slow fashion friday.

caught up in the recent whole living i came across

this article on the 'slow fashion' movement,  

which you can read all about for yourself if interested 

online. i found it intriguing, as i have always loved

 the slow food movement (whether or not i always adhere

to it or not is based on 'wild life...not too slow sometimes 

with kids that i happen to have').

in any case, i was in awe of the process these two 

girls go through in making their clothing and especially

 love their dying processes. 

forget cooking classes....sign me up for a class 

with adie + george.

hello gorgeous cozy sweater...you are a welcome 

addition to my fall/winter wardrobe, 

even if i can only wear you for one month in phoenix. 

so here's to a slow and happy weekend!

 i am working on a yummy pumpkin pie recipe 

to share with you next week, so stay tuned.

sweet treat.

with the high dessert demands over here 

every night from little miss ruby, 

i recently bought some cake cones at the grocery

and added a scoop of vanilla ice cream, 

topped with a few sprinkles and was 

instantly pretty popular. do try one yourself.

tote bag.

so i had been wanting to make one of these

cute beach bag totes for a while. 

i finally scooped up some ikea fabric 

and fit one in right before little Mikey came 

along, and so it has since turned into my 

purse/diaper bag/mary poppins bag of tricks.

you can find the tutorial here if you want to give it a go.

very very easy my friends. i promise. 

i am thinking a fall/ winter version may be in order. 

biscuits.

everyone needs a solid biscuit recipe right? 

my grandma gave me this one she found in a magazine

a while back and i've held onto it ever 

since. i find it very easy and rewarding. 

i love the simplicity and the softness of the dough. 

i may love dough too much; this is possible. 

i admit i honestly crave just making cinnamon rolls just 

to watch the dough roll around in the mixer and 

involve myself in the general process of it all. 

so here is a handy dandy biscuit recipe for you to keep 

on hand and make just because, or for something special 

over the weekend. hope you enjoy!

buttermilk biscuits.

1/2 c. butter
2 1/2 c. flour
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 c. + 2 T. cold buttermilk
1 T. melted butter

Preheat to 475.
Add all dry ingredients into bowl of food processor or stand mixer. Blend well. Add very cold butter in small pieces to dry and mix until butter is pea size, yet not overmixed so as to soften the butter too much.
Add buttermilk slowly until a mass of dough forms and then stop mixing. It can come out very wet but do not fear. Douse the counter with a heavy amount of flour and plop the dough onto counter. Knead 3 to 4 turns and roll out into 1/2 in thickness. Cut out biscuits using a 3in circle cutter or glass jar will do.
Place on sheet pan and brush with melted butter. Bake 16-18 minutes, until puffed up and lightly golden on top.

Variation: you may add about 1/2 c. shredded cheddar or desired cheese. I have done this and it works out splendidly. Cheers!

hello monday.

hey all. i thought i would share some fun inspirations

 of late with you all. hope you had a wonderful weekend. 

i had some good times doing a cupcake photo shoot 

involving icing made with crisco...never again my friends. 

greasy slimyness is not my friend. 

next time we're sticking to the real deal.

so here are some fun links to enjoy. happy monday to you!

this grown up birthday party looked pretty awesome...esp those spoons!

i recently made this icebox cake and had rave reviews...i would 

love to try a lemon cream version on my own, soon. 

i found some really sweet kids room inspiration here.

and i also love this woven gift wrap tutorial and thought it

would be fun to try with metallics and fluorescents

for the holidays. 

while you were sleeping.

i spent a lovely afternoon driving around downtown 

a week or two ago with all the kids asleep in the car. 

it was a moment of peace and quiet, out of the heat, 

gazing at all those buildings i love. 

since our downtown is still pretty traffic free 

i was able to snap some pics.

as for the first one; we are moving in and turning

 the warehouse into a live/work space, 

including a pub downstairs. 

ha ha. one can dream.

hand made riot.

some really cool and incredibly talented friends of ours

 started their own little online shop where they are selling their 

own handmade items. 

you should totally go check it out here!

girls days out.

every once and a while ruby and i have a little time off together

'just girls' (and mikey of course). we had a pretty awesome 

time playing with nail polish colors in sephora after coffee and 

snacks while out finding a birthday present. 

she keeps me young and silly that is for sure. 

i could not ask for a more wonderful girl. 

just dreading the day when she starts growing up on me. 

love love our special outings. 

chubby baby.

this little ball of joy is coming up on 2 months. 

he went from newborn to big chubby guy way too fast. 

what is happening? 

slow it down little guy.

mikey guy we love you so. oh, and by they way, he finally 

started smiling!! big news over here. just havent caught much on camera.

mason jar lids.

in need of a simple little painting project to pass the time? 

we painted mason jar lids recently for fun, 

and i thought hot gluing a fun object on top 

and filling them with pretty colored m and m's might be fun. 

a quick easy little happy/gift! 

toodles.

thumbprints.

per my kids request we made jelly thumbprints yesterday.  

darn. i keep snacking on them. 

time to visit the neighbors or something.

fun to make with your kids, as it involves them pushing their
cute little thumbs into the cookies before baking.
here goes kids:

thumbprint cookies.

1 c. butter

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 t. salt

1/2 c. slivered almonds, chopped

1/2 t. vanilla extract

1/2 t. almond extract

2 c. flour

about 1/2 c. or less of blackberry jam (or whatever you desire)

Preheat oven to 350.

In mixer cream butter, powdered sugar and chopped almonds. Add salt. Add extracts, mix to combine. Add flour, mix to combine. Scoop out 1 T. size cookies into round balls and push down in middle with your thumb. Chill in freezer for 5 minutes if you live in phoenix, and its blazing hot. Cook in oven until firm to touch but not too colored, just lightly browned. Let chill, dust with powdered sugar and fill with desired jam. Enjoy with an afternoon iced coffee and a game of checkers.

summer days.

things have been rather busy around here. 

neglecting this spot for sure. 

be back soon i hope.