some november thoughts

Hellooo! It's incredible that we are already over a week into November, and I haven't posted since mid-October! I promised I wouldn't give up blogging, and I wanna stay true to that! But the idea of privacy has definitely taken the pressure off the need to post a certain number of times per week and month. I feel like it's a good fit for now. November is the month of gatherings and birthdays here in this family. It has been lovely and busy, as usual, with lots of dreaming and doing. Here are a few thoughts, favorites, and phases for November so far...

• my nifty fifty lens! I had been eyeing up the 50mm f/1.4 prime lens for my Nikon for a few weeks before making the (not so big) splurge. It is so cost effective and I love the super wide aperture, which results in a more blurred background with a delightful bokeh effect. The picture above was taken of me with the nifty fifty. Love the versatility of this lens, even though you can't zoom in and out. Definitely can see how it is a piece every photographer should own. 

• outfit obsessions right now: hats, vests, and boots. I have been all over hats for a while and it seems suddenly with the ushering in of fall, they are EVERYWHERE, available in all stores, and man I love it! This one is an oldie from last winter from Brixton - love the super wide, floppy brim. The whole trend is really great and even extends into better haircare, I think...here's my thinking...if I know I am wearing a hat, I'm not worrying about my hair or what it looks like.  Outerwear and vests are another current obsession of mine - I keep finding myself pinning new pieces and really lusting over unusual, textured pieces that make layering easy and interesting. And boots! I'm searching for a nice pair of black booties, and I expect I will wait until I meet the perfect pair.

• amazon prime movies and rentals. this is my new friday night date! I have been all over Amazon Prime's rentals - most start at $2.99 - because it is so effortless and easy, and almost any title is available. I've really been enjoying it on cold weekday nights when I have some extra time to relax in bed. With the free titles, I've been exploring all types of movies I normally don't watch - oldies, war movies, Jane Austen classics, etc. Most of them are clunkers but it is fun to give it a shot. My most recent eye-roller was Miss Julie, with Jessica Chastain and Colin Farrell....it had me for a while, but just got so horribly bad. My on-rotation favorite is the Civil War documentary by Ken Burns. It is going through its 25th anniversary again on Sunday nights, PBS :)

• cabin dreaming. I have been really keen on the idea of simpler country living, it seems. This year we've had talk in the family about what it would be like to have a cabin. It just seems like all of this dreaming and talking is turning the idea of a cabin into quite a lovely aspiration. The country appeals to me for its lack of crowds, the fresh air, the untainted night sky, the sounds and smells of the outdoors. I was not always like this! I am not sure where this is coming from...but I am feeling really into country, cabin life. 

• wanderlust: i am dreaming big and small. We are taking a small trip to Gettysburg this weekend, which I am looking forward to immensely. part of it is inspo from watching the Civil War documentary! It will be a poignant, but eerily enriching trip. Big dreams include international travel...I'm missing the big time trips!  I really want to get some plans into work about London, my friend and I have been wanting to go for years now but the plans just never fell into place. Maybe something in the next few months will work out...

snow on march 1st.

from the prettiest snowfall yesterday. no filtering/audio edits, just the sound of snow falling.
to watch, use password 'snow'.

This quickly turned into a Georgia and Scout show, as you can see - they absolutely love the snow. I needed a way to capture the hefty snowflakes on their black coats, so I took out the tripod and focused manually on them (trying to stay still!). I love how excited and even curious they are about a fresh snowfall. Anyway, one of my march goals is to get better at shooting on a tripod, and even letting a little blur in. I liked the simplicity of this.

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb! Although its entrance is rather peaceful and calming, it is nice to know that all this white will be green in a few short weeks ;)

ciao, xo

the last week of october. how can it be?

The weekend - and not to mention the entire month - has defined everything October means to me.

the smoke from a bonfire, the GORGEOUS dusty purple sunsets,

the tailgates and homecomings,

the football games, the dark roast coffee, 

the oranges and yellows, 

the pumpkin and apple overload, the smell of roasting leaves,

piles of pumpkins and gourds, and

the most vivid and stunningly crisp afternoons.

I'm scared of November. Honest.

I don't want October to go...

and the next month brings a lot of busy.

Out of the 6 people in my family, there are four birthdays.

The slip-n-slide of holiday shopping becomes more and more real.

I'm fearful of the amount of money that I will have to spend..ughhhhh. Dreading it.

One good thing will be S's homecoming! And that I can't wait for.

But until then... I'm seeking one last cozy week, 

a bastion of solace and peace, in these very autumn-y photos taken over the course of the month.

I wrote about my october goals at the beginning of the month. What did I cross off?

Not much. But what I did cross off, I am pleased with.

More 'me' time at the end of the day - getting all work done at work, not at home.

Spending quality time with mama (ok, not a dinner date, but does breakfast count?)

Maybe one too many octoberfest brews. A haunted hayride that made me scream like a 5 year old!

I'm kind of eating cleaner - definitely at lunch, but dinners are a struggle.

I'm going to introduce some new goals for November soon. 

Going to soak in this glorious feeling for the rest of the week!

ciao, xo

dear scoutie,

Dear Scout,

We know it was probably YOU who went pee pee on the carpet.

We also know that you know we know.

You seem to freeze in utter terror if we approach the carpet and point.

Hmmmmm.

We also know that you love stealing georgia's bones and toys

and letting them hang out of your mouth like a big fat cigar.

You little troublemaker you.

:)

ciao, xo

scenes from my {birthday} weekend

This weekend was fantastic. Why?

1. The amazing, amazing people I get to surround myself with. I have the kindest and most fun friends and family.
2. Flowers. Flowers in every shape, size, color - all in bloom. Buttercups that line the road to sprouts of tulips...all of it triumphantly announcing spring's long-awaited arrival.
3. It was 75 and 80 degrees this weekend - perfect for walks with Scout, gardening outside, and iced tea. It felt like (and even smelled like) summer time.
4. Mother-daughter bonding time was perfect; kicked off the weekend with pedicures and ended it on Sunday night over a new episode of Cosmos!
5. Birthday cake! And a cookie cake! And trick candles!
6. Dreaming up future plans for travel, bucket lists, and other little things to get excited about.
7. Being SO excited over the new watch S gave me - the lululemon scarf from my best friend (outfit post this week!), the trench coat of my dreams, and a real coffee diary from my sister! eeeek!
8. Everything moved sloooow. For once it didn't seem like the weekend flew by.
9. Fresh baked banana bread and tea after a few rounds of spring cleaning.

Productivity and fun don't normally coexist in one weekend for me but somehow this weekend did. I cleaned, got stuff done, and happened to actually do everything I wanted to - you know, that imaginary picture in your head of what you want your weekend to look like. This well-blended weekend happened to include probably the nicest weather of the year, which made it even harder to stay inside and glued to one task. The only thing I didn't do was stick to my lower-carb "diet"...oops.

More on that later. I know everyone says this but I cannot imagine being more lucky. I am beyond blessed, to have the family I do, to be surrounded by the coolest and nicest and most generous friends in the world. You know who you are. :) I loveeee them! And they are pretty much the reason why this weekend rocked. It's gonna be tough to top this one. :)

Okay, Monday, I'm ready for you...

ciao, xo!

happy birthday, scoutie!

Scout turned one last week and we completely missed it! so sorry, Scoutie! 
She doesn't mind - she is the sweetest.

to the pup who is scared of the ceiling fan,

loveeeees walks in the park,

has a stumpy tail, chases ice cubes,

and has a silent bark (seriously)

we think you're the best aussie around and hope you have had an amazing year being our Scoutie.

love you! 

snow and ice and scout

{ just another snow picture...of scout }

I definitely like snow days and probably shouldn't. 

We have been out of work an obscene number of days (3 this week) 

and I have been relishing it;

 I can't keep track of what day it is. 

Everything outside is white. 

Today I got a pedicure. And manicure. It may or may not be glittery gold.

I am caught up on sleep. 

The laundry is done.

I am used to laziness! Which is not good.

The weather actually really has been awful.

So much ice, falling from the trees in violent bursts of wind.

Power is out in much of our area but we were lucky ones.

Of course it is bitter cold, and I am sure more snow will come,

but the endless tea and piles of blankets has been quite cozy.

It's been fun. Back to work tomorrow.

Then the weekend. Darn!

Well, this weekend I am skiing for the first time ever. I am so excited.

Kind of nervous. But mostly excited to spend time in the mountains with awesome friends!

I'll report back soooon! 

ciao, xo and happy friday to you!

ps  -- the lovely Jenna has posted about celebrating valentine's day!

she is the sweetest for featuring some of her blog friends today!

thank you so, so much! check it out here. 

christmas traditions

Gingerbread houses have turned into a Christmas tradition…

and I proudly present to you the house that S and I created!

Compared to my sisters' little masterpiece, ours was quite meager….

But I  love it. Every detail, down to the gummy bear emerging from the chimney ;)

The tree is decorated and looking lovely. This is one of my favorite christmas ornaments,

from the summer of 2011 when I studied in Siena, Italy.

Pizzelles! The smell of them baking in the kitchen sends me over the moon.

The look of the dozens of jars on the dining room table, all ready to be gifted, is a sight for sure.

What makes it even more special is that it is my great-grandmothers' special secret recipe. 

I had about 5 already this morning.. ;) 

I am always known to take a blurry lights picture…

S and I always have "our" Christmas a few days before. He travels to be with his family across the state,

and I miss him every time, especially on Christmas Eve and Day! 

But this year we had the loveliest little celebration.

We had dinner at a new little restaurant in town - italian of course - and we brought a bottle of vino rosso, my favorite! it was a delightful little night to try a new restaurant.

Then, home for presents! :)

and this is Scout's first Christmas…her stocking is all filled with dog toys and bones and treats! 

New traditions! :)

ciao, xooo!

good morning, november

When we let Scout off the leash…she doesn't run, trot or jump…she gallops and leaps! 

She sniffs odd-looking patches of thorny shrubs and wanders through rustling leaves.

Sometimes there's a critter in there that spooks her and sends her running.

She loves the park. And I love it too. 

I recently discovered this little brook with the tiniest of waterfalls. Such a serene place.

If you've been following along my posts lately, I've mentioned that work is kind of kicking my butt.
I am still figuring it all out - and trips to the park certainly have been helping.
I go in feeling stormy and frustrated sometimes, especially on sundays before a long week ahead..
and come out feeling much more capable, less overwhelmed, more determined and focused.
It gets you in touch with what matters..

I've got to take a leaf out of Scout's book…(get it!? leaf!)
and be okay with prancing around more. getting excited just to be outside and in the beauty of nature.
Before I know it, we've walked and ran four miles and do our hearts a little good, too.

- - -

on another note…it's November! When did this happen?! Why is it dark now at 4pm!? Goodness me.
I find myself snacking on leftover halloween candy and
yearning for my camera to take pictures of even more leaves…
next stop…Thanksgiving!

ciao, xo

halloweenie party

 this year I was lady mary from downton abbey! :)

I type this with a bowl of Halloween candy in front of me, and it's the most tempting thing ever.  I already took a little bag of peanut M&Ms, but that is absolutely it. I had enough sugary treats and halloween-themed goodies over the weekend at our annual halloween party - and it was a blast. I was Lady Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey, and I do have to say, the costume was a hit! $12 on gloves, and that was it. the rest, I owned!

It was a festive weekend, with lots of oranges and yellow hues in the leaves outside; weather that actually required some sort of coat, and plenty of pumpkin-everything to be had. Georgia and Scout even dressed up to add to the mood :)

Highlights from the weekend...
+ a crisp morning walk in the park along a hidden creek
+ eating rice krispies for breakfast on sunday morning (oops)
+ both S and I working late into  friday yet meeting for a quick, much needed dinner date
+ starbucks hot chocolate
+ wearing my grey wool cape (!!!) for cooler weather
+ having a bonfire, sharing spooky classics like Poe and Doyle, our tradition

have a happy week! can you BELIEVE that this week, it will be november?
ciao, xo

what i thought was pho...

Well, I feel pretty stupid, because I thought this amazing concoction we made was pho - but it turns out pho is a soup. And I pronounce it wrong. Well, my mom and I made this dish on a whim earlier in the week and it turned out delicious. It's amazing how inspired you can be in the grocery aisle, trying to dream up the perfect dinner. One moment, we were on a routine shopping trip, and then the next we found ourselves in the Asian cuisine aisle, wanting to try everything. Turns out this dish is simple and fast (and inexpensively!), not to mention really quite delicious and light - the perfect end-of-summer meal on the deck. Scout wanted some, definitely.

Ingredients:

- Rice noodles

- Sesame oil

- Chicken

- Mixed vegetables (we used snow peas, water chestnuts, broccoli, celery, carrots and onions)

- Soy sauce

- Ginger (powdered is okay)

- sesame seeds

- Teriyaki (optional)

I'll let you know when I try some real pho. :) And one last parting thought: how amazing are water chestnuts?!

ciao!