Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Today, Mother Nature doesn't know if she wants rain or shine in Massachusetts, so we've seen a little of both. I wrote this post last night, but didn't upload the photos until today. Since I wrote this, I've eaten 3 cupcakes. Yikes:).

There's been a lot of talk of Autumn floating around this blogworld lately. While I really love the summer, I can't help but get excited for fall, as it's been my favorite season since I was a little girl jumping in gigantic piles of leaves and carving pumpkins. Maybe it's because Autumn always brings my birthday, or maybe it's because of the smell of pumpkin pie, freshly plucked apples, anything-spice. Perhaps it's because the clothes are oh-so-cute-and-snuggly. I don't know, but whatever it is, it's on my mind right now:).

And when I think of fall, I get a hankering to bake.

 

Tonight I baked one of Matt's favorites- carrot cake. But instead of a cake, I found a sweet (and delicious) carrot cake muffin recipe online here.

 

Absolutely scrumptious:)

 

With the pumpkin spice candle lit and a tall glass of milk, we're going to sit and enjoy the taste of fall on this rainy summer evening.

Happy weekend!!

xoxo

baby and chipmunk

Yes, something is most definitely growing in there. Something that has a sweet tooth, I may add. Or maybe that's just my excuse:).

On the garden front, this evening I spied a little chipmunk in the garden. I'm not 100% sure if he is THE tomato thief, as I didn't catch him in the act. But I'm a little suspicious....

I hope you're all gearing up for a lovely weekend;). It's almost here!

xoxo

morning still (and the tomato thief mystery)

I've been awake since 4am thinking of all of the things I could should be doing. Checking e-mail, writing work reports, folding that ever-growing pile of laundry that has taken over a fourth of my bedroom. You know those sleepless nights?

My husband looks so cute in his sleep, it takes all of the strength I can muster not to smoosh his face or wake him with my eyes. That would be mean:(. So, instead, I've gotten up to do the want-to-do's, which include stepping out with the camera for some fresh morning, summer air (I actually love this time of morning, when everything is so still, so dewy), browsing my favorite websites, choosing paint colors for our upcoming renovation.

The need-to-do's can wait.

After all, it's Wednesday, the ever-so-cleverly named 'hump day', which means only two-point-five more days until the weekend. This week has been just one of those weeks that crawls.... along..... at a snail's.... pace.

 

I'm looking forward to a very lazy home weekend with my husband and dog; something that we haven't really had in a while.

On another note, there has been a smart (and admittedly, slightly obnoxious) little guy who goes into my garden and takes annoying little bites out of my tomatoes. He seems to really enjoy the Early Girls (one per day) and the sweetie baby girls (of which he prefers two per day).

At least eat the whole thing, so I don't have to know you even exist! But no, he takes a snippy little bite and leaves the rest for me. It's the game of twenty questions: What kind of little creature can get through chicken wire? What kind of creature likes to eat tomatoes? A creature that, maybe, only comes out at night? Can any of you dear readers help me solve this riddle??

Happy hump day to you all.

xoxo

My parents live near a sweet little farm in Connecticut. A few weeks ago, Matt and I stopped by with Miss Luna. And I don't know about you, but every four-legged creature that I see, in some shape or form, ends up reminding me of my dog. Is that just how it is when you love something so? You see a little bit of it in everything?

Luna and the goats had a mutual ambivalence/ curiosity towards one another.

Ambivalence...

Curiosity......

And so it went.

I especially like this little guy on the far right in the upper photo. It looks like he's posing for the camera. What a little ham:).

Happy almost Friday. I hope this weekend finds you doing something you love. We'll be at the beach in Newport, RI on Saturday and the evening will follow with some lobsters on the back deck (my favorite meal in the world:)).

Have a good weekend!

xoxo

more from france

It's been a very hot July in Massachusetts. I have daily thoughts of turning the back sprinklers on and running through in my bathing suit, much like my childhood summers. Maybe this weekend we'll see some sprinkler action:).

Here are some more photos from our France trip, specifically Saint-Malo. Yes, there were activities that occurred outside of taste-testing fabulous french desserts;).

This was the view from our hotel balcony... just breathtaking. We slept with the door open to allow ample flow of salty sea air:).

And here are some perspectives of the old walled city of Saint-Malo, La Ville Intra-Muros.

A sweet little creperie overlooking the English channel (delicious banana chocolate crepes served here, with a stunning view:))

And tucked away inside the walled city are rows of fabulous little cafes, shops, vendors.

And a little sneak peek at the baby bump visiting France:)

I hope you're all having an enjoyable July. I'll post some photos from Paris soon. Until then, stay cool, wherever you may be:).

xoxo