Let's Get Prepared!

It's a glorious fall day here in Berkeley

Super simple carmel apple

and we're counting our blessings and giving thanks.  Yet again,  

another crazy week.  Wow.

The good news is -- it's Friday and it's a three-day weekend.  

Come on, now.  Boom, boom, boom.  Let me hear you say wayo.  

So, growing up in Los Angeles, fall time was never about warm sweaters, great layering and cute flannel plaids, like it is elsewhere throughout the country.  It was always too hot, with the occasional Santa Ana winds blowing through, with what I deemed -- a fake breeze.  There's nothing like dry, warm wind smacking you in the face.  

Occasionally we'd make the trip out to Oak Glen in San Bernardino, but we never got to pick the apples (it wasn't an option back then) and inevitably the temperatures would hang in the low 90's.   But every fall -- like clockwork, my mom would pick up these caramel apple wraps and we'd make caramel apples at home.  Quick, simple and so delicious!  I loved them!      

All you do is gently wrap these giant caramel circles around the apple, taking care not to stretch too much.  Bake in a low temperature oven for 5 minutes ...

And, voila!  A delicious, caramel apple.  Ok, maybe it's cheating - but it's so worth it! 

(Note: the caramel apple featured in this photo did not last very long. Good thing it only takes 5 minutes to make more.)

Getting Prepared

Living in California it's no surprise that we live in an earthquake zone.  In fact, right here in Berkeley we're on the Hayward fault line.  Gulp.     

A couple years ago, we purchased an emergency survival backpack, which includes a few essentials.  First-aid kit, emergency food rations, water boxes, etc.  You can find these on-line through Amazon.  click here

These are a few items in the backpack.....

It's a great kit and a good start, but I knew we needed more.   

In light of recent events, I couldn't justify putting this off any longer, especially with a little one at home.  So, off to Target I went to get a few more essentials ....

Note the bag of starbursts in the back.  Seemed like an essential  for Armageddon.  

A hundred dollars later and a bin full of supplies, I'm feeling slightly better and a tad more prepared.  I even threw in a couple stuffed animals and a note to my daughter reminding her we love her!  

Let's get prepared, California! 

Red, sleeveless Minnie dress

Only one new dress in the shop this week.  It's a custom, Minnie Mouse-inspired dress, off to New Jersey.  We hope she has a magical time at Disneyland!  

Red, Vintage Inspired Dress - for more, click here

Final thought.  Now that I'm older, I've become much more quiet and reserved.  Seriously, it's true.  I'm not a fan of crowds and mingling with a bunch of strangers is not my cup of tea.  My daughter, on the other hand, makes friends everywhere.  She's friends with the girls at the fabric store, she chit-chats with the lifeguards at the pool and apparently -- she even knows the postal workers.

Today, as I mailed off a package at the post office and we exchanged our customary pleasantries to complete the transaction, the postal worker then proceeded to ask for my little "business partner" because "she knows how to get it done."  To which, I all I could do was laugh.

This picture above captures her essence.   May we all remember to share our light with others and spread kindness in this world.

Peace.