Moving and Plotting

We are getting ready to move very soon but as far as I'm concerned, it couldn't be soon enough. I was very happy with our apartment as our first home together but it's charm (or lack there-of) has worn off. I'm tired of our neighbors, I want more space and most of all I want to garden! Okay I also want to not pay $3 per half a load of laundry in a tiny coin operated washer and dryer. We went to look at a duplex yesterday and we really like it. It isn't perfect by any means by it's much larger than what we have and for the same price. There's not much of a yard but also much more than we have now which is nothing! And so begins my adventures in gardening in a small space. Pros: Lots of windows, both East & West Nice sized porch on the East side Small plot of land I can garden The downside is that the duplex is on the North side of the building so my little garden plot will be along the North wall of the house. I'm trying to research plants that will do well in a small plot with less light. I'm planning to fill up the porch with container plants so for now I'm researching fruits and veggies that will do well in containers and envisioning how I'll organize everything. Advice is welcome as well as book recommendations. I'm reading Back to Basics now because that's what we have already but it only mentions gardening as a small topic among many.

Holiday Goodies!

Hello again! Sorry to go on such a long hiatus but I finally found my first job after graduation! Anyway, this post is about all the fun holiday goodies I've been making. We tried some new things this year that I'm really excited to share.

Cookbook Reviews

Ham & Apple Pie (A work in progress)

Here's my take on a recipe for Pork Apple Pie from Old Sturbridge Village Cookbook.
It tasted pretty good but aesthetically, there are a few kinks I need to work out for next time.

Bree's Bubbles & Bows Tablecloth

My friend asked me to make a tablecloth for my god-daughter's new play table. I'm pleased with the results. I love this polka dot fabric I found at Jo-ann's. The tablecloth is super simple but the crisp edges and cute details really make it special.
On to the tutorial!

Pumpkin-Bottom Cupcakes

My husband and I spent the afternoon trying out an experimental fall treat.
What I wanted:

• Pumpkin for fall flavor
• Cream cheese, what goes better with pumpkin?

What I didn't want:

• Mess
• Something too heavy

My solution was to attempt to combine a pumpkin bar recipe with black-bottom cupcakes. So is "Pumpkin-Bottom Cupcakes" a good name?

Vegetarian French Onion Soup

Yum! This was my first attempt at making French Onion Soup and it was pretty great if I say so myself!