the dark ages

we are definitely not morning people. definitely not. so in our previous home the bright white walls had to go {actually that is giving the previous owners way too much credit... they were a horrible shade of lilac with this spanish style fireplace, very bizarre.... anways} black it was!

{before}

{after}

{pardon the cell phone pics... all i had}

xo

Tweet

thankFULL

{finding the perfect tree}

due to a change of plans we were not able to be with my family this year for thanksgiving {definitely not thankful for that} which meant that we had to miss out on dinner with much cherished friends and family as well as a great friends engagement party {congrats k & j you know we wish we could have been there!!} but it did however allow for a very nice, much needed mellow holiday still spent with 3 of out favorite people in the whole world... here are a few moments i was extremely thankful for this week.

{christmas decorations}

{eating, eating... and eating some more...}

{decorating cookies... ignore the lack of make up...}

{cinnamon sugar sprinkled pie crust scraps}

{yo gabba gabba live}

{dancing in the rain}

{love}

Tweet

wtf trends... cream of the crop

cropped shirts... no way! i know, that's exactly what i said... especially after having a child. But these tiny tees are popping up everywhere and i was determined to find a way to work them in, so here are a few ways i've managed to wear them while still looking appropriate enough to attend mommy and me dance class...

{wildfox cropped love is the answer jumper over maxi dress} 

 {alexander wang velvet ribbed cropped sweater over zara polka dot shirt, jbrand black jeans, jessica simpson black boots}

{cropped back shirt , boyfriend jeans, aldo forwood heels, pamela love cage ring}

 {freepeople swing crop over xhilaration sleeveless tank, freepeople floral feilds pants}

 {urban outfitters crop tee  over freepeople foil crop bra, lna column skirt, steven fierse pump}

xo

Tweet

this pie is to die

going to a thanksgiving dinner? are you in charge of bringing dessert???? don't just grab a boring pumpkin pie from whole foods... make this pecan pie that will make everyone at dinner want to take you home and keep you in a closet so they can bring you out and have you bake this pie whenever they want. {just ask my future brother in law... he doesn't stop talking about this pie... seriously...} just remember if you are going to make this {and let's face it you are} make sure and make at least two... that's something you WILL be thankful for ! 

ingredients:

1 pie crust 

1 cup pecan halves 

1 cup white sugar

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup corn syrup

1/3 cup melted butter

3 eggs {beaten}

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

directions:

place unbaked pie crust in baking dish {i have a few pie crust recipes i like but lets be honest- if you were thinking about buying a pre-made pie you definitely aren't going to be hand making any crusts...so i usually find that the pillsbury crust that is located in the fridge section works just as well.} next mix everything except for the pecans in a bowl, making sure the melted butter is cooled so it doesn't cook the eggs. now place the chopped pecans {i give it a little rough chop- not to big or too small though...but you can leave them in the halves if you like too!} on the bottom of pie shell, then pour filling mixture over the pecans. next you will want to cover the pie with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven. bake for 30 minutes with the foil on and then about 20 without. when the time is up, if it still seems "soupy" place back in oven with foil back on. the pie shouldn't be super jiggly when you pull it out. it may take up to another 20 minutes... but keep a close eye on it.

xo

Tweet

i have a PHD in anthropologie

anthropologie is literally a one stop shop for cute, unique holiday gifts. every time i go on their website i end up sitting there obsessing over everything!! here are just a few of my favorites {although i left about 1000 thing off this list} 

{nosegay sheet set}

{verdant bread bin}

 {elysian platter & sculpted cultivars platter}

{core sample stopper}

{quartz topped jewelry box}

{yaritza holders}

 {Q&A a day journal  & brothers grimm fairy tales}

{DIY charms}

xo

Tweet

jeans... with a capital J

i'm a jeans girl. don't get me wrong i love my skirts and dresses, but when in doubt- jeans it is! i love that you can dress em up, dress em down - no matter what your cute yet comfortable and the jeans that i'm usually in are JBRAND. i own tons of jeans from every brand imaginable but i always seem to go back. they fit great- i'm always the same size no matter what the style and the quality holds up. {some pairs i have had for years... and i wore most of them through my pregnancy- oh and they have maternity!} so next time your in a dressing room filled with jeans... kindly hand back all the ones except the jbrands... you could also keep paige {they run a close second..}

xo 

Tweet

products i can't live without

make-up edition

no trendy items here... these are my favorite everyday items that i can't live without! do i throw in a red lip every now and then or purple eye shadow? sure! but these are my go-to, when-in-doubt trusty beauty products.
 {click any item on the list to purchase online}

{rebecca minkoff make up case}

1. smashbox foundation primer

2. georgio armani lumious silk foundation{also try face fabric}

3. nars bronzer in laguna

4. mac eye shadow in satin taupe

5. dior black out mascara

6. mac lipsticks

7. tweezerman tweezers

8. beauty blender sponge

9. mac eye kohl in smolder

10 stila liquid liner

11. sephora brow comb {also great for separating lashes!} bronzer #44 & shadow brushes

12. josie maran argan oil stick

13. labello lip balm

14. ardel falsies #105

15. st ives apricot scrub

16. natura bisse cleansing products
17. compact heart mirror 


xo

Tweet

whats for dinner???

homemade chili !!!

it's that time of the year again! time to light a fire, pour a glass of wine, and make a big pot of chili. so call up the ones you love, get this simmering on the stove, then curl up on the couch with a big bowl in front of your favorite holiday movie...

ingredients:

5 lbs ground turkey {you can also use beef}

1 onion chopped fine 

1 tablespoon garlic

1 can 20oz tomatoes

3 cups bbq sauce

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon pepper,tabasco or you choice of spice

2 cans pinto beans, drained

2 cans dark red kidney beans , drained 

directions:

brown turkey, add onions and cook until onions are soft. add all remaining ingredients. cook on low heat for at least 1 hour {or longer if you have the time!!} stirring occasionally.

this feeds a BIG crowd so you can cut everything in half {although i still use almost the whole can of tomatoes} 

i like to top with some grated cheese and sour cream, also good on hot dogs... but of course best all by itself!!!

enjoy!!!

ps thanks mom for the delicious recipe!

xo

Tweet

seeing stripes

since my {future} sis and bro in law didn't find out the sex of the baby when they were pregnant that meant waiting to do the nursery. then the little bundle of love showed up, sans wee wee, so pink it was!!! that meant time to get painting... having seen ever's room and the stripes i did {here} she wanted to incorporate that,  we chose to do alternating stripes of grey, dark pink, grey, light pink. turned out so freaking cute! heres some inspiration!! 

{before} 

 the hardest part was creating a "ceiling"... since they had a curve instead of a hard line on three of the four walls... good times... amazingly we figured it out.

{after}

a little love surprise i left in one of the stripes...

xo

Tweet

is that christmas i hear?

in our family we listen to christmas music all year round... but i guess it's now socially acceptable to have the windows rolled down... here are the albums that are currently on our play list

 {a fine frenzy oh blue christmas: she & him a very christmas}

{the hotle cafe presents winter songs : sarah mclachlan wintersong}

 {michael buble christmas : the essential now that's what i call christmas} 

xo

Tweet