Back from Cali

I'm back. California was wonderful. We cruised in a convertible, tasted lots of wine, enjoyed the fresh air, attended a beautiful wedding where we ate dinner in a wine cave(!) and visited with friends in San Fran. Other than some travel snafus on the way out there, the trip was a great success. A longer update will come once I've gotten back in the swing of things here at work. I'm loving October so far (today is a sweater day on the east coast) and excited for more playoff baseball in Philly later this week!

Off to Wine Land

This afternoon we're headed to sunny California to attend a wedding of my good friend in the Napa Valley. I've only been to wine country once, and only for a day that time, so I am definitely psyched to take in all the scenery and taste lots of yummy vino. Does anyone have suggestions for a must see place or a must taste wine? The wedding is going to be at Hans Fahden Vineyard in Calistoga, which from the website and the picture (left) looks absolutely gorgeous. Let's hope for a sunny, clear day for the bride and groom! I hope to keep you posted on our adventures over the course of the weekend...

Outlet Shopping

On Saturday a couple of friends and I treked an hour outside of the city to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets. Even though the drive was a bit long, we all agreed the bargains made it well worth the trip. This place is fantastic... Kate Spade, Michael Kors, BCBG, JCrew, Banana Republic, Coach, Ann Taylor, French Connection, Cole Haan, Niemans... all in outlet form! Wow, did we ever do well here. I'm talking like 40% off minimum on most items we bought. Truly great if you are stocking up on seasonless staples like cardigans, work pants and purses. My favorite find was a Kate Spade Foster Crossing bag (same color as the one pictured but a bit larger with bows on the sides). If you live anywhere near this place, I would highly recommend the trip.

Knitting Update

So, I finished the yellow scarf this week and started a yellow hat, which right now looks kind of like a beret. It is supposed to be a regular skiing hat eventually, which is much more my style. The lambswool is very warm, but a little stratchy, so I am going to make some holiday presents out of a softer yarn, like cashmere. I can't wait to get started.

Fall Work Wear

Lately I've had a hard time figuring out how to dress on these days when it is in the 50s when I head to work but is in the high 70s if I'm out at all during the day. If I had an unlimited budget and an unlimited closet (hello, Polyvore!), here is what I'd love to be wearing today. What is your go-to Fall look for the office?

Preppy Fall Home Accessories

I like to redecorate our house every so often with season-specific accessories like pillows, glass vases, hurricanes, candles, etc. It's fun to get in touch with your creative side by finding new ways to arrange what you have and sometimes one or two new items is all you need to feel like you have an updated room without having to break the budget for a whole new look.

Want to spice up your home for the Fall season? Visit Pottery Barn today for some easy, inexpensive ideas to give your place a cozy feel for the upcoming cold weather months. PotteryBarn.com is offering free shipping on decorative pillows and throws right now. The colors they are showing are so vivid and really "pop" in a room of neutral colors. I'm not sure how long this offer lasts, so cash in while you can. And while you're there, pick up some cool decorative accents. You can get anything on this page for under $50. I especially like the Panna Cream Vases.

Big Weekend

We've had a jam-packed but fun-filled past couple of days, hence my neglect of this blog. Our weekend was kicked off with delicious restaurant week dinner on Friday night. For you non-Prepadelphians, restaurant week is an agreement among many of the nice dining spots in the city to offer a 3 course tasting menu for only $35! It is a great way to try new places you might not choose to splurge on otherwise.

Saturday was our annual fall adventure to Linvilla for the farmer's market, apple picking and a picnic. Picnics may just be one of my all time favorite romantic activities. Sadly, Mr. Prepster is less keen on sharing his lunch with nature, but he was a good sport. That was followed by dinner with friends and homemade apple crisp:

5 medium tart baking apples (I used Jonagold this time)

2 T lemon juice

1/2 stick cold butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t nutmeg

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup oats

1/2 cup crushed walnuts

Peel, core and slice the apples and place them in a mixing bowl with lemon juice. Combine the cinnamon and nutmeg with brown sugar and pour it over apples. Stir to coat the apples and set them aside. Combine flour, sugar and oats in another mixing bowl. Slice butter into 8-12 small chunks and stir it into the dry ingredients. Mix until the butter is coated then add walnuts. Grease a square baking dish and spread the apples on the bottom. Pour dry ingredients over the top and bake at 375 for 30-45 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Try not to eat it all...

Despite the urge to camp out on the sofa, today was another high energy one as we tailgated and cheered our Eagles on to victory over the terrible towel-waving Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field. Whew, I'm exhausted and feel like I need another weekend to recover from this one! Hope everyone has had an enjoyable couple of days.