Baked Apple Cider Donut Recipe

October 19, 2015

I have a severe hankering for donuts these days. So now come Monday morning, I am pulling out ingredients to make this mouthwatering recipe by the talented Abbey of The Butter Half. Read on for the recipe!

Baked Apple Cider Donut Recipe

Prep time: 25 minutes
Bake time: 7-8 minutes
Yields: 1 dozen apple cider donuts VIEW FULL POST

Rocco’s Birth Announcement.

October 17, 2015

I have been a freelance graphic designer since college, and I really miss diving into a design project and coming up with something I worked hard to reach. It felt so good to get back in the seat after a long baby break to create something personal. I teamed up with HP to try their Sprout HP technology. I wasn’t quite expecting to discover all of the options it holds! I was more than impressed. Here’s a re-cap….

Some of my favorite features:

Touchscreen – I thought it was brilliant that you could use the all in one desktop as a touchscreen. You can swipe images from the desktop to the touchscreen pad and vice versa. It is a very intuitive and interactive. It also has a bluetooth mouse you can use as well.
A 3D scanner touchpad – The touchpad that you place in front of the computer can scan objects and documents, and instantly store them on the screen for you to re-size and manipulate. A breakthrough technology that allows you to capture any physical object and reimagine it digitally.Way too much fun!
Draw tool – you can hand write text right onto the touchpad. You can add it to your work or even color and shade in certain programs. Fascinating!
3D turntable – I was always trying to find affordable or free graphics as a designer to use in my projects. This turntable allows you to scan objects which re-creates 3D digital shapes to use however you like. (Rotate, shrink, stretch, combine, etc.)
All-in-one PC – This whole device works like a desktop computer which includes a bluetooth keyboard or touchscreen keyboard option. Internet explorer, educational kids programs (that Gabe and I may or may not have spent two hours playing the other night…), organizational tools, etc.
Favorite programs – Illustrator and Sketchbook

So after getting to know the Sprout, I decided on my first project. I had been really wanting to come up with a more personal Birth Announcement for Rocco so I decided to scan some things that were significant to me to include. Loved being able to create it all quickly and hands on. Once I had all the items scanned, it only took about 15 minutes to assemble. We are looking forward to mailing this to some family members and friends who live afar.

You can check out more ideas in the gallery. There are many of them!

This post is in partnership with Sprout, and all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

10 Favorites: Pucker up plaid.

October 15, 2015

I don’t think plaid has ever been out of style, although currently it is everywhere! I look at is as more of a cozy staple that I love to work into a layer scheme. And maybe it reminds me of Molly the American Girl Doll, who hello, was THE coolest. Anyways, I rounded up 10 favorite perfect pieces of plaid (say that 5 times fast), and they are all 25% off today only. Shopbop is having their friends and family sale so your entire purchase is 25% off.

One // Two // Three // Four // Five

Six // Seven // Eight // Nine // Ten

Which piece would you sport? Do you dig plaid? Nay? Yay?

Happy almost weekend!

Fall Wardrobe Staples with Madewell

October 14, 2015

It’s no secret I have a weak spot for Madewell. I wear their denim most often, and swoon over every catalog I receive in my mailbox. Delighted would be an understatement to be able to host their store opening event next Tuesday Oct. 20th here in the north Atlanta area…

Event: Madewell Store Opening Party
When: Tuesday, October 20th 7-9pm
Where: The Avalon, Alpharetta GA
What to Expect: Local catering, music by a DJ, complimentary Bien Fait tote with purchase, and fall fashion chat!
RSVP: rsvpavalon@madewell.com

The Avalon is already a really cool experience to shop, eat, and play so you can make a night of it! I am thrilled one of my favorite shops is moving into the mix. Here are a few favorite pieces for fall wardrobe staples:

Denim (on sale) // Blazer // Flannel (on sale) // Mira Pumps (extra 40% off sale) // Cambridge satchel

I hope to see some of you at the opening event! Sips and bites, music, and of course chatting about fall style. Look forward to hanging out!

*Photos by Morgan Blake, in collaboration with Madewell

Sage and White Autumn Tablescape

October 13, 2015

This year, I wanted to put something on our table that could last through October AND November, because let’s be honest. I am lucky to get a wreath on my door most years. Meanwhile my neighbors across the way put me to shame with a full on cemetery in their front yard for Halloween. That’s okay though because we have mums, and that’s really all you need to bring your front yard back to life from the dead. 😉 I am more of an autumnal versus Halloween decor, so here is what I came up with. Using real pumpkins and faux greens, this should last you for months!

Sage and White Autumn Tablescape:
3 White pumpkins varying in size
2 artichokes (will need to be replaced when they get dark)
3 mini gourd pumpkins
2 green gourd pumpkins
2 branches of faux greenery
1 Placemat or Tea Towel (mine from Pehr Designs)

Arrange however you like, but hopefully this video is a helpful guide!:

*Styling and video by IHOD, music by Fleet Foxes

Food for thought: The 5 love languages.

October 9, 2015

Yesterday a friend went out of her way to drive over, drop off a meal, and spend an hour with me catching up on life. Boy does a good meal do wonders for a mother of 4. I often joke about food and coffee being my love language, but really there is some truth to it, because behind the gift of food is service. Have you read the book about The 5 love languages? I highly recommend it for understanding those in your family, your friends, and even your children. I would say it is a pretty cool way to start making big changes to the way you love others too. You can download it on audible as well. To briefly sum it up, there are 5 main love languages:

Gift Giving
Quality time
Acts of service
Physical touch
Words of affirmation

It’s often the case that the way you choose to show love is different than the way you wish to receive it. I find it all fascinating. Growing up with 7 sisters and 3 brothers you can imagine all the different personality types in one household. It taught me so much about being attentive to differences and learning to love in different ways.

For instance, my sister Maria is not a hugger. We tease her about her distant back pat she calls a hug. However, she will open her home to you and feed you all you need and never expect anything in return. Quality time and acts of service.

My sister Angela loves to affirm. She will build you up with her words and back them up with lots of hugs as well. Basically, if you are feeling pretty crummy you can just show up on her doorstep, and she will change your day around. Words of affirmation and physical touch.

My brother Joe will drive 9 hours just to spend the day with you and drive 9 hours back right after. Quality time.

My husband Gabe will rearrange his schedule to help someone in a bind, and show up even after you have told him not to worry about it if he suspects you need assistance. I’ve seen him literally use the shirt off his back to help a friend. Acts of service.

My sister Tricia is more reserved with her words, but she shows her love in other strong ways. She never misses a birthday. You can expect a thoughtful hand written note and gift in your mailbox every year without fail. Gift giving.

It can be challenging to give to others what doesn’t come naturally to your personality, but it certainly yields a more life giving relationship as a result. It is worth the effort for that reason. What about you? Is the way you show love different than the way you hope to receive it?

Choosing the right sofa for your space.

October 8, 2015

One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six

I can’t even begin to tell you how long it took me to decide on sofa colors for our living room. In fact, we went two years with just a sofa and a toy chest in the living room. How’s that for indecisiveness? I worked with Home Decorators and All Modern for this space, so it helped me pull the trigger under pressure. ha! When deciding on style and tones for a room, I thought it would be helpful to share a few things to consider when choosing the right sofa for your space.

Shape – If you are aiming for a modern look, there are many versions of a boxier frame or midcentury style. You can add a little whimsy with a curved back, or stick with a standard traditional look. If there are two sofas in a room, it helps to have either the length or height similar so they create more visual balance for the room. Since sofas tend to be focal points, having them visually aligned will create more consistency throughout the room. You can always work your art around the sofa shape, and you can certainly mix and match styles.
Texture – Leather, Velvet, Tweed…there are so many fabrics and finishes to consider, and you don’t have to stick with just one type. Mix leather and velvet….why not? If you are using the same color sofas this is a way to keep things uniform with a little more texture variety. However, functionality has to come into play with little ones so for me, velvet was out of the question. Faux leather is easiest to clean and pretty sturdy, so #5 has been a dream. The #3 Bobby Berk sofa is dark so it is also easier to clean than most.
Detail – Tufted sofas or bulleted trim are just a few ways to add detail to a space. Pairing two tufted sofas was a little busy so I went with a clean cut for the second option. If you have gold finishes around the room, you can choose a sofa that also has a little gold metal detail. Or maybe the feet of your sofa are a dark wood. Use the same tones for your end tables or coffee table. Consider the details when planning out the style of your space.
Tones – Consider all the colors in your palate. For instance, when determining the hues of the sofas, I knew I wanted blue tones. However, there were other surrounding colors to consider such as the dining room rug, wallpaper, and living room rug. I pulled the deep navy out of the living room rug and the teal out of the dining room rug. I went a shade darker so it would be more of a complimentary tone than an overwhelming one. If it helps, make a board of all the colors in the room so you can bring it with you when looking at sofas or a digital board if shopping online. This will help tremendously!

What do you look for in a sofa? I still dream about an emerald velvet one, but for now, that will have to stay put in dreamland. I love a good bold color though…