300 Days of Sunshine

Happy Halloween!  It has been unseasonably warm this month in Santa Fe, and in the absence of cuddly sweaters and hot seasonal drinks I'm struggling to feel completely absorbed in the fall season, but the evenings are starting to get chilly and there is definitely a crispness to the air.  I'm down to (probably) my last full week at work before Baby makes her debut!  Tonight we're staying in and cheering on the Vikings while handing out candy to the neighborhood Trick-or-Treaters. I made these cupcakes last week to share with my coworkers and celebrate my most recent student's successful completion of her clinical rotation.  (While I hate saying goodbye to our really excellent students, I love an excuse to bake!)  They were so good I had to make another batch for the hubby to take to work today.  With pumpkin puree and milk, these cupcakes are soft, creamy, and comforting for fall.  The cinnamon cream cheese frosting is flavorful and spicy, and I ...

We are just 9 days away from Baby's due date!  She is considered to be full term now and we pray that she will be healthy whenever she decides to make her debut.  She is still moving around a lot and her little legs are getting strong.  We are reading her books at night.  I envisioned a relaxed and pampered third trimester, but the reality has been quite the opposite!  There's so much to do and my project list is never-ending, but I have really enjoyed preparing the nursery and getting ready for Baby's arrival.  I painted Baby's room a few weeks ago ("Sand Swept" yellow) and we assembled her furniture.  Her books and clothes are organized and the changing table is stocked with itty bitty diapers.  I finished crocheting her little afghan to keep her warm on the way home from the hospital.  My hospital bag is packed, I stocked up on batteries and household items, the car seat is installed, and I have some home-cooked meals in the freezer f...

I recently hopped aboard the "tidying up" bandwagon based on Marie Kondo's book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing .  The basic premise of Kondo's philosophy on tidying and organizing is that the typical "tidying up" that people do, little by little, one room at a time, doesn't create lasting effects, so we instead need to make a substantial, transformative change in our space by focusing on the objects that bring us joy and parting with clutter that isn't necessary.  Kondo challenges us to recognize our attachments to things and to "detox" our space in order to "detox" our bodies. I had several things that motivated me in this endeavor.  As a homeowner, I wanted my space to be inviting and comfortable for my family and visitors.  I strived to reduce my stress and anxiety by reducing clutter and unnecessary junk.  I wanted to shift my focus from material items to experien...

October is my favorite month in Santa Fe!  The Aspen leaves are changing and the air is so fresh.  Unfortunately I have been fighting a cold (or maybe allergies) since Labor Day, and the Chamisa and Ragweed in the air certainly aren't helping, but I love being outside in the fall.  I took Kua for a short hike on the Aspen Vista trail last weekend to see the fall colors, and I look forward to some more hiking later this month.  There's such a small window between the end of the summer and the first frost and I just want to enjoy every minute of it. Fall is also rich with yummy flavors and it just puts me in the mood for baking pastries, cooking soups, and enjoying comfort food.  I made some  St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake for a birthday party this past weekend, and these Apple Cinnamon Muffins from my favorite blogger were also a huge hit!  The cinnamon crumbles on top remind me of the Cinnamon Crunch bagels at Panera... yum! Ap...

We are less than 5 weeks away from Baby's due date!  She's estimated to be over 5 pounds already and the size of a spaghetti squash.  She's moving her arms and legs all the time and she gets the hiccups almost every day.  I had two beautiful baby showers during the month of September and I feel so supported by all my friends and family who already love little Baby Girl. My mom and Great Aunt Carole co-hosted a garden-themed baby shower for family and friends in Minnesota during Labor Day weekend.  It's so rare to be able to spend time with relatives since moving to New Mexico, so it was fun to gather everyone together in one room, along with two of my close friends from PT school.  We had lunch and played games around the table, including a matching game of "baby girls who became famous," and everyone wrote down some advice for Baby Girl.  I was so impressed and honored to receive four handmade gifts - two quilts, a crocheted afghan, and crocheted booties...