wedding hoopla : )

so, as you know, this past weekend was my cousin erin's wedding.  it. was. awesome.  we all had such a fun time!  erin and brian (her husband!) did a wonderful job planning and really made it a weekend to remember.  congratulations you two!  i'm so so so happy for you both.

cheers!

today my cousin (and dear friend) erin is getting married!  i am unbelievably excited : )  erin is an amazing person, and i've admired and loved hanging out with her for years (and years).  she's the (girl) cousin closest to my age, and we've been close ever since we were small.  han (my sis) and i would always look forward to visits from erin and meg (erin's sis).  when we were growing up, they lived in michigan and then moved to texas.  with han and me living in nj, our visits with erin and meg were truly the highlight of our year : )

the reception will be at the pearl s. buck house

and now erin is getting married.  it's just all so wonderful!  and what's even better is that erin and her very-soon-to-be-husband, brian, now only live a half hour away.  needless to say, we get to see them much more, which is much more to our liking. 

pearl s. buck house

so...cheers!  uncork the champagne and let the bubbles flow.  cheers to erin & brian on their happy day.  they will undoubtedly have a lifetime of happiness.  love you guys : )

pie in the sky

picture credit {here}

my little sis, hannah, has just started a blog called "pie in the sky".  it's really an awesome premise - she's encouraging people to share their wishes, words and dreams, and (if she really, really likes what you're saying) she might just send you a pie!  she is an amazing baker, and her pies are truly awesome.  she makes this crumb topping for them that's just out-of-this-world.  so if you love pies or reading about (and maybe sharing) delightful thoughts that make you smile, you should definitely swing by her blog and spread the word if you <3 it as much as i do : )

a pie in the sky is not out of reach after all....
http://www.hanniepie.blogspot.com/

i {heart} the great pumpkin

linus waiting for great pumpkin

"it's the great pumpkin, charlie brown" is on tonight at 8pm (eastern) on abc.  i just love it.  it seriously is not "halloween" without watching the great pumpkin.  i know, i know, i'm 24 and should probably not have a phone alarm set to remind me to watch tonight.  but i can't help it.  honestly, i'm (possibly) addicted to nostalgia.  i love traditions and anything that gives me that warm, fuzzy, fall/winter/holiday feeling. 

my plans for tonight?  (no, i'm not going to sit in a pumpkin patch waiting for the "great pumpkin" to arrive...)  i'm planning on:  pjs.  fire in the fireplace.  hot chocolate.  great pumpkin.  perfection.

good grief!



trick-or-treating





so, what "makes" your halloween?

my monster mash

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

check out my monster mash!  hahaha!!!  i love this.  jib-jab is such a cool company - and this halloween ecard is free.  i love free things : )  this will surely make your friends and family smile.  the players?  mad scientist is my sister, hannah.  craig is frankenstein.  i'm the bride of frankenstein (obviously...).  my cousin erin (who's getting married this weekend!) is the wolfman.  and my good friend, ashlee, is dracula.  lol

if you create one of your own and post it on your blog, be sure to send me the link!  to make a monster mash (or other halloween card) starring you and your faves click {here}.

happy (almost) halloween!

p.s. music automatically plays on my blog, so you might want to scroll to the bottom and pause it before watching the video : )

sinfully sweet tooth

reeses!  yum!

what is it about this time of year?  generally, i'm a very healthy person.  i work out 5 days a week (and enjoy it most of the time).  i eat healthy food because i like it and it makes me feel good (inside and out).  but then fall weather arrives and with it comes pumpkin muffins, halloween candy and spicy chai lattes.  and my healthy aspirations seem harder (and harder) to stick to...

i &lt;3 halloween munchkins too!

all i want to do is bake oatmeal raisin cookies, drink hot chocolate, purchase (and consume) reeses and go apple-picking (and make apple pies, crumbles and coffee cakes...and then eat them...)  i feel like i could literally subsist on sugar, spice & everything nice this time of year.

baking apple pie : )

there must be something in the air that arrives with falling leaves, early dusk and crisp breezes.  something that makes my sweet tooth come alive with ravenous force.  luckily, i can (usually) control my voraciousness just long enough to get me through to the next celebration or holiday (or weekend).


pumpkin muffins

oh, pumpkin muffins, how i love thee (and thanks to han, i have a dozen of you in the fridge : )  ok, i can't resist.  i'm going to get a pumpkin muffin now and some tea too...


what's your favorite fall indulgence?

legend of sleepy hollow

picture credit {here}

i'm sure most of you know the legend of sleepy hollow by washington irving.  the tale of school teacher, ichabod crane, and his ghostly encounter with the mysterious headless horseman.  but did you know that sleepy hollow is a real place?  and the legend may be based on real people and events?  how do i know so much about this you may ask?  well, my ancestors (the van cortlandts) lived in the very area of new york where the legend hails from.  and the story says ichabod falls in love with katrina van tassel.  van tassel...van cortlandt...coincidence?  perhaps.

legend of sleepy hollow

anyway, i've been intrigued by this haunting tale ever since i was little and with halloween less than a week away, i figured it was a fun time to share some "spooky" trivia.





the great jack o'lantern blaze at van cortlandt manor

so, do you have any haunted history to share?