I am in LOVE!

These SLATE cheese plates are my favorite

 

I was with a friend the other day at Crate & Barrel

and there they were...

the perfect cheese plates! : )

I love them. Onto my Christmas list it goes. 

Who Says?

Who says that because I usually put tasty desserts on in my cake platter 

I have to do it all of the time?...NO ONE! : )

so I decided to start putting my fruit in there instead.

It looks so pretty...I think!

It's nice not to have delicious sugary sweets around all the time,

plus I see these every day as I walk by the decorative dish! 

Apples are my new favorite treat! <3

strawberries. 

homemade whipped cream. 

brown sugar.

our mom's are best friends.

& since before I was born her and I have been friends

her name is Katie,

people call her Katherine or Kate,

but I know her as Katie

She is one of the people I admire most in the world.

you know that person that you look up to while you're 

growing up?

The one who plays the flute, so you play the flute.

The one who is beautiful, crazy intelligent, & has the best heart. 

The one who you hope to be like.

She is this girl. 

My entire life she has been more like a sister than a friend.

I am so blessed to have her in my life.

*tearing up*

She is here for less than 48 hours! YIPPEE!

Last night we stayed in, ordered pizza, picked up a bottle of wine

&

she beat me at scrabble! OUCH!

This morning we woke up,

she went for a run

[she's training for a marathon...cool, huh?]

& 

I made us a big Saturday morning brunch.

Cheesy eggs,

Pumpkin pancakes,

&

strawberries with homemade whipped cream.

Excited for the rest of the day : )

&

to have the honor of calling this amazing woman my friend!

P.S. a special thanks to our mothers for this friendship ; )

My Fall Look! 

Everyone knows that I think in pinks & purples,

but I tend to dress in black and brown.

Here is my simple and easy look of choice for this season:

I have SO many pairs of leggings for this season,

too many pairs of boots,

and 

plenty of long cardigans.

That is about all I have been wearing.

I mix and match

then top it all off

with a scarf or a vest 

[possibly a fur vest *wink*]

and an oversized purse!

I really like the infinity scarf above because it works

with any casual Fall outfit. 

YAY FOR COMFY FALL CLOTHES!

What is your Fall look?

I'm in a young woman's group...

we meet every other wednesday 

last night we had pumpkin pie french press coffee

&

the host, 

one of my favorite ladies in the world,

made pumpkin whoopie pies with cream cheese frosting

yum. 

mmmmmm....

if you know me then you know...

I LOVE COFFEE

I love to go

to specialty coffee shops

and pick up their delicious flavors.

Fall flavors are my favorite <3

pumpkin, 

pecan pie,

THERE ARE SO MANY

&

they are all

so good!

[cupcakes at my surprise birthday celebration]

Happy Birthday to Me : ) 

My birthday celebrations started the Friday 

before my birthday...

a dinner out with five of my favorites! 

We had Tex-Mex, followed by pumpkin pecan cheesecake.

Then a small photo shoot by the fountain in town square.

Sunday we went to dinner

with Chris' parents...

they treated me to my favorite restaurant

in Southlake! We sat on the roof,

listened to music & had a wonderful conversation.

On my actual birthday Chris and I

visited the best BBQ restaurant in the area,

frozen yogurt, a movie & a delicious italian dinner.

THEN...I was in a group last Spring with

some absolutely amazing young married women

I haven't been able to see them a lot this Fall, 

because of the traveling Chris and I have been doing...

Yesterday they threw me a surprise birthday party...

gifts, girlfriends & cupcakes from 

a delicious cupcake place in the DFW area! yum!

It was the perfect end to a week filled with

birthday celebrations, phone calls, 

gifts mailed from all over, 

a day with my husband, family, beautiful friends,

& 

most of all finding our new home!

I am CRAZY BLESSED to have all of these

FABULOUS people in my little life! 

Thanks to all of you for making my week so special!

Decorating <3

so we put an offer in...

&

then I realized...

we will have a great house, 

but how will we decorate?

You know those women that

just have an eye for putting things together...

that can see how a decorated room will look

before anything is even in it...

that pick the perfect style...

yep...

I am NOT one of them.

[haha]

What style is your favorite? 

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Giles

I was honored to be in a friend's wedding

this past August! 

Kate and I were college roommates

& 

she continues to be one of my closet friends.

They had the most beautiful wedding 

at the 

Henry Ford Estate

in

Dearborn, Michigan

It was gorgeous! 

the weather held up perfectly for the ceremony and pictures.

Then the reception was held inside the estate.

Kate with the help of her Mother and amazing

wedding planner had the perfect wedding

&

I was so happy to have been a part of it!

This couple has a special place in my heart and always will <3

we took this right before the ceremony started

(the bride & her maids)

The newlyweds took a honeymoon cruise! : ) 

What a beautiful couple they are!

House Hunting 

For about a month now

Chris and I have been 

on the search for the right home

we have met with a realtor,

searched through hundreds

of listings online,

Chris' Mom and I have

spent hours driving the area

looking at houses,

and...

finally we have a prospect! 

updates will come later! 

DID WE FIND THE HOUSE?!?!

Fall in Texas 

I love the Fall season

the trees changing color,

boots, fleece jackets,

Texas State Fair,

Octoberfest, pumpkins,

a pumpkin spice latte 

on a cold morning,

cider and donuts,

baking apple pie

and

pumpkin pie,

and my birthday.


Our place pictured above *

I am ready for Fall...

a delicious carrot cake,

candles glowing

and the light of the evening 

coming through the windows.

*Priscilla Chapman Photography

I Love Fur

I used to collect vintage fur coats

& 

I don't get to wear them enough, 

because the weather in Texas

just doesn't get cold enough.

These vests are the perfect solution! 

I can wear fur and not feel like I am in a sauna! 

There are so many stores bringing 

this style in

for Fall! 

Stores from Old Navy to Neiman Marcus! 

This is great! No matter what your budget is...

YOU, TOO, CAN WEAR FUR [or faux fur]

 <3

The pictured vest above is Michael Kors.

Here are two more:::

[Old Navy] 

[Neiman Marcus]

Can't wait to see everyone 

wearing their fur coats & vests

this Season! <3

Loving this Rainy Weather <3

Chris & I returned from 

Michigan...

to the most amazing weather

here in Texas!

Rain showers 

make me so excited to wear my 

Pink Wellies!

When I get another pair I would love these:

Check out their sight for more colors and fun styles!

http://usa.hunter-boot.com

Baking Mood.

Crunchy Apple Muffins

Ingredients:::

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice

2 cups grated apples

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional

1/2 cup raisins, optional

Crunch Topping Ingredients:::

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

3 tablespoons sugar

Preparation:::

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Spray muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. 

Cream sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla in small bowl. 

Mix together flour, baking soda and apple pie spice in large bowl. 

Add creamed mixture, stirring just until moistened. 

Fold in apples, nuts and raisins. 

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.

For crunch topping, mix butter, flour and sugar 

with fork or pastry blender in medium bowl. 

Spoon evenly over batter in muffin cups. 

Bake for 25–30 minutes. 

I'll serve them with just brewed coffee....

french press preferably

YUMYUMYUM<3

L is for the way you look at me

O is for the only one I see

V is very, very extraordinary

E is even more than anyone that you adore

I am in 

LOVE 

with my husband

& 

yes...

I want the world to know!

I have known

this amazing guy since

I was 13 years old

He has been the greatest friend

& 

the most perfect husband 

that I could have ever imagined!

I am a blessed girl to have a man with whom 

everyday I can share 

smiles, laughs, hugs & kisses 

LOVE is a BEEEEEAAAAAUTIFUL thing <3

embrace it.

xx

Going Home

Even though I 

am a proud 

resident of 

the State of Texas...

I will always have a very 

special place in my heart for

Michigan <3

Summers spent at 

the 

cottage 

on Lake Huron

Summer camp 

on Lake Michigan

playing 

in the sand dunes

Growing up in 

the

beautiful historic district of

Northville, MI

Trips to the Coney

[coney island]

& the most

Beautiful Summer nights.

I haven't been back

to the mitten

in a year

so you can only imagine 

the excitement!

It's going to be a great trip!

xx

Who is up for a TEA PARTY?

Currently Loving: Tea Cups & Saucers

I have an amazing

set of Kate Spade china

[6 actually]

&

I love it!

I think I want to start collecting

all types and styles

of cups and saucers.

How fun would it be

to invite over my

favorite fabulous ladies,

drink tea

&

eat trifle?!

:) I love to entertain!

DayDreamingOfTeaPartiesToday <3