Oh Crafty Day!

I am very lucky to have a crafty husband (read: Magnolia Leather Works %20 off sale), who doesn't mind going to Joann's on a rainy sunday. It was there that I made future crafty plans and withheld my efforts of a project a day. I can't go too much in to this project until a later date, although I can tell you I finished it much to my satisfaction and I only had to use the seam ripper once!. Here's a tease:



Uh huh that's right. That's my sewing machine. Thank you youtube for helping me get that blasted thing threaded. I'm a little rusty, but it was kinda like riding a bike.

As far as my status is concerned I am feeling much better about life. It's amazing what a few days (and two days off) can do for your mental state. I was very fortunate to have a sweet visit from my Kate who is soon to be a married woman. See below.



She brought me iced coffee and the sweetest birthday gift. Those Kiefer girls sure have my number. I can't wait to show you the beautiful necklace I received from Claire!



Charley Harper salt and pepper shakers. Kate also got me the neatest table butter dish from Le Creuset.



The butter crock keeps soft, fresh butter ready to spread for 3-5 days. Love it!

I can't wait to show you my newest accessory supplied by Sam Graham...

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Just had to share

I cried when I saw these pictures that my friend Andy took of Claire and Kate's (two of my oldest friends...make that lifetime friends) Grandma. They are spectacular. This is also Andy's new site. Enjoy!




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Fridays are for mothers

Matilda and I started off yesterday feeling very glamorous. We headed out early with Mom to go to a photoshoot. We will be making our editorial debut in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine's April issue. We braved the cold and headed to Decatur and had such a good time. I got to have my hair and makeup done, which is always fun and Matilda did such a great job. Not too many smiles were doled out, but she was a trooper.

Then we headed to Rachel's house to meet her and Kate for lunch at 5th Earl Market for some delicious lunch fare. The sandwhiches and soup were divine. I had the Covent Garden panini and it was absolute heaven. I could have eaten my entire meal again right then and there!

Menu



image credit: 5th Earl Market

The we stopped by an adorable children's boutique, Wiggle, right next store. The store is small, but chock full with a large selection of Tea Collection and See Kai Run shoes, as well as personal favorites: Feather Baby and Kate Quinn organics. Next weekend is their semi-annual sale!!



We came home and rested up for the evening. Sam and I had a night out courtesy of Mom and Dad. We had the absolute pleasure of celebrating one of my favorite people in the world's birthday! We met Jodi and Bobby to spend the evening with the Atlanta Thrashers. We were among thousands out and about in the city on the coldest night of the year. The energy was contagious and it was incredible. Sam and I are still talking about how much fun we had. Thanks Jodi and Bobby for a wonderful evening!!! Happy Birthday Jo!













WE WON!!!!



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Homemade Grits Shout out

We got a little shout out on Paste Magazine's Form and Function blog.

Thanks Kate



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Holiday baking

Today I spent the better part of the day baking treats for my neighbors and spending time with my lovely friend Kate. The mission was holiday baking and the mission was completed.

I decided to make cake pops after being completely inspired by Bakerella. Then I saw a post that Bread and Honey did on cake balls, which seemed a little more my speed. I loved the pink with the white, lovely. Finally I saw on Pioneer Woman a cookie recipe with white chocolate covered cookies dipped in crushed peppermint, thus formed the birth of...

Peppermint Cake Balls

Here are the ingredients:



A box of Vanilla Cake Mix

A can of vanilla or cream cheese frosting

Gel food coloring (optional)

Peppermints

White chocolate chips



Make the cake following the instructions on the box. Pretty impossible to screw up.



Remove cake and allow to cool completely. Don't rush it.



After letting the cake cool take it out and let it chill a little longer on a cooling rack.



Then crumble the cake with your hands...it's fixing to get fun! "Fixing to" is something southerners say with abandon. Get over it.



Take that whole can of icing (fat free of course as long as I'm concerned) and mix it with the cake until it's creamy.



Kate got in on the messy part, rolling bite sized balls of cake.



Place the balls on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer for an hour.



Then take the peppermint candies...



and put them in a plastic bag and hit them really hard with a mallot. Great holiday stress reducer. Try it.



Pretty little pieces of peppermint.



Now take those sweet little chocolate chips and nuke em. You can also use a double broiler, but I'm not that fancy.



Mix them until they are good and creamy.



Now toss, twirl, roll the beautiful balls of cake in the chocolate.



Sprinkle (one of my favorite words) these little gems with the peppermint you worked so hard to crush.



et voila!



They're good. Really good.





Sam thought they were pretty awesome.



Then it was bath time and sleepy time. Matilda loves her pjs from Anna.





Thank you Kate for a wonderful day and for helping me roll little messy balls of cake. Love you.



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Dreaming

Today I've been pouring over my puter looking for wonderful recipes to razzle dazzle my friends and family. I'm combining two recipes for ultimate holiday perfection. Stay tuned tomorrow for the results. I'm hoping Aunt Kate will be up for some baking or atleast holding sweet Matilda.

Who could resist this face?



Here is the usual neediness that Guinness oozes on a daily basis. Poor dog.



I have had to put mittens on Matilda because she kept scratching her face:( She gets so fitful when she's ready to sleep and goes crazy with the baby hands!



Today I got a little knock on my door from Christy telling me that we were finally getting our street lamps installed. After a promise from 2 years ago, it's finally coming to fruition. Yay! I'll post pictures when they're done.

Hope you are all getting your Christmas affairs in order and enjoying this beautiful season!

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So, you know when you hear about something

and then it's everywhere and that's all you hear about? There must be a word for this phenomenon. Well, earlier this week my friend Jessica posted about Spoonflower, this amazing new company that will print anything on fabric. If you can't find what you're looking for, you can create it. What a brillz idea! If that wasn't awesome enough, it's only $18 per yard and there is no minimum order. So, go ahead all you budding textile designers, and knock yourself out.



Spoonflower blog


So, back to that phenomenon. After I read about Spoonflower on Jessica's blog, Kate sent me an email telling me I should feature it and then I read about it again on Design Mom. Whoa. Word gets around. So if you haven't heard about Spoonflower by now, now you know!

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Happy Birthday Katherine Margaret

Dear Kate,

I hope you have a wonderful birthday on this lovely wintry day. We love you very much sweet friend. Hope this day brings you all that you desire...and a big piece of cake. So thankful for you pretty girl. Let's get together soon!

Love,

The Grahams



photography by Andy Lee

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The french toast smells gooooood

Sam just whipped up some french toast and I can't wait to devour it. We love cooking breakfast for dinner...it's one of our things. We had the loveliest day, although we didn't quite take advantage of the amazing fall weather like we should have. We started off the morning at New York Deli on the square. We met Mom, Dad, Grandmother and Grandaddy, who are in town to meet Matilda. It's one of my favorite lunch spots. My pick is the Vinings BLT with fresh cut fries and half sweet tea (in case you were wondering!). The atmosphere is really nice and great for men, it boasts several flat screen tvs, and the service is amazing. We've been there several times and the food comes out fast and the employees are so friendly and they work so hard to keep the restaurant clean (which I also love).







Here is a picture of Grandmother and Matilda, I got a little fancy with my iBook:



Afterwards we met Andy, Claire, and Kate at our house. I'm so happy Claire is in town and it was so great to visit with all of them. We had some great laughs and very polite political discussions. I have to say, I can't wait until the election is OVER! Anyways,we had a blast and I love them all. Claire, Kate, and I have been friends since they were born. I was at the hospital both times and it's a rare and beautiful thing.







Now Sam and I are going to watch a movie that I think personifies our life right now...American Gangster.

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ATL

Our wonderful friend Andy Lee is a budding photographer and he came over with Kate and took some pictures of Miss M. I took these from Andy's flickr











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