Current Crush - Teepees

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So, I'm slightly obsessed with teepees right now.

I know it's just a fad and will pass soon,

but I can't help but think how amazing it would be

to have a small teepee in my backyard to sleep in.

It would be like camping, but without leaving the comforts

(aka, bathroom and shower) of my home!

I think it's a perfect idea.

Here are a few teepee inspired things I found recently that I just love.

Vanilla Bean Frosting

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! My day was actually so relaxing, which I needed.

I can't tell you how long I sat in the backyard (like 4 hours!), soaking up some sun and reading.

Don't you just need days like that sometimes?

But it's back to work again today.

I actually have to make 3,000 chocolate chip cookies by Monday...

sometimes, I don't know what I get myself into, but I'm having fun making them.

I'm not gonna lie, by the end of the week, I might be down a couple dozen

cookie dough balls that will get eaten by me somehow disappear.

Speaking of sweets, have I ever told you my no-fail Vanilla Bean Frosting recipe.

This frosting is literally to die for and can go on just about any cupcake base flavor.

If you have some vanilla beans lying around, this is a great recipe to use them in.

Vanilla Bean Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 cups powder sugar

2 tbsp heavy cream

1 vanilla bean, split in half (length) and the seeds scraped out.

pinch of salt

1. Mix the vanilla bean seeds and the heavy cream together and let sit for about 10 minutes.

2.  In a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together till smooth and creamy.

3. Add the heavy cream/vanilla bean mixture then beat some more.

4. Add the salt and continue beating.

5. Once the frosting is fluffy and tastes perfect, frost on cooled cupcakes (or a cake).

Jolly Edition

Call me silly, but do you want to know what I look forward to the most
when it starts to get warmer outside... taking Silas for his daily walks.

I secretly wish we could take him everywhere we go. But he's somewhat of a is a large dog.
I'm talking 150lbs of hair... and drool... and stink... and in-your-face-ness.
Not to mention the fact that he's stronger than me,
and if he wants to go say his to someone or something,
no amount of "holding in the reigns"
can keep him from dragging me along too. 

That is why I am sharing this lovely art by Jolly Edition with you today.
When I see these, they make me want to take Silas for a walk.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

A storm came through last night.

Lightening so bright and thunder so loud,

I thought for sure my chickens outside in their coup were going to have a heart-attack.

But then I remembered that they were chickens... and they would be fine. 

Silas, on the other hand, that's a different story.

So today is cold and rainy, yet so pretty how the mist is coming over the mountains. 

This day called for something warm... like oatmeal.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

My Week in Instagrams

Have a great weekend!

Girl Behind the Blog

Well, I did it again. I made another video blog.

Thank you, Ashley and Nicole, for hosting yet another fun link-up.

 This months topic was "A Little More" about the girl behind the blog.

So here is a little more about me that you might not have known.

Enjoy!

Current Crush: Canary & Emerald

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To say that these two colors are a "crush" is a wild understatement.

I think OBSESSED is a better word.

During my trip to Nebraska, Marlene, Whitney, and I

took a day to do some shopping in Omaha.

I'm not kidding you when I say, that everything I picked out

pretty much had to do with these two colors.

I even bought one dress that displayed them both.

So this summer, you'll be seeing me in a lot of

Canary and Emerald.

Rhubarb Berry Pie

I love Rhubarb.
I never grew up eating it and as a matter of fact,
I didn't try Rhubarb until I moved to Montana.
But once I did, I fell in love.
About 2 years ago I planted a small bush in my backyard
and years later it is now taking over!
Don't get me wrong, I am happy that it is so huge...
but I now have so much Rhubarb
I don't know what to do with it all.

So I try to use it... in everything.

Like this Rhubarb Berry Pie recipe that I created.
It is so delicious and summery.
Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream
and you will be in heaven.

Rhubarb Berry Pie

 

1 batch of your favorite double crust pie dough recipe  

3 cups rhubarb, ends trimmed, cut crosswise

1 cup blueberries

1 cup raspberries

1 cup cherries
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp cornstarch
Pinch of salt

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Prepare the pie dough and place in your pie dish.

2. In a large bowl, toss rhubarb and berries with sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Pour into pie shell and top with lattice crust.

3. Bake until crust is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling, about 1 1/2 hours. Cool completely before serving.

 

Eye Poetry

I feel like I have a treat for you today.

I recently stumbled upon a blog (which is now one of my favorites) called Eye Poetry.

I absolutely love photography that is both ethereal and haunting at the same time.

Photography that captures the beauty of everyday life and makes it seem otherworldly.

The author of Eye Poetry, Irene Suchocki, quite perfectly captures those qualities through her lens. 

These pieces are of Marie Antoinette's Versailles home and her cottage home.

Ruthie's Baby Shower

Saturday came and went faster than I could have imagined.
That's usually the case when your day is busy busy busy.

Busy baking and frosting a 4 layered Raspberry Cream Filled Cake,
arranging beautiful peonies in my new blue mason jars,
making fabric kites to be strung around the house...
and cleaning my house.

It was all for my dear friend Ruthie's Baby Shower
and it was so worth all the work.

Funny story...

Originally the baby shower was going to be held in my backyard.
I love parties that are outside amidst all the flowers and trees.
You don't have to do much decorating because the landscaping becomes the decoration!
So at around 5pm I started decorating.
I began to string handmade fabric kites from the trees.
I began to put the flowers out and decorate the dessert buffet tables.
It was looking gorgeous. And then, I saw it.
The gloomy grey black clouds rolling over the mountain tops. Nooooooooo!
I waited about 30 minutes, just watching them. Then the thunder began.
I sighed. I began to pack up all my hard work, piece by piece, and moved it all inside.
And thanks to Micah and Mackenzie, we were able to decorate my living room and kitchen
to look like the Garden Kite Flying Baby Shower I had envisioned.

So thank you Micah and Mackenzie for all your help and hard work.
I'm quite proud of ourselves.

And thank you Ruthie, for being such a good friend.
We love you!

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Enjoy something extra special today.

 Like these Brown Sugar & Bacon Waffles! 

 

 

My Week in Instagrams

I hope you have a fun filled summer weekend!

I have a big day today. I'm throwing a baby shower for my good friend Ruthie!

Expect to see pictures soon.

Mount Rushmore

 

I have a bucket list of places I want to visit during my life.

It's an ever growing list because I always find something new that I just HAVE to go see.

Just yesterday, for example, I was watching the Dicovery Channel

and they had a special on Yosimite National Park.

I've been there numerous times, but I have never taken the trail to the top of Half Dome.

Well... after watching the special, I now HAVE to go to the top.

All that to say, I have a travel/sigh-seeing bucket list.

And on Monday I was able to cross one off my list.

Mount Rushmore

Both Micah and I loved it!

We also took some time to enjoy the view of the Midwestern Prairie Land...

which totally reminded me of Little House on the Prairie.

We even took a short detour to see a local artist's version of Stone Henge.

The artist called their adaptation "Carhenge".

It was quite a hoot! 

I'm Back

I'm back from vacation... and what a wonderful time Micah and I had.

I promised that I would post today, but due to some major work catch-up that I had on my plate,

I am going post about our camping experience tomorrow. 

But don't worry, I'm not leaving you with nothing!

I wanted to share with you this lovely quote by Audry Hepburn

that I found on 3 Lambs Illustration.

Isn't that statement so true?

I think so.

Farmhouse Dinner

Happy Father's Day Weekend!

We kicked off the festivities with a family dinner last night.

My sis-in-law, Whitney and I decorated this beautiful Farmhouse Table

with flowers and ferns from the garden, vintage jadeite bowls and depression glass.

And Micah, along with his mother and brother, cooked up a delicious meal

of smoked BBQ ribs, dill potato salad, fresh greens and garlic bread.

  

Our vacation on the Farm has been wonderful

and we were able to spend some much needed time with family.

But sadly, this leg of the vacation must come to an end.

Tomorrow Micah and I are headed to The Black Hills for some camping time!

I'm so excited!! So be expecting to see tons of pictures on my Instagram 

and a blog post about it when we return.

See you on Thursday.

My Week in Instagrams

One week of vacation down... 3 more days to go!

These pictures pretty much sums up our week...

 

Cooking, Tanning, & Shopping

Late Night Drinks,

a day trip to Omaha (Anthro!!!!)...

 and Micah just being himself on the farm again.

Current Crush - Summer Sun Tea

This vacation has really made me feel like summer is finally here.

Lounging in the sun or as I like to call it, "getting my tan on".

Tanning is so bad, I know... but I was born and raised in California.

It's in my blood to see the sun and immediately lay under it with a cool glass of sun tea in my hand.

You can take the girl out of California, but you can't take the California out of the girl.

So my current crush this week has been summer
and the endless amounts of sun tea

I will be consuming over the next 3 months.


Go check out Danielle over at Framed Frosting
who is the host of this blog link ups every week!