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Wedding outfit part deux.

That, obviously, is not me.  As evident by the tight jawline. 

I actually like this better than the kimono which, in retrospect, was a bit more bohemian than I usually wear.  This dress is very comfortable, flattering and has enough bling to appease me.

I MacGyvered the earrings too.  Which were a whopping $5.80 at Forever 21.  I took off the top part and attached the earring wire to the larger quadrefoil.  Makes them less heavy and they don't brush my shoulders. 

Okay – glad we got that sorted out.  

I may continue the post a day thing if only to get out of having to come up with catchy, clever blog post titles…..

Isn't it delicious that it is September 1st?  I love Fall.  Even though we are still expected to get 100+ temperatures this week the promise of Fall is definitely in the air.  Cooler nights and that lovely cool breeze in the morning.

AND!  We can start talking about Halloween!  I almost squealed out loud when I saw Martha's annual Halloween publication on the new-stand this week.  This year's edition is a little different.  It's more book like than magazine like in previous years.  

I haven't even cracked it open yet because I'm waiting until I can have a couple of uninterrupted hours to savor it.

I'm in the planning stages of the annual Halloween Party invitation.  I feel like I need to top myself year after year.  

Earlier this year I was in my local stamp shop and they had an example of a card that I am going to use as the inspiration for our invitations.  I asked the owner of the shop if I could take a picture of it and she told me to take all the pictures I wanted and to trace the shape of the card so I would have a template of it. 

Not sure of all the design elements of it yet but I liked the general idea. 

 

I did it!  I blogged every single day during the month of August!

Let's see – how did I spend the month….

Was given a haunted nightgown, had a luau, ate garden fresh vegetables grown by my very own son, wondered about the previous wearer of a vintage apron, was on the receiving end of a lovely, unexpected gift, dreamt about my dream garden, had a furry houseguest, was duped, ate glamorous cupcakes, made not so glamorous cupcakes, went through a white phase, got scared by scorpions, joined Weight Watchers, fiddled with pictures, almost was haunted by shortbread, wrapped presents….

And a bunch of other stuff.  Was it entertaining?  Dull?  Self-indulgent?  I don't know that I could sustain a post a day but I think I can handle posting more often if I don't sweat each post being Pulitzer material.  

September is going to be an interesting month.  We have a wedding, I have a week off, we need to start thinking about the Halloween party, Fall and Apple Hill season are fast approaching.  I think there will be enough to blog about. 

Someone's wedding present. 

I have a love/hate relationship with wrapping presents.  I love the creative aspect of it but I hate tape.  Plus I never know the exact moment I need to put down the bedazzler and just let it be.

Can you tell it's going to be a beach wedding? 

I think the perfect end to the Summer is to have a major shindig.  Nothing is more major than a wedding.  My niece Lizz and her fiance Joe are getting married in less than two weeks. 

Times like this the entire family has to band together in order to make it happen.  Tonight, in fact, I was called into service test-tasting various champagnes for the reception.  You have no idea the pressure and stress that puts on a person.  I might need another glass just to to make sure…

 

Finally.  A cool enough day to bake.  Last Tuesday when I was driving down the road to our house my car temp was reading 109 degrees.   This morning it is cool, breezy and only 62 degrees.  

That's more like it.

My coworker and neighbor (and friend) Keith (I made him sound like three people there, didn't I?) gave me his Grandpa Harrower's 1881 Scotch Shortbread recipe.  There is a secret ingredient that I can't tell you because it's not my recipe to share.  But let me tell you they turned out great.

I also tweaked the recipe – even after Keith warned me he didn't want any middle of the night visits from his dead relatives for daring to toy with a family legacy.  He was afraid of a midnight apparition of a large, disgruntled Scot wearing a kilt at his bedside.

I just added a little bit of candied ginger to the dough and then dusted them with fine sugar.  I think Grandpa Harrower would approve. 

I think the bars turned out the best.  They are easier to do and they dunk better.