Cranberry pants

Shirt and pants: Stitch Fix, 

Shoes: c/o Minnetonka, 

Necklace: c/o T&J Designs

You know, it's the weirdest thing. These photos were actually shot this morning, during about the two hour window when it was still sunny, breezy, and calm outside. Then in a matter of about 30 minutes, something wild blew in, and it's straight up winter out now. Grey skies, strong winds, and COLD. I absolutely love it. Looking forward to a day of warm flannel, hot coffee, and editing, editing, editing.  Seriously, my favorite kind of day. :)

In other news, I haven't talked much about Stitch Fix lately, but can I just say my fixes have been blowing my mind? This whole outfit arrived in my box yesterday, and not only is it my style, but it fits to a T. I really think you have to give them a few tries to really nail your style, and lots of feedback. I've been getting 2-4 items I absolutely love in every box lately! So much fun. 

(this post is in no way sponsored by Stitch Fix, but I do get referral credit if you sign up through my link!)

Anyway, have a beautiful day, you guys! 

Shirt and pants: Stitch Fix, 

Shoes: c/o Minnetonka, 

Necklace: c/o T&J Designs

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I found fall

Pirouetting Autumn

The tree blushed - a rude blast of air


Betrayed a shapely bough. 


My saddened heart aware


That Nature's clock was chiming, 


I froze upon the twelfth 


Clanging tone, caught alone, 


Staring at a creaking door -


Left ajar for dancing, coloured Autumn, 


Pirouetting in her leaves, 


While agitated summer creatures


Backed away resignedly, 


Sighing in protracted breves.


I turned; gave company; 


We stood together, watching


Summer slowly blow away.

~ Mark R. Slaughter

The one thing I'll never come to terms with about Austin is our lack of a consistent Autumn. In September, when it seems like the rest of the world is buzzing about the dropping temperatures and changing leaves and sweater weather and hot lattes, it's still a bazillion degrees here, and I begin to become extremely perturbed by our location within the hemisphere. Fall is just my favorite season, and we get ripped off a bit here in Texas. Teased with a few chilly days before the temps hike back up for a week. Teased for a few more chilly days, before the temps hike back up for a week. And so on and so forth. It may or may not even be cold on Thanksgiving and Christmas. So annoying!

But the conditions here this fall have made for a bit more leaf-changing, most especially at a little park where I held a photo session over the weekend (Old Settlers Park, for you curious Austinites). It was a hazy, chilly morning, and I drove up to scope out the lay of the land before my clients arrived and was so happily surprised by the beautiful colors I found. Damnit if they didn't make me want to run straight home for a hot bath and some spiced cider.

Enjoy your Monday, whatever part of the world you're in... :)

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Pumpkin bread with cinnamon streusel topping

I know this is the second recipe post here in a row (weird), and also the second post in a row that I demanded you make said recipe... but this pumpkin bread, you guys. You need it in your life. 

We had a little fall cool snap here (finally!), and this was the perfect addition to a very full weekend. Hope you can find the time to make it! Since I'm too lazy to post the whole recipe, go on over here for the details. Happy MONDAY! :)

(check out this post from last year, too: "five things you should try this fall"!)

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A peek at our Thanksgiving

Happy week after Thanksgiving! Hope your holiday was full of good food and fun. We had a quiet day with my mom and sister, and enjoyed all the favorites... turkey and gravy, ham, sweet potato casserole and mashed poatoes, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, cobbler, and chocolate dipped peanut butter balls for good measure. You would have thought we were feeding an army, not just four people! Leftovers were had by all. :)

And so begins the countdown to Christmas. My Instagram feed has been blowing up with Christmas tree photos, and I'm a little jealous... we won't be getting ours 'til later in the week, and even then, I'm not sure how it will work since Matthew isn't supposed to lift anything heavy (darn that appendix!). 

Anyway, enough of my rambling for now. Hope your Monday is minimally painful and your week gets off to a great start...

Best Ever Hot Apple Cider

Hey folks, I just wanted to pass along the best ever and, more importantly, EASIEST ever hot apple cider recipe. I've made this cider multiple times over the past several years, and it is always a huge hit! Not to mention it will make your home smell like heaven while it cooks up. :)  Perfect to have brewing on Thanksgiving day or during the weeks leading up to Christmas!

Enjoy...

Best Ever Hot Apple Cider

Ingredients:

+ 1 jug of good quality apple cider (I prefer the kind you have to shake up due to settling at the bottom
   (Texans: Louisburg brand from HEB is awesome!)
+ 1 large orange
+ 4-5 whole cloves
+ 3-4 cinnamon sticks

Directions: Pour desired amount of cider into a crockpot on high heat. Stick your orange with 4-5 cloves (cloves are pretty sharp, and they pierce the orange's skin quite easily!) and add the orange into the pot. Throw in your cinnamon sticks and let it all simmer for anywhere from 2-4 hours, or until flavors are nicely melded. Remove the crockpot lid at any point during the process to better allow the heavenly aroma into your home! Serve hot, with a cinnamon stick for garnish, and enjoy.

*Note: Cider could also be cooked in a regular pot on the stove, but do not leave unattended.

November morning

Fall has graced us with its presence here in Texas this week... what a fabulous, fabulous day it's started out to be here. My mom, Norman, and I took a little walk in a nearby park early this morning, where cold wind and warm sun streamed in through fields of wheat in the most glorious manner. So naturally, Norman and I had to be sure and take pictures in said glorious sunlight and wheat. 

And now, you reap the benefits. Pun intended. 

(get it? reap? wheat? sigh. It's early yet.)

Shirt: Madewell (similar here), Pants: Gap (similar color pants here), Boots: Franco Sarto (similar here), Hat: Banana Republic (similar here), Necklace: Marolsha, Cute Little Dog: Diamond Dachshund Rescue :) 

Five things you should try this fall

1. Homemade popcorn. 

My mom made homemade popcorn for me at her house once, and I thought it was so incredibly delicious, I had to take some kernels home and make it for Matthew, too. The man looooovvvves popcorn, and you should have seen his eyes light up with pure childlike joy when his mouth first beheld the wholesome goodness. Yum.

Buy a package of unpopped kernels and some canola oil. Add a couple tablespoons of the oil to the bottom of a large pot, and heat it up on medium-high heat. Add in one kernel, and when it pops, add in another half a cup and put on the lid, preferably a glass one you can see through. As the kernels begin to pop, shake the pot around every few seconds so the bottom layer doesn't burn. You'll probably want to wear oven mitts and hold the lid down while you do this. When the popping slows considerably, remove from heat and pour into a separate bowl. Add a generous amount of salt (to taste) and if you want to get really crazy, you can pour over some melted butter too. But I think you'll find that the canola oil gives it a nice flavor and butter isn't needed!

* * * * * 

2. Non-fat Greek Yogurt with 100% maple syrup.

So healthy and SO good! But make sure you get real maple syrup. That's key.

* * * * *

3. Homemade apple butter.

This stuff is heaven spread over toast, cinnamon bagels, or the bread I mention below. Here's a delicious apple butter recipe. And it will make your house smell like pure fall. 

* * * * * 

4. Cranberry Sweet Potato Bread.

This delicious, rustic bread will blow your mind with butter and apple butter for your breakfast in the morning. Add the Greek yogurt with maple syrup and you'll be full and happy 'til lunch!  Here's the recipe.

* * * * *

5. Pumpkin hot (white) chocolate.

All I can say about this is that you have to make it. It's pumpkin pie in a cup. It's a mouthgasm. Do it. 

Recipe here.

Happy Thursday!

The day all my dreams came true.

Ok, so maybe not ALL my dreams. But I had this fully romanticized notion of what it would be like to pick apples from an orchard on a chilly autumn day, and Carter Mountain in Virginia delivered. On the way there you pass rolling hills and beautiful farmland, thick forests and lush vegetation, Monticello where Thomas Jefferson once lived, and then... then! You turn onto a side road and start to climb up the mountain. You climb and climb and climb through the forest (in the car, of course), until you wonder if you'll ever reach the top. But then you start to see peach trees, and then lots of clear blue sky, and then, BAM! Apple barn! Vineyards! Orchard for miles! Breathtaking scenery! Pumpkin patch! You're on the top of the mountain with a freaking APPLE ORCHARD!

I almost wet myself. Ask Kristin.

Here's way too many photos from one of the best days of my life.

 the perfect apple.

cider donuts! 

 an apple cider slushy!

'Til next time, Carter Mountain Orchard!