Dogs are a Boy's Best Friend

Dogs are the best toy you could give your child. Gavin has so much fun playing with Rowdy and Rocco. He even has two favorite stuffed animals that he sleeps with every night that resemble our dogs. Gavin got his lion at the Santa Barbara zoo when he was one. One day after Rocco returned from the groomers with a lion cut we noticed that he looked a lot like Gavin's lion. Recently, Gavin's grandma & grandpa Allred got him this cute little puppy. It looks just like Rowdy, when he was a puppy, so Gavin appropriately named him "Puppy That Looks Like Rowdy" or "Rowdy Puppy" for short.

Scrumptious Snickerdoodles

I used to love making (and eating) Snickerdoodle cookies when I was a kid. I was craving some yesterday and remembered that I had a recipe from the famous Magnolia Bakery in New York City that I hadn't tried yet. I made them and they turned out delicious (better than I remembered); so good, in fact, that I wanted to share the recipe...

Snickerdoodles

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 tablespoons sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon, for sprinkling

In a small bowl, combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla, and beat well. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Wrap the dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion. Sprinkle generously with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake for 12-14 minutes.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

The Art of Making Forts

Gavin has been obsessed with making forts out of couch pillows and blankets. Tony and I have gotten into the fort building as well, but I'm really getting tired of it. Little does Gavin know that I could build a mean fort in my day and I could create something really cool for him. However, I no longer want to encourage this activity. Here are a couple of his creations.

My Favorite Cleanser

One of my new favorite things is Philosophy's Purity Made Simple facial cleanser. I LOVE it! I think it's the perfect cleanser for all skin types. My skin is combination and I just love how soft and clean it makes my face feel (yet it doesn't dry me out at all). It's been on the "best of Sephora" list for a few years now and it has a user rating of 4.6 stars out of 5. I purchased mine from sephora.com (one of my all-time favorite websites), but I think you can purchase it at Nordstrom too. Just a side note... I heard that Sephora is opening a store at Trolley Square. Purity comes in 4 different sizes and it is $20 for 8 ounces (and worth every penny).

Halloween Night

For Halloween we went to my brother, Dave's, house so that Gavin could go trick or treating with his four adorable and scary vampire cousins. We had a great time. I was remembering how last year Gavin couldn't say trick or treat yet. He would say, "Boo, boo, beat". Well, this year he can say it perfectly and he also made sure to say thank you after receiving candy. He's so well mannered.

Pheasant Hunting

Last Wednesday Tony (& Rowdy) went pheasant hunting with a couple of buddies. It was a very successful day (as you can see from all of the dead birds so proudly displayed on the hood of that lovely Mercedes SUV). Tony shot 6 or more and brought them all home so we could eat them (& for the crew at the station too) . They were gorgeous, colorful birds and Gavin was very interested in them. Apparently, Rowdy had one of his best hunting trips ever. He's turned into quite the bird hunter. I really wish I could see him in action.

Halloween Party

Last Sunday Gavin and I went to a birthday/Halloween party for Bennett who was turning 3. I thought this was a cute picture. And, no, I didn't dress up. However, I did dress up for my kindergartners on Halloween for our class party. I was an angel. Isn't that fitting.