the hubs and i found the most charming little home in sonoma and i'm so excited to announce that we're moving (again) december 1st! the house has a large backyard with planter beds and plenty of space for gardening so i've been looking for inspiration. i'm currently loving all aspects of gardenista - an offshoot of remodelista - from what to plant/when to identifying gorgeous floral arrangements, this is a great guide for tips on honing your little green thumb.



image via: gardenista

now don't get me wrong...i completely adore shelter/lifestyle glossies and digital magazines. however -- sometimes the actual lifestyles portrayed in these publications feel sliiiiiiiightly out of reach. i believe that style should be attainable at any budget and it bums me out when design is made to feel stuffy, impractical and unlivable. in come brit + co. and clementine daily...two of my new favorite sites to follow because they speak to my "...authentic-sometimes-frenzied-often-harried-but-always-inspired" life. you guys, they're total must reads. trust me.

Image via: Clementine Daily

i've always been a fan/supporter of lauren conrad (team lauren...if you will) and i was thrilled to find out about her latest venture the little market. the company mission is wonderful the products are TO DIE. felt pom garlands? SO MUCH YES. the holidays are literally right around the corner and i'm so happy to have found a new source for gift giving (and wish listing!).

you guys...the DAHLIAS right now...   **swoon**

overnight apple butter

 

fall is my favorite season, plain and simple. lately, i've been trying to savor the last few weeks of summer, but honestly all i can think about is my first pumpkin spice latte, riding boots, decorating for halloween and this years thanksgiving plans. a few weeks ago i made a delicious pot roast for dinner in 85 degree heat. needless to say...i was sweatin' it in our tiny unairconditioned apartment the whole time trying to pretend that it was fall...but it was so worth it.

anyway, the other night i noticed that we had a bowl of apples that were just passing their prime. after searching for fuji apple baking recipes online i decided to go with a variation of overnight apple butter. it goes a little something like this:

// OVERNIGHT APPLE BUTTER //

3lbs. apples (mixed is okay)
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. cloves
pinch of salt
3/4 cup water or fresh apple cider

fill crock pot with peeled, cored and diced apples. add remaining ingredients and stir until mixed. cover and cook on high for one hour. after one hour, leave lid on and continue to cook on lowest setting overnight.

in the morning, uncover the crock pot and cook for an additional hour until mixture thickens. once the mixture has thickened, use a whisk to stir until there are no more chunks and the butter becomes a spreadable consistency.

pour butter into mason jars and store in the refrigerator for up to six weeks. Freeze for longer storage.


we like to toast bagels and slather on cream cheese and apple butter (sometimes pumpkin butter!). i've also heard that some like to put a spoonful in a bowl of oatmeal which i'm dying to try. basically the stuff is delicious, it makes your house smell like heeeeaven and hellooo...can it and give it as gifts this holiday season! that's probably what i'll be doing this year and so should you...just sayin.

well, this is embarrassing...

you guys, somehow it has almost been a whole year since my last post! sometimes life gets in the way - especially when there's moving, planning a wedding and then marrying a certain high school sweetheart of eleven years and now apartment hunting again all within 10 months  *phew*  so...anyway...what i'm trying to say is that i'll do my best to come around here a little more regularly. for now i'll leave you with a few of my favorite photos from our wedding day. thank you to everyone who helped make our day the absolute happiest of our lives - i'm officially a mrs!!! xoxo


**side note/inside story: my wedding dress didn't arrive in the mail until four days before our wedding! i custom ordered it on etsy from a photo that i loved...i also measured myself (note to self...do not do that again). luckily, it made it just in time and it fit like a dream.

venue:                Tesoro Flowers at Cornerstone Sonoma
photography:     Rebecca Gosselin Photography
flowers:              Tesoro Flowers
linens:                La Tavola

we're...

...getting married! after ten years together and a long engagement, jason and i will become mr/mrs this spring! julianna and stacey...we can't thank you enough! you both make us look so good. xoxo

photography: jrdm photography
hair/makeup: stacey smarker