Fall is in the air...

Finally!

And here is what I did yesterday to celebrate:

I cleaned up the front porch and flowerbeds (soon I'll yank up the zinnia's and plant pansies and snapdragons)

I purchased MUMs! Purple, to be exact. I put one big pot outside and two small ones in my mercury cachepots on the dining room table along with some pillar candles.



I made a fall wreath out of some dried flowers that were in my dorm room in college. It was very easy - I just trimmed the stems and stuck them in a grapevine wreath. I found brown wired ribbon, made a bow and there you go!


Here is another shot with different lighting so you can see the colors better.



I am still on the hunt for white and gray pumpkins...can't seem to find them anywhere, only orange :(

This isn't much, but I'm so ready for Christmas that I don't want to go all out for Fall and then have to take it down in a month.

When I grow up...

I would like to be a mix of these two ladies.

Beki at artsy-crafty babe & Ree at The Pioneer Woman

Hmmm...what would that be like?

Like Martha, yes, but real. Perfect because it's not.

Read their blogs. You'll understand.

Feed a crowd and make my own clothes - I could be on Top Chef and Project Runway!

Rain.

I love a good trench coat.

It's a good thing I own this one since it's been flooding in Mississippi all week. This morning, while wearing it, I was told I looked like a spy. It made my day.



Now only if I could acquire this one for winter...

Classy, well-dressed spy? Yes, please.

Dandy Dan's Delectable Dream Dessert

That is what "Heaven Cake" is now called.

Here is my variation for 2009 (2006, 2007 & 2008 can all be found here).

1. Line the bottom of a spring-form pan with wax paper.
2. Pour in one batch of brownie mix and bake
3. When cooled, add the layer of Oreos and fudge (you can still add heath bar if you like)
4. Spread good strawberry ice cream over the top and freeze
5. Before serving "ice" with shipped cream and top with fresh strawberries

*Note: this version is much quicker and simpler than the previous - freezing time is cut in half!

You just think you have everything you need for football season...

...but you don't!

Not until you get the Collegiate Snuggie!



There is an entire blog about it.

Not even kidding.

How many ways...

...can you make the same birthday cake?

Last year (for the third year in a row) I made Friend's birthday cake. It's pretty easy and it's good. No, it is delicious. I won't lie. I've been waiting for this birthday week for a while and now that it's here I am dissatisfied with the idea of making the same cake again.

What to do? Well, I have a few ideas tucked away somewhere :) I'm sure I'll manage and I'm sure it will be just as good. Check back soon for pictures of the final results and the recipe!

I've been waiting patiently...

...and finally!

War Eagle!

6:00pm tonight on ESPN.