Friday, October 29, 2010

Gone Mad

We're watching Mad Men via Netflix these days. I can't get enough.  We can sit down and plow through five or six episodes back to back, no problem.  But, I'm worried that in less than two days, we've almost finished the entire second season.  What will we do when we catch up to reality and have to wait for episodes to air on TV?

Have you seen it?  Do you find it addicting or boring?  I'm loving the slow, steady pacing of the storyline. And of course, the gorgeous sets and costumes.  Plus, it's a nice change of scenery from The Wire. Heh.

{image via artofmanliness.com}

{image via catwalkqueen}

Who has your favorite style? Betty, Joan or Peggy?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Hello, Seattle.


Thrilled to be spending a long weekend in the city that will always have my (coffee loving) heart.

{image via deluxe coffee works}

South African DIY

Another reason to love Cape Town: Pedersen + Lennard.  My South African friends of friends have opened a fantastic design shop that features both indoor and outdoor furniture pieces, all hand designed/made.

Their pieces meld the aesthetic of South African craft with the clean, sleek look of Scandinavian design.  Plus, their showroom also serves as a cafe called {field office}.

How about a few of these pieces in your lounge?









{via iLike}

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Monday, October 25, 2010

One month

For the last ten months I've been counting down to our wedding day.  But now, the reverse countdown has begun!  Happy 31 day anniversary, Ryan.  You're the greatest.

Scaring schoolchildren


Last night Ryan and I cleared the table, got out the sharp knives and the newly purchased carving set, and carved scary pumpkins.  He spent a considerable amount of time drawing a sketch of his zombie (on the right), while I just started hacking at my pumpkin.  His is detailed and intricate, but I'm proud of mine, too, considering I've only carved a few pumpkins in my life.

Our front window is now complete with Halloween decor, and those fun, battery operated tea lights are awesome for leaving our jack-o-lanterns unattended. 


I hope the kids at the nearby school will walk by and get a good fright! Muahahahaha.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Wow.

It seems like a few of these would make the day sooo much better...


NUTTER BUTTER COOKIES (by Nancy Silverton)
Yield: 36 cookies
Cookies:
12oz unsalted butter, cool, 1 vanilla bean, 2 cups quick cooking rolled oats, ¾ cup sugar, ¾ cup brown sugar, ¾ cup chunky peanut butter, I prefer JIF, 2 ¼ cups AP flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp salt.
- In a medium sized skillet, melt 4oz of butter over medium heat. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Toss the seeds and the pod into the butter along with the oats. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly, until the oats are lightly toasted and golden brown. Transfer the oat mixture to a bowl, discarding the vanilla bean pod, and chill in the fridge.
- Place the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer, cream the butter on medium speed for a minute with the paddle attachment. Slowly pour in the sugars and continue creaming until the mixture is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the peanut butter and mix just until combined. Lower the speed and add the chilled oats, mixing until just combined.Turn off the mixer and add the flour mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough comes together in a ball.
- Roll the dough into 2″ balls, or use a scooper to scoop out individual portions and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Slightly flatten each cookie and use a knife to score each cookie with criss-cross patterns. Chill the dough for about 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the cookies for 18-20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. They should be lightly browned. Cool completely.
Filling:
3oz butter, cool, 1½ tsp salt, 6 TBSP powdered sugar, 1 cup + 2 TBSP natural chunky peanut butter
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and salt on medium speed for about a minute, until the butter is softened.
- Add the sugar and peanut butter and mix another minute to combine.
- Assemble and Enjoy!
{image and recipe text via lookimadethat.com}

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Thank you (notes)


This afternoon I've been working on thank you notes to all the sweet people who gave us wedding gifts.  Now, I have a small blister on my right thumb from holding my pen the wrong way.  Sad.

Despite the hazards of card writing, it's so nice to reflect on all the super generous people in our lives who showed us more love and support than we could have ever asked for.  Thank you, everyone!  We're so lucky to have friends and family like you. 

Meet Sloane

I don't know about you, but I've always wanted to hang my martini glasses upside down.  ;)  My chance has finally come!

 
Image via www.marthastewart.com 

Thanks to our generous friends and family members who supplied us with a healthy stack of Crate and Barrel gift cards for our wedding, we purchased this lovely bar/bookshelf over the weekend.  I can't wait until it arrives next week...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Signs of the times






Northrun Farm.  Stevenson, Maryland. 

+++

Fall isn't typically my favorite season.  In fact, it's sort of been my least favorite of the four.  But since my husband (wow! writing that will take some time to get used to) loves this season so much, I'm trying to show Autumn some love.  

So far, 2010 has been the best fall yet.  I love you, Ryan. 

Now that we're married



Kidding.  But aren't these cradles the sweetest (and most creative) little things you ever did see? 

Monday, October 18, 2010

Live from our living room



What a fabulous way to kick off our wedding celebration!  Thank you, Rosie! xoxo

 






 

Je suis revenu

I have returned. What a busy few weeks! Wedding.  Honeymoon. 9 Flights.  A gazillion hotel rooms.   Everything in between. I'm back online and ready to delve into the blogosphere once again!

+++

I'm happy to report that life is well, we've survived the pre-wedding, wedding, and honeymoon chaos, and are slowly readjusting to life back in Baltimore.   Between the Sera Cahoone show we saw in town, the Rosie Thomas living room concert we hosted in our own living room, the busy week of last minute wedding planning and coordinating, BBQ'ing and socializing before the wedding, OUR WEDDING, and our fantastic trans-Pacific honeymoon...I feel like we've not only survived, but have lived something truly great.  What a fabulous three weeks it has been.

+++

Now, Fall.  After a quick trip out to Pittsburgh last week, it was clear that Autumn has hit the mid-Atlantic.  The bright yellow and red colors were spectacular as we drove through southern Pennsylvania.  The changing trees got me dreaming of a weekend trip up to New England before all the leaves fall.  We'll see.

In the meantime, we took a trip out to the corn maze Sunday afternoon and bought our share of pumpkins and squash and came home to create a Halloween window display.  (Here in Baltimore, people typically put holiday decorations inside rather than out on their porch since naughty passerbyer's often steal stuff right under their noses.)  Ryan's annual "October scary movie film fest" begun last night with a viewing of Silence of the Lambs.  And my neighbor and I caught up with a little fall cooking by making a delicious curried pumpkin with green beans for dinner Saturday night (and served it in my new, gorgeous, Anthropologie bowls!).


The man I married.  Doing karate in a corn maize.

+++

Looking forward to updating you all in the coming weeks, hearing your comments, and sharing life together. Keep in touch! xoxo

While I was away...