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Saturday, November 10, 2012

My Hurricane Sandy Experience Through Instagram

The last time I blogged was the last time we had power, until now! Hurricane Sandy knocked out the power last Monday, and it was just restored to our home this Friday afternoon. That was a full week and a half we were out!

I can't complain though. We came through okay though it was pretty scary for awhile, and we're well equipped for power outages since we have generator (acquired during last year's October storms) and a coal stove. We were inconvenienced, but very lucky. But make no mistake this was a bad storm. We helped out neighbors when we could, and today I'm meeting friends to crochet items to donate for hard-hit Sandy survivors. If you find yourself in northwest Jersey you can join us!

The weekend before the storm, I stocked up on power outage food. Here's my awesome half vegetaria, half meat eater baked ziti.

Baked ziti masterpiece. Plus ziti map on postit!

Got some whole wheat bagels for goat cheese and avocado sandwiches.

Whole wheat bagel with goat cheese and avocado!

The A&P had a buy-one-get-one sale on Oreo cookies. I paired each Oreo with a wine. This was Monday night when the storm was in full swing. We tried to relax and watch a movie but that was short lived, trees started coming down all over.

Hurricane sandy and buy one get one at a&p has helped me become a connoisseur of Oreo and wine pairings.

I set up Lillie's (my bunny) pen in the basement and moved her downstairs because the winds were getting so strong and I was afraid of trees falling on the house. We didn't sleep much that night. When we did it was on an air mattress in the kitchen! And we did lose about six or so trees including one that, by nothing short of a miracle fell, across our driveway and not towards the house, and didn't even hit our cars.

Here's Lillie's hurricane bunker in the basement. She's in the box. I was a wreck.

Bunny hurricane bunker in the basement

Odie could care less, though I kept his leash on him all night in case we had to run for it. Here's what the worst of it looked like in the morning. I'm sad so many big, old trees came down. But look, my little garden survived, and we were okay.

Giant, old trees :o(

We have an electric stove that the generator powers but we have to be careful not to over load it. So for meals it was just easier to go out. A lot. This is our favorite dessert at a local Thai place. Snowy lave souffle! Literally gone in 6 seconds.

Power still out. Went out for Thai. Destroyed this snowy lava soufflé in 6 seconds.

I made a lot of salads the past week since I couldn't cook. I bought my first pomegranate and sprinkled the seeds over salads, so good! Don't be afraid of pomegranates, here's a video on how to de-seed them, and they're in season right now!


My first pomegranate.

We had our first snow of the season this week too from another noreaster storm. The effects of this one were pretty mild for us, but some got a foot of snow!

First snow.

And here was Thursday night. Power was still out. Those are our electric pillar candles keeping it cozy.

Still out.

Hope you all fared okay in the storms and are restored and warm again by now!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Halloweekend Deliciousness: Fall Baking Recipes

Whoa... I haven't posted since August 24? So sad. I actually wouldn't mind jumping back to August 24 and repeating the last month and half or so for the most part.

September was busy but wonderful. I got married! And my wedding was so much fun, then Dave and I went on our honeymoon in Hawaii for a week and a half and I never wanted to come home.

It was hard coming back to work, but it has to be done. October has been pretty busy too. And now it's Halloween weekend, and we're hunkered down awaiting the arrival of hurricane Sandy!

Since it's Halloweekend, I'm very appropriately reviving my old baking blog, and linking to some of my favorite fall recipes. Enjoy!

Mini Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
This may be one of my favorite cupcakes I've ever made. EVER. And I've made a lot of cupcakes.

Mini pumpkin spice latte cupcake

Easy Pumpkin Danish
Really stupid-easy. Whip up filling, puff pastry, bake for amazingness.

Pumpkin danish

Classic Pumpkin Pie
Don't be scared of pie! It's so simple and everyone will love you! This recipe is from a book from the 1960s that belonged to my grandma called Pies Husbands Like Best. Don't hold that against them, make it anyway!

Pumpkin pie with fall leaf crust

Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Salted Caramel Glaze
I think this is my favorite angel food cake. And you can't go wrong with salted caramel.

Pumpkin angelfood cake with salted caramel glaze

Brown Sugar Maple Glazed Baked Mini Donuts
I don't regret purchasing my mini donut pan. Baked donuts are a lot of fun. I made these for a brunch and every time someone walked by they grabbed one.

Maple glaze on donut

Pumpkin Brownie Bites
Pumpkin cheesecake meets brownie. So cute.

Pumpkin brownie bites

Classic Apple Pie
We always pick way too many apples.

Apple pie awesomeness

Pumpkin Cinnamon French Macarons
These were my first French macarons ever. And I had a stroke of beginners luck with them. Maybe you will too.

my first french macarons!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday Fancy-ness

Why are the weeks going so fast? I barely have time to browse for fancy things to share! Here's the best I came up with.

I am in love with the back of this gown.


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

A Slow Week

Two things to help.

Unbaby.me from Chrome for Facebook. Just saying.

And kitten crash!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Friday Fancy-ness


Happy Friday!

Tonight I'm making s'mores with vegan marshmallows.

And tomorrow I'm going over a friends house to crochet blankets to donate to animal shelters to keep critters cozy! Here's a picture of the square I made last time I participated in a stitch for charity event. Blankets made from this event were donated to the local hospital.

Purple and mustard square for knit in public day!


Here's some other pretty things.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Fairgrounds

Last weekend Dave and I visited the Sussex County Fair. Here's some of my favorite pictures!

Ferris wheel. Sussex county fair

Friday, August 10, 2012

Friday Fancy-ness

So a week after my commitment to blog more I'm already dropping the ball. Oh well. If this is supposed to be a lifestyle blog, and this is my lifestyle, I guess it is what it is!

Here's some Friday inspiration for you!

Beautiful photograph


From leafstory on Etsy