may your every wish come true..

  I got especially lucky with presents this year..I feel like everyone read my mind haha!

The vintage cape of my dreams..a gift

My parents surprised us with our first flat screen tv..it's tied with the vintage cape for favorite present!

I spied this old ornament I made as a kid on my parent's tree, how sweet!

snow miser-heat miser

I didn't get my wish for a white Christmas..it was 56 and sunny. I looked outside around 5 yesterday morning and there was snow! It melted by the time I woke up of course, these were the only remnants..

Did you get anything awesome for Christmas?!

Mele Kalikimaka

vintage little girl's dress...she loves it haha

I hope everyone had a wonderful day!

dish: eggnog crepes & sugarplum syrup

Luke loves eggnog and always brings home a little carton every holiday..he ends up only drinking a tiny bit. It's a little too rich for me on it's own so I wanted to make something that just has some of that delicious flavor, these crepes are perfect for Christmas morning!

eggnog crepes

makings:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup eggnog

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons butter, melted

steps:

In a medium mixing bowl, stir above ingredients together until combined and smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter into the pan, using about 1/4 cup for each crepe. Quickly tilt the pan in a circle so the batter coats the surface evenly.

Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown/slightly crispy. Shake it loose and flip it over in the air if you've got the wrist skills. If not, turn it over with a spatula and cook the other side.

 Pour a bit of the sugarplum syrup in the center and fold adding a line on top,sprinkle with powdered sugar. Yum!


sugarplum syrup

Makings:

1 cup fruit(I used canned plums)
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup water

Steps:

Cook fruit with sugar and water until thick. Smash fruit while cooking.

For a thin syrup - press through a strainer.

Serve warm. Store in the refrigerator.

Great on eggnog pancakes too!

Merry Christmas Eve!

tapestry

.

My favorite vintage 60's tapestry purse

We don't accomplish anything in this world alone... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.
Sandra Day O'Connor

New hair! again. haha I lopped off a six inch ponytail and gave myself a swingy bob and bright auburn color a few days ago. I wanted something different and kind of 60's, I haven't had my hair this short in a while! It's such a big change for me but I figure the winter is the perfect time to try something new. The chilly weather calls for wearing my hair down..and hats!

Anyone else feeling the urge to change their hair?

midweek menagerie

A collection of thoughts and things..

"You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen."— Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

Moto-

I'm probably the girliest tomboy you'll ever meet. I grew up climbing trees, catching little creatures(mice and toads mostly haha) working on cars, and riding motorcycles.(Mom is a social worker(helps feed families) and I love to volunteer) My dad is an auto body mechanic and I was required to help him work on projects..I say required because at the time I absolutely HATED it. At 14 I would have much rather been hanging out with friends or playing with my hair/makeup, instead I was hanging out in a garage,under a car, covered in grease. (weekends I had to work at the auto shop in st.louis but sometimes I would get to stop in the rainbow clothing store on the way home) In high school we spent an entire year restoring a 70's chevelle from the ground up..took it completely apart. It went from a dusty shell to a glorious muscle car. 454 big block Ls6. Astro blue(black stripes). Driving around town in it was like being a celebrity..people literally waved and wanted to talk to us wherever we went. Not to mention it was a great conversation starter with my crush who also had a classic car haha

I ride dirt bikes and my dad loves to tell the story about how I made it up a super steep hill while grown men were laying their bikes down..I think I made it to the top out of sheer terror because once I cleared the hill I promptly tumped over. I had the gnarliest bruise for a couple weeks. I even wanted to be in a local race.. you know,be the girl that beats the guys and at the end remove my helmet to reveal flowing locks haha!

As much as I used to resent my dad for making me do "guy stuff" I appreciate the fact that I can now hold my own with the boys. I know more about cars than my husband and can change a tire and check my own oil. I'm strong and soft, and that's just perfect to me.  

Newest guilty pleasure-

BBC's Being Human. I recently discovered this on Netflix after searching for the US version. I always have to have some kind of vampire/sci-fi show in my life and this one has everything I love. A ghost,werewolf,and vampire sharing a flat and trying to fit into normal society.

Baby,it's cold inside-

We live in a giant historic brick house with no central air/heat. This is our second winter here and we're still trying to figure out the most practical way to heat it. It doesn't help that my Hashimotos disease makes me super sensitive to cold, my hands and feet are like ice. Luke has these warm old thermals that I've been wearing, cute right?! haha. I'm ready for Always Sunny tonight!

Anyone else feeling down due to the cold/dreary weather?

dish: hearty chili & corn cakes

Chili is one of my favorite cold weather foods and this one is delicious and super easy. With the corn cakes it's the best blend of slightly sweet/ spicy and the perfect cozy dish. I hope you love it too!

 Chili

Makings:

1 tsp. olive oil

1 pound ground turkey(or meatless!)

1 hot (or mild) chili seasoning packet*

1 (28 ounce) can stewed(or crushed) tomatoes

1 (16 ounce) can light red kidney beans - drained

1 (16 ounce) can chili beans

2 (10  ounce ) cans diced tomatoes(with green chillies)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. sugar

Steps:

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the turkey and cook until evenly browned.

Mix in all of the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer about 30 minutes.

*or make your own chili seasoning!

2 tablespoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Meanwhile get to work on these!

Corn Cakes

Makings:

1 package corn muffin mix(prepare as shown on box)

1 (10 oz) can sweet corn

1/4 cup chopped jalapenos

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 375

1. Prepare the corn muffin mix as shown on the box(mine took 1 egg/1/3 cup milk) Add the can of corn and jalapenos. Grease mini loaf pans or a muffin tin/use liners,fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and then turn out on a rack.

We found our mini loaf pan set at a thrift store for a few dollars and I use it for everything..banana bread,meatloaf,all things loaf really. I love them!

Serve the chili with the corn cake on the side or eat them together in the bowl like we do, so good!



candied gams

I hope everyone had a great day! We ate way too much and spent the day with our families. I helped with the cooking a bit by making one of my favorite holiday dishes, candied yams.(sliced,carmelized,butter&brown sugar) My grandma Betty used to make them every year and it's so nice to carry on certain traditions.

I've been living in rust,the perfect color for Fall. I can't believe it's almost December, time has been flying by!

Amelia Bedelia

 I love catching up with everyone and slowing down for a bit, it's all about food and family.

Jack

Colby..she's one of the prettiest dogs, those eyes!

Do you have a favorite holiday food?

green grass

♪Lay your head where my heart used to be

Hold the earth above me

Lay down in the green grass

Remember when you loved me♪

I collect vintage cameras, this Polaroid Land is my favorite!

With what seemed to be the last semi-warm day of fall we decided to spend some time at one of my favorite out of the way picnic spots, Pleasant Ridge. I grew up coming here to be in the wide open spaces,exploring the wooded trails, and hunting for Morel mushrooms. The rolling hills are my favorite, it's the perfect place for sledding! We enjoyed the sunshine and drank spiced apple cider. It was so nice to be outside for a bit, the perfect remedy for the blues! I was hoping to see some pretty fall leaves but almost all of the trees were already bear..I think winter is near. I always find myself listening to Tom Waits when the weather gets cold, he just fits the mood.

new dark hair..it's growing on me

bow-handmade(I want to make one in every color!)

I've been obsessed with pretty collars and bows lately. I made this with vintage fabric left over from my dress sewing adventure..I'm teaching myself!

The house on the grounds was built in the 1800's, I love that it's still here!

sun showers

Can't wait for the first snowfall!

Do you have any vintage collections?

midweek menagerie

a collection of thoughts and things..

a woodland walk-

It has been so incredibly windy lately that all of the gorgeous fall leaves were already swept from the trees and covering the ground. Fall is so fleeting...I wish it would stick around longer!

My favorite heavy wool coat was much needed on this blustery day

something sweet-

I made my first Lemon Meringue pie..so good!

Luke loves Julia Childs and wanted to show me how she whips by hand with a GIANT whisk..this clip cracks me up!!

namesake-

My mom was 19 and pregnant with me when she spotted this pretty perfume at a drugstore. She loved the way the name looked and practiced writing it..

I've been searching for one and my mom recently snagged it at a yard sale for me!

Decription: Forever Krystle Perfume by Carrington was introduced in 1984 by the design house of carrington as a floral scent-contains a blend of mimosa, rose, musk and bergamot

Claimed to be the first "celebrity scent"

Who were you named after?