Color Palette - Fall Emerald

Will you believe me if I told you I forgot to blog pretty much all last week?
Okay... maybe I didn't forget... I was SUPER busy with work.

But it's Monday, and Monday means Color Palette day,
which has quickly become one of my favorite blogging days.
To be able to share a beautifully inspirational picture with you
along with colors that flow (or at least I think so) so perfectly together.

Today, I get to share my favorite color of all time with you...Emerald Green.
I blame the movie Return to Oz for my obsession with Emerald...
or maybe I blame Tinkerbell or The Great Gatsby.
All are scene stealing with the emphasis on Emerald.

Urban Bird & Co.

Maybe I have been watching too much Downton Abbey,

but I have been thinking a lot about Etiquette these days.

Etiquette... such a pretty word and tradition, yet so often forgotten.

One day, I would love to take an Etiquette class.

Learning all the do's and don'ts of how to "properly" behave. 

But until then, these cute napkins by Urban Bird & Co. will do the trick!

Color Palette - Fall Coral

I always thought of Coral as a Spring and Summer color...

but it looks amazing with this Fall sweater!

Image via: Happily Grey

Sunday Morning Breakfast

I can feel Fall approaching each morning I wake up.

Today I woke up to find foggy clouds covering the mountains, a chill in the air,

and a craving in my tummy for something sweet and cinnamon-y.

Doesn't that just sound like Fall.

On another note...

See these pears, I have a case of them that I need to do something with.

Canned Pears, Pear Butter, Pear Pie... those are the things I have planned for today.

Yet I'm afraid I'll still have more pears than I know what to do with.

Do you have any suggestions on what I should do with them?

Happy Sunday!

My Week in Instagrams

There was a lot of harvesting and canning going on in our home this week.
Peaches, Pears, Onions, Beans, Peas, Potatoes, Pickles...
bunches and bunches of yummy stuff that will feed us through the winter.
Next thing on my list to can are tomatoes and apples!

Happy Art for Happy Walls

 

Wouldn't you just love to have these hanging in your house.

I am so in love with these prints created by UUPP.

And their Etsy tagline is so cute...

 

"Happy Art for Happy Walls"

Happy Friday!

Current Crush - Maxi Skirts

1, 2, 3 
 
I love maxi skirts for the fall.
When the weather is just a bit too cold to wear short skirts,
yet is still a bit too warm to wear tights. 
Yeah, the maxi skirt is perfect for this time of year.

I am seriously crushing on all 5 of these right now. 

 

Black Pepper Biscuits

You want to know something...
I think homemade biscuits are one of the most frustrating things to make.
But I love them so much, so I fight through.
Why are they so frustrating?
First, they are messy. When your done making them,
flour has somehow exploded all over your kitchen.
Second, they are sticky. The dough gets everywhere and in every thing...
even rings that you forget to take of before mixing the dough.
Third, they are super touchy to make.
Kneed them too much, they are stiff.
Kneed them not enough, they aren't mixed well.
Add to much flour, they are dry.
Add to much cream, they are sopping wet.
You get my point.
All that to say, I have tried to perfect a biscuit recipe for awhile now.
And this recipe is hands down (so far) my favorite.
And the black pepper on the top is divine.

Black Pepper Biscuits

4 cups flour, plus more to dust
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons cold butter, grated into small pieces (I use a cheese grater)
1 1/2 cups cold buttermilk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add the butter and using a pastry cutter or you fingers, mix into the flour mixture until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

4. Add the buttermilk and 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Mix until it just begins to come together. Do not overmix!

5.  On a lightly floured surface, place the dough. Pat the dough into a ball and with your hands press until it is about 3/4 inch thick.  Using a biscuit cutter (or just a plain cup) begin to cut out the biscuits.

6. Place the biscuits on a prepared baking sheet, brush with more cream on top of the biscuits and sprinkle with black pepper.

7. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
 

Another Giveaway!

Want a chance to win these earrings?!?

I'm participating in a group giveaway

and would love for you all to head on over to Glossy Blond

and enter in for a chance to win these "Breezy Earrings"!

 

Color Palette - Summer Transitions

My favorite time of the year is beginning.
That time where it's still warm enough to relax outside,
yet there is a slight chill in the air that makes you want to curl up under a blanket,
bake something delicious, or throw together a pot of soup.
The fall flowers start to bloom, the Tamarack trees begin to yellow,
and the maple trees being to turn crimson red.
Ahhhh Fall, you are my favorite.

Image via: Covet Garden

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Good Morning... or I should say,

Good Afternoon!

Both Micah and I slept in way too late today.

But hey, it's the weekend and that's what weekends are for! Right?

We slept in so late, that Sunday Morning Breakfast was more like Sunday Morning Brunch.

Sounds good to me. So I lounged around the kitchen and made wonderful Black Pepper Biscuits.

 Then I turned that into a breakfast sandwich. It was delicious!

What was on your plate this morning?

My Week in Instagrams

My Instagram-ing (if that is even a word... it is now) has been slacking this week.

It has been a busy week, to say the least.  To make up for it,

I have a story behind each of these pictures for you!

The Ice Cream above was my second batch of Huckleberry Ice Cream !

I seriously love this stuff.

After 6 months of telling myself that I needed a hair cut,

I finally made it to the salon.

My hair was almost to my butt... not good.

While I was there my stylist introduced me to this amazing stuff.

It is seriously powered gold in my opinion.

I have SUPER fine hair that will never hold any sort of volume.

But this texture powder gives your hair that matte feeling that keeps it put all day.

Our chickens have finally started consistently laying eggs.

Not all the chickens are laying, only four.

But each morning we get farm fresh eggs to enjoy!

 

On Thursday, Jon and Danielle made a spontaneous trip over to see us!

It is always so wonderful when family comes to visit

and we had such a great time...

Burgertown

Happy Hour at the Tamarak

BBQ Dinner

and Dessert by the bonfire. 

(Oh... and my new haircut!)

Downton Abby Scarf

Since we all know now that I love Downton Abby,
here is a scarf dedicated to Miss Mary and her amazing home.

What are your plans for this three day weekend?
I am happy to say that my plan... is to have no plans at all!
Sometimes you just need a relaxing weekend to do whatever your hearts desire
at whatever moment that may be.

Have a great weekend!

Via: Fancy French Cologne

Current Crush - Disposable Bamboo

1, 2, 3, 4

The outside barn party that I decorated for last week had disposable bamboo cutlery.

It was a "must have" that I insisted on, and I spent a pretty penny on it as well.

But it was totally worth it! I even painted a strip on the handle like the ones pictured above.

There is just something so special about having a party, where every little detail

has been planned to a tee... even down to the cutlery.

Huckleberry Ice Cream

Summer is still holding on strong here in the NW.

So I'm savoring the moment by making lots of Ice Cream. 

 Remember when I blogged about this Cherry Chunk Ice Cream 

because I had way to many cherries to know what to do with?

Well, now I have way to many huckleberries.

Even though you can really never have TOO MANY huckleberries.

 So what did I do? I made Ice Cream. 

Huckleberry Ice Cream.

Huckleberry Ice Cream

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 1/8 cup sugar

3 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup huckleberry pancake syrup (my secret ingredient!)

1/4 cup huckleberries

1. With a hand held puree wand (or blender) blend milk, sugar, cream, and syrup until a smooth mixture forms. Add the whole huckleberries and blend a few more seconds.

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

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

4. It's that easy. Enjoy!

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!