you think?

Happy Reading! xo
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