Fall Weekend Link Love

After a few packed weekend trips, full afternoons of parent-teacher conferences, I am really excited to do a whole lot of nothing this weekend!  Well, not technically nothing, a hair cut + color, pumpkin carving, and a baby shower, but significantly less scheduled than my last few weekends.  

How are you spending the last weekend of October?

+ I want these cat loafers!

+  Ever wanted to be a snail for Halloween?  

+ Low fat pumpkin smoothie. yum!

+ Getting ready for scarf season

+ Wish I was relaxing here.  Next vacation perhaps?

+ Lemon on pizza? Why not?!

+ Loving the polka dot trend

+ Cute pennant necklace

+ How to make flavored sea salts at home, yes please!

+ Frequent moviegoer? Check out this app

+ Spiced up morning oatmeal

+ DIY ice lanterns

image/bloom

A Year Ago Today...

 Hard to believe it has already been a year!  

Some days it feels like 5, others it feels like yesterday.

Though today is a touch more rainy than a year ago today, the occasion is just as sweet.
Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband!  We are celebrating tonight by staying in, dining on defrosted red velvet wedding cake, chicken pho, and a movie.  Sounds quite perfect if you ask me.
I love you to the moon!

images/angelaandevan

Goodreads

One thing you probably know about me, if you've ever read this blog before is that I am an avid reader.  I rarely turn down a book recommendation from a friend, colleague, or family member, and am always eager for my fave blogs to update their own "recent read" posts, just so I can scour the stacks for a copy of my own to promptly devour.

But keeping track of all those books is a tiresome task, that's hard to keep up with.  Hence - Goodreads.  Ever heard of it?  I love it!  Essentially this website tracks all of your past, future, and recent reads, let's you rank and/or comment accordingly.  This is sooo helpful to me as I tend to scrawl book recommendations down on post-its, stuff in my purse, and then proceed to lose...  

Once you have friends on goodreads, you can peek at their recent reads, recommendations and go from there!  Easy peasy!  

So, you want to trade reviews and be my goodreads friend?

image/homesweethome

Queue Come Early

It's always this time of year, when life is back in high gear, school is at its busiest, that all of my holds in my library queue and suddenly ready for check out, materializing in the flesh at my local library.  Normally, I wait around for weeks, months at a time for a bestseller hold to grace the shelves in my name, ready for my punctual pick up and prompt read.  

I recently got an email that 5 books I've long been coveting have now arrived at my local library.  As if to say, SURPRISE, we're here, come read us!  Needless to say, that will most likely not be happening.  So instead, I'm making a fall reading list - for those spare moments I have to read something that doesn't pertain to my job.

* MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche

I've started this book, and it's been an enjoyable read so far.  The premise is a married 20-something girl, moves with her husband to Chicago, and her desperate search for a new BFF.  The memoir chronicles her 52 girl dates, fix-ups, and setups in search a local best friend.

* Apron Anxiety by Alyssa Shelasky 

Not too familiar with the plot line, but has gotten rave reviews.  Essentially a memoir of learning to cook, embracing the art of cooking, eating, and food with open arms.

* Becoming Sister Wives by the Browns

I know what you're thinking, and don't judge!  I've seen a few episodes of this show, and was totally baffled at the premise, 1 man, 4 wives, seriously?  I was immediately curious to understand how the inner workings of how this unorthodox relationship worked, and now this book provides the inside scoop!

* The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I've heard nothing but great things, from bloggers to librarians alike.  'Nuff said!

Okay, now I need to find time to actually READ all of these...

Suggestions?

**UPDATE: I did finish MWF Seeking BFF - 4/5 stars, Apron Anxiety - 3/5 stars, The Fault in Our Stars - 4/5 stars, and abandoned Becoming Sister Wives after 2 chapters (don't bother with this one people, trust me!).

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Dinner Last Night: Roasted Cauliflower and White Cheddar Soup

Our Seattle sunshine has surprised everyone and decided to stick into early October, illuminating our city in a golden, autumn light.  While it isn't quite feeling like fall, I decided that in my kitchen, it will at least taste like fall!  I've been waiting for chilly air to set in so I could kick off the season with soups, but I figured, soup is really delicious in any weather, so why wait?

First up, roasted cauliflower and white cheddar soup.  The recipe calls for "aged white cheddar," I used Kerrygold white cheddar, and I subbed in milk for cream, both substitutions didn't seem to change the outcome too much.  This soup was delicious, and very easy to make.  In addition, it was filling without being overly rich (you could always lighten it further by cutting the cream and adding in more vegetable stock).  What soup should I make nex?

image/closetcooking

Pumpkinpalooza

I know it's not for everyone, but I love the flavor of pumpkin.  My husband does not share my enthusiasm and tends to turn his nose up at the likes of seasonal delicacies like pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin ice cream, and pumpkin bread.  He really is missing out.

Since I'm a pumpkin enthusiast, I've been trying my darndest to round up every sweet and savory pumpkin recipe under the sun to share with the rest of you who share my affection for pumpkin flavored things.  Here goes nothing... Ooh, and please feel free to comment with any fave pumpkin recipes I might've missed!

+ pumpkin cream cheese truffles

+ savory kale and pumpkin scones

+ pumpkin soup

+ roasted pumpkin quiche with caramelized onions, gorgonzola, and sage

+ healthy pumpkin pie dip

+ pumpkin pie oatmeal

+ pumpkin macaroni and cheese

+ pumpkin bread pudding

+ pumpkin pecorino gratin

+ pumpkin streusel muffins

+ pumpkin white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies

+ caramel pumpkin gingersnap cheesecake

+ pumpkin risotto with seared scallops

image/bloom

Highlights of Fall

Have I told you how excited I am that it's fall?  While I am thoroughly the Indian summer that is currently underway in Seattle, I am looking ahead to all the loveliness that is fall.  

A few things fall things I'm excited for:

+ Our first anniversary, I can hardly believe it's almost been a full year since our wedding!  With our anniversary comes our inaugural anniversary trip.  We're headed to Friday Harbor, can't wait!!

+ Hot cocoa, mulled cider, spiced tea, pumpkin spice lattes...mmm!

+ Fall clothes!  I've definitely worn my summer clothing thin, so I'm excited to pull out the scarves, sweaters, wellies, and warm + cozy items from the depths of my closet.

+ Weddings!  Our friends Carla + Ryan are tying the knot this weekend, can't wait to dance the night away, DJ Greasy style!  haha...

+ Fall recipes; heart-warming soups, stews, casseroles, and cassoulets.  I'll defs be turning my oven on this season to crank up the heat!

+ 30th Birthdays!  This is the year of turning the dirty 3-0 for most of my friends and I, and we have some fun shindigs on the horizon, first with a dual birthday weekend getaway in October!

+ Babies!  Three of my college girlfriends are due with their first babies in October.  Literally, October 1, October 10, and October 17th - what are the odds, right?  None have made their debuts yet, but we are eagerly awaiting texts, emails, and updates!

+ Halloween!  No costume selected as of yet, but I'm open to suggestions...

+ Clear days, crisp air, vibrant leaves on the trees, eventually carpeting the streets.

Oh, how I love fall!  What are you excited for?

image/bloom