God Bless The Indian Summer

We peeps in the Southern West Coast are melting! It's officially fall but it feels like we are smack dab in the middle of a scorching summer heat wave. No bueno. While I had plans to try out some spanking new recipes for an upcoming theme party we are hosting, the thought of turning the oven on amid this indian-summer instantly generated beads of sweat down my temples. Again no bueno.

Buuuut then I spied this narly oven-free Oatmeal-Waffle cookie recipe, sure to make your mouth water, over at smiles from mel. All you need are your run of the mill baking staples and a waffle iron (and we own two!)

[Aside from the mini chocolate chips, we were fully stocked in our pantry]

Sure it may look like a poor man's cookie dough...trust me...its a-ok.

We had trouble deciding on a primo iron temperature and after a few jabs, we got it down to the perfect toasty setting...

...and Chris could not keep his sticky fingers away from them.

We personally thought they tasted BEST after a few hours in the fridge. Around this house, if the request for a couple of cold ones springs up, don't be surprised if I bring over a tray of waffle cookies.

I'm just saying.

[Pardon the low quality pictures....the itouch wasn't at its best in the heat either]

Face Furniture

I'm a sucker for a good hearty (clean-neck) beard on a man. Nothing against a spotless face, but there is something about a follicle face party that makes me weak in the knees.

For the past few years now, Chris has been quite the beardie (and a good one for that matter). I'd say 80% of the time he is fashioning a face warmer...which is why I could not wait to give him an early birthday gift.*

[The history of beards? Oh yes, yes; a million times yes!!]

Despite the fact that Chris hates to read anything, save for car magazines, I figured the book would make a swell nighttime reader for us. Dog-ear pages never looked so hott.

*It was between the book or a carstache. Tough decision but I think I made the right one. 

Kenny Rogers Roadsters

After a long and rested three day weekend, what better way to enjoy the last day of summer than a little topless driving.

As in convertible topless.

I'm officially ready for the fall solstice...particularly my fall boots.

You Are Cord-ially Invited

Half way through the summer, I started saving (some people called it hoarding) the cute 'lil plastic, green berry baskets often found at your local farmers market.

It got me thinking how dishy these day-to-day caddies would look dressed in an all white affair....

...and sitting in one of our desk drawers as little organizers.

[It's like a P. Diddy party in there!]

With the help of some leftover wire stems, my new containers are belted and ready for a wild cord ride.  Giddy up.

Food For Thought

I'm dabbling with the idea of throwing a halloween party this year. And if we do, I am definitely investing in some of these guys:

[via]

Cupcakes just got a little brainier.

Amber Alert

What are the chances I would find the exact pair of vintage* amber glass bowls, like the set I inherited, at my local thrift store?!

My pair were originally owned by Chris' grandparents...although I'm not sure how long they had them for, I fell in l-o-v-e love with the twosome instantly! 

And while I was trotting along the isles of the local thrift store last night, I perused the dishware section (hoping to score some vintage pyrex bowls) and hiding behind towers of appetizer plates, I found the darling honeybees.

Best $2.99 I've spent thus far...except for Mcdonald's chocolate dipped ice cream cone which Chris claims is the best $1.10 deal of the summer.

What were your thrifty finds of the summer?

*I'm not sure if the serving bowls are really vintage per se but any additional history or info on the item are welcomed! :)

Touched For the Very First Time

Christmas came a little early at the homestead this year.

Steve Jobs worked his apple-licious words into my fruit-less heart last week and prompted us to order a duo of the freshest ipod touch. Now that I have gobs of music space to fill (and gift cards to exhaust) what should I download (or is it upload?) to the newest addition of our apple family? What album(s) are you spinning on repeat these days?

The Cure For The Common Bike

I sit on my bum all day at work and the last thing I want to do is sit some more. Solution?

[via reform school]

For one reason or another, I see the cholo demographic making the leap first. 

Get outta my way, vato.

Damn Avocado

Its official; craigslist hates me.

I've been on the hunt for a used sofa, with a touch of razzle-dazzle, for the past few weeks and all craigslist has to offer are bulgy leather couches...and that makes me vomit a little in my mouth. But thanks to Project Runway, every time I think of the word, "leather" I turned into season 5 alum Stella Zotis and can.not.stop.saying "leatha". 

Leatha.

Why can't I just find a sofa like this for under 300 dollahs?

you+me=us...calculus!*

Not only is it almost as long as Robert Wadlow**, but I just love that damn avocado color!

Perhaps I'll get lucky tomorrow as I will brave through the Saturday morning crowds and crash some yard sales for some interesting loot. This looong weekend will also include helping my in-laws move into their newly renovated home (!!!) and squeezing in some kite flying time.

What's everyone else doing this weekend? Any travel plans or bbq-ing on the agenda?

*Remember 2ge+her?! Q.T. was my fav!
**Chris was gaga about the tallest man in the world at the tender age of 10. Teehee.

Hangin' With Mr. Cooper

File me under cuckoo bananas but I want a Chicken Crib!

how cute is this?!

From day one as an official homeowner, I declared a desire for a chicken coop in our backyard. Chris rejected the idea in a flash but I'm still for it. Not too long ago my in-laws found a homeless chicken in their backyard (and they live no where near farm life...nor do we). The chicken has since taken up dual residence in their yard along with their neighbor's yard. I guess you can say I've been living vicariously through my in-laws, er, squattin' chicken. Anyhow, last night I came across this landscape architect's neato coop design.

just a couple of hipster hens

Here's the thing, as a youngster I spent the entire summer (clap clap clap clap) deep in the heart of Mexico, with the fam. To keep my sisters and I occupied, we'd adopt a couple of baby chicks (sometimes ducklings). We'd raise the little guys, have them race against each other, hide them in the closet and scare the bejesus out of our aunts until it was time to fly back to the states. Oh the nostalgia is killing me!

How about a little game of marriage ref? Coop or no coop?