Happy Halloween!

Hope your weekend is full of tricks and treats!

{via vi.sualize}

Thank you note

Dear Shoe Gods,

Thank you so much for giving me a husband who may snicker but understands the importance of the perfect, comfy, sparkly pair of shoes even when they are a little bit spendy.

Many, many thanks, Sarah


PS - I will wear these all winter long.

Sugary goodness

You know me and my confessions I have a doozy for you. In an attempt to come clean the other day I sat in my car after I dropped the kids off and ate 2 doughnuts. Heaven forbid that I eat one, no not me TWO. You know the funny thing about it is I loved every bite of those two fatty, sugary treats. In fact I might even start doing that more often. It feels awfully good to eat something like that without two littles clamouring for a bite. I mean really when you see treats like these how can one resist?

{image via Mary Ruffle}

What's been going on

So things are not so hot with the SFD computer. I somehow got some malware on it and it's now out of commish until I can get it taken care of. Yuck. In other news the littles and I have big plans to make a pumpkin pie this afternoon. They've never been fans of it but maybe if they make it, they'll at least give it a try. I need them to like it because I will eat the whole thing myself. I love a cold piece of pumpkin pie with coffee in the morning. You should try it, you won't be disappointed. The weather here has finally cooled off and all of last week I made sure to dress in jeans and long sleeve shirts. It might be a little nuts for weather in the 70's but I'm so done with the hot weather. I'll just pretend it's a little cooler until it finally gets there. With the weather comes the soup, I love a good soup! I saw this Cauldron Curry on Martha and it looks yum. I bet I would be the only one to eat it though because of the curry. I live with a bunch of pickies.
I don't think that I mentioned on Thursday it was my anniversary. 10 big ones folks. Mr. SFD took me out to dinner on Friday night to a restaurant I've been dying to try called Noca. If you're in the Phoenix area you must go because it's so good. I ordered their tasting menu with the wine pairing and I'm still dreaming of my pumpkin soup served in a mini pumpkin. Dreaming of how good it was not to mention the cuteness factor was beyond. It's been ten years since I married the best guy ever. Not only am I lucky to have such a great partner in parenting he makes getting older so much easier. Hanging with him everyday makes me happy, each year is better and goes by faster. So thanks Mr. for being so cool.

Eat it :: Pumpkin

Like many of you I'm completely enamoured with pumpkins this time of year. Not just the sweet ones used for decorations but the ones that you eat! I've already made pumpkin risotto (this time I did puree the pumpkin and it was a hit) and today it was pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (This is the recipe I used but I followed the cook's notes on the first comment and substituted white whole wheat flour.)

{Not my pic but they sure look an awful lot like mine}

Next up a pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup.

Read it :: Tuesdays with Dorie

Swoon worthy local kitchen, not to mention blog.

And a very cute pooch to boot.

{via Domestic Bliss}

I love choices

How would one choose what bowl to use for cereal in the morning?

{via Martha}

Red Lip

Every Fall/Winter there is a catalyst that brings me back to the classic red lip. I don't think there's been a year since I've been 18 where I haven't worn red lipstick. This year it's the ethereal clothes at J. Mendel paired with the classic makeup.

You know if you see me today I'm sure to have a red kisser.

Michael Kors Parker Wedges

Sometimes a girl just needs a new pair of shoes and these are calling my name.

A pair of comfy wedges with zippers? Beyond.

Kiss kiss!

Hope you have a lovely weekend!!

{image via Ritzy Bee}

Read it :: Autumn Color Week

Have you seen the Autumn Color Week collages at Poppytalk? Lots of our favorite fall colors all put together with lovely images. Mmmm, Fall.

Want it :: Black Blazer

The piece that must make it's way into my Fall/Winter wardrobe is a black blazer with a very structured shoulder. I obsess about that one thing that I must have each season, this year the blazer is it. I'm going to guess that the jacket that Rachel is wearing is Balmain. Needless to say that's the one of my fantasies but not the one that will make it into my closet. I haven't really started scouring the Internet shops to find one but if you've seen one please send the info my way. I'm desperate!

What is your closet obsessing over this Fall?

{Image from Stockholm Streetstyle via The Beauty File}

Lunch dilemma

It's that time of year again, when Big is tired of everything I put in his lunches. Every week it's usually a rotation of the likes. Pita with hummus, PB & J, pasta with olive oil and herbs, every now and then a leftover and predictably it gets boring.

{Go Green Lunchbox}

Thankfully lately he's been really great about trying new things but the tricky part is getting it into his lunch. He's the kind of kid that if something is supposed to be hot and by the time lunch rolls around if it's not it doesn't get eaten. I've actually been desperate enough to practically beg him to try the hot lunch just to switch things up and it's always a big fat no. Not that I can blame him the lunches don't always look particularly appealing. So here's my question, what are feeding your kids? Come on, now is not the time to be shy.

Happy Monday

Hi friends, Monday morning has rolled around quickly. Yikes! My sister and her peeps flew in from Kansas City for a Bachelorette weekend on Friday and left yesterday. Because we did this

{My cute sister Abby wearing her party favor from Dressing on the Side}

I now need to do this and maybe take a nap later today.

Oh no!!

How could you do this to me Target?? You're normally top notch in my book.

They no longer seem to be carrying one of my favorite cleaning products. Boo!! Now I'm going to have to search for it. I like being able to just do my Target run and pick it up. Seriously folks if you have stone countertops this stuff is magical, it's green and smells really good.

Refreshing

Darlings I'm not ignoring you. When I have a lot going on I almost always get a bout of insomnia. Yes, it sucks but thankfully I know it's not chronic. I haven't been feeling myself and finally last night I broke down and took something to help me sleep. I think an easy nights rest was just what the doctor ordered because I'm feeling much better this morning already.

So check back with me later, I might even be feeling more chatty.

Orange + Black

I love fall so I'm so ready to do something with orange and black for Halloween. Do you decorate for Halloween or do you skip it all together? Since I've had kids and they get all excited about it I don't mind at all. Just nothing too scary or cheap looking. Some of the Halloween decor at the stores makes me cringe. I'm thinking something a little more subtle and spooky like one of my favorite local stores The Willows.

Ok well maybe after the weekend. I'm a busy girl this week with the party headed to AZ.

I just can't help myself

I hate to just snag pics from the latest shelter cover but I just can't get enough of the October cover story from House Beautiful. As much as I think I would love a more neutral home it's always pictures like these that have me gaga over a little red.

I especially like the art. Oh and the map wallpaper and I can't forget the threadbare Persian.

{design by Daniel Sachs via House Beautiful}

We might go camping

Are you all campers? Big is in Scouts and they are having their first camp out and it's kind of killing me to think about going. I know he will love it, the outdoors with his school pals will be his personal nirvana. But when I think about it I start to get itchy with anxiety. I'll start out with a few facts about me. 1. I don't camp. 2. Neither does my husband, so we have no camping gear. 3. It's camping!!??

So please be honest should I be scared, because I feel really scared. Planning it out, putting up a tent, bringing the kids, it's like planning a trip into space as far as I'm concerned. Maybe I should take a deep breath and visualize an unplugged, relaxing time. Help me am I getting warm?

{image via Martha}

Jackassery Confession

Do you ever do anything that kinda makes you feel like a jackass but you do it anyway? Mine is that I wear makeup to the gym. I think to myself what the hell really?! But then I find myself using concealer, mascara, gloss and a quick swipe of blush before I head out the door. I rationalize the gloss with who wants dry lips when working out. And the concealer and mascara who really leaves the house without that? It's the blush that's the kicker, I wear makeup to the gym. I'm lame.

So please confess all your silly little secrets right here, I know I can't be the only one.