Friday Fill-Ins

1. Sweet dreams of pumpkin pies will fill your head when you give one of these a go! Pumpkin pie potpourri...



To be honest, some of my Martha experiments have gone less-than-perfectly in the past. Either that woman has the Midas-touch when it comes to anything crafty and can turn any potentially disasterous project into gold, or she doesn't have a very good test team and the rest of us aren't as domestically-inept as she would have us believe. So, I was a little skeptical about this idea. But, it actually works WONDERFULLY, and I'm enjoying the scent of fresh-baked pumpkin pie as I type this. These little pumpkins are $1 at Wal-Mart, and it took about 15 minutes to make one. Nearly effortless, and smells just as good (if not better than) any $20 candle I've bought in the past.

2. Something made especially for me...



by my Sweet & Sinister swap partner, Kari Ramstrom. She really spoiled me for this swap! I'll have to share some more of the goodies I received with you all soon.

3. Silliness is a necessary component of any life. At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities. ~Jean Houston. I love that quote.

4. I am completely ready for this Halloween. Some of our decorations...



5. Outstanding or not, this week is finally over! It's been a real doozey.

6. Peace and quiet is what I want right now! That concept has been lost on my co-habitants for days on end... both with the human, and furry variety of squatters.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing with a stack of books received in my most recent Amazon order. Some of the titles include...



I'm already about halfway through this book, and it is wonderful! Some of you might already be familiar with the author through her delicious little blog, Orangette. This is more than just a cookbook... it's a reflection on life through the memories associated with some of her favorite foods and recipes. It's lovely... a must-read.



I have yet to only flip through this book, but the food photography is AMAZING. I'm sure you all know that the styling of food in photographs can make or break your decision to actually put something in your mouth. We've all seen the less-than-appetizing photos on some menus... lots of Chinese and Mexican restaurants come to mind. But, the pictures in this book make you want to break out your collection of pots and pans, and attempt to cook EVERYTHING. The book is extremely visual, and interstingly divided into chapters based on the colors of the food. For instance, the "pink" chapter contains recipes for everything from Pomegranate Sorbet to Beet Gnocchi. Bon Appetit!

Anyhow, tomorrow my plans include a babysitter, and ladies-night-out!

And Sunday, I want to make jars upon jars of yummy applicious treats with the apples we collected last weekend!

Enjoy your weekend!