Sea of Pink

Thank you all for your fabulous insights into the world that is the Fall TV lineup. I am now hooked on several new shows, thanks to you. I am pretty sure I should be a spokesperson for Hulu.

So this past Sunday I walked in the Susan G. Komen 5K in downtown Denver. I have never been a part of something this big. And let me tell you, it was amazing.

I have two friends who have won the battle with breast cancer this year and it was a privilege to walk beside them. Other than getting up at o'dark hundred, the day was beautiful and the people were fantastic.

If you ever get the chance to walk or run in one of these events, I would highly recommend it. Your faith in humanity increases exponentially.

I am so proud of you Tami and Tara (the two in the pink shirts). You are my heroes!

Top Ten: Fall TV Shows

Holy cow, people. I cannot keep up with Hulu. After what seemed like an eternity without television (which is mostly due to the fact that my TV still has rabbit ears), I am now overwhelmed with all the new and returning shows this fall. There are LITERALLY not enough hours in the day to watch them all!

So, here are my top ten this week.  Feel free to chime in, I would love to hear your faves!

1. Modern Family. Phil Dunphy. Enough said.

2. Parenthood. This is one of the most brilliant shows on TV right now. The characters seem so real and the storyline is fun and interesting. And the acting is right on.

3. Parks and Recreation. Oh my word, this show makes me laugh. It is such a fun, quirky cast of characters. It's like 22 minutes of pure entertainment. It really should get more attention.

4. Free Agents. This is a new one that just came out and even though they have only aired three episodes, I am really loving the chemistry between the two main characters. They are fun and witty and refreshing. I would recommend watching it if you get the chance.

5. Castle. I love this show so much. It is fun and sassy and creative and he is just darn charming. Did you know that you can actually purchase Rick Castle books on iBooks? I KNOW!

6. Pan Am. I watched the pilot episode on Sunday and thought that it has some big potential. Hopefully they won't mess it up with crazy plot lines and cliche characters. But so far, I'm staying hopeful!

7. The Middle. This is another show that flies under the radar but it seriously funny! I just love how real they keep things, like duct taping the dishwasher shut when they want to run it. Their kids are so very, very weird but the dynamics of the family just work.

8. The Office. I have tentatively listed this one because although I have been an avid fan for many years, I am skeptical of how well this show is going to work without Michael Scott. With that being said, I am still loving our favorite office misfits, even Dwight.

9. Up All Night. What do you get when you combine Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph? Total awesomeness. It is just enough weird and different to be funny. Let's hope they keep it up!

10. College Football. This year is going to be amazing. Boomer Sooner, peeps!

Webcam for Seniors

You must watch this.



A couple things:

1. I love his monkey face.
2. I love his song, especially since he doesn't know the words.
3. I love her persistence and her gum. I want some gum now.
4. I love that he loves her hair...and other things.
5. I love that he thinks she is amazing at everything she does.

Don't you just want to hug them?

FC Flasback: Becky and the Girl in the Gigantic Blue Dress

I found these pictures today. I love them so much, probably because I love my cousin Becky so much. And the dress. I adored the dress. I actually wish I still had it, you know, for my own girls someday. Not that I would want to try to squeeze into it or anything. That would just be weird.

I hope your Tuesday is this happy.

The Hunt for the Perfect Dress

Hi Friends. It's Monday. How did that happen? Wasn't it just Friday? I don't understand. Anyway, I hope your weekend was wonderful in every possible way. Mine was. It was fantastic and filled with people I love. Does it get any better? I think not.

So, for the past two weekends, Claire, mom and I have gone dress shopping.  You know, shopping for the dress. The dress that puts all other dresses to shame. The dress that can define a moment and capture a lifetime. Or maybe it is define a lifetime and capture a moment. I don't know. Regardless, we are on the hunt for such a dress and as the MOH, my fluffing and pinning and straightening and cinching and oohing and ahhing duties are kicking into high gear.

Claire has been super. Truly. No diva moments or tantrums in the dressing room, which is a good thing because there is room for only one drama queen in this family and everyone knows that that's me. Obviously. No, Claire has been cool and calm and having a blast trying on all the dresses. She looks so incredibly stunning in them. In some ways it still seems surreal to me, my baby sister getting married. And yes, sometimes I even say things like "weren't you just 12 yesterday?" and "who do you think you are? Only grown ups get married."

Sometimes those things don't go over too well but it's okay, she has a very sparkly ring to comfort her.

Now I have been wedding dress shopping with many of my friends. It is so fun but it is also completely exhausting, especially for the dress-tryer-oner. (Is "oner" a word? I don't know.) There was a point yesterday when Claire was so tired I am sure she could have just sat down in that itty bitty dressing room full of tulle and other fluffy stuff and just fallen asleep. I don't blame her, it is nearly impossible to try on these dresses quickly and after five, you are ready to just buy the next dress you see.

Which thankfully she didn't because it was some heinous gauzy number that did nothing for her. NOTHING, I tell you.

So I have decided that an emergency supply kit is necessary on these trips. Things such as trail mix and water and gum and peppermints and a Red Bull, plus a picture of the fiancé, are all needed to keep the motivation alive. And as the MOH, I will come prepared next time. The last thing we need on this pilgrimage to the altar is an unmotivated bride. I can do a lot of things but trying to get an apathetic sister into a dress that weighs more than she does is above my pay grade. Next time, we are going to do a shot of espresso, followed by a quick lap around the parking lot and Rocky theme music playing on the iPod. We have to face this head on if we are going to come out victorious.

Thankfully, Claire made it through yesterday's shopping beautifully, and although she found two that she loved, the hunt is back on to find the perfect dress. And if you have any tips out there for the bride or the older sister during this process, I would love to hear them. Wedding dress shopping is not for the faint of heart...or those with low blood sugar.

Recipe Round-Up: Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

So, what are you up to tonight? Watching TV? Chasing children? Arguing with your treadmill?

Whatever it is, you should probably make these cupcakes. They make the world a better place. I promise. They are the incarnation of everything we love about fall: pumpkin, maple, cinnamon, nutmeg and love. Lots of love.

And who doesn't need more love, right?

Start with the good stuff: sugar and butter.

Mix them up until they look like that.

Add two eggs and mix again.

Next up: pumpkin. Canned pumpkin works perfectly!

And mix again.

Don't you love that color?

Next up: flour, salt...

baking powder and baking soda...

cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg.

Spices of heaven, that's what they are.

Alternate the flour mixture...

...with milk and mix until fluffy.

Grab a spoon or an ice cream scoop and fill up your cupcake pan.

Ice cream scoops help make each cupcake the same size.  Genius, I know.

Now, while they are baking, whip up your maple cream cheese frosting. I would have taken pictures of this process but the sun went down and I lost my lighting. Stinking hands of time. But all you do is add cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and maple extract and you are good to go!

Once your cupcakes are baked and cooled, pile on the icing! I sprinkled just a hint of cinnamon on mine.

Oh man.

OH. MAN.

Welcome to Fall, everyone!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sift before measuring

1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten until frothy
1 cup mashed cooked or canned pumpkin
3/4 cup milk

Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves into a bowl. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs. Blend in mashed pumpkin. Stir in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, blending until batter is smooth after each addition. Spoon batter into well-greased and floured or paper-lined muffin pan cups. Fill about 2/3 full. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Makes about 24 cupcakes.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1 - 1 1/2 lbs powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of maple extract (or 1/4 cup pure maple syrup)
pinch of salt (optional)

Cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar and mix slowly. Add maple extract and mix. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes. Inhale.

A Walk for Natalie

This past weekend, in the midst of chocolate tasting and football watching and dress shopping (sounds brutal, right?), I hung out with my fabulous college friend Mandy. (Word up, Mandy!) She and I don't get together too often, but when we do it is awesome because we both have an undying devotion to peanut butter and chocolate. And cream cheese frosting.

But this weekend our time was even more special because it was in honor of a sweet girl named Natalie.

Mandy and Natalie's mom are in MOPS together and at the end of July, Natalie was diagnosed with brain cancer. I have followed her story through twitter and Caringbridge and have laughed and cried right along with them. She is the sweetest little girl and it has been amazing to watch her parents (and Natalie's twin brother) walk this journey together. Their faith is inspiring.

This past Saturday some of the other MOPS moms held a fundraising walk for Natalie and Mandy invited me to join them!

A lot of people came out to walk for Natalie. It was really quite special.

This is Mandy's crew: James, Katie and Shawn. I love those three!

Natalie's mom, Sarah, is the one on the left.

Here is sweet Natalie walking with Sarah. Her twin brother Evan is being carried in front of them.

Natalie loved her walk!

There were prayer markers all along the path. Natalie is currently recovering from two brain surgeries and is now in the middle of radiation.

Even though I don't know Natalie and her family, it has been such a privilege praying for them!

Here is Katie Jane eating a cupcake. She is a girl after my own heart.

Sweet Katie.

And here is Katie's little brother Shawn. Umm...yes. I could eat him.

Is that wrong?

And here is Mandy, a.k.a. Super Mom.

Mandy's sister Steph helped organize the entire event. Nicely done.

And here are Natalie and her brother Evan. Seriously, such sweet kiddos. I had such a blast being a part of this event. And from what I heard that morning, already $4,000 had been raised to help with medical expenses. That is amazing!

And then afterward, I went to Mandy's house where I ate peanut butter pie. It changed my life.

The End.