baby quilts

I love these quilts made by another Cara from Me? A Mom?
They are simple but darling.

hanging wreath

I love the dried artichoke is this hanging arrangement.

cranberry sauce

The cranberry sauce is done! I used the basic cranberry sauce recipe but substituted orange and grapefruit zest for the lemon zest. It smells good.

downtown detroit

We went into Detroit this past weekend. It is an interesting city because parts of it seem vibrant and then you drive a block and it is a ghost town. I loved this fire station that we saw. Detroit has some amazing buildings from the early 1900's.

tea party

photo via justmakeit's flickr

For my tea party this weekend I am thinking of making this herbal iced tea. My sister is pushing pink lemonade, my niece loves it.

door decor

I like the simplicity of this Thanksgiving "wreath" from Country Living.

high tea

photo found here

Over Thanksgiving weekend my sisters and I will be having a serious tea party with my four year old niece. Feather boas are encouraged. For our high tea we will be making cucumber sandwiches. This recipe looks like a good place to start, minus the mint (I have allergic reactions to mint, I prefer my lips and eyes to remain unswollen). I think I may substitute parsley for the mint.

snowflake

photo found here

I was telling some people that I associate snowflakes with blue because when you draw a snowflake you use blue! They had never heard of anything so strange. So I ask you, if you were to draw a snowflake what color would you use?

red tights

photo found here

I love Carrie Underwood's red tights. I wonder if I could find some at Target...

city comparison: san jose, california

via google images somewhere

My husband and I are starting the preliminary search for our post graduate school move. We have so many cities on this list so we are starting to research them so we can eliminate some. First up, San Jose, California. In the Bay Area and recommended by a friend.
Pros:
California
Warmer on average
Metropolitan
11 hour drive to parents
Cons:
Very Expensive
Crime Rate higher than the National Average
Expensive
No major sports teams (by major I mostly mean basketball, football, and baseball- Pro and College) this is a big one for the husband.

Median Property- $610,000
Median Family Income- $84,857
Median Age- 34.1
Population- 889,309
Crime Rate- (the national average is 100, the lower, the better)
Personal Crime Risk- 101
Property Crime Risk- 67
Restaurants- 3,475
via money magazine

chocolate ganache tart

Pumpkin and berry pies are a Thanksgiving staple, as they should be. It couldn't hurt to throw one of these tarts into the mix, plus the instructions look simple. Famous last words?

cabin fever

My family has a cabin in a small skiing community. I love it. It gets so much snow that you can't use the front door during the winter. I can't wait to go up there during winter vacation!

I saw this suitcase on Caitlin Creer Interiors, it would be perfect for our cabin.

cranberry sauce

I am in charge of the cranberry sauce. We figure it can be transported 8+ hours without going bad. Plus it will fit in my mini cooler. Here are two recipes I am mulling over.


Cranberry Chutney

Martha's basic cranberry sauce

thanksgiving gourds

I think these gourd decorations would be fantastic for Thanksgiving. For mantles or centerpieces.

thanksgiving centerpiece

I am going to my sister's house for her first big Thanksgiving. I can't wait, both of my sisters will be there! Since I am arriving the day of Thanksgiving we aren't sure if I can really contribute to the cooking festivities. So I am hereby lobbying for the centerpieces. Here is one idea I like.

happy veteran's day!

Victory in England

in Minneapolis

and in the South Pacific

My favorite veteran, my Grandpa. He still tilts his hat like the soldier in the picture above.

Thank you to our veterans. Happy Veteran's Day.

keep calm

Did you know that this was used originally as a British campaign slogan asking citizens to "keep calm" during World War 2?

travel tuesday: mesa verde

I have been researching vernacular landscapes for my historic preservation class, I thought I would pass along some of the goods.

The Anasazi built these cliff dwellings in Southern Colorado (you can find cliff dwellings in Utah as well) in the 1200's, they are now the Mesa Verde National Park. They are quite simply amazing.

If you go to Mesa Verde, you may as well stop by the four corners and touch four states at one time.

friday the 13th

photo found here
Who would have guessed that such a thing as a tator tot casserole exists? To honor this new found knowledge I decided that a backwards party is in order, for Friday the 13th. This could be very fun.

thanksgiving apron

My sister is hosting her first real Thanksgiving this year, and by real I mean 10+ people. I can't help but think that such an occasion deserves a new half apron. It somehow seems fitting.

what happened to the good old days?

Why did people ever stop dancing like this?

photos found here and here

thanksgiving table settings

I love the blue. Maybe not traditional, but very nice all the same.

I love pears. So much so that I had marzipan pears made for my wedding cake. These would make wonderful place card holders.

I love the corn husk votives, especially with the purple roses.

I just really like this one.

You can see all of these and a whole lot more here.

coming up for air

I need a break from the books. I think I might try my hand with these felt baby shoes. I have a brand new niece that they would be perfect for.

almost there

I am finishing midterms today. Then off to the next paper. Hopefully will find something fun for tomorrow!

maple log tea lights

I just found these on Etsy. They are perfect for fall.

yellow purse

Looking at this purse makes me happy.

thanksgiving decor

I love the wheat on the stairs. Easy, simple, fun.
Thank you Better Homes and Gardens.

halloween wrap up

My tomato costume. I loved it.

The graveyard brownies. They were easy with the exception of writing on the tombstones. That was hard, I gave up.