I guarantee you these are the easiest muffins you've ever made. I got this recipe at a Weight Watchers meeting last year, and though they are not, by any means, "healthy" they are better for you than making regular old muffins. AND they're tastier! I make these all the time and Picky David eats them right up. Lily eats them as if they're candy. You can also spoon them onto a cookie sheet and make cookies out of the same batter. I've done this for dinner guests on a number of occasions and they're all the rave. And when I tell them how easy it is, they almost choke.

You will need:

• Box of Spice Cake mix - any brand will do. I just grab what I see first at the grocery store
• Can of Pumpkin Puree

Um, yea. That's it.

What you do:

• Mix them together. Feel free to add a handful of chocolate chips (my favorite!) or walnuts, or whatever floats your boat.
• Spoon onto a greased cookie sheet for cookies or into greased muffin cups for muffins.
• Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Your toothpick will always be a little gooey so keep this in mind and don't over-cook.

Voila!! Fantabulous Pumpkin Muffins.

I have found my place in this world. West Jefferson, our new home, is fabulous. I'm sure you will be hearing more about this place than you ever could have cared about in the next few weeks, and I apologize in advance. But frankly, I'm in love.

Every Saturday in West Jefferson, within walking distance of our new home, there is the Ashe County Farmer's Market. I strolled down there this past Saturday morning with my reusable bag in hand and a pocket full of cash. And boy did I love what I found.

I filled up my bag in minutes and walked home considerably heavier than when I arrived. Saturdays catch consisted of organic spinach and asparagus, no-pesticide potatoes, a gorgeous large-leaf basil plant, and homemade sourdough bread, raspberry-blackberry jam and goat feta cheese. The cost of all these glorious goods: only $24. Jackpot.

I am so lucky to 1.) live in a place with such wonderful resources and 2.) live with a man who gladly shares my obsession with buying fresh and local. We were considering joining a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm, but I think that since we live so close to the farmer's market and the CSA farm we were thinking of partnering with - the one from which I bought the spinach and feta - is at the farmer's market every week, then we'll probably just take that glorious stroll every weekend instead. Just as good!

So, I'm sure I'll be sharing my catch with you each week, as I really see this as being the most exciting event every week. It's like Christmas. Every Saturday!

{photo credit: Zappos.com}

Yes. Drool.

I was just flipping through a Yoga Journal magazine that I picked up a earlier on our 4th trip to Walmart in as many days and I ran across these shoes. So. Amazing.

Partially recycled outsole and memory foam footbed. Need I say more?

And the shoes are only half the cool part. The other cool part: they're having Trunk Show in Wilkesboro NC on Saturday. This is only about 40 minutes from my house. I think I will need to be in attendance. I REALLY want a pair.

Check them out.

Yay! Time for more guilty pleasures. Here are three more; what about you?

• Victoria's Secret Bras - I'm not a high maintenance person. I love Target shoes and I plan my weeks by when I can take my next visit to TJ Maxx. I am, however, very picky about my bras. Every bra I've bought and worn in the past - I don't know - 5 years has been from Victoria's Secret. On one hand, I know they're perfect for me and why change, but on the other hand... it really is just a guilty pleasure.
• Chocolate - I know, I know. Completely cliche, but it get's better. More specifically - Dove Truffle Eggs. Now, these babies only come out at Easter, and this is where the very "guilty" comes in, as I stock up on them like it's 2000. They're my go-to stress food, and sometimes I eat them just because. HUGE guilty pleasure.
• Kenzie Shoes - They don't even make this brand anymore - now Blue something-or-other - but I'm a sucker for them when I find a pair on eBay. Loooooooove them.

We made it! We arrived here Friday night safe and sound, and have been unpacking ever since.

Thus far the two most important rooms in the house have been unpacked: Lily's room and the kitchen. Today we plan on getting our bedroom situated and hopefully tomorrow we'll be doing some furniture shopping. The most important pieces are the dining room table - which is where we live - and an office desk, as I am currently typing this from the office floor. I have to get a desk before work resumes next week, or I just might go mad. Haha!

Anywho, above are pictures of the view from our back porch this morning. We had some fabulous rain last night, and with all the bedroom windows open I slept like a freakin' baby.

And yes, we do live across the street from the cemetery, but this doesn't bother me in the least. In fact, it adds to the quaintness of our new home.

I plan to share more photos with you as the house comes together. Thus far, I'm in love. :-D

Ciao bellas!