Fall: A Walk, A Leaf & Caramel Apples

Dan and I took Holly and Daisy for a evening walk.

and we found some great Fall leaves!

 When we got back we made caramel apples with white chocolate and cinnamon sugar.

Chocolate Kiss Pretzel Sandwiches

So I've been trying to think of desserts that are fun and simple for Donovan this week. This one is so great! Danny, Donovan and I made chocolate pretzel sandwiches! They are so easy to make and extremely tasty!
Here’s what you’ll need.

- One bag of “bracket/window shaped” butter pretzels

- One bag of white and  milk chocolate swirled Hershey Kisses (a.k.a. Hugs)

- Place a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet and lay out your pretzels.

- Place one chocolate on each pretzel.

-Place in the oven for 5 min at 250 degrees or until the kisses are melted (but still hold their shape). * Tip: be careful not to spill the pretzles when moving the sheet into the oven -- they slide around!

-Take the melted kisses out of the oven and place another pretzel on top of each kiss.

-Place the finished sandwiches in the freezer for 20 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.

So GOOD!

Thomas Doyle: Miniature Worlds

Thomas Doyle is the master of miniature worlds. His work is magnificently detailed and emotionally intriguing. This art breaks my heart. It makes me hold my breath just thinking about these poor little miniature people. Any art that can provoke such a reaction is A+ in my book. This guy is a genius. I would love to know what you think of it.

A note from the artist:

Hovering above the glass, the viewer approaches these worlds as an all-seeing eye, looking down upon landscapes that dwarf and threaten the figures within.

Conversely, the private intensity of moments rendered in such a small scale draws the viewer in, allowing for the intimacy one might feel peering into a museum display case or dollhouse. Though surrounded by chaos, hazard, and longing, the figures’ faces betray little emotion, inviting viewers to lose themselves in these crucibles.

The glass itself contains and compresses the world within it, seeming to suspend time itself—with all its accompanying anguish, fear, and bliss. By sealing the works in this fashion, I hope to distill the debris of human experience down to single, fragile moments.

Upcoming work on view: Thomas Doyle's solo exhibition Surface to air opens November 12th at LeBasse Projects gallery in Culver City, California.

Pictures:Thomas Doyle

Perfect Workout

Shanny has volunteered herself to be my Bridal Boot Camp Sergeant for the remainder of this year. I want to feel my best and look my best for the BIG DAY!

We've discovered an awesome workout...P.S. You'll feel like shiza during the run, but light as a feather and energized to the max when you finish.

Here it is:

1 hour run (the key is - no stopping allowed! Jog very slowly or speed walk if you need a break)
When you get home:
50 crunches
25 leg lifts
50 bicycles
25 squats
15 sumo squats
50 calf raises
50 arm circles (with 5 lbs weights)
15 push-ups
50 Jumping Jacks
1 minute plank

Good Luck!

Picture: 1

Berkeley Dog

Dan and I have been watching the Yule kids for the past week (and next) while their parents are in Europe. We are having so much fun! We took Donovan and Austin to Sky High (a warehouse full of trampolines) earlier this week and yesterday we took Katie, Aiden and Austin to Berkeley Dog. Dan and I have wanted to try this place for awhile now. We discovered it during one of my lunch breaks when I was at UCI.

They have a HUGE selection of tasty dogs and gourmet mustard's, sauerkraut and other yummy things like fries and chicken wings. They also have an AMAZING futuristic Coke machine -- a touch screen with over 100 different flavor combinations. I got a vanilla Sprite! So good!

This place is too much fun!

Here's a few things on their fabulous menu.

Hot Dogs and Sausages

Frankfurter

Bockwurst

Veal

Kielbasa

Calabrese - secret recipe from a 60 year old butcher shop in San Francisco

Kobe Beef
Louisiana Hot Links

Mighty Hot Juicy Habanero Beef and Pork
Pepper Lemon Chicken

Smoked Chicken Apple

German Frankfurter with Garlic

Pastrami Dog

Bacon HashBrown Dog

Toppings

Grilled onions

Grilled bell peppers

All beef chili topping
Shredded cheese

Sides

Fries

Sweet potato fries

Funnel fries
Famed La Indiana Tamales from Los Angeles! Spicy pork, chicken vegetable and the very spicy chili and cheese

and...for the more adventurous

Danny and Aiden

Very cool Coke machine! Over 100 different flavors!

 Cherry, Orange, Vanilla, Strawberry, Raspberry, Grape and Peach Sprite! What!?

Aiden!

Sweet Maui Onion Mustard, Coney Island Mustard, Pineapple Mustard, Louisiana Creole Mustard, Russian, Stone Ground and Classic American Mustard's! Nice!

Man About Town Starring Kilian Martin

Wow...

ModCloth Monday

Some adorable digs that are currently at ModCloth. I'll take them all!