happy thanksgiving!

I hope you enjoy the parade and the food, I will be working, but hopefully keeping in good spirits. I'll be serving turkey and chicken, but dreaming of parade floats, hot chocolate, and serious couch lounging. I am thankful for many things, but right now the one standing out in my mind is that I have a week vacation after today. {I suppose I'm also thankful for my family and friends :)}

Have a wonderful holiday and eat lots of carbs!

2012 calendar search

I know I said I had already chosen my calendar for next year, but I really fell like I need two. I've said that before, but this time I'm serious. I ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS. I've before spoken of my love for drywell and her meat sections illustrations so my obsession with this calendar should come as no surprise. Vegetarian friends beware, this will be hanging in my kitchen come January 1st.

gifts for the hostess

Some of you may be putting on your own Thanksgiving feast this week, but if that's not the case, you may be going to someone else's home for the holiday. I never like to show up anywhere without some baked goods or {if the mood to bake doesn't strike me} a gift for the host. It's the least I can do for someone inviting me into their home, especially if they're cooking such a stressful, big meal. If I don't bring food or flowers, I like to bring a gift that they can use perhaps that night or soon after. These are some quick ideas just in case you haven't gotten your hostess something yet :)

1.Lettered Wine Carafe, 2. Bundled up Critters Candles, 3. Glitter Tart Server, 4. A Very She + Him Christmas, 5. Antler Dishtowel , 6. Fig Ornament, 7. Winter White Honey, 8. Glitter Deer, 9. Knit Cozy Mug, 10. Olive + Sinclair Chocolate, 11. Thankful Forest Card, 12. Pinecone candleholders

happy monday + sweet paul

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! I wanted to start off the week with a little bit of eye candy: Sweet Paul's holiday issue. It's packed with wonderful holiday recipes and gift ideas, plus as always, the photography is beautiful. If you're still wondering what gifts to get your loved ones, or what cookies you would like to bake this year, make yourself a cup of tea, sit down, and read this.

No Sunday Sweets this week, still couldn't find a camera and I figured we didn't need anything else in the house. I have to do quite a bit of baking before our late Thanksgiving on Friday so I thought I would hold off a couple of days.

stop motion weddings!

Marina + Andy's Wedding in Stop-Motion | Melbourne, Australia / NYC from Bayly & Moore on Vimeo.

Bonnie + Rhys' Wedding in Stop-Motion | Margaret River, Australia from Bayly & Moore on Vimeo.

I honestly don't know where to begin with these. They're absolutely dreamy, especially that first video. I seriously had to pick my chin up off the floor after seeing it. The stop motion makes their wedding seem completely magical. Who do I know that can do that? Reveal yourselves!

{for more magical videos check out Bayly & Moore's vimeo page!}

happy chilly weekend!

Another week gone by, sigh. I seriously can't believe we're a week away from Thanksgiving and only a month away from Christmas. Where has this year gone? When I think of how quickly time is going, I get extremely nervous for the next year in our life. Oh well we'll get it all done, and if our engagement party last Friday is any indication of the wedding, it will be amazing. Here's a few pictures from the night!

P.S. I'm going to try to borrow a camera for this weekend so I don't miss out on another "Sunday Sweets!"

Aaaaand around the internet this week:

1. Awesome article about planning a DIY wedding, seriously this made me feel so much better, and yet more stressed at the same time, funny how that works.

2. A streamer backdrop tutorial that I'm probably going to use in the near future.

3. Ever dream of being engaged to a Prince?

4. Can I please be invited to this Thanksgiving?

have a good weekend!

cheesy christmas gift

Quite literally.

Jacob and I have long talked about making our own cheese. We have many books on the subject, but just haven't gotten around to doing it. Soon though! Anyway, if someone gave me this lovely packaged cheese making gift, I would find it extremely difficult not to start creating my own. Wouldn't you?

the distillery dames {chocolate wasted}

Last night was the second meeting of the Distillery Dames, a group of ladies coming together to enjoy craft beer. While the turn-out was less than the first meeting, the ladies that did attend had a lovely time {plus that left more chocolate for us, so take that!}. Some of the ladies had prepared pairings of chocolate and beer for us to enjoy, and my personal favorite was Lindt dark chocolate "intense orange" with an Ommegang Witte. It was amazing, and definitely a pairing I will have to indulge in again... and again.

For those of you who are in the Savannah area, I highly suggest you get to The Distillery, and perhaps attend a Dames meeting, there will be beer, and probably more chocolate. :)

wedding wednesdays {flowers and caps and veils, oh my!}

{Pearl Birdcage}

{Chantilly Veil}

{Golden Bouquet}

{Quixotic Cap}

{Dotted Voila Veil}

{Rhinestone mini tulle veil}

{triple silk flower headband}

{ban.do bridal rose}

I've never fancied myself much of a veil girl. I'm not sure what I imaged wearing as a bride, but a thin piece of tulle that cost half a month's rent, wasn't it. Because of my obsession with watching wedding dress shows, I was well aware that once one has narrowed down the search the consultant starts to "jack you up." Meaning they pull your hair back, and slap on a headpiece, this is supposed to make you feel like bride {as if the big white dress wasn't enough}.

I guess when you put on this ridiculously expensive hair clip, you're supposed to cry and feel transformed. I felt neither. It seemed strange. I was happy with the dress and the idea of shoes and accessories, but the veil really didn't do it for me. Is this weird? Am I immune to bridal emotions?

To me the idea a of a veil covering my face, or even floating behind me, is a dated concept. I've seen them done really well on my friends and other brides, but when imagining one on myself, i don't know, it just doesn't feel like me. SO now I'm stuck with trying to figure out what does. Perhaps a flower? A french inspired lace cap? Or the {somewhat over played} birdcage?

I have plenty of time to figure this out, but these small details are what I'm most excited about getting to.

oysters, dresses, and cameras

This weekend was a blast, but now I find myself needing another weekend to recover. Friday was the night of our engagement party and it was amazing. We were so happy with everyone that came and so thankful to have so many lovely people in our lives. I'll have more photos later, but for now please accept this small phone camera pic. 


Saturday I went dress shopping with the moms and am pleased {and surprised} to say that we found a dress! If only the rest of the wedding planning process could be that easy! 


As for Sunday Sweets, I didn't forget. Last week I made a lovely apple butter in anticipation for this week, since I knew it would be a busy weekend. Unfortunately, I left my camera in Jacob's mom's car and do not have any photos to share. Perhaps I'll wait a few weeks to post it, my apologies. In the meantime, here's a lovely food blog for you to enjoy. Aren't those photos just dreamy? 

the perfect boot

{Frye, Paige Trapunto}

{Sam Edelman, Patrice}

{Steve Madden, Foreway}

{Steve Madden, Miidori}

Allow me to get real for a moment. The search for boots has literally plagued me for about four years now. I have short legs and thick calves, nothing ever looks good. On top of that I'm incredibly picky, as one should be when spending that much money. Is the heel too much? Is it not enough? Does the toe curve the way I want it to? What about the height? With so many questions, it's no wonder I've never bought a pair.

 Every year I think "This is it, this is the year I will choose a boot," and yet every year I pick each candidate apart until I convince myself that I'm just not a boot person. I then purchase another pair of cheap ankle boots that I wear once or twice and then decide do not look good on me. Am I to be plagued like this for the rest of my life? 

Perhaps one of these will do the trick. Something adjustable is probably the way to go, maybe those Sam Edelman's? Hmm, yes, maybe those. 

2012 calendars {leah duncan}

It's that special time of year again, when I go searching for the most beautiful calendar for the upcoming year. I believe I've already chosen my favorite for next year, but that doesn't mean I have to stop looking. Last year I chose one from Leah Duncan, and I've loved it for the past 11 months. Her 2012 calendars are just as lovely and whimsical. I may need one of these too. 

J.Crew Christmas cards

I love receiving Christmas cards, but I've never sent any out. Maybe it's because I get a little lazy, or perhaps because Jacob and I hate taking pictures, whatever the reason, I think I'd like to correct it this year. If for no other reason than to use these J. Crew cards from Minted. I'm kind of in love. It's always exciting to get a Christmas card that's a little bit different {it stands out on the overcrowded refrigerator}, and I would love to get one of these in the mail. Let the picture-taking commence. 

sunday sweets {challah french toast}

 I was not feeling my best this weekend, so I took a bit of a break from any serious baking. Jacob, however, tries very hard to make me feel better when I'm sick, and he knows making breakfast for me definitely helps. We had some Challah bread left over from the Jewish Food Festival last Sunday {for those of you who are unaware, challah is a very special braided, egg bread, usually baked for the Sabbath, it's delicious}, and it literally makes the best french toast ever. Slice it thick and you'll get almost a bread pudding effect. 

• Ingredients:
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half or milk
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon good honey
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 large loaf challah or brioche bread
• Unsalted butter
• Vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

In a large shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, orange zest, vanilla, honey, and salt. Slice the challah in 3/4-inch thick slices. Soak as many slices in the egg mixture as possible for 5 minutes, turning once.

Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a very large saute pan over medium heat. Add the soaked bread and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked French toast on a sheet pan and keep it warm in the oven. Fry the remaining soaked bread slices, adding butter and oil as needed, until it's all cooked. Serve hot with maple syrup, raspberry preserves, and/or confectioners' sugar.

Enjoy!

happy weekend!

{matchbookmag tumblr}

This week could have been better, but I'm very thankful for the weekend. I think I was about one workday away from being really sick, even more sick than I am right now. I believe the next two days will be spent in pjs drinking lots of tea and catching up on trash tv, because I really can't be sick this week. Next weekend is our engagement party and I am determined to be well rested.  


I hope you have a warm and healthy weekend! 


Around the web:
1. I NEED THIS.
2. I think I've found our wedding colors.
3. Worry too much?

rifle paper weddings

Here's the thing: yes I am a graphic designer. Yes, I can do invitations on my own. Yes, it makes more sense to put the money towards other things {liquor}, but it's extremely hard to resist hiring someone else to do it. Especially when some of my favorite design studios create such lovely invitations. Seriously, these from Rifle Paper Co. make me weak in the knees. They will be launching their wedding line in 2012, but I can't help swooning over them now. 


Maybe I'll splurge? 

365 lucky days

 

 
 



I love this. Lucky Jackson has made it a goal to create a new piece of art everyday for a year. I love when people make these goals and then stick to them, maybe I should make it a goal to think about doing something like this... maybe. So far i really love the Liz Lemon and Richie Tenenbaum ones.