curio quilt

we've moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:06:00 +0000

The blog has moved!!

Go to curioquilt.com for the updated blog!

LHS graduates 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 01:54:00 +0000

My first class of students I taught as freshmen have graduated! I'm so proud of each and every one of those students and it was so wonderful to see the completion of such hard work and determination. The delta still has a great hold on my heart. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for these wonderful young men and women.

replica #1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 16:16:00 +0000

Sally Fields 1966

Lang and I have found some great, old portraits of celebrities and we've been inspired to start replicating them! This one was an easy first :)

Superfood Granola Bars

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:16:00 +0000

About a month ago, Lang sent me to the grocery store with the graphic below. He had jumped on the train of whole foods eating and more specifically, packing our breakfasts and snacks with superfoods. I told him about one of my favorite blogs, Nutrition Stripped, and for a solid couple of weeks, McKel's amazing recipes and informative blog ruled our bellies.

We followed her smoothie and nutrient-dense bread recipes for a few weeks before venturing off and experimenting with coconut flour, maca powder, raw cacao nibs and other odd, but insanely good for you foods.

In the last month, I have made these granola bars four times. They don't last long in our house. I modeled the recipe roughly off of my version of the Smitten Kitchen granola bar recipe I made a few months back, but this time only used nutrient dense ingredients, aka superfoods.

Here's a short lowdown on the goodies of these ingredients:

oats: low glycemic index, high fiber, potentially gluten free (read your labels!)
pepitas: one of the best plant-based sources of zinc!
goji berries: crazy amount of antioxidants in an itty bitty berry
maca powder: helps with hormonal balance (anxiety, depression, infertility, focus, endurance)
cacao nibs: magnesium, iron

Substitutions can definitely be made for this recipe, but you'll loose some of the nutrients. If you're looking for a nutritious, basic granola bar recipe, go here. Otherwise, here are some possible substitutions:

goji berries = raisins, cranberries, any other dried fruit
pepitas = any other seed or nut
cacao nibs = chopped baker's chocolate bar
coconut oil = melted butter

You should make these. So tasty and so good for you.
win-win-win-win.

Superfood Granola Bars

2 cups oats
1 cup almonds
1/4 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/2 cup goji berries
1/2 cup raw cacao nibs
1 tablespoon Maca powder (optional)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup honey (heaping)
4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

Preheat oven to 350; Line an 8x8 glass baking dish with aluminum foil so that it comes above the sides; grease really well.

In a large bowl, dump in the 1 2/3 cup of the oats. Take the last 1/3 cup of oats and place in a food processor and grind up to make an oat flour. Add the oat flour to the large bowl.

Take your 1 cup of almonds and pulse a couple times in the food processor to get chopped almonds and almond meal. (It's okay if you get primarily almond meal--almond flour is a great binding flour and so you're less likely to have crumbly bars). Add almonds to the large bowl.

Add the rest of your dry ingredients to the large bowl and combine.

Melt the coconut oil and mix with honey. Add the wet mixture to the large bowl and stir until well distributed. Dump the mixture into the baking dish and mash it down with the back of a spoon so that it is packed in.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. A couple minutes after taking it out of the oven, lift the bars out of the baking pan by the aluminum foil to help them cool faster. Once they are completely cooled, remove foil and cut into squares. Store in the refrigerator.

LHS 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 15:15:00 +0000

Sheesh. I'm a blubbering mess right now.

My very first day as a teacher was these students' first day of high school. I still have the notecards they filled out with their name, how they were feeling about their first day, and a current goal they had for themselves. Almost all of them wrote either "scared" or "nervous" and that they wanted to graduate high school and go onto college.

Four years later, they are strong, confident young men and women, now a little scared and nervous about the next chapter of their life--college. I had the privilege to take senior pictures for some of my students I have gotten the closest with over the past four years, and words don't even come close to describe how special that was.

I am so, so, so proud of these guys and the LHS class of 2014. You are smart, hilarious, resilient, beautiful, and have taught me more than you could have every possibly imagined.

I love you all so much and I can't wait to see you walk across that stage!

Cape Town pt 2: the iPhone version

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:58:00 +0000

This is the last installment of South African photos-- the iPhone edition.

The last couple of weeks have been rather packed in regards to reconfiguring the new curio quilt site, a trip to the delta (pictures coming soon!), and figuring out and updating our new Lang Thomas Photography website. This post almost made a home in the draft's tab, but I quickly realized that would be quite a loss.

Ahh...how I so wish I could go back.

I know I'm a broken record...but I refuse to fix this one: A trip to SA is something I think everyone should put on their bucket list.

Getting there is a little pricey and inconvenient (lonnnng plane ride), but when you are there, all of those traveling woes will float away. The food is wonderful, the dollar is incredible strong, the people are sweet and kind, and it is the most visually appealing place I have ever been.

Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the most famous drives in the world. You feel like you're in a maserati commercial--even though you're driving a Ford Figo rental.

Foodie heaven. Every Saturday, there is this incredible marketplace with tons of great food from local eateries as well as pop-up shops from Cape Town's hippest boutiques and UK designers. If you're looking for good eats and garb, you must go to the Old Biscuit Mill and the Woodstock Exchange.

The photo above is action packed. One of our favorite parts of the trip was the time we spent at Boulder's Beach napping and swimming with penguins (currently tied with goats for my favorite non-domesticated animal). After that, we went to the southernmost tip of Africa, The Cape of Good Hope.

Also included in the photos above are some glimpses from our safari at the Gondwana Game Reserve along the Garden Route and our time exploring wineries (and eating lots of truffles) around Stellenbosch. The two wineries we loved were Ernie El's and a more modern one, Hidden Valley.

In and around Cape Town, we did lots of hiking, exploring, eating and shopping. For hiking and exploring, you most definitely need to go to Table Mountain and Lion's head as well as take the ferry out to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.

In regards to food recommendations, I could write an entire blog post. I'm going to spare you and myself the work of doing so and redirect you to the SA blog that made every meal a raging success. Thank you Miss Moss for being so incredibly hip, tasteful, and willing to share Cape Town's best secrets.

South Africa pt 1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 01:28:00 +0000

So where do I begin?

How about I start off with some business news--Lang and I have completely redesigned our wedding photography website and we're super pumped about it! Curioquilt will remain as the site for our personal photos (ie: our South Africa trip), but all wedding photography things can be found here. Check it out and tell us what you think! We really value you and your feedback.

Now, business aside--
let's get to it.

The point of the paragraph below: You Must Go To South Africa.

We packed our bags and spent two weeks with our newfound friends, the Marshalls. During that time, we ate ostrich burgers, climbed one of the seven natural wonders of the world, saw Nelson Mendela's prison cell, swam with sharks, napped with penguins, perused markets, refueled at local roasters, slept in a grass huts, chased sunsets, drove on the other side of the road --just to name a few.

This trip has forever changed Lang and I. Between the sweet time and conversations with the Marshalls and our adventures around the city and the cape, we left with new perspectives and inspiration. Because our days were full and on our two legs, we sadly rarely had our camera's on us (they're not the easiest things to lug around). We did manage however to pull them out a couple of times and those photos are below. I'll be putting up another blog post of our iPhone pics soon.

Such beauty, awe, and life can be found in this land of restoration, hope, and geographic wonder.
You must find a way to go there someday.

This is what we woke up to each morning. A bright and cheery room with Nichole feeding her sweet babes. You may recognize these kiddos from a newborn shoot we did last year. They're still just as cute. Only now they can find their way around an iPad and whistle.

We woke up bright and early and drove to Simons Town to go shark diving with the great whites. We drove up to this island full of thousands of seals, threw out some chum, and jumped in the cages. Aside from Lang getting seasick, it was an amazing venture.

This is Boulders Beach, a national park in South Africa. Here resides not only ginormous boulders, but hundreds of penguins. They are such sweet animals. Here you can swim with them or nap with them on the beach. It was one of our favorite experiences.

In South Africa, there are lots of Baboons. They know how to open car doors, backpacks, and most all things human. They're pretty funny creatures, but don't be fooled--they're also one of Africa's most dangerous.

This is Cape Point or The Cape of Good Hope. This is the southernmost tip of Africa and said to be where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean collide. It is a sight to be seen. On this day, there was this beautiful cloud cover and mist over the peak.

On our last two days, Lang and I drove on the Garden Route to Gondwana Game Reserve. There we stayed the night in a grass hut on the reserve with the animals. It was amazing. Don't let "grass hut" fool you. They were incredible. I wouldn't mind living in a grass hut for the rest of my life.

During our time there, we went on two safaris. We were able to see an elephant, giraffes, a rhino, hippo, tons of zebras, and lots of other smaller African wildlife.

The Marshall family is an amazing one. Over the course of the two weeks, we got to know them really well. We are so thankful for not only their incredible hospitality, but also their encouragement to go out and live abundantly. The trip wouldn't have been the same without them and their awesome boys.

the Cape

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 16:31:00 +0000

I'm so pumped to say that in two hours Lang and I will be boarding a plane to South Africa!

We'll be venturing there two weeks. I can't wait to show you all our adventures!

Stay warm my friends!

coconut flour pancakes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 14:57:00 +0000

My first real gluten free success!!

Gluten free baking is tricky business. I've found success in tarts, oatmeal cookies and creating meals absence of gluten, but have had yet to create a faux version of anything gluten obvious--like, say pancakes!

Just to be clear, I am definitely not gluten free (phew!). I have found however, that by cutting back on gluten, my skin complexion has cleared up and I tend to generally have more energy. Aside from those perks, it's fun to test out other flours--especially coconut flour. It has double the amount of fiber and protein as found in wheat bran and much more than your regular all purpose flour. I'm super excited about these pancakes because they are packed full of great nutrients and they taste really good--something that can be quite a feat in gluten free baking. Even Lang loves these--and guys, that is a strong recommendation :)

So here is the recipe. They're kind of crepe-like and so serve them like how you would crepes! We've done the classic butter and maple syrup, yogurt and honey, and plain. They would also taste great with peanut butter, applesauce, or heck, chocolate sauce. Do what feels right!

Bon appetit!

Coconut Flour Pancakes
-recipe slightly modified from nutrition stripped-
**Now, it can be a bit tricky to figure out what temperature works best on your stovetop and how to flip. I found that I have to turn my stovetop down quite a bit and have them cook longer. It takes a little bit of trial and error. Make little pancakes as testers to help save the batter :)

Serves: 2-3 people

1 1/3 cup almond milk (or any other milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 banana
2 eggs
6 egg whites (or substitute for 3 eggs--equaling 5 total)
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut flour
4 tablespoons ground flaxseed (meal)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cinnamon
1/4 nutmeg

1. In a blender, blend up the first six ingredients (milk, vanilla, banana, eggs, egg whites, honey/syrup)

2. In a small bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients together (flour, flaxseed, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg)

3. Add the dry ingredients (from step 2) into the blender and blend until just combined. The consistency should have a medium thickness.

4. Heat up a skillet or griddle to medium/medium-low heat and lightly grease with coconut oil or butter. Once it's warmed up, try a couple of small tester pancakes. This part can be tricky and I only had luck flipping these when I used a metal spatula.

Using a 1/4 cup scoop, pour batter evenly onto your skillet. Once the middle bubbles and doesn't close back up right away, give those babies a flip. It took a bit of lowering temperatures and waiting longer for the pancakes to cook in order for me to get a good flip and good color on my pancakes. This will all vary on how your stovetop. My word of advice--don't flip too soon!

6. Serve them with whatever toppings you fancy and enjoy! They're also great cold or reheated. Enjoy!

What toppings do you like best on your pancakes? Do you have any coconut flour recipe staples? Please share!

super bowl foodie round up

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 03:48:00 +0000

-- the reasons I love Super Bowl Sunday--

commercials
finger foods
friends
my husbands happiness.

Here's how it goes...

We invite the folk,
I make the foods,
Lang gets super pumped and does his inevitable "stretches,"
we watch, boo, laugh and munch--
and then a short 4 hours later,
we begin the march madness countdown.

Here's some of our favorite game time recipes.
Definitely not the classiest, healthiest, or all-natural recipes,
but there's grace for all you foodies out there!

All have been tasted and received our stamp of approval--
multiple times.

SUPER BOWL FOODIE ROUND-UP

BIG BITES
Smitten Kitchen's Beef Chili
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Pesto Pizza with Butternut Squash
Red Pepper, Red Onion, + Goat Cheese pizza
**I always use this dough recipe but substitute whole wheat flour for half the AP flour

CHIPS, DIPS, + SMALL BITES
(don't forget the chips!)
Ethereally smooth hummus
Restaurant Style Salsa
Avocado Feta Salsa
Wrapped Bacon Parmesan Bites
Sausage cheese balls - always a hit! **I use the trader joe baking mix rather than bisquick
Spinach cheese balls - same note as above :)

SWEET
Salty, Pretzel, Vanilla, Carmel Corn
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
Thick, Chewy, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
Dipped PB Pretzel Crisp Sandwiches

lights

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 02:41:00 +0000

Last wedding of the year!!

Now for our two month hiatus of home repairs, South African adventures and Mad Men binge watching.
Let us begin!!

Cheers!

ideal

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 15:43:00 +0000

Tis the season for productive hibernation
--or resolutions--

I'm not really the one to make a lot of resolutions, but I am a lover of goals. I've always been this way. I love setting them, coming up with benchmarks, developing plans and means to get there, and then reaching them or better yet surpassing them.

Over the last couple of months however, I've really been pressed to search my heart for its motivations and desires. I came to realize that part of my love of goals comes from an unhealthy love of control. And needless to say, this isn't a pure motivation.

I noticed this specifically in my motivations to run and work out. I didn't start running seriously until the fall of 2012. Lang and I had just gotten married and my dad was diagnosed with stage four cancer. Running felt like one of the only ways I could free my mind. And after his bones began breaking from the cancer, I felt even more inspired to run. I was so overwhelmed with gratefulness for a healthy and able body. It's such an incredible gift! This truth was so real to me during this time and so every morning, I would hop out of bed before dawn and hit the streets of Louisville.

Over time however, this rush began to fade and running and working out began to feel like a chore. I stopped for a while, then started again out of guilt and desiring physical changes--my mind getting stuck on numbers and sizes and fear of losing what endurance I had gained. I read this great article from Darling, Breaking Up With My Ideal Self, along with another book more recently, Crazy Busy, and starting seeing some of my unhealthy motivations.

So I began asking myself questions--checking the intentions of my heart. When asking myself why it was that I wanted to work out that day, the answer was most often one of the following:

-- I ate way too much yesterday. I need to go for a run today. (guilt)
-- I want to enjoy myself tonight. I'll feel better if I work out before (control)
-- If I don't get my work out in each morning, it messes my whole day up. (perfectionism + control)
-- I want to get back to my "ideal" weight and fitness level (perfectionism, proving myself/pride)

It's really insightful and convicting when you simply ask yourself "why?". Whether it's in regards to exercising, spending money, spending your time, or even posting something to facebook or instagram, searching your heart for its motivations is incredibly revealing of the fears your operating on or what the source of your worship is. In this day of age (I hate that I just said that), we live in such a public arena and it's so easy to find yourself living to appease the world and it's ideals--trying and create and/or project the best version of yourself. Those worldly ideals aren't truths and those motivations won't sustain you.

I'll close with this. In the fall of 2011, I spent a weekend in NYC. We stayed with this incredible family of two boys and a baby girl. One morning, the younger boy was throwing a fit because he wanted the toy that his older brother was playing with. His mother simply asked him, "Son, do you have a thankful heart or a coveting heart?" He lowered his head and softly replied, "a coveting heart," and waited his turn to play with the toy.

If a three year old can recognize the state of his heart, I surely hope that I can as well. We are blessed beyond measure and have been given abundant life! My resolution for 2014 is to live out of a thankful heart rather than a coveting heart; that my motivations come from the desire to care what what I've been given and to live life to the fullest.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:20

rebuilding

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 02:57:00 +0000

happy 2014 folks!

I'm still not sure whatever happened to 2007, but I'm happy 2014 is here. It's a year that I've had posted in my brain and on bulletin boards for the past four years. My first class of Algebra wizards will be graduating this spring! It's wild. It makes me so happy, so bewildered and tearfully proud.

Lang and I have hit the ground running this 2014. We're currently rebuilding our photography blog and curio quilt--so thankful for our techie friends--as well as rebuilding our bodies. Lang and I have vowed to do T25 five days a week until South Africa and schedules have permitted us to get back into cooking with whole foods. It feels so wonderful to get back on track. And lastly, we're also rebuilding our home. Floors are being refinished, along with 100 year old bathtubs, and the high-hoped removal of a six layered linoleum floor. HELP.

And yet in the midst of "getting things done," Lang and I have managed to keep our slow mornings slow. Reflecting on last year and searching my heart for desires of the next has left me overwhelmed with thanksgiving--thankful for the gift of life, my sweet husband, community and the Lord's provision --- lean not on your own understanding... ----

note: I'm also thankful for chorizo, black bean cakes and runny eggs :)

I'll be back soon-- lots of exciting posts on the docket!!

stay warm, friends :)

Best Times.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 03:53:00 +0000

here's my excuse:

during the months of november and december, if I have free time, it is spent doing the following:
- thinking up new ways to use almond bark
- searching for the perfect Christmas sweater
- binge watching Scandal with Lang (oh. my. goodness).

But a lot has happened. For starters, I got bangs. This was a big deal to my regretful inner 6th grader.

It also snowed and stayed for three days :)

Here's all the in between.

Herb, the herb.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 19:33:00 +0000

Two pot roasts down, a gazillian more stews to go.

The fresh summer eats have been traded in for stick-to-your-ribs grub.
I couldn't be more ready.

Dutch ovens,
tender meat,
rosemary sprigs,
parsnips and sweet potatoes--
yeah yeah yeaaaaah.

I'm all about this time of year,
but i'm left with a sad garden
and no idea how to "winterize" it.

Any suggestions or tips are welcomed.
Also, what do I need to know about coldframes and winter gardening?
I'm intrigued...

my 26 list

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 01:45:00 +0000

Saturday was my birthday.

I turned 26--which is pretty wild to me. When I was a little girl, 26 was the age that I thought I would hit my peak. By 26, I will have figured out life, become financially secure, have a pixie haircut, wear Banana Republic pantsuits every day, and look like an Eddie Bauer catalog model on the weekends.

HA!

So here I am, 26 years ripe. There are no pantsuits in my closet, nor a chic bob on my head, and in the last few years I've been a high school math teacher, a nanny, piano teacher and wedding photographer. I'm not quite sure what my "career path" is.

All that to say, as I was reflecting this last weekend on turning 26, I realized that this past year has taught me so much. The journey to 26 held a lot of "firsts"--there was marriage, new city, new job, new house, my dad's battle with cancer, our first pup, and other events and experiences. It's been a sweet year for lots of reasons.

So in lieu of my birthday, I was going to write a post on the lessons I've learned this last year but about five minutes into writing, I realized I have a lot to share about a few of these. So my shorten version is below. Over the next couple weeks, I'll expand :)

I'm so thankful for how God uses experiences, relationships and his word to continually teach me. I'm so thankful for my sweet husband and my incredible community that encourages and loves me so well. Thanks for making it a great year!

My 26 List : lessons of my 26th year (the biggies)

- Quality is key: There is an art of knowing what things are worth spending the extra dollar on and what things aren't. Here's what we added to our quality list: furniture, clothes, and food. They will either last longer or make you last longer.

- With friendships, depth is key (not breadth): Making friends can be tough! It's been different this last year moving to a new city and not having a job where I work alongside others. I've had to be more bold and intentional in the friend department--this is an area I'm growing in. Deep relationships develop from mutual vulnerability, shared experiences, and care. There is such fruit and joy that comes from these relationships! I'm so thankful for those relationships in my life.

- Running really IS mental!: take this from a girl who DESPISED running. I was quick to announce how I "wasn't the running type." I forced myself to start running as cheap exercise and realized after losing track of mileage and time with a friend that running really was mental!! This cliche is true!!

- Your occupation doesn't define who you are: I really struggled the first couple months of living in Louisville. I'm a pretty driven person and have always moved as a result of a new opportunity that had a great cost benefit ratio. Moving to Louisville and drastically changing my lifestyle because I had made covenant, did not fall into this theory--actually, it completely rocked it. I had no idea how much security and identity I found in "what I do for a living." Success, titles, and the source of my paycheck all became counterfeit gods. My identity isn't found in what I do. There is nothing I can do or add to that that will qualify me. I'm already qualified.

“It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you.”
Tim Keller

- Everything in moderation: It's okay if you get a Krispy Kreme donut one morning because you're craving it. Treat yo self!

- I'm really selfish: I didn't realize the extent of my selfishness until I got married--and then we got a dog and other areas of my life I was holding with a tight fist were revealed. I am continually reminded why marriage is referred to as a lifelong tool of sanctification. For that and my sweet husband, I am thankful.

- "Busyness" can almost always be avoided: if you're feeling overwhelmed about how busy you are, chances are it's because you signed up for more than you can handle and/or you're not making time for a sabbath or a day to rest. There are seasons and situations in which this is not necessarily the case, but for a girl who tends to struggle with saying "no" and sitting still, my husband tenderly told me one day that my exhaustion from being too busy was my fault. He was right. I'm still learning how to set boundaries, know limits and learn to trust God.

- Try keeping a food diary for two weeks: This may sound funny and I know it's not for all of you, but if you have stomach/intestinal discomfort, do this! I noticed some areas of my diet that my lactose intolerance didn't explain. I started keeping a food diary and it prompted me to get allergy tested. Turned out, I had a ton of food sensitivities I had no idea about. They also happened to be the foods that I ate almost every day. Since getting that figured out, I feel like a new woman. What you eat matters! Listen to your body.

- Live life to the fullest!: each day is a gift and we are not guaranteed another. Through wisdom and the mercy of today, live life to the fullest!! There is such great joy and celebration found in relationships and experiences here on earth. Don't wait for tomorrow. Live today!

photo credit: the talented Aubrey Renee

Bookwormin' it

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:07:00 +0000

There have been some GREAT articles being published as of late!
Perhaps there's a direct correlation with the chill of fall and good writing...
-- falls leaves + october skies + ciders 'n lattes + comfy clothes = inspiration! --

Whatever it is, I like.
Give these a gander--
they're fascinating, inspiring, eye opening, and funny.

Shout out to all you goat lovers out there!
(you've got to check out the goat article)

Happy hump day, y'all.

I N T H E K N O W
8 Ways You Can Give To A Women's Homeless Shelter
The Myth of 'I'm Bad at Math'

J O U R N A L I S M + S O C I O L O G Y
Documenting the Delta, then and now
'Can I touch it?' exploring gender, race and generational gaps

W O M E N + F A I T H
single and not waiting

! ! ! F U N ! ! !
13 Pictures of Crazy Goats on Cliffs
America's Mood Map: An Interactive Guide to the United States of Attitude

5 senses

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 01:45:00 +0000

MY 5 OCTOBER SENSES

S I G H T: engagement shoots with the sweetest couples (above!)
T A S T E: pumpkin everything (saturday coffee dunker fave)
T O U C H: slimey pumpkin seeds
H E A R: Ribs by Lorde
S M E L L: see taste

souped up: Kale + Meatball Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 17:22:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've posted a recipe
--it's been a while since I've posted, period.

I hate saying that things have been busy because I feel like that's kinda a cop-out. Life is always busy, right? I think things are seeming a bit crazier because this time of year for us allows little routine. Lots of traveling, morning and evening shoots, school year events/groups kicking off--not a ton of normalcy.

So meals look a bit different.

I'll be honest, we haven't been eating the best lately. It's hard when you're traveling so much--you come home and then you pick up and take off again. So that plays out as late night adventures for Lou's best wings, early morning drivebys to Krispy Kreme, and Clif Bars and almonds in between.

In attempt to set us up for success, having healthy, satisfying meals on hand at all times is crucial. That has translated to different types of chilis and stews. In my opinion, finding a good soup can be tricky--they've gotta meet my two requirements: filling and storable. It's gotta be satisfying enough that I don't leave craving fourth meal and it's gotta keep well in the fridge or freezer.

So here's the first soup of a couple more that I'll be posting soon. This is a concoction of a couple dishes we love. It's a favorite of Lang and I--a delicious, nutritious soup that makes a killer meal with some crusty bread or a little sandwich. Give it a go!

Kale + Meatball Soup

meatballs
1/2 lb ground beef or turkey
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
5 tablespoons panko crumbs (or breadcrumbs)
5 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup fresh parsley (3 tbls dried)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano

1 medium onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 carrots peeled and thinly sliced
7 packed cups of kale (stemmed, torn into small pieces)
6 cups chicken broth

1. In a medium bowl, mix together panko, parmesan, parsley, salt and oregano. Add the eggs and meat and mix until combined (unless you're totally grossed out by this, your hands are your best tool for this step). Roll into small balls, about one tablespoon of mixture, and place on a plate. Heat some olive oil in a medium stockpot over medium high heat. Add the meatballs, creating one layer, and cook for roughly 5 minutes on each side. When done, remove and place on a new plate.

2. While the meatballs are cooking, you can prep your veggies. Once they're all sliced and diced and the meatballs are done and removed from the stockpot, add some additional olive oil and saute the onions, garlic and carrots. After about 2 minutes, add the kale. Once it starts to wilt, add the broth and meatballs.

3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

socks + cinnamon

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 18:26:00 +0000

Leaves turn in Louisville
Morning frosts greet Wisconsin
Cotton's harvested in the Delta

For whatever reason,
Autumn spiced candles and cold toes
leave me nostalgic, teary eyed
--craving warm bread and apple cider.

And so, here's what's been buzzing in my ears lately.

falling back in
1. Pieces - Andrew Belle
2. I'll Wait For You - Vanessa Carlton
3. Ribs - Lorde
4. Step - Vampire Weekend
5. Shot At the Night - The Killers
6. Curs in the Weeds - Horsefeathers
7. Dear Marie - John Mayer
8. Made of Glass - KT Tunstall
9. Young - Air Review
10. Resolution - Matt Corby
11. Right Action - Franz Ferdinand

little things

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 03:28:00 +0000

In the midst of the wedding fall craze,
it's been the slow mornings with my sweet,
the late night wedding snacks,
time spend with friends,
and the last dance
that have served as sweet reminders
of how blessed I am.

-- thankful --

iPhone update: denver

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 17:50:00 +0000

we love denver.

This is what you need to know:
- good food + drink
- bright, sunny days
- breweries galore
- every pro-sport team
- dog friendly
- bike friendly
- people friendly
- great parks
- M O U N T A I N S

Lang and I had the best trip to Denver
--little bit of work and a little bit of play--
all beautiful, wonderful things.

We had an amazing shoot in the mountains
(stay tuned)
spent time with my brother's crew
(they're awesome)
and indulged on denver's offerings
(so.dang.good).

Here is a list of some of the Denver musts. T H A N K Y O U for your advice, friends!! Below are all of the places we can now vouch for. There are several other things we didn't get to experience--but we've gotta have a reason to go back, right?

Also, If you live in Colorado and want your picture taken, drop us a line. We'll gladly come your way :)

F O O D
Breakfast: Devil's Food, Toast
Lunch/Dinner: Linger, Park Burger
Treats + Drinks: Little Man Ice Cream, William Graham

T O D O
REI
Great Divide Brewing Company
Wash Park
Cherry Creek Shopping Center

N E I G H B O R H O O D S we loved
Highlands
Pearl Street
Vine Street

meat mondays

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 22:14:00 +0000

My belly is turning southern.

All I want to eat is meat.
The smokier the better.
Sauce? a bonus.

You can find me scrounging Kroger parking lots for the man with the smoker.
This old pescatarian belly is no more.

That being said, I'm excited to be walking out the door to this place.
Denver is slowly stealing my heart.

friday reading

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 02:12:00 +0000

We made it!

Yay for fridays and the onset of saturday mornings. Lang and I are beyond excited to be capturing the wedding of our favorite Louisville chef and his sweet sweet bride. It's going to be a special day with incredible food. Killer combo.

If you've got a lazy morning on the horizon, you should check out the articles below for a good read. These articles have enlightened, inspired and humored me this past week. They're worth a leisurely gander.

#treatyoself

G O D
Yes, God Will Give You More Than You Can Handle

W O M E N
With Eyes That Look Out

P E O P L E + C U L T U R E
10 Paradoxical Traits of Creative People
Caught In a Hipster Trap

busy bee

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 03:40:00 +0000

I've been a bad blogger.

Many of you have asked what the holdup has been lately--
and truth be told:
while there are leaves on the trees,
our life can be summed up by weddings and Cliff bars.

Life has been crazy.
But this is a good thing.
Amazing people are marrying each other
and I get to capture their stories with my husband.
Nothing to complain about here.

And so, Lang posted one of our favorites yesterday.
You should look at it.
The wedding was incredible--
our sweet friends
two wonderful families
incredible aesthetics
and my studly husband as a groomsman.
D R E A M Y.

So, this may be a lazy blogger move
but you should look at our other blog this morning.
Until then, we'll be editing,
sending out pictures,
eating frozen burritos,
and preparing for our trip to D E N V E R.

+ + + + colorado folk: where should we go? what should we do? please share! + + + +