Feeling Thankful!

I am thankful today and EVERYDAY for all of the blessings in my life. I would be lost without the loving, supportive, talented, AMAZING family and friends that surround me.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Eat lots!

{Photo Credit: marthastewart.com | pisforparty.blogspot.com }

Bang Bangs!

How do we feel about Tay Tay's new look?! I am personally LOVING it and not only because I just cut mine again (to the right length this time!) but because she looks so gorgeous and grown up!

Now, back to work. Hoping to post pictures from last night's wedding festivities ASAP! Mae, you were gorgeous and Shea, what a champ! Congrats you two :)

{Photo Credit: thesuperficial.com }

Road Trip to San Diego!

7am yesterday: car packed, Missi asleep in the back, James Morrison on repeat, and we're off!

There's always something really relaxing about the drive down to San Diego. The I5 wasn't quite as beautiful as driving through Mammoth Lakes from Tahoe, but I was still tempted to stop for pictures on multiple occasions. The sun shinning through the stormy rain and clouds on a huge field of horses.... darn it, would have been an amazing picture!

It took 9 hours, WAY longer than expected. These California drivers get really confused in the rain... we were at a stand still just outside of LA for 1 hr 20 minutes, due to 3 major accidents in a 2 mile span. Yikes!

Not to worry, we made it just in time to visit the flower shop and begin the preparations...

Today is a very special day. Let the festivities begin :)

Happy Birthday Allison!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my fun/amazing/beautiful/way cool sister in law!!

I took this picture at her wedding this past February in Beaver Creek. It might be one of my all time favorite pictures ever. The snow, that dress, the earrings... ugh, just perfect!

Hope you're spoiled lots today. See you in 4 days :)

Bar Agricole

I wish I could take credit for this great find, but I can't. I had to consult my foodie friend, Clayton, for the recommendation. So far, he hasn't let me down!

Bar Agricole had such a great vibe... modern industrial feel, good drinks and A-MAZING food. There menu may look a big intimidating for those who aren't that adventurous, (we all sort of stared at each other at first) but this would be the place to try them out! Spaghetti with sea urchin anyone?! We loved EVERYTHING we ordered...

Scotch Egg

Pickled Veggies

Braised artichoke with butter

Chicory Salad with hazelnuts and jerusalem artichokes

Smoked black cod croquettes with buttercup squash

Lamb ribs & sausage with peppers

And for dessert...

Apple cinnamon cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream - ridiculous

Hazelnut cake with huckleberries & mascarpone - ridiculous

DYING to go back already. Even if it's just for drinks and dessert, you must check this place out. I think I dreamed about it last night, that's how good this place is!

(Thanks for an amazing meal, LifeGear!)

Happy Birthday James!

My little brother turns 26 today and that makes me feel really old!

It wasn't that long ago, we were dressing you up like a girl, sticky tacking earrings to your ears and making you pose for pictures. And then there were the bowl cuts and Nike swooshes you'd let me cut into your hair. You've always been a good sport, putting up with two older sisters!

Thanks for the daily laughs over your ridiculous comments and stories. We're all so proud of you. Who'd have thought you'd hold a job this long :) I kid. Happy Birthday Brother!! Lots of love from your family out in SF!

And since I know I'll be getting emails from all my single friends (as I always do when I post pics of James)... he's taken ladies!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I can't believe I just typed that, but I've spotted my first set of Christmas lights!

Can't wait to see what the rest of the neighbor puts together. Don't you just love the holidays?! 6 weeks and counting :)

A picture to share!

Our tulips opened up they're so colorful and beautiful... I had to share!

Happy Friday!

"I love you 4"

This is a long one, sorry gang!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a hopeless romantic :) So, it's no surprise that I was brought to tears listening to this past Sunday's message.

Paster Terry, from Cornerstone Church in SF, recently attended the funeral for a man who came to this church every Sunday with his wife. He shared with us the 7 page, hand written letter that this man's wife of 55 years wrote about her husband...

"Then and there I knew this guy was for real. It was as if he spoke to my heart. The Lord witnessed to me, that this was an honest, truthful and rock solid person. That was all true by the way. And as we have lived our lives together for these 5 plus decades, almost 6, these attributes and many others have all been lived out in his life. And that's one reason why it's so hard to live without him, because in my eyes, he was so perfect in every way. We didn't have a lot of money but every year before he got dementia, he said we'd go on a vacation somewhere. I always enjoyed being with him and having him with me. Even when we'd would just go to the grocery store...

He would still always ask me even after he was getting more and more incapacitated, he'd always ask me if he could help me to do anything, even when he got so unsteady on his feet. Needless to say we have had a great life together. I know this life was only a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. I know God has his reasons for not giving Jim another miracle of healing. I feel that we will have all eternity to run through heaven together and believe me I am certainly looking forward to that day, when Jesus comes for me. My husband would always tell me that he loved me and that he'd always love me. And naturally this was my feeling as well. And I would tell him the same thing. On one of the last days when he was in the rest home, he said I love you and I said I love you too and he said I love you three and I said I love you four.

To me he was so perfect in every way. He treated me like a queen. The term Southern Gentleman certainly fit him. And when the minister marries you and says "till death do you part", I say it's not for me, because I plan on being with him forever."

I love reading that. Such beautiful, simple, genuine love. Is there anything better than loving like that?!

Heritage Row

My dear friend, Michele, was in town for the past couple days and there were a lot of yummy meals (Spork, SPQR, Blue Barn, Fraiche!) but WAY too much work being done! It wasn't until a couple hours before we head out to the airport this afternoon, that we finally got a chance to do a little boutique shopping. We spent most of our time in the new boutique, Heritage Row on Chestnut. The owner is so sweet and has a beautiful collection of dresses, gorgeous tops and heavenly sweaters.

And how sweet is this changing room?!

Heritage Row | 2176 Chestnut St | SF

Mich, I miss you. Come back! Maybe SF for 3 months this winter?! It's tradition. :)

French Apple Tart

Great people, good conversation and AMAZING food at last night's dinner party! On the menu was shrimp in a white wine reduction, pheasant (caught by the chef himself!), mushroom risotto and salmon in a beurre blanc sauce. Jake tends to be an overachiever in the kitchen, making us all look bad, so we knew we had to pick up our game!

I've always wanted to try this recipe from the Barefoot Contessa Back to Basic cookbook (I received the whole collection at my bridal shower - best gift in the world!) so my husband and I whipped up this tasty goodness...

Del played a key role in apple slice placement and the apricot/rum glaze. He really shined last night in the kitchen!

French Apple Tart

FOR THE PASTRY

1 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tbsp sugar

12 tbsp cold unsalted butter, diced

1/2 cup ice water

FOR THE APPLES

4 Granny Smith apples

1/2 cup sugar

4 tbsp cold unsalted butter, small-diced

1/2 cup apricot jelly

2 tbsp rum

For the pastry, place the flour, salt and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is in small bits the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and kneed quickly into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Roll the dough slightly larger than 10 x 14 inches. Trim the edges. Place the dough on the prepared sheet pan and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.

Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller. Slice the apples diagonally down the middle of the tart and continue making diagonal rows on both sides of the first row until the pastry is covered with apple slices. Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup of sugar and butter pieces.

Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown. Rotate the pan once during cooking. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out. Don't worry! The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tart will be fine! When the tart's done, heat the apricot jelly together with the rum in a small saucepan and brush the apples and the pastry completely with the jelly mixture. Loosen the tart with a metal spatula so it doesn't stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

It was the ideal party dessert... it's served at room temperature, so you can make it ahead of time, when it's cut into squares, it's super easy to pass (no plates necessary) and was pretty delicious!

But even more important than our perfect tart... HAPPY 3 MONTHS to the most handsome lil boy you'll ever meet, LIAM!!! :) Love and hugs and kisses!!

Now off to tailgate at the Stanford v. Arizona game! I love football :)

Free People Holiday 2010

Free People are showing some major variety in their Holiday catalog. Girly ruffles and lace, vintage velvet and eclectic combinations... goodness! These are my favs...

Can we talk about Wee People?! So cute, like little adults :) My new mommas, these are for you!

{ Photo Credit: freepeople.com }

San Francisco...

Thank you for being so beautiful today!

Daydreaming...

There's something about these two rooms, that makes me smile!

Maybe it's the Victorian chair mixed in with Moroccan rugs and patterned pillows... or the sun beaming in from the open French doors... or the idea of being on 20 countryside acres of rolling hills... and warm weather... and horses...

Ok, back to reality and work now!

One in each color please!

How sweet are these Kate Spade clutches? A grosgrain bow to accent this sleek shape, perfect! Even wear it crossbody with a delicate 23" gold chain.

"Quietly elegant and always sophisticated."

KateSpade.com | Agathe Clutch | $245 - 395

{ Photo Credit: katespade.com }

Project Runway Finale

The hardest part of being away from home so much this month was falling behind in Project Runway. Well, that and missing my dog and hubby :)

So this overly exhausted girl spent Friday night in, making homemade applesauce for dinner (an Ina Garten recipe - amazing!) and watching 3.5 hours of Project Runway. I have to admit, I wasn't that impressed with most of the designers this season, but I always LOVED Gretchen. In the finale, the top 3 designers showed their 10 piece line at NYC Fashion Week and my girl, Gretchen brought it home!

I kind of wish she incorporated more color, but I did LOVE the magenta lipstick paired with all of her neutral toned prints. As the winner, she'll be selling her line on Piperlime.com. Ugh, can't wait!

{ Photo Credit: mylifetime.com }