Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Anything with pumpkin is outstanding......and these muffins are one of my fall favorite treats - enjoy and let me know how yours turned out!


3 1/3 cups of flour
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 T. pumpkin pie spice
2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup of butter (I actually use a bit less then that)
2 cups of canned pumpkin
1 1/2 cups of milk chocolate chips

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Thoroughly mix together: flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda & baking powder

In a smaller bowl, mix the eggs, butter and pumpkin. Blend well and stir in the chocolate chips.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients and fold in with a spatula until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon into greased muffin tins & bake for approximately 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

My Favorite Things......

Fall always brings out the comfortable and the familiar along with the new and exciting. I remember when cardigans were considered "granny clothes". Now, cardigans are essential and should be part of every woman's wardrobe. There are cropped, open cardigans to wear with LBD's, and there are long "boyfriend" cardigans to pair with skinny jeans and boots. No matter how you wear your cardigan remember, its versatile, fun to layer and accessorize and its a must-have in every woman's wardrobe.

Add to your wardrobe, my latest nail color obsession for fall by Chanel. Its a gorgeous stone/taupe that looks incredible with all black and adds dimension to an ivory/taupe/gold outfit. This color is rich and deep and will take you into the holidays and will pair well with your office cocktail dress.....and even New Year's.

Finally...the shoes....the beautiful footwear to piece the outfit together. My latest shoe obsession is by Classiques Entier. I've worn these shoes with the perfect LBD, to the opera and to an elegant dinner. These shoes can also be worn with skinny jeans and a blazer or with a black skinny pant and a longer top, preferably one with a ruffle.

These are just some of my favorites...fall is a great time of year to piece together the old with something new and don't forget to add a splash of color...just to keep it fun!

The Yankees sweep....

I'm loving that the Yankees swept Minnesota on my birthday weekend. We are now headed to the ALCS to face either Tampa or Texas. October is certainly moving quickly....and so far, its been a wonderful month. Here are a few fun pics from the weekend. And yes, my weekend included a lot of cupcakes. Best place in Portland to get cupcakes - Saint Cupcake. Check out their website and enjoy.

Bye-Bye 30's.....

For awhile now, I've been planning how I wanted to spend the last day of my 30's. The final time I will say, "I am 39". I felt this day had to be special, meaningful....a proper goodbye to this decade. I wanted a Hermes bag...but lets face it, with a 7 year waiting list, who has that kind of time?? So, I went with the next best options. My day started with coffee at my favorite cafe with my favorite person (you know who you are!) My day ended with a wellness session: 30 minutes of meditation and 60 minutes of Pilate's followed by a 30 minute massage....followed by a cupcake. All in all, a wonderful day and a satisfying way to say goodbye to one decade and hello to the next one. I decided to stay up until midnight tonight....I wanted to be awake when I turn 40. So, with candles lit, and my fingers typing away...I have Sex and the City on the TV. With Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte on in the background, one is never alone. So, with 2 hours to go until midnight (I feel like a kid on Christmas!) and my favorite fictional friends on in the back, I bid adieu to my 30's and accueillir à 40. Age is just a number and is just a state of mind. I am open and excited to what comes next...a new phase and a new chapter is beginning. The past stays in the past and the present is what we live for...cherishing each and every moment and experience. And to quote Samantha from one of my favorite episodes, and the episode that I just watched - next time I need a pick me up or a reminder that life is good - I'll remind myself: "Hello my name is Fabulous".

Fall Fashion.....

I was born to wear black....summer...winter, it doesn't matter. Black is always the new black to me. Its classic. Its cool. Its timeless. Fall is my favorite season: the changing of the leaves, the smell of jasmine in the air, pumpkins and most importantly, fall fashion. I thank Vogue's September issue which kicks off the season and introduces us to the latest trends and colors.

When I go shopping, and something catches my eye, I always ask myself: "would Audrey wear this"? If she would, then I make the purchase....if she wouldn't, then I have to think more clearly before I buy. Recently, I bought a top that I am quite sure Audrey would not wear...but the color fascinated me and so I began to think out of the box. Does everything in my closet NEED to look like Audrey? Can I take this trendy top and give it a classic look?

Rich camels and browns are hot this fall. It reminds me of the French Countryside - where men wear tweed and women are rich in warm colors and earth tones. And then there is me....in my black. Add a twist to my closet: my recent purchase has sequins. I've never owned anything with sequins because I always found it to be flashy. However, I thank my favorite celebrity stylist, Rachel Zoe, for making me a bit more open minded and showing us that a woman can still be sophisticated with the proper sequins. Above, is a pic of the top I bought. The color is gorgeous for fall, but I still have the tags on....haven't quite committed to keeping it just yet.

I think its very common, especially for women, to reinvent themselves throughout various times in their lives. Its an expression of creativity, its fun, and for some, like me, fashion is part of our fuel - it feeds us. Fashion drives me. I get energy from styling and my creative juices just keep flowing. For me, I am on the cusp of entering a new decade...(to be discussed in a later blog, I'm sure...) So, now as I look through my closet, I'm wanting to stick to my basic color palette: black, gray, white, flesh/nude tones....and the occasional splash of avocado green. I can thank my lovely mother for my love of green. Its a classic touch to any outfit, and especially in the fall, when those warm earth tones come alive. I'm thinking about keeping the sequins top, especially since its this gorgeous copper/cement gray color. The sleeveless neckline has a worn, vintage look which gives it an edge, but the high neckline still keeps it cool and classic. Maybe I will pair it with a cropped ivory blazer, skinny jeans and high heels....very trendy but still classic in a way that won't make me feel too over the top. This is what I love about fashion....there are so many options, and if you are like me and prefer to stick to classic styles, just adding one top can change a simple outfit by adding a splash of flair, but still keeping it basic. What will you wear this weekend? What is your favorite fashion item? Is it the LBD, or something more trendy? Whatever it is, enjoy it - love it- wear it - and make it an expression of you and an extension of your personality. Fashion is personal and unique and makes each of us a little different. But in the end...just enjoy fashion and the many options it provides us.