Paper Cup Poet

flourless chocolate cake

I baked you a flourless (well, 1TBS of flour) cake.  Enjoy.  Orangette's Winning Hearts and Minds Cake which I really, really wanted to add another TBS of flour to, because I didn't trust it.  But it worked and it is like a really rich, dense brownie type cake.   Don't eat more than one piece or your gut will explode and you will need a gallon of milk and then you will lay on the couch and moan.

If you bake this for a man he will probably fall in love with you.  It worked for Molly/Orangette and after one slice my husband was giving me the look. 

Happy Wednesday!
 

good book

HIghly recommend this book.  My club picked it and it has proven to be a powerful, haunting read.  The subject matter - early onset Alzheimer's Disease is not a fun subject, but it is written so beautifully by a first time author with a Ph.D who self published!  I love that the author, Lisa Genova admits to having a nice home office, but says this book was written almost entirely at Starbucks!  I get that.  You have to leave the house, especially if you have kids.

Still Alice website for more info.  Pick it up, but prepare to read into the dry-eye hours, then get scolded by your husband for staying up so late, then tell him, yes, he is right you are putting that damn book down, then wait for him to fall back asleep and then sneak into another room to keep on reading. It's that good. 

smores

Cinnamon graham crackers + giant marshmallows + leftover Halloween candy that Marc melted, then chilled into little patties + one giant bonfire in the fire pit = Smores!

and we weren't even camping, just hanging out on the back patio.

we got a last minute call from Grantie (Great Auntie) that she was coming to spend the night, so this was a super fun, easy, kid-interactive dessert.  Grantie is a big camper, so she loved it.

 they are better than they look, let me tell ya. 
 

Add a little shot of bourbon and it's darn near the perfect evening.
 

glide into the weekend

pelicans gliding over the East Cliffs in Santa Cruz.  Wishing you a peaceful, calm, cool weekend!

ikea wish list

fluffy, flokati rug.

dandelion light.

 moose peg rack.

handmade, one of a kind wall hanging.

 Sigh...might need to head out to Ikea soon. 

nests, teepees and a vampire movie

We were in Capitola over the weekend and a big storm littered the beach with driftwood.  I was so inpsired by this nest a teen was building.  He laid the pieces on top of each other checking for balance and curving them to create the circle.

He also made this teepee.  Pretty cool.  I had to fill the back of the Honda with driftwood before we left.  I am thinking a mirror needs driftwood embellishing. 

The weather was beautiful, we had a great dinner at Riva Fish House on the wharf and actually made it to a movie (The Vampire's Assistant) with friends!  This kind of stuff rarely happens in our world.  And there was candy!!

 
 

spooktacular

One monster (sans mask which made the little guy cry), one domestic queen with dishwashing gloves, a feather duster and a tiara (and a necklace that read "love to clean") Nobody got it, one blonde Snow White and one handsome prince (who refused to wear a crown) all had fun. 

The best part was watching Ryan give candy back to people and run away like he had won the lottery.

 

tricks and treats

Halloween treats were made.  The goldfish were my idea - I can be tricky. 
 

 

Another treat made by Marc, from scratch!  He has tricks up his sleeve too.  The scientific part of him enjoys the precision of baking.  

this one is very tricky some days.

 
tricky, tricky, tricky.  But also sweet.

Happy Halloween to you!

small fashion show

love this illustrated fall fashion spread via Small Magazine -especially the fedora!   I cannot wait to see what 24 preschoolers are going to don on Friday for their Halloween party.  I know one is going to be a blonde Snow White.  With a tiara of sorts.  Ah, to be 4, when every outfit requires a tiara.  I wish I was that confident.  Maybe on Friday I will wear a tiara too!

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now - Bob Dylan
 

check list

 

Clean and organize pantry.  Check.

Food for local food bank.  Check.

Hug gourds.  Check.  With painted face.  Check, check.

 
 
Make messes.  Check. 

Time to go watch Color Splash with David Bromstad!!!  Yep, that's the reward.