So hard to choose!

I went to two different dealerships to "play the game" of buying a new car. Got close, but no cigar. So while I rejected both dealerships offers, I'm reconsidering if I even would want an SUV right now. The Honda CRV is nice and practical, but it's not the most luxurious small SUV out there... especially for the money they want. I wanted a SUV because I wanted more room for my lifestyle, but when I think about it - I nanny 3 girls, and we all fit fine in my current 2000 Nissan Altima (even when Cooper's car-seat is in the middle of their car-seats in the back! With the nice trunk room, strollers fit fine, backpacks can be thrown in there, and also instruments (K plays the violin) and we have no problem finding room to be comfortable. I am not planning on having a family of my own soon, but even if I did, I'd be fine with having a car and saving gas money! If I were to get a car I think I'd go with the 2012 Hyundai Elantra. I love the way it looks similar to a BMW or Mercedes...and they start at only $16,500. If you want an automatic transmission, of course (I need one) you're going to be adding $1,000+ so I'll round it up to $18,000 total (and that's where you get to haggle the sales people to lower it as much as they will). It gets 40 mpg Highway and 29 City...which is awesome and way more than my car gets now, and I only fill up (usually) twice a month, averaging around $100 for gas, so I'd be saving that way as well. So stressful making up decisions but I plan on test driving this car soon to make up my mind.

Black or White, Black or White, Black or White?

Ok I need your opinions! I'm going to get a new car (hopefully within the month)...
A 2011 Honda CRV (also hoping I will be able to get this). But I am having trouble choosing a color! I've always wanted a black car. Black is my favorite color (even though, technically, it's the absence of color..but that doesn't matter) and I love the way it looks, but now I'm thinking that a white one looks better? And definitely going for a grey interior, because heck, I nanny 3 kids and stains are bound to happen and are less noticeable on grey than on nice tan seats. So....HELP. What color do you like? Black or White?

I love me some Caramel Apples!

I was browsing around on other blogs and I found this - I absolutely HAVE to do this, it seems super easy! I LOVE caramel apples! :)

Inside Out Caramel Apples

3 large Granny Smith apples

1 large lemon (or lemon juice)

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tbs butter

2 tbs light corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Chocolate sauce (optional)

Cut your apples in half and use a melon baller to scoop out the insides, leaving the walls intact at about 1/2 to 1/4 inch thickness.

Squeeze the juice from the lemon onto the apples and allow to set. This will keep them from turning brown right away.

In a sauce pan over high heat, add the brown sugar, butter, heavy cream and corn syrup. Stir until the brown sugar has dissolved. Then leave it to boil, untouched (don’t stir), until it reaches 230 degrees, about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the vanilla, stir until it stops bubbling. Allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes.

Using a paper towel, wipe your apples down, removing the lemon juice as much as possible. If the inside of your apple is too wet, the caramel wont stick.

Pour the caramel into the hollowed out apples until just below the top.

Sprinkle with pecans if you desire.

Chill in the refrigerator until the caramel has set, about 20 minutes.

Cut into slices and drizzle with chocolate sauce if desired.

The caramel in this post is easy to make, but it does have a bit of a maple flavor and isn’t a traditional caramel. The reason I used this, instead of a more traditional caramel, is because it’s so easy to make. Traditional caramel burns easy and has a small amber window of doneness before it’s ruined.

But you have other options, if you want to make these.

You can use a more traditional caramel, like easy melts from the store. But it makes the apples more tricky to cut when cooled.

If you buy caramel sauce or use the meltables, make sure it is really firm at room temperature or it will just run all over the place once you cut the apples into slices.