Crazy August.

Holy crazy month. 

Our little family, just returned from spending the month of August in MI and NY visiting family and watching my best friend marry the man of her dreams :)  We were sad to leave but anxious to get home to pack up our house and move to our first home!!  (Not so much the packing part.)

After years of bouncing from amazing city to amazing city, we can now call Denver home.  We made it official last week when we closed on our first home!  We cannot feel more blessed than we do right now.  This home really is one from our dreams. 

She was built in 1918 and was updated beautifully by the previous owners.  We're, of course, making our little adjustments on the place, but for the most part this Mediterranean beauty is perfect.  So now, the decorating begins....

Here are a few Instagram pics from our month long adventure.  Missing family and friends already.  It's a good thing we have Winslow's birthday coming up next month, which I expect everyone to be here for :)

Paleo Pancakes

We've been trying to eat Paleo (at home at least!) for the past 6 months and it's been a fun challenge.  If it weren't for the amazing Paleo websites out there, we probably would have quit out of boredom.  Elana's Pantry is my go-to, and that's where I found this recipe for the most delicious Paleo Pancakes.  I'm a bit of a breakfast nut (pancake or french toast specifically), so I've tried SO many recipes.  Most of the time they're too runny, or taste like anything but a pancake.  These were fluffy and delicious!

Paleo Pancakes

2 Eggs
1/4 cup Agave Nectar (I used raw honey, so you don't need as much)
1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cup Blanched Almond Flour (I like this one!)
1/2 tsp Celtic Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
Grapeseed Oil for sauteing

In blender, combine eggs, agave or honey and vanilla and blend on high until smooth.

Add almond flour, salt and baking soda and blend again to incorporate dry ingredients into batter.  Let sit for 15 minutes to thicken up.  (I added a little bit of raw milk, since it became pretty thick).

Warm grapeseed oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Ladle pancake batter onto skillet, flip when ready.  Keep them fairly small, so they're easier to flip.

I topped mine with Grade B maple syrup, sour cream and fresh berries... so delish!

Yields 12 pancakes


{ Photo Credit: elanaspantry.com }

 

Peplum Tie Back Dress

This dress is so sweet with it's classic silhouette and simple details.  Love.  And the back is so, so fun with the soft champagne bow.  Sadly, I can't comfortably wear anything backless or strapless, so I will have to live vicariously through one of you.  Someone needs to buy it and send pics!

$69 on Piperlime (plus 20% off today and tomorrow.  Code: ME)  That's $55, people!  Who cares if it's made from polyester, it's so dang cute.

{ Photo credit: piperlime.com }

Preppy & Nautical

Has it really been an entire month since I last posted?!  Goodness, that's sad.  If I hadn't spent the past 4 weeks house hunting, traveling, caring for a 9 month old teenager and working my butt off, I'd feel like a total slacker!

Much more importantly, my bestie is getting married in a month and I was lucky enough to get to help her design their invitations... 

They're classic, preppy (just like her!), slightly nautical (wedding on the Finger Lakes) and were letterpressed on super thick, dreamy, soft cotton paper.... ugh they're so amazing! 

But first things first... Vegas.  Bachelorette.   (!!!)

{ Photo Credit: laurabeals.com }

Happy Father's Day!

There are many days that I wish we lived a short drive from Honeoye Falls, NY.  Today is one of those days.  I hope you have a wonderful day, Dad, and know that I love you very much and can't wait to watch you play with Winslow in 2 months :)  I can imagine you giving her rides around the house like this...

Happy Father's Day to my Dad, Father-In-Law and Del! A couple of all-stars!

One of my favorite pictures of my dad and me... (Melissa Vossler Photography)




















In a land there's a town, and in that town there's a house
And in that house there's a woman
And in that woman there's a heart I love
I'm gonna take it with me when I go
I'm gonna take it with me when I go

:)

Celebrating Meghan!

Today was my BF4LIFE's (we're so 5th grade, I know) bridal shower back in our home town in Upstate NY and I wasn't there to celebrate her :(  My teeny tiny contribution to the day were these handmade wine stoppers, giving as party favors...

I saw the idea here and thought I'd give it a whirl.  The corks were shipped to me from a local Finger Lakes winery and the drawer knobs were all from World Market.  I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

Meghan, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!  I'm sure you had a wonderful day with the rest of your amazing bridesmaids.  I thought about you all day and can't WAIT till we get to celebrate your last single girl days Vegas style.  Oh man...

:)

Shoes of Pray.

It's as amazing as it sounds.  Shoes of Pray is a new website where you can design your own shoes.  You pick everything from the style, to heel height and thickness, to fabric and color, to toe shape & zipper color, and can even add little bits of decoration.  Yes please!  You're a bit limited as you start by choosing from only 16 styles.  But if you can find a style/shape you like, it's SO much fun to design from there.

Here's my creation...






Simple enough in tan but a pop of color with the neon heels and a little embellishment to make them a touch sassy.  Now, to spend the $330 on these or not...


{ Photo Credit: shoesofpray.com }

Tahoe Love.

There are very few things I love more than a Lake Tahoe wedding.  My husband and I were married at a private residence on Lake Tahoe 2.5 years ago so it holds such a special place in my heart.   I can't wait to see this wedding unfold in our old stomping grounds of Incline Village.

Greg and Lauren reached out for help designing a Save-the-Date that felt very "Tahoe" chic but still fit their fun loving personalities.  So we went with a smooth, recycled paper, some Tahoe blue (of course) and tags attached with bakers twine.









I'm so in love with these.

I just received the invitation suite for this wedding and it's sooo beyond stunning.  Think... thick, soft cotton paper, letterpressed with light grey & sage green and matching painted edges.  Ugh, so amazing, I wish I could take credit :)

Etsy Find | Motekk Jewelry

I stumbled across this jewelry shop on Etsy and couldn't resist posting some of my favorites.







Motekk has all sorts of sweet and delicate pieces, made of sterling silver and gold filled/plated, so the prices only range from $20-45.  Definitely worth taking a peak!

{ Photo Credit: etsy.com/motekk }

Espadrille Wrapped Heels

I'm really loving all of the chunky, espadrille wrapped heels out there right now. But especially these two-toned, platform pumps from Ann Taylor...



They're actually a dark navy, so as soon as I find the right ensemble to go with them, I'll have the perfect excuse to add these to my wardrobe.  I'm thinking something super sassy  for my bestie's Vegas Bachelorette weekend coming up, oh boy!

Have a great weekend everyone :)

{ Photo Credit: anntaylor.com }

A Family Visit.

A couple pictures from my Mom, Grandma, Sister and Bro-in-law's visit a couple weeks ago... just because I'm missing them.  It was the first time Winslow met her Auntie Mae and Great Grandma who came all the way over from Bangkok and Melbourne.  So many smiles and giggles and strange noises :)

At the Botanic Gardens





And the family photo shoot at the park, of course...




4 generations right here!

Enough with the Blah!

While I can't complain about the weather here in Denver (which is almost ALWAYS sunny), I will complain about the dryness.  Like, staticy hair, chapstick in every room and jacket pocket, thickest of thick hand lotions near by at all times...  My skin was starting to look a bit blah, so, while at Sephora with my sister, I was talked into making these purchases...



I wanted to share because I was stopped by two randoms last week to ask what skin products I use.  *blushing* My skin all the sudden, has a fresh glow to it!  I guess these sorts of products work after all.  I've been using the Clarisonic at night and for day, the Stila Tinted Moisturizer over my normal moisturizer for some light coverage, with the Tarte Blush & Glow on my cheek bones and ridge of my nose.  I can't pretend to really know what I'm talking about with skin care and products (I didn't even wash my face every night, until this fun contraption came along), so now I'd like to introduce my friend, Janine.



Janine is that girl that you WISH you could hate, strictly based on the fact that she's so naturally beautiful and has perfect hair (can you sense the bitterness?!), but then to top it off, she's so genuinely sweet, you can't help but love her.  Ugh!  :)   Janine has a blog that consists of her blunt and honest reviews of all sorts of beauty products... from sunless tanner, to mascara, to green juice recipes.  She focuses on the more natural, organic products that we ALL should be converting to.  It's like having a virtual bestie telling you what to try and what not to waste your time and money on.  Janine's Beauty Blog, add it to the list!

{ Photo Credit: sephora.com }