Playing Downton Abby

So, a little bit about me... I love Downton Abby. Who doesn't love that show right?!?
But here is my problem, season 3 does not air until January 2013!
That's sooooo far away (said in a whimpering voice).

I guess I'll have to make due with these humorous (and slightly risque)
paper dolls inspired by the characters of Downton Abby.
And yes, that is Mr. Pamuk at the bottom!

via: here

Color Palette - Cactus Bling

Great. After seeing this picture, I now want a cactus.

I don't really know if they grow in Montana. Maybe I can grow it inside.

Either way, I am loving this color combo.

And the broaches they added to it... amazing!

via: Bernd Westphal

My Week in Instagrams

Wow, that's it! I'm shocked by my lack of instagraming last week,

but I have a good excuse... I was at a work retreat all week, two work retreats to be exact.

I mentioned to you earlier that Monday I decorated for a barn style dinner

(part of the first retreat) and here are a few pictures of the decorations.

I made planter boxed for the tables and filled them with beautiful pansies and petunias,

and I even made fabric chandeliers to hang from the ceiling! 

And then for the second retreat we went camping

with a bunch of people we work with.

We even took Silas, who decided it was a good idea

to jump in the tent and cuddle up with Micah.

Current Crush - Milk Glass & Jadeite

  
My edition of current crush today is not only Milk Glass and Jadeite in an array of colors...
but it is also the store Fishs Eddy.  I am seriously dying to visit that store.
Now I just have to find a way to get to New York City.

Fishs Eddy is basically a glorified restaurant supply store that is also open to the general public,
but instead of your typical plain "ware", Fishs Eddy is filled with
unique, edgy, and vintage-like treasures.
You spend two minutes on that site and you'll see why I love it...
and why I am majorly crushing on these items.

Italian Stuffed Baguette

This recipe is so simple and so good at the same time.

I love baguettes. I also love tomato, basil, and Parmesan cheese.

Put the two together and bake it in the oven... well, it's a perfect combination.

Here's the recipe I used...

you must go try it right now!

Italian Stuffed Baguette

1 baguette loaf

1 tomato sliced

a handful of fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 garlic clove, crushed

kosher salt

pepper

1. Mix the butter, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper together.

2. Slice the baguette so that you have pocket to stuff and they can be easily pulled apart. Spread a little of the garlic butter into each slice.

3. Stuff the tomato and basil leaves into each slice as well. 

4. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and a bit more kosher salt and pepper.

5. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or enough time for the flavors to infuse and the bread to crisp up. 

6. Enjoy!

Summer Endings

Summer is approaching it's final days.
It is getting to be that time of year where, though it is still warm outside,
and your harvesting your produce in the sun, the evenings beckon you to grab your sweater.
Or you have that day, where a tank top and shorts are the last thing you want to wear.
For those days, I long to have a wardrobe filled with
Ruche's Tuscan Sun clothing line.
Aren't these pictures just so dreamy.
Perfect for summer's end.

Color Palette - Ginger Haired

via: Fleur + Dot

Um, all I have to say is...
How cute is this little ginger haired girl?!?!?

I had another big day today.
I decorated for a outdoor barn-ish dinner party.
It turned out great, but unfortunately (as always) I had about zero amount of time
 to actually take pictures before people began to show up.
I swear it always ends up that way.
You might see pictures of it soon, if they turn out presentable.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Or I should say...

Micah's Sunday Morning
Birthday Breakfast!

I like to call this "the ultimate man breakfast".
Hash browns topped with onions and peppers, topped with bacon,
topped with tater-tots, topped with cheese, and finished with a fried egg.
Yeah, total guys meal... but soooo good!

Happy Birthday Micah.

My Week in Instagrams

To be honest, this is the past 2 weeks in instagrams.

Last weekend, Micah and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary!

So I was away for the weekend and unable to post.

But what a fun anniversary we had!

We spent the weekend at our traditional spot, The Kandahar Lodge...

we ate at our favorite restaurant...

road the gondola up Big Mountain (the view was amazing)...

and we even spent some time at "Huckleberry Days",

enjoying a scoop of Huckleberry Ice Cream!

Have a great weekend!

And the WINNER is....

I am so excited to announce the winner!!

This giveaway was so fun... so fun I can't wait to do another one.

Cool story...

Maria Nuzzo was actually my roommate 9 years ago in YWAM.
We were DTS roommates right before we both headed overseas to live for a few months
(I headed to England/Northern Ireland and Maria headed to Thailand).

So excited you won Maria... and enjoy your bracelet!!!

Current Crush - The Loose Blouse

1, 2, 3, 4

Oh man, it is literally taking everything in me

to not jump over to a-thread and buy that fuchsia top!

I am just loving these tops right now.

Grace Designs

I was staring at my purse today
(okay, technically I was day dreaming during a meeting)
and I noticed that my purse is beginning to look very worn.
Sad, because it is my favorite purse.
Guess I'm going to need a new one pretty soon.

I would love one of these purses from Grace Designs!
Don't you just love the fabric patterns.

P.S. Only 3 more days to enter the giveaway!

Color Palette - Lemonade

There is just something about freshly made lemonade.
When the weather is hot, which it has been here in the Northwest...
all I want to do is relax outside and sip ice cold lemonade.

And I love this beautiful image via eat drink chic.
Doesn't it make you want to grab that cup and start sipping away?!

On another note, my giveaway is still open!
So if you haven't entered to win the It's A Wrap bracelet,
make sure to head on over (here) and enter.

Have a great Monday and try to stay cool in this heat!

4 Years and a Giveaway!

Can you believe I've been blogging 4 years now.
It seems like just yesterday I published my first post.

I am so excited about today...
because I am hosting my very first giveaway!

I wanted to say thank you to all my readers
who have been following my blog over the last years
and those who are recently new followers.
I have so enjoyed getting to know you by your comments and emails.
And the daily encouragement to keep up blogging from friends has kept me going.

SO....

I wanted to giveaway something to a lucky reader!

I am giving away the It's A Wrap bracelet from Premier Designs Jewelry!
Antique matte brass plated, genuine leather, valued at $39...
I have this bracelet myself and seriously wear it all the time.
And since wrap bracelets are still going strong in the fashion trend world...
I would love to give a lucky winner one of their own.

Here is what you do...
You can enter the giveaway by following the raffle generator below
(and for those with no blog, twitter, or pinterest...
simply click on the easy entry for fans of this blog post
and you can enter that way).
You have a chance to enter 6 times!

Best wishes and I'll announce the winner next Friday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Current Crush - Friendship Bracelets

And so my obsession with jewelry continues.

I am totally crushing on these friendship bracelets by Astley Clark.
Wouldn't they be so cute worn either just by themselves or stacking a few together!

And speaking of jewelry...
in honor of my 4 year blogging anniversary,
I am hosting my first ever GIVEAWAY right here on Wuthering Iris!

TOMORROW!!

And what am I giving away?
Well, lets just say I'm taking advantage of my jewelry obsession and using it for your benefit!
So you might want to check back with me tomorrow.

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Remember when I mentioned that I went cherry picking?...

Well, I made something delicious with those cherries!

I am on a huge ice cream kick right now.

So when I had pounds of cherries just sitting in my fridge, waiting to be devoured,

I new I had to create a yummy ice cream recipe with them.

And boy, is it delicious!

Sweet Cherry Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Chunks....

I'm in heaven with each bowl.

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 1/8 cup sugar

3 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

1 pound cherries

1/4 cup dark chocolate, chopped into pieces

1. Blend milk, sugar, cream, vanilla, and 8 cherries (pitted) until a smooth mixture forms.

2. Pour into an electric ice cream maker and make according to the ice cream makers directions.

3. While ice cream is churning, pit and chop about a cup of cherries.

4. When ice cream is just about done, add the chocolate chunks and cherry chunks. Churn for a few more seconds, so that the chunks are well incorporated.

5. Transfer into a plastic bowl and cover. Freeze an additional 30 minutes.

6. Enjoy!

Color Palette - Summer Poppies

Summer just wouldn't be the same
without the bounty of summer poppies
growing everywhere.
Mine grow beautifully in my garden
(as long as the chickens don't trample them...
I swear, those chickens can do some major damage to my plants).
And in the fall, I take all the leftover poppy pods,
open them up, and scatter the seeds
wherever I can find an open plot of dirt.

I am super inspired by the color of these poppies this week.

My Week in Instagrams

 

Guess what I did yesterday!

I was able to cross another "summer to-do" off my list... I went cherry picking!

Each summer the cherries are so abundant here in Montana

that farms let you take a pail and fill it to your hearts desire (and it's only $1 a pound!).

I didn't buy a lot, only 4lbs, but that's enough for us to enjoy as we relax the summer away.

Have a great weekend!

Peacock Plume

Since were on the topic of jewelry and fashion

and everything wonderful about those two things,

I have to ask...

Have you hear of Peacock Plume?

If not, you must go check it out right now!

 Seriously, click on over and see...

I'll wait.

Don't they have the most fun and budget friendly

jewelry and accessories!
These are just a few of my favorites.

Current Crush - Roaring Statement Necklaces

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

After a few days of camping...

and a few days of recouping after camping,

I am back on the blogging train.

I couldn't miss out on another episode of Current Crush!

(Thanks again Danielle, Kristen, & Jessie)

This week I just can't get enough of the

Roaring Twenties inspired Statement Necklaces...

I am seriously obsessed.

Maybe because it makes me more and more excited

for this movie to be released!

Nevertheless...

I'm loving these necklaces and this trend.