For the weekend...

A few things from this week...

~ In the same week, my baby five year old lost her first tooth AND her sweet kissy-cheeks began to thin out a little bit. I honestly admit that tears were shed.

~ I loved reading "This post is for the brave ones" by Kat over at Simple Mom. It encouraged me to "start now" in several areas of life. (And I love the story about her son. Totally going to use the superhero vs. villain with Nathanael.)

~ I'm really excited about Creatively Made Home's new workshop "Home for the Holidays", which I discovered while reading at Life in Grace earlier this week. Excited about the lineup of contributors and the variety of styles they have!  You might remember that I took the Creatively Made Home workshop last fall...and really enjoyed it. Lots of great stuff at Jeanne Oliver's site!

Registration I believe begins on Monday and the course begins in October...plenty of time to get some fresh inspiration for decorating and gift giving this year! I'm looking forward to decorating our new home this year, and I'm sure this course will be full of creative ideas to implement! You can read all about the course here: Home for the Holidays.

via

~ I pinned this recipe for Cookie Dough Cake from Pastry Affair. And I'm really looking forward to making it. I'm intrigued, and as I love cake, cookie dough, and cookies...I think this one is worth trying out! I'll let you know.

Another Photo a Day

Happy Friday! Not only is it the end of the week...we are halfway through August!?!?! I really have no idea where the months of 2013 are going...but they are going quickly.

I had been thinking all spring that I wanted to do another photo-a-month sometime this summer. I followed along with one in August of 2011 and came up with my own in July of 2012. 

This year, I decided on August. I had planned on making my own list of photo prompts again, but a later move-in than expected plus a last-minute long trip to the beach helped me decide to just follow along again.  

So this month, via instagram, I've been playing along with The Idea Room. Here are the photo prompts for this month:

And here are my photos from the first half:

1. Borrowing my mom's hat since I left mine at home.
2. Our family in the ocean. (Wish I'd noticed Hadleigh was wearing her goggles!)

3. The water of the beautiful Atlantic.
4. My favorite earbuds made technology more comfortable. (I have a hard time finding ones that fit well!)

5. Clean laundry upon returning from vacation.
6. My B&W typewriter...more conveniently located in this house!

7. Missing my brother, who is far away in South Korea.
8. Outdoors in our backyard. I love this corner...

  9. A favorite room in our new home. I love the wall color and lighting of our dining room.
10. These three keep us entertained, for sure!

11. I love standing on the hardwood floors of this house.
12. A peek into my stationery drawer, full of pretty notecards and paper.

13. This corner of my desk makes me smile.
14. My culinary torch is a most useful kitchen tool when you love creme brûlée!

15. My colorful collection of seam binding, from Paper Crown in Oklahoma City. I miss that store!
16. The kids schoolwork will start on the 26th. Mine has already started, as I gather, organize, and continue to plan! (Hadleigh is SO excited about a pink math book. I hope that lasts!)

Caprese Pizza

Growing up in my family, Friday night was Family Pizza and a Movie night. We would order pizza (the thicker the crust, the better) and settle in for a movie and time together.

A few Christmases ago, Brent received Peter Reinhart's American Pie, which chronicles his search for the perfect pizza and includes many of his recipes. 

With that gift, I gained a personal pizza chef! We now enjoy small thin crusted pizzas, with fresh and unique flavor combinations. We have several favorites from the cookbook...and also like to try our hand at creating our own.

Brent usually uses this recipe for the pizza dough (also found in the cookbook) and from there, our options are endless!

Last weekend, I set out to reinterpret one of my favorite summer dishes, Caprese Salad, on a pizza. And while probably not completely unique or original...it was delicious!

Caprese Pizza

mozzarella di bufala, sliced in about 1/2 inch thick rounds

1-2 campari tomatoes, sliced in 1/4 inch thick rounds

7-8 medium sized basil leaves, torn

1/2 tsp olive oil

balsamic glaze (I use Monari Federzoni Glaze with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena but you could make your own too!)

1-2 tsp good-quality aged Parmesan cheese, grated

semolina flour for dusting

1. Prepare pizza dough according to your favorite recipe.

2. Preheat oven to 550 degrees.

3. On a pizza peel, place a square of parchment paper and sprinkle it lightly with semolina flour. Place prepared pizza dough on the parchment.

4. Gently drizzle olive oil over dough and spread with the back of a spoon or pastry brush.

5. Place mozzarella discs evenly on top of dough, followed by tomato slices. Scatter half of the basil leaves on top and then drizzle with balsamic glaze.

6. Bake pizza for about 8 minutes, until cheese has melted and pizza crust has browned.

7. Allow pizza to cool slightly and then top with remaining basil and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Back from the Beach

We arrived home on Sunday after 11 lovely days at the beach.

It was a perfectly paced, relaxing, and refreshing vacation after moving and unpacking.

The South Carolina weather for the end of July/beginning of August was surprisingly mild...and so enjoyable.

Fishing, hunting for little crabs, bicycle rides, hours in the pool, searching for shells, chocolate smoothies, rainbows ending in the oceans, exploring parts of Charleston, eating shrimp and grits, talking with my mom late into the night, ice cream cones, evening nature walks, crafts for rainy afternoons, sleeping in a little later.

I'm sad our vacation is over...but I'm feeling refreshed about this next season. Lots on my mental list as we prepare to start back to homeschool in another couple weeks, as well as continue to settle in to life here in Georgia.

Speaking of Georgia...our county started back to school on August 1! So tell me, are you still enjoying summer vacation or is it back to school for you too?

Stitch Fix, No. 3

I received my most recent StitchFix back at the beginning of June. I intended to share during our travels...but obviously, got busy and sidetracked. Oops!

I'd love to share my thoughts again here, as I appreciate reading others opinions (and being able to request pieces by name). I have also found that my review here is a great way for my stylist Jen to better select items for me! Once again, if StitchFix is new to you, I've outlined the service below my review here! And I'd love to answer any questions you might have about it!

I was very excited about each piece in my shipment. Here's what I received and what I thought about each item:

Dylan and Rose Jakai Pleat Tank Dress in black This was probably my least exciting item from first impressions (only because I have a lot of black already!) But when I tried the dress on, I was impressed with the fit and the faux-peplum detail. If I didn't already have a couple little black dresses, I would have kept it.

41 Hawthorn Lottie pintuck sleeveless silk top This was so soft to the touch and a really gorgeous color. It was a little big in the armhole and would have required a cami underneath. Cute look but I decided to pass on it. (It was also just as expensive as the dresses...which seemed a bit much for the item.)

Tea N Rose Nile Boat Print sheer tie neck blouse I loved this right away. It was beautiful on. Super cute with jeans. Unfortunately the hem was quite uneven on mine in the front...and as I preferred it out to tucked in, I knew this detail would bother me. I hemmed and hawed about it...but decided to return it. (Kinda regretting that decision.)

Ark n Co Yvonne Shortsleeve Pleated dress in blue The quality and style of this dress was beautiful. Jen wrote in her note that she had recently seen me pin a dress similar on my Pinterest boards. As soon as I put it on, I added the necklace you see above from my collection--I love the tone on tone. Sadly, the high waist of the dress and its style made the dress seem a lot shorter...and I wasn't completely comfortable in the length. I knew that if I kept it, it would only decorate my closet, so I sadly returned it. But I have to mention again the quality of this dress for the price ($68). So well constructed and gorgeous. I will keep my eye on this brand.

Ella Moss Ken sleeveless striped top I'm going to be honest...neon colors are not a trend I was excited about or even willing to try out. So I was very apprehensive about this neon pink and white striped top. Here's where one of my favorite StitchFix features comes into play: I'd never have picked this up to try on. BUT...It has a cute cutout detail in the back of the neck...and I LOVED it when it was on. Tried it with dark jeans. Check. A white mid-length linen skirt? Even cuter. The top is basically two angled pieces of fabric (in front and back) that are stitched together at the top and bottom...but open in the middle...so a cami underneath this one is a must. I kept this and love wearing it!

I loved the variety of color and styles (Jen is paying attention to my reviews both here and in my response during the return process.) I love the personalized touch in my note...and once again, the style cards included have been really helpful for pulling a look together!

If this is all new to you, here's how it works:

1. You sign up (via an invitation link) online, and once your account is created, you complete your style profile. This part is fun...it's kind of like a quiz. You fill out size, fit, and style preferences, as well as a price range you prefer to shop within. You can also link to a Pinterest board, so the stylists can get a good sense of your style. 

(screenshot of a portion of the style profile)

2. There is a wait time currently involved...but between signing up at the end of February and getting approved, I only waited 11 days. 

3. Once you're approved and your style profile is complete, you schedule when you'd like to receive your first order or "fix." A StitchFix stylist handpicks items for you based on your profile; the fee for this service is $20...but you can apply the full $20 towards your purchase.

4. The package ships USPS and include 5 items. When your StitchFix box arrives, you get to try on clothes in the comfort of your own home...and with pieces from your own wardrobe.  This is one of my favorite features of the company. 

5. Within three days, choose what you love and then send back the rest, using the prepaid Priority envelope enclosed. Go online to StitchFix and checkout. You complete a survey for checkout, which further defines your profile and gives good feedback to the stylist for next time. You pay only for what you keep...and if you keep all items sent, you get 25% off the total purchase. 

6. Then, choose to schedule your next StitchFix shipment as frequently or infrequently as you like! I love that you can leave a note for your stylist about an event or season you want kept in mind when selecting items!

Finally, this is not a sponsored post. I am receiving no compensation for this review from StitchFix. However, much like other online retailers (like Zulily, One Kings Lane, Sole Society, etc.), StitchFix promotes their brand through referral links. So if you sign up through the links I've given here, I earn a one-time credit with StitchFix if you sign up and purchase. (And once you sign up, if you share your referral code with your friends, YOU earn credit! Win-win!)

I've earned some credit through some of you...so THANK YOU! Let me know if you've given StitchFix a try and what you think!

Fresh, quick, and delicious

I love tasting something wonderful at a new restaurant and then doing my best to recreate it at home.

So back in May, Brent and I celebrated our anniversary with a progressive dinner at a few favorite spots in historic Fredericksburg, VA. Oh, I must admit I'm missing Fredericksburg these days!

I had a fruit and cheese appetizer that was wonderful...and so very easy to replicate back at home. It's fresh and perfect for summer appetizers...or even as a nice change to a salad. I've prepared it several times since for friends and family...and it's always a favorite part of the meal!

Manchego and Apples

2-3 apples, choose your favorite crisp apple, sweet or tart
Manchego cheese
good quality honey
Marcona almonds
sea salt

1. Core apples and thinly slice them. Slice Manchego into thin pieces, approximately the size of the apple slices.

2. Arrange apples on a serving platter or on individual plates. (I'd allot about 6-8 slices per person.) Top each apple with a slice of cheese. Drizzle with honey and top generously with almonds. Very sparingly, top with freshly ground sea salt.

Due to the apples, it is best to prepare this as close to serving time as possible.

Our July (so far) via Instagram

So...we made it to Georgia, and we are settling in slowly. 

We spent our first weekend here, living at Sherwin Williams. Seriously, I can't count how many times we went. But we finally chose a paint for Madeleine and Nathanael's rooms...and most importantly, the dining room. It was purple.

All of our stuff arrived by crate...

...and I spent much of that day checking off numbers. And recording damages. And looking for unaccounted items. And while I remember that our stuff is JUST stuff, and while I've known friends with far worse damage during a move, this was the "hardest" move we've had, as far as the toll taken on our possessions. Disappointing for sure...but remembering what's most important and therefore, thankful.

The kids have enjoyed the wildlife around our new home...like this squirrel who thought he was stuck on Hadleigh's windowsill (and who was oblivious to his audience) up until a concerned nine-year old finally knocked to startle him into climbing down!

We've also been entertained by a family of birds nested under our front porch, and we got to see these three little ones take their first flights.

Georgia, like most of the southeast, has greeted us with almost daily rain...most definitely a warm welcome for this rain-lover, as I was just a bit nervous about Georgia heat during July. It's made for some humid days, but the temperatures have been lower than I expected. And seriously...the grass is crazy thick and green for late-July!

And of course, rainy skies yield amazing clouds like this. Have I mentioned that I love summer thunderstorms?

The kids have been troopers, spending the mornings playing inside quietly or enjoying the backyard playground while I have worked unpacking box after box. We are all excited to have swings again! And in the afternoons, they've enjoyed playing with some new neighborhood friends.

They've helped with some organizing...and we are just about "moved in"...only the walls are empty! 

We are excited and thankful to be here, beginning a new chapter and adventure.

Looking forward to all that life in Georgia will bring...and sharing it with you here!

Currently...

listening...to the hum of the neighbor mowing the lawn

watching...my children painting father's day cards

drinking...Harney & Sons Paris tea (thanks to Missy!)

reading...Deconstructing Penguins

deciding...what we need for the two weeks between packing up in VA and unpacking in GA

planning...our Father's Day celebration for tomorrow

thinking...about our wonderful trip to Rochester last weekend, and therefore...

missing...my little sister

wishing...I could take the Virginia climate with me to Georgia

enjoying...perfectly blue skies

Have a great weekend!

A dessert not to be missed

In the summertime, there are three kinds of desserts I like: 

Ice cream. Homemade is best. Almost any will do.

Comfort desserts. Mom's Chocolate Sheet Cake. Banana Pudding. My great-grandmother's peach cobbler, smothered in BlueBell Homemade Vanilla. (I'm a native Texan, after all.) 

And the opposite. Something fresh and cool. Something decadent but light. Nothing very heavy or too rich.

And as the summertime always seems to fill with wedding and baby showers or ladies lunches to celebrate birthdays, this flavorful, fruit-filled, and airy recipe is the perfect one to serve.

I found the original recipe in a 2005 Cooking Light magazine...but I've tweaked it a little, choosing real whipped cream over store-bought, reducing the liqueur amount (personal taste preference), and increasing the amount of fruit and shaved chocolate. (I found I would have preferred a little more chocolate shavings than the recipe called for.)

My words of advice would be to serve it to a crowd (unless you want to be tempted to eat half of the torte) and to allow plenty of time to make the meringues.

Mixed Berries Meringue Torte

For Meringue:

2 tsp clear vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/8 tsp salt

6 large egg whites

3/4 cup superfine sugar

Filling and topping:

1 quart fresh whipping cream

1 Tbsp. Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur

1 1/2 tsp finely grated orange rind

3 Tbsp. grated semisweet chocolate, divided

1 cup halved strawberries, hulled neatly

3/4 cup blueberries

3/4 cup blackberries

3/4 cup raspberries

fresh mint sprigs, for garnish

orange rind strips, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper, drawing three 8-inch circles on the paper. (I use my 8-inch cake pan to trace.) Turn paper over (pencil side down) and secure with masking tape. Set aside.

2. Place vanilla, cream of tartar, salt and egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat at high speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, one tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Dived egg mixture among the 3 circles on parchment-lined baking sheets. Spread mixture over each circle, using the back of a spoon to spread evenly. 

3. Bake meringues at 200 degree for 2 hours or until dry. Turn off oven and cool meringues in closed oven for at least one hour. (I would wait for two hours.) Remove meringues from oven and carefully remove from paper.

4. Meanwhile, prepare filling. Combine whipping cream, liqueur and 1 1/2 tsp grated orange rind. 

5. To assemble, place one meringue disk on cake plate, top with 1 cup whipped cream and sprinkle generously with chocolate shavings. Repeat layers twice. Mix the berries together and carefully center them in the center of the top layer of the torte. Garnish with mint sprigs and orange rind. 

6. Serve immediately or keep chilled. 

We found this to be delicious for 2-3 days, which is how long it lasted at our house! My meringues were a little softer than I would prefer (as I was pressed for time in preparation) but they still tasted wonderful, though perhaps a little more chewy.  I also forgot to put on the orange peel strips (which were so pretty)...next time!

I hope you can make this soon. It is truly the perfect summer dessert.

Simply Lovely, No. 18

The gardens of Monticello are abloom with color.
Simple and complicated, showy and delicate.
This lovely peony was my favorite of the day.