donuts.

in need of an easy quick dessert that feels fancy? 

a while back i picked up one of those donut pans from 

target and i recently tried this recipe for buttermilk 

baked donuts. we dipped some in butter and then cinnamon 

sugar, and of course had to have some pink frosted ones with sprinkles. pretty soon i am thinking target may want to sponsor

me with the amount of shopping love i give them. 

anyhow, yummy and happy! toodles.

watercolor.

i really just love painting with watercolors. it makes you feel like you've made something fancy and beautiful with very minimal effort. ruby and i had some fun with these old hang tags ive had forever; sprucing them up to hang from a future present. apparently i need to invest in a monster pad of paper the way we go through it over here b/w drawings and paintings. studio mchale opening soon. keep your eyes peeled. haha, not really. 

peut etre.

{chacha papiers}

do you ever read look at blogs in another language just because they are pretty? 
i admit i get lost gawking over french blogs and wishing i lived in paris or the french country side. cant get enough of the beauty. so i decided i could justify my french blog lovin by maybe just maybe brushing up on my old rusty french i used to be so good at. that sounds like a pretty solid plan dont ya think?

hello monday.

so it has been a pretty lovely weekend...good family time, weather cooling a bit, visiting with friends over brunch, some good rain time on the front porch (my favorite place to be), and lots of baking...my personal addiction/therapy. i am definitely getting excited for the change in seasons and maybe a little day trip to do some apple picking; something ive been wanting to do with the kids. so here are some fun monday links for you to enjoy...hope you had a lovely weekend!

got stuck browsing at shoes and colorful pak paks over here

finally found a project for this scrap piece of leather i've had lying around forever...can not wait to try this one

found this fashionable tumblr i love

looking for a reason to throw a fun party so we can make these whimsical crepe paper hats

and my interest in crafting up some kids floral crowns only grew once i saw these sweet ones; here's another one ive had saved for some time...apparently crepe paper is all the rage.

dinner + a movie.

what happens sometimes when your husband

works late and you know he will not be eating 

dinner; your tired from a long day with cute kids

and 100 degree temperatures? 

smoothies and avocado sandwiches for dinner 

along with some singing in the rain

and definitely some dancing and dress ups. 

i did by the way discover nectarines 

are really tasty in smoothies.

stuff in my fridge smoothie.
1 smooshy old nectarine...cold from fridge
handful of frozen blueberries
3/4 c. coconut milk
1/2 c. milk
1 squeeze of honey
some ice
1 scoop of spirutein vanilla powder

have a lovely weekend!

pumpkin pie.

we were recently at whole foods and found these sweet

 little pumpkins. ruby was over the moon as she 

has been asking since her summer school class to buy 

one so we could cook the seeds. 

and of course i was pumped to have fresh pumpkin 

on hand. so win win. 

and by the way for some reason the smell of pumpkin 

cooking is the most wonderful smell of all coming 

out of your oven. such a tease b/c you want to just 

eat up the smell but there is nothing to eat. 

anyhow, i played around with a recipe and thought it 

was pretty delish so if your in the mood for a pre-thanks

giving pie, go nuts and make one this weekend!

yum yum pumpkin pie.

2 c. freshly cooked, cooled pumpkin

2 T. softened butter

1/2 t. salt

3 eggs

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. buttermilk

1/2 c. heavy cream

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

1 pie crust (just use your own favorite...ina garden has a lovely one)

preheat oven to 350. 

in stand mixer, mix well your pureed pumpkin with salt and softened butter. 

in separate bowl whisk together eggs and sugar well. add buttermilk and cream to eggs until combined. 

add creamy egg mixture to pumpkin along with cinnamon and nutmeg. 

pie mix should not be lumpy so if needed you may pour into your blender to fully combine, as a last measure. 

now pour pie mix into unbaked shell and cook for 50-60 minutes. 

once cooled top with whip cream and enjoy! cheers to the end of summer and beginning of a new season. 

a simple center piece.

i recently set my table with this sweet little succulent

(trimmed from my large guy outside). 

i love a simple happy little centerpiece to make 

the table welcoming for meals. 

i remember thinking in college those cool napkin

holders were the epitome of awesomeness for 

your table. do those even exist anymore? 

hope you had a lovely labor day!