Goodreads

I recently joined a website all about books. It's called Goodreads and I found it through my friend from Becoming Lola. She decided to start a book club on there called The Breakfast Club.

The first book we are reading is "A Homemade Life" by Molly Wizenberg aka Orangette.

You should all join in! It's going to be lots of fun! Also, it will be a great way to meet fellow bloggers and foodies!

quick update

I just thought I'd drop in and give you a little update. We are getting ready to move into our new apartment next week! I'm very excited because that means more baking!!! I'm soo ready to make lots and lots of pumpkin flavored things. The top two on the list are pumpkin whoopie pies and pumpkin macarons!

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My Life From Scratch

I give this book 5 stars! It was very entertaining. I bought this book not knowing anything really about it. I scanned the summary on the back and just bought it on a whim since it was about baking. Once I started reading it I realized that this book was written by Gesine BULLOCK - Prado. BULLOCK!! This book was written by Sandra Bullock's sister! I was really surprised. I love Sandra Bullock. Anyway, this book was really good. It is a story about a career change that took her from Hollywood to Vermont! She went from big shot movie producer to small town baker. The descriptions of the sweets she bakes are so vivid. I was craving every single one of them the whole time I read this book. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to bake and wants to open a bakery.

Check it out.

love.

Happy anniversary!

I just wanted to wish my amazing husband a happy 2 year wedding anniversary and a happy 6 year dating anniversary! I love you.

"You are the best thing that's ever been mine." - Swifty

Our trip in pictures

The hubs and I went to Kansas City for our 2 year anniversary. We went to see She & Him, one of my favorite bands.

Amazing 4 story Barnes & Noble in the Country Club Plaza shopping district.

The view from the 2 story Barnes & Noble in the Zona Rosa shopping center.

Yummy iced vanilla latte and pumpkin spice scone.

Mac & Cheese from Noodles & Co. We ate there every day of our trip.

The Uptown Theater in Kansas City. We sat in line for 2 1/2 hours waiting for the doors to open to see She & Him. Zooey was amazing!

If you've never heard of She & Him you sould definitely give them a listen. It is the cute 50s style indie band of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.

The trip was absolutely amazing. I love my husband he is the best.

Love.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

I kind of cheated on this week of Whipped. The ingredients to choose from were lettuce, lemon, strawberry and self-rising flour. I decided to make Strawberry Cheesecake Bars. I cheated by using a strawberry cake mix. I was going to make some sort of cheesecake bar and then while I was looking around I saw a cake mix and on the back was a recipe for cheesecake bars and you use the cake mix as the crust and the crumble on top. I decided to use a strawberry cake mix and use the lemon in the cheesecake mixture.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

adapted from Betty Crocker

1 box strawberry cake mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened (not melted)

2 packages (8 0z each) cream cheese, softened

1 container cream cheese frosting

juice from 1/2 lemon

3 eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In large bowl, beat cake mix and butter on low speed until crumbly, reserve one cup of crumbly mixture. Press remaining mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 13x9-inch pan.

In same bowl, beat cream cheese, frosting and lemon juice on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs until blended. Pour into pan over crust, sprinkle reserved crumbly mixture on top.

Bake for about 45 minutes (42 minutes for dark or nonstick pan) or until set. Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled.

To make bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows.

Store covered in refrigerator. Makes 36 bars.

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The view is from my parent's back porch. It's so lovely this time of year. The weather is getting cooler finally and it is amazing. Also, I finally got to get a pumpkin spice latte and it was heaven. Be prepared for many pumpkin recipes soon!

House update: We didn't end up buying a house, long story. We did put up a deposit on a new apartment. We will hopefully be moving into one in a month or so. We believe that everything happens for a reason so we are happy where we are headed right now. Everything will work out for us to get a house someday in the future. No matter what though, as long as my husband and I are together, wherever we are is where home is.

To quote Edward Sharpe, "Home is wherever I'm with you."

Love.