Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies~~Tastey Fall Goodness

thaKing and I made a huge batch of Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies last week to share with our neighbors to celebrate the arrival of their new son.  Thanks for the recipe, Valerie at Up to Date!  thaKing claims to not be a big pumpkin fan, but combine the gourd with chocolate chips, and needless to say there has been a request for more!  This is so easy to make and delicious!

2 and a quarter cup all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cloves (I left this out just b/c I didn't have any on hand)

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 16 oz can of pumpkin

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups chocolate chips

In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, all spices, and salt; set aside.

In large mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar till creamy. Add pumpkin and eggs and vanilla.

Gradually add flour mixture.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet (I used Silpat)

Bake at 375 for about 18 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.

Let sit 5 minutes on cooling rack

Elka Needs a Brand New Bed

Before Elka gets relegated to slightly less than top dog with BB King's arrival, it is my absolute intent to spoil her even more!  Her 2nd birthday is Saturday (tear') and she took a birthday pizza with her to Dogtown Doggie Daycare yesterday, to share with her friends.  I'm a bad mom, and apparently thaKing is a bad dad/photographer! We have no pictures of the pizza before it was devoured! We heard it was enjoyed by all.  Anyway, Elka has been in need of a new bed.  She has outgrown the one she sleeps on in our room ,and since it was a rush to purchase when she was a puppy, I've never been thrilled with the pattern.  You may recall that my very talented mother helped me sew the king size bed featured here for Elka that we keep downstairs.  Here is the inspiration from Fleabag Beds for her new 'upstairs' doggie bed... a nice bright trellis print with piping. Yes piping! That will be a new feat if I can pull it off. 

LA Lady

thaKing and I just got back from LA last week. He was there for work and I tagged along just to hang out.  We stayed downtown and ventured out on the subway to Hollywood.  Hollywood is surprisingly small.   The walk of fame meanders on and on, but it's basically one big block that encompasses Grauman's Chinese Theater and the Kodak Theater.  We also went to a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live.  OMG, TV is sooo fake!  We were told to clap and act super excited for the intro to the musical guest that wasn't even there! Part of work obligations included going to a reception at the Walt Disney Theater, home of the LA Philharmonic.  The building is one of the most architecturally inspiring I have ever seen. 

We also went to a professional boxing match and saw Oscar de La Hoya, Magic Johnson, and Eddie Murphy.  The main event went the full 12 rounds and ended in a draw.  I see that as getting your money's worth, however most people were really upset about the draw. We also found the fashion district which was like a huge flea market with the blocks and blocks of handbags!  The bags weren't knock offs, but I think I bought a Big Buddha bag sans Big Buddha hardware, for $22! (Not the one pictured above)   My favorite part was going to Santa Monica. This was the shopping I had been looking for, all within a few blocks: Kitson, Nordstrom, Tory Burch, Anthropology! 

It was great to finally get home.  Elka had been staying a Dogtown all week. She was exhausted and excited to see us, needless to say.