What's Cookin, Good Lookin?

Spending some quality time in the kitchen today....

For the last week we have been in search of

the perfect color of paint to paint our kitchen...

TWELVE samples later, we still haven't found the right one.

So today, I am giving up on paint for a while,

and making some home-made Pumpkin Bars.

(courtesy of Paula Deen)

I wish your computer was a scratch n' sniff,

so you could smell what I am smelling right now!

Hello Fall! We welcome you.

Ingredients

Bars:

• 4 eggs
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 15-ounce can pumpkin
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Icing:

• 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting. Cut into bars.

To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Wanted.

I am dying over clogs right now! I love that they are back in style this fall. Have you worn a good clog before? They are SOOO comfy. I think they are so amazing. So, I am now on the hunt for the perfect clog!!

Above:

Diane von Furstenberg 'Falcon' Platform Clog $325.00

... if only, if only...

I am currently searching for a more affordable pair.

Ombre.

Everywhere you turn in the media, you can find celebrities with this hot new hair trend. Ombre is what we call it in the hair world. It is a look that is more "user-friendly" because you don't have to worry so much about re-growth. It's great for low-maintence people who don't want to visit the salon every 6 weeks.

I did this look on my client (and friend) on Monday afternoon. It turned out so gorgeous on her! It is such a fun way to add dimension and color without the traditional "weave."

Here are my girls, LC and Whitney, rocking this new trend, blonde style. They, of course, look amazing.

Or you could do it Lady Gaga Style...

or NOT!! ha ha....

I DIE. {In the words of R.Z.}

Okay, so I get Rachel Zoe's e-mails, "The Zoe Report." The latest one was about these UH-MAZING shoes by Calvin Klein. She talks about still wearing white after Labor Day... a do or a don't?? Well, obviously with these shoes it's a do.

But I wonder how many people would ACTUALLY wear shoes like this out on the town? How many of us are brave enough to try sky-high platforms??I would like to say I would wear these with the right outfit... but it's easier said then done. So my question for you is, would you dare??

p.s. sorry i've been missing for a while. do you ever feel like you are just barely surviving each week? holding on for dear life? that's how I have felt lately. so naturally, the blog gets a nice warm seat on the back burner. but I THINK I am coming back.

...slowly, but surely...