Official start of the holiday season?

Last week I was browsing the Halloween candy at Target and I came across a small section of CHRISTMAS merchandise...decorations to be exact.  CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS in SEPTEMBER!?  WHAT!?  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas, it's such a magical time of year BUT come on people, Christmas merchandise in September? It makes no sense.  Whatever happened to the days when the stores would magically transform into a winter wonderland the day after Thanksgiving? As a kid, it was such a beautiful feeling to visit the Amsterdam Mall (yes we HAD a mall) and see all the Christmas decor just "magically" appear.  Now? They start stocking the shelves as soon as they sell the Halloween stuff off. It's a travesty. At least wait until November! So when does the holiday season start for you? 

For me it used to be when the stores started selling Christmas stuff, now that must change, I'll wait for the red holiday cups from Starbucks.  Should be any day now!

Long Weekend = Long Week

I love a nice holiday weekend but it always makes the following week a bit hellish, it's almost like we have to cram the 5 days of work into 4.  I'm not complaining, I'm just saying.  These past few days I feel a bit jet lagged and I haven't even travelled.

Speaking of which, Vegas super soon.  Pool, drinks, sun, roulette, food and preciousness.  

Back to the weekend...I had such a grand one, I'm feeling a bit autumnish so I baked some pumpkin pie, roasted a chicken, made brownies and drank bubbly.  I also spent some amazing moments with some amazing people, we took on Lark Street and were victorious.  Can't wait to do it again.  We also took on Circus Cafe, however we didn't win that battle, it was all downhill when we were approached to take part in a foursome!  I also spent one last day at the track, good times, even though our horse came in dead last.  I think it's still runnning.  The track season is over, happy to see it go, fall is here and winter is around the corner...blah...well my sauce is bubbling over, I must go!  Peace Possums!

The days are getting shorter...

...and the weeks are getting longer.  My gosh, its only Tuesday and it feels like it should be Thursday.  I don't know what is going on lately but it seems like the work week is getting longer and longer, regardless of how many days are in it.  There is no motive for writing this blog and it will be complete randomness, I guess I just need a few moments to let some stuff out.  Buckle up!

I walked downtown this evening, headed to Border's hoping to purchase the movie "Mask" (the Cher one of course), sadly they didn't have it.  In fact the only Cher movie they had was Moonstruck, so sad.  If I really want to watch Mask, I'll have to dig out my VHS tape. Some good news...no one called me names.

Vegas is in 2 weeks, it is currently 100 degrees.  I'm so stoked for some sun and pool time.  The weather in Upstate was lackluster and Fall is here.  I love this time of year but I also love pool days, and I didn't get enough.

Speaking of fall, the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back...I ordered one today and I also made one at home, my recipe is better (and cheaper).  If you are interested in my PSl recipe, surf back a year and find it (hehe).

Some people think they know everything, to the point where they wear permanent blinders, they only see what they think they know and nothing else.  People like that annoy me.  Listen, someone else may have a better idea.  Proof of that will come soon enough.

Some people are not very nice, someday they will realize that their "un-niceness" cost them the best thing in their life.  

Some people are amazing, gold claps to them.

Some blogs should end...especially this one...later possums.

Fall is falling away...

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Originally uploaded by rjrogo248

I can't believe September is pretty much over. This month flew by so quickly! Fall is my favorite season, the air is crisp, the leaves change, fresh produce is in abundance at the Farmer's Market, apple picking, pumpkins, gosh the list could go on. I'm so lucky to live in Upstate New York, where we have such a beautiful fall season. Granted the weather is a bit shitty this week, but I'm holding out for the perfect fall day. The fall also marks my return to the kitchen. Cooking in the heat of summer is never fun; but add the fresh produce and cool air of autumn and it's a match made in heaven. I plan on studying French cooking this year. We'll see how that works out. But for now I'm planning some apple picking adventures and a fall menu to rival the finest restaurants in town.

Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL)

Believe it or not, Autumn is here. According to the calendar we still have a few days left of summer, but up here in the Northeast, fall is here and in full swing. The weather has turned chilly, the leaves are beginning to fall and Starbucks is once again serving Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

I was never a fan, they were too sweet and they had a terrible after taste. After some advice from a fellow Starbucks aficionado, he inspired me to create my own PSL recipe using my new Tassimo machine (more on that next week). So, if you have a Tassimo listen up and enjoy this less sweet/non after taste PSL.

Step 1 - Add nutmeg and cinnamon to the bottom of your mug (I reccomend 1/2 teaspoon each).

Step 2 - Add a 1/2 tablespoon of Torani's White Chocolate Mocha Sauce (for a more sweet drink, add a shot of Torani's Vanilla Syrup).

Step 3 - Place the mug in your Tassimo Hot Beverage Machine.

Step 4 - Prepare a Milk/Cappuccino T-Disc.

Step 5 - Follow that with a Tassimo Espresso T-Disc.

Step 6 - Stir and enjoy!

It's PSL time all this fall at my apartment and coming soon to my desk at work.

Enjoy!