Chocolate Orange Layer Cake!

I love chocolate and orange and cute fondant things and layer cake so... I had to share.  :]  It's UH-MAZE-ZHING!

(Source)

BEHOLD!  A Fun, Festive Halloween Chocolate Orange Layer Cake by Bakingdom.  I am in love!  Chocolate and orange just sound delicious together.  The fondant pumpkins are adorable.  Layer cake is visually awesome.  Please put some in my mouth!

     

Happy Halloween!

Since Tim and I had trouble coming up with Halloween costumes for ourselves...

Diefy is Zorro!

Ducky is a pirate!  ARgh!  (I thought his belt looked kinda HanSolo-ish.)

Lil Dief is a ghost!  (With a crooked face.  But he doesn't know.  hehe.)

Pooky is a pumpkin [face]!

Daisy is a Flower Princess.  :]  (Do you like?  I made her mask!  You can't really see the greenery on her right side though.  {sad})

Baker is a little piggy.  :oP

I call this one "The Pig Jumps Over a Pumpkin."  You know... like "The Cow Jumped Over the Moon"?

~ HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!  :D ~

    

Shadow sculptures

  
Happy Saturday morning!  Someone shared this on Facebook so I'm stealing it to share with you!  It's so creative and fascinating.  Be amazed:

All from shadows!  (Source)

They are by Fred Eerdekens from Belgium and the article I saw it from is here.  Art is lovely but art museums and galleries are not usually my favorite way to spend a day.  However, perhaps I just needed to find the kind of art that speaks to me cause I think I could spend all day in an art gallery looking at this stuff.  :]

             

Tis the season to be...

Black & Orange!



(Source)



I hope there are lots of these in SF!!  (Click here for the stencils!)  What appropriate team colors for Halloween!  :]  Go Giants!



(Source)

How cute!  Article says the fixings in the middle (meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato) are real.

(Source)



These Pumpkin Pies Bites from Bakerella (of course) are ADORABLE.  They actually sound pretty easy to make!  I want to eat one.  Or two.  Or three.
                 

Amazon FTW!

 

(Source)

Amazon is great.  :]

So a certain item that I wanted to get Tim for Christmas hit a one-day sale, so I snatched it up!  Since I have Amazon Prime, I usually get it in two days.  Perhaps since it was part of the one-day sale, it shipped out a little later, but was scheduled to arrive two days after it shipped.  I checked the tracking and it was suppose to be delivered by a company called Lasership.  I've only experienced Amazon deliveries from UPS, Fed Ex, and  USPS, but I was like okay, new company, fine.

So the package was suppose to arrive yesterday.  I got home from volunteering around 5pm, didn't see a package, so I went to check the tracking.  It said "Delivered -- front door."  I ran back outside and looked all around the front door, porch, bushes, etc.  Nothing.  I texted our landlords (who live upstairs) who were out most of the day I'm pretty sure and they didn't receive anything.  When Tim came home, I made him look for it on our back porch.  Nothing.

I freaked the poop out since Amazon has NEVER (I think.  If they have, I'm a very forgiving and possibly forgetful individual) failed me on two-day shipping since I've experienced the joys of Amazon Prime AND... the tracking said it was DELIVERED.  So I called Lasership who told me they'll tell their supervisor and sent me an email acknowledging they've received my request.  Dandy.

The Amazon website said to check with neighbors to see if they've received a package for you or to wait another day or two, but since two-day delivery has never failed me and it said delivered, I was pretty sure my package was STOLEN since there is actually a lot of traffic on our street.  (Foot and car traffic, though I didn't think anyone was going to STOP their car to steal a small package on someone's front porch.)  I was also worried that Amazon might think I was trying to swindle them, even though I wasn't and that I've given them hundreds, possibly thousands of my dollars and that I really do like them and mean them absolutely no harm and that my package was indeed lost/stolen!

So later in the evening, I emailed Amazon about my poor lost package and this morning when I woke up, I received an email saying they're sending another one right away on one-day shipping at no extra charge.  Can we say best costumer service EVAR?  Yes, my love for Amazon grows.  No questions, no telling me to wait, and just the thing to relieve my worries.

I'm good.

30 minutes ago, the doorbell rang and the USPS man dropped off an Amazon package for our landlords.  And... I find the Lasership package in my mailbox.  (Which was not there last night.)  STUPID LASERSHIP.  You're a big fat FAIL.  The fabulous Amazon customer service said I could refuse the orginal if it came or use their online return center to return it.

Oops.  I guess I should've waited.  One more Half a day.  But.  I will take a small bit of responsiblity for my overreactedness (based on resonable circumstance!) but also claim it wasn't entirely my fault that Lasership tracked it as delivered but didn't actually deliver it, and failed on two-day shipping.  I wouldn't have been as worried if they had tracked it as anything other than delivered (redeliver tomorrow, customer not home, "I took it home to keep it safe") and I'm PRETTY sure they could've put it in our mailbox, even if there was mail in it.

So in conclusion, Amazon is a winner, Lasership is not.  (Is it terrible I keep accidently typing Losership?)

       

What little people are made for...

... to wear these cute clothes!!!  Can I buy these for our future (very future) children NOW?

Batman and Spiderman!

Ruffle-Trim Jersey Fleece Coat and Polka Dot Bubble Dress

Is this not the reason little girls are made for?  I mean... this is SO CUTE.  It's totally an outfit I can see our little flower girl wearing!  Her mother She's so trendy.  ;]

Striped Sweater Vest, Jersey-Lined Plaid Pants, and Slip-On Sneakers

O.M.Goshers.  Cutest little nerd baby ever.  :-D  Please enlarge so you can see the darling red lines on the pants!



Maybe our nephew needs new clothes...  :-P

          

PSSA: Public service shopping announcements

Classic Chucks in Charcoal: I think I really like these.  My last pair of chucks were navy blue and in third grade or something.  :-P  My dad made fun of me because he said he used to own a pair when he was young, and why are they so trendy now.   

(Source)

 

Hello my name is...  Just thought these were cute and unique.  Not sure I'd actually wear them.

(Source)

Plaid Chucks: These are super cute!  And they are currently on sale for $33 on Converse.com (before the extra 10% off!)

(Source)

PSSA:  Get an extra 10% off with no minimum required via coupon code "THANKS10" + Free Shipping (site wide) at Converse.com.  Code expires Oct 31.

(Source)

I can't decide which one is the cutest!  I can't quite decide if I'm bold enough to do red-orange, so I'd probably be boring and safe, and do grey.  :oP  And there's this plaid one that I like that I've mentioned before.  However, I was JUST gifted an early birthday of a lovely short pea-coat so... I may have to pass on this deal.  Maybe. 

PSSA: 50% off any one piece of Outerwear.  Click here for pdf printable coupon.  Valid Oct 26-28, 2010.

     

Cute things

Ducky is ready to assist with sniffly noses!

Starbucks Birthday Cake Mini Doughnut. 

{It was paired with a Toffee Mocha.  MmmMmm.}

Ducky and his buddy, LiL Dief. 

 (Doesn't it look like a Sears portrait?)

    

Fall leaf

Good morning. 

It's 43° right now.  And I don't know what to wear!

      

Cheesy Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Quesadillas

Last night we had Bible study so we had to have a quick dinner since Tim only gets about 30 mins at home before Bible study starts!  (Good thing it's just down the street.)  So I decided to try the Cheesy Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Quesadillas by Kevin {&} Amanda (from now on referred to as K&A).

This second picture gets me... right in the stomach.  Mmmm crispy bacon. 

(Source)

You'll need:
4 medium-sized flour tortilla shells
1 lb chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
salt and pepper
1/2 cup scallions, diced
8 strips of bacon, cooked & crumbled
1 avocado, diced
mild cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tbsp butter

My pictures [and cooking skills] are less impressive but here goes!

First ya BAKE the bacon!  (Big fan!)  It was a lot less messy than frying it up in a frying pan.  K&A also recommended putting the bacon on a cooling/cookie rack but then I wasn't sure if ours were oven-suitable.  So I just put them on the pan, which K&A say is okay.  Then ya turn the oven to 400° and stick 'em in one side for 15 mins, flip, and 15 mins on the other side.

Chopped scallions.  "CHOOUN"

BEST. AVACADO.  I've ever worked with.  Soft, but not mushy.  I cubed them on the skin (like how Chinese people [and/or others] cut a mango) and they just fell right off.  Wonderful.

Take some bacon grease and sautee the scallions.  I only used a little bacon grease.  Plus some EVOO since "stick"-pans are impossible.  :-P

Throw the chicken in and toss on the salt and pepper.

Then remove the chicken and clean/wipe your pan.  Put on some oil (K&A say to add butter) and throw on a tortilla.  After a few seconds, throw in the goodies -- chicken, bacon, avacado, and cheddar cheese.  The husband came home right after I finished the chicken so he took on the task of assembling them.  He decided to go with placing a whole tortilla on top of what you see below, instead of folding it over.

Mmmmm.  Bubble bubble cheese cheese.

 

Sorry, the final product pictures aren't very pretty... or look as appetizing or "plump" as the orginal recipe pictures but it was overall a pretty tasty mix of ingredients.  Though... minus the bacon bits, it was a bit bland/not salty enough, so I think adding some hot sauce or sour cream or whatever suits your taste would help!

You can find the orginal recipe and instructions by K&A HERE.

          

Trees ablazin'!

Yellow leaves in front of a yellow house!

Harvard Yard

I'm not doing a very good job with my iPhone photos.  :-P  I'll work on it.  But I've been LOVE LOVE LOVING the trees changing colors.  Especially the really firery red and orange ones.  :D  Even though it's been cold cold cold!  Like this morning was hope-you-have-some-gloves or pockets-to-shove-your-hands-in otherwise you might lose some fingers weather!  O_O

        

Fall party printables

 

(Source)

I LOVE that this is the season where my favorite color is nature's favorite color.  :-D  Hostess With the Mostess recently posted these free party printables for Operation Give Thanks, a nation-wide fundraising campaign to help Operation Shower continue their mission to throw amazing baby showers for military families to ease the burden of deployment.  I thought they were super cute and I love the color scheme of fall colors.

Here's another set by The TomKat Studio with the "Give Thanks" Fall Collection for the same cause:

(Source)

        

Tag-eroo, now I pick you!

I got tagged (though on The Adventures of Alvina & Tim) by Morgan (aka Mrs Cola) from The Handcrafted Life and I'm super tired/jet lagged o_O/getting sick/something and don't want to do laundry, so here goes!


1. Who is on your list of 5 (famous people you can be with), and is your list laminated?
Oh boy.  I wasn't entirely sure what this question meant so I read it 5 times and then had to google what "list of 5" meant!  Though I did interpret it beforehand... and my interpretation was right.  I wouldn't want to be with anyone other than my dear husband but I will say... Ryan Reynolds is nice to look at, Mario Lopez has cute dimples, Will Smith is too cool, and Brad Paisley can sing me a song anyday.  :-P  And I had to work  hard at that list so no... it's not laminated.

2. Sweet or Savory--what is your favorite type of food?
Savory!  It's sort of like if I don't eat something savory for a meal, I don't feel full!  So while I enjoy things like donuts and cakes and stuff, I prefer something hot and salty.  My favorite type of food is... Asian?  haha that's a type (that covers a wide range) right?  ;]  My favorite foods are pho and Chicken McNuggets.  :-P

3. Approx how many pairs of shoes do you have, and describe the last pair you bought.
Oh.  Not a lot.  Maybe like... 3-4 here and 5 in SF?  I like shoes but I think I have wide feet so not all shoes are kind to me!  Here I have two pairs of sneakers, black flats, black party heels, and some flip flops (which should not count as shoes).  The last pair I bought were my grey New Balance running shoes, to replace my Nike ones which were messing up my toes.  :(

4. If money is no object, what is your ultimate dream vacation?
Oooo.  Um... world trip?  haha.  I wanted to go to Tahiti for our honeymoon but it was too pricey for us!  I want to stay in one of those huts-over-water things.  Perhaps a cruise on a baller cruise line (which I've already got in mind.  haha.)  It can start there... and then swing by Australia and New Zealand and Asia too.  :]

5. Favorite new TV show this season?
Haven't started watching anything new but keeping up with Greys, Family Guy, and The Simpsons, and trying to catch up on The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother.  Our awesome public library here has like every DVD you'd want to rent (though sometimes you have to reserve and wait) so... we're not even giving our business to Redbox much anymore.

6. The new leggings fashion trend, are you for it or against it?
I'm not so strongly for it or against it.  People should wear them well.  Which  means... leggings are not pants.  You should have something else covering your butt besides the leggings.  Please.

7. What is the sweetest/nicest thing your hubby does for you?
Ummm.... probably the small things!  Like... when he doesn't put my purse on the floor cause he knows I don't like that, when he doesn't cook with cilantro cause he knows I don't like that, or opens the car door for me (which has declined since the dating years, but still occurs once in awhile!)  I can't think of anything specific right now but... there are lots of nice sweet things he does for me!  :-D

8. Have you ever had a bad haircut? What did you do to get over it?
Maybe?  Nothing horrific.  Usually either the sides aren't even or it was shorter than I asked for.  I just try to fix it myself, like trim it until it's sort of even and let it grow out!


I'm tagging...

*Kangeroos, Koalas, & Katrina*

*Rebecca's Ruminations*

*Soldiers and Civilians*

*Live Like There's No Tomorrow*

And your questions are:

1) If you could spend 6 weeks learning about something (basketweaving, audio mixing, the guitar, cooking, photography, chemistry, painting, etc.), what would it be and why?
2) What would you order for your last meal on earth?
3) If you are handed two plane tickets and 7 nights hotel, where would you go and who would you take?
4) Name 5 things on your bucket list.

5) What are the last things you do before you fall asleep?

6) What are your favorite pizza toppings?

7) What's your cell phone wall paper?

8) What are 3 things you always take with you out the door everyday (minus the keys)?

Okay, you know you want to answer them, so GO!

                

Home away from home

Going back to SF was fantabulous.  :]

(That'd be Polly Ann's Green Tea ice cream with a ladyfinger cookie)

Um, need I say more?  :-D

Oh, and there were lovely family and friends.  But... we all know these are the real reasons I went back.  HAHA.  :oP Jk jk!