Happy Halloween!

I hope your day is happy and only a little scary!

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brekkie

I've often heard cooking described as an art, but a recent endeavor of mine proves otherwise. Due to a lifelong quest to find the perfect on the go breakfast, I made egg and spinach quiche cups.

I thought they'd look like this:

But they actually turned out like this:

Although they were less than beautiful, they were pretty tasty. They're only 75 calories, and super easy to make (recipe!). I added extra cheese because, well, obviously, and also added jalapenos because I'm having a love affair with them, as well as lots of Cayenne. I think the trouble was that I didn't drain the spinach well enough and too much water overflowed. Also, the suggested 10 ounces of spinach was too much. I'd half it.

And to redeem myself from this disaster, Hannah and I made pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes, and although the pumpkins on top would certainly be abstract art, they made us proud:

the festivities begin

I can't safely say that Halloween is my favorite holiday because (1) almost every holiday is my favorite while I'm living it and (2) my birthday is my real favorite one. However, it's near the top of the list.

Two years ago I got the swine flu (for real) the morning of Halloween, and last year I was at a wedding, which means I have not celebrated Halloween in two (two!) years. It's been really hard on me.

Fortunately this year I am lucky enough to get to celebrate it a couple of times, starting this weekend. I went to my friend Phi's birthday party and was pretty much in a state of bliss all night. The costumes were seriously legit.

Almost as blatant as my obsession with Halloween is my recent obsession with Pan Am. Man oh man. I am in love with it beyond belief, so this year I decided I'd be a stewardess for Halloween. I'd say it was a success, especially because my friend Casey decided to be an airplane at the last minute. My only regret from the party is we didn't have the good sense for me to try to get into her costume. It could have been really special.

After the party, the weekend continued with lots of happiness, including Party Atlanta, the fall event for the charity I'm part of, a batch of chili in my brand new stockpot (yaay!) and a trip to the Counter.

I hope you all had wonderful weekends, too! Happy Tuesday!

zachary binx!

I nearly had a panic attack last week when I realized we were a full six days into October and I had yet to watch Hocus Pocus. Real life emergency.

Fortunately, plans were already in motion for a super autumnal celebration with some of my very favorite Atlantans. Between carving pumpkins, eating lots of Halloweenish snacks (mainly cider) and, of course, watching Hocus Pocus, my panic attack has subsided.

ta da!

candy carrrn

On my birthday Alpal not only surprised me, but also brought me my first bag of candy corn for the season. And now, I report with a happy heart and slight sugar high, it is officially gone.

I'm more than happy to offer my address if any of you want to send me more...

Happy candy corn season!

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treats no tricks

Since Sara and I both received aprons for our birthdays, we decided it was time to get domestic.  With Halloween just days away, we were feeling inspired...

It's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown

I don't claim that I'm exactly the best movie watcher. In fact, I admit that I might be one of the worst around. I don't typically have the highest level of patience for sitting still for two hours.

I've never been tempted by the idea of going to the theatres and paying for one movie but seeing two. In fact, I'm rarely tempted by the idea of going go the movies at all, let alone doing it twice (something might be wrong with me).

However, if there was a double triple feature I could get down for, it would definitely be the Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection.

Every year, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, my dad plays the Charlie Brown Christmas album in the mornings.  I love waking up to the smell of fresh coffee and the sounds of Vince Guaraldi.

Although I didn't even like cartoons when I was a little kid (seriously something is wrong with me), the memories the music conjures makes these movies easily some of the best films around.

When I saw the holiday collection on sale this week at Uncrate, I was so happy.

I can't believe Halloween is just a few days away - and before we know it the sounds of gobbling turkeys, jingle bells ringing and Vince Guaraldi singling will be filling the house again.  We better enjoy this 70 degree weather for as long as possible.

Halloween!

I'm shamefully obsessed with Halloween. To the point that I find myself saying phrases like: This is my favorite holiday! (Which is not to be believed, as I make such proclamations at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, The Fourth of July, and, most often, my birthday).

In addition, in social settings, I frequently want to one-up people.  If I say, "I love Halloween" and they say, "me too!" I immediately want to find a way to prove that I, as a matter of fact, love it more.  (Unusually competitive...?)

I am also curiously drawn to Halloween decor, which is odd because (1) I hate extra clutter and (2) I don't really love autumn that much.  However, I want to light a pumpkin candle, brew some spiced cider, and throw an autumnal runner down the dining room table.

I knew I was really in trouble yesterday when I, who can barely sit through a movie, watched Hocus Pocus not once, but twice.

With such a great love for Halloween, it's not surprising that it really bothers me when companies skip right over Halloween and Thanksgiving, and head straight to Christmas.  Why are your Santas and Rudolphs out? I've barely had time to put away my birthday decorations and get out my pumpkins, and you're telling me there is no window of opportunity for a table turkey made from apples and cranberries?

However, my principles aside, I must admit that one Christmas item has caught my eye a little early: the Jingle Bell bobby pins from Kate Spade. They're so cute, and basically guaranteed to be sold out by December.  What's a girl to go? Jingle a little early? Or stick to my Halloween guns?