Wishlist: Fall

Though the temperatures are nowhere near dropping here in Florida, I'm still looking forward to chilly days filled with boots, knits, and orange cranberry scones. Yum.

Hound & Fox Coat ($348) - Essie Polish in Wicked ($8) - Cable Over the Knee Socks ($14)
Safekeeping Necklace ($198) - Owl Stud Earrings ($67) - Ledger Boots ($170)
Cranberry Orange Scone ($4)

Eye Candy : Amy Atlas Events

I'm absolutely in love with these images from Amy Atlas Events in New York. The color, arrangements, everything. So beautifully done it looks like something that belongs in the world of Pushing Daisies. 

Here's a little snippet from her website, AmyAtlas.com:

Desserts bring back many sweet memories for Amy so it is no surprise that she would specialize in her signature dessert tables. Amy’s fondest sweet memory from childhood is of sitting in her grandmother’s sunny kitchen on a spring afternoon, watching her pull homemade rocky road cake out of the oven. While waiting to lick the bowl, Grandma would let Amy drizzle caramel icing all over the cake. To this day the smell of rich, melted caramel still reminds Amy of that wonderful spring afternoon, when it felt like the world belonged to just the two of them and the essence of happiness was warm rocky road cake.

All photos copyright Amy Atlas Events 

Food : Chocolate Chip Cookies

What better way to spend a Sunday that baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies from scratch? That's just what I did this morning with my brother's girlfriend. I'm a veteran baker in the cookie realm (well over a decade already) so I can almost bake these with my eyes closed*. This is one recipe I won't be sharing (sorry!) but here are a few tips on getting delicious cookies from any recipe you choose.

• Use Your Ears: When creaming sugar and butter make sure to work it until the sugar's mostly dissolved. You'll know you're there when you can't hear the scraping of the sugar against the bowl.
• No Such Thing As Enough Chocolate: 'Nuff said. (Though don't go crazy exaggerated, make sure there's still more batter than chips!)
• Raw is Good: Bring the cookies out when they're not quite done if you like your cookies slightly chewy. The heat left over in the cookie and from the pan will cook it the rest of the way.

*This would be a stupid move. Cookie sheets get hot. I'm not liable if you think this would be a bright idea.