What Color Is That?

sweater: J.Crew, blazer: Gap, skirt: thrifted, shoes: Aldo, necklace: uknown

Between my mom and my sister, and couple of other people in church, the color of my tights have been misinterpreted. It's a mustard color people, which I, for one, think goes perfectly well with teal, but apparently I had Jaundice legs. 

I must say that it takes huge amount of energy to find something that fits now-a-days. Therefore, scarves, jewelry and different color tights are the things that un-blah my clothes. Honestly, I feel more comfortable in a skirt then jeans (weird, I know). So my work uniform is skirt, heels (still) and sweater.

But the college is over in two weeks (yay) and I can just live in my soft pink PJs, which my hubby says make me look very homey (whatever that means). 

I guess that's better then Jaundice legs. 

The Best Cheesecake {recipe}

{the dessert table = 4 pies, a cake, cheesecake and zucchini  bread}

{the best cheesecake yet}

I consider cheesecake to be one of the hardest recipe out there because there is so many things that can go wrong. First, it should be moist but not overly so; then it should rise and not fall shortly after you take it out of the oven. Also, it should have this rich and creamy consistency from the first bite until the last. Well, all that is hard to achieve but not impossible. Introducing, the best recipe out there and probably the best cheesecake I've ever made. 

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen (with a a few of my changes)

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 
•  stick of butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar

Filling:

• 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch 
• 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream 
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 6 eggs 

Topping:

• 6 tablespoons butter (1 stick)
• 1 1/2 pounds (about 3 large) Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan tightly with foil to prevent moisture from the water bath from seeping into the cheesecake

Crust:

In a food processor (or with a fork), mix the graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press the mixture into the bottom and halfway up the sides of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven to cool completely.

Filling:

In a food processor or with an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth. Add the sour cream, orange juice, and vanilla and blend until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, blending until just combined. *Cook's Note: It's important to blend well with no clumps as this will make the filling a smoother consistency when baked.

Pour the filling into the crust. Put a roasting pan on a rack in the center of the oven and transfer the cheesecake to the pan. Fill the roasting pan with hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan and cover it loosely with foil. Bake until the center moves only slightly when the cake pan is shaken, about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Check the water level about 1 hour into the baking, adding more water, if needed. Leave the cake in the oven for another 15 minutes after turning the oven off. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and transfer the cake pan to a wire rack to cool. Refrigerate overnight.

Topping:

Melt the butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the apples and pecans and cook, stirring, until they are coated with butter, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and the liquid comes to a boil, about 3 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apples and pecans to a bowl. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook the remaining liquid, stirring often, until it turns a deep amber, about 6 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat to stop the cooking and add the cream. Be careful, as the cream may splatter. Return the skillet to the heat and bring it to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the apples and pecans. Allow to cool until lukewarm.

Spread the caramel-apple mixture evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Use a knife dipped in hot water to cut through the cheesecake.

Thankful For... The Little Things

sweater, boots: TJMaxx, skirt: thrifted, scarf: H&M, glasses: Loft

We are so blessed to have many material things, all the things we need. More over, we have pretty much everything we want. 

I'm so thankful for...

having my own vehicle

my computer, phone and other technology gadgets that help to make my life easier

the heat and hot water I have in my house every day 

my favorite Kate Spade NY bag

the daily abundance of food on our table 

being able to afford entertainment and fun things to do 

definitely Pinterest (I cannot live without it anymore)

the smile I see on my hubby's face when he looks at my belly - he's such a proud daddy

my little niece and her adorable chubby cheeks - love her to pieces

maternity jeans - the best purchase so far

our cozy new house

being able to have ultrasound - I don't know how people wait nine months to find out gender

feeling my little one move constantly

pancake breakfast with the hubs

sunny fall day... perfect for running errands

Thank you for reading this blog and being a part of my life!
Have a great and joyousThanksgiving!

Thankful For... Family and Friends

turtle neck: French Connection, jacket: H&M, jeans: Liz Lange Maternity, bag: TJMaxx, shoes: Aldo

Life isn't complete without people you love. I'm blessed to have a great family and awesome friends. 

I'm thankful for..

mom and dad who raised me right, taught me about God and showed loved every day

my sister - it's amazing growing up with a sister. We did everything together, from getting in trouble to playing
our silly games

my husband's parents and their love

all the extended family of my in-laws... there's a lot of them

getting two more sisters when I married my hubby - it's a girl central over here

church family 

friends that we can just enjoy life with - from Friday night joined dinners to double dates

being able to share the best and worst moments of life with friends 

building a family of our own with the man I love

girls game nights in

the thoughtfulness and love I am being showered with during this very special time of my first pregnancy

Thankful For... Us

shirt: Evan Picone, sweater: Loft, skirt: NY&Co, shoes: BCBGirls, bag: Kate Spade NY 

I just want to take time to count all the blessings and give thanks to God for everything that I have. From the material to spiritual blessing and everything in between, I am truly blessed.

Some things that I am thankful for...

the best husband in the world - he truly is my rock, my best friend and love of my life. 

this precious gift of life that's growing inside of me... becoming a mother is truly life-changing... 

being able to satisfy my pregnancy cravings without being bound by financial constraints (most people in other countries can't splurge on scallops or sushi every week)

having fun and just enjoying life from simple things like staying in bed on Saturday morning to getting pampered at a local spa with a massage

being able to have fun together, enjoying each other's company

stealing a kiss in the middle of a crazy busy day

planning our future together and talking about our boy

getting a place we can call our own, our home

enjoying similar interests - from movies to political discussions

being able to talk about everything and anything

having the security and love in our relationship grow stronger with every day

simply being able to live with each other day in and day out, seeing those ugly sides and still falling in love with each other every single day

place in hearts that we call family - just the two of us (soon to be three of us)